[Order vs Chaos] THE DISTRACTION

SHIVER ME TIMBERS! Astraea was running so FAST! Captain picked up his speed to keep up. He hardly had breath to spare to yell encouragement at Astraea, despite his strides being longer than the deer's!

Whatever the forces of Order were doing, it must be a sticky situation in there if his heartiest of hearties was in such a rush to confront them. The water buffalo felt a sudden wave of rage in his heart, and he let out a low bellow as he charged forward. Whoever DARED to make his bestie worry like this, Captain would be SURE to UTTERLY DESTROY THEM!

Destiny was at hand. And they, all of them, had played their parts well in ensuring it remained so. Had they been without gills or a calm mind, the crashing wave of Mother's affection would have drowned Halcyon, overwhelming in strength as it was. Instead they breathed it in, pride for a purpose well-fulfilled swelling in their chest to mirror the love given to them. Their head bowed in acknowledgment of her instructions, ever the obedient creation. Fingers and feet moved instantly to grip bark and descend to the forest floor.

Though we part for now, if any of you find that danger has managed to pursue you, only call and I shall locate you. Urgency taking precedence over formality, their bipedal stance was abandoned in favor of lowering to all fours. The golden glow of fins dimmed to reduce any further attention their stark white form might draw darting between the trees. While our thoughts are forever linked, may we physically meet again.

They would flee as was expected of them. They would seek safe haven, and then they would wait, preparing for the next phase of Order's grand design.

It is so sudden, the way the beautiful drones turn from their tasks and begin to flee. Rapture doesn't understand—how can they, isolated from the rest? All they know is that one moment they are watching this strange ballet of fungus and white glitter; the next, everyone is fleeing, fleeing.

Wait— they would say, if they had the words. Why are you—

Maybe they would have tried to follow on their own, fascination and unwary curiosity fueling their steps. But certainly they are too young, too small, too flightless to have caught up.

That is, until they notice hands reaching up to them, an urgent face right behind, worried. Worried for what? What's going on? What's happening? Their anxiety is (ha) infectious.

Danger? Danger—where? It all makes sense now, why everyone is running. Of course there would be danger coming, to make them leave the way they are. Even the very leaves around them seem so delicate; Rapture is suddenly aware how easy it would be to tear apart a place like this. Not to mention everyone else—

They fall into Yellow's arms without hesitation, feathers fluffed with fear as all they can do is look up with wide eyes at their savior, looking for guidance, safety.

They have these things and more (as Mother always does); it would take little coersion at all for Rapture to trust the sifaka's words and swallow down the unassuming white fungus that Mother's voice lived in.

ORDER VS CHAOS

THE DISTRACTION

"Beautifully done." The wash of approval was immense, as her children safely fled. A tide of love as their reward, of endorphin exaltation and seratonin satisfaction. She spared them a brief glance, too, of the battle ongoing in Canis.

A flash of white armor. A roar. Pit traps and charging Drones.

"Thanks to you... they stand... near uncontested. Canis... will be ours. And now... rest... and we will move on."

Order has Succeeded in The Distraction. All members of the Hive have escaped. Effects of this will be posted shortly, along with Master Astraea.

SCORE TALLY
This will be updated as the thread progresses.

132

Astraea swept in with mouth wide, panting and gasping for breath. Flanks heaved. Only once he had arrived here--once his powers swept out before him, and told him too late--did he return to his dignified stalk.

But already, the effects of Order were making themselves known.

Threads of white fungus were blooming among the trees, dangling like putrid spiderwebs. The Lessers that fled his approach were white-eyed and empty, shells of creatures intended only to serve the enemy. The fruits of Eridanus's trees were hollowing and filled with dust.

Fury rose in him.

"We are too late," he seethed, sparing a flash of ruby glare back to Captain. And then he paused, considering what best to do.

Tenzin might be of no help to him. Farina-... she would rage, but she could hardly move swiftly across the caves. And she would already be aware of this incursion, he thought. As for himself--he'd be best-used here. He'd need to clean this, as quickly as possible, lest the infestation spread. But if I do not chase these beasts down... It would spread further.

After a moment he came to a decision, looking sharply to Captain. "You will not be safe from the magic here. I need you to do something for me. Rush to Draco. Find Master Vargas and the Chaos Forge. Send them Astraea's warning: that Order is on the march. And please--be swift." He paused, studying Captain. This blunt, brutish bull, good-natured but clumsy, with his stone such an impediment--would he be enough-? "The fate of the caves ride on your shoulders. Go."

He then turned his attention to the trees. The first surge of his magic reached out, coiling into the fungus and tearing it free in great white sheets--and as Astraea strode forward, it dissembled into ash and swept away on the wind.