Onyx-Three had a hard time comprehending that there was not, in fact, some unknown attacker. Though he did not understand how falling over could have caused such a bad injury. Had he tripped and fallen over? The snow was soft though. An icy patch? But he did not question it, as the Sentinel was not elaborating either. "I will not." Though Onyx-Three did not think they would be able to kill him anyway if he tried, even considering the current state of things. But he was also a bit disappointed to know that there was not, in fact, anything to beat up. There was no one to blame for what happened and perhaps that's why it was frustrating. They hoped he would be able to recover soon.

Onyx-Three gazed towards the icebeast, though he felt no sense of victory looking at the dead lesser. "Yes. But it was too easy. Not enough of a challenge. No gemstone." There was a slight frown at the mention of healing wounds, and they glanced down at their arm. "The icebeast had white in its fur." and now, he could feel a strange feeling come over him that seemed out of place. It was similar to the one before, but this time it was stronger, came with a whisper of 'love'. Love? He wanted to be loved. No- he was loved already. There was a discernable pause in his words, a struggle before he continued. "Order. I think I am... infected." Those words were hard to say for some reason. Did he not want to say it? No, Order was the greatest enemy of Chaos. There was no reason why he would think that it was good. "I feel warm. Ursa is cold but I am warm. I think 'love'. No- I do not think. But I hear it."

@The Sentinel

It took him a moment, especially past the shooting pain that now threatened to take over mind and body. Simply ignoring a broken bone was taking all the self-control he'd cultivated over his cycles, and now and then it slipped--in the sharp clench of his jaws, the grip of his halberd, the squeezing shut of his eyes.

He tried to focus on his child's words.

White in the fur. He almost interrupted, desperate to leave and to heal--to say that the creature's fur was white. But then-... -Infected. ...Order.
Oh.

Eyes snapped back open, and he regarded V-Onyx-Three closely, trying to remember what he'd been taught of Order. That it would control. That it would draw its infected into its tainted heart, and convert them to its mindless, empty husk soldiers. That-...

"It can be cleansed," he blurted, remembering. "We will return to Draco. Take what trophies you would take." He glanced at the dead Icebeast, at the teeth and claws, the antlers, any of which would make a fine addition to jewelry or statues that V-Onyx-Three might choose to make. "They may also be purged," he added, more tentatively--he wasn't sure, but it certainly stood to reason.

Oh--right. Parental guidance. Encouragement. He steeled himself against the pain again, and this time his magic flared out--chaotic as ever, everything or nothing, and this was almost everything. It flooded through his shattered limb in a flow of cooling numbness. It still hurt--like hell--but it was... tolerable. Enough to clear his mind, to think past the black buzz of agony. "-It was a good kill. The Sentinel did not see it all. That is... how swift it was. Efficient. Strong." There was approval in his tone, and he reached out to offer a brief, not-too-hard, approving squeeze of one of Onyx-Three's shoulders.

@V-Onyx-Three

Onyx-Three had no idea how the Sentinel would react to the statement that they had been infected by Order. Were his movements due to pain or disappointment? Both? He was already quite disappointed in himself for even getting bitten in the first place. Even if the voice inside his head told him it was a good thing. They shook their head from side to side as if to try and clear it from such thoughts.

He froze in place as the Sentinel looked over him. "It can be cleansed." With that, his entire body relaxed, and he let out a deep breath. It would be okay. But that still didn't shake the thought of how good it felt. Onyx-Three was ashamed to admit that Order didn't feel so bad. Even if it should. From all he was taught, he should hate it. No- he did hate it for causing this emotional turmoil within him even if he didn't understand what those emotions were.

The Sentinel's touch broke him out of his suspension within his thoughts. Onyx-Three's tail thumped against the snowy ground, and it seemed despite the cold, all he could feel was a warmth that flooded every part of him. It was stronger than what he felt from Order, and he wondered for a brief moment if this could be called 'love'. "Thank you." and though Onyx-Three did not realize it, those words held more than just thanks for the encouragement.

Trophies. He did not want to keep them here for longer than needed now that the icebeast was dead. Ursa was one of the worst places to stay for too long. There were many things to choose from, but the teeth and claws could risk getting cut again. The antlers would be easiest. Onyx-Three returned to the dead being, and tried to break the antlers at the base. It did not come off cleanly, the bottom a bit jagged, but the antlers were whole. He returned to the Sentinel with them in hand. "These will be good." it seemed he was in less pain now. "I am ready." there was a thoughtful pause before he added, "Thank you again. There is a lot to thank for." and Onyx-Three had a better idea now of what he wanted to convey, though he wasn't sure it was stated as well as he liked.

@The Sentinel

It was not often that Order managed to get its moldy claws into one of the Chaos Forge. And those claws sunk deep, the sparking of chemical emotions powerful: tides of satisfaction, floods of approval, wave after wave of warm well-being, all struggling to erode the shores of V-Chaos-Three's willpower.

It would, given time, be exhausting; but for now it was a euphoria, a place of bright and brilliant perfection shining like love and diamonds through the center of their being.

A lure. A temptation. A promise.

Agony fought with sense, chaos with control, as the Sentinel stood watch. This, at least, he was good at: standing stiff, gaze drifting over the landscape, watching for anything out of the ordinary. Anything dark against the white.

Different, then, from Draco, where the stone was black and breathed. And different, with pain lancing his mind through with urges toward violence (or throwing himself on the floor and wailing). Faintness came and went, a dizzying surge that passed through him--and then V-Chaos-Three was there again, snapped-off antlers in his hands.

"It is a shame its meat would taint us," he was surprised to hear himself saying. It was as though his mind were trying to cling to the normal, as opposed to just screaming a lot. But it was true--eating Order's fungus was not exactly a healthy meal option. He turned, and began a slow hobble for the exit tunnel. "It may move quickly. The Sentinel will catch up with magic... if it does." And if not, if Chaos-Three moved slowly, well; he could certainly do the same.

@V-Onyx-Three

Onyx-Three did not like to waste food, but just looking at the icebeast had taken away their appetite. It would not be unreasonable to assume that he might stray from eating any white foods at all from now on. "It is." as he glanced back at the beast, Onyx-Three was suddenly hit once more with feelings of warmth and 'love'. He felt the powerful force surging through him, trying to overtake his emotions and convince him that it was what true love was. It was trying to drive him towards Order, towards perfection and belonging. It was tempting- for a moment. Onyx-Three turned away.

In only a few strides, they had caught up to the Sentinel, reaching to grasp his arm for a moment as if in confirmation that he was there. Then they let go, not providing any explanation for why they had done so. "I will walk with you." Onyx-Three pressed the influence of Order as far away as he could. First and foremost, they were a child of the Sentinel, and by extension, the Forge. That was where he belonged. Was it love? He still wasn't sure on that one, but he knew it was more real than anything he would ever feel from Order. Onyx-Three did not want to imagine what would happen if things turned out differently. It was not easy to hate something so convincing. But now, back to Draco. Home.

Exit Onyx-Three

@The Sentinel

The pain was still severe, and so when it came time to move, he did so with spectral wings spread once more. The azure flare flashed only faintly this time--but that was fine by him. He wasn't trying to soar, just to hover a few inches off the surface of the deep snow. Trudging through with a broken limb was... taxing, to say the least. Impossible, once his endurance inevitably gave out.

Floating, though, was better; a slow drift a safe distance up.

When it was offered, he took his child's support, though he did not lean on it overmuch. His gratitude was voiced simply. "It is easier, this way." Manners... sort of.

He was unaware of Onyx-Three's internal conflict; instead he was focused on getting out of here (and Onyx-Three, as well) safely. He knew full well that between his injury, and Onyx-Three's infection, it was only a matter of time before the denizens of Order showed up.

Lucky, then, that his magic did not fail him a second time.

exit Sentinel