He wasn't going to admit it, but a cool relief settled over Ace once his opponent ceased treating his body as a drum to smack its single stick against. Driven as he was to battle, the Drone possessed a certain amount of self-preservation, especially since despite his brags, he knew well his Hive's current military ranks required much expansion to become a true threat to contend with. While the loss of a single soldier in a grand army would be regarded as a sting for a collective grown used to a comrade's death, here the pain would be more keenly felt, an experience he'd rather not inflict on his siblings. More importantly, cracking this fancy new armor he sported so early on a simple contest of posturing seemed a waste. Better to keep it lightly dented for an actual life or death struggle.

Of course, he thought, dumb smirk never fleeing his face, if the Warden had any intention of going beyond fending off perceived intruders, he wouldn't mind throttling the difficulty level up. The Chaos crony's insistence on referring to him as "toy" might backfire once he decided his game of avoidance wasn't nearly as entertaining as a riskier rapid onslaught. The end result would have been messy if failure occurred, hence why this plan wasn't his first, but imagining the brute quailing under the effect of far more potent bug bites than a mere Praetor could inflict made the potential reward taste sweet on his tongue. He neglected to share this view with the present audience, snickering, and refused to land while waiting for light-blinded sight's full recovery.

Bruised as his belly was, the same couldn't apply to his ego. Whether for the best or worst, Mother had built it to last a thousand blows and never lose its luster. Therefore, even as Shrike expressed her regret, he tossed his head back and let the breeze catch his mane, showy and conceited as ever. "I'm sure you would've loved my lessons," he asserted, "but this will teach you even better. A real drag you'll have to rub feathers with these Oil-drippers, but make sure you scrub them down afterwards, and I won't say no if you fly my way again."

Far as he was concerned, this spar hadn't eternally sealed any deal. Good looks and attitude could still win the day if barbaric behavior off-put the Gembound enough. Although no social genius himself, Ace readied himself to swoop in should the victor prove incapable of keeping in its prize's good graces. As vision slowly returned and blotches of color emerged out of endless white, eyes squinted, watching for an opportunity to cut the Warden's feet from under it if the beast verbally blundered.

@The Warden

The Warden chuckled, giving a shrug. "It's nothing personal. But if you aren't intending on giving yourself to Order, then there is nothing to worry about. We will treat you right." It glanced towards Ace again and snorted. "Better then they will, at least." It was done jabbing at the Drone now, though - it had won the spar, and it had won a soldier in Shrike. Perhaps it should turn and attempt to kill it, as the Chaos Forge would probably demand of it, but it felt that might be in poor taste at the moment. It was not a full certainty that Shrike would join them at this very moment.

It chuckled again. Perhaps the title had no come across as much of a name, but it was proud of it regardless. "I am The Warden! That is my name and my title. I live and breath the protection of Draco." It took a moment to properly look over Shrike, her form and design. It was no Master or Overseer, so it knew it was not its place to tell her what the proper job would be, but it could see her being a powerful aerial soldier, with the size and all. There were a few fliers that could teach her, but it doubted that they had someone like Ace that could teach her so well. Ah, but it would never admit that out loud.

"You'll make a fine warrior, I think. We have some winged-ones that can give you aerial combat training, and masters of magic that can teach you as well, if that is your interest. As for Chaos...our experiences are all different, if that is truly the path you wish to walk." It glanced at Ace. "I won't say anymore in front of an enemy - will you come with me to Draco, then? I will explain more."

@Shrike

Draco? Shrike's head tipped, birdlike, to peer at The Warden. And, she took a mental note: Name -and- title. Okay.

Truth be told, she didn't know about the Chaos Forge: to her, she'd been selecting a superior power to align herself to. Had she known that either side were strict with rules and regulations, she might have reconsidered. But she didn't know, and anyway, she'd agreed to join the Warden--to serve he and his element. "Of course; what's in Draco, exactly?"

Shrike folded her wings once, then ruffled and spread them, as if stretching them to prepare for a journey. A final glance and incline of her head--respectful, even a little apologetic--was offered Ace's way. But overall Shrike was simply... excited. There had been a thrill in all of this, and there was a thrill ahead, too: the prospect of learning, empowering herself, becoming more than she already was.

@Ace

Color him surprised: the spiked wonder actually did possess a modicum of tact. Fond of verbal jousting himself, Ace's thought rang rather hypocritically, but it was to be expected when faction tensions were at play. To view members of Chaos and Order as similar in any way, shape, or form? Absolutely ridiculous to a being who'd been programmed since birth to see a clear distinction between the two. Shrike, however, existed in shades of grey due to her Gembound status; therefore, he couldn't sneer at her turn to the lesser of two options. She seemed sensible enough to cancel a deal should the results not meet her standards, so he'd hold out that hope of her realizing what a loss she'd incurred. If not, at least if they met again on the battlefield, he would learn how much a disaster the clowns of Chaos had made of her training.

"Don't worry," the Drone declared with a bark of laughter. "I'm not interested in hearing about your secret password anyway."

On a more polite note, the respectful nod given was sent an acknowledging dip of his own head before he made haste in pulling fully away from the reach of weapons. Wings thrust down and broke his hover, casting him into the beginnings of a further ascent. Once enough distance had been gained, a forward lunge aligned his sinuous form. The exertion of muscles shot him through the air like a bullet, aimed for the trees. Exiting the relatively low cover of the meadows seemed ideal in defeat, especially when this sojourn had brought him to so close to Chaos's stronghold. One oily idiot was mere entertainment; a gang, though, would be far more of an annoyance for his aerial ace self to deal with.

-Exit Ace

@The Warden

A last glance of the drone and a smirk as he at last silently admitted his defeat and fled the scene. The Warden liked to think that he did so with his tail tucked between his legs. Once properly gone, the Warden lifted the glaive from the ground and tucked it against its side for the journey back to Draco. "Draco is the Womb, it is where monsters are forged, for war, protection, whatever is needed. It is currently the beating heart of Chaos within this nest." It pointed across Pegasus, to the distance where it knew the exit to the tunnel leading to the Womb was open. "The tunnel there leads directly to its entrance."

With that, it set off towards the cave, starting at a leisurely trot, but gauging Shrike's excitement. If she seemed like she was ready to be there sooner, it would switch to a gallop, its steps heavy over the fertile ground of the endless mile. As they went, it spoke to her, gave her some of the basics - of Chaos, and the Forge, of what it means to be Corrupted (although it was not familiar with the specifics of becoming corrupted), and any questions she had in the relatively short journey to Draco.

*exit

@Shrike

Shrike spread her wings and leapt, wings catching the air. She labored for a moment to rise higher, and cast a last glance back at the departing Ace--then looked down, settling into a swift and circling glide. "Feel free to move quickly, if you like. It's easier for me to fly than to walk." Her taloned legs were somewhat slender; walking became a strain quite quickly. Her wings, however, carried her serpentine body easily enough.

She slid past The Warden, then circled around again, keeping whatever pace he chose. As she did so, she spoke a little. "I look forward to see this... you say a heart and a womb? A wonder of anatomy," she joked. (She was pretty sure a womb was an organ, anyway.)

Then Shrike set her eyes ahead, thrilled to see what would come next.

exit Shrike; @The Warden for visibility!