Several of the golems lurching about the cave had come to a slow at the sound of the alligator's approach. Whatever paths they'd been following had ceased, and the golems for a moment fell still as the alligator came close. His voice sounded out, reaching deaf ears. The rocks lingered, then began to grind against one another, slowly shifting towards the alligator. Approximately three golems are now walking towards Dragon.

________________

Dragon hesitated, then slowly began to slip backwards, peering at the golems.

"Uh, are you friendly?" he tried. They didn't respond, so he started scurrying back a bit faster.

"Eve--Eve, I don't even know if they understand me. Can you check behind them...?" He kept a wary eye on the golems, and turned himself sideways to sort of scoot away a little faster, then paused, watching them with cautious curiosity.

As they approached, he scurried backwards or sideways, trying to keep some distance, though if they were swift enough of course they'd gain on him. As it was he called out to them a couple more times--vague greetings--and just tried to keep their attention.

They were here for the collar, after all. If these rock-things didn't have it, it didn't really matter what their intentions were. So long as the Cetus group could escape.

________________

(ooc -- @Eve )

________________

The crow fluffed herself up, leaning down to briefly preen the back of Tal'at's neck before Dragon shouted up. "Stay here," she said, before she took off, flapping down and flying a few feet over the golemn's heads.

She didn't waste time, the stone creatures were slow but they were definitely chasing Dragon. Just really slowly. She made a quick sweep of the area though found nothing particularly shiny - or interesting, for that matter.

In a few minutes she flew back towards the ledge and looked down after Dragon. "There's nothing here!" she called down.

________________

@Talat

Tal'at did not know what to think of Eve. She was strange: friendly yet still quite distant. Unlike his feathered brothers-- unrelated of course-- who had warmed right up to him. She did something that startled him a bit, but felt well-intentioned enough; he grew stiff as he felt her beak on the nape of his neck, flitting through his fur. She didn't answer his question, to his frustration, but Dragon soon called for her help and she was off.

Blind and useless, the bat simply waited atop his perch, peering sightlessly down at the leatherskinned gembound dancing around golems. Tal'at knew they were a bad sign, those heartless beasts. He shivered, keeping his focus on the pulse of Dragon. He hoped the strange, brave creature would be alright. This bat had quite a good feeling about Dragon. He was a protector of Cetus, a guardian, just like that strange, huge creature (no, not noodle dad, just a moose)...

Tal'at did not want to lose his new friends too soon. As soon as Eve called out that there was nothing, he took to the air again and swept down to Dragon, doing wide circles just out of reach of anything that might be lurking bellow-- he couldn't see the golems, so he didn't fly too low.

"Can we leave? We look elsewhere. No heartbeat bad!"


!!! ...
@Dragon

It's in the eyes!
I can tell, you will always be danger!
We had it tonight! Why do we always seek absolution?

________________

There are many who have never seen an alligator gallop. There are fewer still who have seen an alligator gallop through a cave, let alone pursued closely by grinding-rock magically-animated golems. In fact, this may have been the first time, and Eve might have been the first to see it; Tal'at, unfortunately--being blind--would not.

He would hear him, though: the scratching of claws on stone, the panting, perhaps even the racing heartbeat as the reptile launched himself toward the exit tunnel of Polaris, not the way they'd come in but rather where they were meant to meet the others.

He shouted only one word as he barreled past, wide-eyed as he ran from the golems.

"YES!"

A moment later his thick, black tail receded out of sight from Polaris, and into the tunnel beyond.

________________

((ooc -- @Eve ; exit the Dragon))

________________

Eve looked down at Tal'at and shaked her head. "Let's get outta here," she chirped, diving off the edge and waiting for the blind bat to follow.

She tried to lead him out of Polaris and after the galloping alligator and the golemns, though she rushed him a little just in case Dragon would be killed if they didn't hurry up. She croaked a little as she exited Polaris.

________________

((Exit eve, @Talat ))

Dragon shouted a reply, a screeching yes, and then-- the noise. Of running. Tal'at felt that prickle of anxiety and swept after Eve and the Dragon, hoping that the danger wouldn't follow them. He had no idea if they would, after all, and so he was frightened out of his wits as he desperately tried to keep up with them.

Adrenaline and instinct took over, and the bat flew after the noise out of the energy filled room and down into one of the many tunnels. He would never find his way back on his own now.










!!! ...
tal'at exit

It's in the eyes!
I can tell, you will always be danger!
We had it tonight! Why do we always seek absolution?