ORIGIN

Their meditations at the shrine, sitting before the darkness, next to the dog, had opened Venus's eyes. And ears, especially to the whispers. There really was a discovery to be made here, something incredible that would surely make them more noticed, more important then anyone else! And one of the things that hose whispers promised...was the black. The oil that seeped from a gembounds body when it died. There was something there, knowledge, perhaps, more then just it seemed.

Venus left the cave only for this, to hunt and find a gembound that could be melted into this oil that held so many secrets. They stepped into Canis, senses alert for something small that even they could hunt. They crouched down and stalked into the bones, until they heard a shuffling. A mouse, probably, and they leaped forward, just barely trapping it under their little claws.

With a swift bite, it squeaked and fell still and Venus sat back, waiting...

It didn't take long for it to happen, the skin and fur beginning to bubble and melt away, leaving nothing but a puddle of black oil. They hesitated, a little concerned by this. Were they sure that...this was okay? That this was safe? Well, it didn't matter - Pride was always risking his life to defend the Seven! Venus would have to do the same!

They leaned forward and licked at the liquid, nose twisting with disgust at the horrendous taste. But they forced themselves to continued, lapping it all up and choking down vomit until it was all consumed. They retched again, pressing a paw against their muzzle to stop themselves from vomiting everything they'd just eaten, before they turned and hobbled back to the tunnel to return to the altar. Perhaps more secrets would be revealed to them.

The whispers urged them, all the time, to continue to consume the oil. It was disgusting stuff, but they knew, deep in their heart where the darkness had penetrated, that if they continued to listen and follow the commands the whispers set out for them, then they would achieve that power they so desired to discover.

They were so distracted by it, though. They couldn't focus on the task they gave to themselves and when they pounced to catch the mouse they were stalking, they missed and their meal scuttled away into Canis.

They stopped for a moment, trying to collect themselves. But they just kept talking, in the back of their mind. All they wanted to do was listen to them. They were getting so close, they could just feel the cusp of their discovery, the power that it granted.

They needed to hunt, though, they needed the black. Still, too distracted to hunt, the next rat escaped with its life as well.

They stood still for a while, almost dazed as they struggled to hear the whispers, almost like they were back at the Altar again, but then it once again urged them - go out, hunt. Let it melt into the oil and consume the black. It was a strong enough urge that they snapped themselves out of their trance and padded forward.

The located a mouse quickly and darted forward, snatching it up in their jaws and snapping its neck, tearing a small chunk for food before waiting.

It didn't take long for the oil to begin spilling from its body, rendering the mouse's small body to a pile of black that Venus quickly lapped up, still cringing at the taste but keeping it all down, quite easily this time.

Once that was complete, they left the bones to return to the altar and listen more.