PALLAS
they say it started with a big bang

Unending heat waved over the marsupial as he watched the beasts pass into Hell itself, the barrier shimmering over behind them.

They were going to die.

Bile rose in Pallas’s throat as he watched the figures in the distance. His body curled in on itself, his long back creating an arch as he sat uncomfortably. The long tail, twice this size of him, attached to him flicked against the heated rock below him. Dark eyes rolled to the other Gembounds leaving; many going into the desert, but quite a few retreating back into Canis.

So why was he still here? Pallas’s small nose flared as he craned his head upwards, looking into the barrier that was perfectly placed before him. Perhaps he should wait here. He should see what was to come of those who entered. To see what was to come of the caves as access presented itself to this new one- Hydra?

And so Pallas waited, curling himself tighter in place on the stone. If only he had something to busy his paws with. He had thought to reach down and mess with some of the sandy rock around him, but for now, he’d just sit here in the blistering heat, his fur prickling with upset energy.

A black mastiff had laid hidden as the others gathered, as they'd entered in, as some slipped back away. He'd used his shadows to shroud him but now, as it was left mostly empty--silence cutting in as the barrier was raised--he slipped into the open once more. Pendulous ears framed wrinkled face as the hound stared in consternation at Hydra in the distance.

And before it--what was that creature, ring-tailed and lithe, that lay tense before the gate?

Black padded closer, then lowered himself to sit on massive haunches with a soft "uff."

"I do not know what they are doing," he rumbled softly, glancing down at Pallas, "but I do not think that it is good."

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PALLAS
they say it started with a big bang

Pallas turned his head as footsteps approached, eyes wide and round ears pressed forward. He calmed almost immediately though, upon realizing it was another Gembound. Granted, it was a large, black Gembound, one that could very well easily overpower him, but it didn't really concern Pallas. No- his mind was on the barrier, still, trying to understand it and the cave beyond. His eyes turned back towards the item in question, trying to take everything he could see in. The borders, the center, the ground beneath. Anything was of interest.

The linsang's tail tip flicked as the canine spoke, his attention returning to the companion beside him. The statement rolled in Pallas's head as he rubbed the gem on his tongue against his mouth in thought. What had the creature said. Something about a rite? A trial? A trial for what, Pallas couldn't put his paw on. Who did they have to prove themselves to?

He could feel himself relaxing as the body loomed over him. Sharp claws from his paws flexed onto the sandy rock below, scratching up some of the earthy particles from the stone. After a moment, he opened his mouth and responding with a simple "Probably not." The linsang wiggled, worming his front paws beneath his chest before turning to the dog once more, taking him in. He took in a deep breath before looking back to the sands. "The robed one, it said something about a trial? Or something about rewards." His ears flicked back as his long tail curled itself around his still somewhat tensed body. "It doesn't feel right."

@Black

Black listened, his expression wrinkledly attentive, and then shifted his gaze back to the shimmering barrier that rose before them.

"A trial," he repeated. "I have heard, trial. I have heard--test. There is no need to test against death, until death comes. What do they test for..? The true danger will be the test. This..." and here he lifted his head slightly, staring out into the desert, "is arrogance."

Black then sat briefly silent, perhaps lost in ponderous thought. He didn't seem to think to introduce himself to Pallas, but after a moment, he did turn and look back down at the linsang. "I have not seen you in the caves. What is your purpose?" he asked, and he seemed harmless enough.

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@Pallas

PALLAS
they say it started with a big bang

Pallas shook his head. Black was right- a test for death was useless- why would people even risk that if they had a chance to fail? Arrogance was right. He couldn't speak for those who came out of hibernation, but when life was on the line.. Pallas couldn't see why someone would go in.

The silence was welcome, however. It gave him place for his thoughts, and, perhaps, a moment to look over the canine. He straightened somewhat when the question was asked though, giving himself a moment to think in turn. "Purpose," he began, round eyes turning to the stone he was picking at below. He gave himself a split second to come up with an answer. "I exist." He offered a roll of his shoulders as a quadrupedal sort of shrug. "I usually wander around and stay by myself. I... make things? If I had a purpose, it'd be that."

The linsang sniffed towards Black curiously, extending out his neck. "And you? What do you do?" Perhaps the dog was some sort of teacher or mentor- the way they spoke indicated something like that. Hopefully his own answer would be alright compared to their's.

@Black

"Creation," the black dog rumbled, mulling Pallas' answer over. He perhaps made it seem far grander than it was, with his ponderous tone of voice. "Creation... is difficult. I am a guardian. Even in protecting, there is little but to destroy a threat. There are many threats," he added, sombrely. "I have created, once. Twice. Two children--guardians--from a crow; and one, the great moth guardian risen by many. But I do not make other things. What," he added, tilting his head, "Do you create?"

Black did not know whether Pallas created small trinkets, or entire caves, and from his tone and demeanor it seemed as though either would be perfectly acceptable. Nor did he acknowledge the linsang's fidgeting, uncertain demeanor, though perhaps he simply hadn't noticed it.

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@Palls

PALLAS
they say it started with a big bang

Threats. Pallas tilted his head to Hydra once more in thought at that. Was this cave a threat? Perhaps this tunnel would need guardians from whatever inhabited the desert. The caves already had enough threats.

However, as the canine continued, Pallas returned his attention to him. Round ears pointed forwards as he calmed somewhat, abandoning his faint scratching at the rock. Creation.. Well, children were a lot more troublesome to create than what Pallas did, he'd thought.

"I don't really do anything as great as make children. I just make... Things." The shoulder roll was performed again as Pallas shuffled in place, turning his body somewhat towards Black. "I'm trying to.. Make stuff, I guess, just stuff I can use to do things with. Tools?" The linsang glanced down to his paw in thought, flexing the digits and claws. "I can't do a lot, but it gives me something to do. Kind of.. Erm, I forget the word-" He paused, dropping his paw and glancing to the side. "Therapeutic, that's it."

He shook his head and looked back to the canine. "Guardianship looks like it suits you." His long tail flicked and swayed off the rock as he glanced towards the remnants of the past champions, their drying chrysalises littering the area. "Do you have a name?" He asked, studying the gem casings.

@Black

Black listened attentively, his gaze unblinking on Pallas, as if the other Gembound's words were currently the most important thing in the caves. He appeared to be focusing entirely on them.

"Tools," he rumbled thoughtfully. Had he ever seen a "tool"..? He could not remember having done so. The ringed-tail's description didn't help much, either--things with which to do other things?

Black pondered this, for a time, but he eventually gave up. There were many things in the cave that were beyond his comprehension; "tools" seemed to be one of them.

"I am Black," he said, apparently in response to Pallas' other question. Whether it was his name, or a description of his color, he did not clarify.

But the black dog didn't dwell on it, any more than he had on "tools." Instead he again looked forward. "I do not know whether this requires guarding against. They may die. Yet, they went in willingly. Is it a trick?" he asked, and then--brow furrowed--he looked to Pallas, as if fully expecting the other to know the answer.

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@Pallas

PALLAS
they say it started with a big bang

Pallas wasn't sure what to think of the attention he was being given. On one paw, it unnerved the animalistic side of him, making him feel like he should run with his tail between his legs. However, it was nice to actually talk for once. It'd been too long since Pallas had a proper conversation.

"I think tools is the right word," the linsang worried, an ear flicking back as he returned the attention to the canine. His tail continued to sway, somewhat- he was beginning to enjoy this. He could just genuinely talk to someone, finally.

Black was an odd name, Pallas would say, if it weren't for the odder ones who revealed themselves and announced who they were with their gemstone and some number behind it. What would that make him? Onyx- no- he forgot what his gem was. Onyx was too dark. We aren't getting into this thought line now. Pallas shut his eyes tight to clear his mind before nodding to Black. "I'm Pallas," he simply offered back in response before Black carried on.

At the turn of his companion's head, Pallas returned his gaze to the chrysalises, his mind still mulling over the Gembound who emerged from them. "It might. It feels dangerous." It could be a trick. But then, what would that robed figure have to gain? And what did that big purple one say to it? Pallas returned his paws under his body. Maybe asking a few questions would help.

"Have you seen that robed thing before? The one everyone followed." The marsupial nodded to where it stood addressing the crowd. It didn't occur to him that Black might've not been a part of said crowd- he'd been too focused on the oddly named creatures than the older (to him) Gembounds around him.

@Black

"Pallas. It is good to meet you," Black nodded, tone dignified.

After a moment's thought, he went on. "And I do not think I have seen that thing before." He paused.

He may not have seen that exact creature, but it certainly resonated with something inside him. It was shadow; it was darkness, cold and indifferent, ominous in a wholly impersonal way. The robed figure had not struck him--despite its mask--as malevolent--but it was most certainly not benevolent, either.

"It is Darkness," Black decided.

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@Pallas