Oliver peered, blinking slowly at Bartos in the dark. He was smelly, yes, but some gembound just were. And he was angry, angry at being disturbed. Apologetic, the hybrid tucked his feathered tail down and flattened back his tufted ears, voice coming soft.

"I'm sorry to have bothered," he said quietly. "I'll leave you alone." It was a gentle and genuine apology, rather than anything self-pitying, and he ducked his head to move away--only to see a tiny brown something flinging its way over the stone toward him.

...and greeting him by name.

Joy hit him at once--it was good to see the tiny bat, and alive and well, no less! With a short, quiet cry of surprise--something between a woof and a caw--he trotted forward to meet her, offering a gentle nuzzle. "Pippy! Oh, it's good to see you," he said--but his voice was a near-whisper. He remembered quite distinctly that loud noises hurt the bat's ears--and anyway, he didn't want to bother the stranger in the dark any more than he already had.

With a glance around, Oliver realized they'd become a rather abrupt gathering, of sorts. He spoke softly toward the white lion, and the white snake both, voice still quite soft. "I--don't know who he is, but he wants to be left alone, he says. He seems sad," the hybrid added, a little sympathetic sadness in his own voice.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Bartos

The cat stared between his two guests, wondering how much more prodding it would take to get them to leave him alone. It wasn't often Gembounds disturbed him in his den - he had begun to think that someone had spread rumors about his cursed life or that he was mad, but perhaps it was just his shadow doing her job, maintaining a mask over his presence. Clearly, the moment she left him alone it seemed the rest of the cave was more than eager to meddle in his affairs. Had his elusiveness somehow made him an attractive target of their investigations?

No - apparently not. Their intentions had come from ignorance. Bartos glowered at the dog who thankfully seemed to have a proper head on his shoulders, apologizing for the intrusion as he prepared to back away. The snake, though, seemed like she had more to say.

Until another had joined them. Bartos jumped slightly at the sight of the tiny ball of fuzz careening through the air, shrieking one of their names. Oliver. The fur on his spine lifted right off his skin in spite of the weight of its thick, tangled mess, his obsessive blue eyes tracking the sight of the dog trotting away to greet the animal.

Unanticipated anger burned at their joy.

What right did they have to be so happy to see one another? In his presence?

The cat bared his teeth, a fierce look of fury slimming his otherwise broad head as he prepared to spit something miserable and crochety at the pair. But now he was the one interrupted - a fourth had come to observe the hermit's emergence from his hole like it was a damn freakshow. His tail lashed behind him with mounting rage as his body curled away from the sudden arrival of a massive feline, his fur shining and sleek, his eyes blue as Bartos' own gem. It only made him angrier.

The lion recited his name, as if in awe of his presence.

Wide-eyed, he struggled with the lightning strike of apprehension and agitation and mistrust that suddenly shocked his nerves to life. The snake's kind words were static in the panic-charged air around him.

"Get away from me," he hissed at them, his eyes fixing defiantly on the lion while his evasive body language suggested an emotion entirely different. There were too many of them here, now. Too many for him to feel safe any longer. Too many for him to protect Clover from. "Who do you think you are? Leave! Senka!"

Step by step, the cat retreated further into his den, stiff with the fear that they might rush into the only safe place he had made for himself in this cave. The only place where things remained the same, where things didn't disappear. He just wanted them gone. He wanted to be alone again. He wanted to be alone with only his shadows, his quiet, cold, comfortable shadows. Shadows who never questioned, only watched. Shadows who kept him safe, who never broke him apart, only held him together.

@Pippy

Selfishly, she had been spending more time with her sister now that all of Vahi's magic had been rerouted back into her gem, though it did not form a proper host as she had hoped. Her sister was still trapped in the storm body, unable to form the flesh she once had. Partly, this was Senka's own fault. She should have sought out Bartos for the revival, and nobody else.

From the remains of their den in Orion, an itch started in her skin. Something was happening. She waited, listened, her head dipped low; chaos roused itself in Pisces, a gathering. A sudden spike in energy near the researcher. No. And moments later, he called for her.

Her body lay into the floor and melted fluidly, disappearing into the void. From one shadowed corner to the next, she existed, and did not exist.

Darkness engulfed the cat's den, swallowing everything from the ground up, and Bartos with it. Her body rose from the ground behind him and with no greeting, she stepped around him and placed herself between Bartos and the others, her tail lashing. Her stance set wide and low, aggressive. The shadows receded only to her body, but kept everything behind her hidden and dark. Several silver floating eyes formed, one on each side of the den walls, and one on the center of her forehead.

There were... quite a few gathered, indeed. Out of nowhere, all at once. For Bartos?

"What brings you here." It was a demand, not a question. Did they all have a group adventure to the Warrens today? A skippity trip to Pisces?

It was so lovely to meet someone she had met before here, getting more excited and happy when Oliver approached her and greeted her with a nuzzle, giving them a nuzzle back with a quiet giggle, she was tempted to glomp Oliver right then and there with her wings, she was so happy right now!

"Mhm! Happy to see you too Oliver~!" she responded back with her tiny voice, tone coloured with a little playfulness and joy, but still relatively quiet. Pippy was a little taken aback when her ears caught a yelp or something filled with fear and jumped a little when the other Gembound leapt behind Oliver. A-Are they... afraid? An idea a Gembound this big was scared about something confused her; they couldn't be frightened of Pippy, could they? Such a thing would be so silly, why would a giant Gembound be afraid of such a tiny Gembound like Pippy? Still odd or not it'll be nice to reassure them, no need to act mean she is well aware what it is like to be terrified of something.

"H-Hi a-are you OK there...?" she tried to ask this snake who was hiding behind Oliver. Pippy despite her extreme wariness about her surroundings never managed to detect a much more massive Gembound who was not far behind her until it finally appeared in her vision and like this snake she also tried to hide away from them; they were so big. Larger than everyone here, this must be why this other Gembound is hiding.

Bartos? Craning her head hesitantly to where this vast Gembound was, there was also another Gembound here who this big one called 'Bartos' who appeared unwell it seems...

"Oh... Are we a bother B-Bartos? S-Sorry..." Pippy murmured this meekly to them as they seemed so upset, she took note about Oliver's and this snake Gembounds words said to 'Bartos' here, she'll be willing to leave Bartos here alone too, not wanting to make them upset more.

Pippy flinched and leapt back when Bartos hissed at all them with such words filled with venom with their angry demands for them all to leave. Still... Who are they? A tiny bat called Pippy is who she is...? Bartos disappeared into the darkness like inky soup absorbed them, why would they want to go in the dark? Darkness is scary...

When another Gembound came out the darkness, another huge one but this one did not seem happy which made her hide behind Oliver too now as she shakes like a leaf, whimpering when they asked in such a harsh manner why she was here. D-Did Pippy do something wrong?

@Mercurius

Nausea slithered down his throat, coiling up into a palpable knot in his stomach. As it bound itself tighter and tighter, his throat hitched at the lack of familiarity. Just before the gembound he may have called father---had he not been so dumb and insistent on the goodness of Him---vanished, he called out softly, hopelessly, "it's me... Beast." The dead name fell heavy from his lips, clattering lifelessly on the floor as darkness surged in the wake of the smaller feline. Mercurius started, shuffling backwards, unintentionally finding himself standing defensively in front of the strangers. The whole situation felt noctambulous. A dream on the fringes of consciousness.

The first to speak to the vehement darkness, he braced himself. "I c-came... because I heard Bartos's voice." Then, he dropped his head low, hesitantly calling forth magicka. "Y-you have that--" he cleared his throat, "this dark energy, too?" His gemstone flared, pulsating gently with magicka as he backed off some more. His limbs quivered and shook as darkness licked at the edges of his vision, rolling off of him in waves, leaving only his horns and eyes untouched in their wake. Mercurius, voice small, spoke, "do you embrace it?"

Winter squeaked when the cat began to hiss and spit. But the name caught something in her memory. Senka...Senka...

But then, all of a sudden, it came to her. The black cat from Polaris, the one who had the storm! She was about to say that this was, in fact, not Senka at all when the darkness appeared and to her complete shock and disbelief, Senka suddenly appeared.

For a moment, Winter was frozen, but then a strange anger began to build. She hissed at the cat, her hood flaring out. "You! You have the storm! You hurt me!" She hissed again while also backing away, her heart thrumming. She didn't know why she was getting angry at this cat, especially considering that it probably could easily destroy her without a thought. But hadn't it thanked her? But what had she done?


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags: @Oliver
Notes:

Oliver peered among those present, and quietly realized that it might erupt into violence. He could hear Pippy excitedly talking at his shoulder--but his worried blue eyes flicked between the furious dark-cat, the hissing white snake, the black-flickering white lion. He turned and offered Pippy a gentle nudge, and a quiet murmur. "Don't worry. Hold on a minute, I'll be right back." He wasn't sure what Winter meant, or why there was so much tension, but the conflict stressed him and his peaceful nature immediately led him to try and defuse it.

Carefully, his ears back and his head deferentially lowered, he moved toward Senka. His voice was kept very quiet, and he glanced back at the others, his demeanor gentle and his tone soft.

"Uhh, I think we'll all leave, miss--dark... cat, but. If he's your friend? He seems really upset by something and--..." His gaze flicked to Bartos, quite concerned, and his voice lowered further, like he was afraid to offend the cat--trying to aim his words in a near-whisper so that they'd only reach Senka, and perhaps those behind Oliver. Of course, that'd be pretty hard, considering she was right near Bartos, but-... It was the thought that counted, right?

"...And I don't think it's by us. If you're--his friend--? He needs cleaning up and maybe seeing to a medic or something. But he doesn't want crowding so-..." He flicked his gaze to Bartos, slipping backwards, lowering his head a bit further as if to once again indicate apology. His voice raised just a bit, again.

"I'm sorry we bothered you. We can go, it's fine." Feathered tail half-tucked, he began to slip back the way he had come--back toward Pippy, back away from Senka, moving rump-first away apologetically.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Bartos

Bartos could only retreat into the cave.

There was so much going on now. Everyone flashing before his eyes, their words echoing between his ears. Incessant, loud. Ringing. Prying. So suddenly invasive. He possessed things that they wanted, this he knew - he had gemstones, trinkets, information, secrets - he had Clover. He made the mistake of revealing himself and now they wanted everything. His eyes, wide as saucers, flipped between each of them until the darkness at long last swept in around him.

It's me... Beast.

Then, all at once, he was immersed.

It was like being underwater. The cat blinked, and suddenly it was black. He felt it cold and nipping at his skin, pulling at his fur. He saw a vague movement in the inky miasma as a body manifested in front of him, and then he heard her voice, demanding to know what the collective was doing here. In front of his den. Where he had emerged for the first time in weeks. Was this his fault, then? The consequences of his decision to try to taste the air again? Was this his punishment for attempting to live, when it seemed life had already decided on his cruel, stagnating fate?

They all sounded far away. He barely heard the white lion now, explaining his reason - because of Bartos, because of him - and he furrowed his brow, trying to think. Did he recognize him? Beast? The porcelain ghost that walked at the heels of the monster that broke his leg - he thought he could remember. And then a tide of voices swept in, the tiny snake, accusing, and the black dog, explaining.

He needs help. He's broken. He's dirty. Someone needs to fix him.

Bartos swallowed the bile in his throat and closed his eyes, backing himself up against a wall.

It would be fine.

Senka would handle it.

Dirty. Broken. In case you had forgotten.

Just leave me alone. I'm sorry.

Her summoned eyes watched idly as the lion did some show of magic, some shadow casting; it was not entirely unlike her own, but it was not the same either. Something in his words previous suggested he might have known Bartos, but when he directly spoke to her and asked her if she embraced her darkness, her lips lifted in disgust. She had no choice, she had to learn to live with what she was stuck with. There was nothing left to embrace. There was only compliance.

The sharp hiss from the snake tore her thoughts away from the void. Her lips peeled back, baring black and rotting teeth. "You think back on that," she warned. "I came to retrieve my sister, I didn't harm any of you—but I can," Senka threatened, her teeth clicking together in a mock bite. The cobra was backing away, so some tough kid she was, huh? Senka observed, remaining where she was at the entrance of the den.

As the winged dog approached, the shadows around her thickened into a slow-swirling mass, ready to defend herself should he try to start anything. Instead he only talked, and while her eyes watched from the sides, the one on her forehead narrowed at him. Bartos was upset by something? Not the crowd?

Her jaws parted, a wet hiss trailing his escaping body.

"I'm neither his friend nor keeper," she growled. "But if you all can gather he's upset by something, asks you to get away from him and leave, what are you still doing here?" The miasma around her began to swirl more violently, though not on purpose. It had never occurred to her she might be his friend or his keeper, and she didn't want to admit either. She was a work partner, at most. "Give him time to adjust to things, and let him come to you." The eyes flicked between each of them at separate times. "That is how it will be until he decides otherwise."

...Did that make her his keeper?

@Pippy

She was so afraid... Everyone was so angry or upset, and they were big too. She refused to move away from hiding behind Oliver, who is not angry but they also seemed so scared like Pippy herself is. She eased a little when Oliver nudged her it felt a bit comforting as she got attentive to them, but their words got her uneasy again when they said they'd be back as a sad expression came to Pippy. No, don't go... Pippy was so tempted to reach out and tug on Oliver's fur and stop them from leaving her. But Oliver said they'd be back and not to worry, and Pippy might be able to handle a minute like they said so she does neither and nods at them in understanding as she watches them move along as she remains put watching everyone with such alertness. Why are they all angry?

W-What is even going actually? This biggest one is changing to darkness and is talking about dark energy to this other big one who seemed so angry although like Pippy and maybe Oliver they appeared so scared too they were even trembling so much like she was also their voice was about as small as hers naturally is.

Oh no now this big snake was getting infuriated too, and it all makes her move back and cower she wants to leave. But she doesn't want to run off and leave Oliver behind that'd be such a horrible thing to do when things seem so tense even if she doubts she can do much she still wants to be around for her friend if things get worse.

Even when this big one who appeared before all them who seemed to provoke this snake to be angry too vaguely threatened them, she stayed put even if she is shaking. How they say, they very much possess a capability to harm all here with an impression how this big cat could with their teeth did make her flinch she remained as tempting as it was to flee only whining when they hissed and growled with such rage.

Their question did have a point though, and Pippy did feel sorry about it, but she wishes to remain until Oliver is ready to go. Thankfully this seems to be soon, which she is glad about as Pippy is worried things are going to get generally violent if the tiny bat stays and she wants to be far away from a bunch of enormous Gembound fighting with each other.

Pippy gave the nod in agreement with Oliver when she could finally discern what they are saying to this big Gembound which was about how they can leave. Pippy sure hopes he didn't get harmed while speaking to them, thankfully although it's hard to tell from behind, it doesn't seem like Oliver got injured. She perked up with excitement and relief when they finally trotted back to her they appeared alright, but.

"A-Are y-you a-alright Oliver...? Y-You a-aren't h-hurt are you?" she needed to ask, to be sure they indeed were as she approaches them with concern, but she is ready to leave herself alongside with them.

@Mercurius @Oliver