ORIGIN

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Anger simmered in Zhusha's chest at Vargas' blunt command to get out: not that he hadn't been going to anyway, but what right did the purple beast have to order them around like that?

Ah... Zhusha's heart sped up at the following words. Perhaps there was some justification after all; he did not know who this Merchant was or what he would be releasing, but if it was enough to make even this giant afraid...

He fled with the rest of them through the tunnel, his emotions boiling all the while in a confused soup of fear, resentment, and this is an opportunity; take it. Zhusha was not one for cooperating with monsters--today had proven that whatever short-sighted gains were possible through doing so were improbable and far more likely to be outweighed by the massive harm such a beast could do.

But. Was Vargas a monster? He was rational and spoke reasonably, clearly different from Draconua in that regard. He had warned them of the mysterious Merchant's threat. Yet he had never actually been wrong when judging by one's monstrous appearance. The monsters who appeared to be monsters had all turned out to actually be monsters.

Tempting though it was to reject Vargas' offer in the rudest way possible, it was already too late for that. He would have to think about this.

exit

Nemo

After ensuring that Pride makes his way out- and sighing in relief that he'd found someone, helped someone instead of failing again- He sweeps a few more times, before winging out of the cave, to settle just outside the mouth. Able to look in, and stare down the Tunnel. The absence of... anyone, has him wary, as had the bounding form of Tahi-Shei into the howling white, towards what he thinks is another Tunnel.

He... can't help the deer, he scowls as best he can with his brows and body, wings shaking in exhaustion from battling the storm and being so... so high off the ground.

The howling winds bring back bad memories, ones that haunt his nightmares, and the fear has only been slightly dulled by time, and surprisingly, dulled by his performance out in in the storm. Nemo knows that eh can handle more than he could back when he hatched, but.

But.

That doesn't make the shaking stop- all it does is feed the gnawing guilt in his stomach.

Carefully folding one wing in to rub against his bauble, he finds a crevice to shelter from the wind, and biting snow. And lapses into a companionable silence with his doubts.

So, he waits.

/exit Nemo
~~If anyone needs help getting out, you can assume Nemo helped them into the Tunnel before this! If it's allowed, of course.~~

Having helped Twisted to the ground, Madhukar was now focused on getting out. The mission had been a bust, for better or worse, and Madhukar felt -- beneath all the fury -- just... conflicted. She had to talk to Tahi-shei, that was certain. Tahi-shei... where was he going? Back to Vargas? She could only imagine how he felt right now... I mean, this whole plan was a fool's errand to begin with, but now that reality was set out in broad daylight, where even Tahi-shei couldn't pretend not to see it. Seriously? Make children and leave them behind? So, what, they'll end up just like us?! That was a cruel thought. Madhukar knew it was cruel, but...

There were a few takeaways from this. Anything learned would be fuel for Tahi-shei's second attempt. There was no stopping his curiosity. It was deeper than any magic that ran through any mind, and more of a force of nature than any storm. The biggest lesson was just Draconua. Madhukar could take care of that-- would take care of that. Tied for second place were weather and cooperation. How could they get anywhere if only he could see? None of them were trained for these conditions, nor were they trained to work together. They had to be on par with Vargas' beasts, like Draconua but actually functional. Which made Madhukar wonder why it was them who had to do this anyway...?

Tahi-shei was set to leave. Madhukar would follow. When would he try again? What would learning be like? Would there be combat training?? Because Madhukar didn't think she could really do that here, for... several reasons. Six green eyes, beams of light, piercing rays-- Several reasons.

She wasn't exhilarated. She wasn't calm. The worries were building... Madhukar had a feeling that she was due for many conversations, sooner or later. Many conversations, and one wish to grant...

- exit -

Chaos, shouting. The blizzard howled in his face-- and Reign found himself lost. He reared his head in confusion, the snowflakes a dizzying flurry blinding his eyes. A voice shouted for any stragglers. "I'm here!" the king roared, struggling to be heard over the storm.

He ran towards the voices.

The crunch of paws against packed snow.

The distant screech of an iceworm.

-- And he was at the entrance again.

His brain was too numbed by chaos and snow to think about it. His coat had slipped off, and now dangled around his neck like a furry apron. Ice tinged his paws. He stumbled past the straggling group, shooting an unreadable glance at Tahi-Shei as he panted, and limped down the tunnel to safer lands. He wanted to forget about this whole thing.

Quick Reign exit.

Following Madhukar's lead, Twisted sprinted through the storm towards the fated exit. She lept over the barricades, stumbled into quiet airs, and collapsed. Too much had happened in one hour for her to comprehend. She was tired. She didn't care about the Deer, arguing his case for why they failed. She didn't care about the Monster, her claws stained with that of a hivemind's beast. She didn't care about the Vargas or the arguing or anything these idiots were talking about. All she wanted was a nap.

So she trotted down the tunnel on frostbit paws, found a crevice hidden from other's sight, and did so.

Another super short, super late exit for Twisted.

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Zhusha

Nemo

Maw

Reign

Twisted