[Quest] The Three Kings - Wild Hunt

Large and menacing, and green eyes. Green eyes staring, so many, just watching and everyone seemed to be okay with it? No, no this was not okay. Toxic green eyes: evil. The cub watched him push his way in, caring for no one else, ignoring the size of the alcove for of course, what were they compared to him? Part of her wanted to saunter straight up to him and climb on the huge creature, the other part was far too wary of what those green eyes and what they meant.

Her eyes had to turn away from him, though her mind never did, to the twisting kings, their voices both as one and separate. Perhaps the most interesting character she had seen yet. She very much has to get to know them. Kings, paladins, leaders, rulers. How very fun! If she helped them - one of them, all of them, were they actually separate or one thing? - would she become one of those kings who had a bunch of titles, now that was intriguing.

Others began to leave, announcing what they were going to look for - without asking any questions? insanity! - she noted the green eyed one left for blood (why was that not surprising) and those that followed him. The blood of the savage did sound like it would be the most interesting one, though she could not follow after them just yet. "What will these things do, what are you making with them?" A nod of her head as someone else spoke, asking an important question about savages. Unlike the other though, she cared not about herself, only about the knowledge to gain from these so called Kings and how it might help in the future. "Where did the Hunt begin? Why did it begin? Why our help? Have you done anything about it? How do we know something is pure of heart? What if the stick is not flat enough? How much blood do we need? What will happen if we leave the hunt be? Or help them? Or save the...the quarry?" Rattling off question after question, sitting in front like an attentive little child who could not keep her hand down for the teacher had to pick her.

Sharp's head cocked curiously as the colorful-eyed entity spoke. It had three voices, which was weird, but considering that some of the other Gembound she had met included a fire-spitting humanoid, a massive dragon and... well, Vargas... it didn't faze her too much. Heck, right now she was sitting next to a 5-ton dinosaur. But what did peak her interest was what they said. Between the pheasant's seeming bouts of internal bickering, they asked for three things-- the hair of a fair beast, a savage's blood, and a long, metallic (or stone, or wood) rod. Now, finding metal? Sharp, being the scrappy little lizard she was, was always trying to find metal! It wouldn't be too hard to find the pole they needed, right?

So, instead of asking questions like an intelligent creature, the sungazer's mind zeroed in on the blue-eyed's request. "Rod! Rod for the kingies!" she cried, tapping her feet around in her signature happy dance. She could do this! The back of her mind noticed the black-white-red reptilian and the lithe herbivore from before leaving, also apparently looking for stones. With a hum and a spring in her step, she fumbled towards them, leaving the Kings behind her.

thinking | "speaking"
Temp exit for the rod!

The Kings watched, and listened, as the children spoke amongst themselves. They did not speak, for this did not concern them; but then questions were asked of them, and they began to answer.

The dark dog was asking if the huntsmen were like hands, and for a moment this confused the Kings--ahh, but Hargrave did not mean literal hands, did she? No, she spoke of this cave's authority structure--if even it remained as it had. "No," the voices answered, in calm tandem. "They are... primal energy, made manifest." "Not perfectly accurate, of course, but that is the best description."

Crown's question had their icy eyes turning toward him. "We just told you-!" Alnitak began, fierce, but was silenced by the overriding voice of Mintaka. "Do you mean, who to obtain the items from? No; you will need to use what you know of these caves." A nod was given to Aran, as this answer was given, as it applied to both their questions.

And last, Akaari: her flood of questions striking each of the Kings in a different way. "We will need to make a beacon-" Mintaka began, only for Alnitak to interrupt. "Too straight? Why would it matter if it is too straight!? We did not say if it should be straight, or round-" "A rod is rounded, Alnitak-" Alnilam cut in last, a quiet, soothing voice, but strong in its own right. "It began a very long time ago. And we do not interfere, ourselves, except to allow you to do so, because we do not agree on how to proceed. We-" "Alnilam would save every prey beast, and let the predators starve. Ha! Weakn-" "And you would see them all slain," Alnilam cut in. The colors making up the galaxy-hued bird swirled more violently, the stones at its chest rotating more quickly. "Perhaps we can stick to the history, and tell them what will happen-? Let them decide," Mintaka cut in, calmly.

There was a quiet "hrmph," and the combined voices began to speak.

"It is a hunt that has canvassed the galaxies again and again, weaving into myths and legends across many worlds," and the voices were melodic now. "Its ending is... difficult to describe. But to favor the quarry strengthens all prey. And to favor the hunters grants boons to all predators, for a time. To stand aside, and let happen what may, leaves it to fate: and sometimes weaves a lesser blessing for those who fail, or fall."
This explained, the Kings fell silent; and then they waited, for the Gembound to do as they would.

___________________

When Scout returned--the first, the Kings hoped, of many--they examined the branches.

"We said RODS! Of metal, or stone, or WOOD! This is living-" "It will do. You have done well," the second voice interrupted; and then the third, with a smile in its tone: "In fact, perhaps living wood is even better."