Chaos-Two was really only allowed to leave now in order to eat. Draco wasn't exactly full of fat prey or lush grasses. It was breathing rock and nothing else.

So here they were, grazing peacefully on soft grasses and the firm leaves of various plants. Berries, fruits, and nuts fulfilled the rest of their diet, with some meat here or there, but never from rabbits. That just felt wrong, eating a creature that was so like their new friend, Nibbles the Wind Hopper.

But anyway, back to eating.

@Equinox

Equinox had not been doing very much, which wasn't surprising if you knew them.

they had heard there was good food in pegasus, so they went to pegasus. right now, they were just teething on a fucking log. how nice.

the sound was horribly loud, terrible crunching and the sound of wood creaking as they carried the log in its jaws, but they seemed content enough with life.

if it noticed chaos-two, it wasn't saying anything, but it was most definitely in a spot where chaos two would be able to see it almost as much as hear it. another loud CRACK as their jaws came down on the log, massive claws holding it in place on the ground.

once again, it didn't seem upset. just focused and content. their spiked tail wagged slightly, but was too heavy to do anything very fast, sliding across the grass.

@V-chaos-two

Chaos-Two's head shot up and they peered around, slowly standing on two legs to try and locate the noise of what seemed to be a breaking log. Was Draconua having another tantrum? Or...

Their eyes landed on the valkhound and they paused for just a moment, realizing they'd missed them upon slowly meandering up the side of the hill. They really ought to be more observant. Chaos-Two watched for a few seconds, realizing quickly what they were doing and softening slightly. They didn't have their spear so they just walked over, approaching quietly before stopping a little ways away.

"Hello," they said softly, lowering into a crouch, "Are you having fun, there? I'm Chaos-Two, do you have a name?"

Perhaps not little in the sense of size, but perhaps in age, judging by their actions.

@Equinox

Equinox looked over to chaos-two, tilting its head. it looked back down to its log, before looking back at at them to answer. "Fun. I am.... Hungry. Log isn't food, but... it soothes." it spoke, a little brokenly, but it was a start. it hadn't talked much since ember.

they nodded. "Equinox."

they put their log down standing up, scooting closer to chaos-two curiously. they looked chao-two up and down, tilting its head once more. "you are... smaller than i am. it observed. "is everyone?"

everyone Equinox had met (2 people) had been smaller than them. were they just big?? that was possible. it also seemed logical to assume they were, infact, just big.

"you have horns. like me. they observed again. chaos-two seemed similar to it in a few small ways. horns, quills, 2 eyes on each side. it was nice, not feeling like a massive giant weird thing all the time. not many creatures looked like them.

@V-chaos-two

Sometimes Chaos-Two wished they weren't the smallest valkhound. First they had ass problems, now they were going to have neck problems from looking up at people all the damn time on top of already being, well, a loser. Being small was one thing, but being small and a loser? Well that's just the perfect formula for bullying right there.

"Ah," they said, looking up at Equinox with a sort of 'not again' look on their face.

"Um... no, there are a few others I can think of who are larger," Chaos-Two said, "Master Vargas, Draconua, possibly even Vjira..."

They shook their head and cleared their throat, "Ah, I do! Say... how old are you?"

Please don't be like ten thousand or something, that would be awful.

@Equinox

the valkhound thought, for a moment. "i wish i was smaller." it said, an odd hint of frustration in his voice. i hit my head on things alot. it... is not fun." unlike chomping on a log, they thought distantly. that was fun.

it thought. how old were they??? how did they measure time again?? cycles, right???

"two.... t-two cycles. i am... not very old." it said. it sat on its haunches, for a moment, as tall as chaos-two from this position.

it dug a circle in the floor. "i do not know alot of things about these caves. it is... frustrating."

their voice, notably, seemed to keep shifting between a neutral gurgle and a low growl, but it never seemed intentionally malicious. they seemed totally unaware of it, really. they sounded almost as big as they were, but they sure didn't feel it.

@V-chaos-two

So young... Chaos-Two felt bad, mostly for what they were about to say.

"Well... if you want to know more, Master Vargas could teach you," they said softly, "I'm a part of a group called the Chaos-Forge, made up of creatures like you and me. We're called Valkhounds for our stones, so I'm certain he'd welcome you easily. I'm not sure about the small part, though. That might have to be something to overcome."

They held out a hand gently, "We could go, if you want. Perhaps, if you want, I could teach you. I don't know as much as he does, but I'm certain I can teach you everything I know and then pass you off to him."

@Vargas

as intriguied as Equinox may have seemed at first, the word 'chaos' sent a sudden strike of pain through their skull, whispers in their head, once easy to ignore, now loud and demanding, urging their muscles to move.

"CHAOS. CHAOS. CHAOS. DESTROY. CONSUME. YOU ARE HUNGRY. DESTROY, DEVOUR, CONSUME.

they hissed inwardly, rubbing their pained skull for a moment. tips of their tail almost flared with flames, the beginning of a spark tinging the fur, but instead of reaching out to strike, they reached out their claws and took hold of chaos-two's hand, surprisingly gentle for the display they just put on.

their voice was now shaky as they strained to sit as still as possible and breathe. "Yes. i-i will-... i will follow. take me there." he said. their eyes looked pained, but they stood.

@V-chaos-two

Chaos-Two looked at the other in worry, "Oh dear... when was the last time you stabilized? I know that many who share the Creator's... gift often need to visit the Black Spire to calm the whispers and other symptoms."

They looked back to Draco, biting their lip, "Come, we'll head back, get you stabilized and comfortable, then I can explain everything to Master Vargas. Don't worry, alright? I'll make sure you're okay."

They offered a soft smile and patted Equinox's paw before setting it down and leading the way back, overcome by worry. They hoped that visiting the Spire would fix everything.

@Equinox exit?

while most of chaos-two's didn't make sense to him, they made sense to the voices, apparently. they cheered and cried at the mention of the creator. all he knew at that moment was that if chaos-two knew a place that could silence them, he would follow.

he nodded. "yes. it will be... okay." they assured themselves, and maybe partially chaos-two aswell. they weren't sure who they were talking to or for with that.

they would follow, steps loud and hard against the soil, so chaos-two wouldn't have to worry about losing him. its head ached, but they looked at chaos-two, and reassured themselves quietly again. it would be alright.


@V-chaos-two (for visibility) exit?