The stag had waited behind. At first he had been patient, hoping that the Collector would return--but after the others had left (or rather, all but Kera), there was still no sign of him.

His tail was now twitching with impatience and he paced to and fro among the mounds of bones. "Did you see the way he simply vanished?" He said this quietly, over his shoulder, to the white wolf. It was strange to him--he replayed the imagery in his mind. The tall figure had raised a red-glowing hand to the newly-hatched moth creature. The hybrid had said "no," and simply stepped aside, and shortly thereafter the Collector had gone.

What had that been all about..?

"Should we call for him, do you think?" Pride then asked, glancing back to Kera. He knew nothing of this figure--little or nothing. Not what to expect, or the like--but he knew it was one of the Elders, and he wished to speak with it. Perhaps to ask what it could offer.

Pride jumped.

One moment he was neatly on all fours, ears pricked for any sound, one forehoof raised delicately into the air. the next--the instant the deep voice spoke from just behind--he was a foot in the air, launching forward before coming down with a clatter of hooves. Before he could even register it he was facing the voice, head high with shock and nostrils flared.

He blinked, and calmed himself a fraction.

Ahh, it's just--him. Magic, I suppose.
"--My own apologies," he fluted, still trying to relax his nerves. "We did not mean to take you from whatever business you attend to. I came to ask about you--for information--if that is not prying too much? I seek knowledge." He wasn't sure what this "Collector" did, exactly, or what he'd be willing to offer in terms of information--but it couldn't hurt to ask.

He glanced at Kera, wondering if the wolf had been as surprised as he had--but he imagined her nerves were somewhat steadier than his. Though he didn't always buy into species stereotypes, he had to admit that his flight reflexes as a stag were... well-honed.

Pride stepped a little closer, intending to indicate that the Collector didn't actually frighten him past the initial shock. It wasn't a bravado thing, but more... politeness; to stay cowering away from a stranger was--well, rather rude.

He listened intently, glancing to Kera and then to the Collector. "If your knowledge is--ahh, collected, from outside sources, are you certain that it is truth?" Only belatedly did the 'dear/deer' pun register, and he winced a little, but said nothing otherwise.

Ugh, he thought.

"I wish to know--if you know truly--the origin of these caves, their purpose, if there is any. Their history, perhaps. Is there a way out? There are those," he added, thinking grimly of the Three Kings of Orion, "trapped here, who wish to escape. To leave. They speak of a sky, and yearn for that. I would like to ask about gemstones, and magic; about sentience. How we were made. What separates the Greaters from the Lessers." He paused, and then remembered the rest of the Collector's bargaining. The creature was watching him expectantly.

"...What sort of price would you ask, for this?" he asked. Given the creature's slithering tongue and ominous appearance, he was almost hesitant to ask. But if the price was too steep--well, he could refuse. There was no telling that what this "Collector" knew was truth, after all.

Pride listened, his face betraying nothing of his suspicions. How true could this information be..? Though he had no reason to disbelieve this stranger. At the Collector's comment about destruction, though, his face darkened slightly. "By necessity," was all he said, simply.

He wasn't so sure, either, about just how much the simple act of "glowing" could possibly attract Kera. He didn't know the wolf all that well but it seemed rather a thing of vanity more than use. Ahh, well--if she wished to pay for such a thing, so be it.

"Price? I do not know. What do you seek? If you do collect objects, perhaps I can search for some for you?" he offered, brow furrowing. He wasn't really sure what else to give. "I am also capable of various powerful magics, if you require their use. I can create gemstones; I can destroy and move things with my mind, or read the thoughts of others."

Almost immediately he was tempted to try and read the Collector's mind again, but-... he knew that'd be a bad idea. If it could detect such attempts, if it listened in for his own intrusive thoughts, well. It'd be considered rude at best.