You would not be able to tell that it was V-Ruby-One's first time going into many of the caves on the way to Hydra, by the way a stormcloud of anger seemed to follow in its wake. It hated this. It hated having to do this. The presence of V-Onyx-Three at its side all the way to the desert-cave made it want to turn around and disembowel its forge-mate.

But it kept in mind what Vargas had said. About Draconua, being a slave to its power, and how if it failed this...it didn't want to suffer any worse consequences. It didn't know what he would have brewing in his mind - simply being thrown out would be one thing, but it could be killed. Chained. It knew the Leviathan was cunning...if it failed this perhaps it would be forced to face that wretched curse it bore, until it knew nothing but chaos and hatred.

It shivered. Not happening.

It was an awkward, tense walk to Hydra, unless the onyx said anything, but Helion started no conversation, said nothing, only let out an occasional growl in response to its own thoughts or surroundings.

Eventually, they stood before the hot sands of Hydra and Helion crossed its arms, looking out at the sands. It was blinding, it was burning hot, and it knew that this was just going to get even more miserable by the second.

"Well," it growled, finally breaking its silence. "Lets find us something, I guess. Get this over with."

@V-Onyx-Three

Onyx-Three was not one for senseless conversation, and was content to allow an uneasy silence fill the space. Though they knew it would be a stupid decision for V-Ruby-One to attack them, they remained on guard, not trusting it to keep its chaotic nature in control. They flinched at the occasional growl, but got used to it after the first few times. Their expression betrayed nothing, calm and collected despite their caution. The bow and arrows they carried paired with the dagger (chipped-- there had been no time to repair it) were a somewhat comforting presence in the unfamiliarity of Hydra.

Despite having barely spent any time there, the heat was already seeping into his fur, too hot for comfort. The sand too, seemed strange. It was a strange reminder of when he had visited the beaches of Fornax. It was strange how the driest and wettest places both contained sand. "Yes. I will try to track one." He ignored its negative attitude, thinking that even if this was a punishment, it was also a good opportunity for practice. Bonding, not so much. Onyx-Three's four eyes scanned for any signs of movement, while focusing on catching a scent of something.

The heat was blistering, the air shimmering above the dunes' expanse. Sand shifted constantly, whipped along the ground and leaving no trace of anything that might have passed.

Spaced periodically around the dunes were those half-covered, or sometimes wholly buried, discs of vibration meant now to ward off Sandworms: low, repeated thuds that kept them mostly at bay.

Were either familiar with Hydra, they would likely know where to find prey. A Spider would be worthless as a trophy, most likely, but these were found throughout the Crucible; a particularly large Eyehook might barely be suitable, but for that they would need to ascend the Crucible's plateaus.

Out here, they could try to attract a Sandworm. But the danger therein was strong: there was no telling if the worm they would attract would be small enough to kill, or a behemoth capable of swallowing them both in a single gulp. Still, that would be an unforgettable trophy... if either of them survived to tell the tale.

@V-Ruby-One

It glanced to the side as the wolf-beast scanned their surroundings, waiting for a moment. But the sands were still and quiet and he gave no notion that he'd seen anything. What was he expecting to find, anyways? A spider just hangin around? A vulture flying low enough to snatch right out of the sky? None of those would be very impressive, would they? Were they not soldiers of Chaos? Were they not descendants of Vargas, the Leviathan?

It did not fear. It would not fear. Call it brave or stupid, but it snarled impatiently and strove forward, stomping on the sand and watching as black began to spread across the surface of the dune. Cracks appeared in the top layer of sand, small, thin openings appearing and then swiftly disappearing as blackened sand fell into them and refilled.

It stomped around like this for a couple of minutes, until it felt like the point had been made, and then it stood back, going quiet as it waited to see if its efforts had attracted anything.

@V-Onyx-Three

Hydra was certainly different. The constant shifting of the sandy terrain made it difficult to track anything at all, and there was nothing, really, in sight. They were about to turn and tell their hunting partner this when V-Ruby-One marched forward and began stomping around on the sand. Onyx-Three had no idea what the purpose of this was, but considering he had no better ideas, he would trust its judgement.

But whereas it found some success in disturbing the sand, they found none at all. Their feet kept sinking into the sand and getting stuck or slipping across its silken surface. Not to mention, their feet were also not very wide, and not much force could be put into their stomping. Hopefully whatever V-Ruby-One had done was enough... for something? When it stopped Onyx-Three stepped back as well, looking over the expanse. This had all felt rather silly, he thought. But he wouldn't say that. Risk angering it and all, especially because there wasn't really an alternative.

V-Ruby-One did not have to wait. Moments after it had begun its violent assault on... sand..., and before it had quite finished, the dune itself churned around them. They had seconds to react, before it began to cave in like an ant-lion's trap: a massive, jagged-toothed maw erupting directly beneath it.

Task one would be to not get swallowed whole, eaten alive, and shredded by that lamprey mouth. Killing it would come secondary.

A Sandworm has been engaged in combat. This sandworm is not as massive as they come, but it isn't small, either; its open maw measures twelve feet in diameter.

@V-Ruby-One

As soon as the sand shifted beneath it - a very definite way that was not its own magic causing ripples, it turned to dive out of the, a sudden spark of panic making its feet scrabble for a grip in the churning sand. It felt the edge of a tooth cut into the side of its foot as it retreated, but it felt itself slam onto solid (for now) sand, quickly struggling back to its feet.

"There," it hissed as it rose to its feet. "That's our trophy. Let's fucking kill it." It was tightly snarled, yet there was a gleam in its eyes, undeniably excitement, adrenaline. Chaos surged to be released under its skin, finally, finally a chance to truly let loose. To fight, to kill, shred, destroy, DESTROY

@V-Onyx-Three

It didn't take long before the sand began to sink under their feet, and Onyx-Three realized with dawning horror what the sheer size of this thing must be. There was a reason Hydra was used for trials. He was fast, quick on the sand, dashing out of range of the sandworm's open maw. Despite its size, it was slow. Or maybe he was just fast? Either way, they made it out without much issue, and saw that V-Ruby-One had made it out as well.

"It's large. A fitting target." They agreed, nocking an arrow into their bow. Attacking this thing up close seemed like a bad idea, that much was clear. Any tension they might have felt towards V-Ruby-One dissipated, as they focused upon their new shared enemy. This was going to be fun.

The mass of plated flesh rose in a high arc, sand cascading from its hide, spiny limbs reaching and grasping nothing. It came to a crest and seemed to hover there, momentum about to be hauled back down by gravity. It was a moment crystallized by adrenaline--if they felt such--and a perfect time to strike; the beast was exposed.

Any second it would crash back down, burrowing back into the sand. And that, if they had not wounded it, would be... problematic.

@V-Ruby-One

The beast was big. Massive. Its very maw was bigger then both hulking Vargas-kin were tall, which to its credit, was quite a damn feat. But being so big made it a big target and it made it slow, especially out of the sand as it was.

Adrenaline rushed through V-Ruby-One's body as it watched the beast crest and it felt something in it click for the first time. This...this was what it was meant for. Battle. Violence. Destruction. But focused, on a hunt. He felt no animosity towards Onyx at this moment - he was an ally in this. Perhaps a weaker ally then that of chaos itself, but an ally nonetheless who would spill his own blood from the sand-creature's hide.

And Helion would give him that opportunity.

Black fire raged within its body as it unleased at last. It didn't have to hold back. The cage door was swung wide open and the beast erupted in bolts of black lightning that surged, arcing towards the sand worm as V-Ruby-One roared in pure animalistic glee and rage. Its muscles cramped painfully as the lighting surged through its body, but the agony was pure ecstasy, to know that same sensation would soon lock through the thousands of muscles of its enemy.

@V-Onyx-Three