DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Desert didn't have much chance to get out as he liked to anymore. Exhaustion had weaved its way into his muscles, and he was distraught with tiredness even going out to drink from one of Canis's newer rivers.

As much as he didn't like the storms, he had to thank them for the water they brung. Plants were also new- but, he couldn't remember anything much about Canis anyways. Perhaps they'd always been there. He liked to think that the storm caused them anyways. It was good to give the weather some redeeming qualities.

More often Desert foujnd himself resting by the shores of a riverbank, though today he felt a little bit of pep in his step. Instead of his usual routine of drinking and sleeping, he found interest in the filled metal and bones resting along the entrance he passed throw every day.

The carvings above seemed to ha e some crude art, he'd noticed at first, but soon his mind was wandering towards the previous owners of the bones strewn about the place. Were they champions to be? The dragon spent some time considering them, his silver bracelets clattering against each and even managing to break a few of the brightest on accident.

A twinge felt behind Desert's ear as he felt his magic shoot out. That was odd. He hadn't used his magic, though the spell felt ancient and familiar all the same. Closing his eyes, he focused on the memory, calling it forth once again.

His face scrunched up at the reply. He could feel a pull, indeed- towards the pile before him. Interesting. Ever so carefully, Desert prodded his way in past rusted armor and skeletons to a bone. The bone was magic? No- he could feel something inside. Backing up with the bone in claw, Desert sat on his headquarters and brought his head close. Taking a deep breath, he snapped the bone in two to reveal a gem with life.

His eyes went wide. Canis the room of bones. Of course it would have living gems. Desert's head rose further into the tunnel towards his den, his head craning up. Was that stone he found in Eridanus a living stone, too, perhaps?

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

This was all a bit perplexing to the dragon, to say the least. The effort to even crack that one bone made his head spin, plus with the effort to push out his magic drove him to a faint headache.

Reaching up, he felt for the flower-like cluster behind his ear, looking over it. He didn't get the feeling that this was any living stone, now that he thought of it. Besides, there were so many, weren't there?

He shook his head. No, it wouldn't be worth the effort. Besides, his mind was already forming a challenge, raised by his growing hoarding tendencies. What if he just took all the living gemstones he could find? There must be a reason they weren't destroyed- though, there wouldn't be any way for them to return as far as he recalled.

With his head held high and forcing his headache away, Desert dug deep and called forth his magic again.

There. This time, not as hard to find- it was laying in the ruins of a decayed ribcage, alien for its numerous ribs and structure. Though, it would make do for his collection.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Carefully, Desert placed his prize with the other, sitting proudly. They were nice to look at- and besides, they didn't have to be special to be hoarded.

Turning back to the pile, Desert paced forward and pushed through. A dash of something caught his eye- a piece of something was clasped into place in a chestplate. They wouldn't use a living gemstone for such a vulnerable spot, would they?

Curiosity got the better of him as he changed direction, already reaching his magic out to feel for life. He was surprised more at feeling an echo back than anything. Perhaps the owner of the armor was close to whoever this held. Though, why wouldn't it just be destroyed? The situation was odd, yet it intrigued Desert.

When he came upon it, though, he realised there was no way of retrieving the stone without damaging it. His mood almost instantly deflated from one of questioning to disappointment. What use did he have for a locked gem? It could look nice, he supposed.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

No, he wouldn't back down from a challenge! He was a champion of Hydra, for caves' sake! Nostrils flaring, Desert strained his shoulder muscles as he wriggled his nails under the ancient iron surrounding it. It was old, too old to not bend and give away. Most of the limbs snapped under his brute force.

Thankfully, the gem wasn't scratched, either. With a satisfied snort, Desert deposited the well-earned gem into his growing pile.

He turned his attention to the previous owner of the breastplate. His claw traced its bones, blue eyes searching for something. When he couldn't find it, he flexed his magic once more, reaching out for another living gem.

There was one there. Wings tight to his side, Desert weaved his head about. Had it scattered somewhere? No?

It took him a moment to realize where it was, and a bit of luck. In his search, he had turned the skull to its side- turning it the other way revealed a shard lodged into the bone. Was this the gem? Investigation told him it was, so he placed it with its friend in the group.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Everyone was looking a little lonely off in the distance as he searched, Desert remarked. He rolled his eyes this way and that in thought.

He wasn't alone- and he knew how to make them not alone either. Thoughtlessly, he extracted the cluster held at the base of his free ear and placed it against the gems, a smile growing on his face.

There. That would be good. His tail thumped happily as he went back to work, muscles beginning to ache from stepping back and forth between each trip behind piles. It didn't matter that they were a turn away. It was still a bit of work for a tired little dragon, of course.

Lazily, instead of running through the remains once more, Desert only takes his magic in front of him and looked for any feedback, any response. Nothing seemed to ping back- was he not close enough? His teeth bared in frustration. Fickle magic!

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Fine. Bring him to action. He was already starting to get a bit tired, especially more as he moved his attention away from his cluster, but he was focused. Stepping forward, Desert reached out again, focusing on a particular portion he hadn't checked yet.

There. A stronger connection- ears perked forward, Desert skinned towards where he felt the draw, eyes narrowed in search. If he were a gem, where would he be?

This one ended up not being in any skeleton or armor. Instead, it was half buried, though it's color against the dirt was easy for the dragon to pick out. Carefully, he brushed it off and returned to the pile, placing it against his cluster.

Their cluster.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

The next one wasn't too hard to find. Not far from the last, he found another buried under several skeletons. He was surprised not to see a major fracture in it at first, and turned it about in his claws as he reached out once more.

No- he was right. Along its back (or what he'd assume would be the back), a large crack was near imperceptible to the eye yet scratched at his callous pad as he ran his paw over it. No luck here, it seemed. Disappointed, he tossed it near the others, finding it shattering when it landed and splintering into a million glittering pieces.

Those things dusted easily. Huh. Well, it was long dead anyways. No point in preserving it.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Desert soon returned his attention to the pile. Why was he looking for these living gems, anyways? Companionship? He had all the friends he needed, with those watching his every move. Were they pleased with what he was doing? He hoped so. Tail flickering behind him, he ran his nails and upturned some blackened bones, charred from some heat damage.

It didn't even take conscious effort for the spell to be cast once more. He didn't notice it as he nosed about the remains, eyes searching this way and that. The only feeling that took over him was the faint echo of nothingness- though, from the spell or just a familiar twinge he'd been feeling lately, he couldn't place.

He blanked out for a second, his mind empty before returning to his search.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Desert took a deep breath, beginning to feel the exhaustion of his searched taking over his body. He had enough gems, maybe but... He needed more. A primal drive had taken control as his eyes searched about, scales flaring. He would- no, he had to keep going.

Curling his claws into the sand below, Desert angled his muzzle down and felt the now familiar tingle of the spell. He took in a deep breath as he connected with something once more. Rolling his eyes about, he pinpointed it's location to the charred skeleton.

It fell to dust when he touched it. He barely had a clue where the gem had come from. It seemed to clatter by the backside of the creature? Panicked at the noise, Desert dove forward and snatched up the object, whispering sweet promises of protection to it.

It was safe. It hadn't cracked in the short fall, luckily. Desert let out a sigh of relief and moved it back to the pile he gathered, a proud smile on his face coming over him. These were his to have, to love and hold. Nothing could take that away from him.

DESERT ROSE THIRTY-FIVE
how quickly the hawk becomes a dove
when faced with the barrel of a gun

Six was perhaps enough for the time being. He sighed softly once more, a protective claw coming over his beauties. While not as lovely as his flowers, perhaps, he felt a pleasant sense that he was sharing the clusters with the gems of the previous era.

Era... How long had he been asleep? He squinted and curled his nose up. No, he didn't have the brainpower for that one.

Desert shook his head. He had work to do to get these back. Glancing about for a second, he laid eyes on the broken breastplate that held one of the gems and reached for it. Maybe he could carry them like a sled? He'd need some sort of line to pull it with, though.

An idea came to him, though it took the better part of a few minutes to find the part. A plant from Canis- they'd been growing nice, and perhaps one would be long enough to drag.

Thankfully, he wasn't wrong. Soon, he managed to get a hold of a long piece and threaded it about some holes probably meant for leather of some kind. His nostrils flared at the thought. He had no experience with armor. It was counterproductive in the heat of Hydra, and not worth the pursuit in the long run.

Desert managed to affix the vine stem by crudely tying it about his tail. That would hold. Desert thanked his makers for his flexibility as he curled about and transferred the gems to his sled. It would be a bumpy rode, but it would be a secure one.

Of course, his flower found its place across its mirror on his ear.

With everything set, Desert moved to head off, pulsing his magic out once last time for any stray gems left. There. One in his pathway- Desert scooped it up and placed it upon the top of the pile before continuing forward, his tongue lolling out after all the effort.

He needed a good nap when he got home.

Exit Desert
3 Barely Successful, 4 Successful