More and more Gembound trailed in, and Yoosung couldn’t help but to flatten his ears back. Why were so many willing to help him? The dog was only sticking around to protect the kitten, after all!

He watched, fur rising on end, as the gemstones that they had collected were inserted into the wall, and the wall fell away, revealing an all new tunnel that managed to smell musty and new all at once. Yoosung flashed his teeth, and growled, but stood all the same, following the Masked Merchant inside.

’Oh, this is such a bad idea.’

He didn’t even notice that Wilder had left.

-exit Yoosung-

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

Black listened, in silence, lurking. When the others began to agree to this rather mad-sounding test--a risk of life, and for what?--he began to creep forward to follow them down the tunnel.

He did not trust this Merchant, but it was not a deep distrust--more a confusion, a puzzlement, at what could possibly be worth their deaths. He did not intend to join, but he did intend to listen in.

As quietly as he could, and still attempting to shroud himself in shadows, keeping to cover as much as he could, he followed the Merchant at a distance. He'd still be spotted easily enough, should someone look right at him, of course--but he was as careful as he could be.

________________

exit Black

Giggle listened, her rounded ears raised and dark eyes staring holes at the Merchant.

...What.

In sudden realization, and horror, she slowly looked around. This-... Was this why Canis was full of bones?! She scrambled to her paws, staring around her. The fur along her back rose.

"What?" Are you all mad?! You are all alive--you are all healthy. Why risk yourselves to death for nothing?!" The idea was baffling to her, horrific, and flashes of memory--of darkness, of eyes in the black--roared over her mind with terrifying clarity.

She had to consult the bones. She had to ask them what the hell this was all about. She spun, turning to call Skeena to her--no way she was allowing her daughter this madness--only to realize that Skeena had already gone.

With a chitter of upset irritation, she gave loping, lopsided chase, galloping after her daughter with the full intention of retrieving her at once.

________________

ROLL THE BONES

exit Giggs

Whoa!

Both Skeena and the Other were in agreement for once, the hybrid burrowing into Mother’s nasty fur as she watched the Merchant dissolve the wall. It was fascinating, in an eerie sort of way, and her own fur stood on end. Despite herself, she immediately knew that she would go with him, go through with whatever challenges he would offer--try and get some glory for the Bonebound, for her family.

So when he moved off, numerous Gembound at her heels, she leaped to her feet. Kicking off of Mother, likely using her as a trampoline of sorts, she bolted after him with all the speed of a hunted jerboa.

Kalama watched wide eyed as the cave walls opened up. The Merchant's speech made her feel jittery with excitement, and the sudden knowlege of the spell even moreso. It felt odd though, like a piece of the puzzle was missing. She noted in the back of her mind to learn to cast those wisps somehow. But the bigger thing on her mind was the new cave. She was strong. She was exactly the kind of gembound for this. She was strong. The rest of these gembound did not match her. This would prove her superiority, her strength to everyone in the caves. She'd make teacher proud.

"This was made for me!" She hissed to herself, pawing the ground with a clawed foot. She was ready. She ran after the Merchant and the few gembound brave as her, ready to battle whatever Hydra had to offer.

Speech. Thought

exit Kalama