strong language

The hatchling moved with haste. After dealing with such.. annoyance, she moved with speed to leave. Not caring about any of the others behind her. The master seemed like they were constantly joking around. Even gave them a chance to be able to make candy. Something she did plan to try, once far enough away.

The air in the tunnel was thick, weighing heavily. Low ceiling but wide enough for her to with ease slip by. Chills riddled down her spine, but she felt warm. A weird soothing experience for the hatchling. A soft sparkle caught her eye. Causing her to stop. Class clicked against the bare stones.

A vein of opal. Bright eyes, she went for it. Pyrosera went to try and dig at the vein, trying to pop any of them out. Something she could carry with her. Maybe it could be bartered? The white pup quite enjoyed the warmth of this cave, maybe she'll see about staying here a bit longer.

---

"Speaking"

The disappointing outcome of what had initially seemed like an earth-shattering event wasn't something everyone had been granted the misfortune of witnessing firsthand. Some, discouraged by Polaris' natural defenses against Order's fungus, were rather uninclined to stride through that cave except out of grudging necessity. The fact that a selection of the Hive's infected Lesser eyes had rather abruptly fled from the scene when not compelled to remain in place served to reinforce the sentiment, and so Halcyon had decided only to dare approaching the magical center of the cavern system once most of the commotion calmed to more tolerable levels. They'd taken precious time en route to their destination, their stroll a patient and cautious one starting from the mirrored peacefulness of Gemini.

Creeping in from this tunnel instead of the more direct channel to the core had been a tactical choice. The smothering humidity here tended to dissuade many a traveller from making it their preferred footpath. Therefore it was ideal for a Drone wishing to keep their movements relatively low profile. A solitary sound should've echoed throughout: clicking claws accompanied by the steady tap of their handcrafted staff. To hear and see a young Gembound scrabbling away at an opal seam defied those expectations.

Halcyon halted their walk and stood in observant silence, head tilted inquisitively. It appeared the canine's natural weaponry was ineffective so far at penetrating stone to retrieve a segment of the desired material. They pondered over allowing these futile efforts to continue so that they might gauge how long it took for the average cave dweller to recognize and accept certain failure. Cold amusement born of painful experience suspected that length would be rather impressive; after all, their kind had demonstrated how willing they were to burn and bite at their liberators despite common sense.

Nevertheless, the study was discarded as not particularly worth pursuing. A gentle hum cleared their throat, and they offered soft insight on the picture before them. "If I may speculate, you haven't quite the strength or tools necessary for a task of this nature." Halcyon hefted their staff and pointed it toward the vein. "A valiant attempt, but mayhap I can offer assistance. The gemstone is what you covet, yes?"

@Pyrosera

strong language

The hatchling hadn't noticed the upcoming sounds of another due to her focus on digging at the stones. Despite her efforts lacking in… success, she was stubborn enough to keep at it. For frankly.. however long it took until the other spoke up!

Which, it startled her! Merely causing the pup to jump up, a THWACK!

"Hell!"

The youngling had bumped her head against the very bare cover in the tunnel. Tiny teeth gritted, hackles rising up on her neck. Bright red eyes quickly turned to the voice of reason. Thanks to her new words added to her vocabulary she felt.. honored, forced to repeat them. Why wouldn't she?

Hot red eyes turned to a white creature. Standing on its hind legs, holding some sort of bizarre staff. Her ears pinned to the sides, easily giving away her discomfort and anger. Yet.. by some miracle, she was listening.

"What are ya? And don't ya know not to sneak up on me!"

Pyrosera tilted her head, a scrunch of her muzzle. Yet she was curious. Even if she was upset by the sudden startle. The offer for help was in one ear, out the other. Unfortunately.

---

"Speaking"

@Halcyon

A rather fiery creature, wasn't she? If her spark had been externalized instead of confined, so far, to her personality, Halcyon might have been more hesitant to engage with this pup. Instead a golden glow pulsed through their fins, highlighting mild humor at witnessing ferocity in a small package. The clear adult in the situation and used to irritable moods from beings whose bellows could shake mountains, to them these biting remarks were akin to nibbles. Jaws parted slightly for a needle-toothed smile, and free hand drawn to their chest, they tipped their head forward in polite gesture.

"My apologies. I wasn't informed of such an important detail," they said, wit dry. "I'll endeavor to keep more up to date on news of your preferences in the future. As for your question, I am what is commonly termed a Drone. We are a varied kind made for specific purposes."

Taking advantage of the opportunity created, the exchange was nudged back in the direction of their original intentions. "Mine is to provide aid. And I believe you desired to acquire some of this rock? My claws shouldn't have difficulty gathering it. That is, if you wish the help?"

Face calm, they bent knees and extended their arm to offer better view of the aforementioned digits. Ruby red and curved, these were suited well to the task of digging though they'd seen use for tasks demanding more dexterity as well.

@Pyrosera

strong language

A fiery creature didn't begin to touch how Pyrosera could be. How ref eyes watched as the others' golden fins glowed. Reflecting into her dark pupils. A sudden show of interest.

Her ears cupped forward, listening. He was offering to help her. To dig out the gemstones. A gentle rub of her paw to the ground.

"Well, yea, I would like that. I don't like no one sneaking up on me! I don't know any of you or anything like that."

Plus she wasn't exactly one to kindly accept friends. Or have someone stay by her side long enough.. Think we all would be surprised.

It was only until she got to inspect the ones claws before she'd nod. A shrug of her shoulders. She'd move backwards, away from the gemstones. Enough to watch, but far enough for them to work. Hopefully.

"Yeah! Let's see the shit!"

---

"Speaking"

@Halcyon

Were Halcyon younger, this pup's penchant for vulgarity would've been taken far more literally. Not overly prone themselves to colorful expressions or turns of phrase, it'd taken cycles for them to become better acquainted with their use. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on the situation, being mentally linked to more foul-mouthed Hive members had expedited that process. Therefore her outburst received nothing more than a nod, thoughts idly noting that their difficult comrade Ace potentially had a Gembound counterpart in spouting what he proudly termed, "battle barbs."

"Very well." Back straightening, they rose to their full bipedal height and strode past the wolf to crouch and press hands against the object of her interest. Careful prods examined the seam and the stone surrounding it. Scratches tested their differing hardnesses. This time-consuming approach proved its worth once claws sank into a spot weaker than the rest, allowing them to hollow out a space directly above the opal.

Now to wrest a segment free. Halcyon scraped away at rock, and their claws crammed into a narrow crack formed behind the seam. Muscles visibly strained in slender arms as they tried breaking a portion free from the wall. Fracture lines developed, outlining an uneven chunk of gemstone, yet it remained stubborn against the force applied. They would require additional leverage, a final push to fully separate this piece; thankfully Order's power provided much in the way of utility if properly drawn upon.

While their one hand kept latched around the top of the opal they sought to prise away, the other laid their staff to the ground, its presence unnecessary for the task ahead when more versatile tools were available for use. A familiar chill filled the empty hand they hovered over the section of wall, but whether due to divided focus or plain weakness, the sensation dissipated in seconds without yielding the satisfying glisten of expertly shaped chitin.

"A moment," they requested, suppressing a sigh at their poor performance. "That should be all I need to acquire this."

@Pyrosera

strong language

The woman watched. Firey eyes narrowing at every move they did. As young as this pup was, she had no idea of certain things around here. Not of the hive nor the spires. But she knew one thing, one of the masters was a jokester.

And it angered her. In a way she didn't understand. Why spend all that time joking when there could have been useful information?! Alas, she mostly went out with little to nothing to work with. Nothing of use to her. A scoff from her jowls.

The creature dug its hand in a weaker part of the wall. Scraping and digging. Finding a spot to try and tear it out. What caught little miss's attention was the way they gently set their staff down. Pyrosera wondered what exactly it did. Even with temptation she wanted to touch it.

But she fought against the urge. Some way.

"I meannnnn if you can't get it it's fine I guess. I wanted to see what they did."

Her voice taunted. Apparently they made everyone look weak, they couldn't even pry it from the wall. Yet anyways. Red eyes darted from the creature, to the staff, then back to the opals. Curiosity laced in her veins.

---

"Speaking"

@Halcyon

"No," Halcyon said, their eyes only for the wall and the prize they wished to liberate from it. "This is no impossibility. It'd be a betrayal of the utmost degree to not give you that which I can readily promise."

Furthermore they refused to display impotence. The Gembounds of the caves needed to see dependability from their kind, otherwise they would continue to slip under Chaos' insidious influence. Mother desired gaining their trust, a logical plan accounting for future conflicts, and Halcyon wouldn't—couldn't—allow war-derived hangups to compromise her strategy. They called upon the Hive's shared strength again, channeled it into the proper appendage, and waited for results to emerge.

An improvement from the previous pathetic fizzling out of magic, a translucent substance gathered on the side of their palm. It beaded together like droplets of water before extending out in a solid glassy projection. This chitin was shaped into a long bar, slightly curved at the end, and they wedged the newfound implement into the same space claws alone had occupied. A deft twist of the wrist and the grinding of stone against each other heralded success. Freed at last, the opal chunk clattered to the floor.

"There. I claim ignorance to what its special properties could be, but this should suffice your interest."

@Pyrosera

strong language

The female watched, ears flickered forward as she heard the loud crack of the wall. The tall creature managed to break free the stones she was digging at. They tumbled and rolled onto the ground.

The chunk managed to lay before them, yet she went to inspect it. Blood red eyes overlooking the shades of the opal. A soft swish of her tail, paws putting herself forward.

"Wow."

Shiny thing it was. Bright on many shades of colors depending on how she looked at it. Then she reached her paw to touch it, feeling the riddles of the chunk between her toe pads.

Red eyes darted up to the creature before her.

"How'd you do that? What was that?"

Pyrosera's voice never once turned to kindness, when she spoke it was riddled with a tone of harshness. Though, her difficulty was different compared to his. Yet she wanted to know, for herself, to break things free. These things.. They could maybe be of use later on. She wasn't sure. The white wolf pup was without a doubt interested.

---

"Speaking"

@Halcyon

Many ways could such an interrogation be answered. Already they could perceive multiple paths that could be advanced along depending upon what choice of words they offered in this moment. Young minds typically so malleable and easily awed, nudging thoughts toward potential recruitment should be effortless as a twitching a finger, but Halcyon reigned the urge inward. The Hive had discussed a deal on these matters via their resident chip peddler, and a line had been drawn in the figurative sand accordingly. They'd abide by it despite the excellent opportunity whose piercing gaze lingered on them.

"That would be leverage." Hands withdrawing from the wall now that their work was finished, they settled back into their crouch. Formal to the core, not even this stance was taken casually, their back stiff as a board. One set of claws rested on their knee while they outstretched the other one with its chitin addition for closer inspection. "With the appropriate object," they spoke, tone fallen into a scholarly lecture, "one can apply greater force than can be done using paws alone. It is a favorable tool to have at one's disposal when brute strength doesn't fully accomplish the job."

A claw bent toward their palm and slid against the makeshift bar jutting from its side. "Drones like myself have a unique power allowing us access to such tools near instantly without searching for them. We are of Order, and it gives us utility and protection others lack."

@Pyrosera