Aethereal grew restless. Her dreams of violent chaos had worsened, and after her third nightmare within an hour or so last night, she'd given up on any hopes of a good sleep. Instead, she traveled. To where, she did not know, but she had a growing urge to seek out something - a source of chaos, though she had not put the feeling in words - and she knew by instinct that she would not find it in Ursa.

The surface beneath her paws changed from snow, then to rock, then soft, clipped grass. Aethereal felt that she was in the open air of a cave room, now, and not constrained by the walls of a tunnel, so she opened her wings and took flight in order to travel faster. This was not the right room, either. Even the grass had seemed neat and even, more orderly than anything outside of Ursa's ice tunnels had been. She would not find what she was seeking here, so she had to keep moving.

Though Aethereal did not actively try to draw attention, any attempt to look ordinary and unassuming might be hampered by the fact that she was a giant headless valkhound surrounded by mysterious whispers and dripping oil everywhere she went. The black liquid was splattered across her chest, and iridescent droplets left an intermittent trail of oil across the grass underneath. I need to clean myself soon, she thought, but was distracted from both seeking and bathing by a curious smell.

It was fresh and sweet and unlike any prey animal. When Aethereal followed it, she found that it emanated from a tree. She circled around the treetop, the vents on her side flaring as she took in the smell. What an oddly pleasant scent! If she succeed in finding what she sought and passed through this room again, she would be sure to take a sample home to show her siblings.

Passing through Cepheus was, at the best of times, a necessary evil. He avoided the palace out of respect for Isra, or perhaps mostly out of fear. But this was unsettling. As he strode through the fields at the edges, doing his best to steer clear of the borders of the palace, he noticed a disturbance.

Something in this cave was covered, inside and out, in a neat web of white fungus.

His blood ran cold -- he was already moving. "Excuse me?" he called, raising his head as he approached them. Mother likely knew who he was -- likely knew he was an enemy. Maybe they'd attack him? He instinctively prepared for it, magic pulsing out around him into healthy, black frills at his throat. Judging by the size of the thing and the general shape, an impression left by the fungus, it was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. "Hello! I noticed you from a way off," he explained, stopping a couple feet short. He needed an excuse to touch them -- or maybe needed to call Isra in to restrain them? Would she take the risk? Would James?

Tahi-shei was a little breathless, a little overwhelmed, and a little desperate. Whatever this was, it was big and it was powerful and he needed to cleanse it. "Hi! My name is Tahi-shei, I'm a deer. You?" If he'd been luckier, maybe he'd have had functional sight to see that the Witch of Winter did not have any eyes and likely could not see him to identify him. But he was rarely so lucky, these days.

To James, this would likely look strange, but he certainly knew Tahi-shei well enough that he did not approach random strangers in such a rush, especially when he could not see -- if he was able to spot Aethereal from several yards away, it meant she had fungus in or on her body. Furthermore, he didn't put up his frills unless he was expecting a fight.

@aethereal
@james

James had been walking with Tahi through the gardens idly, Darling somewhere nearby, probably mingling with the other Hellswans. He picked his way daintily around the paths, content to just spend time with Tahi.

At least, until he booked it.

James stood frozen for a moment, staring at the massive creature before bolting forward too. His vision flared up in shades of black and grey, but he skid to a halt as he saw the webbing of fungal growth within this creature. Mother.

He felt ill.

"Um... Hello," he said, tail swishing nervously, trying to keep the fear out of his voice, "I am James."

He leaned his head down to mumble into Tahi's ear, "Since when did Mother have one of the Draco beasts?"

There was no mistaking it. Black goo leaking out of her sides, an uncanny appearance and large, most likely able to topple trees and step on ordinary gembounds should she want to. Like Draconua, who'd put Pegasus to the torch.

Yeah you could say James didn't want her anywhere near Pegasus and his clutch of children, his wings raising up and tail fanning out in a defensive display.

@Aethereal

Aethereal's blindness was a hindrance to Mother. The fungal swarm could not see through her eyes, and so the approach of Tahi-shei and James came as a total surprise. Too, Mother could not see who it was who approached: the strangers were just that--strangers--until Tahi-shei spoke.

By then, it was too late to ask Aethereal to remain hidden.

"Tell them... you belong... to the Creator. Tell them... you hunt... Mother. But that you can say... no more. That these are... secrets. You cannot trust them..." Mother urged. "And if they draw close... run."

@Aethereal

"You're a deer?" Aethereal repeated, alarmed. Any thoughts of be wary of strangers or introduce yourself, too! were pushed aside in favor of this development. Tahi-shei couldn't be a deer! She ate deer! "I'm so sorry!" she blurted. "I didn't know you talked and had names!" Ugh, but what else was she supposed to hunt, knowing that anything could be sapient like her? The ones she ate hadn't talked. Or maybe they just never had a chance to.

Then Mother whispered in her mind's ear, and the gravity of the situation sank in. Mother wanted her to lie. Not only that, but she was being asked to tell them she was hunting Mother! That could only mean one thing: Tahi-shei and James wanted Mother dead. Possibly to eat her. These were dangerous strangers, and Aethereal did not want to linger.

Still... to lie, and about such a heinous crime, too. Attempted matricide! The very thought was abhorrent to her. But when the safety of herself and her Mother hung on the line, surely Aethereal couldn't be faulted for telling some... not lies, no... but half-truths. And if they assumed wrongly, that was their own fault. "I am Aethereal, and I was birthed by my Creator!" Aethereal cried, her voice like a dozen whisper-shouts speaking at once. She flapped her wings, gaining altitude and pulling away from the tree: preparing for a quick exit.

"And I am on a search," she continued, dropping her voice. "Top secret; can't tell you many details. It will be a joyous day indeed when I succeed! On that day, I will charge into Ursa, and I will find Mother!" Perhaps charge was a strong word, but Aethereal was eager to go back home.

"Now I must continue on my way. Farewell, Tahi-shei and James!" With that, she beat her wings and shot eastward as fast as she could. The thing (or place) she sought lie in that direction. She could feel it.

@Tahi-shei attempted exit toward Pegasus

strong language

He was already inching closer to Aethereal. "Not all deer can," he said breezily, "but it's still nice to ask first." Play it off. Relax. Don't make her suspicious.

But her voice... the panic in it. He felt a sick satisfaction, somewhere deep -- Mother knew who he was. Whatever created her might have, too. It made him a target, sure, but it also made him feared. It was like a light switch was flipped in Tahi-shei when Aethereal started to steal away from them. She was starting to run and, lightning arced off him and as close to her wings as he could get it. He had no other choice to slow her down, but he paired it with a call, projecting his voice -- "You can't fucking hide from me, Dontacael!"

"Get her," he said a breath later, voice like flint. "Or chase her into Draco." This was not Tahi-shei Deimos, the fun-loving scholar and the father of James's children -- this was the Fungal Prince, the creature who had murdered Elias, the one leading an army. This was a creature of frigid attitudes and vengeance.

Then, he shouted at the top of his lungs, as loudly as he could possibly muster, "ISRA! THE HIVE IS IN YOUR CAVE!" and began his pursuit on foot. He prayed that Isra would care -- Vargas certainly would have. Make Mother terrified, he thought, recalling the fear and anxiety in the Quarry during the Hunt in Pegasus. You are my prey. I am the hunter. I will tear you limb from limb.

Not Aethereal, of course -- to Tahi-shei, she was a hopeless and passive observer, someone being manipulated by a cold and unrelenting force. She was not the victim here... but if she was meant to serve... the Creator? He'd have to ask Vargas about that later, but whatever it was, he had already deemed it an ally -- and was claiming she hunted Mother, with that fungus threaded through her, then she was going to end up feeling like one. He'd explain later, when she wasn't actively fleeing. Mother's influence was persuasive -- if you'd tried to cleanse him at the Raid, he probably would have attacked you, too.

And if we can't explain to her, he thought, something in him frigid and flinted, then Draconua will.

GMs have given me permission to change this roll to Bolt, targeted specifically at her wings.

James snorted and nodded once before rearing and taking off at a dead gallop. His hooves tore up the turf and he flattened out, legs extending and wings flapping to give him an extra burst of speed. He jumped and surged into the air, flat over the ground, not wanting to waste a moment of time trying to angle upwards unless he was close.

His mane flew wildly behind him, the braid it was in coming undone within a few moments. Vaguely, he heard the honking of his familiar as she flew after him, coming to his aid at a simple thought. Clever girl.

James advanced quickly, his run and his flight fueled by the fear of this dangerous, mothered creature getting near his children. He snorted and tossed his head as he flew under her, before veering upwards suddenly and falling in behind, his nose close enough to touch her tail.

"Friend! Please, we do not wish to harm you but you are a danger! The being speaking in your head spouts nothing but lies!", he cried, "You are not of your own mind with her in your head! Please listen to me and resist her!"

He only hoped they weren't too late, that somehow Aethereal could be reasoned with.

@Aethereal

By all accounts, Isolde was having a good day. A great day, even, perhaps- he had her fill of a few lessers and fruits, had her fill of fresh air- especially after being driven off of her favorite perch for not the first time in her life.

Even if she looked like them, she had a feeling the palace swans didn't particularly like her loitering about the place.

Still. As she soared from her last meal through an easy updraft in the air, her wings angled to the side and her peacock tail spread, icy eyes locating her 'home'. Even if she hadn't made a proper establishment, it was still a nice place to sleep after a full day of hunting.

Except, there was someone pointedly running away from it, and screaming. Isra? That name was like her's, except not. Huh. Flexing her mouth, Isolde changed from a glide to a speeding flap, tucking in her spindly legs to soar to the ground.

Skidding beside Tahi-shei ("hello-- James-friend," she had droned tonelessly), Isolde stared up to the chase as James booked it in pursuit. Completely tone deaf, her head craned to Tahi and- either incredibly dumb, or not noticing the utter rage from the smaller deer- spoke. "Is there a problem?"

If someone didn't know her, one could take this as a threat or unintentional distraction with that toneless voice of her's. But she didn't seem to be posturing. No- just simply looking, before craning her head up to watch Aethereal's and James's flights. Her wings rusted, and she took a step back- how strange.

More strange new people, and loud ones, too.

Dontacael? "IT'S AETHEREAL, SHOSTAKOVICH!" she yelled back at the deer. Let's see how he liked being called by the wrong name! What had she ever done to him, anyway?!

Then a bolt of electricity struck her left wing mid-flap, and Aethereal roared. Her wingbeats faltered, and she made a messy landing but continued to run toward the tunnel at full speed. The area where the bolt had struck smoldered and reddened with a fresh burn. We do not wish to harm you? Nothing but lies? Were these strangers hypocrites or what? What had they just done, if not hurt and lie to her? She had done nothing but exist. But while Mother helped her and gave her a place within their family, these strangers wanted nothing but violence. If it hadn't been clear who the good guys and bad guys were before, Aethereal was certainly sure who they were now.

She tucked her wings close to her body, the opening in her neck contracting in an approximation of a wince as she moved the burned membrane. The smaller of a target she could make herself, the better, even if the smallest she could do was still giant compared to your average deer. This wasn't going to work. They were using magic (cheaters!), the sound of their hoof/wingbeats drew ever closer, and they were calling for reinforcements. She needed a distraction.

Well, if they were using offensive magic against her, it was only fair for Aethereal to respond in kind. Let it never be said that she was the first to escalate a conflict: she had tried to flee at first, after all. But sometimes, the best way to fight fire was with fire. The Witch of Winter skidded to a halt, whirled around, and lashed out with all her magical might. There would be a sudden drop in air pressure around James, Tahi-shei, and - unfortunately - Isolde. Aethereal had no idea that the swan-alien was there, and hadn't intended to drag in a bystander, but one could hardly expect good things to come from standing next to a Gembound who was very loudly antagonizing a gigantic valkhound.

@Tahi-shei putting this here in case it lasts long enough for a judged fight
Round 1/?
Attempt: suck the air out of their lungs and make it hard to breathe so they don't have the oxygen to pursue
Defense: tuck everything close
Injuries: electricity burn on left wing

Slightly exasperated but still in pursuit, Tahi-shei replied, "I'm not talking to you! I'm talking to Mother!" Mother knew that, he was certain, but he wasn't going to totally ignore Aethereal. He swore under his breath -- she was getting ahead of him. In a last-ditch effort, he pushed his magic out to try and gain some ground from the skies. Almost all of his spells were long range, unfortunately. All he needed to do was stop her long enough to explain. He glanced back at Isolde, just for a beat. "Run or fight!" he hissed.

Just as he pushed out his magic, suddenly, he found himself unable to breathe. So much for balance, thought Tahi, feeling a little bit hysterical as he took to the air for literally the first time in his life. He'd dwell on it later, panic later, deal with everything later -- "I know you don't-- believe-- us, but Mother is-- your," he gasped, "enemy!" Tahi-shei landed now, mercifully having made ground towards Aethereal. He wheezed, desperately trying to suck in air -- he was bruised from the rough landing, whatever. He was closer. He'd achieved that goal.

Even if he was currently fighting to stay conscious in the face of the drop in air pressure. He swore, for a beat, that he heard whispers -- he imagined briefly how it would feel to bite her, to tear at her throat and shred her skin -- these were foreign desires for a prey animal, but the sudden flash of an urge (albeit weak) to destroy this beast of Order was-- was--

"Too... strong-- can't... let her-- hurt them. Hurt... you. Sorry." He choked it out, feeling lightheaded. When would this end? Ever? Caves, he prayed that it would. This wasn't fair. Distantly, he wondered if this is how Madhukar felt, sometimes, when everything got to be too much.

@james
@isolde
@aethereal

Round: 1/?
Attempt: Catch up to Aethereal!
Defense: Inky Cap
Injuries: Touched & struggling to breathe (via Black Winds)

Tahi-shei is now Touched with 1 point of Corruption.