Attikias swallowed- or, performed his best attempt at it- as he directed the light to the bones. What died here? What was to come? He'd searched and- someone else had found the key, and so he returned back.

The keys... The elf's light swung forward as he stayed back, quiet, worry stringing through his thoughts. They probably shouldn't try to interact- but as words flowed through his mind, Attikias floated dumbfounded. One hand reached back for the spear as he let the flashlight go loose, turning it off before it danged from his wrist. What was out there..? 'Patty...' he began, looking for the strange being, his tone disapproving.

When he twisted around, though, he stared wide-eyed at the guardian that had revealed itself. There was not much to be said- in truth, he was rather along for the ride, though he did sweep one arm out to gather his family close together. A small insurance, really. He'd hovered in place, ducking in when the being passed overhead, and watched its departure.

Attikias gave a small shudder. What would have happened, if they had to fight..?

Gathering himself and his thoughts, Attikias held out a hand for someone- Asteri or Hunter, he'd imagined, as they were closest- to grasp, before kicking forward. 'That wasn't cowardly. It was brave to stand up to someone you couldn't see,' Attikias retorted to Patty, though with the gentle tone he'd used to teach his own children. 'Don't go too fast. We need the key, anyways, and we don't know how long it'll take for the guardian to return. Save the energy.' And he continued onwards, one hand out (possibly) holding onto someone, and the other tensed around his spear.

Patty was off, and Attikias could only gauge what direction he'd went, paddling behind him like a slow turtle. A sweeping gaze was offered to the surrounding darkness as he stayed alert, wishing now that he had a more spanning flashlight instead of the directed beam.

The light from the group wouldn't be enough. Setting his jaw, Attikias held the spear with three fingers and moved the flashlight between his index and his thumb, angling it out to the sea floor and in front of them to make sure nothing was coming.

Cirrus

They'd done the same as Patty- stayed quiet during the whole encounter, though faintly glowing as they are, they didn't even attempt to hide.

As terrifying as the Guardian is, they are perfect for their job, they chuckle mentally, not quite sure if they're trying to... diffuse the situation, brush off Patty's comments and accusations of cowardice, or just make a statement. Maybe all three?

Cirrus shakes their head, then, and paddles away from Fahl, and follows Patty as best they can with their odd half-running tail wagging gait, and they ponder their next move. It's not like they could fight, unless their magic happens to work here, so they pluck thoughtfully at their mental list of abilities and sigh.

A glance from their relatively high vantage point in the water, and they look out at the group, eyeing the dragons in particular with a low sigh. Which... is just bubbles.

If we face battle soon, maybe we should move the slower moving, and those of us who cannot fight, back towards the center of the group? We won't risk an ambush too badly with that. Cirrus muses, their thoughts more... background noise as best they can, and they hope not to interrupt anyone as they dive back down, and search the seabed casually as well.

The hybrid doesn't plan on fighting. Not at all. But, for appearances sake...

Cirrus pulls on some of their magic and hopes for the best, keeping a distance from the group as they do so.

'There's something here.' Cerilaine's paw reached out as she and Indigo got close to the sea floor, scooping up the flint and holding it up for Indigo to see. It just barely fit between her digits as she turned it around, letting the light glint off of it. 'It's still alive.' She brought it close to her face, inspected it, before tucking it into her paw.

Interesting.

Cerilaine had stayed quiet for the most part otherwise, except a 'quiet...' offered to everyone at the booming response. But-- they had it handled, it seemed, and Cerilaine blinked fast as the being revealed itself. Her pelt stood on edge- as much as it could in the water- and she stared at it, pressing back into Indigo.

What would have happened, if they hadn't appeased it..?

Cerilaine's blue eyes darted back to Indigo for a brief moment. She could feel her own magicka building, and her throat tightened as she focused. Briefly, a strong flame fluttered into existence and swirled about her as if it were greeting, before aiming ahead towards their guide. Patty seemed to be deteriorating- was it his fear?- and she eyed him briefly before he'd gone off into the darkness. A small, mental groan filled her head before she nudged her head forward, offering a shrug to Indigo.

Might as well move on, then.

Haven swam forward to observe the commotion, head craned upwards as she clicked gently. She heard the creature, Patty's remarks, and the comments of the other gembound, piecing together the situation bit by bit.

"... A fight?", she thought, pursing her lips, wishing that she and her family had all stayed home. She didn't want to fight again, not after what Dread did to her face.

She puffed out her chest and bared her fangs for a moment, displeased. Venom rushed into her teeth, adding a little more kick to her bite, should she use it. She didn't want to, but she would if she had to. Telesto was here, her only child, and she'd rain hellfire down if anyone were to harm them.

"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst," she thought dully.

Electrum had remained.. uncharacteristically quiet during the whole encounter, himself. All he'd done is open his fins as wide as he can, and grasp at Haven with one of his hand legs as he kept his position in the water, glaring daggers at the slowly emerging beast as if daring it to fight them-

Then sighing in relief when it swims away after doing... something to one of the other dragons. Maybe I can make sure he's okay... whatever gift that thing gave him, it's unseen. That is never a good thing.

So, he slowly lets go of Haven, his ears flickering as she clicks at her surroundings and he feels his heart flip at her statement- Agreed, plan for the worst, hope for the best.

Blight is your name, correct? Are you alright? What did that Guardian do to you...? Disengaging from Haven, he sweeps his tail once to draw closer, wondering if he could do something for the other should the gift prove to hurt Blight. I am Electrum, by the way, Pardon my manners I'm a bit... stressed. I believe all of us are. A pause before he turns to look at the small creature that had just... electrocuted itself near the seafloor, and he adds, Though, maybe that one there had a point. Grouping up with someone sort of tactic would be a good idea.

He has no comment on what it had done it itself, per se, he's done it enough times to give the poor thing some slack. So all it gets is a wince in sympathy.

Depending on Blight's answer, he'll either offer some of his magic the next round, or simply nod and swim away to sweep the sea floor- either way, he's doing his best to be observant, and so he's scanning the sea floor already with the lights of others and some of the Lessers swimming around.

Talking... Actually seemed to work somehow. Esther wasn't going to question why, and they also weren't going to question why they felt like they were being studied and judged. They turned to stare at Blight for a moment - her gifts? What? Did something happen? Before long, the conversation was over anyway, and Esther's eyes tore away from Blight and instead peered around the darkness.

Maybe they could find something good for the potential battle...? If not for them, then for someone else. Voices (thoughts?) were going around, and Esther found themselves wanting to reply this time.

"I also think grouping together would be a good idea, as long as no one attacks allies." They brought up.

Their guide cheered as the mysterious guardian went silent. Hestia waited, fighting the anxiety that was trickling into her veins. She wait- till she caught sight of the large entity. There they were, an enormous creature- looking to be a mix of beasts that dwelled within the water. The guardian held enormous eyes and slicked up spines. It was- evidently much larger than she was- and from what she could see- well all of the other gembounds too! And well, she knew she was of a large size even for a cave dweller; so this was...surprising!

The guardian seemed to be judging them in silence. She eyed them, looking over their forelimbs and how they dragged themselves foward from a hole nestled along a rock wall just up ahead. They remained silent, which- as time continued to pass on only made Hestia feel a bit-nervous; anxious and maybe even doubtful- nono- it would be fine- they could talk themselves out of any fight she was sure of it.

Then came the guardian's voice, booming and half... hopeful? Asking of Master Farina?...Hestia had difficulty paying attention to what the other's were doing- let alone keeping up with all the voices through the shared link. She was focused on the Guardian themselves but also her own safety and the individual who rode upon her back- and of course the others surrounding her.

The Guardian though did seem to single out one gembound amongst the others, but so far- nothing ill had happened; if anything it was a blessing as the Guardian's voice boomed once again. But it was with happiness- and excitement- saying something about bearer her gifts and this blessing- exalting in her rotting touch-well... Hestia had no idea what all of that meant but it seemed good and that was well good enough for her!

As the Guardian seemingly spoke to the other gembounds that were scattered around she waited, keeping an eye on the waters surrounding herself and a few of the others. Everything was going smoothly! Or well- as smooth as they could! She almost began to daydream till the booming voice of the Guardian rang out once more. Yelling that they would bring the key- and that they demanded to go see their master! Wanting to see her themselves. Patrick informed them rather hastily that she was above, and off the Guardian went with the key clasped closely to them.

Within no time they group needed to hurry off once again, following Patrick who spent no time to wait and ensure everyone was following.

We're heading off again! Lets go! Stay close together!

Once again she'd try to give anyone and everyone a heads up that they might be left behind due to their guide's one track mind. They had to find the final chamber now- and make preparations for...a potential battle. She frowned- hoping they wouldn't have to fight so deep below water; or rather hoping nobody would have to fight at all! She was unsure what she could do to prepare for battle; if anything she supposed she could be a tank- much like her mother; able to take hits or perhaps even keep those unable to do much at a safe distance upon her back.

Khavur was feeling pretty out of it honestly. After the more leisurely experience of looking around (badly), Khavur was sort of... struggling to keep from drifting off... not into a coma or anything, but like. A nap. An underwater nap? It was feeling pretty tired, is the point. The swimming advice from earlier was being appreciated by now. Keeping Khavur from sinking to the ocean floor. A silent thanks to whoever sent it...

Trying its best, Khavur would follow along with the group without contributing much. Its eyes weren't catching much besides Labradorite-One's suspicious check-ins. Whatever its gazes were catching, it was pretending not to see it didn't really seem to matter. Darkness. More of Order's peculiar army. They got the first key, then moved onto a guardian. Anxiety spiked -- Khavur wasn't prepared to fight down here. At least, not yet, not in this state-- Oh and the thing sounded HUGE-- But somehow the situation was... resolved? By words? Khavur had two very different, distinct reactions to that, which it decided to filter straight into its link with Maximus so none of it would get into the communal link: "This group just avoided a fight with a so-called guardian of a key leading to this city underwater. I feel like that speaks ill of the guardian, to waver in its position so easily... but then, it does seem to be loyal to its master... I also find it interesting that a potentially devastating battle can be avoided in such a way. It reminds me of you." Khavur would swim with the group while awaiting a response.

"... Well, the dragon was right. Be kind until there is no other option. Or, well, civil. Being rude or violent for no reason only attracts enemies and brings despair. But thank you." A warm smile. Khavur returned it. Slowly, it was waking up...

The term 'ugly' was thrown around a lot, in a manner Khavur didn't understand. It already felt conflicted about "beauty", it really didn't want to worry about "ugly" yet. "Patty" said something conflicted; calling them cowards, then weak, then strong, and honestly Khavur felt a little bit of... solidarity, in that moment? Anyways, they would be moving further down... and another fight was implied. Khavur's eyes narrowed as, all of the sudden, a compulsion was tugging at its chest. It wanted to go... towards someone? A smooth, round creature, smaller than Khavur but not as small as some of the other Gembound here. Khavur sort of... liked it? What? This was sudden.

Well, what harm was there in giving into the impulse? At least it was a protective impulse as opposed to... Well.

Khavur would wordlessly maneuver itself (in a way that probably wasn't very surreptitious) into a defensive stance nearby the creature, still allowing it plenty of freedom of movement. The mental exhaustion was probably aiding in the effectiveness of... whatever this creature had done. If it had done anything at all?

Khavur is Charmed by Bedlam, and is thus maneuvering to protect it.

Khavur did not say anything via the Pattylink.

Surface creatures sure do like talking. Terror has never seen the point of conversation—not among them, at least. Why bother talking to prey? Why bother talking to not-prey, too, when that time could be spent on the hunt, or protecting those it loves?

The one thing this conversation does do for them, Terror thinks, is draw the creature's attention away from it. It'll go after the biggest ones first, it thinks; the ones that are most of a threat. Terror is up there in size with the others, but down in the depths the cyan stripes painted over its body break up its silhouette in the water. (It hopes, anyway.) And the dragon with the sparkling wings seems like much more of a target…

..it's not one for talking. But nor will it interrupt the others' attempts to talk, if it keeps its own hide out of danger. For now—

Wait. What is…

...is the surface-dwellers’ fancy speech… working?

Terror blinks, floating idly in the water; for once, all thoughts of prey and fight and danger pushed aside in favor of a sort of idle, curious wonder.

It has always valued strength over diplomacy. The power of the claw over the power of the spoken word—and, yet, the words spoken into the bond, obeyed things promising not aggression but safety, but a strange thing they call ‘kindness’, is enough to drag the sharp fusion of sea-beasts from its hole. The rotting creature that could easily destroy any one of them… swayed by word alone.

Interesting. A beat of rare praise and wonder from Terror, as it watches the beast ascend. Patrick’s exuberant speech goes in one ear and out te other; caught up in the thought that just talking to people can be as powerful as any atttack, it lets itself be mostly lost in thought as it follows the pack.

Mostly. An idle glance is spared around as they begin to rise from the depths, towards the end of their journey; magic called upon to see deeper into the dark waters almost as an afterthought, just in case. Never hurts to be vigilant in the deep waters, where a threat may come from any direction.

"Interesting."
Terror is using Night Vision to check for potential danger.

A beat of awestruck terror, as the guardian passes overhead. Astéri shudders at the length of such a creature; at once both consumed with wonder over something so big, so powerful in the dark waters, and filled with a kind of horror over the thought of having to potentially fight that.

Thank goodness for Carja. Thank the caves for his family, so filled with kindness, so good at speaking; and the others who joined in on their diplomacy. Thank the caves nobody decided to attack it. Who knows what would have happened, had anyone in their party angered the great beast?

Well, that doesn't matter now. That danger, at least, is past. And Astéri knows they aren't out of the water yet, that some final challenge still lies ahead, but for now... he allows himself a moment of quiet celebration.

Thanks, Dad. A furry paw is placed into Attikias' waiting hand, and a pleased chuff resonates through him, tail swishing gently in the water. Happy, happy.

It's scary down here in the depths. Dark and dangerous and cold— so cold. Astéri hates the cold. It seeps through his fur and into his bones and he just knows he's gonna be shivering and dripping for forever after they finally come up from the depths.

But he can't help but be grateful that his family is down here, too.

Let's do this. Good luck, everyone!

"Thanks, Dad." "Let's do this. Good luck, everyone!"
Astéri has not taken any critical actions.