((ooc -- this is a thread for the Bonebound to test themselves in fun and training. If your Bonebound wants to join, or a friendly ally, you may either happen upon the events or assume Giggle pre-informed your character. More info at the bottom.))

The spotted hyena laid down the final bone, and stepped back to observe her handiwork.

There was a long line of them--spaced just close enough to see the next from the previous. Each was clustered with a bright, broad clump of orange mushrooms. The purpose was to mark a path around a long path that wound around Canis. The path began straight and smooth from Giggle's bone pit, and then sloped down a long and slippery, muddy trail down to the western wall, the path narrowing and winding through puddles of water along the way. It wound up and around the bone fortresses, next, and then between stone pillars. There it hit a near-vertical wall, a shelf of rock, with the next 'marker' bone placed at the top. Giggle eyed this one with pride. The flyers could just flip right up there, but the runners, they would need to find a way up. Climb, magic, cleverness--she didn't care. It was meant to be a test, and how they passed was not as important as whether they passed.

Of course, to even things out, the area after that was very narrow, vertically--the ceiling was only a few feet from floor to cave roof, and utterly filled with bones and mushrooms. They would have to weave and push through, and the flyers would likely need to land, perhaps giving the runners time to catch up. Then the path wound back down around her bone pile to the starting point, where she now stood.

All in all, she was proud of what she'd managed.

Giggle turned, and approached those who had already gathered in response to her summons--but raised her voice enough that anyone in Canis might be able to catch the drifting echo of her voice.

"The Bonebound live here, but we know little about one another, in many cases. I say we introduce ourselves--and then test ourselves. Learn what we are each capable of. And which among us are strong--or weak." She looked between them pointedly, then continued.

"The first test: follow this trail of orange mushroom-bones. It goes down to the walls, back up through the bones, over a wall and back here. It doesn't matter who is fastest--only who makes it through. It's a long run, or flight, and there's more than enough chances to mess it all up. There's a feast waiting for those who survive," she added ominously. Of course, nobody would die. It wasn't even that difficult a course, but she wanted to see them take it seriously--if only for her own amusement.

She wondered who would help comrades who fell on the way; who would press on alone, eager to show off their own strength and stamina. Who would even try to sabotage, perhaps, the others. Who would struggle on when tired, or quit in irritation. Who might try to find and steal the feast while the others ran the course, perhaps.

Any way you look at it, it's a sort of strength. Let's see how they do... And what they do.

________________

Roll the bones.

@Mau @Azazel @Kerberos @Bones @Raikzik @Bravo @Krakarak @Xylos

(( OOC: Your char can introduce themselves & begin the course in the same post. Please make rolls (whether for magic, running, flying, whatever) for the following, each in their own posts:

- Going down the wet, slippery, steep mud-path & avoiding the water puddles
- Sprinting along the walls and avoiding the agitated giant cave rats
- Weaving through the bone fortresses & pillars without hitting any
- Scaling the wall somehow
- Making it through the fungal forest (narrow from ceiling-to-floor) and back to Giggle

The character with the highest 'score' at the end will be viewed as having best completed the course. Obviously this may take awhile so just take the thread as something to do on the side between plots! Good luck and have fun! ))

DIAMONDFANG

"queen of thieves"

---

It was time. It had been a while since the whole snowmen fiasco that the Merrymen had barely recovered from. Fang still remembered the humiliation of discovering them. She also remembered who had to be the culprits. Those idiots at Canis. She would love to go put them in their place but without their powerhouse then it would be a futile effort. Besides, on her own she was tiny and she needed to do reconnaissance first. She needed to see what they were up to then discuss possible courses of action with Louie. Perhaps they could sneak in and poison their food or water supply. The crafty fox was always cooking something up in his gut so that should be no trouble.

First she had to do her part to get the machine of teamwork started. The crafty vixen put on her gear which consisted of her vine belt, her poisoned spear, the dagger-sword, and her satchel just in case she found any goodies. She was ready to go and with a last look at the large chrysalis which contained the Fire she set out. Perhaps one day the rhino would come back but for now they could not depend on that. They had to get things started themselves. As the chief it was up to her to initiate it.

The tiny mongoose scampered off down the tunnels which lead to Canis. The dim lights flickered across her red coat as her tiny paws scuttled across the ground. It wasn't long before she made it to the area she wanted. Slowly she began to peek around the entrance to Canis. First her whiskers, then nose, then one silver eye. Her ears pricked to listen to a large hyena as it spoke. "The Bonebound live here, but we know little about one another, in many cases. I say we introduce ourselves--and then test ourselves. Learn what we are each capable of. And which among us are strong--or weak." The vixen listened carefully to her words. Taking them all down in her head and storing them for later. It appeared that this was some sort of training day... Perfect. Fang would be able to see who was the most dangerous in the group.

The tiny queen needed to go in and get a closer look but before she could do that she needed to camouflage herself. Waltzing in how she was now would surely get her caught. Her head disappeared from the entrance as she focused on her magic. Almost immediatley her coat changed from its red-brown to a duller brown-gray color while her dorsal stripe was black. It was the perfect camouflage for the dull colors of Canis, it would be easy to go undetected now.

She peered back around to the entrance, now she just had to wait for her chance to go in but she couldn't wait here. The mongoose cast around for a moment and found a rock to hide behind. From here she could peer into the room and await her chance to rush in and get a good spot to watch the proceedings.

---

words: 517
tagged: @Azazel @Giggle @Bones @Bravo @Xylos @Mau @Kerberos
ooc: Don't eat me, I have permission to be here -waves peace flag-
muse: 7/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

Far too long had Azazel been silent, and too many times had he simply disappeared from his clan. He'd rise once again, and at the call of one of his most trusted members, he came. The Bone King flapped great wings, winds churned in his favor to allow him flight. Feathers caught the air gracefully and turned it behind him, propelling the Ave forth. Carmine gaze was shielded for just a moment by his eyelids before he looked down below, catching quite a strange sight. Bones infested with glowing orange fungus. A slope was slick with mud and various objects. A forest of great mushrooms reaching to the ceiling of the cave, and cave rats squeaking in fury. That really got Azazel thinking. What in the hell did Gigs have cooking now?

The Bone King landed delicately and looked at the spotted hyena, quite sure that she would explain once a suitable crowd arrived. He was blissfully unaware that there was an intruder among them today. When nobody showed up, he furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Cover your ears, Giggle." Focusing his magicka, he willed a screeching sound from his lungs, vocal chords striking in high and long notes. It should be carried throughout Canis for all to hear, and perhaps a little further than such. It wouldn't defean those nearby, but merely produce a short ringing noise in their ears. Well, except for those who didn't cover their ears. Once the call was sounded, Azazel kneeled down for a moment, panting. "That's the first time that didn't backfire on me." For a moment, he wondered if Giggle remembered their first meeting. Azazel had deafened himself with that ability, and since then, he had attempted to focus and control that ability Now he had done it. Holding back a sense of pride, he continued to wait for others to appear.

@Mau @Kerberos @Bones @RaikZik @Bravo @Krakarak @Xylos @Sia @Ambrus @Vraak @Isaiah @Diabolos

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am now making this thread mandatory for all Bonebound characters unless they are specifically on absence. This thread is essential to plots concerning Merrymen and Bonebound (The war is coming!) Everyone has until 9/4/2015 @ 11:59 CST to post in this thread at least once. Even if your character is not partaking in this event, please post. If you are unable to meet this deadline, please PM me, and I will add you to the exempt list.

[only posting once because you said it's mandatory... don't really wanna keep posting here.]

Bravo's ear perked up at the sheer screech that echoed through the cave. The sound bounced off walls and made tiny objects on the ground vibrate slightly with it's might. With a concerned tsk of his tongue the raccoon waddled towards the commotion, figuring it was worth investigating. He was slightly irritated that he had to stop what he was doing to go find the source, but after a few feet of distance between himself and his project he soon completely forgot why he was annoyed in the first place. After a moment of searching the bone room, Bravo found a few of his Bonebound group mates congregating. He entered their meeting with a salty look on his face, turquoise eyes shiny and squinted. "Ay," he greeted, before plopping down on the ground. Attention quickly darted to something completely unrelated.

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά


About to wander off to Orion to guard his lovely, precious home, the massive white mutt (who was easily the biggest beast in Canis at the time) paused for just a moment. Someone was saying something, loudly, not like a call, necessarily, but...

Kerberos started to pad over as he digested Giggle's voice through the echoes and he listened and what not. Didn't talk or even learn much, really, but he did listen. He had six ears and he was incredibly adept at using them now. Not many had gathered where hyena mom was waiting... To be fair, aside from the occasional weird bird, Kerberos really thought that only Bones, Giggle, and he lived there.

... And then the bird screamed. He had warned, loud enough, for Giggle to cover her ears. Perhaps for him to, as well. Unfortunately, the pup only had four paws and six ears. He yelped, ears stinging at the burst of the noise, and did the only thing he thought sensible. He ran to his momma.

Whining and whimpering, he clambered on up to where she was and tried abruptly to hide behind her (as if that would do any good) and hunkered down, paw over one muzzle, another glaring at Aza'zel, and lastly, his final head licked at Giggle's gross, fungi crusted body to try and earn some well deserved pity.

He came as fast as he could, alright?

i'm ready to start
the conquest of spaces

Sleep was a precious thing to her, as well as many young gembounds. She was constantly running around and training with her guardian, developing a close relation to their bond in general. However, sleep was the only thing that possessed her movements, a soft breath and the rising and falling of her chest. Azazel had cradled her the night her had witnessed her emergence, and the relationship between them grew so immensely that it was almost inseparable. Layers of fur had grown since then, a soft layer radiating heat in the warmth of the rather chilly cave. Sia looked at Azazel as a father figure, not only was he her only friend at the moment, but he was the only other gembound she had witnessed so far, or at least, encountered.

However, her sleep was rudely interrupted by a high pitched screech. There was no warning, no way to prepare and in return, cobalt eyes snapped open, a large gasp leaving her lips. Quickly glancing to the right -- where Azazel usually was, she was momentarily mortified to find it empty. However, she shook it off in advance, fur lying flat to the silence to follow soon after. Sia almost lost her footing as she quickly stood upright, audits piercing forward immediately towards towards the overall sounds that radiated across the caves walls. It was not only a call towards her, but to the others. Excitement bubbled within her, and she eagerly made her way down towards the path that was lain within her line of her sight.

While Sia hadn't met any other individuals, she was rather fluent in her line of sight and directions for a far enough distance. While she was smaller, and don't get her wrong, she was indeed incredibly small, but at the beginning of her life Azazel had carried her around and let her memorize the surroundings. As in, the Main area, the Chambers, the West Wall, the Circuit, and finally the Bone Fortress. The audible banshee screech that still was audible to individuals even farther then she was, intentionally, however, brought her to the main room. Many voices jumped across the cracks and crevices along the wall line, however her eyes captured only three at the time being. Two she didn't recognize, a hyena, that she had to admit was rather pretty, and a.. She had to take a second glance. One.. two.. three heads? She blinked and a unintentional whine left her throat. Not only was she shy, but she was afraid of the dog-like creature. Sia then gave a a gentle gasp filled with relief and she quickly bounded over to her father.

"Hi.. daddy."Her voice was bright and rather high-pitched in her manner, as she was rather young and was still trying to get a hold of it properly. She gave a quick uncertain glance towards the two.. er, four individuals. Though, before she was able to greet them, fear took over her entire being, mostly from the three headed dog, and she aimed to hide under Azazel's wing. Only to fail. Tail now beneath her stomach, she crouched to the ground into a submissive posture, not daring to meet the dogs gazes. This was a sign of respect, and, while she was scared, it was obvious she was too old to be hiding in daddy's wing. She was too big.

He had been onto something. A beetle that he was doggedly limping behind. Damn beetles were just so fast these days! Or perhaps he was just slow? Damn, stupid, gem face! It was all his fault that he walked slow now! Krakarak clacked his beak together disdainfully before finally decided to pounce and end the bug. Or he would have if a loud sound hadn't echoed around the cave and distracted him. "KRAKAAARAK!" He cawed in dismay as the beetle flew away and he was left with ringing ears. For a moment he was angry, thinking it was one of those stupid new kids! There were far too many for his liking in the cave nowadays! All of them taking up his Azza Azza's time! It was annoying.

However, after a moment of contemplation he decided that it had been Azza himself who had called. With a flap of his wings he flew right over to Aza'zel and after a glance at the other creature hiding beneath one wing he decided to go to the other side. He limped up and tucked himself into Aza'zel's side. One of the spots he loved to be in. "Krakarak is here. Azza Azza! What't the matter?"

____

words: 203
tagged: Meeting
ooc: Omg, first Krak post in a month
muse: 5/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea

Giggle had pricked up her large, rounded ears as Aza'zel warned her to cover them. She had just enough time to wonder, Cover my ears? Cover them with what? Does he mean with--oh no he's gonna make noise-- and to get her paws hurriedly halfway to her head by the time he was shrieking.

Giggle herself broke into loud and rancid swearing, her throaty, masculine voice rasping out a string of choice expletives in response to her King's cries.

"Oh BONES-DAMN IT, SHIT, Aza'zel what the HELL did you have to SCREAM LIKE A LUNATIC FOR--" and so on. Her brief tirade was interrupted by something scooting up behind her, licking at her pelt, and she turned, blinking. "Oh--tsk, Kerberos, come here," she said, half-exasperated, half-comforting. She curled over herself to give the massive dog a few licks atop his head, and then she turned back to the others again.

"To repeat for the new arrivals, there's food to be had for whichever of you wins the obstacle course. It's--" and then she realized that some of them were squinting at her, a couple heads shaking.

Damn it, Aza'zel.

"THERE'S AN OBSTACLE COURSE. YOU HAVE TO RUN IT. MUSHROOMS MARK THE WAY. FOOD AT THE END. ...GO ON." There. They'd all definitely heard her, now. With one last thin-lipped glance at her King--who, granted, had gathered the others, even if it meant deafening them all in the process--she turned to look the rest over.

"GOOD LUCK, AND MAY THE BEST BONEBOUND WIN!"

________________

Roll the bones.

@Diamondfang , @Azazel

Bones was awoken with a screech that could wake the dead. With a short whine, he glanced outside before he stumbled up to his feet. He had grown accustomed to how his legs were barely fuctional by now and how much his back hurt, but if something grazed by the ugly burn marks he'd wince.

The painted dog slowly emerged from his den with his ears ringing. His back legs were shaking weakly as he attempted to make his way towards the group gathering around Giggle. He didn't recognize most of the creatures there - only Kerberos, Giggle and Aza'zel - but perhaps it was an opportunity to meet some new friends.

Bones made his way to his 'mother' and Kerberos. As he moved to sit down next to them, he rather fell on legs that barely supported him instead of lowering himself onto his haunches. With a weak sigh, the wild dog moved his neck to lick one of Kerb's head and a patch of 'clean' fur on the hyena.

He briefly turned a bleary eyed gaze to the obstacle course, and with a weak sigh, he managed to lift himself back up onto all fours as he began heading towards it - though he wouldn't 'run' it as much as stumble half-aimlessly through it. He paused briefly and looked at Kerberos, as if waiting for him to come with him.


________________

@Azazel

δεξιά . κέντρο . αριστερά


Kerberos began to relax once his Hyena Mom gave him a comforting lick on his head, his six eyes wandering around, taking in all the newcomers that he wasn't familiar with. Orange-nose blinked over at a small, fluffy thing that was more white than the bones that littered Canis' floor. Who's that? He wondered, his tail going into a slow, calm wag.

His middle head simply nuzzled into Giggle's flank, light pink nose snuggling into the crusty, warm matted mess. However, scarlet nose noticed Bones coming over, and with a soft woof, gave his friend a lick in return. Giggle explained the game, loud enough to hear over the ringing of his ears. A game. A game! With a prize of FOOD!

The hound of hell jumped up to his paws, ears perking. He gave a few short, eager barks, his whole body wriggling with the energy of his frantic tail.

"Come on, Bones!" The painted pup had already gotten ahead of him while he stood there looking excited, but it took him no time to catch up. He tore forward, bolting down through the slippery path, his massive paws sliding as soon as he hit the slopping path-- but even stumbling, he kept tearing forward, unafraid of splashing through some wet puddles.

The race had begun!

@Sia @Krakarak

i'm ready to start
the conquest of spaces