ORIGIN - Chasing the Stars

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The dog listened to Quix chattering on, intently trying to keep up with each word. She was down between his front paws, then on his back, poking paws into his muscles, then on the ground again. She moved quick; it was hard for the larger, slower beast to even keep track.

He explained the answer to the fox's question as he lumbered forward to search the buildings, nose sweeping the ground and the air in methodical turn.

"It was in the tunnel of ice. That which is behind us. Its scent lingered there." He paused in his speech as he reached a building, inhaling and testing the air around the doorway and just inside before moving on. "That is why I searched the cave with the falling water. That is why I searched the tunnel. That is why I search here. The water-beast was betrayed. Nemean. The Dog does not know this name. Perhaps it is the-thing-that-ran."

Black did not explain more than this; in a very basic sense his mind was quite simple, and so, like a very young child, he just assumed that Quix knew whatever it was that he knew. He didn't realize that he might have to explain the names, or the water-beast, or the thing-that-ran. If Quix asked, then he would; otherwise, he would simply continue his searching.

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Quix scampered along the dimly lit corridors and sniffed for a scent. Her claws clacked against the sandy floor and her pale tan coat fluffed out with the accumulated dust and whirlwinds she created as he dived nose in, from building to building. Occasionally, she stumbled across sharp pieces of debris or rocks. However, her furry paws helped to keep her safe from getting injured and thus the girl never lost pace nor heart as she went in and out of the buildings like a streak of a tan ghost. The dog continued to speak but most of his words were lost in the clatter and excitement of the little fox. Quix did try to listen though, so she scrambled back to him but only succeeded in hearing the words, “water-beast” and “Nemean”. The girl searched her mind for a quick moment and found no recollection of these things. However, she was a polite thing and so, she danced around the dog’s paws and yipped at him her reply. “Beast? Beast is big. No here. Here, buildings many. Not that big. Can find if here.” Her speech was garbled up since she was so excited on her quest. Wagging her tail, the girl pushed forward a good many meters and then looked over her shoulder to get Void to follow her.

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There is nothing of use in what she says. Continue.

With that, the mastiff dismissed all of Quix's words, not in a superior or rude sense but rather a more practical one. Up and down he swept--not as swift as the fox, not by a long shot, but steady and strong. Soon he was leaving most of the building-checking to Quix, who was in and out in a heartbeat, and chattering all the way. He simply swept along the exterior lines, sniffing the doorways as he trotted past them.

There was nothing, despite the lengthy and mindless toil of searching. Eventually he paused, looking around. There was still the tall tower, and some other things he could not quite make out from here. He looked to Quix for direction yet again, tilting his wrinkled head.

"It is not here. Where is next to be searched?"

She has many answers. Perhaps she has this one.

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The mastiff listened to her words but did not respond. No matter. Quix was off again on her own, leaving the dog to scout the floor while she attempted to do some aerial tricks of her own. Scouring around, the little fennec fox found a ledge of sorts protruding from the roof of one building. With a glint in her eyes, the girl dashed towards the building and sniffed all around it. The inside of the room was gravelly and corroded and she sneezed as a whiff of dust entered her nose. Two sad, stone windows had been crafted out of the room. She presumed the edges used to be smooth but now, they were bumpy, disfigured. Sad and forgotten. Beside one of the windows was a little rock stairs. The girl’s mind fled back to Tunnel J where she had climbed one of the stairs to the dismay of the lion cub. With a giggle, she decided to repeat her feat. Bunching her muscles, the overly-enthusiastic fox dashed up the stairs, the circular motions unable to make her dizzy at all. Eventually, she burst into larger window and dashed out of it, only to be met once again with cool air and the sweetness of freedom, away from the rocky confines.

From the top of the ledge, the girl fluffed out her chest and tail and gave a loud purr, an assortment of barks and some kind of clicking, thrilling, cooing sounds as she tested her vocalization. She’d then grin down at the dog. “Just in front! See that corridor? Go to big room with paintings and writings! Clues, Void!” She stood on her ledge, not intending to budge from her royal seat till the dog decided for himself that her directions would be good.

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Black peered blankly at Quix as she vanished off--ledges, buildings, what was she up to?

Then she was pointing the way ahead--and when he looked, he could see that she indicated a tunnel--and chittering on about paintings. And clues.

"Very well. Come, then. Is it dangerous?"

Black turned and stalked toward the tunnel, walking at a slow and steady stride, head raised and ears pricked up toward the dark tunnel mouth.

Whatever the thing was that Aquarian had sent packing, it wasn't in Orion--not that they could find.

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((exit Black))

The dog listened to her now. It lifted its massive puppy head (at least, large in comparison to her) and asked further questions. The girl nodded her head, but then rounded her baby blue eyes on him and whispered eerily. “Yes, dangerous. Be careful to use magic in there. Rocks fell on Quix last time, but a lion cub saved me. Satisfied that the dog was keen to explore the area which she had suggested, the girl turned around and scampered out of the window and down the stairs to meet the dog. She was there two heartbeats. As she took her place beside the dog’s right side, she started to quip again. “Did you know there are paintings? You should see them! They are huggeeeee! On the ceilings and they stare right at you. Scary right? I know! You should see the walls though. There are carvings there. The other time, Usui the lion…” and she went on and on, chattering excitedly with the energy only the youngest creatures could muster, little tan tail shaking left and right as she scampered beside Void to enter the cave. She was extremely excited that now, she was the one taking the helm of their adventure. Oh, but it was so lovely! Who knew, she might even get to see the cub again if he were still there.

-Exit Quix-

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