Racing in from the black-and-white, the beast probably scared a few lessers with its sudden presence. Its skin shifted into an acidic spotted yellow, impossible to disappear into the blue. Khavur would begin to try to flap its wings, spinning its adrenaline into power. Rising up into the air, the beast struggled to gain height as always, but once the air was beneath its wings, it would not yield it to anyone else.

In the air, it felt safer for whatever reason. Perhaps the ground had wildness and evil sprouting up secretly, and they sank their talons into Khavur's flesh and slithered into its blood whenever it stood on them. Parasites -- the ground was full of parasites, they wanted a mighty host. Was that not separating Khavur from what it had done? From what it had felt? Should Khavur... do that?

Part of the Reaver wanted desperately to feel things for itself. No excuses, just accepting the monstrosity as a part of its core being. It felt right... it also felt terribly dangerous to those that Khavur cared most about. Another part, smaller in this instance, but sure to win back its turf in time, was startled by the news, wished to repress it somehow. It twisted and shriveled the core of the monster, to fight its battles inside instead of out. Khavur was afraid Maximus would know it all, sense it all, and think differently of Khavur, or even fear--

The beast could not allow such emotions to continue.

rastling emotions and thoughts was a herculean task. Forcing oneself not to cry when sad only made the tears fight harder for release. Pushing down one's own bitterness and anger into a bottle made the pressure rise until the glass broke. Emotions were designed for expression, for catharsis; they had a physical presence like any person or any stone. Locking one away did not keep it from existing... if anything, it only made the existence more prominent. Send them like a flight of birds into the sky, or hide the mountains beneath walls of snow so you don't have to look at them. Ignore the piercing rays of the sun in order to bury your burdens. Ignore the inevitable. Ignore yourself. Fly away.

As fast as Khavur wanted to be, the decision for flight held another purpose. Practice might distract it, if it weren't practicing violence. It could feel red on the circumference of its vision, taunting, poking its flaws, picking the scabs-- so Khavur flew faster, pounded the air harder. It would not relent until the wind rushing by choked out its thoughts.

It was tired, it knew it was tired. Flying took so much out of it, as much or possibly more than running did. Maybe it should have slept first, maybe it should have rested first, maybe it should have slept first... no, no, stay alive- awake. Practice capability.

So Khavur would dive, then use the momentum to gain height again. It didn't really know what else to practice, and the air around its face felt nice when it dived, so it would do some more little ones, to get a feel for it. It was curious, how much of flying was instinctual versus how much of it was conscious, similar to walking, or falling -- when your arm shoots out in front of or behind you to keep you safe. Testing the air, Khavur wondered what else could be done.

It couldn't think of anything. Maybe it should approach Garnet-Delta for more flight lessons. Flight was one thing it could utilize naturally that most of its kin could not. It was valuable... a skill to be perfected.

Khavur would shift its focus from tricks and maneuvers to speed. That's what its wings were for, after all. With force and precision, Khavur could blast out of here pretty quick. It couldn't really fly through tunnels but flying through the rooms would definitely get it back to Draco faster. Khavur still felt twisted and knotted on the inside some force within attempting to scuff its feet... but it felt the draw to Maximus was more powerful. With Maximus, it was just... better. Better.

"I'll be there soon, Maximus."

The flap of the Reaver's wings to send it lurching forward through the air was... flimsy. A little unbalancing. Perhaps it was for the best that it didn't go too fast, lest it lose the chain of stars wrapped around one of its claws.

- exit -