Mercurius moved with an urgency that could only last so long - his arthritic bones were aching, pulling taut against the sudden burst of activity. It was perhaps the fastest he'd moved in some time, ignoring the strain of his muscles to make the brief run between Eridanus and Orion. An icy chill ran up and down his spine, reminded of -

A brown stag, cruel, ruling over Orion - but this one is a different shape. Was a different shape. But known to be kind for a time before twisting into true color... I need to hide again - the pale beast's thoughts tumbled wildly across themselves as he near-galloped into the starstruck vault. Apprehension had his fur standing on end, eyes wild with a palpable fear. He couldn't save one deer - this one was far more ancient and rooted in his darkness. Mercurius didn't have high hopes that it could be removed, not even a little.

But another deer - another he trusted - he sought, and his sons - but he wasn't sure of their whereabouts.

"Pride?" he woofed quietly, voice shaking as he slowed to a gentle plodding pace. Mercy slunk between the shadows of buildings, calling and calling again. "I need to - need to talk to you. Quickly."

@Pride

note - this thread is set right after the spy vs spy threads

The stag had, in fact, been en route to Eridanus. He, too, was filled with urgency and he, too, sought counsel. When he caught the familiar scent of Mercurius, he realized he had just missed him, and he doubled back at a quick trot to find him.

Some minutes later, cursing himself for having somehow bypassed the lion, he heard his name being called. He broke into a canter, hooves clattering on the rock. A sinking feeling twisted his gut; the lion sounded like he felt.

This could not end well.

"Mercurius-? I'm here," he called back, slowing as he spotted the white form in the dim light ahead. Pride panted as he drew closer, flanks heaving from the extended running, and dipped his head in acknowledgement. Silver eyes flicked over the lion, checking him for injury. He seemed all right, at least. "I was looking for you. What's going on?"

@Mercurius

As Pride neared - scanning him - Mercurius realized how bedraggled he must look. He only shook his mane to amend this. "Ah, Pride -" he called, urgent, pausing if only to catch his breath, "I must apologize for what I'm about to say. It's -" Ah, stop that - it sounds like someone's died. None have, not yet. The old beast shifted his weight to either paws, tail flagging.

In a lower, quieter tone, Mercy spoke: "Astraea came to the Kingdom of Eridanus and demanded that we - we locate and kill someone named Reji, and mentioned that the consequence for not doing it or failing to is sending two of our own into Hydra. We don't have the numbers and can't -"

With a deep, affected sigh, the lion lowered his head, "we must go into hiding. I don't want to burden you with the knowledge of where but - the Kingdom may be gone for a while. I may be gone for a while. We aren't certain of how long a while is but... I don't want you to worry for me, please. Not you or our sons. I will be fine and well, wherever I am." This was said in earnest, and if he'd hands, he would have clasped them over Pride's own imaginary-hands.

Finally, ears flicking forwards, coming to grips. Speech and piece said. "What ails you, Pride?"

@Pride

The news shocked him, to say the least. Pride's eyes widened--and then narrowed, a little, in consternation.

"You do not wish to burden me with where..?" he repeated, pointedly. He let that hang for a very long moment, staring at the lion. Location would not burden me. NOT knowing will burden me. He does not trust me..?

He was hurt, but all he did was steel himself; he had things of his own to say, though now a little thread of ice ran through it. "And Nemean came to us. She demands that we--the Seven--kill some being called Rezik that Astraea is protecting." He paused, silent for but a beat. "The Masters are either turned against one another, or testing us. One of us is going to seek out Astraea, and I was about to seek you, and the Kingdom of Eridanus, to find out what you know. I suppose I know, now. Most of it, at least."

Pride fell silent for a moment longer, thinking. He could not care less if Rift got sent to Hydra to die; he'd captured Blackberry and Pride had no idea what had even become of her. He'd taken things into his own hands, arrogantly, and failed to deal with them at all, despite so many others' involvement. He detested Rift, truth be told, detested the cat's ignorance--as he saw it--and Rift's weakness. The cougar thought he was thoughtful and merciful, but he was simply weak-willed, unable to make a decision one way or another. He had simply kept the goose caged for months, unable to decide, and then what-? Nobody knew, apparently.

But Mercurius was, of course, another story. And who was to say who would be chosen to go..? There were others among Rift's ragged group who Pride would prefer not to die; and it struck him, too, that if Astraea wanted them dead, it ought to be prevented. "Did Astraea did not mention why he wanted this Reji dead? Or why is he not doing it himself?"

He studied Mercurius, wondering. He could seek this Reji out and learn more, perhaps. Or they could use Astraea's return, his impending punishment, to set a trap for him, perhaps. Kill him, even.

A spike of malice flashed through Pride. Another stag, another evil fool prancing about as Master and king... But he had been alone on this throne now, for now long? These so-called Masters had done nothing to help any of them.

Perhaps it was time to depose them completely.

@Mercurius

"If you are approached," Mercurius offered quietly, "and interrogated, knowing and keeping it to yourself might be your undoing. Pride, I want nothing more than to tell you and our sons, but I don't want to risk any of your well-being."

Moonlit gaze fixed on the pale stag's, sincere, "Astraea is powerful, cruel. We cannot risk what we are able to have now. Only protect if necessary. If you and - your Seven must hide from your task, do it quickly. Two cycles will go quickly - if you were given the same time frame."

The pale beast sat, slowly, almost carefully - his legs were sore, and a faulty move could send him tumbling. Fortunately, he managed to recline with no incident. "He's seeking this - fungus. It has, apparently, created a sort of... singular mind and empty husks, in the past. Left unchecked, it would consume the caves. If he is... being truthful. I was preoccupied with ensuring that Rift didn't immediately jump at the opportunity," Mercurius scuffed his paws against the earth, mourning that he hadn't taken the chance to quietly intrude on the stag's conscious. "He's searching for more of these nests - Reji is the 'mouthpiece' for them; whatever that entails."

"Huckleberry volunteered to kill Reji, spare us the trouble, but... I would not allow it," Mercurius murmured softly, "I fear what that might awaken in him." The hybrid was - not the most independent of things. Old man Mercy did not want to see the poor thing made into a weapon, not again.

@Pride

Pride listened in silence, only offering a quiet humming grunt in the affirmative when Mercurius mentioned "two cycles."

"Strange, that," he murmured thoughtfully, when Mercurius had finished. "We were both given two cycles. I wonder if it is a test. And as for Huckleberry, I doubt that he could manage. He would likely fall apart if it came to it, and perhaps that is for the best."

Pride paused, thinking. "Perhaps Astraea has the right of this. I do not trust him, but his attack on Khloros was ostensibly to protect us, and if--if he is telling the truth about this fungus--I would imagine it is a genuine threat. Nemean has only been known to try and kill us," he added. "As for 'risking what we have now,' I feel that will not be our choice to make. Have you not felt it-? They seem to be exerting more control, lately. Perhaps that is what this is," Pride mused. "Their way of parading around and flaunting dominance. But between Hydra, and Khloros, and now this... I do wonder."

Pride came to a decision, after a moment, shaking himself and looking at Mercurius. "I take it you know nothing of this 'Rezik,' then. Or where he might be. I'd like to look into this a little closer. I think it warrants investigation, rather than blind following, or hiding," he added, and this was said mildly. He didn't blame those like Mercurius for hiding--the lion was not a fighter, he was a peace-maker and he had been through far too much. "Perhaps I will find this 'Reji' first and--if it is truly a threat--make all our lives easier." And this was said wryly. It was clear that Pride wasn't intending to go out on a murder spree--but something didn't smell right, to him, and knowledge, he felt, was power.

@Mercurius

"Do you think that they may have," Mercy hummed, considering what Pride already seemed to be, "coordinated this?" Masters cooperating for something so seemingly controversial to the beliefs of each group didn't bode well. It seemed to be a plot to - divide them, almost. Cut apart the ambivalent (if not friendly) relations between different gatherings of Gembound. "This could be an attempt to - drive a wedge between us," the old lion commented - again, something he was sure the stag already had thought of. He was the more analytical, thoughtful of the two.

Astraea's methods of stopping Khloros had been unorthodox, senselessly cruel when all it could take was a well-placed swipe to the throat or consumption by fungi, but - Mercurius had to agree, there. Destruction of the spire could only mean the removal of magicka flow from the caves. Or, perhaps, worse. Separation from one's stone was enough to spell death. The removal of magicka, completely... "Astraea has proven himself to not be entirely altruistic, yes -" (see: tirades about slavery and ownership) "- but it could be that he wishes to protect us from another threat." (And another figure to fight for dominance against.)

Mercurius frowned softly, gaze averting, finally. "It has been cycles since they were this - present in the Caves. It doesn't feel quite so right," he murmured worriedly, shifting his weight between his paws and easing down to his stomach, "I don't remember hearing quite so much about the Masters when I was younger." And it seemed to be true. Astraea wasn't often known by that name - merely Deer Dad - and seemed to be benevolent. Nemean, really, had been the only one to go about causing mischief at the expense of others. "But, perhaps, they were acting more beneath the surface than they are now." It was just that they now seemed more visible with their actions.

"All I know is that the names seem similar - Reji was described as blue with a black-and-white crown-stone," Mercurius paused, imploring Pride to provide his own information - if it was offered, "but if I had to guess -" Based purely on the notification that two groups had been employed to seek out beings with similar names and that this was coordinated, the pale beast hummed. "The Kingdoms were approached by Masters to seek Reji and 'Rezik'... perhaps others have been sought out. Aure or - Dragon (was that his name?) may know more about this."

Let no one say Mercy couldn't come to his own conclusions. Just that he likely wouldn't do anything further with them.

"If you do go, take Azizos with you? He's - been itching for another puzzle to unravel. Another set of eyes may be helpful, if things do not turn for the worst." A sad note came into the storyteller's voice again.

@Pride

His gaze grew distant as he listened, mental notes quietly ticked off and filed away for future use. There seemed to be a hint, in the description of Reji--a flicker somehow that Mercurius wanted something--and Pride, peering briefly at him, wondered if he wanted to know what description they'd been given of Rezik. It'd have been easier if the lion had said it aloud, but this was his best guess, so he offered up.

"Mm. Nemean merely said that Rezik 'looked like me, but blue' and, apparently, he has a-" (and here, Pride's expression curled into a sort of quizzical mocking) "-'stupid face.' She claims he was some sort of Gembound traitor who brought information, I think, to Astraea."

The stag walked a slow circle, expression distant, thinking to himself. "I would not ask for him to be wholly altruistic. We've no idea, after all, who they are, what these caves are, or how any of us truly came into being. But the things he's said make him out to be--well, an asshole," Pride said bluntly, glancing with mirthless amusement toward Mercurius. Somethings things had to be said straight, and for Pride himself to use language like this was rare enough that he knew it'd make his point clear to those who knew him well. "I do not ask anyone to be wholly selfless. I do not think you could live as long as he has, if you were. But I do ask them not to be assholes where it is not needed. Not to abuse, or cow, or torment. And no one else will draw the line but us. Our--entire society, our culture, every Gembound in these caves; it us up to us to draw those lines, and to police them, and ourselves." He paused, and shook his thin mane a little, as if to step down off his metaphorical pedestal. "Anyway-... May you be safe. I suppose I could find you if I had to. And I will bring Azizos with me... provided I am not planning anything too dangerous."

Pride gave a bow of his head, antlers sweeping, toward Mercurius--and then, after the briefest hesitation (as if realizing this wasn't quite enough), he strode over to touch noses with him. "Be safe, my friend. And if Astraea tries anything, find me. I will fight for you."

@Mercurius

"A 'stupid face,'" Mercurius repeated, trying to envision what on this rocky-enclosed earth that could look like, "that's quite helpful in your quest, hm?" Ironically, it seemed like Reji and Rezik were opposites, despite their similar sounding names and shared blueness. Both were 'traitors' to Gembound-kind, it seemed. In the past, that may have been a way to survive. There was no telling how old - or how recent - they were.

The arthritic beast stretched out his legs behind himself, overgrown claws kneading slightly into the blue earth as relief poured through his body; he listened carefully, politely as Pride spoke on altruism and the admitted impossibility of it. Mercurius hummed softly, spiralling horns nodding in silent agreement. "Every action comes with a reason," he murmured, "but it's the reasons that matter." His own gentle demeanor and advice towards other could be considered selfish - a desire to at least spread his own goodness to others in the caves, suggest that it was a more productive way to go than constant violence and 'assholery.' "We can't possibly know Astraea's full set of motives, but... you can try," he called softly, a slight grimace on his face as he carefully heaved upwards.

Settled on his own four paws and nosing Pride back, Mercurius murmured, quiet, "I'm willing to be selfish, just this once, and go back on what I've told Rift I wouldn't do." With oddly intimate wording for a platonic parent relationship, he pressed, "if I'm to be honest, I'll miss our talks - like these - and you and our sons too much. We'll be in Monoceros - I'm unsure of where, quite yet." Although, that could be easily deduced from the routes out of here - Canis was already occupied, Polaris was too obvious, Pisces held little place to hide, and Fornax was simply too far and difficult for him to climb to safely. "Rift will likely want to grow a garden as quickly as possible - Arsu might like to join us in that, at least."

"I trust your strength. Good luck, Pride." Taking a few slow, rocky steps away, Mercy paused mid-step, waiting to see if there would be any more.

@Pride
;exit?

Pride's ears flicked forward, eyes lighting with brief, intense thought. He'd been about to offer emotional responses about how he, too, would miss their talks, but would try to find Mercurius and so forth--but the mention of Monoceros had him blinking.

He lowered his head at once to the ground, and concentrated.

The rock rumbled and cracked, and split; and as he watched, he was delighted to see that the sheen and hue of the gemstone were precisely what he'd aimed for. It wasn't gold--it couldn't be--but it held the gleam and glint of it, a strong yellow edging toward brown, in places. It was--though he didn't know the name for it--a yellow Apatite, a chunk over a foot in diameter.

"Bring this to Monoceros," Pride instructed, gently, nudging the hunk of raw jewel as it came loose and toppled on the rock. He eyed Mercurius doubtfully; the lion might have trouble getting it there, he realized, but he'd find a way. Maybe his jaws could grip an end.

"Find the dragon Dread. He works for the Seven, for gems and gold. Tell him that Pride is hiring him, with this, to protect your group, and he will. Just be sure to tell him up front that this is not gold, but a gemstone. I warn you he is not-... as intelligent, as some. But he is not stupid, either, and he will be useful to have on your side, should it come to a fight. And, I think, it would be useful for him not to see you as intruders."

Pride gave Mercurius a nod. "I wish you luck. I may send Mischief to you, merely so I can keep an eye on things, but... stay safe. I will do the same." With that he turned, making his way away with the clatter of hooves, and deep thoughts on his face.

exit Pride?
@Mercurius