A loud, shrill voice echoed through the cave, and Mongo turned, seeing a rather large bird of some sort, with a gleaming purple beak. She spoke in harsh, short words, trying to command them into attacking the monsterous snake. But Mongo was no fool - while he may love to fight, he knew he would stand no chance against the snake. It was huge, far too big for him to even think about injuring it.

And then there was a familiar sound, one that drew his attention. It was like a great flapping, like something rough being snapped over and over, and it set his fur to bristling. Last he'd heard that noise, he'd lost the fur on his face. He looked up, seeing a dark shadow pass overhead, before turning to follow it as it landed beside him.

For a moment, he hesitated, until it spoke, recognizing its voice as that of the female, the one who had been kind to him. The bristled fur relaxed, and he offered her a nod. "Of course I remember you, I never forget a face. It's nice to see you again, Caliante." he hesitated, looking up at the giant snake. "I have no idea. I was looking through the bones and saw it come tearing through, so thought I'd come see what was going on."

And then Vincenzo was approaching, and he was surprised to realize that he had to look down to meet the bird's gaze. Last time he'd seen him, he'd dwarfed the Fossa pup. "It's good to see you too, Vinnie! It's been a while." he tilted his head at the bird's words, saying, "Hopefully everyone will get out of this alive," dryly.

Looking again at the giant snake, he tilted his head. There was something glowing against his scales, and it drew his eye. What was that? However, the snake was beginning to hiss, and he stepped forward, bristling his fur, stepping between it and Caliante. He announced himself as Skahan, and said he had dug Canis itself.

So Mongo would step forward again, standing up proud and tall, making sure to speak loud enough that it could hear him. "Skahan, why are you here? What can we do to help you?"

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

@Umbra
@Vincenzo

She’d felt it all the way in her chrysalis, nestled in the walls of Orion.

Pride had told her there was no food this way, and she believed him about that. Really, she hadn’t realized that rumblings of stone weren’t normal until they’d found that wonderland of greenery and she’d realized that the ground didn’t vibrate there. Glancing around the decaying bones of Canis, the fawn felt uneasy, and it became a little clearer why this wasn’t a good place to be. Still, she couldn’t resist the feeling that permeated to the depths of her being. She needed to know what was making such sounds, though by the time she had returned to the caves she’d hatched from, the movements had ceased. Her hopes that further clues would appear in Canis were well-founded, as when she entered the cavern, there was a great commotion emanating from one area in particular.

Karma entered the newly formed hallway carefully, slinking on almost silent hooves in the shadows along the chamber walls, attempting to remain as small and unobtrusive as possible. Wide violet eyes took in the chaotic scene around her with interest and a touch of fear, though the thrill of discovery was much stronger. Regardless, she trembled when the basilisk roared, and had one of the others fled, the fawn would not have been far behind. But they remained, as did she, listening carefully and understanding a good portion of the conversation that transpired. She paused on the opposite side of the staircase from the great snake and his entourage, looking up the stairs as she listened. They drew her attention with earnest, far more than this dusty hallway and the frightening set of strangers. If only she was just a little larger, and a little faster, she could probably make her way up them without being noticed. As it was, she lingered there.

Turning aside the notion of making it up the stairs, the fawn’s eyes roamed over the other attendees at this strange meeting. In particular, a small amount of warm air wafted to her even at the distance she was standing, and she realized that it had originated with the snake. Transfixed now, she looked over the creature’s scales, appearing to be in perpetual motion even when perfectly still. In its fury, she caught a glimpse of the bright thing nestled in its coils and found herself staring at the same spot even when it disappeared beneath scales a moment later.

just let me know if it's too late to enter this thread and I'll scoot
@Umbra @Vincenzo

Caliante let out an audible sigh of relief. She had been terrified that Mongo would hate her, sneer or chase her away, angry at her for Crack's actions. But he was kind and she appreciated that. But she didn't know what to do of the big snake. She was only hanging around because the others wanted to be there. For a moment, she considered letting them take control. But it was her day! If she gave it up, then she wouldn't have control for another few days!

Maybe she should just leave...no. She had promised them. She knew they were excited. She sighed and resigned herself. She would do this for them. So, doing what felt completely natural to her, she gave a little flutter and perched herself on Mongo's back, feeling a lot better about being on top of someone she trusted.

She didn't speak to the snake, but only listened for now. She had no questions to ask that others had not asked first. The other two in her head were listening quietly, excited, for something to happen.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack."

Following the trail grimly, the pewter wolf arrived at the gaping new exit out of Canis in silence. There was a cool draft from within, suggesting more to be discovered should he feel compelled to follow through, but he hesitated. The rumbling of something terrible had shaken him from sleep but his descent from Fornax had not been fast enough. Instead, he was left to follow in the wake of whatever could cause such destruction.

A few small pieces of rock clattered to the ground from the newborn exit—entry?—which caused Rohan to shuffle his paws back. His eye searched the darkness within and saw nothing, but his ears could faintly pick up the thunderous tone of something speaking. And then others.

Taking a deep inhale, he held his breath for a moment and closed his eyes... waited... and exhaled before taking a step forward into the unknown. His eyes opened into the black, one glowing brilliantly, the other lost in the darkness. Despite the largeness of the space he entered, the strange gathering of Gembounds, and the gigantic basilisk that towered above them, Rohan's heartbeat remain normalized and steady. His magic worked beautifully to keep him calm and standing tall, where he otherwise would have been a pancake on the ground by now, wheezing into the dirt.

Whatever grace fate had blessed him with this time was welcome as he scanned the strange mountain and the void around it. He couldn't tell where the room's sides were, or the ceiling; just that the mountain rose seemingly out of nowhere, and somewhere at its peak flickered blue fire, illuminated some strange area. His attention slowly moved toward his fellows and the ancient. Rohan had entered just as it declared its name—Skahan—and he tried to think back many cycles. Had he ever heard that name? He couldn't recall.

Calm still, he quietly approached the others and sat behind them, close to the nearest of statues at the base of the stairs. He was not particular in gatherings or social needs, but this was different. Far too different. The glowing in his stone-eye was starting to fade, and he could feel his heart rate increasing.

@Liora

Now, we're all probably wondering: What took Howl so long to get to Canis? It was just around the corner from Monoceros, a hop and a skip across the pond... s. About three ponds. Regardless, not enough to warrant a cycle of vanishing and procrastination (and a strange bout of Olympics that he stormed out of with an angry cry threatening to invade every single thought), but that was besides the point. What was the point was the enormous serpent taking up just about half of the bone pit, give or take a few hundred meters of exaggeration. Late to the party, he skidded to a halt before the basilisk, temporarily mesmerized by the alpenglow between iridescent scales (oh, oh, oh, those were beautiful and his fingers quivered with excitement and the desire to take and take and take). Drawing his hands up to his cheeks, he hooted: "'HO SHEE-IT!" Then, stating the obvious "that's one beeg snake!", he snickered to himself. If that Ssssssssssseptiezal ever actually showed up with a statue piece in tow (everyone was late like him---he'd been moping around that dumb thing to see), Howl'd totally lord it over him that there was a big snake with a much cooler look.

The howling monkoose had arrived just in time to hear the big snake introduce itself and he had the absolute nerve to butcher it in his next sentence---not without a hardly-stifled yawn in the direction of all of the Gembound remaining quiet and polite. He's seen bigger dragons before! Well, a bigger one. Less fancy and exciting to steal, but he digressed. "Ssssskahan! The shee-it's in there?" Mismatched eyes glimmering, he batted his eyelashes like the gross little gremlin child he was. "Ahr there reechis for lil' ol' Howl? But--! Nobahda else! No reechis fer them!" ("Are there riches for little old Howl? But--! Nobody else! No riches for them!") He'd come back to look for that statue piece in the bone pit later, maybe on the way back. For the time being, he was a little preoccupied with filling his nonexistent pockets with more useless novelties.

Black had a tendency to wind up involved with everything important that seemed to happen in the caves. He did his best to keep tabs on any rumors of Nemean resurfacing--going so far as to spy on her, when he could. He was often present for the great battles, or the conversations with the caves' eldest denizens.

Now, he was quick to follow the rumbling crashing of stone, despite just having been busy with yet another of his important endeavors. His pendulous ears pricked, he pursued all the way into Canis. He could not even remember the last time he had come here--and he found it foreign even now, plowing over piles of bones to get to the sound of distant voices.

He slowed, as he approached, debating briefly the idea of shrouding himself in shadows--but the others were all in the open, in a relatively dark, shattered-opening cave mouth, and seemed unconcerned.

They had arrived before him--and they were shouting, shrieking, or quietly speaking. Some seemed to be arguing. The great basilisk Skahan curled glowing at one corner, and for a moment, Black simply stood silent and awed, watching the creature, and the crowd.

He found himself unwilling to speak up, just yet; he let the others do the talking, as he had no idea what was going on. Instead he paced behind them, and to the statues, peering up with tilted head. At length he padded up the stairs, the voices a half-forgotten humming tumult behind him as he came alongside a statue. He hopped up, leaning one broad paw onto it, his wrinkled face studiously focused.

From where have you come? he wondered, the phrasing even in his thoughts awkward. You are old, and yet new. What have you seen?

________________

There was much the Gembounds had to say and ask. They were quick to offer things to him: names, apologies, assistance—and yet, they did not know him, only his name. He continued to study the mountain and the area, perhaps searching for something, but in the end decided whatever it was he was expecting to find must not be here.

His attention returned to the growing crowd, lingering on those whose voices had come to him. It was the loud bird—well, the white one—that had suggested it was not doing much at the moment in regards to the state of his creation. Skahan snorted through his nostrils as he thought on this.

"Yes, the caves. I do not know how long it has been," he said after some time, his eyes glancing toward the created entrance. "But there was great disarray. It would not be worth it."

What troubled him was the idea of this... area. Had it always been like this? Glowing gaze swept across Reseda for a moment before casting back toward the mountain and the alcove. No, something was different. He did not build it this way. There was magic here he could not dispel or power through. Unfortunately, he would need help.

"I do not know yet... what we are seeking," he admitted to Mongo's question. Skahan was not particularly magically inclined, he was more brute force. The magicka in this room was different, it was strong.

The newest loud addition challenged for richest, and Skahan flared his lips in return; he felt himself tighten around the warmth of the orb he had found. "What riches?" he hissed. "Try it."

Black's vision is first-person, and he is running alongside another—a spitting image of what might be himself: a horned creature burning with a wild mane of blue-green fire. He and the other are dancing through the legs of three others that are present: the four thick legs of a giant scaled dragon, the two smooth legs of an unknown tall creature, the two thin legs of a enormous bird; and occasionally, hopping over an anxious lamb. The four are doing something important, but the two twins are just having fun. There is the feeling of excitement and purpose.

Discovered: Raheerah's Key
Notice! The orb Skahan has is burning hot!! Any attempts to touch it may severely burn your characters. If you attempt to touch the orb you must roll Other to see how badly your character may have been burned.

* The orb is about 2-3ft in circumference.

@Reseda @Bones @Vincenzo @Mongo @Liora @Umbra @Rohan @Karma @Howl @Black

Ugh. Talking, talking, talking. All they ever did was talk. And yet, nobody even cared to listen to Liora, did they? The bird remained a few meters away, her wings folded back against her sides as she leered at the group gathering around the massive serpent. Sure, he was big. But she was pretty sure all of them could take him down. ...Not that any of them seemed interested in fighting the serpent, which kind of pissed her off, since he had broken the walls, even if he insisted this hallway had always been there.

Whatever! It didn't matter! All this nattering had pissed Liora off.

With a chuff, the lammeraven took to the air and glided over the multitude of heads gathered before Skahan. "RAK! If you cowards won't avenge broken Canis, then Liora will!" she crowed, and made a dive for the serpent.

Rather, the orb within the serpent's grasp.

It was shiny. And it looked like he coveted it. And Liora, ever the erudite observer, was going to teach him a lesson - by taking it for herself.

With her eyes fixed to the orb, Liora cut through the air and swooped in close, talons arched and primed to grab it - until she felt the heat roiling off of its surface. Already too close to the serpent to risk fumbling with the orb, she startled herself off course and keeled to the side, croaking with alarm. "HOT! LIORA'S FEET ARE BURNT! WRETCHED WORM!!" she screamed, crashing to the ground off to the side of the group.

Naturally, Liora never actually made contact with the orb, but she had to uphold her rep of being a drama queen, didn't she?

Black took one step back, lowering his paw to the ground. His head tilted, pendulous ears hanging. He considered what he had seen, running it over in his mind. He could put name to the dragon, and to the bird--not to the smooth-legged thing, however, and the lamb was unknown to him entirely.

He mulled it over, as he was wont to do, with slow thought for a very long time before turning and--as he was also prone to doing--speaking very loudly and slowly.

"I have seen the past within this creature of stone," he rumbled, his tone a declaration. For once he was interrupting, almost authoritative, even; he felt that whatever this was, it had been important. And it was important, too, for all to hear.

"I believe the creatures, of statue, were living; or they are still. They ran, side-by-side, as children--joyous and carefree. Yet the air was charged with great importance. A momentous thing began, as I watched. Raheerah, I saw--he is the black dragon--and they were running beneath his legs. He did not kill them, as he has tried to kill us. Tenzin was there, and I do not believe they were fighting, as they fought before us. He is the phoenix, the large bird. Of ice," Black clarified. "And another thing, with two legs, that were smooth--and a lamb. I do not know what they were doing, but I believe they were here."

Black fell silent, leaving the others to decide what to do with this knowledge--and turned, peering up the stairs, his head cocked slightly to one side. His pale blue gaze drifted from the braziers to the statues, and he wondered what had become of them. Were these statues a monument--or were they real creatures, turned to stone?

If Raheerah and Tenzin had been here--and side-by-side, too--it must have been something very important, indeed. The two, so far as he knew, were enemies. Yet-...

Did they not share an enemy? Was Nemean not the enemy of both? Though she had come to Tenzin's rescue, in some sense. And Nemean certainly wasn't locked away any longer, if this place had been built to contain her...

Thus lost in his thoughts, Black now remained silent, staring up into the darkness.

________________

The Fossa offered the bat a soft smile, fighting a cringe as that pulled at the raw skin of his face. It hurt, yes, but he knew it would hurt Caliante to see it, so he fought down the movement. Besides, he was tough, wasn't he? He refused to show his weakness to all these Gembounds.

To his surprise, Caliante perched on his back. He turned to give her a surprised look, before seeming to accept it, turning back to look at Skahan as the beast began to speak.

He listened, intently, to the Basilisks words, before tilting his head in thought. "Skahan, I would like to help you. I may not be the smartest, but I am capable of Earth Magicks. If you think you could make use of them, I would be honored.

The mad bird from before seemed to get a wild feather, and took off into the air, before plunging at the basilisk. The orb, it seemed, was very hot, as she began to shriek about being burnt. But he could not smell any burnt feathers, and so simply dismissed her.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.