The sound of crashing startled him from his rest. A quick yelp shot out of him as he tumbled from his raised mat for a bed. 'What in the caves-' Even if he and Asteri were taking little cat-naps, he wouldn't be able to rest with something like this going on.

It had a pattern to it. A direction. To make that noise, that thing must be huge.

Was the Overseer in these parts?

Getting to his feet after checking that the kid was still asleep, Attikias stretched out his arms to the side as accommodation to his gem laden shoulder. He didn't feel a hurry, not as he put his hat over his shoulder and gathered his effects, dwindling as they were from damage.

The voice calling for a moonstone grabbed his attention. His legs moved faster, navigating over familiar territory, before he fell in line behind the wake of destruction just behind a familiar tail.

"Az!" His voice was loud as he hustled to catch up, huffing. "What's going on?!"

It wasn't hard to see the carapace folding over itself. It was being talked to- and it talked back. An uneasy feeling rose in Attik as he stepped back into the brush, magic reaching in to cover his color without waiting for Azizos's response. Greenery spread from his chest and flourished outwards, dappled black spread across his back.

The lion was the same one from Astraea's visit. Was this related? Hunkering down, he tried to get out of sight (despite the others probably already seeing him), hand gripping the metal-tipped spear he brought along.

The emphasis on the word hunter nearly made him drop his spell. A hunter? A Hhunter? Like one he wanted to be so long ago? Why here? Why now?

And why a blind lion? He couldn't say anything to her defense; she'd just reject him, and his spot would be given away anyways if he wasn't already loud enough wandering through the bushes. This was a being under Astraea. If he did anything wrong, well, he'd threaten the good graces extended his way.

So for now, he watched, and tried to shoo anyone but Azizos away if they came close. He didn't have time to think of strangers outside of this one.

Deli

Deli stopped and crouched down in the bushes, a wide smile spread across their face. They didn't know this lion kid, but oh-ho! This was going to be good! As they watched and waited for the action to start, they allowed magic to spread through their body, enhancing their senses - sound, smell, vision, touch, taste...they wanted to remember this moment for later, so they could draw it or something!

It was disorienting, but they focused hard. They were gonna remember this!

---

Aran, well, was considerably confused at these developments. One moment, there was a large crystal in the room, and the next whatever inside was out and was moving around. Of course, he had speculated on what it could be, but wasn't really entirely sure he was right on those guesses. And... well no he wasn't. It was some kind of weird looking thing with lots of legs, and one that was considerably shiny.

He did move to catch up to the others, though. Maybe he could find some answers from them.

There was the rustling of underbrush that hinted to possible other bodies, but Venari's focus remained on the target. Atinneas began to speak, and she had a lot to say. When the lionness mentioned Astraea, Venari tilted her head. Ah... somehow, yes, she knew this name. It was important, to be respected—it sounded like he had given them a task of their own. Venari's head tilted the other way as the name Aetius was mentioned, and that Astraea had killed this Aetius—but she did not know this name, and it did not shock her that the creature died. Lots of creatures died, right? She felt that in her core, that it was okay to die.

As Venari listened, she lowered to a comfortable level where she was resting mostly on the ground. Atinneas admitted she had sought to injure Astraea—a name that, for Venari, instilled a reaction like touching a hot surface. She wasn't supposed to do that.

The question Atinneas asked left Venari thinking, until finally she asked, "What is that?"

What was... someone dear?

"If it is their job, I cannot argue." She raised herself again, clicking several of her front-most feet together. "As it was your job, if I understand correctly? You were tasked to eliminate someone. Did you complete your task?" It was unclear from the story. For Venari, she could feel that it was very important to complete her tasks. It was her purpose.

@Atinneas

as a maiden she tiptoes shy with her light...

Something big had carved it's way through the jungle. It was by chance that an equally big bug had stumbled across it. Thothaga did not visit Eridanus that often, but sometimes the spider needed to get out Cetus and explore. Imagine the thrill when she found the path of broken trees. Only an impressive creature (much like herself) would be capable of this destruction. Why, she had to follow it now!

Who know, there might be treasure at the end.

The giant spider crawled through the trees, snapping the young sapling that were initially spared by the mystery creature. Her black coat blended well with the canopy's shadows as long, spindly legs crossed between the gaps of trunks. Though the pads on her feet normally silenced her step, it was next to impossible for a creature of her size not to snap twigs and branches.

Crunch, crunch, crunch! She could probably be heard a few yards away.

There was a shrill cry for an Arcane Moonstone. It sounded much like her own; harsh, with underlying subvocals.Thothaga picked up her pace. What, no Arcane Quartz?
Thothaga squeezed into a glade and followed the trail down further. She couldn't be far now, actually she came up on it sooner than expected.

The spider stopped in her tracks. Be still my beating heart. Her beady eyes stared up at the back of a giant, crimson centipede. Thothaga cracked her fangs. She could hardly believe her eight eyes.

Finally, another invertebrate!

"Thothaga speaking."
Thothaga thinking.

"Someone dear, is a creature that you truly care for. It is someone you would protect at all costs." Venari then asked if she fulfilled her task. Absolutely not. "No. I did not. The leader of our group believed in peace. He refused to do it, and fled with most of the group, knowing the group would be punished if they stayed. But me and a friend stayed behind. But as I said Venari, I am no danger to these caves. So I don't see the need for you to eliminate me. But I should not have attacked a master. If there is an alternate punishment, I would gladly take it." Atinneas had honor. So she waited to hear Venari's words and answer.

@Game Master CJ

The meaning was lost on Venari. If she had to pick someone to be someone dear, per the definition—someone she would protect at all costs—then she would have to pick those she felt allegiance toward. It was sown with her magic and had grown with her. It was innate: a part of her.

Atinneas admitted that they had not completed the task given to them. The reason being that their leader... believed in peace? Venari considered what this meant, but she shrugged it off. Regardless of why, their entire group decided to refuse, and without even the decency to say so—they all just fled.

"Hmm," she hummed, clicking her foremost feet together. "There is no alternate punishment. My task is to eliminate you," Venari explained, idly rubbing her scythe-mandibles together. "I can do this for you: I will leave your stone intact, then, and your friend may give it new life. You will not have your memories, of course, but your magic will continue. Do you agree to this?"

Initially, she was created to destroy—with a diamond scythe that would pierce any stone—but she was also capable of making her own decisions. She would not, however, ignore her task and disobey orders. "It will be painless," she added after thinking for a moment.

@Atinneas

Atinneas laid down, seeing no other way out. "Very well, do as you wish. I will not stop you from doing your duty. Though, there is one last wish I want you to fulfill. There is a maned wolf named Zavenlora in Eridanus, she still lives here. Find her and tell her to give my stone to someone named Zutar. She will know who that is. She usually is found in a place in this cave, called The Eyes. The Eyes are a twin pair of crystalline water pools situated near the far wall of the room. Tell her to give it to none other than Zutar. If you can do this simple task, then you may kill me. Just call for Zavenlora, she will be there." Atinneas closed her eyes, not wanting to see her life end. But she felt calm. She was blind anyway.

@Game Master CJ

Venari started toward the lion, pausing as she spoke up again. The Hunter listened patiently until a frown touched the corner of her lips.

"You must have mistaken my kindness for charity," Venari said coldly. "I do not work for free. If they are your friend, then perhaps they will come looking for you and discover your stone. Unless you have anything to pay me with...?"

@Atinneas

"I'm sorry, you're right. I do not have anything to pay you with. So I will just have to hope my friend comes to pick up my stone. Do what you will." With that, she was done talking. It was stressful enough knowing she was about to die. She was not going to drag this out any further. She had nothing to pay Venari with. So she would just trust Zavenlora to find her in time.

@Game Master CJ