Lust was still in shock. First the golem appearing, then this new form of magic, and now Glory was pressing them pass and talking to them in determined but worried tones. It made the fledging’s head spin. So much was going on so quickly. Was everything going to be okay? The golem seemed scary and even Glory seemed a bit on edge about it. Without realizing it the chick began to tremble some.

But Glory suddenly appeared stronger, more confident. He spoke of how they would get stronger. For Reseda and Envy, he said. Lust stopped trembling, staring wide eyed at the larger eagle. They were face to face with a brutish foe and yet he eluded confidence and bravery. Lust couldn’t respond. No words could enter their brain. Just emotions pouring out their heart, strange and conflicting and confusing things blurring together. Fear and hope and longing and reassurance and other emotions they didn’t even have names for or understand. It was almost too much for the small bird to handle.

Then Glory lifted into the air, wings flapping and tail turning him to the golem. Lust gave out a startled squawk. Oh no! Glory could get hurt! But he was so strong, so confident when he spoke. Perhaps they would be safe. Lust was probably worrying over nothing. While they were clearly terrified of the monster, Glory was facing it head-on with a ferocious demeanor. Surely in the face of such confidence Lust had nothing to fear.

Lust scrambled out of the way to hide amongst the crevices of the rock under the piercing eyes of the dragon carving above. It was cramp, tight, barely large enough for the pigeon to fit. But it would probably be safe. Though Lust couldn’t help but poke their head out to face the battle ahead. They wanted to cheer for him. To reassure him. To give wishes of well-being. Anything. But still, words refused to appear in their beak. Instead they simply watched with pink eyes wide for the clash to occur.


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

tags: @Glory
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

The golem was powering forward rapidly. For a moment it could not reach Glory--the eagle flitted closer, but higher up. But the pile of boulders was relatively tall, all things considered, and after a moment of staring, one of its stones seemed to rotate, taking a higher position on a strange, boulder-like limb--which it then swung for the eagle, trying to bat it out of the air.

Glory had successfully attracted its attention... for better or worse.

_________

Glory must roll a minimum of Barely Successful to avoid being struck by Golem back"hand"!*

*golems don't have hands

@Glory @Lust

It seemed that the golem definitely did notice him and certainly changed its focus. He continued to fly around restlessly as it got closer before it swung its 'arm' straight at his body. A hit from that wouldn't be good. He didn't have his armor yet - he was totally vulnerable. But the hit came surprisingly fast and Glory didn't have time to get out of the way. The boulder came crashing on top of him, throwing him to the ground with a screech of pain. It was definitely a miracle that he didn't impale himself on a sword sticking out of the ground.

He bounced away from the golem, his chest where the rock had hit him throbbing painfully. He may have broken a rib or two. But he was lucky to still have his wings. He struggled to his feet, shaking himself out as he regained his composure. "Nice hit," he grinned, jumping back into the air. It hurt to fly now, his shoulder muscles stinging from the hit to the ground, but he was somehow still able to. He wasn't done fighting yet!

@Lust

Lust watched on helplessly as the behemoth of stone thrust its arm like structure into Glory and his resulting fall. They cried out as they watched the eagle land onto the stone. The cry of pain and shock cemented itself into Lust’s brain. Without thought, Lust wiggled out of the crevice they had hidden into to run towards Glory’s side. At the same time, the same stinging sensation in their gem and swelling in their gizzard appeared. A marbled, muffled, cry came out from no clear direction and no clear meaning. It was as though Lust’s very heart had cried out from the walls instead of by their beak.

It was all short lived, though, as Glory shot back a retort to the monster and once again lifted into the air. Lust stood awe-struck at the avian. The feat of bravery, of determination despite the odds and pain, the will to continue fighting was breathtaking for the tiny chick to watched. Their very soul cried out to be like that. But more than that, Lust longed so deeply to learn more of this heroic being. They were melting under this idea of being rescued. To be saved by a brave stranger.

What a conflict of emotions, to wish to both be strong and worthy but also to be weak and rescued. They shifted, hoping from one foot to the next much like how their thoughts and desires were shifting back and forth. All thoughts of hiding once more was forgotten as they stood watching the fight. At least one thing was clear, though, in their jumbled mind.

Glory had to win. They just had to survive this.


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

tags: @Glory
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

The golem seemed to stare* for a moment before stomping forward again. A boulder at its side raised up, clearly ready to smash into Glory again, though it seemed to have some distance to close before it got there. The tunnel shook with its every step.

______________

The Golem has 14HP remaining. Glory and Lust are still at full HP.

*golems also don't have eyes

Back in the air, Glory pretty much completely missed the strange warbling sound, but he hadn't missed the pigeon coming out of their hiding spot. Glory decided that there was no point in telling them what to do - he was going to end this right here and now!

Gathering up as much fire magic and saliva as he could, he infused the two and rapidly heated them inside his beak. He squinted through the stinging pain as it began to burn the inside of his beak, but he kept going. It had to be as hot as possible! This had to work! The little bird down there was counting on him to defeat this creature and like hell he was going to run away from this fight!

His mouth felt like it was on fire by the time the spell was ready. He sucked in a huge breath through his nose and, with all the force he could muster, opened his beak and spat the superhot saliva out with a screech of triumph. It glowed like lava as it flew directly towards the golem, a big glob of liquid flame.

@Game Master Dark

The tunnel shook. Rocks sliding against rocks echoed. Feathers flew in an angry fury of determination. The very air seemed to nearly buzz with the increased magical presence among all involved. Lust’s own feathers puffed out as their small body took in all the varying sensations that plagued the passageway. Energy from anger, from fear, from mindless instinct grew in force like a wave that threatened to drown any unaware.

The pigeon chick felt it… and embraced it. Their left cheek stung as the gemstone, the source of their lifeblood and magic, was energized. The energy seemed as though to travel to their gizzard where it built and began to take form. The young fledgling didn’t really know what to do. They simply knew they had to do something. So, they did the only thing they knew how to do.

Trembling Lust opened their beak to release the magic. Sound escaped, not from their beak but almost from the walls around them. “Leave my Glory alone!” it sounded, rumbled and jumbled and bouncing against the stone walls and done the tunnel. Those with ears would more than likely be confused by its presence and its source.

Of course, golems do not have ears. They did not fully realize this but knew that last time they did this, spell the golem stopped focusing on Glory. Lust hoped that the same would happen again. Their gemstone still shone and stung as a tiny beacon to the rock monster nearby. It was with home that it might cause the golem to pause in its ferocity towards the eagle. Lust doubted themselves, doubted their ability to really do anything. But if there was any chance at all that they could help the bold Glory who was rescuing them, Lust had to give it a try.

This did mean that the golem would be turning their attention toward the chick. The very idea made Lust tremble where they stood and caused their already disheveled feathers to puff more. It was terrifying. More so than when they had hatched and had to get close to the wind tunnel of Monoceros to escape. Lust didn’t really know pain, but instinctively knew that both birds could get hurt by this encounter.

But the pigeon had full faith all the same in Glory. In his ability. And it seemed rewarded as fire erupted from the avian’s beak. A gasp came in reply. It was mesmerizing as the fire seemed to cause the eagle’s feathers to shimmer, mirroring the flames. The heat could be felt from where they stood. Surely that would take care of the monster. Lust couldn’t help but chirp out a cheer. Yes, Glory was doing it! He was doing it! That’ll show that nasty monster!


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

tags: @Glory and @Game Master Dark
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Glory's blast lobbed directly onto the golem's "chest"* boulder. It did not seem to react at all as the liquid began to sizzle and spread, instead turning toward Lust--attracted by the magicka. It wanted both, but for some reason started a slow stomping churn for the smaller bird. All the while, the main boulder at its center disintegrated, flaring red-hot as it melted into magma.

Two steps, three--and then it stumbled, and the magic animating it seemed to... go out.

It wavered. It swayed.

It collapsed, in a deafening crumbling tumble, smashing down into a heap just shy of the birds.

The golem has been defeated.

* golems definitely don't have chests

@Glory @Lust

The sound of Glory's name bouncing off the walls, especially following the word 'my', sent a shiver up his spin and made him feel strange. Was it a good feeling? That this bird had proclaimed him a possession of sorts? It was a similar feeling to when Dread had told him that he wanted his gem. Like he was nothing more than a possession. But this was still different and he didn't understand. He decided not to point it out until he figured out his own feelings first.

He watched the golem get closer, eyeing the melting rock on its 'chest'. It was getting closer now and Glory suddenly feared that it would reach them before collapsing. The bird - Lust - they were still on the ground! Right in front of the golem!

He pulled in his wings and dived, only flaring them out to land and cover any sight of the bird from the stone monster. But it seemed his efforts were not needed. A moment later, the stone monster crumbled right in front of him, a bit of melting rock flowing from the pile of stone it left behind. He took a deep breath, releived that it was no longer a threat and then puffed out his fur with pride. A victory! His very victory!

He turned to Lust, his eyes sparkling, flashing them as best a smile as a bird could do. "So...I was going to help you learn to fly?"

@Lust

Flames met the stone, engulfing and appearing as though to consume them as the rocks slowly melted. The golem moved closer steady closer until finally there was nothing to hold itself together. Stones crumbled to the ground in disarray falling uncomfortably close to where the young pigeon chick stood anxiously huddled.

Not that Lust had much reason to fear for Glory had already swooped down before them to protect from any further attack. Lust more heard the stone monster fall than saw it as Glory’s mighty wings filled their vision. Hearing the sizzling of lava flowing and cooling, the tumbling of the falling rock pile, Lust peaked just slightly past the tip of Glory’s wings to what remained of the pile. It was over with. The golem was defeated and could no longer threaten them. Glory had indeed rescued then. Lust was in shocked disbelief at how fast the whole battle had occurred. Even as Glory turned to them, smiling and joking, it took Lust a moment to fully understand.

Silence hung in the air for a moment while Lust digested everything. The whole battle had been so short but it felt like an eternity had pasted them by. There was still a strange mixture of emotions fighting in their gizzard though not as heavy now that magic was no longer needed. Lust simply stood there, staring at Glory as though trying to figure out how to react.

Then all sense of composure and poise was tossed aside as the chick let out a pitiful coo. They leapt towards Glory to embed themselves against him if the older bird was to allow it. If birds could cry, Lust would be weeping as the flood of emotions within suddenly poured out.

“Oh Glory! I was so scared you’d get hurt! That monster was so scary! But you were amazing! And then you got hit! But then you got back up and you attacked it with that really cool fire thing! And then the monster was melting! And I think I was using magic! Which made my cheek sting and my gizzard feel weird but was kinda cool! But you got hurt! But you were so amazingly cool! And-and-and-“

Lust spook rapidly as though worried that if the words didn’t come out now they might never do so. Barely a breath was made as the sentences and sentiments ran into each other, fear and admiration flipping and tossing back and forth. Finally, though, Lust ran out of things to say. They simply turned to look up at the older bird while wondering what they would say now.


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

tags: @Glory
notes: -Final Fantasy Fanfare music plays in the background

original coding by wulf for template purposes