ORIGIN - YOU ARE HOLY, RIGHTEOUS AND REDEEMED

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Her impulsive self writhed in the plasma-hot grasp of chaos. It crawled beneath her skin, swarming in smoky waves of pitchy blackness; urged her to go. Go Draconua did—she slunk out from beneath the Black Spire, as was ritual, and she tore through the Aperture. Raw entropy rose in her throat like gobs of bile as she went. A black smoldering ran painfully up and down her flanks; crushing hands grasped at whatever they could; an iridescent sheen lay in her wake, the earth defiled by her very presence.

Pegasus's green was like the target of a shooting range. As soon as she broke into the living forest, her maw tore fully open; from it came a peal of corrupt flame, half-fanned by her rising, hussaresque wings. It clung to the living wood, gnawing at its bark and leaving inky darkness in its wake. The Sleepless Chaos chased her own cast, even as her jaws snapped back shut. Living wood would take time to catch, but she could help it.

Her hunger for chaos was just as—if not more—ravenous than the fires, and she showed no hesitation in locking her jaws around the nearest tree. The tusks of her bottom jaw gored through its fibers, exposing tender flesh to the roaring flames surging up. She raised her claws and struck at the wood, too, and already inhaled as if to take another breath.

James was no fighter, not a good one, anyway.

He'd been grazing, tail swishing, the warm lights from above heating his dark coat pleasantly. He'd left his son, his child at home to nap, but the tranquil day wouldn't last long. The crashing of trees, the roaring of flame thankfully far off alerted him to danger, his hooves flying from underneath him as he suddenly spooked, whirling around to try and locate the noise.

Sensing that settling near Draco was a terrible idea to begin with, his home was as far as he could get it, near the Cepheus tunnel and a little bit past. His ears flew up and his amber eyes searched the meadows to see if he could find the destruction and then, against his better judgement, against his urges to flee, his wings spread and he took flight.

He witnessed Draconua from above, saw the horrid flames and the sheer Chaos this beast radiated. Horror dawned on him, and he knew this had to be stopped.

... Somehow. He just hoped he wouldn't be alone in this fight. Not against a creature like this, one he'd seen in action before. His heart fluttered in his chest and he breathed in, breathed out. As long as he stayed in the air, as long as he stayed out of range of the flames and those wicked teeth and claws, he'd be mostly out of danger. Mostly.

His magic flickered when he called it and he veered away, hopefully before he could be noticed, though his flashy wings ought to have alerted the beast to his presence. He darted over the trees, perching in one precariously a good hundred feet from the danger, chest heaving, his breaths already coming in pants.

'Come on, magic!!', he thought desperately, 'Fail me at the trial, sure, but don't fail me now... not when so much more is on the line.'

Maybe he could yell at it- no, terrible idea. It would definitely react poorly.

@Draconua

As necessary, Vander had found himself refamiliarizing himself with the caves and exploring the new ones opened to them, rediscovered during his hibernation. Perhaps he'd find Vargas- or, not, since he quite dearly hoped he wouldn't in the long run.

Funny how he could hope for things now.

Pegasus was nice. Its air was temperate, and the winds were easy on his wings to soar across. It was almost too nice- fitting, that it laid behind a palace. He hadn't wanted to explore that one. No- too many awkward thoughts, too much fear laced in a single brick structure.

His ears flicked back and his face twitched into the facsimile of a frown. No. He was here to scout and to survey, nothing more, and to establish connections for the Sentinels. He didn't know if Doctor would want to return. After all, with no trials happening, there was no use for him- not yet. But, they still needed recruits, and they needed those to train for their plans.

And when Vander said they, he really meant himself. Hemlocke was Hemlocke, and was following orders as much as he was, but he found it best to take control in place of his fellow Champion. With a soft flap and readjustment of his angle, he turned to soar towards a distant opening, muscles tired from staying aloft for such a long time.

His exhaustion drew out of him as a burst of color lit up in his peripheral. What..? Was this a natural part of this cave? It didn't seem so, not like Leo, and so Vander twisted his wings to glide in closer. Another had taken to the sky, drawing Vander's sharp eagle-eyes, tracing the flying... Horse? That's what Warrior was, right? Vander's jaw worked as he gently flapped to regain slight altitude, staying far enough away from the action as to not get noticed in all of it.

Besides, the attention all seemed to be on whatever beast was causing this destruction. What was it? One of Vargas's offspring, perhaps? Vander tilted somewhat to begin a gentle, circling descent, head tracking Draconua as he studied her. Large. Flaming. Dripping. He wasn't sure if he liked her.

But, well, it did seem more serious than a few Bonebound cornering an old colleague of his.

Comet had been idly snoozing away on a warm rock while James had been munching on his grass. Her ear perked up to the horse flying up into the air, his powerful wings ruffling her fur. Wait a second-- why? Opening her eyes, she saw that there was a huge DRAGON. A million questions drifted through her mind. Was she related to Carja? What was her name? Why was she here in Pegasus? Is she nice? Oh is that fire?! OH SHOOT THIS BAD!

This dragon was not a nice one that was for sure, she looked like she was trying to destroy Pegasus on purpose! Hoping that James would stay safe, she ran closer to the area of destruction. The level of chaos that was happening in the area could not be stopped by any normal spell. She knew what she had to do.

Comet reached for her magic, but nothing came. Darn! The one time when she needed it to work it failed.

Today was a horrible day to go branch collecting.

Sharp was a merchant. The merchant, she liked to brag. The best crafter in the caves! But what is a craftslizard without her supplies? So she left her little half-finished den ('I'll finish it someday!') every now and then, headed to the great forest of the cave, and foraged for what she needed before heading back.

And that was exactly what the sungazer was doing when the pounding started behind her.

She was half-buried into the dirt like a goblin, rickety cart half-filled with various sticks. A guttural roar, the slamming of massive feet, and her head lifted in surprise-- what was that? Sharp had just a moment before Draconua's terrifying silhouette burst into view and turned the world upside down.

Midnight flames licked over the trees. Gnashing teeth ripped trees out of the ground.

Her instincts told her to run. And boy did she run.

The mottled lizard was bolting out of there faster than a lightning bolt. Scratch that-- she quickly doubled back, grabbed her cart, and then started sprinting. Her tiny feet clawed at the ground and kicked up a spray behind her, accelerating faster and faster like a miniature screaming torpedo. Er, a bit too fast, perhaps, given that one of the wheels popped off and was now spilling it's contents all over the ground. But Sharp did not notice. Sharp did not care. All Sharp knew was 'GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUUUUUUUU-'

The moment she cleared the forest's edge she let go of the handle, sped past the oh-so-familiar white pup, and said her message to the world:

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE--" gasp "--EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH!"

Truly inspiring.

As Pegasus's forest started to catch fire, it cried out—billowing plumes of smoke rising high into the air, wood creaking and hissing as it burned. One of the Gembound was crying out in a high-pitched shriek. It was impossible for Azigh to ignore.

He pushed his magical wards aside with his swaying lantern, then erupted from the refuge's illusory walls. Wings spread wide with an echoing WHUMPF! and with every beat spent ascending. When he could see all of the Endless Mile, he swooped to glide quickly over it. His shadow fell over the wooded dell as he followed the sound of chaos.

Once, he'd summoned the Gembound to fight—the golem barring the junction to this very cave—but that had very nearly ended in disaster. Azigh did not wish for them to do such a thing again; especially those familiar faces standing aside while this Valkhound laid waste to their home—too stunned or too scared to do anything. And so, he did not call for their help.

Wings thumped heavily against the air as he descended before Draconua, the wind roaring as fire ate and ate. "Go!" he shouted, seemingly from everywhere, to the Gembound, "get away from here."

Every arm surrounding his face outstretched, golden scars glinting in the light. The wind shifted, yawning to a furious intensity, and crashed down onto the burning fire, suffocating it to nothing but smoldering entropy. Azigh landed heavily, leaning slightly on the haft of his lantern, and willed the very essence of air to fall onto Draconua's form. Her limbs would buckle immediately, head made to meet the earth as if pushed down by an invisible hand.

"Stop," Azigh commanded, one thousand voices whispering around the Valkhound, "what is the meaning of this?" He stayed where he was, hands grasping in the air to maintain what might ultimately be a feeble attempt at incapacitation.

There were others here, and one that she recognized: that strange hoofed-beast from the Hunt. Feathered and winged, his shadow fell over her for only a moment. Draconua hardly averted her gaze from her current target—another tree gored by her tusks and teeth—to acknowledge him, but she knew he was there, watching from above. Good, then, because what was more entertaining than having witnesses to her own destruction? None of them seemed to be able to do anything but watch or flee.

Perfect.

Her flanks swelled, voidfire blooming in her throat and burning black—the oncoming wingbeats snuffed that out and quieted her. Crushing pressure fell around her ribs and she nearly immediately collapsed on the ground. Dark eyes blew wide in their pinhole sockets, and she dragged her jaw along the ground to face the other creature. Her grin never left her face as she glared up. Hussaresque wings and their claws dug into the earth.

"'What is the meaning of this?'" she wheezed, rattled out. The Sleepless Chaos barked a stifled laugh, "you must be able to tell. What could it be but chaos? Destruction? Fire, I, Chaos only consumes." Her magic thrummed in the back of her skull, and the sickly scent of ozone rose in the air. "Let me go, and do not stand in my way, or," claws grasped at the charred grass and she pushed against the pressure to little avail, "tell me who you are—and why I should be cowed."

With that, a coil of lightning sparked from her. It was black as night, stealing directly for Azigh's face like some vicious, predatory serpent. Despite her entire body groaning in complaint, Draconua shoved upwards with a wheezing roar. Come at me.

@James @Comet @Sharp @Vander

James was a coward, there was no denying, but when it came to his family, his home, his lion heart burst forth. He saw Azigh and his eyes widened, hope dawning like a sunrise. He'd helped him before, helped defend the caves against Mother, so it was only fair that James return the favor.

Because James wasn't an idiot, he'd cast his spell first and dive, taking his chance during their dialogue. Azigh could take a hit better than he could, but the less hits anyone took, the better.

The pegasus shot down the moment the shield materialized, wings flaring out and spreading out the shield so that he took the brunt of the hit. He was pushed back by it, but the shield held, and held strong. Both him and Azigh were safe, at least for now.

"You're not alone," he said, turning his head slightly, wings beating the air, brilliant colors flashing, "You can give them time to escape, but I can help you double it."

He nodded gently, remembering the raid, and turned to Draconua, ears pinning, his tail and crest flaring. Oh no, Azigh wasn't alone. He only hoped Comet would turn and run to get Pegasus, to flee with him to Sun and their family in Eridanus.

"I've met this creature before," James said, fearing for his life now that he'd inserted himself in the fight, "And if you don't mind... I'm going to stay as far out of her range as possible."

He'd just drop pumpkins on her head.

Comet was about to make another attempt at putting out the fire when Azigh appeared. And with that, the forest fire was put out. Go away? She couldn't do that! James was here, and the fight wasn't over yet. She couldn't let the monster destroy her home. Their home. She had to be here to end it before things got worse, Azigh was here, surely it couldn't get too out of hand? But he still needed help.

Comet looked up at James, and at that moment, knew exactly what she needed to do. Make a pumpkin. The large orange... fruit? Appeared between her paws. "Renny! Launch this at her!"

And here came the cavalry. "COME ON!" came the cry from high above- his arm pitched down as he swirled in circles, hovering and watching.

He didn't know who the face-fist person was, but they sure had to ruin the fun, ey? "I'M NOT LEAVING." Vander was quite adamant about staying, it seemed, as he flapped gently to keep soaring. They were talking, and even over the wind in his ears, he could make out just enough that sung to the tune of no, I'm a giant monster, so fuck off.

That really spoke to him. A grin curled over his face, his Hydra-gifted tusks glinting in the cavelight. Was this a permanent beast, this time? Part of him hoped so. It'd be good to sow a little chaos in the caves and bring purpose to the Sentinels again- not like he'd mobilize some pitiful force against a kaiju, of all things. But, he could use one as a trial.

Too bad he wasn't some sort of Master. Ah, well. A Valkhound could dream, couldn't he?

His fingered wings flapped again as he tracked Draconua. Sure, he could goad them again, like he did with that last spectator sport, but would it be worth the risk? Over half the creatures he could see literally had wings. No, maybe just some words of encouragement- are you kidding? No. That wasn't Vander's thing.

Maybe he could ask about them later. For now, he'd sit back and watch the action unfold.

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