A something-that-looked-vaguely-like-him showed up, running around wildly. Something small and funny looking showed up as well, curling up next to the first funny-looking thing. And then something that made him drool, that made him hungry. But Chatter hissed "Ischi! That's not food!" and so he licked his lips and turned away from them. Another showed up, that looked vaguely like the one that had summoned them, and then his question was being answered. His eyes widened, and he gasped "The bones speak to you, too?!"

He didn't spend much time among the living, but he had rather quickly gathered that he was an oddity, being able to understand them.

It was a long speech, and his mind began to wander, lowering his head to address Chatter. "What do you think?" he whispered to the rat-skull, and the rat's yellow glow darted to him,

"Might be a good idea to have some others, we love you but we can't help you much brother." and Ischium had to agree, raising his head up to Aure again, hoping that they would accept him. His tail was wagging--Gembound like him? That could speak to the bones? He had thought he'd never see the day!

Skeena beamed up at her Mother, leaning into the nuzzle. "It's good to see you, I missed you." it hadn't been that long, but any amount of time away from Mother was too much for the Mama's Girl hybrid.

She nibbled on her banana as she listened to Aure, his long, eloquent speech. Skeena was proud of her younger brother, tail and ears twitching.

'He won't be happy with you, they won't want you. They only keep you around because you're blood, you know. What do you do for them, really?'

She shook her head, leaning into Mother, nuzzling her fur before scurrying forward, clutching at her beloved vertebrae, waiting for Zawadi, Zelk, the shit-cat, Aries, and Eli Bound themselves.

And then it was her turn.

The Other continued to murmur in her head, even as she listened to Aure.

"Do you choose to guide, protect, and care for all of us, even in death?"
She took a deep breath, flicking her ears. "I do."

"Would you have your stone see life again, or that it rest with your bones?"
And she didn't have to pause, knew the answer to that immediately. "Life. I want to live with the Bound even once I'm dead."

"By what title do you wish to be known by?"
And... she had to think on that one. All she had ever done was look at the history of bones, try to scratch in what she saw. And then she knew, saying "The Lorecarver," even as The Other murmured 'The Worthless,' in her head.

S E R E K
you kneel before my throne
unaware it was born of lies

Hard pads and hooves paced over the dry, dry land of Canis. Serek despised it for some reason, yet he still felt the shots of nostalgia as he wandered between the bones.. His head hung low as he trudged among them, dry air pointedly the opposite of the wetness of Cetus. It didn’t help that this infernal heat surrounded them all. Was that there before?

He’d only come since he’d heard of a new cave opening. He’d been wandering towards Canis when he heard the calls from the strangely hyena-esque bird, calling the Bonebound together. So they were reformed? It carried his spots and stockings- at least, as far as he saw. Serek’s cargo grew heavy in his jaws as he climbed the ridge to take in the vision of a meeting in progress.

Well, it was time to be fashionably late. The hybrid paced closer, his tail held high and ears straining to hear the Gembound before him. He didn’t dare make any lurching movements. He didn’t want to look like he was asking for attention.

Dark eyes scanned over the gathered Gembounds. They were gathered around that bird. Now that he was closer, he could get a good look; it was definitely part hyena. If it were Bonebound, then it was likely they shared the same mother. The idea set a bad taste in his mouth. She was probably here; perhaps Serek’s siblings were, too. It had been so long since he’d seen them. His heart longed for them, but he refused to step closer. If they thought he was worthy, they’d call him over.

So, he sat still, away from the group with a sneer on his face and a panting tongue, gem at his feet. Was it really worth it to come all this way? Just to be ignored? The hybrid rumbled unhappily before moving to cleaning his body nonchalantly, licking over his pelt with his rough tongue. Despite it only being a few moments, he’d already grown impatient at the lack of attention. He couldn't show that, of course; no, he had to look patient. Temper tantrums only made you look like a child.

He watched, ears perked and eyes sparking with some indescribable emotion as Aure spoke confidently, with clear practice behind his words. The wyvern never seemed to see much in himself, but brother-to-brother, Eythan was proud --- astonished, even --- of how quickly and efficiently he went through the motions of the meeting. Just like Dad, he mused softly, eyes growing a tad glassy.

This meeting was far more purposeful than the last, even if it had formed the bare foundation of the renewed Bonebound. Bound were beckoned forth and given their true Bonebound names; among them were his own son, Eli, and the ballsy ram Eythan had come to have totally heterosexual feelings for. The latter threw a wink his way, upon naming himself the Brave, and the gryphon simply pressed his mouth into a thin line and averted his gaze. Better to not acknowledge the heart attack he was about to have, or the fact that, if he could, he would be blushing and sweating bullets right now. Now was absolutely not the place. He simply murmured a harried "nice" before crossing to his newly-Bonebound son.

Somewhat oblivious to Eli's previously somber state, the gryphon leaned down and planted a series of proud licks to the top of his head. "Good job, kiddo," he purred, rumbling slightly.

Kalama watched curiously as members of the bonebound stepped up to participate in the oath set forth by Aure. She didnt really recognize any of them, save for the hairball and spotted, rabbit ear creature. She didn't really understand nor care about what the oath meant. She didn't really like sitting either. But she was curious what marrowsight looked like. Did bones glow? It wasn't anything she could really use to look cool, but glowing bones sounded interesting.

She tried not to be so openly curious--she had a reputation to maintain after all. Perhaphs one day she'd join those creatures up there. Learn marrowsight herself. Kalama enjoyed the fact no one had approached her. It allowed her to be angry in peace. She adjusted her gaze to her wing, giving it a once over and stretching, then moved on to preen her other, switching her gaze back to Aure and the assembled gembound. She felt a surge of jealousy not being the center of her teacher's attention for once, despite how angry she was at them, but focused on the gembound reciting the oath. Maybe something cool would happen. Maybe she'd get to see the spell.


Speech. Thought

As Aure approached each of the bonebound, he felt a brimming surge of pride --- and, perhaps, magicka as he imparted knowledge of marrowsight upon them. The latter sensation was possibly placebo, though, as he simply spoke in a hushed tone, to teach and encourage. They were the Bonehunter, the Guardian, the Friend, the Brave, the Trickster, and the Lorecarver. They were home. Bright eyes roved over the group, nodding. "You may go back, now," he dismissed softly, still smiling.

Wings fluttering, the King was back on his perch, face falling. Bright eyes scanned briefly over the unfamiliar faces in the crowd, addressed already by his mother. "We Bonebound are a family, open and welcome to each of you should you be willing to look after one another and be kin beyond death," Aure chirped, more to the strangers --- Ischium, Kalama, and Laurel --- than to the existing members. Cheerful as his tone was, the wyvern quickly grew somber. His gaze trailed toward the tunnel leading to Hydra, voice losing its courageous and noble-seeming tone, "yet, as a new cave has been opened, one of our own has gone, knowing the consequences--- Vincenzo." A pause, as he swallowed perceptibly. "He did not return, and we have not a single bone to remember him by."

I should have looked, a treacherous, guilty part of his mind niggled, and he quickly snapped back, what good would that be? Another dead in the King's family?
"We must do something to honor his memory--- build a cairn in his name," Aure offered, ears shifting back, "but I will not require this of all of you. I can't possibly assume that any of you knew him well." Bright eyes swept his Bonebound. "If you wish to leave, now, then you may. If you wish to remain, you may. It is your choice." Back to the strangers in the crowd. "If you wish to join us, hang around and make yourself comfortable, here. Canis is open to you, and there may be another meeting, soon."

A final glance, and Aure hopped down from his platform, starting off into an undisclosed location in the chambers, where he had already begun to build a cairn from various treasures collected from that odd creature in Pisces, so, so long ago.

Joining in on Vincenzo's cairn-building isn't mandatory, and any who don't wish to be present may exit this thread as they please. Keep an eye out for another, more optional meeting (basically a training session/team bonding exercise in disguise) and multi-group event, soon!

@Giggle @Zelk @Zawadi @Eli @Aries @Wilder @Skeena @Ischium @Laurel @Kalama

L A U R E L
i'd prolly rather nap than wonder

Laurel danced from paw to paw in her sitting place as she watched the processions of the group. An odd infatuation came over her as she leaned forward next to the hyena. Whatever was happening was important. Maybe not in the way she saw it, but it seemed... Safe. These animals were happy.

Whoever was speaking to everyone kept the canine's interest. His wings were beautiful and mesmerized her as he moved, as he spoke to the others, as he welcomed them into the fold. She waited patiently until he addressed her with the others before addressing something about a cave and a Vincenzo. Bones. These must be important for everyone around, especially with them littering the cave around the Gembound. The idea of learning whatever a cairn was certainly interesting.

Intrigued, the canine stood, taking a careful step forward. Whatever this family business was interested her. Maybe a family could be good. Without looking to the others, Laurel paced closer. Her tail wagged a mile a minute with excitement despite her attempt at being calm. Ears perked forward at the bird creature. Was this like that bird dog cat? Ever so carefully, she opened her mouth, tail curled in a submissive gesture. "Um.. What's a cairn?" She spoke with a new voice, high pitched and child-like. Despite her following the Gembound to find out what exactly what one was, her curiosity got the better of her as she asked the question, turning her head away as she kept her eyes on this leader. The hyena wanted her to be polite, so, she'd be polite!

@Auré

Pride had watched--from a bit of a distance. He didn't want to interrupt, or to intrude. Aure had invited him here, of course, but he was not one of the Bonebound.

Quietly he stepped forward, giving Aure a nod, and then called out to those gathered.

"I am sorry for your loss, Bonebound," he offered, interrupting in the politest way he could think of. He didn't want to just butt in, exactly, but he did want to give his greeting--and his offer--before the rest of them began to disperse. "On behalf of King Livius and the Kingdom of the Seven, of Orion, I bring condolences. And we offer our congratulations; we are glad to see you strong, here in Canis. If there is anything at all that we can do for any of you--whether that be in magical training, or if you come under attack, or anything else--please do not hesitate to contact us."

Short, sweet, simple. He hoped. He bowed his tines deeply, and looked to Aure; if the hybrid wished to announce the joint training, that was fine. If not, it could wait. For now, it seemed, they had more important things to deal with.

Quietly, he sidled closer to Aure--and spoke, softly. "Do you wish those bones retrieved?" he murmured.

@Aure

Wilder was purring loudly, happy with her fun little title. She was the Friend! Everyone's friend! Well, almost everyone! She couldn't stop herself anymore. Excitement was building up inside her like a wonderful pressure and it was finally bursting open the seams. Forget whatever questions she had, look at all these friends! "The Bonebound! Yay!" she meowed loudly into the silence, exploding upwards like a bomb. When she landed, she crouched, ready to run around the entirety of the group and say "hello" to everyone she hadn't met before, giving in to the raging desire to just be the best friend ever! when Aure continued.

She paused, staring up at him with wide pink eyes. She knew that Vincenzo had died...but it hadn't been at the forefront on her mind. She stood, the excitement still there, but she had the sense, at least, to be quiet, be somber. She was sad about it, but perhaps not as well as other of the Bonebound that knew him longer. She'd met him at the first meeting and had seen him around. He had been loud - and funny! - and she'd miss that. She was about to step up to Aure to offer her support when a flash of white touched the corner of her eye. She snapped her head over and froze. Pride was here.

Her gaze stayed on him for a long while, trying to control the anger that was surging to the forefront of her mind. What was he doing here?! He didn't belong here! She didn't want him here! At first, the shock was all that was really registering, but then she remembered...the groups had an alliance. Of course he would be here. At least he hadn't brought the weasel too.

She shook herself out. She wasn't going to approach Aure, not now. Not until Pride was gone. She loafed on the ground again, curling her paws in, trying to distract herself by looking around at all the other gembounds present. So many new friends!

M for some language

Giggle sat quiet, and tried not to flinch too badly when Eli fucking meowed. And when Wilder demanded to be known as the fucking friend. Caves, but she hated fucking cats.

She turned a weary gaze to Aure, determined to sit through the whole meeting. Are we what we used to be..? Could we be again? Could we be--with all these cats..? She shook the dark thoughts away, though the vague, grim, "I fucking hate cats" lingered.

Other than that, she was thinking that all these titles were a bit... much. She'd never remember them all, that was for sure. Perhaps as a eulogy they might be committed to memory. Anything else, not so much. They might have been better served with ranks, but that was hardly as personal--and they were no military.

Aure was doing well, though, and like Eythan she felt a surge of pride in him. He--her son--Aza'zel's son--was leading admirably. He was binding together Gembound of varying backgrounds, instilling a sense of purpose in them--of some sort; a bond. Creating a family. And he was doing it seemingly effortlessly. He is a born leader, she thought, warmly. Which-... granted he'd been raised as a future king, but he certainly held the temperament for it.

And--ahh, was that Serek!? Giggle stood, eyes widening, and quickly paced over to her other son. "Serek!" she cried, her hoarse voice rough as always. She moved to sniff him over, to jostle him, nuzzling and nosing in as close a thing to a hug as a spotted hyena could offer. "You have been gone for so long-... How are you? How have you been?"

________________

ROLL THE BONES

@Zelk