Leaving behind the two birds did not sit perfectly well with Conquest, but their stomach was rumbling in a way that odd mushrooms and little saplings could not satisfy. Living in Hydra was hard and they all suffered it, but it was home, for now. Thankfully, the mesas provided shade from the intense heat and Conquest's own wool gave the others some warm during the chilly nights.

Still, water and food were scarce and Conquest left with Death, for now, to search for a place they could graze and drink before returning to the others.

He trotted slowly through the labyrinth of ravines that made up this part of the cave, nose and ears working to sense for danger, but also for any faint moisture in the air or the trickle of water that would point out there was a creek nearby.

Nothing yet but...

He turned to his travel companion. "Do you smell anything? I don't know if there's water nearby."

@Death

It did not sit easy for Death either to leave their younger brother and sister. Death moved fast on their legs, faster than they looked like they could move when still. They understood the importance of finding water.

Without water, their siblings would not live. All things needed sustenance... With that thought in mind, they searched for mushrooms. Perhaps they would prefer this area, so long as there was some dampness.

That felt right, to guess at. This time, they felt something, if barely. "There might be some mushrooms that way... If so, they need sustenance as well," they suggested, for their own grown mushrooms had not lasted long.

@Conquest

This place was not one for mushrooms. Even were they planted here, in a cool and shady crevice, their spores sould simply not survive. But more than that, there was no decay for them to feast upon.

The idea of there being more potential at a waterside was a good one; perhaps things might decay there, offering more shade and dampness to consume. Any faint trickle of magic, then, would come from much farther into the Crucible: quite a bit of a hike, but... doable.

The problem that arose, however, came in the form of a Spire Spider, and that a huge, well-fed one. Glistening bristles flashed blue as it stepped out into their path, front legs raised and abdomen already flipping upward to shine and tilt hypnotically.

These young Gembounds--the little ram, in particular--would be a fine meal for such a creature.

@Conquest

He frowned when he looked off in the direction that Death had motioned. With all the twisting turns and changing paths, it could very well be right around the bend or on the other side of the Crucible. Another sniff at the air came dry and sandy, like there was nothing but dust for miles around. "Hm. It may be quite a walk. Perhaps we should find the-"

He wasn't able to finish the sentence, as something stepped out onto the path.

Conquest did not hesitate. He had seen Spire Spiders already and Famine had reported back on their hunting techniques. While he didn't know exactly what it was that caused its meals to become complacent, he knew that whatever it was doing would be stopped. Now.

He lunged forward with a shout, "Look out!", and brought his hoof sharply towards the eye to distract it enough to stop whatever it was about to do. A sudden surge of dizziness overtook his mind, making his mind feel...hazy...disorientated...but he'd protect Death, perhaps they could do something while he took the brunt.

@Death

Death was quick to look out at Conquest's alert, and they recognized the Spire Spiders that Famine had described. Their brother was close to it, close enough to be bitten by the giant spider, but Death would not let that happen, they decided.

They moved to an angle that wouldn't hit Conquest, sensing their magic's potential for combat here. Dream Dust, spores of fungus, managed to hit the Spire Spider, even if it was barely successful, it was still a success.

Still, they felt themselves feeling a bit woozy themself.

@Conquest

The swift one-two put a quick stop to the giant spider's attempts at predation. The kick to the eye left it reeling away, any attempt at hypnosis failing; the dust that plumed out a moment later stopped a fangs-bared lunge it had begun to make toward Conquest in response.

It backed off, then scurried for the canyon wall.

They could attempt to stop it, to continue the fight; otherwise it would simply run away, having quickly realized it'd more than met its match in their cooperative attempts.

@Conquest

Almost as soon as it started, it was over. The lightheadedness faded as quickly as the spider turned. There had been a moment, as it had been about to lunge back, that Conquest thought it was in trouble, seeing long fangs bared to sink into his flesh, but then a cloud of spores and it was backing off - properly - and before he knew it, it was skittering away.

He had half a mind to chase it, to keep the fight going until it was dead, and then drag its corpse back to their shelter for the more carnivorous siblings, but reason was stronger then any foolish desire. Continuing the fight would only lead to injury and the possibility of death. He wasn't going to risk himself, nor Death, just for a trophy.

So he cantered back on all fours, watching the spider retreat and stood defensively between its path and his smaller sibling. "Let it go," he murmured, just in case Death had any ideas. "It's learned its lesson."

@Death

The spider was fleeing... And Death hungered for its demise, for having dared to attempt to attack their brother, Conquest. Their usually dazed demeanor had turned into vicious focus. Yet... They did not have magics yet that caused the death they desired to inflict, and they would not endanger their brother further.

Conquest's murmur reinforced that decision. "One day," their drifting tones were strong despite their quietness. "One day, we will be able to do more than teach lessons," Death vowed, the tone sincerely quite frightful despite the constant drifting feel of their words.

And then the moment passed, and they remembered that their siblings had thirst and hunger. They tried to focus again on that magic that had aided them before, that they might find where fungus was able to take sustenance in such a barren place.

"There is growth this way... Mushroom growth, but all life needs sustenance," they spoke, beginning to move in the direction as soon as Conquest began.

@Conquest

Conquest nodded, one hoof pawing at the ground. "Yes. We are small now, but we will grow." And by 'we' he in part meant 'him', as he was unsure how large Death would grow to be, being quite small already. But every day he felt himself growing larger and stronger, he felt that he could run farther and fight harder. And one day he would protect and kill for his family, if need be.

He turned in the direction that Death indicated and together they began the hike. It was a winding path through the crucible, long, tiring, but they pushed ever on. Conquest offered a couple of times if Death would care to ride on his back, as he could go at a quicker pace then the reptile, but he would respect their wishes if they declined.

Eventually, they managed to reach it. Just a small stream of water with some loose, dry shrubs growing around where it splashed against the dry rock and sand. Some insects buzzed around, enjoying the smallest bit of humidity it offered. "Hm, good. Perhaps we should move closer here. Although the water sources seem to change all the time. Drying in one spot and flowing in another." He sighed. "It is rough out here."

@Death

"We will grow powerful, yes," Death agreed in drifting notes. They accepted the offer to climb onto the other's back, not wishing to slow their progress down. This was important, and they had no issue with being carried, really.

"Close to here... yes, we will need to, for water if nothing else. ...If it shifts, then we will simply have to shift with it. Follow the growth again for new water," Death suggested.

They climbed down and took a sip of water after checking it was clean, and it was extremely refreshing, considering what they had faced so far. Then they studied the shrubs. "Are they edible?" they wondered, cautious. "They look dry, but... they have potential."

Death paused. "Should we report back to our siblings, Conquest?" they asked, willing to follow the other's lead regardless of decision.

@Conquest