Unable to find more stones, she had returned, just in time for the great glowing things to speak and bestow their gifts. The little python watched with awe as the flying things fused together, the golden one becoming part of the blue and then the red and it was all really quite overwhelming for the hatchling and for a long time she stared, processing, processing. Wow.

Her awareness returned, eventually, as she saw other creatures around her sprouting the blessed wings and shouting and seeming quite excited. I must, also! she declared to herself, and attempted her new magic.

It worked! Desire twisted herself about to look at the great golden things that grew from her body, gleaming and blessed. With some disappointment she found she could not fly; she supposed there must have been some other trick to it that the bird knew and she did not.

Suddenly there was much yelling and instinct drove her to the shadows, breath heaving as she watched with terror the great monster roar and hiss and spit orange heat at a much darker creature. She had intended to stay and hear more of this new stone to find, but perhaps she would do it from here.

'cause i'm the big bad wolf

now let the games begin

Dezba felt a wave of stinging heat roll over her fur. She yelped in surprize, jumping out of the way of the alligator's inferno just in time. Her wings dispersed into black wisps during the attack, but almost immediately, green and red leaves sprouted from her black coat, sporting long thorns along their centers.

Dezba flatten her ears at the reptiles bitting words and snarled in defiance, but she wisely kept her distance. She had never come into contact with fire before, until now. This new magick frightened her, but she would rather die than reveal that to Dragon.

Pathetic? Pathetic?! I am not pathetic, the weasel is pathetic!

"You dare?" She snapped at him. Now he was really making her blood boil. Without thinking, she growled a challenge at the bulky alligator. "We'll see who's pathetic when I find the stag before you!"

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Dragon // OOC:

As Septiezal watched the birds morph into a titan form of Mintaka he wondered what exactly he had gotten himself into. Were they just pawns to these beings? Yet he was unsure what to think. Septiezal silently agreed with Dragon, however. He watched as everyone summoned their wings and found himself to be sourly disappointed with the result.

So we were tricked! Was his first initial thought.

But in hindsight, Septiezal realized that he wanted to throw is head a against a rock for being so stupid. They never said the wings could fly.

Argh! How could I have missed that?

He followed after the other Gembounds and tried to summon his ethereal wings, but it was strange magick. The serpent lost his grasp and the spell soon sputtered out. He frowned at the result. Wonderful.

Septiezal decided the that the best ting he could do was follow the birds' orders; find the stag. He had heard legends of such a stag, but he had never seen it. What did it even look like?

His thoughts were interrupted by Dragon spewing fire at a young, black wolf. Well, she was going to die. Their immature bickering was getting annoying. "Ugh." Septiezal groan in disgust as he slithered away from the commotion.

"Listen"
Thoughts...

tags:
notes:

Aztec gapped in awe at the spectacular show before him. The birds magically fused to make a giant bird! What great power they must hold. He wanted to learn all he could about it.

He juggled Mintaka's gifted magick around in his body, sensing the bird's presence in his veins. Wispy, blue and white wings sprouted from the cub's back and Aztec fluttered them with amazement. His gem pulsed with child-like excitement.

He listened to the giant avain's request. If found he the stones, he would be reward. Aztec clawed at the dirt with determination. Soon, he would receive more of this power, he would be like Mintaka, but first, he had to find the stag. Knew to the world, he did not know what they had meant.

The stag that watches over cycles?

What did that mean? Oh well, he assumed it mattered not. All he had to do was find a special looking stag and the power was his! Aztec rose to his paws and scampered off, wanting to start his search early.

-exit Aztec-

"Speech"

There was shuffling and commotion after the merge, and the wolf pup again brought questions to them. They considered her question, but it was Mintaka's neutrality that smiled down to her as he shook the Kings' head. The gator knew of names that surprised them, but it was none of those.

"The bond that holds us together is very unique. Our job within the system is... was, special. We came to a disagreement on something... but we need the stone, yes. It is a bit complicated." He was unsure if this was a satisfying answer, even if it was vague. "The stone will bring life, that is what it does. It belongs to an architect. We will need him, but as you assume, the stag likely keeps this stone someplace—"

Their attention turned to Dragon, who was consumed in a fiery fit of rage. And one by one, Alnitak's pledged rose in a chorus like ghosts of his corruption. "See how you are mine!" burned his voice within their minds, haunting and distant. "Much is within my power. You may have pledged yourself on a promise once, but prove to me you are loyal. You will fly yet."

Alnitak's presence shifted within the Kings' body, but Mintaka kept him subdued. Dragon's words were echoed by a weasel, and the anger bubbled inside of their shared body. "Enough—" "You know not who you belong to, not even I am f—"

"Enough!" Mintaka's voice broke in, though for those not pledged to Alnitak, they would not hear the other side of it.

A black would seemed grateful, and Alnitak's ego flourished. "You will be rewarded handsomely, my pledged!" he said proudly.

Others exited with strong comments, or comments of promise, or none at all.

The red wolf had a good question indeed. "We do not know, he wanders," they admitted. "It is his duty to watch all and know all, it would do him no good to be in one place." Gesturing toward Tunnel M, they suggested, "Try Pisces. The stag may not be there, but Tenzin—the blue-bird, as you called him—is. The ice phoenix can track auras, but regardless, the stag is his partner. He should be able to give you direction."

As the gator and the wolf had a bit of a back and forth, the Kings nodded to the remaining group as a whole, trying to include those who had to distance themselves from the tussling. "Good luck. We will remain here in the arena for the time being."

Edging away from the argument between Dragon, some wolf and the red-eyed bird, Kera watched Mintaka and listened carefully, one ear rotating idly to the fight. His answer was a little vague, but that did not entirely matter.

What was confusing her, really, was that most others were walking off without waiting for questions to be answered or to be given a general direction-- some even went off alone. Surely, it would be better to go as a group?

Perhaps that did not entirely matter, either.

She knew where Pisces was. "I'll ask Tenzin," she said, picking herself back up onto exhausted legs, stiff from running back and forth. "I know where Pisces is, if anyone wants to travel as a group and find him and the stag together?"

Kera glanced off towards Alnilam and bowed her fluffy head. "Thank you for the wings," she said quietly. "I will be back."

She waited only a moment before turning and plodding off out of Orion into one of the nearby tunnels, beginning to move off into Pisces.

-exit-
for anyone following!

Dragon huffed and hissed as he listened. The strange new bluish bird was assuring him he would one day fly... in return for loyalty. Would he?

Perhaps they merely need to grow, he thought to himself, and then chided himself for such naively childish hopes.

Dragon made a sound that was probably meant to be a fearsome growl, but came out more like a belch.

"I have met them! I will seek them. If this is a lie and a trick I will feed your head to Aquarian!" he bellowed back, with vehemence. And he meant it, too. Never mind the fact that Aquarian was probably on better terms with the galaxy-birds than with Dragon; he didn't know that. He just wanted his damn wings.

"If it is not, you will have my aid." It didn't escape his notice that the bird-within-his-mind was calling out about none of them being free, but never mind that now. He'd ask later; he did want answers. But the question was noticed, and it would stick in his mind.

But I am free. Let anyone tell me different!

Firing the black wolf a final blazing glare of anger, he shuffle-turned his way out, dragging his thick, ridged tail behind him.

He knew the way--he'd never been to Pisces, but he'd heard it mentioned. He'd go, and he'd seek.

He wanted his damn wings.

- exit Dragon -

Desire listened to the rest of what the great bird had to say. She had limited comprehension and nearly nothing to go on, but she was determined to please. For a moment longer she stayed back to listen to the banter and questions of other creatures. Then, she slithered away, hoping to find something to help her in her quest.

Exit.

Rinaotei endeavoured her best to ignore the presence, after all, it appears not to be doing anything currently, and no other Gembound seems to be unnerved by them being here right now, so she manages to relax. Mintaka also assisted her with ignoring it when they expressed their gratitude to her and encouragement which made her look back at them with a relaxed grin and a nod. "My thanks, for your kind words," With how compassionate they seem to be made Rinaotei feel further validated in that she made the right conclusion of who to pledge her dedication.

Rinaotei goes to lie down when the kings appear to be counting all the stones now, requiring her rest but she keeps her eyes open as she does wish to know who has won this and what precisely will the outcome be from all of this. When Mintaka promulgated they are the one victorious Rinaotei raised her head up, ears perked and her long tail twitched just a little in response. Albeit she does not ken for sure what will come about of this Rinaotei is still blissful that Mintaka is victorious, although she wouldn't mind if Alnilam won either after all from what she has perceived of them they are relatively pleasant too in personality too and would be ideal for a leader.

When something strange begun transpiring to all of their forms Rinaotei casually raised up from laying to sitting to be able to observe better what is happening to the kings; fascinating but what is the intention of it? Soon though she had to stand back up entirely to better look up as the brothers fused and enlarged in the process, taking on a reasonably pulchritudinous appearance that almost makes them appear omnipresent. The form had all three of their Gems, but Rinaotei saw that it had only Mintaka's gelid eyes; was that because they have triumphed?

She heard Mintaka's voice regarding the ones who pledged to him with their baritone yet soft tone that they are granting a new Spell to them, Rinaotei included; she paid full attention to them. When Mintaka mentioned 'Spectral Wing,' her body felt something surge in her, like she has been bestowed upon new knowledge or perhaps her own body just got completely revitalised and would never need rest again. Specks of light appeared and rose from her body looking almost like blue-white embers from a submarine active volcano from what she can see in her peripherals as they extinguished. Soon she could hear Mintaka's voice again it sounded so close yet so far, with the mention of being able to communicate with this new Spell and the mention that they are 'One' now.

That sounded rather pleasant actually; it didn't seem akin to something that'll cage the free-spirited wolf or anything she hopes it won't anyway, albeit Mintaka doesn't appear to be the type to cage down others like that.

Ah, so this is their original form and a choice needed for the personality that'll 'lead'? These beings piqued Rinaotei's interest every second, and she was gladder of availing Mintaka in this then as she looked with subtle awe of their mystical wings.

A missing stone they say? So, there was more to this then it seems, but she considered whether she should assist again; they don't look like the betrayers' sort, so perhaps she should avail in this request of theirs; the stone should stand out. The stag? Actually, during her many exploring, she has heard of such a being, but she has never met them herself.

Rinaotei was instantly distracted from deciding on what to do when the ones who pledged to Alnitak started acting with very indignant attitudes. Spouting about the wings unable to work despite the fact that they never told them they could fly, and soon it broke out into a petty fight between them, useless tempers elevating. Rinaotei in response to this commotion let out a deep breath from her nose, spumes of cold vapour pouring out from her nose when she exhaled. Could they please just stop being bothersome? Rinaotei decides right then and there she'll find the stag, wanting only to leave right away additionally.

When the suggestion to probe for Tenzin in Pisces first getting mentioned she immediately decided she'll partake in this, even if one of Alnitak's followers are to be a part of it, she has meant to check how her birthplace has been.

"I'll join in this search additionally," Rinaotei answered too, managing to avoid her tone from sounding flat no need to be unpleasant to them after all. She goes to leave fully intending to see to this search being a success maybe find Batcat along the way perhaps; she'll try out her new Spell gifted to her later.


"Speech"

-Exit Rinaotei-

Albeon felt pretty happy that although small that his two stone offerings to Alnilam were appreciated when he left he hoped to find more of them but it seemed just about all the gold and yellow stones have all been collected before he could get them. He just hopes that they were offerings for Alnilam and not like a Gembound hogging them to avoid another from getting them to let the bird they chose won. So soon he returned empty-handed, but he wishes to see what will happen as he sure hell hopes that Alnitak did not win this. So, with the announcement that Mintaka won brought great relief to him. While he did hope that his choice Alnilam would've won he didn't mind after all from what Albeon sees, unlike Alnitak, Alnilam doesn't seem to care too much that they didn't win this, although they technically won the amount of Gembound pledged to them he supposes.

When their transformation happened, Albeon watched with some awe, but at the same time he has witnessed lots of out of the ordinary things by now, he should be used to it. Still, when he got rewarded with this new Spell he felt just so awesome right now, the power that begun to flow through him as his body glowed gold like his eyes and scarf; he has to try it out later! Just not here, no way in hell was he going to try it out and possibly fail which will cause him to make an embarrassment of himself.

When other's started fighting Albeon did his best to ignore it as annoying as it was, he did wonder what Alnitak said to them in their head though possibly not good if they're getting this pissed. Some must be having second thoughts on choosing Alnitak, and some are blindly loyal to them from the way they are arguing with their words.

He did also wonder on whether he should join on this 'stag' search, after all, he mainly even joined in on this was to avoid Alnitak from winning, and it seems like it is now confident that Mintaka is the one in charge now.

What to do, one thing he could do is searching for two Gembound on the move, and he may join in on this himself. What to do, he keeps on thinking that as he goes to leave himself.

Tags:
Side Notes: N/A

"Hey Yours Truly Albeon Speaking."

And that's a good thing...
It means there's hope and potential in one's Future.

-Exit Albeon-