Faelan, rooted to the spot from shock, watched the devastation he wrought in horror-struck silence. He had not known himself capable of such a thing, and now that he knew, he couldn't feel any shred of pride in it. His stomach rolled as the cave deer cried out, again and again, and then flipped completely whenever blood sprayed the cave walls. Darkness ate at the edges of his vision, threatening to pull him into unconsciousness.

The lion felt himself breathing fast, too fast, and tried to calm that down first. He wasn't helpless here, he reminded himself as he focused on the feel of the mud around his paws, on the stone beneath the mud. Faelan grounded himself by staring at the wall just over the deer, by remembering the rock around him. He had committed this atrocious act, but he could fix it.

Faelan grasped at the swell of magicka desperately. He focused on the cave deer, on directing the power directly toward it. That was how he had succeeded with the spell before, but he intended for this one to be more finite.

The shaking that came was surprisingly more abrupt, and more powerful, than it ever had been before. It blasted out from where the lion stood like a shockwave through the rock, making the ground buck and quake. For some reason, Faelan seemed to be entirely safe where he was, but he watched the tunnel floor jump around him, all the way toward the cave deer.

The deer was tossed into the air by the sudden chaos inflicted from beneath--spines of stone and quaking shards battering and slamming it. Any further cries were lost to the deafening rumble.

When it hit the ground again at last, no further sound escaped it; it lay limp and still, unbreathing, milky eyes staring at nothing.

Touching the blood or body of the deer could potentially spread whatever disease it is carrying.

@Faelan

Faelan's heart wrenched at the sight of the deer's body being tossed about, but he was powerless to stop it. As far as he knew, a spell had to run its course, and this one had been more powerful, and lasting, than any he had cast before. He wondered, briefly, if his growing knowledge of his magicka was making him more powerful. The thought was cast aside as soon as the lesser Gembound's body hit the floor for the last time though.

For a few moments, the lion didn't move, he just stared at the creature he had killed. It didn't feel as righteous, or noble, as he had imagined it would. Whenever he tried to remind himself that he had done this to avoid sickness, further pain, he realized that he still had one more step to complete in his plan. Somehow, he had to get rid of this disease-ridden body.

Whenever no idea immediately came to mind, Faelan took a few, careful steps forward. His eyes remained locked on the carcass, unable to go anywhere else. He had done this, he thought over and over, and he would finish it. If only he could think of how....

After what seemed like the longest moments of the lion's life, he remembered a spell he had used a few times before. Since it seemed like the only thing that could possibly work, Faelan focused on his memories of it. He recalled breaking off the piece of plateau under the pup, and cracking the rock in half with Sebastian. Both times had been out of instinct, from his emotions spiking so drastically that his power was triggered.

No such triggers helped the lion now though. He felt tired, probably from the constant use of magicka, and hollowed by the murder of the cave deer. Faelan wanted to feel like he had done the right thing, but it was so hard whenever he had caused so much pain.

After a few moments passed, and he didn't feel any rush of magic, Faelan heaved a sigh. His one tattered ear and one good one drooped forward as he dropped his head against his chest. He wished Mercurius was here, badly wished the other lion would appear in the tunnel like he had before, ready to save him.
The tawny brute let himself entire that fantasy for a moment, imagining how the other lion would fix things. Perhaps Mercy would grow plants around the body, or perhaps he'd cleanse it first, then grow something.

The thoughts brought the ghost of a smile to Faelan's maw, and stirred him into action again. He brought his massive crown up, and regarded the body of the lesser Gembound again, and the growing pool of blood around it. If he waited any longer, he might not be able to do what he had planned to do. The only thing he might be able to do, he thought before he reached for his magicka again.

This time, Faelan did not focus on his past attempts at the spell. Instead, he imagined rocks breaking from the ceiling. He took the trail of thought further to imagine a whole section of the ceiling cleaving off and falling on to the cave deer.
Before his 'hunt', the lion would not have thought himself powerful enough to do such a thing. Now, he knew better. He even had a growing fear of what he was capable of, but for now, he stuffed that into the recesses of his mind. He had to focus on finishing this, so that he might finally move on.

Stone rumbled. Cleaved. Collapsed.

After the dust settled, nothing was left but a pile of rubble, the victim left buried far beneath. Only a few stray splashes of blood and the disturbance of rock, and the shards of glass scattered here and there over the cave floor, gave any hint of what had transpired.

@Faelan

The tingling wave of magicka that surged from his gem, into the rock beneath his paws, was becoming all too familiar. Faelan knew, even before the groan of rock cleaving from rock filled the air, that his spell would work. He could feel its power, and knew that it was capable of completing the task he required of it.

With one last groan, a part of the ceiling above the lesser Gembound cracked free and rocks showered down on to it. Faelan heaved a sigh of relief as the dust settled around him. It was finally done, and no one would suffer the consequences of his actions. No one except the cave deer, of course, he thought, another pang ripping through his already tattered heart.

The lion let himself look at the pile of rumble for another few moments, before turning back the way he had come. He walked slowly, his shoulders sagging beneath the weariness of so much magicka use, and the weight of the cave deer's death. Although he had not infected it, he had chosen to end its life, and had done so in a horrible manner.
Faelan hoped to never have to do so again, but, he did know better now if he did have to. He continued to learn about himself, about his magic, but he needed to learn more. Thankfully, he at least had some idea as to where he could do that.

Whenever the lion reached the intersection, he turned toward Eridanus, but he sent a longing look toward Pisces. Mercurius would find him if he needed him, Faelan was sure of that. He was also certain that he'd miss the other lion every moment until they were together again.
After another sigh, Faelan turned his head back around, and focused on the plants dotting the floor and walls ahead.

[EXIT]