Wilder pouted at Envy, her tail lashing slowly behind her. "I was going to sleep on the way to Canis, okay? The Bonebound are my friends. I know they'll be fair. More fair then you, at least." It was probably the first time Wilder had been angry enough to insult anyone and she found that she not only didn't like it but that she was absolutely horrified that she had said it at all. Disbelief crossed across her face. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that..."

But they were leaving now, without her. And Wilder not only found that even more annoying but extremely suspicious. She watched them leave and wanted to know exactly what they were going to be doing. She reached for her magic but her churning emotions got in the way of the connection and it quickly escaped from her grip. Why were they going without her? She knew she had made them angry and, a moment later, she realized that they must have seen. They must have been listening.

How could she be so stupid?! She should never have contacted Blackberry. It wouldn't have made any difference, even if they had decided to go straight to her. She was just going to sit there and wait. Wilder was trying to keep Blackberry alive and she had only just made it worse.

She didn't know that they weren't going to go to Canis but she wasn't going to be sticking around here while they left. As soon as they were out of sight she leaped to her feet and ran as fast as she could on her short legs towards the tunnel where Blackberry was. They'd overtake her, quickly, but she would at least try and do everything she could to help her friend.

*exit

Envy's quills bristled. They scampered quickly up and onto Pride's back, saying nothing, neither to the cat- that little traitor- nor to Pride. The two could speak mind to mind, so what was the point?

What did you expect? That cat's an idiot, they thought back sourly, as they settled into place, latching their sticky paws into place on his armour. They'd never liked that cat, and she'd just given them even more reason not to care. A moment later, an idea struck them, an idea entirely inspired entirely by the cat's foolish actions. Would you like me to try to use the spell that she did, to try and alert the Bonebound?

They were, after all, adept at learning what they saw.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride grunted, skidding to a brief halt.

"Yes," he answered curtly--"if you can." Carefully he moved to snag the weasel in his teeth--by their quills, their scruff--and then moved to race onward.

It wasn't dignified, no--but they were in a damn hurry.

@Envy

Envy let out a small, undignified squeak as Pride picked them up, but didn't struggle or try to wriggle free. They knew that the motion was most likely for the best, after all, and, as they became settled, short legs sticking out in front of them and tail curled between their back legs, they sucked in their breath and closed their eyes. How do I do this? they wondered, brows creasing.

They thought about those of the Bonebound they'd seen at the meeting; the hybrid, with wings, and the hyena. They thought about what they knew of them. They seemed a reasonable sort. They lived in Canis, Envy knew. Envy evened out their breaths and felt their body grow slack, slipping into stasis as they reached out for the Bone King.

They felt the magic take hold; flaring into existence, although it wavered and struggled. Their focus dipped and struggled, threatening to give way to real sleep. But they had a message to give. Aure! That's it, right? This is Envy, King of the Seven. We were coming to find you.

They paused, taking a moment to ensure the link was stable, if it existed at all.

...But now there's no time. We're going to kill the goose. The black cat from the meeting warned it and we can't let it escape. It's in tunnel M. Meet us there.

With their message given, the weasel withdrew, feeling exhaustion take hold of their limbs in a way that they rarely felt, when it came to magic.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride raced on, and out. Only when Envy was fully awake again, and done with their casting, would he briefly pause to place them back onto his back.

He wasn't sure if the weasel would need to fall asleep, as Wilder had, but there'd been no time to stop and discuss; better safe than sorry.

They had work to do.

exit Pride @Envy

Envy slowly came to. Although they were uncertain if the message had gone through or not, they knew for certain that the magic had, at the very least, worked. And that, at least, opened up a whole world of possibilities.

Soon, they were returned to their spot on Pride's back, as well, their pawpads splaying out to grip his fur as they rode. The world flashed by and gave them the chance to think, with horrible clarity, that they were making a terrible mistake.

-exit Envy-

Speech. Thought.