Good! This was--good!

They were done--right?

Rex beamed, releasing his tiny grip on the gigantic monster's ankles. Then he turned, scrambling (falling at least once directly onto his oversized, toothy face) back for the path down the mountain.

"ANDY!" he wailed. "ANDYYY! -We did it!"

Then he'd scrambled off down the hill, tripping and laughing the whole way. For the hatchling, it'd been practically a game; he was lucky Kihan had never turned his attention on him.

exit Rex

Aethril watched the Valkhound bound towards her without flinching. She knew fine well what he might be thinking: perhaps not the specifics of biting her calf to 'just see what happens,' but certainly that teeth and flesh were somehow involved. She would have been more than happy to put him down like a wheezing dog if it had come to that-- but Nidhogg was almost simpering by her feet and Obieth was showing clear jealousy.

One hand extended to the Valkcat to invite her closer, to reassuringly squish her plated head towards the damp silks of her dress, as pale eyes cast over Relic. The Hand could have taken the time to explain, that there was a hierarchy to obey and Aethril was damn near the top. That Kihan was likely aware of what consequences would befall him if he outright ignored a Valkhand. She might have even done so, in fact, if Relic had been anything other than just another damned Earthspawn infesting the Nest like a rat.

"I am a God," was all she sneered to the pup.

Fingers massaging into Obieth's skull, she now glanced down to Nidhogg (thoroughly ignoring any further queries the cub may have). "I know," she said. "You are a good boy, Nidhogg. Tell Vargas what has happened here." A glance to Kihan to ensure he was not trying to eat anyone else, and Aethril was moving on with a short "come, Obieth."

She had something special in mind for her beloved bodyguard.

Down the mountain, and a little ways into the throng of the jungle trees, Aethril kicked off her shoes once out of sight from the rest of the group. "This," she told Obieth, "Is something of a... natural habitat, for you. The canopy will shield your eyes from the light, and you will blend easily among the leaves and forest floor."

Aethril stared at her with a sudden fondness in her eyes-- gentle excitement to see the perfect predator at work. "We shall hunt together, you and I. I think you will enjoy it."

exit, probably?
@Obieth

A--good boy? That was the first time anyone had ever said that to him, and his jaws clapped shut as he considered it. Some part of him was ridiculously pleased, proud even. The rest was vaguely wondering 'what the fuck?' though not quite in those crude words.

He shook himself, standing. Maybe he'd have had fun wandering around the jungle, too; most likely he'd have immediately gotten himself, someone else, strangers or all three killed. But now he had Orders; and with a hiss (apparently a sound of agreement and acknowledgment) he sprang to his feet and bounded for the tunnel again. He'd have to scramble the whole way back up past leeches and traps and running water, but he'd... manage.

Somehow.

As for what he was going to report? Undoubtedly it'd be half-nonsense, something along the lines of how a toddler might tell a story. He'd try, though, at least.

exit Nidhogg

Obieth came to her side with half-lidded eyes, something almost a purr threatening to rumble from her chest. Smug satisfaction spiked high, savage, as Nidhogg was given empty praise and then dismissed; as she instead was summoned closer.

Fingers threaded through velvet fur, and half-lidded became slipped near shut, only bare crescents of blue studying the world beyond for danger. Her tail flicked again as she was beckoned.

She listened to her Mistress speak, and Aethril was right; as Obieth cast her gaze through deep and dappled shadows, as her ears swivelled to catch the sound of the strange not-birds soaring overhead, she felt a kinship with this place she'd never felt before. It was as though the jungle called to her, a silent wail sent straight to her soul, whispering promises to draw her close and cling to her. It was a different draw than the pristine palace of Cepheus offered, with its tended and manicured gardens; that place appealed to her lazy satisfaction, her desire to lounge and bask in voidlit luxury.

This place sang to the Chaos in her, instead. It promised blood spilled between her teeth and beneath her claws; it sang softly of the hunt, of predator and prey, with each movement of the canopy. And though by nature she was a solitary beast, there was a thrill in her to know that she was to hunt by Aethril's side, here. That the two forces of Chaos would move to claim this place for themselves.

She lowered her head, fangs gleaming in the flashes of light that came down through the trees, and prowled up alongside Aethril as shoes were cast aside.

"Let the hunt begin?" she murmured, her gaze sliding up to meet Aethril's with amused malice in her eyes.

exit Obieth

It would've been a stretch for Relic to call the valkhounds friends of theirs, even in their altered brain state. In the absence of a proper guiding figure, it was less an assumption of the role and more of a giving, not that Obieth was even aware of that. Though the Oil-cat had both their fascination and respect, it was hard to see any of that reciprocated in her words or actions, even if the cub was projecting.

Still, there was a tug as the valkhounds left to grovel at Aethril's feet like hounds on a leash. A reminder that she was alone here, that she was never that high on anyone's priorities. That made her feel like shit, and the poison wasn't helping. Still, this woman must be important, being able to bend even the mightiest of beasts to her will, with only a few words! Relic couldn't stay sad for long, because whatever she was to tell the cub would be of great value in journeys to come-

"Oh. Okay." She had hoped there was more to it. Oh well. She didn't need these losers anyway, not when she had Bayo. She promptly turned and headed back the way the group came, not seeing much point in staying any longer. Despite her curiosity, she was getting sick of this place.

[exit Relic]