Emuh had been given time. And Pride wanted to know what all of this was all... about. This mysterious secondary cave, its rather ominous rings--the horror of their creation not least of all. What could possibly justify the cruelties that had been part of its making? What had Emuh meant by transcendence?
He approached, now, delicate steps carrying him close to the edge, peering into the cave beyond the opened door. His fluting voice called out, pale eyes narrowing in concentration, the armor at his back, flanks and neck clinking quietly.
And out of habit, drew his magicka close like a cloak, and a shield--a now-constant defense for the stag.
It was not, as it turned out, a good start to things--whether the nature of the cave itself, or his own magic simply backfiring, or perhaps the interference of the chaotic magic of Polaris. The shield did not... shield, but instead swept up a number of rocks toward Pride at high speed, as if in reverse of its intention: rocks that battered off his armor with clangs, and smacked off his legs, stumbling him.
He cried out in surprise and pain, nearly falling, turning to stare wide-eyed. ...Now he'd be limping for his trial.
No, not a good start at all.
Brilliant green eyes eyed Pride up and down, and the fiery, ember-sparking shroud flitting around the owl shifted abruptly to a pulsing, almost-visible pure energy. "WHO--ONE OF YOU!" Emuh cried, and then caw-hooted in further amusement.
The great owl-beast turned.
The cave behind it--dull and dim--shifted abruptly, contorting and changing. Pale gray-violet stone now lined the room's floor, perhaps the size of a large gymnasium: but it was littered with loose stones ranging from pebbles to boulders, some of which were simply floating midair. A great crevasse separated off the left third of the room, and a long, thin, weak-looking bridge stretched across to link the two sides. It was likely too broad to jump, though its depth could not be seen, from here: it was higher than the rest.
Beyond this crevasse stood a single pedestal, a shining white rock visible atop it--a goal, perhaps?--and now, strange swarms of Echoing Gray lesser rats began to... manifest, as if out of nothing, along the far ledge, beyond the walkway and surrounding the white stone.
Emuh did not explain this, what any of it meant; instead he simply laughed again, unpleasant and grating. "PROVE YOURSELF," was all he said.
He seemed to simply assume that Pride was here to test himself, to Transcend; surely he had to know that, yes-? As with Aure; why else would he be here?
Pride blinked, stepping one hoof forward and staring at the room simply... changing.
Prove himself-? He had only come here to ask questions; but perhaps the owl would only answer once he had done so?
And again he tried to draw his magicka about him--to prepare, just in case those Grays rushed in for the attack. This time the magicka flared up powerfully, drawing into him and into his armor, pulsing there with ominous potential.
...Good. That was better than the rock-thing.
Clearly, he did not want his time wasted.
The Echoing Grays all turned, their glittering eyes locking on Pride from a distance. It was clear that all this noise had now drawn their attention.
He sighed.
Well, the gemstone chrysalis he thought he'd briefly seen lying just outside indicated, at least, that this place might be dangerous but at least not fatal. ...He hoped. This must be some kind of test, some sort of proving, though the white stag wasn't quite sure that the reward would be something good.
There was only one way to find out, then. He took several steps inside, eyeing the Echoing Grays. Perhaps he could distract them, then. He tried to send out a doppleganger, something to distract them... to lead them away from the brightly-shining stone.
Then, first one and then a few and then all of them began rushing across the bridge, straight for the white stag.
He gritted his teeth. This was already not going... well. He could see, as he paced closer into the cave, that the crevasse, though fairly narrow, was quite deep. And now the rats were rushing over it in a deadly swarm.
Uhoh.
He had his own ways of getting over the gap; he had no desire to mass-slaughter the rats, but perhaps he could at least... dissuade them. That said, he somehow didn't think they would be willing to listen to reason. And many were already pouring over the bridge--even if his magic succeeded, some of them would die.
Damn.
He shook his head briefly, a little grimly, and cast his magic at the bridge--an attempt to simply destroy it, to change it to molten rock, to a plasma that would flash and fall.
Unfortunately, if he succeeded, it would take some Echoing Grays with it.
A moment later the others--the six or so left behind on the far ledge--were squealing their rage, pacing to and fro with furious eyes, wishing to get at (and destroy) the stag who had clearly killed their allies.
Between them, the shining white stone still glimmered.
Pride winced at the violence. Sometimes, it was necessary but now-? This was a foolish test, unnecessary suffering and death.
He didn't like it.
The alternative would have been to be attacked, of course, so he wasn't terribly guilty--this was Emuh's fault, more than his.
Pale eyes settled on the white stone. He didn't need to go over there to retrieve it. No more Lessers had to die.
Pride looked around, and found a fairly similarly-sized rock nearish his hooves. He stepped beside this, and concentrated on it--and then on the shining stone beyond the crevasse. Perhaps he could simply... switch them. He could, of course, simply drag it over with his mind; but he feared accidentally dropping it halfway across the gap. That... would not do. Whatever this stone was, he had a feeling it was integral to Emuh's "test."
So he reached out, and attempted to translocate this white rock with his own. He could not quite see, though, having merely squinted against his own white fire (and he berated himself for this, in his mind)--and gripped nothing at all.
It seemed the white stag had been given a deadline...