Serek stood tall, hoping his quivering wasn't perceptible by this canine. When he spoke again, though, it was getting harder and harder the longer he stared. No- Raheerah couldn't be back. That- That was impossible. He was gone. He should stay gone.

The hybrid swallowed dryly before stepping forward, his head lowered and breathes heavy. Alright. Don't panic. The stories were just that, right? Stories. Certainly he wasn't going to raze down the entirety of the caves and melt them all-

"I know where they are," he responded curtly, his voice lower than he meant it to be. Two were dead already. How many more would follow? Would Cetus's humidity stand a chance against a dragon's flame? "That way. There's food for Aquarian there. The Children tend to it." He forced himself to point his head towards where he knew was the offering pile. He hadn't been there in so long- what would they think? He'd already ran off on them once before.

No. This, this was more important than pride or embarrassment. Death in black scales was coming for them. They needed to be ready.

"Dragon'll probably be there. He needs to know about this." Maybe he was stating the obvious. He didn't know- his mind was solely focused on the news delivered. "I'll show you the way." Panic drove into his feet, and he shifted his weight uncomfortably, already stepping towards the pile.

The moment he saw that Black would follow, he was off. He had his own fair share of crashing through. Even as a herbivore, he was built for flat areas and not this muck. No matter how old he'd be, he'd never get used to this.

They'd arrived in short order, true to his word. The food was, well, as rotten as he expected it to be at the bottom, but it did seem a bit smaller than it would be if it weren't being fed off of. Aquarian must have made an appearance recently.

"Shit." Serek swore under his breath as he turned to Black, his tail held high and quivering as the canine spoke. His red eyes wandered down to the muck, then to the pile, then finally to Black. "We- he wasn't doing this last time, right? This- he's- This is different. As- as much as a giant, death dragon could be different." He barely suppressed a shudder in his shoulders. "But- yeah, I'll call them."

Shit, well. No avoiding it. It had been a while, after all- he was due for a check-in. Taking in a deep breath and pulling up his head, the hybrid called out into the mists surrounding them. "Children of Rot! It's urgent!" Hopefully the Children would recognize his voice- if the ones he knew was still around. Unbeknownst to him, their priority was a certain blue fox a ways away in the Groves.

"Can you do any more light show spells? I don't- I can't make my voice any louder." He didn't know what the dog knew, but anything would help. Really, this call wasn't any different from his.

He couldn't keep calling him 'the dog' though. "Sorry- shit, what's your name?" Maybe this wasn't important, but while they waited for any response, he might as well get the full information. "I'm Serek." His own was added as an afterthought. "It's- been a while since I spoke to them. They- at least Dragon should come by. Or we can try and talk to them when they come to offer food." His head shrunk into his shoulders, like he was a turtle retreating into his shell. "I don't know what else I can do." As miserable as he looked, the words came out at a growl, frustration clear across his face.

It seemed 'what's your name' wasn't really as simple as he'd expected. The Black Dog sounded more like a title, than anything, but it seemed like the best bet. But many calling him Death..? That didn't seem like the Dog to be called.

Serek lifted his head. There was something there, then- at least to the hybrid, who'd wholly misunderstood many to be the literal word of it. Still, in any case, he watched as the Black Dog pulled on his own magic, the shadows playing across them as though they were light. He squinted at them- he'd never seen magic like this, as far as he was aware? It seemed nearly alive, and the feeling of them squirming under his skin infected his mind, throwing an upset look on his face.

He sighed at Black's words. They rung true, really- and this is what they were doing right? Trying? He made to respond before the water nearby sprang to life. A startled shock of energy ran through Serek, who nearly bolted in place but kept his ground through what surely was a test of will for him.

He calmed when he realized it was just Dragon. Well- not really just- he was another person he hadn't seen in so long, a mentor he'd been longing to reconnect with, perhaps. It was good he was here. They were joined, too, by a third party- Another child? Serek needed to catch up desperately at this point. Perhaps he could resume adding onto the pile, just as this one did-

Okay, if it was doing that, maybe he wouldn't have to. Not with that haul. He made a face at the black slime that slicked out of its mouth, unease setting in quickly. This creature- it was alien in design, something that drew shivers along Serek's spine. They weren't dismissed so they must be okay.

No time for formalities. At his name, he dipped his head before glancing to Black. "They were for good reason," he began ominously. He took in a sigh that was shakier than he'd have liked it to be, before looking between the giant red eye before him and his mentor's face.

"Raheerah has returned."

The words were said with a heavy set of dread, a sense of power and reverance with despair lacing through it all. "I- I remember the stories. The ones you and Mother told me. Th- He's- This isn't.. This isn't good." His tail tucked in below him and he quivered like a lost child. "I- We need to do- Something," His breath was hot on his lips, and he swallowed down the emotions bubbling to surface before looking to the Black Dog.

He'd need to describe more. Serek- he didn't witness it. He wasn't there when Raheerah was around the first time. He wasn't sure if he wanted to be around for the second in this moment.