Ananke startled just a bit at the vehemence of Halcyon's response. It wasn't that it was incredibly strong, but so far she'd perceived them as so mild and even gentle that the defensiveness was almost ferocity by comparison.

Her ears came up, and she peered at them, fascinated and pleasantly surprised. She did feel... reassured, by this; and a faint tremble of excitement ran through twitching whiskers as she considered their words. "Then we could... go together, if you like," she offered, glancing to the blade shining on one limb. Then, she hesitated. "Do you know... much, of Mother's magic? I have felt its power growing in me but have had little chance to perfect it. Even to practice it," she added. Not that the opportunity wasn't always there; Mother herself could have instructed her directly.

She just hadn't much considered it, before.

"In any case... if you wish to go to Gemini, or to anywhere, really--I am always willing." Eager, even, if her excited, racing heart were any indication.

@Halcyon

After their bladed arm fell back to their side, Halcyon sat still in the snow, testing themselves. Too tied to Order, a moment or two was all they managed to achieve in their endeavor to bear the imbalance that made the one arm heavier than the other. Soon enough, the itch penetrated too deep in the flesh of their unweaponized arm. They raised it and, tapping into their magic, urged the same chitin to form as well along its length. What resulted was comparably pitiful, enough of a blade to alleviate the discomfort but too dull and lacking in length to be a perfect match.

"I know as much as Mother saw fit to impart—a novice's understanding. That would be a fair amount of theory and little practice," they admitted with an apologetic dip of their head. "At most I might be able to instruct you on how to access such power. For the various forms in which it manifests, though, I've but hearsay to go off of."

Their own excitement might've been more careful now that they were aware of what threat their fellow Drone believed to exist from the loathsome Valkhounds, but it swelled nonetheless at the prospect of being useful to the Hive.

"To Gemini with haste would be preferable if your willingness allows so. There'd be no better place for the application of our magic than one already suitable and yet not officially ours."

About to rock backwards to rise to their feet, they paused, hands pressing together, to rake a considering gaze over Ananke's form. "Speaking of haste, would your speed be enough to match my strides? I can carry you if it is not."

The web of hosts indicated assistance might not be necessary, based upon the many feeds in which creatures smaller than Halcyon fled from harm. However they wished to be certain of which answer it might be, lest they become guilty of negligence.

@Ananke

"I am willing," came Ananke's answer, soft.

Beneath the audible voice, along the tendrils of the hivemind, came her thrill of nervous excitement. And then, at Halcyon's offer, faint embarrassment. "I can try to keep up, but--it may be... more efficient if I am carried," she admitted, though she had to struggle to keep down her shame at such a thing.

Then, her thoughts as orderly as the rest of her, Ananke briefly planned ahead. "We will go to Gemini," and her voice fell silent, the train continuing inaudibly: and find a place to begin a new piece of the Hive there, yes? We will need to find it food... she went on, thinking hard now, and give it some form of protection. What kind, she couldn't imagine, but maybe once they were in Gemini they'd have a better idea-?

"I am ready, either way," she told Halcyon, and that thrill of anxious adventure touched her mind again. She was too used to being vulnerable, small, her every instinct given to keeping herself alive and out of danger. To deliberately set off on such an adventure, and one that would tempt the Valkhounds into killing them should they be found, was... new, to say the least.

But... she was ready. For Mother, she was ready.

@Halcyon

"Ah," was the simple noise Halcyon made at Ananke's admission. A light acknowledgment, not a hint of judgmental thought existed in it. To express anything of the sort wasn't their place. After all, what sort of Drone would they be to belittle their fellows over the minor shortcomings they existed to offset?

They remained crouched but extended their arms outward. Palms, facing up, clasped together to create a makeshift basket which brushed low against the powdery snow. Empty, it waited for the expected passenger to hop aboard. Accessing their bioluminescence came quite naturally in this instance; if instincts proved correct, the soft glow would provide an aura that'd assuage any discomfort and encourage the opposite.

Though their tone continued to be as polite as ever, a chime of delight touched syllables when they spoke. Nodding at their hands, quiet humor gleamed in eyes. "Yes, efficiency would be ideal, if you would allow me the demonstration. Your readiness, much appreciated."

Being linked to so many minds allowed them to observe and confirm the ingenuity, the strength of will, and all other virtues their family possessed on the daily. However, this seemed something special in comparison: actual experience of such. While they were as excited as Ananke, this adventure would be their first foray into the field proper, an opportunity to prove the perfection behind their design. Hopefully, they would do so, damning a few Valkhounds along the way if need be.

@Ananke

Ananke dipped her head in acknowledgment. Halcyon meant well--she could feel that; she felt too that they were a little excited about all of this, and that only fed her own little thrill further. She tried to remain demure and proper as she hopped up and into their arms but that little scramble could never be anything more than somewhat awkward.

"Well, then," she said, settling into their grip and looking around. Ears flicked, and she looked back toward their polite, pale face. "Shall we?"

exit Ananke - we can do a new thread in Gemini?

@Halcyon

"We shall," Halcyon confirmed.

Then, despite the urgency their journey warranted to them, they rose slowly from their crouch. Ananke secure in arms, she was drawn in close to the glowing bib that lay over their chest. A brief snatch of thought surmised the possibility of its use as cover should there ever be a need for such a thing—undignified perhaps, but safer than allowing the infliction of an injury.

But of course, any harm I'd prefer to avoid entirely. Of us, that is.

They glanced to the right and left of them to see if any observers had somehow evaded detection by the vast network of the Hive. Finding nothing, the aforementioned resource was accessed to gain a better understanding of the route they must travel. With knowledge furthered, Halcyon made the first careful step of their travel through snow and later uncovered stone. May it end with them still on their feet and not fallen before the chaotic enemy.

-Exit Halcyon
((Yes, I'd be fine with that!))

@Ananke (for visibility)