Eridanus was home to many things. There were many fruits growing on many trees that Willow knew of - entirely thanks to Adeyemi. There were also many creatures that roamed many areas here that she also knew of - entirely thanks to her thirst for meat.

She had a good feeling that Aquarian cared little for fruit much like her beloved soulmate did. Hopefully, however, a range of different prey would suffice for Aquarian. The serpent was a creature of simple pleasures it seemed - food and gems.

Willow nodded, more to herself, as she flew past her nest and into Eridanus. She perched on a root near by a tree as she angled her head towards the exit, waiting for Czernobog to enter. She watched and she waited, until she caught sight of the black snout of the injured boar.

Immediately, she felt her mind connect with his; a hidden bond between the two. Czernobog, she started, voice connecting over the temporary bond, silent to anyone else. You appear weak but I do not doubt you. Do you know of this place and it's creatures?

She allowed him time to answer, before she continued. Come. We cannot let the water-beast go hungry.

@Czernobog

Czernobog trotted dutifully after Willow. She was fast, but he prided himself on his sheer will, thanks entirely to his given Purpose. Still, by the time Eridanus came into view, he was panting, puffs of breath, the hole in his chest showing off just how hard his lungs were pumping. He'd only just stepped through to the forest floor, snout twitching towards where the owl had perched, when something... talked.

In his head.

The massive boar stilled, twitching. Czernobog. That was - Willow's voice? But whole and understandable but she wasn't speaking, so she couldn't be like Cayenne. This was something else.

He blinked, head rising to stare at Willow, tilting to one side. Willow. You know how to speak? Properly? It is a good gift. I am glad of it. You join the ranks of Cayenne in your knowledge. It was a hallowed group, in his mind - which, should they happen to delve deeper into the whole "mindspace" thing, was slowly taking shape, unfolding at the prospect of sharing with someone else, rather than trying to puzzle out what on Origin they were saying.

You appear weak but I do not doubt you. Do you know of this place and it's creatures?

The pig snorted, tossing his head, ears twitching. I am weakened, but I find comfort in your honesty. It is my fault, and my burden. Dragon will decide my punishment. As for this place, he thought, voice as deep and gruff as ever, but lacking its signature drawl entirely, deer. Rabbits. Some birds. But the grandfather will like deer the best, he predicted, refocusing on Willow with a grin.

Come. We cannot let the water-beast go hungry.

I follow at your will, Seeker, as all Guardians should.

Willow was almost amused, but it did not show on her face. In fact, she didn't look like anything - almost as if she didn't even know Czernobog despite her eyes gazing evenly at the boar. Abruptly, she nodded curtly and turned. Deer. Indeed, she called out.

Dragon will not punish you, Czernobog. Not for weakening yourself. He is more likely to punish all of us for not keeping our promises to Aquarian. What happened to you? Abruptly, she began flying again. Many of us talk with our tongues; but I thank you anyway. Speaking with minds will be easier for the both of us, it seems, and not just for the hunt.

She continued to flutter around in silence, keeping an eye on Czernobog in order to keep the bond intact, the other eye scanning the muddy, though white-covered floors of Eridanus. Luckily, the arrival of snow made it easier to find tracks. She landed, next to a track of hooves. Here. You know how to hunt, yes? There are tracks here.

@Czernobog

The owl took off again just as quickly as she'd landed, but Czernobog didn't bother trying to figure her out - she was a Seeker, and he a Guardian. He was not meant to understand the likes of the Seekers. Still, he failed to stifle a disbelieving snort, brow furrowing as he moved to trot after her, more following her mental voice than her physical figure.

No, he will not punish me for these wounds. They are self-inflicted. My punishment for my failure to slay Raheerah, and for leaving the Hat to fend for herself, has been months in the making. The meeting - the first part of my sentence has been decided. He thought, focused his voice until it mimicked Dragon. Heal. Damaged. Fail. I shall heal, for I am damaged. I have failed. I will not fail again.

What happened to you?

The boar focused, conjured up a brief, sketchy figure of himself between their minds, and watched it twitch until bones tore through its skin, left it bloody and collapsed. My magic. It is broken. When I fought Raheerah, the white beast broke my tusk. Whatever value I had as a Caretaker, it is gone now. Another image, of plants sprouting only to wither and die. Now I must prove my worth as a Guardian, and win back the right to stay as a Rot.

He listened for more, hummed, weaving through the underbrush of Eridanus as stealthily as a bulldozer. Perhaps. Your speech in tongues - I do not understand it. It is stilted. Broken. It had crossed his mind that perhaps he was the odd man out, but he quickly dismissed it - he was Czernobog. It was not him.

The speech of the mind - this is how my kind talk. Those of the Ancient Blood. With names that reach back far enough to confuse those of the tongue. His voice was flat, void of any arrogance - stating fact, at least as he knew it. I am one of many, though they may not be born of yet. I am Czernobog. It was not gifted. It is Me. Part of my Purpose. It means 'the black God.'

He couldn't seem to stop talking, and once he noticed the fault, his mental voice stuttered to a halt, his physical hide twitching. I apologize, my Seer. It is not often I am gifted the chance to speak in my tongue. The monster refocused, head down, followed his... friend? Perhaps he could add a true friend to Cayenne's list. He slowed to a stop when Willow landed, coming to rest at her side, towering over her and grunting. I can Track them, find the source. I will need your help in its capture. My wound is a target.

He lowered his head, sniffed at the tracks, caught the scent of doe and started to follow. You may rest on my back, if your wings tire. He started off, tracked for twenty more feet, before the scent went dead. Nothing here. We must find another source.

@Willow

Willow was silent for a moment. There was a long gangly figure between their mindspace; faceless and motionless but facing Czernobog. It paused. It shifted. You do not understand tongues, she echoed, before continuing. We are a family, Czernobog. I do not know what Dragon could have said; but he will not punish you for failing to slay Raheerah. He will not punish his family for mere failure.

Failure is a part of life, Czernobog. You live. You try. You fail. You learn and you continue. You do not have to 'prove' yourself to anyone in fear of it, not to me, Dragon or Ghanyarah. she intentionally did not mention Aquarian. I want you to think on this. Do not answer immediately, but answer this: prior to your failure, did you try your best to fend off Raheerah?

She was silent for a moment again as she peered over the tracks. She tilted her head ever so slightly. You are not a complete failure and you do not lack value. These are not sugar-coated words, Czernobog. Do not think so lowly of yourself. I will tell Dragon of your magic.

I see. Do not apologize and do not worry. Are you sure? A talon reached out and touched the tracks engraved into the snow before she turned, hobbling along and leaving behind tracks of her own. She found more hoof-tracks, not too far away from where they were.

Here.

@Czernobog

Ahead of the owl and the boar, through very thick mist a couple hundred yards away, rest a small herd of deer. These are jungle deer, with brown pelts and blue-green stripes. Two stand sentry, and three sleep, heads tucked by their sides.

To catch these deer, Czernobog and Willow will have to be quick and agile, or make a plan to cut off their retreat. And that's assuming they can track them: the hoof-tracks along the river's edge already pool with water, difficult to pick out from the rest of the mud.

@Willow @Czernobog

Czernobog huffed, listening with twitching ears. No. I do not understand the speech of those who use the Tongue. No Ancient One does, he defended, shuffling a little in place. Her other words made him pause, bristles rippling - she couldn't know, not for sure, and he almost broke into her speech, but he could not go against a command.

Do not answer immediately, but answer this: prior to your failure, did you try your best to fend off Raheerah?

The boar grunted, ears pinning down, looked away from the owl. Failure... is not acceptable. I have failed before Father before. He was... he did not say. But I could See. He was disappointed. He is so strong - a born leader. He could have slain me. Eaten me. I am blessed to be Chosen as his son. It is not a gift given lightly. He snorted, sat down on his rump and sighed, the movement rippling the loose skin flaps that edged his chest wound.

I... I tried. I charged the Raheerah, and I struck its hide. But I - is trying truly enough? What if I try, and perish? What glory is there in a wasted death? An image, of him - but the boar saw himself not as the beast he was, but as a formless black shadow, massive and sweeping - crushed under the weight of the white dragon. If I had died then, it would have been a coward's death. Worthless. A waste of a God. I must grow stronger, if I am to be of use. A body without use... it is better off dead.

His mental voice seemed much colder than it generally did, the same tone he'd slipped into when explaining his name. I - I appreciate your words. I value them. But will you judge me too harshly if I do not believe them? The pig's head rose to stare at Willow, tilting to one side. You are a good... friend, Willow. And we are... family. As Ghanyarah, Dragon, Tal'at and Eve are to me. But family must be strong, and must crush the weak. If I am weak, I will not poison our family with my faults.

Czernobog winced at the mention of Dragon, looking down at his own hooves. Thank you. I could not... face him. I fear his judgement above all else. He followed her, sniffed at the tracks. Yes. It is a source. Deer. His head rose, pointed straight ahead. I shall follow their scent, rather than their prints. But we must form a plan - sheer strength will not catch them. I bow to your will, Seer.

@Willow

The deer ahead wake, those lying down nudged by those standing. They began to amble up the riverbank... straight toward Czernobog.

As yet, they have not noticed him, but they are picking their way straight for him, drinking at the water and nibbling grasses as they go.

It isn't long before they are visible, blue-streaked pelts flashing in the dappled light that sifts through the trees. It won't be long, either, before they scent or spot Czernobog ahead.

@Czernobog @Willow

Before the owl could reply, the deer were on the move - straight towards them. Czernobog froze up, not a hair moving out of place, slow breathing reducing to a nigh-unnoticeable whistle. Which would... not last long, given that he had just about no idea what to do. Unfortunately, when a boar like him had no ideas left, there was only one thing he could do - what he did best. Tensing for the coming hunt, Czernobog backed up as softly as he could, and started to move opposite to the herd, stopping at the middle of their trek.

And then, without a sound, he charged at the leader of the pack, head lowered to cover the hole in his chest - and to position his tusks for combat. Granted, even with the strength of about two bulls, the boar hadn't been lying when he said might probably wouldn't do for this sort of challenge...

@Dragon

Three of the deer spun and fled, their fleet legs taking them darting off into the jungle in a rattle of ferns.

The fourth--this one larger, bulkier, with sharp spikes of antlers and a third eye glaring toward the boar--charged right back. It was smaller, but head lowered, the buck seemed intent on defending his does. It was possible that he thought he could bluff the boar away--or outmaneuver him with his agility.

Either way the deer bolted straight at his predator while his does fled, dodging sideways at the last moment, aiming a sharp headbutt-and-jerk toward Czernobog's side.

@Czernobog