It lingered near the glowing-cave with the big crystal. It observed it with passive interest and a healthy touch of fear. It had attempted to touch it once and that had not gone particularly well. It looked at it now, sitting cat-like, the tip of its tail twitching as it observed the many facets and followed popping sparks coming off of the Spire. It was very energizing here. It wondered why.

It didn't hear, at first, the sound of a chrysalis breaking, blending almost completely into the sound of the Spire crackling, but it most certainly did hear the voice that rose up above the sound. Its head snapped around in its direction and it rose to its feet, wide eyes blinking as it looked for what had made that sound.

Hard at first to narrow in on the location of Virelle, so well did she blend into her surroundings, that it had to go walking towards her at first until at last he noticed the cowering wolf pup. It paused, leaning forward a bit. It was very small, wasn't it?

"Yes. I am here," it called as it approached, long ears twisted forward with interest. It made no efforts to appear smaller or less imposing, but it did not approach aggressively. It was simply interested, curious, short nose twitching curiously.

Its gaze was distracted momentarily by the chrysalis shards scattered about. Very pretty pale blue, which was odd to Athebyne - in a cave system with so, so many valkhounds emerging at once, it had yet to meet someone without an oilstone core. At first, it mistook this crystal for something else - it glanced back at the Spire behind them. "How did you get over here?" it wondered aloud. "Are there more of you?"