For a moment, when the disappointment wavered through the connection, Huckleberry hesitated, out of instinct more then anything. He didn't want to disappoint another mother. He didn't want to disappoint anyone because then they wouldn't care about him. But he snapped back to it a moment later. No. He wasn't doing this. He couldn't.

Panic overwhelmed him as he realized how many people were around him. Ears flattened against his head as he backed away, shaking his head. "N-no, no I can't I can't..." He didn't want to get closer because if he got closer she might try and keep him here. Trap him here. Make him family whether he wanted or not and he couldn't he couldn't he didn't have a family not anymore!

The loud roar cause him to jump and he turned to its source - not quick enough, however, as a massive weight smashed down on his back. He cried out as delicate bones buckled under the demon's body. He tried to flap his wings, but strong claws had them pinned. So there was one more option. Magic began streaming out of him, sparks hurtled into the air, filling the room with powerful static, strong enough that even Huckleberry, who'd grown accustomed to his own electric shocks, felt himself grow dizzy.

The scuffle was brief--but it was enough time. There was a moment's silence as Huckleberry released his spell, but regardless of the outcome, a soothing voice once again spoke.

"Good-... That is enough, now. Let him go. He will not remember; he will not endanger us. You have done well, Azrael," and there was warm and loving praise to this.

And indeed Huckleberry's mind would be a comfortable nothing: a blank non-memory. He would feel compelled to leave the cave: to wander out, to leave Pisces, even. And nothing would remain, no knowedge of this place.

He had been removed from the family: and the family, from him. And as for his familiar..? Shiny would feel a choice granted: forget, as well, and leave with Huckleberry... or stay, and have the link with Huckleberry cut forever.

"Those who wish to leave... may do so," Mother's soft voice announced: yet there was grief in it, a disappointment that her children could abandon her so. Those who chose to do so would find that, like Huckleberry, no memory of the Nest or Mother would remain. It would be as though the place had been the faintest and most distant dream, with no way to ever find it once again.

All would sense, however, that they were free to return to their daily lives: but with the gift of family, the link now with the rest that would remain. But they would need to bring Mother food, if she were to grow strong; and they would need to protect her, to tend her, to keep her warm and dry and remove debris left behind.

It was a small price to pay, for such One-ness--was it not?

Gembound may exit at any time. The mental link between the Affected will remain open. Those wishing to abandon Mother and the mental link will lose all memory of this place, and of the 'stones,' awakening far from Pisces as if from a long, strange dream.

Surely this story is not over, however...

@Desert Rose Thirty-Five (Pallas) @Labradorite Five-Four-Six @Yew (Artume) @Huckleberry (Lamia, Azrael) @Adelaide @Zelk @Opal Three-Seven-Six @Archimedes (Sergei, Legion)

Azrael held tight to Huckleberry as he struggled and found himself growing dizzy as sparks began flying through the air. Still, however, he didn't let go, not until Mother commanded him to do so. Slowly, he released his grip, stepping away from the hybrid with a snort. He'd done well for his mother and he felt pride welling in his chest.

"Thank," he chuffed, crossing his arms across his chest as he watched Huckleberry depart. He watched the others with a scathing gaze, daring any of them to leave or defy the Mother. He would be her protector and guardian now. That was his new purpose and it gave him a sense of levity to realize. It felt better, so much better, or at least the link with her and the rest told him so, then simply survive on his own. More then a beast.

He huffed and stepped forward, crouching near mother and focusing. A glow began to spread across his body, the almost black fur turning a dark wine-red, all the eyes on his palms and on his face glowing much more brightly, his gemstone like a lamp. He was hot, now, scalding to the touch, and it burned a bit, but it was all for Mother, to keep her warm and dry. He stayed like this, simply content to keep her warm while the others decided where their loyalties lie.

*tentative exit

The great bear didn't budge. He could leave, now. He was one with the rest--and his dull, steady mind accepted this without issue. There was some niggling wrongness about it, but the voices said it was okay, so okay it must be.

He would linger here--live here--guard Mother, and bring her fish. Not all of his fish (he thought, a little resentfully) but definitely... some, enough. The reluctance, like a dam breaking, abruptly gave way to determination. I will feed her most. I will be best of her guardians.

Sergei, then, didn't leave: but remained right where he was, sitting stolidly by Mother, in case further unpleasantness broke out.

"Exit" Sergei (but he will remain in the nest)

The rat felt as though he were floating, drifting, on a pleasant cloud. Or perhaps a pleasant mat of plant detritus drifting along a river--yet something beneath it, something unsettling, lingered. Like Sergei, he mostly brushed it aside, though the rat's keener intellect had him puzzling over it now and again.

Each time, as though fidgeting atop the mat on which he floated, he felt what might lay beneath--but it slipped away again, into the dark, and he happily allowed himself to be drawn into the light.

After a life of paranoia, of fear, of cunning relentlessness, it was nice to simply... be. Like Sergei, he remained--content in this cocoon of safety, in the presence of his brothers and sisters. In time he'd slip out, skittering across Pisces' floor--and like Sergei would make his nest here. He'd bring back trinkets and baubles for the nest, for them all to share. It would be good... it would be...

...wrong, there's something wrong-... hm. No, I can't think of what it might be... I must just be paranoid. I'm sorry.

exit Archimedes (he will also remain for now)

Legion buzzed with excitement. Much of the swarm was still puzzling over the slower nature of the link--and was disappointed, too, in Huckleberry's rebellion. Does he not see? This is better. Faster, more efficient. Safer. But he did not--Mother urged him out, out of the family, out of the nest.

A shame.

Legion turned its discussion among its own hive--perhaps an unsettling sensation to those now linked to it. A thousand tiny voices rapidly fired ideas, questions, answers, suggestions among themselves before settling on a few choice facts.

First, Legion wished to be useful to its new family. Second, it would make a better scout than many of those present. The swarm could fly, could hide itself, could travel quickly and near-unseen. Thus it decided to do just that.

"We," they buzzed, proudly, contentedly--"will go and scout. We will wander the caves! And send you back sight. Sound. What we have seen. We will send messages, if you wish! -Family!" was its final, joyous cry.

With that, the swarm blurred, and faded, and in a cloud of insect-like critters, it swept from the nest and away.

exit Legion

P A L L A S
the man who sleeps with a knife
is a fool every night but one

Pallas's stomach leapt in his throat as magic laced the air about them all, overloading his senses. No- Infernal magic- Frustrated and overwhelmed, his paws drew themselves to his face, his body pushing itself back from the danger looming in the tiny cave.

And, all at once, it was over. Heavy breaths rattled out of the linsang as he dangered a glance, witnessing Huckleberry... Leaving.

And there was nothing in his wake.

Swallowing hard, Pallas glanced back to the white mass, his fur still tingling on its ends as he uncurled himself. It seemed business was going about more hefty as usual, others falling into place- the bear would be gathering food, the beast had heat... What did he have?

He could build. Mentally nodding to himself, he pushed the memory of the moose hybrid to the back of his mind and stood, tail lashing back and forth. "I'll make this a haven," he declared to the room- but mostly to himself, giving himself an actual physical nod this time. "A place we can stay safely, with Mother." Taking a moment to gather his wit, Pallas steeled his nerves and stretched before bounding out of the alcove, his mind set on supplies and things he could do for his Family.

Exit Pallas

Bright blue roamed over the mass's form as it produced tendrils, new clusters to deliver unto the world.

Desert glanced to Labradorite. This all felt... Odd. New. Was this how the world was now? With his family- no, the... The fox beside him was his family. Blinking hard, the thoughts erased themselves from existence as he reached forward tentatively taking a cluster in his jaws.

The uncertainty that came through the feed amplified his own feelings. But... Why would someone be trying to leave? Frozen in place, he watched the motions in almost slow motion, as one of the family held another down as they were evicted from sight and memory.

Well, good. They didn't have time to worry about others endangering their mother. ... Mother. The word sat uneasy on Desert's mind, sending it reeling to lapses of memory, with, perhaps, overlaps on the other's along with them. It had grown confusing, as of late- with most of his mind gone to trials, it took him for a turn as he mistook other impressions for his own. It would be a bit overwhelming if it weren't for mother to stabilize his emotions and fears.

Now, it seemed the others had fallen into their paths. Desert... He had his own, his purple tongue rolling over the cluster in his mouth. Dipping his head to the rest of the beings in the alcove, his feet carried him out, his mind intent on gathering more to help with their mission.

Exit Desert Rose