Azure zigged, and zagged, flying for her life. But she hadn't gotten that far, and Raheerah's reach was immense, as befit his enormous size. A torrent of flame roared past her, its heat crackling, catching on her feathers like so much kindling. Burning feathers stank, but Azure's bird-beak nose couldn't really smell it; all she was aware of was panic, terror, as she arced a smoke trail down through the air.

She screamed, a bird's cawing, terrified screech, and felt her shoulder impact off a rock. Fuck I'm flying blind- she thought, and then careened around, swung by the stone, dropping from the sky.

She crashed in among the ruins, tumbling, feeling the ache of bruises and sprains, the tingling agony of burns.

Blink.

At least her tumbling along the ground put out the actual flames that had ignited along the edges of her tail and right wing--and she knew that had the fire itself caught her, and not the superheated air at its outskirts, she'd be dead.

The adrenaline, at least, kept the worst of it at bay, and a few moments later she was flying low through the ruined buildings, avoiding the fire, winging as fast as she could as far as she could from Raheerah.

Eridanus-... she'd go to Eridanus. Water. Plants. I hope everyone else made it, she thought, grimly afraid--and it was this thought alone (that others, wounded, might come crawling out in need of help) that stilled her, that turned her back. She didn't return--but she hid along Orion's cave wall, shaking where she pushed herself behind a rock. She couldn't even see Raheerah anymore--he was far, and behind the stones--but maybe others might flee this way.

She took quick stock of her injuries. They were not good. She could feel severe burns, her feathers were torched, her body was badly-bruised. She thought some ribs along her left might be broken, and her keel hurt like hell. Belatedly, she realized that one antler had cracked clean off halfway through. But she was still breathing--a panicked, rapid gasping--and she lay quiet, watching for any other survivors, too far to hear whatever was happening beyond.

Pride held his breath in fear as Raheerah torched the air, this way, then that. He realized too late that he might have tried to provide illusions, distractions; but it seemed that Nemean herself had made an appearance. Raheerah turned toward the Throne--which Pride had left behind, but it was still this direction, and he froze. Only when the vast dragon banked toward Nemean's shouting did he let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

His mental link slipped shut.

The dragon's thoughts were maddened. Not just insane, but infuriated. They were, like his flame, almost too hot to bear. Who was Dawa-? What job was it that they had all failed to do..? The white stag was baffled. He knew there was more to the "Masters" than was let on. He knew about Astraea's remarks about them all being slaves--byproducts; that had been spread amongst almost all of them. But who was Dawa..?

No-... It isn't us he's purging. He's thinking of a 'them,' and an 'us.' He means-... He means the masters, Pride realized. Fear trickled like icewater along his nerves, and he turned, creeping forward along the rocks. He was keeping hidden as best he could, still keeping a distance, but he wanted to see what would happen--to hear, if only to report it to others. If he does kill the Masters, then nothing is stopping him from killing us all. But they aren't here. Only Nemean is here. And they would kill us at a whim, as well. Not that there was all that much that Pride could do, in any case. But Nemean had threatened them already, and her and Astraea were already known for trying to kill them all at a whim. Not that he was sure of any of this. Nemean had seemed to be cheering the dragon on, and he was rewarding her with a torrent of fire.

Pride crept closer.

Somewhere in the distance, he could feel his familiar having bailed out entirely, intent on saving her own skin, and he approved.

The stag caught sight of the wing beating over the ruins, of the bright light as flame ignited whatever the dragon was attacking now--Nemean, Pride thought--and he quieted his mind. He didn't want his own thoughts to become intrusive, to give him away, and he didn't want to get too close.

He crouched down, still, and cast out his magic, his mind sharpened to a rail-thin shard. He would watch, if he could, through Raheerah's eyes--he would see what the dragon saw, and hear his thoughts, and his words.

If this was to shape their fate, he would know what it was they would face.

Wilder's mind slipped into visions.

Every corner of Orion, charred and smoldering. Fires licking here and there. Nothing but devastation remained--and the few Gembound crawling from cover, some burnt, wounded. There were pitiful cries for help, but the dragon was gone.

The vision shifted. Raheerah, battling someone--something? Flashes of light all around, and a falling body, a batting of black wings, a flailing of blue-striped legs, flame engulfing it as it fell.

The vision shifted. All of Orion was aflame--fires licked from every corner, and the ceiling was thick with smoke. Atop a ruined, melted throne the dragon perched, and he looked old somehow, and thin. Nothing else moved.

@Wilder

The world - how best to describe this... - was on fire. Orion's stars were snuffed out one by one, the blackness between them growing ever-larger as coils of smoke plumed upwards. Everything around the leopard was brimstone as he cowered in some particular dwelling, thankful for the ceiling (even if it collapsed after Raheerah dove over in a blazing fury.) Nassir's pale eyes flickered to and fro as he coughed, heaved himself out of the hole. His ears were filled with a low whine, the sheer bass of the great dragon's voice enough to deafen him.

Unsurprisingly, the dark beast was suffering quite a bit of sensory overload. Another gout of fire sounded mutedly nearby, far enough to justify an escape. A run to the sheer cliffs of Tunnel M - Polaris and I couldn't possibly be viable, if the destroyer had arrived through him. Not that he particularly knew. He just thought that the icy floes could be safer, more difficult to set on fire.

Nassir gave another great wheeze, and bolted, only barely seeing Pride along the way. Eyes watering with smoke and quartz stone growing hot against his spine, the leopard sent a message along the way - if his magicka even cooperated - I'm running to Pisces! he called through the link, only barely consciously realizing his instinctive thought processes, Tenzin might be able to - help with this.

The phoenix could perform miracles, as it was said and shown. Nassir hoped that could be the case, again.

(trying) to escape to tunnel m!

“

why don't i just pull the weeds

···

Sound and lights ran over the feline. Roaring flames raged in the hall next to him, threatening to lick over his fur- Raging over his fur, burning not just the ends but lashing across his pelt. A shrill cry rang out from his mouth before he could realize what had happened. White pain followed shortly after. It overloaded his mind, more than the influx of sensations hitting his ears. He couldn't think- couldn't breathe, couldn't- He couldn't. Panic drove his muscles to quake under the fallen rock, drove him to press against its corner in a drive to escape.

A crack sounded above him. It was loud- louder than the shriek of a name, louder than his heartbeat threatening to drown out his very existence.

The rock had begun to crumble.

His mouth dried with fear, and adrenaline drove his sense of time to a simultaneous sprint and stop. Before he recognized what was happening, his legs shot out before him, claws outspread to drag him out and away from the rock- from his cover, into the still burning wastes left behind from whatever was destroying Purity's known world. It was crumbling around him, threatening to squish him- he wouldn't make it-

He barely made it. A whoompf of air brushed out from behind him, and it barely ran through his mind that the fur of his tail ripped out from the base as the rock slammed down where he once was. He was lucky. He did make it, but soon the wind drove the remaining fires and smoke into his face. A racking cough exploded from his throat.

Even as soot-covered as everything was, a blur of motion against the orange drew Purity out of the fit he was in. He'd seen legs run past in his hiding spot, feet pounding against the stone of the cave and against his fur splayed out from under the rock. These, though- This black wasn't the smoke and smog that filled the room. This was a being he knew- recognized, at least, from a glance.

Purity swallowed the ash-riddled taste of whatever he had left in his mouth. All at once, he was streaming past flames and fire, jumping away from falling and cracking cliffs to follow behind where Nassir was going. It- it looked like he was headed for the tunnel? Yes- yeah, that'd be the place to go. He hadn't left this cave before, hadn't fled from his home yet, but now? Now was the time to do so. Now was the time to save himself.

Lights danced above him from a fairy he had no idea had existed. The dragon roared, streamed above them. He couldn't stop to watch, couldn't risk it all. Even as he lost sight of Nassir, he knew he had to catch up, had to follow even as the burns flared across his aching muscles with pain he'd never felt before.

;trying to exit to tunnel M with Nassir

Elyon's eyes went wild and wide as an arc of fire came startlingly close to her. A glob of spitfire bounced onto her toe, immediately searing it clean through and eliciting a sharp yelp from her. The centaur scuttled backwards, the blasting heat of her weaponry against her back unbearable, now. She didn't know how the metal and alloy wasn't already melting against her.

Her hearing - however deafened it was - narrowed in on a shrill yelp, some sort of nonexistent twin ESP awakening in her as she watched a dog-shaped creature not too far down the cliffs. He sailed through the air, limp and smoldering, and Elyon's breath caught in her throat. The sight was far more stifling than the oppressive heat, and the hybrid wasted no time in bracing herself against the cliffside. Forelegs stretched to their full length and haunches dragging against the rock, Elyon slid down to the ground floor. "ELI!" she roared through the din.

There, lying in a pile of rubble and smoldering, was indeed her brother.

Elyon's eyes stung, and not with the acrid stench of smoke in the air. "Eli, bro, Eli - can you hear me, fuck---! It's been so long -" Her voice hitched, a sob breaking through her chest. "Shit, shit, okay, I'm - we gotta go, 'kay? I'm gonna - I'm gonna pick you up, okay? Sorry - " the hybrid stooped low, gathering the much-smaller hybrid into her bulky arms and starting the treacherous climb back up the cliffs and towards Tunnel J.

@Eli

ELI
I CAN GO THE DISTANCE

Eli's charred flank heaved with every labored breath. He hurt so much, even to breathe, but nothing could compare to the splitting pain in his head. It was so intense, he barley register the heat and chaos around him.

He laid there for what seemed like forever, slipping in and out of consciousness. Every time, he'd awaked to the same surreal nightmare and the stench of burnt flesh, but Eli could do nothing. He felt too sick; too weak. He wanted to vomit. Eli closed his eyes. He just wanted it the pain to stop.

He heard his sister's voice echo through the Chambers, calling his name. Eli paused.

Elyon?

It had been many cycles, but he could never forget his twin's voice. He broke into a trot, then a run as raced down the corridors. He had waited in this very spot for her to comeback.. so very long. Bones... how he missed her.

I'm coming, Elyon, I'm coming!

Eli was soaring now. The fog that covered the tunnels swirled out of his way. With a few, powerful wingbeats, he cleared it away. There, standing before him, was the back of a familiar centaur. He heart skip a beat. There was no denying her scent. Elyon.

She turned around.

"Eli, bro, Eli - can you hear me, fuck---!"

Eli cracked open an eye. A large figure loomed over him. She smelled like a sister.

"--It's been so long -"

He opened the other, and her face came into view. "...Elyon?" He rasped. Using all the strength he could muster, Eli lifted his head to looked at his twin. He smiled weakly. Blood streaked drown gash in his head, some dripped from his nose. He could taste it in his mouth. "Elyon… you.. came back." He wagged his broken tail feebly. If only he could, he would show her just how much he missed her,

Eli fell limp as Elyon wrapped her strong around around him. She was gentle, but the shifting caused his pain to spike. Eli bit back the urge to squeal, and whimpered, grimacing as she cradled him. He gripped her as well, never wanting to let go.

All around them, the inferno roared.

@Elyon

Alastor was never one to run away when beasts reared their ugly heads. True to his war horse nature he ran towards danger, although this time, it was more due to morbid curiosity than a desire to do battle. What great beast was causing the entire cave to tremble? Racing through Tunnel M, he called the wind to aid his hooves once more as he ascended the icy steps into Orion, but the he could not concentrate on commanding he wind and not slipping at the same time. He was slowed by the steep incline and it wasn't until some time before he reached the summit. As he neared Alastor could feel the heat burn his hide and sting his eyes. It was leagues worse than Hydra.

When the stallion finally saw what became of Orion, he gasped. "...Winds guide me."

Orion was on fire, and a fearsome, colossal fearsome dragon circled above it, spitting flames into the growing inferno. It made Dread look bite-sized. He trotted into the burning cavern, and his nostrils flared. Alastor was awestruck. This was the most magnificent storm he had ever seen, but the dragon made it to destroy. The beauty of Orion would be reduced to ash at this rate. It was a frightening, yet sad sight.

He ran into two other gembounds fleeing towards where he came. "You there, felines!" Alastor called out as he trotted towards them. "What-what madness is this??." His silver eyes darted around the roomed, wide with shock.


"Speech."
Thoughts...

All three visions that Wilder saw as she looked ahead were deeply disturbing. It seemed that their only way to survive or win was to fight the dragon, but she couldn't even see if it was them fighting Raheerah or someone else. She crouched beneath her rock as the dragon roared overhead, blasting fire in every direction. She squeaked with terror as one of those blasts rained down right were she was caught and she screamed, turning to run away, but she wasn't fast enough.

The blast of flame licked at her side as she ran, burning into her skin and setting her fur on fire. She screeched and ran faster as pain consumed her, stopping at one point to roll on the ground wildly in an attempt to put the fire out. It hurt to do so, but it was better then walking around burning until she was nothing but charred cat. Once it was out, she staggered forward to keep moving towards the gathering of Gembound running towards the exit.

It was hard and she was in pain and her gemstone was shivering on her cheek, willing to consume her and protect her from further harm, but she forced herself to continue onwards, hoping the dragon did no more damage to them for now.

Pubber crammed herself as deep into her hiding hole as she could, but the flames continued to roar, and the sound of stone crashing filled her with a cold terror. What if the remains of the building she crouched in crumbled in around her, and trapped her? The thought was enough to make her heart stop.

She swallowed. Taking a deep breath, she knew she had to brave the flames and get out of Orion. If she could get back to Canis-- she didn't even know which way Canis was. She finally started to scramble free of her hiding spot, pink fur bristling on end as she lumbered through the flames that scorched the earth and threatened to consume her too.

As she ran, the sound of screams pierced her ears over the deafening roar of the dragon and the inferno it caused. Before long she burst through a narrow passage between the flames, catching sight of a familiar form-- a cat. She hadn't met a real cat before, but she had met a nebula who looked uncannily like the feline that was staggering toward the nearest exist, still smoldering. Had that been the gembound crying out? She didn't stop to ask.

The bright pink bear hybrid might have been a brilliant neon sign asking for trouble, but the flames were vicious and red, and the smoke hopefully obscured her form a bit-- she could only hope she wasn't endangering the cat as she rushed up to her. "I'll carry you, hurry," she insisted in a hoarse, scratchy voice, shoving her snout under the black ball of fluff. She barely stopped to let the stranger get a firm purchase between her horns, and then she was rushing for the nearest tunnel and all the other gembounds who were running for their lives.

@Wilder