Wilder was very very excited about all of this. ABout the concept of new friends and a new family to join. She had told Dragon already that she'd be a part of his family too, the Children of Rot, but she didn't see how she couldn't just be a part of both! Besides, she knew Aure a lot better! They were friends and she was sure he would understand! "Yay! Bonebound, Bonebound! I want to be Bound too! I'll be the best protector, you see! I'll get really strong and be very helpful!"

She jumped to her feet now and gave a few excited bounces, looking around at everyone around her, her face practically glowing. In fact...she was glowing! A faint pink shimmer began to appear around her body and the bones around her began to stain with the pink light she emanated. It seemed that Wilder was, quite literally, glowing with excitement at the prospect of a new family. "I'll be your family, Aure! I promise I won't ever hurt anyone or do anything bad! I promise!" The incident that had happened in Polaris was still burned into her mind and she had the scars on her leg to prove it. The wasn't going to happen. And, while she didn't voice it aloud, if they were really to become a family, then she knew they would help protect her from herself. Right?

Eythan sat dutifully, bright eyes hopefully encouraging to his brother — his fellow Bonebound, now. Oddly enough, seeing Aure atop that worn old pedestal didn't place any guilty feelings, or sense of dread, into the gryphon. Something, warm and vaguely fuzzy, settled in his stomach instead. I'm proud of him, he realized. A genuine smile crept onto his face. His wings adjusted imperceptibly, quills clicking against one another. Winding his tail about his paws and talons, Eythan glanced over to Vinnie, who was clearly having a few doubts.

Lowering and shaking his head, he whispered to the gull: "it's not as culty as it sounds. It's all weird ceremonial stuff but there's no actual magic, dude. We're just a family 'round here." Aza'zel rolling in his grave — here was Eythan being a helpful guide for Canis, not a driving force away from it. "You don't gotta fight to protect people, y'know?" He'd know, after all. Fighting had gotten him nowhere, really.

In the wake of Giggle and of Wilder, Eythan stood. Puffing out his chest, he spoke, each word strong and clear, "if you'll have me, Aure, I'll be Bound. I'll protect all of you with my life, if necessary, and do what I can to ensure this family lives on." His gaze went to Aure first, then to Giggle, seeking approval from either one. Regardless of response, Eythan sat down again, resuming his 'proper feline pose.'

He would not be the cause of another era's end.

Not again.

Following his speech, his words — caves, he hoped that Aza'zel would be proud of them — Aure fell silent, watching dutifully from his perch. Dark talons clenched tighter against the edge, trepidition locking his joints into place. From the woodwork, came another creature, brown and rather small. Bright eyes acknowledged it with a small nod, but otherwise did not speak; he had already given his speech and had noticed the marten quite some time before his speech's conclusion.

A shuffle sounded at his side, causing his head to whirl about. First to declare herself Bound was his mother, proud and firm. Each word was clearly heartfelt, and unexpectedly drew Aure to smile warmly. If he hadn't been in front of so many other Gembound, he might've cried right then and there. Next came some doubt from Vinnie, and just as quick as the wyvern went to reassure him, Eythan was already on the case. The gryphon was just far enough away that Aure couldn't particularly discern what he was whispering, but hoped that they weren't threats. Judging from posture, they couldn't be. He couldn't focus for long, since Wilder was bouncing about and glowing near-fluorescent pink.

Aure paused, sucking in a measured breath. Alright, that seemed to be it — yes, this was it. This was good! It would be a small family to start, but could grow. Shrugging his shoulders, he looked to each Gembound present, "regardless of if you've decided to be Bound or not — you are welcome in Canis and always welcome to the Bonebound. " A wave of a wing. Then another.

He descended from his perch, alighting on the same level as the others present. "I, too, will be Bound, alongside you guys. It's not fair of me to claim leadership off the bat. We'll journey and grow, together."

@Giggle @Vincenzo @Skeena @Wilder @Xin

Giggle listened, sitting stiffly upright. Her head tilted at Vincenzo's question.

"We are family," she added simply to Aure's explanation, her voice roughly hoarse. And then, a cat appeared. Somehow, Wilder was--to Giggle--a terrible omen. Her mouth opened before she could stop herself, and she muttered--too quiet for any but Aure to hear, and even then very softly, a near-whisper: "Cat." It was a realization, disgusted and worried, as her eyes locked onto her.

Cats could not be trusted.

The hyena shook the thought away, exhaling grimly. But Eythan-... There was something good. The hybrid was promising his loyalty--his protection. Giggle gave him a single nod--slow, and somewhat stern, but it was an approving nod and there was warmth in it.

Of all his choices so far, this was perhaps the first that they could take some pride in.

Well, that was that, then. They were Bonebound again. The faint thrill of hope ran through her once more, and she looked to Aure. She realized at once her failure in this regard--she'd not given him any advice on what to do now. Without instruction, they might just wander back off, a name and little else.

"Bone King or Bound, the decision is still yours--how would you begin our journey?" There were many possibilities--but whether he would choose some for himself, or ask for her advice--or others'--remained to be seen.

She waited, patient and content.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

VINNIE THE VOICE

The gull listened closely, fidgeting a little. But they weren't a cult, it seemed--no fancy weird magics, no sacrifices or nothin'.

Well, all right, he could get behind family. He nodded his gratitude to Eythan before speaking.

"I'll join, if you'll have me," he decided, after a moment's deliberation. Aure seemed like a nice kid--an adult, now!--and the rest of these guys seemed friendly enough. Vinnie felt a faint, if warm, feeling flow through him: the feeling of belonging, of having someplace to call home.

"I ain't never had a family, before," he admitted almost sheepishly. "But if you ever need someone to bring messages or check on stuff by wing, like--not that you ain't got enough wings but--just ask, yeah?"

He gave a nod of his white head again.

...Family.

________________

@Skeena @Wilder @Xireidi

Eythan arrived not long after her, and the jerboa hybrid paused in her grooming long enough to raise her head and throw him a sharp-toothed smile. She didn't know him well, not yet, but he was Family, and that was enough.

She shifted onto her backlegs, reaching up to scratch at her long, long ears. There was something clinging to one of them - a shard of bone, perhaps, from a slip while climbing - and she took a moment to work it free.

And then there was a black blur running up and greeting everyone. A... a cat? Skeena couldn't recall ever meeting any cats, but she knew Mother hated them, and so she hated them too. Shitcats, they were. She had no reason to like them, had never met any. So when Wilder greeted her, she was responded to with a "Yes, I'm Skeena."

'Let me bite, let me bite! The shitcat, the shitcat, it won't be missed! Its blood will spill, christen the Family, Mother-dearest will be happy~! The Other sang, and Skeena leaned away from the cat as her teeth itched.

She sat still, listening intently as Brother-Aure addressed the gathered family, explaining the history of the Bonebound. For once, perhaps the first time in her life, she was wholly still, no twitching of her nose or ears, no grooming of her wild fur.

Once he was done, Mother spoke him, binding herself to the family. That was expected, of course - this was Mother's idea, she had once been Bonebound, and now the family was together again.

But then Vinea had a question, and a good one if you were unfamiliar with her family. Wilder, she felt, wasn't entirely aware of what being Bonebound meant, as she jumped about and called out how excited she was to be Bound. 'Cats,' she thought disdainfully, shaking her head and licking a bare-skinned paw.

Aure claimed himself Bound - not as their leader, but as an equal. She raised her head, giving him a proud grin. That was her Brother! When he landed to be level, she mouthed 'Good job', before shaking herself off. The bird claimed himself Bound, and so she took her turn.

"If you'll have me I, Skeena, will be Bound. You are my family, and now the other Bound are, as well. I will do everything I can for every one of you."

The gryphon simply returned the nod Vinnie gave him, but otherwise didn't really do much of anything. Eythan just sat there, tail curled about his paws and turning as needed to acknowledge those speaking. He couldn't help the slight smile that came as Giggle nodded her approval. Some warm, distant sensation settled in his stomach, unfamiliar: Validation. His ears flicked back and he averted his gaze in order to look at the pine marten that had come about.

"You look familiar," he chirped quietly, standing and approaching Xin. Where had he seen this mustelid before? Not... recently, at least. A flash of white feathers came to mind and he nodded. With a tilt of his head, Eythan had to ask, "Marrowbound?"

Aure's ears swiveled toward Giggle as she spoke, reaffirming the idea of family. A sharp realization seemed to strike his mother, though, and she said something in a near indecipherable voice. Using incredible powers of deduction (and the fact that she was staring right at Wilder) the wyvern took a moment to whisper in her ear, "she's my friend, Mother." Otherwise, things proceeded as normal and he now stood at ground level.

How should we begin? he echoed, internally. Ah, he hadn't thought that far ahead. This whole rebinding thing was rather on impulse and more of a "now than later" situation. For whatever reason, he had expected it to be easier than this. First challenge as a leader, he supposed. Bright eyes searched the faces of his family — new and old — and he pondered. His gaze trailed to Giggle, then to Wilder. Well, to be family is to know and trust one another enough to protect them... "I don't want to decide without any input... I suggest that we get to know each other. For lack of a better idea for that, we could play a game? Just something fun and light-hearted?"

Bones, he wished he had prepared for this.

@Giggle

Giggle looked over the others, nodding her greeting to Skeena. And if he'd accept the cat, well. She'd accept the cat. For now.

When Aure began to speak, she turned her head to listen, nodding slightly along. Decide as a group, wise. A game--... A game?! Her nodding stopped, and for a beat, she simply stared at her son. It wasn't an obvious expression--just brief, subtle surprise. It-... was not what she had expected him to say.

Her dark eyes flicked out over the group, her head tilting just a bit. She wanted to see their reactions to this.

She was curious.

But she, herself, said nothing; she simply sat there, a pillar of support for whatever-... game Aure had come up with.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

VINNIE THE VOICE

The seagull listened, nodding along. He didn't interject, with most of it, and was a little uncertain as to what to say when his offers weren't responded to. His heart dropped, a little; he'd been hoping that Aure'd tell him whether he'd be useful, and whether they'd--well, have him. But his words, it seemed, had gone ignored.

He didn't want to push it, to seem rude, so he simply squatted a little lower, feathers tight against his body, remaining awkwardly and uncomfortably silent.

Was he one of them..? Or wasn't he? It wasn't that he felt a great drive to be, it was just-... yeah: terribly awkward.

He didn't know. He didn't answer anything about the game, but he waited; if they invited him to join, then maybe he was a part after all.

________________

@Skeena @Wilder @Xireidi