Lillith looked up at Leon who calmly and caringly tried to comfort her and assure her that no one was going to eat nobody. Sighing the little gembound listened to everyone talk including Leon about the dragon in Polaris. The way that Leon talked about the dragon scared the little gembound but she knew that the big gembound would protect her from it. Dragon told her that he imagined that she would fight back too and that size means little when there is magic in their grasp. Dragon seem nice and that was when the girl realized that they werent dangerous at all to her. She calmly laid down underneath the big bear and listened to Dragon talk. At least Lillith knew that Leon would protect her even if they were to harm her. He was a big bear with magic too and he could protect her.

Czernobog grunted quietly in agreement - he knew what kid and don't like meant, though the mini-roar's fear made him huff in a soft mimic of laughter. Dragon. Polaris. The boar's brow wrinkled in confusion - his Dragon? Or was there another Dragon? Baffled, the piglet simply sat, ears flicking when his loud-friend pet at the short, wiry fur that crowned his head, glancing up at Eve with a toothy grin, tail wagging wildly. Chaos. Fire. Leader. Help. The big-roar's words once again flew over the creature's head, but he tried to at least look like he was paying attention, glancing between Leon and Dragon like they were playing verbal ping-pong. Help? Now that was a word Czernobog actually knew, and he sat up a bit straighter, black eyes narrowing on the bear. Had he really come into the swamp, making that racket, to ask for help?

Suspicious. Don't trust. Still, the boar snuffled, turning to wait for Dragon's reply. Found first. Hiding behind me. Czernobog's eyes widened, before his gaze snapped to the mini-roar, glaring. Mine. Mine. My singer. Disgruntled, it took the piglet a few moments to snap back to listening to the alligator, though he continued to flash the mini-roar confused, hurt-tinged glances. Mine. Mine? Come here. Ended. Fight. Come. With that, Dragon was turning back to slip into the swamp, and Czernobog slowly got up himself, making sure not to dislodge his loud-friend, before snorting and trotting along the shore after his father. Fight. I can do that.

@Eve

Thankfully, Dragon didn't seem too offended at the younger bear cub's outburst. Instead, he assured her that he would've protected her like Leon protected her now. The bear twisted back his stubby ears, laughing quietly again. At this point, he felt a little over protective of the cub, but he was glad to know that they wouldn't have harmed her. He didn't know of a Gembound that would willingly hurt a child, but one had to be careful regardless. He'd come to learn that things in the cave were not as cheery and innocent as he once thought. As they grew, new facets emerged from them, some of them darker and more insidious than others.

The bear dismissed it, nodding at Dragon's words again. He assured them that should the dragon come to Cetus, he'd be dead - well, Leon couldn't really say much on the matter as he didn't know the true extent of the Children of Rot's firepower, but... He brushed it aside. Ultimately the alligator agreed to help should many others come to their aid as well, and Leon brightened up. He began to turn away, but Leon cast a glance down at Lillith instead. "Ah - thank you, but we need to return to Maji Walezi. There's still a lot we need to do to prepare." Leon explained. He'd need to report back to Bevy, and introduce Lillith to Makyna, and then go off and find the other groups to speak with them too... Thinking about it, the bear nearly let loose an exasperated sigh. When did he get so busy?

"I'll return to Cetus to let you know when we intend to attack. Be ready," The bear spoke to Dragon and then bent his head, gently nudging Lillith to encourage her to rise. It was a silent gesture, but he implored her to follow before sending a lasting glance at the Children of Rot. He turned away from them, eager to head back to Maji Walezi.

exit Leon, @Lillith

Lilli listened to Leon and she rose to her feet. Leon was going to take the little gembound to his home to meet his fiancee and to have a place called home. Lilli wondered what it was like there and if everyone would like her. Lilli was a strange looking bear cub or at least her fur was different. What will Makyna think of me? Will she like me like Leon does? Will the others at their home like me? she thought. The cub heard Leon say that he would be back to tell them what was going on. The cub looked up at the big bear and her eyes looked sad. He was going to leave at her new home with other gembounds she didnt know while he came back here by himself. "Can I come with you when you come back Mr. Leon?" she asked. Lilli hoped that he would so that she didnt feel odd or like she didnt belong if he left her behind. She watched Leon walk away and she followed after him trying not to trip over her own feet.


EXIT LILLITH

The alligator peered back, surprised that Leon wasn't intending to accompany them to the edge of the black marsh. Ahh, well; he'd not see Aquarian, but perhaps that was for the best. He addressed the bear as Leon began to lumber away.

"There is no need. If we will come, we will come. If we do not arrive--then we are not coming," Dragon said, with an air of humor. "But I must consult with my Father."

Dragon didn't explain this; instead he turned, hauling himself down into the channel of water with a splash, and leading the way back to Aquarian. He didn't glance back--he just assumed that Czernobog and Eve were behind him, and that the others would gather, too.

He swept his way down to the Heart of Cetus, and then turned, dragging himself up to the place where the offering pile of corpses usually sat. Right now it was in a sorry state, with only a few half-ruined cave deer corpses and a rat or two, but then, he wasn't here to make an offering--though he supposed Aquarian might eat it all, anyway.

The alligator turned, glancing back at the other Children of Rot. "I will try to call him. Call him with me, if you wish."

Then the dragon began his low bass bellow, half in the water and half out, bubbles vibrating and rising around him.

"AQUARIAN!" he called. He waited a time, until he thought that the sea serpent could hear him, "There are strangers asking for aid. They say there is a great dragon setting fire to Polaris, some ancient beast. I do not wish to put our lives at risk if it is no threat, but if it might threaten this cave, or the caves as a whole... then I will fight. Is there anything that you can tell us?"

Dragon dipped his head respectfully, steering well clear of the corpse-pile... just in case Aquarian decided to snack while he spoke.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura aka rare . edited by banshee and dark }

@Czernobog @Eve

It hadn't taken long before the massive sea serpent had heard the alligator's summoning, the deep rolling bass reverberating through the water and attracting his attention. He didn't mind tending to the young beast's calls; they didn't abuse their power and more often than not the serpent was lavished with gifts and food. Besides, they had found the collar after it was stolen and misplaced. To some degree, he felt he owed them for their deeds. He emerged in that grandiose fashion he often did, the tall yellow crest first piercing the surface and slowly gliding towards the shore before his head appeared, jaws unhinged in a curious hiss.

The alligator posed his questions and Aquarian slowly tilted his head, peering down at the reptile with a single lemon eye. "A GREAT DRAGON!" The beast interrupted him, straightening his head and whipping his gaze towards the tunnel entrance. "THE DRAGON HAS AWAKENED!" He shrieked, flaring the frills along his head and down his spine. The serpent snapped his gaze back to Dragon as he implored for Aquarian's wisdom - anything they could know, anything about the dragon. What did he know? What didn't he know. "THE DRAGON WILL SLAY ANY WHO STAND IN HIS PATH! THE DRAGON WILL CONSUME AND CAST FIRE TO THE REALM! THERE ARE NO MASTERS! HE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL HE HAS BECOME THEM! RAHEEEEERAAAHHH!" Aquarian boomed, chittering nervously. "IF YOU SHOULD FACE HIM, THEN YOU SHOULD SEEK DEATH! PERHAPS, APPEAL TO THE DRAGON'S EGO - HE TAKES PRIDE IN HIS CHILDREN OF FIRE - NO, NO, YOU ARE NOT A CHILD OF FIRE!" The beast argued amongst himself, indecisively thrashing in the water. "CHILD OF THE SWAMP! CHILD OF ROT! HE WILL NOT HAVE YOOUUU!" Aquarian scowled. "YOUR ONLY HOPE IS TO HIDE OR TO DEFEAT HIM! HE WILL CAST US IN FLAMES! HE WILL DEVOUR US!"

"DEFEAT HIM! DEFEAT HIM AND PRESERVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR HE WILL BURN IT TO ASH!" Very obviously agitated by the news of the dragon, the serpent hissed again and dramatically threw himself back into the water, casting a gargantuan wave over the shore before raising his head above the surface towards the gathering. "I SHALL NOT RISE WHILE THE DRAGON BURNS! HE WILL DEVOUR! HE WILL DESTROY US! CHILDREN OF ROT!" He shrieked, and once again launched into the water, disappearing for good this time.

exit Aquarian

Czernobog watched, satisfied, as the duo of intruders left, snorting happily as his tail began to wave in earnest. Mine. Dragon, it seemed, assumed rightly that the pig would follow, as the boar charged after the alligator with a contented bellow. He stuck to the shore and the shallows, still too small and unwieldy to take a chance with the murky waters his boat swam through with ease. Eve, thankfully, stayed put on his noggin, and the boar kept his head well above the waterline, careful not to disturb his favorite hat.

Call him. Czernobog let out an experimentory squeal, then a loud round of grunting, and finally another bellow, oblivious to how loud and quite possibly very annoying he was being. It didn't appear to bother his grandboat, whose noodley appearance was met with a happy grunt from the boar below. Dragon! Awake! Slay! Consume! Defeat! Devour! Destroy! The pig listened, spellbound, wiry pelt rising up as goosebumps raced across his skin. He could do this, he could destroy, he could rend this foe into pieces like he'd done with the spiders, he was sure of it.

Another squeal and a fire lit in his eyes, Czernobog grinned up at Aquarian with a maw full of sharp teeth, hooves pounding the ground in hurried agitation, riled for a fight. Duty. Won't let boats down.

[ exit czernobog b/c wow old thread ]