Aqua was tired from watching all the commotion. She simply decided to go and take a nap. If the kid knew anything, it was that Tathys and Orlaith were fighters. They would not go down like this easily. The kid did not want to think of anything else. Not until she got some rest. The young gembound may have believed in mother, but the real and true her absolutely did not. If she ever got out of mother's control, along with her kingdom members, she would help them kill every single one. Especially Pallas. The real her was glad Reji was dead. But being controlled by mother, she was unable to feel that joy. She just wanted sleep. She was tired. But the real her, was sick of this twisted family.

Zelk was too bothered by the loss of Reji. She was even more torn by losing the trust of her long time friend Orlaith. Zelk had made the decision to trust mother. The real her realized mother was wrong and evil. The real Zelk would find a way to make this right. No matter what it took, if she ever got free of mother,she would make it right. But the control was too strong to defy mother. Now all Zelk needed was to get away and go for a walk. She needed some time to herself. Time to get her bearings and clear her mind. She waited though to see if mother needed anything.


@Game Master Dark

Some of them seemed to be preparing to leave, but Mother called them softly with her siren song. She was not quite done yet.

"I do not know about Tenzin. I remember... ice, and wind. And this Master: the serpent... My new task for you, my children: after the tiger's stone is secured... You will convert the Children of Rot. Find them alone, and convince them to join us. Use what means suit you best... but allow none who know of us to leave Cetus once confronted. Begin, my children."

Most of their family was a harmony. A lovely twining of songs and beliefs. But there were two discordant notes, beneath her control.

Aquamarine and Tethys did not truly believe. Beneath Mother's compulsion, she could feel that they did not. And so, sadly, her own song changed. It began to grow darker... not in an ominous way, exactly; but the way night fell, the way sleep fell, the way the mind drifted gently away into unconsciousness. The link became mind-numbing, soothing...

All of them could see it, through her mind: Reji's body, delivered to Mother, sinking into her white embrace. The mud fell away, the pristine, sparkling blue fur pulled beneath the carpet of fungus. Consumed. Returning to her Mother. Returned to the Hive. All was as it should be.

And all the while, that link of togetherness strengthened. They were all one. And they did not need to think, anymore, for themselves; no, that was a burden. Let her do that for them.

They were her beloved children, after all.

They were Family.

_______

Mother has grown stronger. In the coming days, her hold over the Hive-linked Gembound will strengthen intensely.

They will then enter Phase Two of infection. While their thoughts and emotions will be linked more strongly than ever, it will be a wholly free exchange of self. It will be difficult to tell one's thoughts and feelings from another's; they are all truly One.

They will also be more muted in their own thoughts, with long periods of blank nothing in their minds. Instead, all will seem peaceful and pleasurable in their link to Mother, though tragically, she seems to need much more food... In short, they will begin to feel like happily mindless drones serving the Hive. Some, wishing to truly serve Mother well, may find themselves forgetting to feed or groom themselves, unless Mother reminds them (and she periodically will). They will also feel the urge to plant new samples of Mother elsewhere, to begin a network of cave-wide nests in which she could rest.

Lastly, afflicted Gembound will find small, white growths in unobtrusive locations; clusters of mold for example beneath fur, or under a limb, or in other hidden physical spots. They may attempt to hide these, but a faint (but persistent) odor of rot will now cling to them at all times.

Gembound may now exit.

@Lamia @Zelk @Pallas @Opal Three-Seven-Six

Pallas let out a curt huff as he let go of what he was doing, curling up his back as he sat for a moment. Even basic thought seemed to be troublesome for him.

But- ah, why should he need thought? Done with whatever he was doing, he stood again and trotted back into what was once Reji's den to watch as Mother reconstituted her into her own mass.

He would tend to her. Keep her clean, keep her safe, keep her fed.

He curled up next to the remains of his sister, watching as Mother worked at her coat.

;exit unless further addressed

Sergei huffed, his small, round ears pushing back, then forward, his dull eyes widening as the praise flowed his way. He felt-... he felt as though he belonged; he felt beloved, indeed.

He felt happy.

Quietly he padded over toward where he'd stashed a half-rotted fish and a few berries. Normally, he kept his food for himself, leaving the others to feed Mother--but now, he hauled the food to Orlaith's chrysalis, to the small fungal sample, and he let Mother feed.

He wasn't quite sure how he was to handle these Children of Rot--brother Pallas seemed to consider that his own task was to tend Mother, instead. Sergei was a little confused. Was he one of the ones who should convert them?

How was he supposed to do that? He was not a subtle creature, with no intricate designs of his own. He was basic. He was-...

But Mother would guide him, wouldn't she? Mother always knew what to do.

Feeling all was over, Zelk left to go for a walk. The battle was tiring. Despite their achievements, Zelk knew there was a big chance they could lose. They could be as careful as can be. As long as the Masters were here, their reign would not be long. She believed in mother, but the masters she knew, were much more powerful.

-Exit

Aqua slowly fell asleep, too tired to even do anything else. She was mentally exhausted keeping up with the battle. But, the real her was happy Tethys had finished Reji off leaving her as a mangled piece of crap. It is what she deserved. She lied and tricked her, and her kingdom. That damned canine paid the price for her actions. She fell asleep, not wanting to be bothered.

-Exit

The real Tethys was pissed off completely, and was happy she killed Reji. Pallas was next, and she would enjoy ripping him apart. She would then rip his gem out, then eat his dumb, lame corpse. It was because of mother who was controlling her that kept her locked away mentally. The seal was just tired, not able to break free. So she would just wait to be rescued.

-Exit

Lamia was more then a little disappointed that there was nothing that Mother had on Tenzin, but as the bond between them strengthened, she felt that disappointment slipping away. The need to know about Tenzin, if he was good or bad, if she should trust him, was warmly smothered under Mother's soothing influence. It did not matter - he was a Master. Untrustworthy. She did not need him, she didn't need a father. Only a Mother.

"I will take you to the other caves," she sighed blissfully. "So if anything happens to you, Mother...you will survive." She pulled herself forward and began to gather bits of Mother in her mouth and her arms, until she was brimming full with bits of fungus. She glanced back at Azrael. "Will you take me back to the water, brother?"

Azrael snorted his confirmation. Mother was correct. The Children of Rot could not be allowed to simply roam free. He would look to Pallas for how to do this, perhaps. He could feel a twinge of doubt from Sergei and felt himself mirroring that uncertainty. He did not know the intricacies of the mind, nor how to speak elegantly to others. He could fight. He could roar. He could create darkness.

...Perhaps that was good. If it came to force, which, if today was any clue, it most certainly would, then perhaps darkness would work. Blind his opponents and shove Mother down their throats while they are trying to get their bearings.

He relayed this idea to his siblings through thought. This was a possible way to convert the Children. I will work my magic so that I will not fail my darkness again. That would never happen again.

At Lamia's request, he stood. Perhaps before he would have let Mother know he would be back, but there was no need for this anymore. She knew where he would be, where he was going. She knew he would be back soon. So he leaned over and lifted Lamia from the ground, holding her steady with all four arms, and leaving the cave to take her to the center of the swamp.

*exit