Asimona thought she'd had the golem locked on her. She hadn't noticed the blue glow yet and, even if she had, she probably wouldn't go down to investigate until she had dealt with the stone monster. She felt as if it was her responsibility, as she was easily the biggest there. She could deal with this thing and then rejoin the others below.

But, as soon as it started towards the others, Asimona realized that she was losing control. She needed to stop it, and soon, or the others would be in danger! Her magic didn't seem to be working, so there wasn't anything left to do. Without really thinking, she dove towards the golem, trying to knock it into the nearby river. However, she had misjudged its position and instead came crashing down at its side. She sprung to her feet, however, growling and ready for it to turn and attack her, calling out to the others, "Look out, its coming for you!"

"Can you hear their voice?"
"Find the one who'll guide you."
To the limits of your choice.

tags:
notes:

The stone within the bird-dog's grasp glowed, its markings pulsing to life. Talion stared at the suddenly active gem, his large dark eyes reflecting the stunning sight. All other thoughts fell away in awe of the gem, that is, until everyone started yelling and the ground started vibrating beneath him.

The owl jerked his head toward the thundering steps first, and the shouted warning from the dragon, first. Somewhere in his shock, the giant, ivory reptile had landed, and she had apparently failed at subduing the golem. He assumed as much because the magicka powered rock was running straight toward him and the bird-dog.

Had one of the hybrids not suddenly yelled out its own warning, Talion would have never looked its way. Whenever the high-pitched voice tore through the air though, just as he was taking off, he had to look. When he did, the glint of the second gemstone caught his eye.
At first, the owl thought it to was part of the hybrid, but as he angled toward them, and more importantly away from the golem, he saw the stone. It was smaller than the pale blue one, and thus, a much easier prize to go after. First though, he had to get away from the stomping rock beast that was headed his way.

Talion beat his wings as hard and as fast as he could, heading straight toward the hybrid. He didn't bother gaining much altitude, he just needed distance between him and the golem.

White turned her head to snarl back at the hybrid leaping onto her, tight muzzle bared and wrinkled. "I saw it first!" She squawked back loudly, and very childishly.

Her head whipped around to-- presumably --snap the same thing back at the barn owl, but the thudding footsteps of the golemn caught her attention instead. "Don't touch it!" The dog-bird called out, rising to action-- and leaving her new-found shiny behind. "Don't cast anything! They're attracted to magic!"

Contrary to what she had just ordered, White's wings spread and she went gliding for a pebble, clamping her front paws over it and casting. Under her paw-pads, the rock began to glow a shining golden-white. The hybrid quickly picked this up in her jaws and went half-sprinting, half-gliding past the golem, tossing the baubled stone right in front of it's face so that it clattered on the ground a little bit in front of it, though hopefully out of range from the others.

Vinea didn't weigh much, so it was understandable why he had little to no impact on the bird-dog. Additionally, his kin didn't provide much in the way of stopping force, especially when he watched the bird-dog leave the shiny blue thing (which was now glowing; +20 appeal points) behind. Silent yet shaking with glee, the alienyena watched as everyone went running for either the golem or the other stone embedded into the fish, quiet.

His vigil over the die-like thing was broken as he shriek-yelped, snatching it up in his jaws and scampering towards the nearest wall. His luminescence dimmed progressively as he clambered higher and higher, obscuring him against the darker recesses in the ceiling. Just to be certain he wasn't seen, he kept the glowing blue thing in his mouth. Head twisted into a slightly owlish position with narrowed eyes, he watched below, preparing to spring into action just in case his kin was in danger again. But for now, he was going to guard this shiny prize with his proverbial life, because he wouldn't actually die for it.

Obviously.

As Skeena ripped the fish's shiny grey stone free, the golem stomped ever closer. Only at the clatter of the baubled gem rolling past did it pause, turning toward it, attracted by the innate magicka left to leave it illuminated; it leaned down and there was a soft hum.

A moment later the stone rose up, and slammed into the golem's body, adding itself to the rocks that made up its strangely-animated form. White had bought them a moment of time to react.

It found that the object it had initially pursued was nowhere to be sensed: Vinea had scuttled it away, now. Yet the gembound and their magic stones still lay before it. It turned to lumber back toward Skeena, the one still on the ground, still within its reach.

The Gembound present have choices. They might try to engage this golem and attempt to destroy it, or to scatter their separate ways, or to gather in safety elsewhere and discuss what they have found... or something else unforeseen. Whatever they choose, the Golem is again drawing closer to Skeena, the earth trembling at its every step.

@Talion @Skeena @Vinea @Asimona @White

The golem pausing to add the baubled rock to his collection gave White a split second to think over her plan from here; though she did not entirely voice it. What she did know is that the golem would have to be moved away from the others, or they would be stuck there fighting it for days on end.

If only White knew what a day was.

The hybrid shifted and focused quietly as the golem fused itself with the rock. She filled herself with magicka instead of another rock or plant to what-have-you, until her pearly-white feathers were glittering a very pale gold.

Glowing, the dog-bird ran near the golem, barking and squawking all at once. "Stop that! Move!" She called up at it, wings still unfurled as the glowing hybrid then turned and began running along away from the group with the clear intention of leading it away.

"Don't CAST anything," she then called backwards, as a reminder to the others, as she attempted to get the golem moving elsewhere.

Asimona got up from where she was lying and realized that the golem had moved and was picking up a baubled stone. Good idea, whoever had thrown it. But Asimona was barely concerned about the others anymore. She could feel something beside her, a dark presence that was completely unwelcome at the moment. "How many times have you tried to stop it? You are a dragon, yet you are beaten by stone."

"Shut up," she hissed, not even bothering to look at him. "I don't have time for you right now." She swished her tail as she stalked forward until she was at a good position. With all her strength, she leaped towards the hunk of rock, intending on throwing it into the river, just as the other had fallen. Perhaps the waves would wash it away or it would sink to never arise again.

But it moved just as she was leaped and she came down awkwardly, only one of her arm crashing into its side.

"Can you hear their voice?"
"Find the one who'll guide you."
To the limits of your choice.

tags:
notes:

The golem's ground-shaking steps did little to hinder the barn owl. He glided a foot above the ground, his gaze focused on the small, dark stone peeking out from behind the hybrid's back legs.
He paid no mind to the bird-dog's instructions, or to the first stone, which now lay unguarded. The golem was back there, it could have the blue stone, the selfish, ungrateful bird-dog, and the dragon if it wanted it. Talion was after a much more suitable prize now.

The ground quaked beneath the golem's stomping steps, causing the small, dark stone to shift and bounce into the open just enough for Talion to be able to swoop down and snatch it up. "YES!" He screeched triumphantly as he clenched his talons around his prize.

The melanistic owl turned, aiming his quick, powerful wingbeats down at the hybrid he had just stolen from. That should discourage it from following, Talion thought as he climbed higher and higher.

@Skeena

SKEENA

The Dragon shrieked down at them, slamming rather painfully looking into the ground. Skeena froze, eyes catching on the owl. It was coming her way, and she wanted to defend the stone she had, but she couldn't stand by and allow Vinea to be harmed by the Golem. Vinea scarpered, taking the glowing blue gem with him, and so she didn't have to worry about him any longer.

The ground shook beneath her, and she had to dig in her claws to keep from falling. Almost without thinking, she cast, a banana forming in front of her. This was quickly thrown, landing in front of the golem in an attempt at tripping it up.

And then, behind her, she heard a clattering. Whipping around, she saw the gem had been stolen away by the owl. "Hey!" she thundered, the voie screeching violently in her mind, "THAT WAS MINE!"

"Stay away from me..."
'I'm a monster inside...'

Several things happened all at once.

The golem turned, shuffling rapidly toward White and her glowing stone--only to swivel sharply at the use of magicka by Skeena. As it turned, Asimona plowed into it--even a glancing blow, as it was turning at the river's edge, sent it tumbling in with a crash, and a splash.

A moment later, it was gone.

Talion is now escaping with the hematite gemstone of a lesser gembound fish. Vinea still safely holds the mysterious, glowing stone, with all its intricate symbols. White and Asimona, it seems, have fought off the golem threat... for now.

What they do next is up to them... but will undoubtedly affect their futures.

@White @Vinea @Skeena @Asimona @Talion