The cat was quiet for a moment- and, genuine words escaped him, a quiet voice that was not at all like the grandiose words that he was used. "I would like to visit him too." It was still hard, still worrying- but with the softness of admission through him. But, he shook his head and sat up straighter, watching Zhusha.

His expression grew more serious. He'd wait for Zhusha to finish, watching him all the while, and giving him a small moment after completion to gather his thoughts. A soft, single breath huff, and Purity shook his head. "Yes, another of these 'evils'. A dragon had destroyed Orion, destroyed Polaris, with its flame. Nothing like fire magic that I've seen before." He breathed in then out at that, considering. "I was trapped. The room I was in had fallen on top of me, and I had nowhere to go but into the flames. I was lucky to make it out alive, along with the others who lived there." He shuddered at the memory, the feeling of heat at his fur, the tunnel-vision and panic that took over him.

"That is why I believe in the way of things. I have yet to ever hear of this dragon again, and I'm one to believe that it's dead. Oil's filled the cracks of Polaris not long after the dragon's disappearance into it- death Oil, mind you- and I don't doubt that something of that size could have made it with their own body. Someone had killed it. Someone who used power against it, who defeated it."

His tail curled in tighter as he watched Zhusha for a moment, about his righteous anger, and he wondered what to say. Were his words getting to him? His eyes narrowed, briefly, before he continued. "There is no natural order, per say- more of a metaphor, if you will. What I mean is, there are many people. People who believe that they will be doing good, banding together and chasing out the bad. And if they die, then perhaps the prevention of suffering for all is worth the risk, an act of willing sacrifice for the whole." He paused, shuffling his paws together. "What I mean to say is- I do not want to sit back. I wish to assist in this battle- to drive out those forces, those dragons-" he spat at the word, lips curled back in a brief hiss- "and destroy them before more lives are ruined. There will always be evil- but there will always be good. And if I fall to this altar, then I trust the good to bring me down. After all, I am but a single cat, and I would be up against the majority of the caves."

Was he bluffing? Even he didn't know, anymore- he'd sold himself into this idea now. It had stemmed from wanting power for himself, but...

His eyes flicked to the altar. "I don't even know what this will do. Perhaps I am different than Doug, or the Black Dog, or those who came and went. Perhaps I will die to its power. But I would rather die trying to secure my safety- the caves' safety, everyone's safety, than live the life of a coward."

(my god purity why do you talk so much.)
@Zhusha

A dragon of flame, destroying two rooms in its chaos. And nearly killing all who lived there. That sounded evil, all right, and Zhusha promptly added it to his list of 'things that probably need to be killed sooner or later'. He could only imagine the fear Purity must have felt, and that, along with the cat's fondness of Doug, increased Zhusha's sympathy for him by another notch.

What resonated with him most of all, though, was Purity's rejection of the life of a coward. His rejection of his seeming role as a helpless victim. His determination to fight the evils in the cave. "I believe you," he finally decided, in a quiet voice. "I believe that Doug--and the Black Dog, whoever he is--stayed true to themselves. I believe that it's possible not to be corrupted."

"I will fight beside you, when the time and the evil comes, and we will do our level best to eradicate it. But," he continued, "don't think that the sacrifice of the heroes is the only loss the world suffers in the face of evil! It is evil because it destroys all in its path, including the defenseless and the children. Think of how many others might suffer as you once did, at the hands of someone with this kind of power." He extended a wing toward the Altar.

"Do you know of the mind-control fungus in Ursa? We," and oh, look at this crane using we when he'd wandered into the war party at the literal last minute, completely unaware of what was going on, "were going to destroy it, with a massive, monstrous beast at our side. I'm sure our leader thought that he could control it, that it would be worth cooperating with such a thing to destroy the greater evil. But it turned on us, in the end, in its frenzy." The last words were practically spat from his beak. "If it grants you power, and does not corrupt you, then use it. But if you find yourself more and more willing to trample over others in the war against evil, or disregarding the lives of bystanders? This is my warning. Stay aware. Do not let down your guard. And," he added. "maybe one day, we can go fight some monsters together."

@Purity

The feline's head rose at Zhusha's quiet confession. He'd broken through. Trust and believing had come forth, and Purity dipped his head to the crane in an act of (supposed) gratefulness. "Evil is blind," he agreed. "And, if the world was just, then perhaps there would be no death when put up against it. That is a world to aim for- a world without evil, without senseless pain, where the strong do not lash against people they used to be." And he was getting dramatic again, getting to far into the role.

He quieted down when Ursa was mentioned. Mind-control..? Purity's face grew tighter for a moment in focused curiosity, ears pricked and forward as his interest was piqued. "That is the danger, yes." He nodded once, closing his eyes briefly. "Power- related to this altar or otherwise- is addictive. Something to be taken in small doses, and even then, shielded from others. I except myself to recognize if I've gone too far- after all, I do not want to become the thing I'd abhor so much."

Or did he? His whiskers twitched for a second, placing himself in the wings of the dragon. What had caused it to do that..? And how did it feel to be so high up, so violent and untouchable? Purity would never know. Instead, he bowed his head again, his fur tingling at Zhusha's last words.

"I would like that very much. Tell me- when the time comes, do you have a home? A place you can be found, perhaps, if I ever need your aid?" He slid one foot forward at the question, the implied offer that he may help in return there, as well. Or did Zhusha wander, like he may once he was done with this altar? Would he ever be done..?

@Zhusha

As he listened to Purity speak, Zhusha was warming to the cat more and more. He was well aware of the danger, it seemed, and genuine in his desire to rid the world of evil. He could get behind that.

"I like your vision for the world," he told Purity, and would have grinned if he could. "I would be honored to fight beside you to achieve it." Together, they could help purge the demons that haunted this world. Together, they could make the world a safer and better place.

But two people couldn't do everything alone. Zhusha thought of how easily their raiding party on the fungus had been destroyed, even with so many supporters. They'd need more people. Already, he was thinking about how he might organize something bigger--but first things first.

"I live by the bay," he told Purity. "The one next to the volcano, in Leo. Do you know it?"

@Purity exit here or next round?

The cat's head dipped when Zhusha agreed, and his eyes shut briefly. "And I would be honored to help you create that world," he responded in turn, lifting his head and looking to Zhusha. That would be a promise. It would be a start to their alliance- perhaps, they may gain more allies, but Purity solidified in his mind that he could trust Zhusha.

"I am often here. I don't have much place else to go," he spoke with a small shrug. "But, I know of Leo. I will be able to find you, if I need you, then." His head dipped a little less this time, again, in a small bow.

The conversation was coming to a close, he felt. But- this was his home, and he needed some time to collect himself in the Altar, anyways, and so he perked as he watched to see if Zhusha would leave or say anything else. Or- he could stay. He'd be fine with that- but, as for Purity? He was fine here.

@Zhusha you could exit next post to get that med thread bonus

Zhusha dipped his head in a return gesture at the cat. "I may visit you too, sometimes," he replied. To check on Purity: not only to make sure that he would not be consumed by a hunger for power (he was pretty sure Purity knew what he was doing now), but to ensure that his new friend was not caught and hurt in the claws of evil once more. Maybe even purely for friendship's sake.

Zhusha might not have predicted this, but he did admire Purity's determination and the way he strove to improve the world by taking matters into his own hands. It matched his own philosophy, in a way, minus the trusting a dark (pale in the inverted light, but he knew better by now) corruptive rock part.

"Good luck in your quest to figure this out," he said, nodding at the Altar. "And in our shared endeavor to shape our own fates and better these caves. See you!"

With a flurry of Voidlight-dark wings, Zhusha ascended back up the Hole.

thanks for the reminder :D! exit @Purity for vis

Purity thought for a moment, deciding- yes, he would like that. It would be good to converse with Zhusha more, and it would be good to keep in touch. "I would be delighted."

He tucked in his tail as he sat a little straighter. "Thank you," he spoke on the well-wishing. "And good luck to you." And he meant it, actually- he would shape his own fate, just as Zhusha would shape their's. They would leave- but they would be back, someday, and Purity would look forward to it.

But now, he was alone. Inhaling slowly, Purity turned back to the Altar, taking it in and looking at it at a fresh angle. Concern over this, hm? Fine, then. They'll just have to see what will come to him in the future.

;exit purity @Zhusha for vis!