"There is no need to guard the orb alone." Xireidi protested much more quickly than even he expected. "If we aren't going to seal it then we should at least take turns guarding it. How regretful would it be if our post was compromised by the fatigue of watchfulness and atrophy that would come from staying still. "

Xireidi could feel the sense of duty behind the black dog's words, could feel the determination to keep everyone safe. It was a sentiment that he shared and a goal that he had been attracted to since his earliest days.

The wall was getting closer now, and with it a view of the numerous imperfections in the rock's face. Somewhere among those was a dip much deeper than the rest, unassuming at first but hiding within a space just barely large enough to have served as Xireidi's den for the past cycles. After a brief moment of examination to make sure the path was clear the wolf stopped pushing and maneuvered over to where Kin-Kin was located, indicating that he would take care of pulling and steering the crystalline sled.

"Unless she has some way of tracking the orb Nimean shouldn't be able to find this place very easily" he commented as he took hold and shifted the heading by a few degrees.

---

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away
tags: @Black @Kin-Kin
notes: None

The black dog dipped his large head in acknowledgement, glancing back as Xireidi secured the orb. His voice was a calm and steady rumble.

"I would not underestimate her. She can find it," he declared with surety. "I will ask for you to watch when I must sleep, then. Where will you be?"

His words, as ever, were direct and to the point--tactically relevant, with nothing extraeneous added. His soft blue eyes turned to regard the wolves stoically.

They would do as they must--all of them--to get to the bottom of this. Nemean could not be allowed to retrieve this thing; it was too powerful an advantage for her to have, he felt. He didn't know what it did, granted, but it was a magical object, and that was all that he needed to know.

________________

@Kin-Kin

As she caught wind of Xireidi's intent, Kin-Kin let go of the sled, allowing him to take over for a moment whilst she opened her jaws and clicked out some of the tension. She was used to carrying crystals- but not ones so heavy as this. Still, it was better than just having to tolerate the pain that the orb caused ordinarily. She switched places- instead claiming Xireidi's former position and pushing the object instead, knowing that the other red wolf knew where to go.

"I can look for some of the elders. The stag, or the... eye-cat, maybe. See if I can find out what this thing actually is. I'll come back and let ya know if I have any luck."

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Xireidi

Was it really a good idea to get the other Ancients involved? Sure the kings and stag seemed like they were likely trustworthy but what if this orb was a piece in some kind of game bigger than themselves? What proof did they have that none of them cared about the livelihood of those in the caves and Nimean was simply the most obvious about it? Of course not allying themselves with other ancients could have risks of its own, their power obviously vastly outmatched anything else down here and hiding would probably only work for a certain amount of time without backup.

"I usually run through the caves on a daily basis, but always end up back in Polaris" the wolf replied to Black after a moment, stopping just long enough to stretch his jaw from the long trek. The wall was right behind them now, unassuming in appearance but within an alcove hiding what would become this orb's resting place. Unfortunately, Xireidi now realized, the tiny den probably wasn't large enough to house the orb, Black, and himself all at the same time. He would have to either find a new resting spot or coordinate with the dog.

The sled slowed to a halt as the entrance became visible and Xireidi abandoned his post to check inside to make sure everything was still in place. A single bauble given to him by a friend, a few bones from previous meals, and very little else in the way of worldly possessions. "The entrance should be just barely large enough to slide it in. We just have to be careful not to touch it or let it spill out."

---

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away
tags: @Black @Kin-Kin
notes: None

The black mastiff padded to the entrance of the little den, lowering his heavy head to sniff around. It smelled, he thought, of the darker of the two wolves--the one who, apparently, traversed the caves and would return here daily.

"Very well," he rumbled. "Find those you can, to aid, and I will guard this place. Return and then I will rest." He moved closer, paws scratching on stone, then turned and took up a position outside of Xireidi's den. His demeanor was sort of absently sombre as he undertook this task, his gaze already shifting to and fro as he lowered himself to his haunches.

Here he summoned up his magicka, exhaling a soft huff from his nose as he thought to himself. Come then, darkness, and let us keep her light at bay.

Nothing happened, however, his spellwork again not responding; Black accepted this with the same indifference with which he tackled everything.

He merely sat beside the den, listening and taking scent--and leaving the moving of the orb to the two wolves who hadn't knocked themselves out while maneuvering it. Clearly, they were better-equipped.

________________

@Kin-Kin

Kin-Kin nodded, watching as her old friend checked the entrance and stretching out her legs as she prepared, for the first time in some cycles, to leave Polaris behind. She didn't have any possessions that she'd want to bring; no ties to hold her in place. There was vert little to do, and it wouldn't take her long to reach the caves she wanted to scout. She cold be gone in trips of hours at a time, and still return home for snacks.

Still, she glanced over the two canids remaining, wondering briefly if she ought to seal the cave. Finally, though, she shook her head. If the others needed to move the orb, they wouldn't be able to get to it. So with a final nod to the guards she was leaving behind, she turned her back on them. "I'll keep ya updated. Seeya 'round!"

And with that, she was gone, bounding away until she was just another of the lights in Polaris.

---

When I speak.

When I think.

@Xireidi

Working with as much precision as possible given the task Xireidi slid the sled through the den entrance until it was hidden within the rocks. It was still decently illuminated from the ambient light around but with the way the terrain flowed in this area it would likely be safe for a time.

Especially with Black there on constant watch. Though for the past cycles he had only come back to Polaris for the most part in the evenings Xireidi felt that from this point on he would be spending a lot more time here. Black certainly seemed determined to guard the orb around the clock, but that wasn't to say that Xireidi couldn't try to at least be within earshot.

"Stay safe, Kin-Kin, and thanks again for your help!" he called out to the retreating red wolf as he stood still next to the cave. With his oldest friend's form disappearing over the terrain Xireidi turned to his new friend, one who he suspected he would get to know a bit more over the coming cycles of vigilance.

"There exists an elevated ledge a short distance away. I'll go ahead and take a half-watch there. If you need anything I'll try to stay within earshot."

Mental fatigue was beginning to grip at the wolf as he turned and started to move along the wall toward one of the highest accessible ledges in this section of the room. It felt like it had been cycles since he hadn't been running around trying to save the cave from darkness or faeries, or whatever else was about. It would be a nice change of pace to be able to just lie down and casually watch the spire in the distance. If Nimean made a move again it likely wouldn't be for a while given the way she departed, so for now there was time to just rest.

-- Fade out, Xireidi --

---

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away
tags: @Black
notes: None

Black rumbled his agreement, settling down to lie before the entrance, his face its normal studious stare. He closed his eyes, for a moment, questing his senses outward, wondering why his magic had thus far failed him. He reached for it, more tentatively this time, questioningly--as if asking the world itself why it did not want to shield him.

This time, at last, the light all around him--and the area behind him--seemed to flicker and go out. Darkness fell as the illumination simply faded, leaving this section of the tunnel engulfed in pitch black.

It is good, he thought to himelf.

At length he opened his eyes again, and gazed forward. He didn't care who took first watch; undoubtably he'd go to Xireidi once he was ready to rest, and they could switch. Whatever the case, they couldn't leave it unguarded, couldn't leave Nemean to return and to claim it for her own.

Though, hopefully, the bat creature had eaten her.

________________

//exit Black