They had made their home about halfway up the wall of Polaris. There was a small tunnel that provided shelter when they wanted it and a nearby stalactite that they liked to hang from. It was a good balance for all of them in there - if they wanted to sleep on the ground, they could. If they wanted to hang, they could. It was a good home - so why leave?

Since getting the plague completely obliterated from their body, Crack had gone away, hiding deep within the Inner World, leaving the rest of them to live a relatively peaceful life. A lonely life, though. They felt no real need to socialize with others and Caliante's need to explore and discover was talked down by the others - how had that gone so far in her life?

Now they gathered in the meeting place of the Inner World, save for Crack, to talk about very important business - the glowing crystal in their home.

"I want it out," Rusty growled. "It keeps me awake whenever I'm trying to sleep."

"Then why don't you sleep outside when it's your turn to front? Caliante asked, not unkindly. "The stalactite is very comfortable and the air is nice and fresh.

The thorny dragon turned his nose, completely disgusted by the proposal. "I don't understand how you can hang upside down like that! It's unnatural!"

Tarragon, one of the newer personalities, rolled her eyes, her tongue flicking with annoyance. She had come to respect Rusty and his stubbornness - it was a trait they shared, but he was an idiot. "You do realize that you are inhabiting the body of a bat, right? Not a lizard? It's the most natural thing!"

Rusty whipped his head around to glare at the python. "I don't know how many times I have to tell you before it gets into your stupid head. I know very well what I am and I don't need to be lectured like a child. At least I don't wiggle around on my belly!"

If a snake could blush, the python would be blushing furiously but she instead whipped the tip of her tail around, as if it bore a rattle. "How rude! It's comfortable for me and it's fun!"

Rusty opened his mouth to make another retort when a smooth, calm voice interjected itself in their conversation. "Why don't we focus on the glowing cyrstal? I, for one, have no problem with it, but if Rusty wants it removed perhaps we should think of a solution."

Caliante, seeing the opportunity that Ripple was giving them, hopped forward. "Yes, I agree! Salvation has had some complaints as well," the silver cat nodded as she called his name, "but we can't just tear a crystal out of the ground. Umbra is very small and doesn't have the magic to move it. Perhaps if we covered it with rocks instead? Then we could remove them if we want the light!"

Salvation hopped to his feet, his ears perked happily. "That sounds like a great idea!"

Rusty considered for a moment, clearly fighting with his pride and knowing that this was, in fact, not a bad idea, before he nodded his head. "Okay, sure. We can do that."

Tarragon and Ripple murmured their agreement as well and their meeting place slowly faded, as did the rest of them as they returned to their place in the Inner World. All that remained was Caliante, who turned her attention to the body of Umbra, which was hanging from the stalactite outside of their tunnel.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

The bat released her grip on the rock and let her body plummet for a moment before flaring out her wings to slow her descent within a moment she was angling and evening out towards a pile of rocks near the base of the wall. It wasn't anything special, just a collection of minerals and such, broken from bigger pieces probably, or just pebbles. Anyways, they were small enough for her to carry back to their place. She snatched up a few pebbles to bring up to the cave, but found herself dragging a bit as she carried them to the tunnel.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

As she got back to the tunnel and placed the first few rocks down at the base of the crystal sticking out of the ground, she felt a presence touch the edge of her own. At first she thought it was one of the others idly watching as she did her work, but then she realized that it was a little different. It was a consciousness that she hadn't sensed in many cycles.

So, this is what our life has come to. Wasting away in the corner of the cave, arguing about the little light that's keeping us up at night. It's voice was as she remembered it - smooth, dark, and unnatural. Caliante felt fear when she realized that it was back - Crack had returned.

"What do you want, Crack?" She whispered, trying to sound braver then she really was. She didn't want Crack to take advantage of her again, but she really was truly scared of it. There was a feeling of hurt from the consciousness, but it was blatantly obvious that it was just a joke. What a welcome I'm receiving, after being away for so long.

Caliante scoffed and leaped back out of the cave to gather more pebbles. Even with this thing back in her head, she still had a task to do. She mindlessly grabbed at a few more stones. "You know we don't want you here. After what you did to Umbra, what you did to all of us..." There was what could only be described as a pulse from the dark creature as it listened to her words. This is my body as much mine as it is yours. We agreed that I could have fronting days as well. Your anger at my actions is not my fault.

Caliante had arrived back in the tunnel by now and a sudden burst of uncharacteristic anger caused her to slam the rocks down hard enough to topple the others away. "Not your fault?! You almost killed us! Twice! You tried to kill a child! A baby, barely hatched! You are evil, Crack, and we want no part in whatever you're planning!"

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

She could feel the surprise from the dark figure as she burst out her anger and she felt her confidence rise a little more. She had always been the shy one, always been the weak one. Not anymore. She was going to stand up to Crack more, if it was going to come back and try and take control again. She went back to the pebble pile, barely even paying attention to what she was doing anymore, waiting for Crack to respond.

...you're right. I am evil. It was her turn to be surprised as it came out with this sudden, honest confession. I want nothing but chaos. I spread fear and misery because it is fun. I tried to force your body out of your hands when I first formed from nothing as you tried to escape your fear. I tried to use you in your most vulnerable moments when all you needed was someone to help you. It is because of me that Salvation and Rusty came into existence and it is because of me there are two more as well.

Caliante paused as she laid down the next stones, a little confused. Crack had talked strangely before, all of its talk was strange, but this was different. It wasn't a strange manner but she truly had no idea what it was talking about, yet the way it was speaking it should apparently have some kind of effect on her. "What?"

Ah, yes, you wouldn't remember. It was very traumatizing...

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

When you first hatched you fell into the tornado. You were so very tiny and couldn't fight the wind. You were so scared and sure that you were going to die and yo retreated inside of yourself, desperate to escape your fear. And so I was created to combat that fear as if an opposite to you or perhaps just a facet of your personality broken off by the trauma. I don't know and I doubt any of us will ever know. But when I saw this little bat, at her wits end and barely hatched, I thought that I could easily take her body from her. And in my hubris, I pulled you farther into yourself and cause that concussion, which in turn split you further. I never regretted it though and I kept pushing because I wanted you body so bad. Because with a body I could do all sorts of chaos that I couldn't do before.

Caliante was so transfixed on what Crack was saying that she had completely stopped paying attention to the rock collecting. She was simply grabbing at random as she carried two more back to the tunnel.

It was evil of me, even though I, too, was merely a baby. I am an evil creature. You are good, you and the rest are good. If seems you have no need for me...or do you? How has your life been since I've been away? Quite boring, I think. All you've been doing is living alone, talking with the others, arguing, staying still. You haven't grown, you haven't learned. You have hit a wall. You need me because I inspire you. You can't have life without risk and danger. And you can't have life without a little evil.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

Rolling for magical presence...

Umbra grasped the stone blindly, perhaps, but would immediately notice the polished smoothness of the moss agate. It was threaded delicately with different shades of green, almost organic in appearance, as if it held living plant life within. It is a Fledgling (+1) gem once belonging to a groundhog.

Caliante, just for a moment, noticed the smoothness of the rock she picked up but gave it no notice apart from acknowledgement. She placed it with all the others next to the crystal before diving back down as she continued her conversation. "So, what you're saying is it's your fault that I don't have my own body to myself?"

There was a moment of silence as Crack considered this simplified statement. That is correct. Caliante wasn't sure what to feel. Should she be angry as Crack for making her life this way? Should she be thankful, since she couldn't imagine life any other way? She didn't know...she was just so confused and lost in her own emotions.

And then came something she didn't expect, especially from Crack. A gentleness touched her consciousness, as if Crack was resting a paw or a hand or whatever on her shoulder. A touch of comfort. I am...sorry. That I did this. But don't let this knowledge hinder your life. You do not have to let me front if it makes you uncomfortable. Although I'd like to have some control sometimes, since you are the main body, you make the decisions.

She grabbed at another stone, pausing for a second. "Do the others know?" A feeling from Crack told her that they did not and she flew back to the cave with the next rock in her feet. "Don't tell them. I don't want them to know. You can go back in the fronting schedule if you wish, if only you promise never to put our body in danger again."

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

Rolling for magical presence...

The next stone that Umbra finds is a Fledgling (+1) Amazonite, smoothly blue-green like a tropical sea they have never known. It once belonged to an alpaca.

The stone is fairly polished, smooth, yet only roughly shiny in places, like half-melted wax; it appears to be mottled and speckled with slightly lighter hues, like ripples in water.

@Umbra

There was yet another uncharacteristic feeling from Crack - relief and gratitude. Thank you, Caliante. You are a good person. Strangely, the bat felt a strange warmth in her stomach at the praise and she smiled just a little. It was like a burden lifting off of her shoulders. Since her hatching, she had always feared Crack and its alien presence but now...now it was just another headmate in the chaos of her psyche. It was no different then Rusty or Salvation or any of the others.

What's going on?

Salvation's sudden voice jerked Caliante out of her thoughts and she felt a flash of fear. "Uh, nothing!"

There was confusion emanating from Salvation. Crack? What is Crack doing here? I though you were gone! There was a short pause. I'm back.

Oh, great! I'll let everyone know! Caliante gasped and landed herself on the edge of the tunnel. "Wait, Salvation, hold on a second..." But it was too late. The consciousness of Salvation had faded into the Inner World. She was alone, once again, with Crack.

It wasn't even a minute later when she felt Rusty's presence pressing against her own. We are meeting, he growled. Right now. Everyone. And then he was gone.

They were going to be angry. Furious, even, that she had allowed Crack to come back and be part of the fronting schedule again, but there was nothing to do now but meet with the others. She was nervous, terrified even, and she clutched at the stone in her claws tightly, not bothering to put it with the others for now. She let her body fall backwards as her consciousness retreated into the Inner World with Crack.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

They were all gathered, once again, but this time, along with the others, a formless black shape hovered alone, casting shadows in the lightless meeting place. Two glowing purple eyes regarded the others with a neutral expression, but as each connecting their gaze with the creature, they were forced to look away. Even now, in its calmest state, Crack's gaze seemed to bore into their soul. Their circle had shifted into almost a line, opposing the black shape, all but Caliante facing the creature. The little black bat sat next to the creature and stared at them all, both defiant and more nervous then she had ever been in her life.

They were silent for a time, none of them really sure what to say when Rusty stepped forward, the little lizard's eyes blazing with anger. "What do you think you're doing, allowing that thing to come back?" He glared at the dark mass and the dark mass stared back, its piercing gaze revealing nothing. He was only able to look for a few seconds before he whipped around back towards Caliante. "Have you forgotten everything it's done? How it almost killed us?! Have you forgotten all the misery it's cause us all?"

The bat looked down at the ground, almost ashamed of herself. The purple eyes shifted to look at her for a moment. She took a deep breath and looked up at Rusty, pushing herself up so that she looked taller then she had been before. "I know. I was hesitant as well, but Crack is different now. It's changed. It doesn't want to hurt us anymore. It told me...a lot of things and it promised me that it won't hurt us anymore. I'm convinced, completely, that it won't do anything to hurt us anymore."

Tarragon hissed and slid forward, her head raising up as she regarded Crack and Caliante. "It's lies! We can't trust Crack! I've heard the stories of what its done. I might not have been here for most of it but I know! I saw at the beginning of my life! Anything it says is lies!"

Anger flashed in Caliante's eyes. "It's not! It promised me! It's different now! I could feel it, there's good there somewhere! I know that it's done bad things in the past and I don't fully trust everything it does, but we should give it a chance! To make up for what it's done!"

Tarragon hissed her head swiveling to stare at Crack. "Why don't you speak for yourself?"

Crack stared right back at the snake, the formless darkness shifting and changing as its eyes pierced the python. It was silent for a moment before its dark, smooth voice echoed from nowhere. "There is nothing I can say that will forgive what I've done, but if you give me a chance to change, I will do my best to take care of Umbra while I am in control. It is my body as much as it is yours. However, if your trust for me is a lost cause then I shall retreat once again into my world and leave the affairs of Umbra to you five."

Caliante stepped forward. "I want to give it this chance.

Rusty leaped forward so that he was standing face to face with the bat. "You're insane. Or perhaps twisted by Crack's smooth words. The instant it takes control it will destroy us!" She wanted to back down so much, she wanted to curl up and let the argument play out but this was something she believed in. She had to fight for Crack, fight for herself and for Umbra!

She stood taller and glared down at Rusty. "I'd like to give it a chance. If you want to send Crack back to the Inner World forever, you'll have to go through me first."

Rusty bared his teeth and not hesitation flashed through his features. "Okay." She wasn't really expecting him to attack her and she wasn't prepared for his sudden lunge. He tucked his head in and leaped at her, stabbing with his spikes into her chest. It pierced her hard and she gasped with pain. No blood flowed from the wound, for the bodies were not corporeal, but it still hurt her nonetheless. She pushed at him with her wings, but she only scratched herself against the other thorns on his body. She felt his claws latch into her chest and scrape mercilessly as she struggled just to keep herself from being completely impaled by his spikes.

But it only lasted for a few seconds, a few intense, terrifying second before she heard Rusty gasp. She opened the eyes she didn't realize she had closed and saw Rusty hovering above her, a straight line of darkness holding him up like a puppet, speared through through his body. It was Crack, glaring at him from the other side, its eyes narrowed with anger. "You call me the untrusted one yet you would attack your own headmate. Despicable." With a flick, Rusty went flying backwards, the darkness retracting from his body and pulling back into Crack's form.

Breathing heavily, heart racing, Caliante rose from her place and stared at the others. "Thanks...Crack..." she gasped. Salvation, Tarragon, and Ripple were glancing at each other a little uneasily, glancing at Rusty as he pulled himself, shakily, to his feet.

Salvation was the one who broke the silence. "I think...we should give Crack a chance. We can't fight like this." Ripple's fins gave a soft flutter. "Yes...Crack has shown that it will protect us from harm, even from each other."

Tarragon looked at the others, a little stricken, before sighing and looking away angrily. "Yeah, okay. But if it tries any funny business, it goes straight to the back."

Caliante wasn't really processing, too shocked from Rusty's attack to really respond but she eventually nodded and slumped to the ground. She glanced at Rusty, who was staring at the others with a horrified expression, but he didn't dare start another argument. He simply narrowed his eyes and curled his lip. "You're making a big mistake." With a final, spiteful glance at Crack, he disappeared.

The others looked at each other and back at Crack, nervously, before they, too disappeared, leaving Crack and Caliante once again alone. The shapeless darkness stared at the place where the others had been before turning to the bat who hadn't moved from her spot. "Are you okay?"

Caliante nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'd just like to rest, if that's okay. You can take control of Umbra if you wish." Crack considered for a moment, its purple eyes closing before opening again, softer then they had been before. "No...I'll stay with you. Let Umbra rest for now. We will figure this out in the morning."

Caliante nodded, already half asleep, and the meeting place disappeared. She curled into sleep, Crack's watchful gaze keeping her company as she slipped into unconsciousness.

The body of Umbra was left motionless and unconscious, with no front to give it motion. It rested there, its body worn out, completely unaware that its magic had flowed into the stone it clutched, which softly pulsed with life for a moment as the magic took hold.

*exit

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."