The Creature of the Black Lagoon [open]

Haven was about to shoot forward, to maybe hug or exclaim her joy to Tenzin, only to trip and fall flat, landing with a groan. In her excitement, she hadn't noticed that her own blessings had been draining the magic from her, though with the gift Tenzin gave, she now knew it was her own life she'd been so willingly handing over.

"Electrum...", she groaned, forcing herself to her feet before sluggishly making her way over, "I'm so tired..."

Clumsily she flopped down against his chest, tail sprawling behind her, the cold that filled the cave making her shiver gently. She wasn't built for it, with little fat and no fur or feathers to protect herself.

"I want... to go home...", she mumbled, then to Tenzin she softly said, "It's nice to meet you... I promise I'll visit later..."

And with that she was out like a light, pressed up against Electrum with her limbs tucked up. It was lucky she was light, or Electrum would have a very difficult time getting her somewhere safe. Assuming he did.

Comet had still been splayed out by the shore of the lagoon when she heard something in the water. What was happening? Was the chrysalis... hatching? She looked down into the water, see a glow. Suddenly, the air became really cold and the top of the lagoon partially froze. The cold was nothing to Comet, whose thick fur shielded her from it.

The phoenix Tenzin emerged from the lagoon, and from when she first set her eyes on him, she knew she was looking at a master of water. So here they were, not only a water magic user, but a master. This was someone who she wanted to learn from. She gasped in amazement, and was about to say something, when she felt a strong feeling of sleepiness wash over her.

So-- this was what he had meant by 'this'. Looking around, Comet saw that the dragon had already succumbed to the pull, and she forced herself to an area a bit further away from the water before collapsing on the ground. Everyone else here-- had someone to be with, to fall asleep on. But who did she have? James didn't accompany her on adventures, and she wished he had this time. But that was okay, no harm was going to come to her while she slept, and it was only going to be for a little while, right?

"Exit to sleep"

@James

First, Madhukar felt some magical leave her. Then, everything froze.

The chill reached in and tickled the cat's spine. She couldn't help the shiver, or the sudden shock, or the feeling of being unable to move. She couldn't stop the light, when it shimmer beneath water and then made its way up, when it broke the surface. She couldn't stop the words from pooling into her mind from one end and dripping out the other, somehow insignificant. Somehow being drained of significance. 'Who are you ? who are you ? who are you ? who...' She couldn't stop the light that touched her soul and then, finally, she couldn't stop the subsequent, irresistible, unrelenting, overwhelming drowsiness.

Madhukar tried to fall away from the crowd, but it seemed as though languor was whispering chicanery, misdirections, into her ears. What was happening? What had she just seen?? Some kinda big funky ice chicken... HUGE... she should go back to Eridanus... where's that darn tunnel-- oh, that thing looks long and wormy! Like... tunnel...

Lights: out.

Eventually the kitty would have to wake up to the utter embarrassment of having flopped herself on top of the draconic duo, Haven and Electrum, for her nap. But that embarrassment would wait. Just let her sleep, for now.

Think "Speak"

James had followed Comet's trail, wings flapping as he darted through the tunnels as fast as he dared, legs tucked up and tail flared, head low and mane streaming. He landed at the entrance of Pisces and saw the ice in the distance, quickly taking wing again and darting over as quickly as he could.

He swooped down low and landed as daintily as a flower petal drifting to the floor, tucking in his wings as he witnessed the awakening of Tenzin, looking over to Pride, remaining silent until Tenzin receded again.

"... Tenzin, hm?", he mumbled, and whisked forward to lash his wing out to tuck under Comet's head as she fell, cushioning it against the stone.

"I'm here, dearling," he said, more than a bit worried as he watched others fall one by one, his ears pinning.

James took Comet by the scruff and gently pulled her over to Pride, brows furrowed, "Thank you for watching over her- I'll ask her what happened when we're home."

With some maneuvering, he pulled Comet onto his back, tucking her safely between his wings, the shoulders of the appendages keeping her secure. Thank goodness she wasn't fully grown or else this would be impossible. The stallion took a few steps and galloped, taking off into the air and being ever so careful to keep Comet steady, quickly departing.

Before Tenzin emerged, Pride did his best to explain, a little bit. It was grim, soft. "Tenzin is one of the cave's Masters. But you can trust him; he is nothing but kind, gentle. He aided one of the Seven--Amazon--and myself; she was very sick and he helped me to keep her healthy." Pride didn't go into specifics; they hadn't been pleasant and it wasn't necessary, anyway. "That Lord Dhracia... she tore him apart." It was softly-said, grim. "I have been visiting him--he has been asleep, not dead, but..."

The images flickered through his mind, then--Tenzin's voice, gentle, urging. Don't-? Don't..?

Pride was unsure he could manage to impart life, to grant it; he'd done it only a cycle or two ago, though at least that had been only one child. Perhaps the others had been doing so before he arrived. But determination set in him. Tenzin had given of himself again, and again, and again to help someone who'd been nothing to him: Pride was not about to let the gift go unanswered.

He sent out a surge of magicka--one perhaps weakened by what he didn't have to give, one that nevertheless left him staggered, dizzied.

Pride was barely awake, aware, for the ice phoenix rising from the lagoon: as if in a dream he watched him, relief flooding through him, even as weariness took him to the rock. Before he could speak further, even as Tenzin withdrew, Pride's eyes were slipping shut, and his consciousness falling into sleep.

Pride's sacrifice had not gone unnoticed, either. Far below the lagoon surface where Tenzin's chrysalis lay, a small blemish cracked free, floating in place. As Tenzin descended again to his resting spot, he willed the waters to swirl around it, this little icy turquoise—and the water spun it up and out of the lagoon, gently, to place it behind the waterfall. There it would grow for two weeks, a piece of Tenzin and a piece of Pride, sharing their sacrifice to make a new life.

The numbers swelled at the lagoon, and chaos rose alongside them as Fahl struggled to follow events. In what felt like an instant, activity erupted over chrysalis within. There was an outpour of magic from multiple sources, all seeking to reach out to touch the being, whether out of curiosity or genuine attempt at aid. He did nothing—cold stiffened his joints, and his mind was too lost in bewilderment to reach out for warmth.

And then he shivered violently as the chill seemed to expand and smack against his scales. The waters parted away and... the Master rose before sinking once again. Awe widened Fahl's eyes. Unknowing of the true meaning of the title, he associated the strength and majesty witnessed with a distant future he'd yet to achieve. Not one of cold like this, but one of searing heat.

For a brief moment, frost bit into his tongue. Mind awash with dumbfounded reverence, the sensation barely registered. The growing pile of unconscious bodies, however, did. He sighed, taking in the view with a prickling uncertainty. Should he bother to look after these strangers?

No. He turned away from the sight. There were shortcomings to be addressed. Steps jerky and uneven, the scene slowly fell behind Fahl as he left.

-Exit