Ananke was-... puzzled, to say the least.

It wasn't that she didn't understand. Even now--as she hopped slowly and cautiously toward a neatly-laid set of three Dontas bags (arranged perfectly symmetrically in the snow, at corners of an equilateral triangle)--she could feel the whispers tugging at the edges of her consciousness.

She felt the new sibling who had awoken, somewhere distant, offering out the same items to strangers. She felt Mother's low and thrumming excitement, and knew that these events were major, were portentous; that they heralded a vast advance in their maker's power here within the caves.

Ananke met those thoughts with blind zealotry--with loyalty, and a fierce support of the idea--but actually seeing the bags was something else. She cast out her magic, clearing the area in a move that was now automatic; everything had to be perfectly clean. And then, she came up to the nearest Donta bag.

Anyone approaching would likely be unaware of the deeply religious bent of Ananke's thoughts--instead, they'd see the comparatively very mundane sight of a white rabbit picking at the edges of a Dontas bag with her teeth. She was trying to get it open; trying to nibble a gap in the paper wrapping, to get at the chips inside.

The jingle still ran through the air, or was it through her mind?--Dontas, Dontas! Dontcha' wanta Donta? and all Ananke could think was, but what ARE they?!

does anyone wanna join ananke and eat chip

Just as the winds gusted along the craggy expanse of Ursa, so too did the voices of their fellow kind brush thoughts against their mind. Some buffeted and howled, an unfortunate sound that Order would hopefully quell with patient ministrations. Others whispered affectionate murmurs that their heart returned immediately. One in particular rang, should they say, ah, chipper to them as they nudged their wares upon a populace all too desperately in need of the help and guidance their Mother would bring them; they wished them all the best, a soft touch of fondness to stoke their religious fervor.

For some time, they'd been content stay closer to the Hive proper, to observe the land through the rest before determining where they would best be needed. Eyes closed and hands pressed together prayer-like, they'd sifted through each conscience for details and desires, evaluating but never acting. But the time had finally come, and they had ventured out in search of a single cry amongst the fallen snow.

Greetings, would be the first impression that would reach Ananke. Softly treading upon two feet, their front claws clasped in a servile manner, their long shadow would be the next, spilling over where the rabbit fruitlessly nibbled at her bag.

"Hello, sister," they repeated the previously expressed sentiment, a slight hesitation upon using the familial term. The first time they'd ever spoken aloud, uncertainty reigned as to whether or not their form of address was suitable. "If you would... allow me?"

Their head cocked as they delivered the question, and they hunkered down beside their sibling. A single claw pinned down the paper-like packaging and dragged the bag closer to them. Holding it upright for better opening ease, there was a rustle as both hands buried their claws into the seam that kept it together. Slowly but surely it pulled apart to reveal the powdery goodness within.

"This should do," Halcyon said with an assured sigh. They then offered the chips to Ananke, tilting the opened side of the bag toward her. Bright eyes waited, unblinking, for an indication that what they'd done was appropriate.

@Ananke

The greeting caught her very much by surprise. So engrossed had she been in the Dontas pack that she hadn't even noticed the sensations of another's approach until that little whisper. Blinking and startling, she came upright, and with a brief sift through the Hivemind she found herself in the eyes of another. "Oh-..." she said, and struggled to calm her racing heart. Don't be silly; it's just a friend, Ananke chastised herself.

She took a shuffling hop to the side to make room. "Sibling." The single word sounded clipped and proper, even cold, on the surface. But beneath it--like a river underground--ran a current of emotion: one sensed via shared mind, and one warm and welcoming, even affectionate. "Thank you."

Ananke dipped her head down, nibbling briefly on a chip as she took in Halcyon's form. She probed briefly along the link for some hint as to who they were; their voice in her mind was nearly foreign. If it had been there before, it had been but a background whisper among many. But the creature looked fascinating, and at once she had the impression of someone kind and polite (as much due to their actions as to any magical link). For a moment, she struggled with the manners of such a meeting: in a world where they could learn everything about one another in a few moment's shared thoughts, where did conversation fit in?

She settled on being polite, and rather traditional; if Halcyon wished to simply converse along the link, she would take their lead instead.

"Ananke," she said, after this moment's thought. "Thank you, again. These are good--I don't know where they've come from, do you? I believe they're--ours, though," she added, glancing around. "We haven't met--have we?"

@Halcyon

The Hive linked all fortunate enough to be gathered under Mother's embrace. For one like Halcyon, unfamiliar with true solitude since the moment they first awoke, the concept of a meeting by Gembound standards—blind to intentions and unprepared—proved hard to imagine. It served no purpose when a network of contacts could be readily accessed by the turn of a thought. Even less so when not a breath needed to be wasted in order to be privy to each other's identity. Therefore, settled down beside Ananke, they executed what they believed to be a neutral response to her last question: an even shrug of the shoulders.

"All our minds meet," they offered. "As is right and necessary. But in each other's physical presence? No, we have not."

As she started the introductions, it seemed sensible to follow suit. After a quick trip through the senses of comrades nearest to their location, their own designation was given freely: "Halcyon."

Followed promptly by Drone Zero-Zero-Five Steward. There was a certain efficiency to be admired in hacking off the remainder of the title, its entirety a mouthful to use. However, as it sacrificed vital information as well regarding rank and purpose, the stickler in them refused to outright obliterate its existence from thoughts. At least this way there would be no risk of any unsavory sorts overhearing important intel.

Halcyon hovered a hand over the Dontas bag's opening and grasped a single chip by a generously powdered corner. Red pupils shone with challenge as they began tugging it loose, daring the surrounding contents to spill everywhere. Far too much seriousness they devoted to the task, acting much like someone would when defusing a bomb, body tense and claws delicate during the extraction. When at last they succeeded, the chip was held aloft for a few seconds in victory before taking for themselves a small bite. They allowed the taste to fill their mouth, then swallowed. Appreciation hummed in their throat.

"These are ours indeed," they confirmed, nodding. "Though I can't say where from. Our other sibling that is distributing them might have clearer answers if we were to ask. Or rather, if we were to help with their arrangements."

They certainly respected the enthusiasm with which the sibling in question had tackled their responsibility, but the undertaking seemed of a colossal scale. Surely lending extra hands, mouths, or backs to carry and spread the good news of the arrived snack would enhance the likelihood of positive results.

@Ananke

The greeting that Halcyon gave in turn was so eloquent, so well thought-out, that Ananke felt suddenly... inadequate. Their smooth use of thought and words combined, their calm confidence, their nature as one of the Hive's true creations--a native, one who really belonged--left her insecure.

Uncertain.

It left her feeling other, as though something had shunted her a step outside her family, reminded her that she was not truly one of them. Mother's link was quick to reassure her that this wasn't the case, of course; that she'd been chosen, that all of those in Mother's family were true family. But the sensation lingered uneasily nonetheless, so that when Ananke blinked back to reality (to see Halcyon maneuvering a chip out of a bag with nothing but perfection at hand) it was with a strange sense of the alien. Her perspective had been given that little shift, that little nudge, and her mood had pitched downward just a little.

Her respect for Halcyon, of course, had gone up a little; perhaps she was not their equal. Perhaps she owed them respect, even obedience-? She sent that question out along the link, unspoken, nothing but fragmented and shifting emotion. At least if she knew their relationship truly, she could address it with some confidence--even if she were lesser.

"You are right, of course," she said at last, a direct response to all our minds meet, as is right and necessary. And along the same lines, she sent out an almost sheepish addendum: Zero-Zero-Two Priestess. She found herself wondering what it was a steward was; what a steward did, and curiosity flickered up past the uncertainty. She took the "keep quiet, just in case" cue, and sent that thought out wordless: May I ask what it is a steward does? It might have come across, to one not so linked and were it verbal, as polite indifference, but along this link it would be clear that there was genuine interest there.

Cheese powder had brushed across the tops of her white paws, and so she sat back and upright, spending a moment to carefully lick clean her fur. "They taste... good," she said aloud, trying--and failing--to find a more descriptive word. Addictive, pleasing, tasty, her mind added, afterward. "Do you know if there is a purpose to them?" She could consult Mother via the link, she supposed; but ahh, there was something... pleasant, about conversation.

@Halcyon

The bite Halcyon had taken of the Donta chip had left the snack food woefully lopsided, a fact that couldn't be ignored when one's eyesight was sharp enough to catch the tiniest of flaws. Quick to rectify the issue, they rotated the chip and nibbled at each untouched side until all were made equal as possible. Engrossed as they might have seemed in the pursuit of perfection on such an insignificant scale, a figurative ear remained pressed to the link, attentive to their conversational partner.

Although created semi-aquatic in nature, they were too new to have personal experiences with any bodies of water; whatever information they possessed had been curated by a variety of helpful hosts instead. However, this secondhand knowledge aided plenty when it came to metaphor, allowing them to better decipher the emotion picked up from Ananke: what should've been a still environment was decidedly disturbed, a glassy surface broken up by faint, wavering ripples of thought. Certainly nothing ideal to be detected, it was a sign that they needed to listen closer for whether conditions worsened or improved. To prepare for intervention, if it was required, on behalf of the Hive's well-being.

The feelings, dampened by their position at the far end of the link, bloomed into vibrancy once Ananke's question reached them on the other side. Fragments piling up in a jumble in Halcyon's own mind, they were quick to act according to instinct, sorting the pieces into something more coherent to process. Once the gist of the message had been grasped, their posture assumed a level of formality somehow beyond the already high one they naturally achieved. Their back impossibly managed to straighten more than it'd already been; hands began cradling their single chip close to their chest, dainty manner of eating momentarily abandoned; and their jaws sealed airtight, focusing on mental communication over verbal.

A representation of what their relationship was streamed back to her, an amalgamation of visuals and intent: one river flowing into another, neither of them turbulent and both fulfilling their purpose of carrying water to a singular destination. Equals, it said. Their capabilities added to hers would please Mother even better than before.

A steward's responsibility is the performance of their fellows, Halcyon explained, and to ensure optimal fulfillment of their duties. Sensing strength lacking in how her title was conveyed, warm approval and encouragement pulsed at Ananke. I am a conduit through which accomplishments can be multiplied to greater effect, for a priestess or anyone else.

While she shared her opinion on the chips, they at last returned to the tiny remnant that was theirs, popped it into their mouth, and swallowed. Then a nod answered her, followed by, "It appears that food is a pathway to the heart. Even to those outside of our connection, it is able to provide comfort. If I were to speculate, such offerings will make strangers more receptive to our affections and willing to consider our Mother as a source of goodwill."

A strategic move. Clever if successful—as this was Mother's plan, though, failure was destined to be an impossibility. Following how these events panned out, they supposed, would be of great use to their understanding of conversion. They'd be certain to pay attention to the proper channels in the future for close accounts of each addition to their family. Best to get to know them in order to properly assess their needs.

@Ananke

A strange sense of relief flooded the white rabbit, and she settled back on her haunches, inspecting Halcyon with renewed interest--and renewed confidence. Warmth, even.

Of course they were family; of course she had nothing to be worried about. Their flawless explanation, via mental metaphor--the flowing rivers--had at once soothed her concern. And to that end, gently, she spoke. "Is there anything I might do to help you in your tasks?" she asked, as formally, as politely, as possible. Mine is to bring Mother to those outside, and to support our family in all things, her thoughts added, a soft addendum. The glow, in her heart--a pristine white--was a love for Mother and all her creations. A feverish, fervent love; an obsessive devotion.

If there was anything she could do for Halcyon, anything at all--I am happy to serve our cause.

@Halcyon

And I as well.

It was a strange turnabout for Halcyon to be asked their needs; if anything, they had expected to be the first to raise that question, purpose geared towards being aid more so than the primary executor of Mother's many delicate operations. According to the image they'd presented and what logic dictated, though, such a discussion was not nearly outside the realm of possibility as they might have initially thought. So upon hearing this, they took the time to be contemplative, steepling claws beneath their chin, barely stroking against the goatee-like fin that protruded there.

Then they lit up, in the most literal sense of the phrase, soft golden bioluminescence pulsing from their form. "Why, yes, I believe that you can be most useful at the moment. Some guidance before I can guide anyone else."

What place do you find the most in need of our help? they clarified through the safety of the link. I see so much—their polite attitude wavered in the face of emerging disgust as they flipped through multiple perspectives—chaos, and yet I cannot discern which are worse than others.

Scattered relics. Crumbling structures. Depictions upon walls that possessed a frightening lack of symmetry. How could the degree of awfulness be determined when they were all so uniquely terrible?

@Ananke

Ananke was careful to give Halcyon's question the same careful consideration that they'd given hers. She had travelled, a little, throughout the caves--moreso as a young kitten, before she had found Mother and Mother, her.

She had seen Eridanus, and Pegasus, had seen Gemini and many of the tunnels in between. At first thought, her instinct was agreement, a wry mental nod to the fact that everywhere was chaos. Eridanus was beautiful, yes--natural--but its life was chaotic, a flurry of tangled vines and overly-bright flowers that hid predatory shapes lurking within. At least, that's how Ananke saw it; her encounter had been from the perspective of a very small, very edible creature. The jungle, though beautiful, had seemed frightening and full of ominous shadows, like a dream-turned-nightmare.

But on the heels of that agreement was her consideration, her knowledge--as she looked at it from Halcyon's point of view--that their job was that of steward. (And these thoughts, her brief process, was fully open to them to follow along with.) A combatant, a Priestess even, might have been best-served preaching in these places--but a steward, whose task it was to aid others of the Hive, to amplify their abilities-?

"If you are alone..?" she suggested, at last, her voice delicate, "The place--Gemini--full of crystals? It is... It reminds me of our Order," she began, thoughtful. "It might be a good place for us to begin settling a new piece of Mother, to... prepare," she went on. And she was thinking in an almost militaristic sense--or a Priestly one; perhaps comparable to a Crusader. Gemini was a place full of crystalline order, a place that was almost sterile, that could be prepared for Mother and taken as the Hive's next stronghold, with careful preparation. And it would be close, too, to the very core of the caves. "But with others--wherever they are going, I suppose," she went on. Fluidly Ananke shifted to thought, so that it was not overheard. It might be worth asking the others among us where they'd like to go, and what they would like to do, in their tasks; each might find a different cave suitable. She paused, prim, proper, and nibbled at a single chip while she considered again. If you ever wish to accompany me... I have long wished to try and find those to speak to of Chaos and of Order. Of evil... and good. But-... The thought went unfinished, but there was a faint sense of dismay in it, of fear--Ananke feared being eaten. She was so very small, and it would be so easy for some Valkhound to sense her, to snap her up just like she was snapping up these Dontas.

Could Halcyon even help with that..?

She eyed them sidelong, and wondered.

@Halcyon

Gemini. No sooner was the suggestion made than Halcyon fell into habit, riffling through the myriad perspectives available to them. A collection of reflective surfaces zoomed along the link, the gleaned location imperfect but brimful of potential.

Ananke's suggestion held water—as if the Priestess's assessment could do anything but. The place might not have been made with Order in mind, but its existence seemed to do a fine job looking the part. A virtual haven nestled somewhere amongst the winding tunnels, where tactical advantage lay also was where hospitality could be found. All it required was someone to bolster the strengths already there so that chaos could no longer bleed through the most miniscule of flaws. Then their ranks could rest easier, calmed by knowledge of their safety.

"Yes," they said. "Her presence would flourish well there, and us with her. Roots in more than one area will give us much better chances to grow, and for those less inclined to stay, another somewhere to retreat to on dangerous occasions would be quite helpful."

Halcyon's own thoughts rose to respond enthusiastically to the possibility of companionship, only to crash down a mere couple of feet high upon the shore of their consciousness, completely inarticulate. Picking up prey-based fear, their posture had stiffened. Although what they sensed wasn't foreign to the Hivemind, such emotion springing from a fellow Drone of higher seniority than them possessed such unsettling wrongness.

For the beasts of Chaos to evoke this, however faint—they shan't dare an attempt.

The untidy ones wouldn't fare well if we are together. I would see to that myself. Halcyon tossed up a forearm, chitin building rapidly along its topside. It solidified into a long vertical blade. Observe.

Ignoring the unfortunate itch from their other arm, resulting from the imposed asymmetry, they took a swipe at the air. There was a swoosh as it parted. If they wish to choke on something, they will do it on their own blood. That is my promise when we travel.

@Ananke