Garnet Five-Seven-Nine quietly took in the appearances of the masters, all but one sparking some sort of memory. It had never seen Aquarian - nor Cetus - but it knew vaguely of his purpose. Nemean's as well. For some odd reason, it thought Astraea's description didn't add up. But, it was not sure of why. The Masters were not often seen, though it was said they watched the Trials at times.

Regardless, Master Nemean was in safety. It was best for the Overseer's servants to not know where she lay.

The champion clicked its beak, and tucked its head back into its neck for a bit of warmth; and, out of old instinct as the Overseer drew himself closer to full height - it missed its shell, if only a little. The loss of the clunky thing had granted it better mobility, but it missed the safety of it. "My beak is sealed," it chirped clearly. If the four of them were to be brutally reduced to mere rot, it would not be because of Garnet Five-Seven-Nine.

Vargas's cat had the guts to ask another question and - after whatever answer he provided, if any, Garnet peered down at the shattered topaz. "What of Nemean's servant, now?" Modern rituals of burial might exist but - the champion was not sure of them. Trials left no time to mourn the dead and gone, nor consider where servants went in death.

@Kera

Vargas grunted, eyeing Palefur in silence for a moment.

Ahh, but she couldn't know what it was that she asked--could she? And how much of this was his knowledge to give away? The last thing he wanted to do was to give the impression that they were fractured, of different minds... weak. And so he raised his voice, until his tone was booming: "Even but the smallest bickering between them has become, with their great power, the thundering of war! It would not do to get in their way."

He briefly considered his own words and decided that, yes, it seemed dramatic enough.

Now, then, to Garnet. His head swung toward the little creature, even as he moved to remove Palefur from his shoulder, if still she was there, and gently set her down with one hand. Solemnly, he spoke to Garnet. "I will return now with her stone, and guard Master Nemean's chrysalis. When she wakens, I will give this to her--as a gift. Perhaps it will appease her, and she will not see my lack of interference as betrayal." Could it be betrayal, anyway? Could refusing to stand up against one Master on behalf of another count as such-?

Vargas wasn't sure, and he sure as hell didn't want to find out. Clasping the orange gemstone in one six-fingered forelimb, he turned away.

"Get to know one another, if you wish. Or find me in Canis, should you need me. Bear my warning in mind, for I have no desire to see any of you turned to screaming rot." It was dourly-said, more additional threat than any sentimentality, and he waited for no response as he turned and stalked away.

exit Vargas, unless stopped?

@Garnet Five-Seven-Nine @Kera @Palefur

The champion didn't concern itself with the relations each Master held with one another - seeing as they, clearly, were of another level. It, instead, merely focused on the things that directly effected their survival; the Overseer's favor with Master Nemean, for one. Garnet bowed its head once in a nod. Retrieving the stone of her deceased servant might be enough to improve any poor standing.

In all honesty, it didn't blame the Overseer for not getting involved. Reduction to mere rot... the thought of it sent a chill rolling down its spine.

When the violet behemoth began to lumber away, Garnet Five-Seven-Nine glanced at its fellow servants, nodded once, and spread its wings. "I best be going," it chirped, and away it went. Off to complete its Overseer-given duty, really.

;exit garnet unless stopped

Palefur's ear flinched at Vargas's booming answer and she guessed that she, perhaps, had asked a question a little too bold this time. She kept herself composed, however, and nodded, accepting the answer for now. Vargas was lifting his claw to her and she assumed that it was time to get down. She stepped into his palm and tried not to sink her claws into his skin as he set her gently onto the ground.

As soon as she hopped off and turned around, she realized that he was leaving. She blinked, surprised, and took a step forward, but he was already walking away. No, wait! He couldn't leave her yet! She hadn't been given a purpose, a title! She watched after him for a moment before turning back to the other servants. But Garnet was already taking off and Kera didn't seem to care for her that much. She made an exasperated sound when she realized that she was back to square one.

No, she wasn't. She had a purpose now, it simply wasn't very clear to her just yet. She had to take the initiative this time. She glanced up at the stars but quickly averted her gaze as she bounded after Garnet.

*exit