Huckleberry didn't meet Pride's eyes as they listened to what he had to say. So many mixed feeling went through his head. He agreed with him - Blackberry was a horrible mother. She should care for him and protect him instead of take away things he loved so that he would behave. But then, at the same time, he remembered how patient she used to be with him. How she trained the family to become strong. All the lessons she had taught them. He didn't know what to think, but at least Pride was giving him the strength to think at all.

He shook his head at the question, but internally wondered if Cloudberry had hatched while he was away. No. It hadn't been a full cycle yet. He knew he would know when it was time. It was his life, after all, his magic that made them gem grow and would make it hatch.

But Pride's suggestion caught him off guard. Escape the family? With Cloudberry? His mouth dropped open at the suggestion and barely heard the rest of Pride's speech. Could it really happen. "I-I..." He wanted so desperately to say yes. He wanted so much to leave and find a place to raise his child in peace, without the blood of the family on their claws. But at the same time he felt his heart crack at the thought of leaving them. They were all he had ever known and he could never imagine being without them.

He backed away a step, his eyes wide and clouded with fear. "I...n-no, I couldn't. My Mama loves me! My family loves me! I can't leave them!" But their voice was shaking with uncertainty and doubt. Perhaps Pride was right. Perhaps Blackberry and Blueberry didn't love him. Perhaps Jayberry and Elderberry and Mulberry didn't want him around. That his worst fears were true - he didn't belong.

Tears began to flood from his eyes as so many things collided in his head. He stared at Pride, his nostrils flared and his entire body quivering. "Is that true?" His voice was a shivering whisper. "They don't love me?"

@Pride

Pride listened, pity again stirring him. His ears flicked forward as he watched Huckleberry, listened to his words, even as his own thoughts were racing. Insecurity-... damaged sense of self. He is young and even then, the eldest of us might feel fear of such rejection. As soon as Huckleberry had stopped speaking Pride moved closer, offering a nudge, a friendly and reassuring gesture, to the other's head. He spoke as he did so, and his words were not impassioned, but rather, carefully measured.

"It does not reflect on you. You understand this..? This may not feel like much comfort, but it is the fault of the goose. I do not think she can love anyone. At the very least, she has not tried to kill you," he added drily. "That is no reason to stay in the situation, mind you. You will never grow to your fullest extent, you will never be as strong as you could be, or find yourself, when under her claws. But," Pride added, more gently, "It certainly isn't a decision that must be made immediately."

He paused, as if to let this sink in, then spoke further. "Certainly, any such decision should be thought about--at length. Acting rashly is rarely wise. But... Should you ever decide that this is what you wish to do, I will of course lend my aid."

So long as it doesn't look too much like a trap, he amended, in his mind--but this he didn't say aloud. Instead, after a long pause, he spoke yet again.

"We all deserve respect. Aid, and kindness. An open mind. You do not deserve to be crowded down by a tyrant, but perhaps something happened in the goose's past to make her so. You could always try to change her ways--I do not know if it would work--but regardless, you--yourself--you deserve better, Huckleberry."

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry listened with awe, despite the tears running down his face. The friendly nudge made him flinch a bit but he relaxed a moment later, feeling much more comfortable. He raised his empty claw to wipe at the tears as they began to dry. This was a lot to think about, more then he really could have thought about on his own. Pride's words made more sense then anything else had in a very long time.

He sniffled and gave himself a little shake, as if to throw off all the doubt and sadness he had been burying himself in moments ago. "I know. It's just...it's hard to leave. You may not believe it, but I think Mama does love her family. Just not me anymore. I don't know what I can do to make her love me again." He nodded. Perhaps clarity was edging at the back of his mind, but he couldn't get up and leave right now, or even right after Cloudberry hatched. He knew that if he ever turned his back on his family, there was no going back.

He didn't want to point out that Blackberry had, in fact, tried to kill him and Jayberry had threatened to do the same. Pride probably hated Blackberry enough already.

But the thought that, perhaps, he deserved a better life then the one he was living was such a comforting thought that he sighed softly and closed his eyes, trying to imagine a world where there was no Mama and no Jayberry and no family. A life of freedom, peace, quite, and love. Just him and Cloudberry, perhaps living here, in Orion, near Pride and his other allies. Maybe with Kin-Kin nearby too. He would still fight, but not to the death and not in hatred. Merely for fun. To test his strengths and train and use his magic without the intent to kill. Spar with his friends. Yes, that would be a nice world.

He opened his eyes after his pause, his eyes finally clear again. "I'll think about it. It's not in my power to change Mama's mind. I don't think its in anyone's power. Not even Papa's. If I have to run," he shuddered at the thought, "will you help me?"

@Pride

Pride eyed Huckleberry, and considered the question. Of course he would. That went without saying. But where were the limits..? What stopped Blackberry from finding out about this, and setting a trap with her apparently less-popular child as bait? He couldn't put the rest of the Seven in danger--or anyone else, for that matter. But himself? Pride snorted softly, weighing his options--the choice that lay before him--and nodded.

"Yes," he answered, "Of course I would. But," he added, in a tone of gentle caution, "do not bring it about in such a way that it will endanger others. I have allies, friends and family of my own and it would be unconscionable to thrust them into harm's way, you understand?" Again, this was asked kindly. "That refers, of course, to the rescue. I think I can say with certainty that once you are safely free, I will be willing to help protect you, and so would others."

As to changing Blackberry's mind, and Huckleberry's belief that he'd be unable, Pride simply filed that tidbit away, acknowledging it. It meant that, even among her own family, she was considered single-mindedly ruthless; perhaps it was so ingrained in her, this violence, that one could no longer separate goose from hate.

"...This conversation has gotten rather grim, hasn't it?" Pride added at length, his voice now fluting with kind humor. It was a polite doorway--one Huckleberry could use to change the topic, if he wished. Or, the hybrid could agree, and continue on the subject--but Pride hardly wanted to continue hammering on it if it upset him so.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry dipped their head. If they were going to get rescued, they agreed that they didn't want anyone to be endangered by it. That would just make things worse. Besides, if things came to a fight, Huckleberry could protect themselves. Blackberry might be a strong fighter, but they had mastery over magic. They would be fine. It was just finding a way to sneak out without a fight and find a place of safety, if they decided to leave, that is.

When they looked back at Pride, they puffed out their chest proudly. "Don't worry, if I leave my family, I can protect myself! I have magic, remember? It's super powerful too!"

@Pride

Pride nodded, lightly.

"I don't know how many you are--whether they might attack you in a group, or not. But again, you do have my aid if needed." Truly, a chance to kill the goose would be welcomed, but he was, by now, not so emotionally affected by the situation. It was more a grim knowledge that Blackberry was likely going to harm innocents--horribly--until she was slain.

"What other spells do you know, then? Perhaps we can teach one another, a little?" The offer came kindly, a flick of his tail showing faint interest.

He didn't want to spend too much time out here; he'd have to warn Envy soon enough of what was happening. I wonder how far I can link to Envy's mind..? Pride shook the thought away. He could spare a few more minutes, at least; this situation was important.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well there's Mama and Papa. And Elderberry and Baneberry, but Baneberry's been gone for a long time. And there's also Jayberry and Mulberry and Dewberry! And me, of course." Yes, that was the whole family. Well, including Cloudberry as well, but Huckleberry still did not know Cloudberry's future.

At Pride's request to see his magic he widened his eyes with joy. Oh, he always jumped at the chance to show off his magic abilities! "Yes, oh yes! Of course! This is one of my favorites, listen!" With a small bounce he sent his magic into the air and the collection of static rapidly clashed together, producing a loud, thunderous crashing noise to resound through the cave. Huckleberry laughed with joy and bounced around as the thunder-sounds echoed around him. He enjoyed his magic so much - to think that he had ever hated loud noises!

@Pride

Pride peered, surprised that Huckleberry was willing to just... list them all, as the other spoke. Is he merely--not suspicious..? He quickly struggled to commit the names to memory, and to count them--one, two--three four fi--no... yes five, six seven--eight with Huckleberry? But even as he was doing this, the rest of his mind winced at the names. Did they all change their names to this..? How-... ridiculous.

He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as Huckleberry then began to answer his other statement--magic. His eyes widened faintly as he realized the hybrid was about to cast another lightning s pell--the faint crackle of magicka barely enough warning. Pride scrambled back a few steps, but the rolling thunder didn't seem to be dangerous--or at least, it wasn't directed at him. He stared up, and then--at length--flicked his tail a little.

"That was impressive," he said, and he meant it. Again, he distantly, vaguely remembered the gorilla--Elspeth, had it been?--doing something similar.

Pride paused, and eyed Huckleberry. He focused, himself, on his magicka--calming his breathing, and for a moment, trying to listen in on the other's thoughts. Looking for any sign of plotting, or betrayal--...

Sign of plotting, or betrayal.

...What?

What?

Oh, HELL, how did I--

Oh, HELL, how did I--

manage to do that?!

manage to do that?!

Pride grimaced, deeply, as his magic hit himself, instead. For a few moments all was tangled chaos, his mind-words unravelling as his thoughts careened around and echoed in his own mind. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and merely standing there, silent--trying to clear his head of all thoughts (and failing)--until it at last faded, and passed.

"...Sometimes, my magic fails. I presume it is the same for all. I could try to teach you, perhaps, to summon a second of yourself, as I have shown? It may come in handy if you must at some point escape, as well," he added.

@Huckleberry

Huckleberry sat down in front of Pride, humming happily, pleased with himself. No matter what life threw at him or used to try to drag him down, he always found solace and happiness in magic. Making noise and lights and wind. It was something that truly gave him a feeling a worth for he knew his skill was greater then some others. It gave him a sort of hope.

Pride's comment made Huckleberry laugh. "Yeah, I know all about that." Although, it really wasn't funny in the moment, especially with his lightning magic rebounding on himself. Painful. Perhaps it was different with Pride's magic, although he wasn't quite sure he knew what kind of magic Pride used. "I'd like to learn! How do you do it?" In his excitement, he tried to cast his own spell as if he were trying to copy Pride. But nothing really happened besides a tiny spark coming out of his gem. It seemed that it would take some time to learn magic different from what he knew.

@Pride

Pride flicked his tail and turned, pacing a few graceful steps away. He faced away from Huckleberry for a moment, studying the landscape, and then he spoke.

"You tap into your magick... and then allow it to tap into you. You shape it as yourself, infuse it with energy, until there are two of you. And it is a double; you control it, as you control yourself, until it fades. Here--see if you can feel how I do this. Assuming it does not falter," he added with wry humor, and a friendly glance back over his shoulder.

Then he looked forward again, once more focusing on the ground in front of him, on the area he had to work with. He called upon his magicka, willing it to well up. And it did, brimming and sparking within him. As he formed it into a spell, he spoke--somewhat absently. "You allow it to fill you, like water in a hole, and then you make it keep that form--and take control of it."

Pride did precisely that--and a moment later he stepped forward, and turned both left and right, circling until both Prides were side-by-side and facing Huckleberry.

"It can be useful to follow someone, perhaps, or to confuse a foe in a fight. I am sure you can come up with other, more creative uses; it is one of the most exciting and enjoyable aspects of magic, I believe."

@Huckleberry