as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

Thothaga caught sight of the chrysalis where Khloros once was, but all her legs sensed was the Spire. If he was truly alive, what was left of him?

The spider stared at the fungal stag with her unblinking, coal-black eyes. "Astraea?" She croaked. "The Astraea? The Astraea that help the Gembounds with resurrecting The Architect and in the battle against Raheerah? " She recalled the stories passed down throughout the caves of an era before her birth. She ran a palp over he mouth parts, tasting the deer's ancient, musky odor. "Well, I suppose you are a Master." She shrugged. Thothaga began to visibly relax. "Thank you.. for protecting the Spire-Father against this..." She gestured towards the chrysalis. "..misguided fool." The words of gratitude left a strange taste in her mouth. This was first time she had said them.

It was good to know the Spire was in good..er hooves while she was away.

Then the Divine's vision flashed through her head. She promised her new tree-friend vengeance, and thanks to Dragon, she had a lead. Astraea seemed very ancient, and if he was indeed a Master, he must know something. "Astraea, this might sound odd, but, tell me about the one called Nemean." The spider clicked her fangs as she eagerly awaited his answer.


"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

His eyes narrowed at her questions, her... grasping for confirmation.

"Yes," he said simply to her words. The Astraea. There had never been another Astraea, only a fool, misguided and asleep. When she relaxed and agreed he was, indeed, a Master, he snorted. Master Astraea, yes. But she seemed as if she were on his side.

The correct side.

"Indeed," he agreed. "A misguided fool. I had once been such, but I have awakened to my true purpose again—to raise you, my children, to the best that you can be." His ears flicked. Finally he said, "You are welcome, Thothaga."

When she asked about Nemean his ears cupped forward.

"Nemean?" he repeated, glancing away thoughtfully. Astraea was silent for a moment, thinking of what he could say about the sprite. "Good at her job." His red eyes returned to Thothaga. "What would you wish to know of her?"

@thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

A bit of spite welled up in the spider when he spoke of her like that, but her face remained expressionless as always. "Ah, good at her job, aye?" Her words were laced with the faintest taste of sickly sweet disdain. "Would her job happen to be... killing children?" Even now, the Divine's mournful cries were as clear as day in the Maiden's mind. Killing those who posed a threat she understood, but what did the Divine and her children to do to incur the wrath of Nemean?

"Making them twist in agony, wither and rot?" She stared the deer with beady black eyes, fangs flexing. "Why did she curse them, Astraea?" Now that she had his attention, she decided to slip in a few more questions. "And why is she such a hazard to us gembounds? Why is she called The Betrayer? "

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

"Yes," he answered, shifting on his hooves. "Yes," he answered again, then added, "Specifically those who deserve it."

He had to restrain from rolling his eyes. "Wither and rot? It is not up to me how she completes her tasks. She deploys many methods--" curse them? "Who? Which ones are we talking about?" Astraea was starting to feel agitated.

Until her last question.

He barked a laugh. "Does Aquarian call her that still?" He shook his head and exhaled loudly. "She's only a hazard to you if you give her reason to be. If you are strong and smart, you will survive."

Half-turning to leave, he glanced back to Thothaga over his shoulder. "She loves to chat if you'd like to ask her yourself. Just holler for her, she'll come if you want to give her the attention." Red eyes rested on the arachnid, waiting for any response before he figured he could leave.

@thothaga

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

"Deserve it..." She paused, staring awkwardly at the deer for a moment. She stepped into his thoughts, but only for a moment, to search his brain for reasons why he thought so highly of her. If she asked out right, Thothaga had a feeling he might not tell the whole truth. "Is that so?"

She pondered at what the spell told her.

"I.. think I understand.." Thothaga's mood turned strangely calm. "So, avoid being a weak idiot.." Suddenly, she perked up, seemingly inspired. "I can do that." It was like what ever her issues with Nemean were was nothing but water under the bridge.

She gave him a swift nod. "Thank you for your time, Astraea, til we meet again." Thothaga quickly scurried away, thankful to be free. The for all the good the deer had done, his ruby red eyes made her uneasy.

*Exit Thothaga
"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

She seemed to understand and he nodded at her thanks. "Anytime, Thothaga. Farewell," Astraea said quietly, excusing himself as she had done. They parted ways and left the chrysalis behind, but Astraea took one last glance back at it. Disgusting. The Butter Jade had been spared? He frowned, departing the Core for a less... disappointing environment.

Thothaga senses he is being honest and sincere, despite his aggression earlier toward Khloros. Everything Astraea had said is the truth. She may pick up on his disgust for the chrysalis but otherwise, he has no contradicting thoughts to what he has said.