It had been a fairly long journey from Polaris to Canis but now here he was, at last with the Collector's request. Hopefully the black dog was still following behind him with the stone clutched in his mouth - he dreaded to think what the Collector would say if he turned up empty clawed.

He angled down and alighted himself ontop of a stone and looked around. Bones, bones, and bones everywhere. This place certainly was prolific with bones...and, it seemed, important events. Why did all the important things happen in Canis?

He glanced back at the dog. "This is where I saw him last." He sucked in a deep breath and bellowed loudly, "Collector! I've finally returned!"

@Black

Black trotted up, the stone firmly in his jaws, peering around. His sides were heaving--it wasn't as easy for a dog to run the distances he'd been running, though of course he'd had to rest here and there. For an eagle, he imagined it was easy--to glide and soar like that, imagine!

But now here they were. The black dog sat back on his haunches, then spat the stone out to sit at his paws. His tongue lolled out and he sat panting, catching his breath and cooling himself.

He looked around, waiting, as Glory called out. He'd not been to Canis in some time--not since the last time the lights had gone out, and the Lightbringer had returned them. He'd had to escort the hyena here after he and the others had aided Senka and her sister, Vahi. Since then, though, he hadn't returned.

It was strange to be here so suddenly--he'd spent so long in Polaris, bar the occasional journey elsewhere to aid others. Now, though? How strange a thing. What an adventure.

________________

The robed figure appeared quite from the dark, stepping from a shadow some distance off, between a pile of bones and a large stalagmite, as if he'd been waiting there.

He strode forward, and seemed to recognize Glory at once, sweeping into a low bow.

"Ahhh, you return. Good news, I hope..?"

@Glory

As the Collector appeared, Glory puffed out his feathers proudly and opened a wing to motion to Black. "Yes! I found the black dog! He agreed to bring the stone to you!" He looked towards the dog and inclined his head a bit. "This is the Collector."

He took a step back and watched for the two's interactions.

@Black

Black observed this stranger, who appeared. His nostrils worked to catch his scent, but he found little, bar fur. He did not recognize any part of him; it was not, at least, Nemean.

Or it didn't smell like her, anyway.

"For what purpose do you wish the stone?" he rumbled, his large head tilting to one side as he asked.

Black was a dog of few words. He was straight to the point; and then he fell silent.

________________

The Collector took two slow steps forward, his hoofs striking the stone. He seemed thoughtful, his head tilting.

"It is my belief," he began, "that the stone you have there is one of a great protector. One of the strongest of the caves, one who fell fighting the Beast."

The Collector's clawed hands emerged from his robe, and tilted to either side, palms up, as if to offer his harmless innocence. "I wish to bring him life once more, as he deserves."

@Glory

Glory snapped his head to look at the Collector, his beak gaping with surprise. The Collector had mentioned that the stone was important but was he talking about the giant moth? Glory had heard the story about the fight against the dragon. It was one told throughout the caves. Suddenly this stone became something else then just something to turn in as a reward. He wanted to see this happen, he wanted to watch the Collector give life to the stone and he wanted to see the creature that emerged.

He stayed silent for now, paying much closer attention then before.

@Black

Black tilted his head, his heart picking up its pace. So it was the moth's.

A rumble of thought escaped his chest, wrinkled face staring dead at the Collector pensively.

"You may try," he said at last,"but I could not bring life to it."

________________

The Collector inclined his head.

"So kind of you," he answered smoothly. A few more clicking steps brought him to Black, and he dropped to a kneel, reaching out one splayed-clawed hand, the black talons pressing down around the stone like a spidery cage.

He seemed to focus.

Nothing, however, appeared to happen, and the Collector tilted his head after a long moment of silence. He withdrew his hand, and his voice sounded distinctly surprised, and quietly disappointed. "It seems you are correct. It is not possible; it is dead. ...Unless!-" He then pushed up, leaving the stone in Black's care, and turned, pacing to and fro for a moment. He was clearly deep in thought, the back of his robe swishing to and fro, and at last he turned to the two again. His voice was a little more animated, now.

"I offer you a quest, with a great reward: to bring life. Bring as many Gembound as you can find, as many of your friends, your allies, your peers, your enemies. All of those in the caves, if you are able. If all give life to the stone at once... perhaps the moth can be reborn, our guardian once again."

There was a low purr of something else in his tone, though it was impossible to tell quite what.

The Collector is offering the quest, "THE FLAMETOUCHED MOTH." Glory and Black, should they choose to accept his mission, must spread the word: and anyone wishing to aid, and be rewarded, must arrive with a Give Life spell and the willingness to put their involved character(s) on reproductive cooldown.

@Glory

Glory watched the happening intently and waited with bated breath as the Collector reached and attempted to revive the stone. But when nothing happened he was filled with disappointment and felt himself deflating a bit. "It's dead..."

But then...words he didn't think he'd hear. There was a chance - a crazy, huge chance that they could still do this. He opened his beak to respond, a little overwhelmed by this task, but found no words coming out. He clacked his beak shut and closed his eyes, thinking deeply for a while before opening them again and nodding, determination filling him like a fire.

"I'll do it," he announced, proudly. "I'll find everyone I know. I bring them all here, I promise! I will! I'll do it!" He gave a small hop of excitement, ready to get going, ready to spread the word!

@Black