ATTIKIAS
violence for violence
is the rule of the beasts

A fellow hunter? Attikias's fears seemed to doubly strengthen and fall away at the thought. He was obeying; he wasn't being hunted, as far as he knew. There wasn't any hidden rules, as far as he thought.

Though, a soft and excited gasp was elicited at the mention of teaching. The child's eyes grew doelike in wonder. The straps of skin along the spear forgotten, Attik's body straightened to attention. Though he was different, they were both Hunters. The title carried a lofty weight to it, as if it were a true purpose in life. His true purpose in life.

Attik found himself taking a step back in surprise at the magic surrounding his fellow Hunter. The green, from an outside perspective, didn't seem to be a defect. To the boy, it seemed like almost an enhancement, an intimidation tactic. "Wow." He barely spoke above a whisper as he restrained himself from reaching out, returning to step closer. This was magic. Perhaps he, too, could learn this magic- maybe it was just for Overseers, or those who have passed the trials of Hunting.

He barely flinched this time when the Overseer reached out once more, only wincing with his eyes at the imposing claw reaching from the shadows. In fact, he almost tried to welcome it, stepping forward as the arm extended and closed the gap between them. His gaze changed to look down once more, this time with interest instead of odd dejection. The words stuck to him. He could do many things with the weird paws- hands, he corrected himself. The long, whip tail flickered to and fro as he listened. "My kind," he echoed to himself. His kind. He had a kind, not like the others in the caves. He just had to find them.

Mismatched eyes were stuck staring down at their owner's hands as the teachings continued, the voice of the Overseer bringing him out of his daydreaming. A minor shake of the head and he was back on track. Curious to get a closer look, he knelt as the image was drawn before him, ingraining it and its description into his brain. Others not like him couldn't use these? And... Attacking from afar? An excited tingle ran through Attikias's muscles. He didn't think it was possible. He couldn't throw anything very far, and the attacking was really limited to his right hand with the gem wedged on his left shoulder. Blinking, Attik's dark finger ran over the clawed line in the sand as he traced it around and around, the lines growing more and more visible in place.

It was a shame that his spear was dead wood. It was old, and stiff- otherwise, it could be a great... Whatever this thing was. But what about the cord? Was that like a vine? A Gembound tendon would rot away, as far as he knew. There was the risk of having to hunt larger beasts for those, as well.

Questions flew around Attik's head before more were answered and proposed. Arms propped on his knees, the child turned his head back up to the Overseer as he spoke, attention fully on him. A straightforward answer and question both, though the latter Attikias had to think on. "Um.. A green cat," He started after hesitation, rocking from one flat foot to another. "I don't know if they're a Master or Overseer, but they had a lot of other creatures around them." Again, his hand moved to tangle with his spear. A nervous tic, perhaps, was beginning to bud, but he didn't seem to pay it any mind. "Uhh.. Blackberry, is being hunted. I didn't get a lot of information, but the... Overseer?" He paused, voice elevating to a questioning tone. "Wanted them to be tracked down for uh.. Questioning, I think. Not actually hurting or killing."

He took a breath, letting the moment hang. Before the pause grew too awkward, or the fellow Hunter had a moment to speak, he continued. "I'm not sure what, but... Something that makes a lot of people want to find them, apparently. I want to find them and prove I'm a Hunter. I want to prove I could do more than just... Hunting the gemless. Because I can." The butt of his spear traced a lopsided circle about the weapon drawing, his eyes and mind remaining on it. He could do more. He was on the right track to do more. Maybe this weapon could help.

He was quick to store the next phase of his quest in the back of his mind. For now, though, he had a hunt to continue.

@Sebastian

This was interesting, and Sebastian was curious. And you know what they say about curiosity, after all, so he slunk forward, watching as Vargas 'vanished' into the shadows, aside from his gleaming bits.

The young Gembound confirmed that he had gone out to hunt Blackberry, having heard Rift--at least, that was his best guess regarding a 'green cat'--talk about her. He twitched his ears, and flicked his tail, moving to step forward a bit more

and, of course, his paw knocked a stone forward rather noisily. His fur poofed up and he licked at his chest in embarrassment even as he offered, "Ah, hello." he shook himself, addressing the young Gembound as he confirmed, "You said you were hunting Blackberry?"

@Attikias

A green cat? Vargas tucked this knowledge away for later, pondering it. Had another of the Masters fallen and been changed, somehow, as Astraea had?

He turned his attention back to Attikias. "Good! A will to prove yourself will serve you well, even as you serve the Masters. Prove yourself and you will be rewarded, I'm sure. I--" He cut himself off as a stone clattered through the tunnel behind him, whipping around to face it with surprising agility for his size. But it was just a black cat, another of the many subjects, here. Vargas eyed the ruby that glinted at its shoulders, and wondered at this; but then the thing was speaking.

He fell silent as it spoke. He would listen, for the moment, just to see what the hunter-child said. He himself was unsure who half of those involved even were: the 'green cat,' 'Blackberry,' and so on. Though now he was curious, he had to admit, as to what this Blackberry had done. Why would it be wanted for questioning? That meant that it had knowledge that needed to be checked. A servant of others? A rebel leader, perhaps?

Curious, staring, Vargas listened in silence.

@Attikias

ATTIKIAS
violence for violence
is the rule of the beasts

Attikias straightened at the compliment. If his purpose was to serve in hunts, well, he'd do his best to stand out. A smile came across his lips as he looked back up, leaving the drawing of the bow to itself.

He startled at a clatter, though. With a child-like energy, Attik shot up into a standing position and fumbled with his spear, pointing it forward to put it between whatever had decided to approach them and him. Was this his first test? Why wasn't Vargas attacking it? Did he want to see how he'd react?

He calmed when it spoke, though. A cat- much like the one he'd spoken to- had made himself known. Attik tensed his hands on his spear as he brought its end back into the rock below, feeling himself relax. He glanced to Vargas, then to the feline. He was familiar, though..

"Yes," he spoke, standing straight up with his chest out. He had to look presentable, formal for this other creature. Vargas couldn't see him unsure among others- he had to be strong. "Uh- why do you ask? Do you know where they are?" He took a step forward with arms crossed. Despite his confident posturing, to the perceptible it would just look like posturing. His face still held a level of uncertainty to it.

@Sebastian

The puma's fur stood on end at the sight of the monstrous beast before him, fighting the urge to roar and leap away, instead rolling his shoulders stiffly and standing tall, blinking slowly. 'I am not afraid of you,' he thought, attempting to take its scent to memory so he could make sure he would know if it was inside of his forest.

He found himself staring down a spear, and flicked his tail. "I'm not going to hurt you," he rasped, somewhat relieved when the cub put it back on the ground. Sebastian wasn't one for fighting young ones, and he'd never fought someone with a 'weapon' before. They asked after his purpose, and he hummed, "My brother is the king of the forest, the 'green cat' who sent you searching. He saw you and wanted to make sure you weren't sent by Blackberry." he coughed, cleared his throat. "I do not know where she is, but if you are interested I could hunt with you. With my senses and you fighting we would make a good pair."

@Vargas

Vargas observed the pair. He thought of the older child, perhaps twice the size as it was now, stalking along with the black cat at its side. It would be a visually appealing image, at least; they would look intimidating, together. Not to him, of course--but efficient hunters as a team, perhaps. One with strong senses, and silence; the other with ranged weapons. Once Attikias mastered that sort of thing, anyway.
If even it can, with its shoulder.

As it was, though, with their sizes? Vargas's hook-toothed jaws twisted into a grin, as best they could. It was faint, but it was there.

"Perhaps he can ride you," he suggested, amused. And then--though, by now, half-expecting a strange response--he asked, "What is your number?" This time it was directed toward Sebastian. Though it seemed none of them knew their numbers, anymore.

A scent caught his attention, then. He wasn't sure what it was--but his head came up, and he turned, and without a further word, Vargas the Overseer stalked away.

@Attikias

exiting due to inactivity

ATTIKIAS
violence for violence
is the rule of the beasts

Attikias let his guard and professionalism down as the feline continued, eyes trained on him in curiosity. Brother... The word was unfamiliar against his tipped ears. The long tail appended to him flicked lightly as he listened, running the butt of the spear into the rock below.

He perked at the offer. "Uh- Yeah!" He had to resist the grin coming over him. Yes! This was what he was for! "That'd be great! Plus, with some of my tracking skills, when we get on her trail we can get her then and there!" He practically bounced from heel to heel in childlike excitement, his suede fur-like hair standing on edge over his skin.

His head swivelled to Vargas when he spoke, flinching for a millisecond with his eyes at the revealing of more teeth in the Overseer's maw. No time to be unsettled though- a proposition was at hand. Attik's eyes went wide at the idea, the boy now fully standing up straight and the grin winning over his face. "Yeah! And with a spear I can reach longer, and we can chase her if she doesn't want to get caught, which of course she doesn't, but this'll be great!" His voice rambled on, only cut short by Vargas's second question.

... Heck, wait, were they supposed to have numbers? Did everyone have a number and he just didn't know it? Curious, he paused his ambling and tightened his grip on his spear as he glanced towards the feline, then to Vargas's moving form.

He was leaving. So soon? "Wait up! The boy called out before he strode forward, pace rising as he struggled to catch up.

He refused to let Vargas just leave like that though, but there was no chance he'd see him again at that speed.

@Sebastian
Exit Attikias due to inactivity