ORIGIN

Nemesis did not often wander from her home, and perhaps that was for a good reason. This place was strange and blue, blue, blue like the water, only sharper and brighter... Blindingly. This whole place made her feel strange, her big feet clacking on the ground as she pranced about, her large head turning this way and that, observing what this strange room had for her. She decided, out of boldness, to approach the source of blue- a giant Spire- but she stood a bit away, keeping her distance.

Just what was this thing? It wasn't Water, and it definitely wasn't Air or Fire. The air sparked around her, spooking the rhino. With a snort as she settled, shaking out her skin. "Who do you think you are!" She huffed, tail flicking. Something had sort of... Zapped her? It sure had startled her, and she didn't take kindly to that. As proof of her strength, she went to summon the fire in her heard.

"You can't hide in the blue forever, whatever you are. I'll find you, my flames see through this!" She snorted, tromping around the massive spire, looking for what set her on edge... And also, just what exactly this strange tower of blue was made of. How was it so big? What could be Blue but not Water?

After a bit of stomping around, Nemesis realized that there wasn't much here-- there were the golems, far off-- but otherwise she was more or less alone. Snorting, her deep blue eyes glared up at the mess that was the crystal structure. She didn't want to disturb it-- the Spire felt powerful, ancient. She didn't like the staticy feeling around her skin, however, and she didn't like how her blood felt like it was racing through her skin at a hundred miles an hour. She needed a way to burn off steam--...

Frick.

Not literally! She felt a heat rise to her skin, the smell of burning skin filling her nose. Her skin began to sting, like being too close to an open flame and she flinched, ears flicking back. This was bad, really bad. She remembered what happened last time she set herself on fire-- but then it was gone. That felt like something different... It didn't start at her toes. What has she done? Digging at the dirt under her feet, the rhino considered what had nearly happened.

Had the Fire discovered a new source of fuel? A new ability? What had she almost done there? Could she do it without hurting herself...?

There was only one way to find out. The Fire had started it by thinking of the blood in her veins, racing past like rivers. Rivers of fire? The metaphor sort of fell apart as she stomped at the earth, throwing her head about. Focus! The blood raced, and it was hot. Hot, burning in her veins. The flames spread to her skin, warmth tickling her flesh as she drew still. She almost had it-- it was right there. She could do it, she knew she could do it! With a snort, she tried to get the spell to go off along her spine.

The pain returned, racing along the curve of her back like a dagger being brought along the arch of her spine. She hissed, snorting, and kicked at the earth, trampling along the blue lit area, until the pain finally faded. What was this! It wasn't fire, why wouldn't the fire came to her? It was easy along her mighty, powerful feet. So why did it fail when she summoned it elsewhere? It simply did not make sense. Anger ran hot through her as she drew still, her eyes focusing on the Spire of energy as another crack went off in the sky.

Third time was the charm, right? Fire's tail lashed as she stared up at the giant crystal structure, feeling the air grow cold around her. She missed the hot heat vents of her home-- as soon as she got this down she decided she was going straight home. This place was no place for a Queen-- okay maybe she wasn't a queen but she was family to the queen and that made her at least a princess- and she was getting sick of the way the crackling made her jump out of her skin every time.

Taking a deep breath, the giant hunk of grey flesh tried to use char once more. Suddenly, tiny, almost unnoticeable flames began to lick at her thick hide, the smell of burning reaching her nose again. It smelled absolutely dreadful as her skin heated up, tingling with the sensation of fire-- but this time it was controlled. It didn't hurt so much. Flames licked off of her skin and she held her head up high, glaring up at the monstrous tower that stood over her. Someday the zapping and cracking would not startle her, someday she would be too powerful to be spooked by such childish things. She was growing stronger by the day.

Success! The fires licked around her skin and she glared up at the Spire, the cold air buffeting her. It was time to go home, she thought, snorting to herself. Fang would wonder where she was, and who knows what Erebus would be up to without her keen eyes watching him. Now that she had powers untold, a new strength, a new control over her flame-- yes. Now that she had these things, she was ready to become the best family Fang could ever ask for.

Of course. It did smell pretty bad. The rhino snorted, retreating from the blue glow of the Spire, returning to the tunnel she came from. It was time to go home, her smoldering body keeping her warm for the time being. A bath would be in order. Her skin stung but she hadn't quite burned herself. The water would be cool and refreshing either way-- and she didn't want to smell this goddamn awful. It would be good for deterring other gembounds, perhaps, but she wasn't sure what other use the spell would have. It heated up her skin, without exposing open flames to the air where they could become greedy... Perhaps she could burn something touching her, but she didn't know.

She would have to figure it out later. All that mattered was that she had mastered it.

;; nem exit