Ischium scratched a flea.

Bonebound and Gembound! Come!

Oh, okay then. He leaped to his paws and, telling his family he'd be back as soon as he could, bounded to the source of the sound, wagging his tail at the sight of Aure - although it began to tuck when he realized, oh, this was about that, he hadn't understood a lot of it but it was still very bad he understood that well enough.

His head swung to face Giggle, an ear twitching, quickly scratched by a back paw oh he itched! and then a little hog-thing was yelling, and he tilted his head oh what was that? joined by another thing, and Kerberos was speaking, all three of his heads, and he understood, just a bit,

"I want to learn to provide! To protect." he nodded. "I can speak to the bones, but... that's not-not-not enough!" He still... didn't quite understand but he wanted to help.

It had been a very long time since Skeena had seen her family.

She had lost herself to her bones, to her own mind.

But it was... nice. She had found peace, a balance, for once. They were quiet, murmuring only rarely, and though she wanted, nothing more, than to visit her family, to see them and talk to them, she feared losing herself again.

So it was only when her presence was demanded that she went.


Her tiny bone was clutched in her paw, and she bounded across familiar bones, ears flat against her skull. 'What if-what if-what if' raced through her mind, fears and concerns and worries, and since when had the family grown so large? And oh but there was little Aure, grown so big! and there was Mother, but Aure was speaking and she was worried, this sounded like a horrible mess, and she wanted Mother but Mother was talking and she didn't dare interrupt.


So she waited, waited for a lull, then spoke up for the first time in many, many cycles, "I can look into the past of bones, and mark them on the walls of my home."

His gaze flicked down to his mother first, ears pricking forwards to catch her sound-as-always advice. "Of course. I believe most of us have magic that can be cast from a distance, to help the larger fighters — if we're called on to assist," Aure dipped his head. There was always the possibility that the stag Astraea didn't summon them for this particular battle, but it was good to keep your guns in order, in case of an emergency. The climate of the Caves changed at a whim: one moment, there was peace; another, and one Master was dead and another? was stolen.

A wry smile twisted the corners of his beak as he bowed, "thank you, Seer." Playful use of titles, you see...

Kerberos came to his attention next, and the young King regarded him with just as much warmth. Indeed, he was big and strong — but, so gentle and determined to protect his family. They didn't share the closeness of brothers like they should (I ought fix that.) but their bond was nevertheless unshakable. "Of course, Kerberos can train as well, in protecting one another."

For Ischium and Skeena, he offered — "those are good - the bones could use protectors and seers. Any wisdom they hold can help us."

There was nothing from Damask, and it didn't go unnoticed. He glanced at the monochromatic hybrid, his daughter — all grown and looking better than she had weeks ago, at his crystalline bedside. Not that he hadn't known this before; they'd had their fair share of interactions since his reawakening. Aure was, though, unaware of what mire lurked beneath the exterior, all casual stiffness and buttoned-up tuxedos. The damage he'd believe himself to have caused. But, the young King knew, she wouldn't want him to linger on her, put her at the center of attention unwittingly. His attention traveled on after a split-second sympathetic smile, frown, and squint of the eyes for her.

Ashtoreth said nothing, either, but he had no expectation of anything different; she was content on the sidelines, doing as she pleased. If she wanted something, they could talk about it later.

Aure didn't recognize the lammergeier that piped up in the next opening, not even as a creature ambling about on the fringes of Canis. In all his patrols and gliding about, the young King managed to miss Nemo every time. Regardless, his opinions and counsel were welcomed and received eagerly, "I've seen smaller ones in Polaris, yes, but kept my distance from there." Beat. Brows furrowed in consideration, and then Aure continued, "we could ask if other groups would like to come with us, to learn about them and prepare." Ideally, even the Gembound they might be fighting alongside. Bright eyes glanced out over the crowd, expecting more opinions on that. He was just the leader of this forum, after all. Sort of like a mediator —

Speaking of... the slightly unwelcomed uproar. His feathers stayed smooth, even as he distinctly recalled a bird with sparking spurs and a grating voice, hell-bent on assault. The boar — and her companions — weren't jumping to violence, but it was difficult not to read too far into the bristling of hairs and rambling about her loss.

The young King didn't know about the Trial of Darkness and its involuntary subjects; only that, one day, a number of Gembounds went into the Tunnel, and weeks later, not so many emerged. It was some Trial, at the very least. Was it fair, then, to be upset that this group of Gembound went in (as far as he was assuming) and suffered losses? Aure's beak drew into a thin line. Vincenzo had gone in of his own volition, and he died for it. But, the bird hadn't known. That'd been the first of them. Unbeknownst to Aure — and his Bonebound — they'd lost two more of their own, too: Elyon and Vinea.

Then again, the youth and unawareness of implying that Masters weren't universally known as harbingers of bad news — and the barging in? "What do we owe them?" He'd just said compliance in exchange for their collective survival.

But, Aure waited for Kerberos to talk, taking the time to run a dialogue through his head and mentally thank the cerberus for his own address and advice — it was good. Don't judge a creature by its bite and its claws, but it's ability to change.

The Bone King took it into his own conscious, shaped his next words with it: "I don't know if... the four of you are young and unaware of happenings in the Caves, but — there are things in... no, outside of these Caves that are powerful enough that even the Masters fear them." Aure paused to inhale. "They've died to them — her, this... Lord, that Astraea mentioned to us. Two of them, I think, were killed. Another was stolen." He sighed, softly, "I don't believe that the Masters are liars; at least, not Astraea. Cruel, maybe, but not a con-man."

Despite the cottony, tightening feeling of his throat at the mere thought — "he had us fight against our own kind to keep the Caves from being taken over by a... disease that called itself Mother. It would have taken control of everyone if left alone, and we wouldn't have known." His throat bobbed, swallowing, "they know more than we do, and it's all we can do to trust them and offer our aid when it's asked for." If Wilder'd succeeded in infecting him...

No, no, not now. Aure softened somewhat, bright eyes looking almost earnest as he spoke again, "I'm sorry for what happened to you and your... family. Canis can be home to you, for a while, if you need — if you won't cause trouble and bring the Masters down on us." For the sake of his own, he couldn't associate them or himself with troublemakers. The Bonebound did not need yet more sacrifice, after that close brush with sending himself and one of his kin into Hydra for failing to completely protect Rezik.

Staring more closely at the boar and the strange hybrid-beast, the young King noticed them... struggling. His gaze left them for the moment, flicking through the crowd. Rifling through the faces, even though he couldn't come up with an immediate suspect (nor would he name them out loud, if he could) he chirped, "whoever's doing that, let go — let them speak."

To keep this meeting thread relatively short and establish what needs to be established, I'm going to say that I will post Aure again on August 24th, regardless of who has or hasn't posted yet this round. Hope y'all understand! <3

Since this post is a massive 1,064 words long and things are slightly out of posting order, I've underlined the names (or titles, in Giggle's case) of all the characters Aure has addressed and their respective paragraphs, for easy skimming and responses. Enjoy this literal wall.

@Giggle @Sora @Morganite @Damask @Ischium (Skeena) @Kerberos (Ashtoreth) @Charles @Nemo @Pumpkin ... and still any others interested in spectating or joining the Bonebound!
For Sora and Morganite, please allow other Bonebound to post their reactions to prior posts before doing your own posts! :cattoblush:

Morganite, Kerberos, Nemo and Skeena are somewhat personally addressed. Anyone else can mostly just skim her dialogue if needed.

Giggle's head jerked this way and that as the others spoke. Strangers. Were they Bonebound, now-? Were there new members, without her having been made aware? Irritation, nervousness, rose in her--not at the idea that someone might've been invited without her knowing (that wasn't her place, or her concern) but at the mere presence of a cluster of strangers.

When Morganite spoke, she was quick to correct it.

"YOU," she snapped, turning and narrowing eyes at it. "Why did you say BREEDING? Who said BREEDING? I didn't say BREEDING. Don't make assumptions that aren't SAID. He has family ALREADY, and that's what I meant, unless there's something you know that you aren't sharing," she added. It wasn't a necessarily hostile statement, but it was stern and clear. She did not want her readings, or her words, twisted and misrepresented. That was not how the bones should work!

When Kerberos spoke, though, his voice calm and measured--and wasn't that something; when Kerberos was the voice of reason among them?--she herself calmed, her ruffled fur lowering along her back, her eyes shifting to him. She bowed her head in acknowledgment. "I agree with Kerberos. If we have a problem with them, I suggest we talk to them, or ask the bones if they'll be a threat and what to do about it. Planning in the background, sniping and bitching about them, is a coward's way and should be a last resort," she added, flashing a glare at the newcomers. Astraea had spoken to them candidly. Had offered to teach them. Yes, some of his words had been unpleasant but he, so far as she knew, had made no attempt to hide anything from them or to threaten them in any way.

Nemo spoke--another Lammergeier-? Giggle stared, blinking. "Are you one of us?" she asked, out of surprise and not confrontation. There'd been so many lammergeiers in Canis that it was sometimes hard to tell if she'd met individuals--and if he wasn't one, surely he was meant to be-?

Ischium was asking to learn, and Giggle nodded to him; she'd leave that for Aure to arrange. Surely the Bone King could find him a suitable teacher?

Ahh, and now Aure was speaking. Giggle spotted Skeena in the crowd, and pushed up, pacing over to sit beside her--offering a friendly nudge--as she listened to her son. Strange, to think they're siblings, sort of. They're so different, she thought, absently. A nod to Aure, a smirk, as he titled her; and then she turned her attention to his words.

She glanced around as he said 'whoever's doing that, let go, let them speak'; her eyes settled on Sora, and she realized that the pig was trying, and failing, to continue in her words. The hyena glanced around again in some surprise, but she had no idea of who was capable of that sort of magic, let alone who might actually dare to use it in a meeting.

rain stock: D Sharon Pruitt wiki commons; hyena Benjamin Hollis on flickr

Ashtoreth had only been paying half-attention, shooting the occasional glance toward Damask in an attempt to catch the raptor's gaze and roll her eyes at some of the comments being thrown around. Unfortunately, Damask was much more enraptured in the show, and eventually, Ash seemed to catch on to why, as Giggle snapped and Aure called out for the magic to stop being cast.

The furry noodle did a quick survey: Sora and Morganite, struggling to open their mouths and make any sound; and the others, looking around furiously. It took only a split second to put two and two together, and to be quite honest, Ashtoreth didn't want the blame being cast on any of the rest of the Bonebound. It was bound to, perhaps, start a fight... But she could diffuse it, right then and there.

With a great big sigh, Ashtoreth rose up on to her hind legs, rolling her eyes. Her wings flapped once, and then twice, and she shot another fierce glare at the boar and the hybrid. Her lip curled up, even though she didn't give a rat's skull what any of them had been saying (maybe she should have been listening.) She settled back down on her paws, lashing her tail, and turned her head away and hunched her shoulders, refusing to spare another glance for the strangers.

Read: 'Ughh, whatever you say, Aure. They better watch what they say, though.'

A big, fake show, but immediately all blame was deflected easily on to her-- Ashtoreth was a quiet, terrible little mischief maker who in the past had certainly shown the capability of using pressure magic to silence others. Maybe not this specific spell, hah, but with one perfectly dramatic play, all eyes were easily taken off of the true perpetrator.

@Damask
Listen to me + Hear my thoughts

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά

Kerberos was exceedingly proud of how the others took his words. At least... Well... How Aure and Giggle responded to them. His tail thumped happily, and he held his heads high, glancing around at the gathered as though he had set an exceedingly good example. "Thank you," he woofed in a quiet, polite voice to both of them. He was eager to train anyone who wanted it, and glad to be doing good with his family.

A dog, just like him, spoke up among the others, saying that he wanted to learn how to help and provide. Kerberos tilted his heads toward the coyote, tail thumping. He didn't actually know this Bonebound very well, but he could smell the dusty, bone-smell all over Ischium. This, paired with Aure and Giggle's response, got the big hellhound wriggling a little in his seat.

Quietly, he woofed, "I can teach you some things..!" It was an eager offer, for certain. "And maybe you can teach me about bones, too." Despite being in the Bonebound for a long time, he had never really picked up from Giggle how to read the bones. He could do a little bit of bone magic, but it was... a little bit too cerebral for the big mutt. He nodded to Skeena, too, as though maybe she'd feel invited (rather than intimidated) by the big dog.

Aure insisted that Canis would be a safe haven for the others, if they wanted it. Kerberos didn't want to interrupt too much, but he did add on, "Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it," which coming from the big guy, meant they could rely on him for basically anything short of murder. As he said that, however, Aure had picked up on the magic that Kerberos had missed, and requested that whoever was keeping them from talking to stop.

A whine came from the canine's three throats, and he glanced about, only to end up staring down Ashtoreth, the little noodle who... she was Bonebound, but she also was something of the black sheep of the family. This was a peaceful gathering-- why was she using magic on anyone?

@Ischium in particular, no one else is addressed super directly//

There was praise, if slight, from Aure, and Ischium's tail set to wagging so violently as to nearly knock over the scrap of a coyote, his hind paws dancing to keep his balance. Oh, oh he was a good bonebound!

And then there was an offer to teach him from Kerberos, and he nodded, "Yes! I would like that!" and from another head, "I can do that, they like you!"

One of the nearby rat skulls, his eyes darted to, grinned.

There was chaos, and he whined, looking from Bonebound to Bonebound - what should he do?

Seer.

The same title Aure had used for Mother. She would not be the same sort of Seer, no, but seer all the same - they would be kin and kith, and her ears perked up, a grin on her face.

And - Mother! - she nuzzled close, not speaking but showing her affection all the same, still clutching close her little bone, leaning against her as she looked around, taking in the intruders that had been muted. The hybrid attempted to catch Kerberos' eye - at least, one of them, there were rather a lot - and nodded, she'd like that.

Content Warning
This post contains potentially sensitive material:

death

strong language

If we were witnessing the Eythan of cycles years ago, he would've outright left the meeting as soon as someone began to jump on the Bone King - his father. Put his head down, sulked away, the whole nine yards. It was pathetic of him, but he would've. He was so mired in his own spite and disgust that he wouldn't even jump to old Aza'zel's defense if the times called for it. Only when wind was whistling through both their feathers did the gryphon leap; and it'd been mistimed.

That was an if. He was better than that, now.

The spotted hybrid bristled immediately, a narrow-minded anger bleeding into his entire body. Eyes squinted, ears back, teeth half-bared beneath his beak, Eythan waited for the others to spit before he delivered his piece in a low, disgruntled muttering: "who gave y'the right to fuckin' come in here 'n piss 'n moan about people, anyways?" Giggle'd been much louder and more indirect about that, but he wouldn't spare this pig the dirty details.

It was the principle of the act, more than anything. Literally 'splained that Master shit like it wasn't the exact same shit on everybody's mind every fuckin' day we see 'em. Eythan rolled his shoulders where he sat, hanging his head low to glare.

But, judging from the brief glare his brother gave him, it was the Bone King's call what came next - who had what rights.

He was barely listening to what was being said. His head was reeling, his eyes were drooping, but he had something he wanted to say. It was...it was important. He didn't have the same care at the moment to start planning a fight back against the Masters. Perhaps earlier he had, but he just wanted to sleep, sleep and forget. But he needed to say something important because he didn't think they knew...they didn't know.

He opened his wings and fluttered off, landing on the ground and managing to lift his head up. "23 of us went into Hydra. 11 never came out. A massive snake, a large black dog that stood on two legs and protected us to the very end, a large white wolf that breathed fire, a fossa with a skull on his head, a tall dog with feathered wings, a black leopard that helped us with his words, a tall six-limbed creature with chitinous plates, two tails, and a beard, and...our family. Owlface, Orenstein, Simon, Kini...they all died. They were consumed. They were fed to the darkness, as Vargas and the Merchant said. We were raised only to be fed to the darkness. I don't care what you do with this information or how you feel about it, but that's what's happening right outside your home. Children are being raised for slaughter while the Masters turn around and play nice with you all. I wouldn't trust them, if I were you. They don't care about us."

His speech complete, he turned and climbed back onto Sora and began to disassociate again, trying not to think about the encroaching darkness that kept trying to prod at the back of his head.

@Aure tag for u since he's addressing Aure directly, but also just kinda talking to everyone.