The heavy-set alligator turned, whirling over his own body and facing back toward the marshes of Cetus, his back to the black water.

Czernobog was just nearby, Eve perched on his head. Leon, Maji Walezi's grizzly bear, had been in their swamp--and told them of a threat, a dragon that had needed an end put to it. They had consulted with Aquarian--and the time was now. He'd confirmed the vast threat that Raheerah posed, and Dragon, eyes burning with bloodlust, opened his jaws to bellow. The faint glow of fire sparked and glowed from deep within his gullet as he roared, letting his voice carry.

"CHILDREN OF ROT! HEAR ME!" he began. Any idea of fear speaking in front of a group vanished in the face of his ferocity, his eagerness to join this fight. He had no desire to risk the lives of the Children of Cetus, but now that Aquarian had given him an excuse to go, he could hardly wait to bolt from the cave and try his strength against that of the other dragon.

After he'd given it a few moments, for others to gather and for those gathered to prepare, he began bellowing again.

"There is a threat to be faced! A dragon burns Polaris, and he is chaos, and he is death! We will not wait for him to come here--we will go to him, for the health of all the caves is the survival of Cetus! You do not have to fight--and some of the smaller of you may wish to stay here. Some might remain, and care for Aquarian, and hunt for him. But know this: I am going, and before the end of that fight, I will have this other dragon's THROAT between my JAWS!"

The alligator let out another hissing bellow, the deep bass thrum echoing through the mist.

He tilted his head back, intending to let rip with a blast of flame, but in his excitement all that came out was a sputtering growl of smoke.

Close enough--and who cares, anyway. I'll call upon it easily when the time comes.

His failure couldn't get him down: he turned, dragging his heavy tail through the swamp, ready to lead his people--those of them who followed, at least--to war.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura aka rare . edited by banshee and dark }

(( ooc -- making this thread now so we can all pop up in The Fiery Pit - Part 4 if we want to! This thread takes place shortly after Little Bear, Big Heart, another thread here in Cetus. Feel free to post here if you'd like to join Dragon in his assault on Polaris--or you can join in first over in Little Bear!

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@Leon @Lilith @Czernobog @Willow @Eve @Ghanyarah @Talat ))

I don't wanna live I don't wanna breathe 'les I feel you next to me

Fisher did not approach when he heard he call, but he did stop to listen, hunched in the fog. He nosed Black, his ears twitching, as he heard the call of that small lizard that had tried to fight Noodle Dad way back when. Fisher barely remembered, but that fiery spirit had wriggled into his memory enough. Just what were they talking about? A dragon?

... The King of Blood?

"Black--" he whispered, his ears laying back. "--We should help them." He wasn't sure if it was the best idea, but if there was going to be others... Perhaps they could all stop him together. Fisher felt a prickle in his heart, hearing that the Dragon would come for Cetus next, for his family and for the fire lizard's family... the Children of Rot, whatever that was.

Whatever it was, it sounded like they would need all the help they could get. Fisher hadn't fought in a while, but his old wounds were something he was used to now. He could run, grit his teeth through any old pain that flared up. He wasn't as afraid of his magic... Fisher really thought he could do this, this time. The noodle stared up at his loyal mastiff, making sure that this was okay-- he would not go alone. Not after all they had been through. They were a team now.

@Black <3

If the appearance of the great guardian was anything to go by, Ghanyarah had to guess that there was another meeting afoot. From his tree, he'd heard the bellow of the swamp serpent, and he'd seen him tower just briefly through the canopy before dropping back down to the marshy surface. Words were not difficult to miss, thundering through the air; he was talking to Dragon about something, and Ghanyarah wanted to know what. He slipped from his tree and made his way down towards the Heart, but by then Aquarian had already returned to the water. There, Dragon made his summons. Ghanyarah scampered closer, through the mud and leaf litter until he was nearby and cast a glance towards Czernobog and Eve, already present. What had he missed?

The alligator explained, and Ghanyarah felt another bubble of fear growing in his heart. A dragon in Polaris - that was where he hatched. A dragon that was chaos and death. Wasn't that the opposite of what they wanted? They needed to survive, and yet Dragon posed a challenge in that they fight the threat in Polaris, for what - the health of the caves, for Cetus. And yet there was no dragon burning down the swamp. But Ghanyarah said nothing in protest. If this was what Dragon wanted, then Ghanyarah would stand behind him. His war cry was complimented with a puff of smoke, and in that moment Ghanyarah felt a surge of enthusiasm - however fleeting it may have been.

He tilted his head back and chortled "DEATH TO THE DRAGON!", cackling - had he been more prepared for a fight, perhaps his gusto would have allowed him to join Dragon in his showmanship, but no more came from Ghanyarah than that eager chant. The komodo lowered his head again and flicked his tongue, watching.

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Black stepped forward from the marsh grass and into the open as Aquarian spoke. There he remained, a visible black velvet shape in the shadows, listening with pricked-up ears and sombre demeanor. When the sea serpent slipped away he turned, looking to Fisher.

"Yes," he agreed in a deep, quiet tone. Then he offered Fisher a brief lick on top of the mustelid's head--and turned, striding confidently toward the strangers in the swamp.

"We have fought the dragon," he declared, assuming incorrectly that they spoke of Baratheon.

He hadn't thought about the fact that he should probably let Fisher speak first; Fisher had made his intentions known, and now the guard dog would be his shield. "We will aid you."

Then he stepped aside, looking back toward Fisher.

The scars over the side of his own neck were just healing, testament to the ferocity of battle. He knew that the outcome might be their deaths, but had he known the true nature of Raheerah, perhaps he would not have been so bold as to offer their aid. It would be a fool's errand, in his mind--but he didn't yet know.

So he turned his pale and solemn eyes to the alligator and his lizard, and the boar at their side, waiting in silence for Fisher to command him.

________________