The trek back to Draco was far slower then the walk there. Tired from their battle and carrying trophies slowed them down - especially Hellion, with its massive sandworm mandible that it realized might have been a bit too big to reliably carry. But there was not a single chance it was going to show an inkling of weakness, even after facing, and killing, a literal sandworm.

But they made it, limbs and bodies intact, almost unharmed from their ordeal. The strange hint of openness that V-Ruby-One had show to the onyx at the end of their fight had completely closed off as they'd returned to Draco. Returned back to their chains, where the Black Spire ever watched, even infected deeper into its mind. It didn't look its way, nor at its companion, as it strode suddenly much quicker through the Aperture and into the main area of Draco.

Almost out of breath, arms burning from the effort of carrying the mandible, it at last released its prize with a resounding thud of impact echoing through the dark cave as bone met rock. It stood tall next to its prize, crossing all four of its arms as it waited for Master Vargas to notice that they had returned - and congratulate them on a job well done.

@V-Onyx-Three @Vargas

Onyx-Three followed not too far behind V-Ruby-One, awkwardly carrying the tooth over their shoulder. Their injuries were minimal as well, with their weapons bearing most of the damage from the fight. The dagger, especially, would need repairing. More arrows would also need to be made as well.

Though their mind had lingered for some time upon how exactly they would utilize the tooth, it hadn't taken long for their thoughts to drift back to Alek. Now that they were back (alive, most importantly,) they would be able to have a conversation with him. The ordeal as a whole had taken much less time than he had expected, but he already had enough of an idea of what he would say. Still, it was just as likely that it would all escape them as soon as they saw him.

Onyx-Three was glad the walk back from Hydra was short, because his back was already aching by the time they made it home. They winced at the sound of the mandible thudding against the ground, setting the tooth gently onto the rock. It seemed impolite to just make some noise and expect Vargas to arrive, so they decided to call out as well. "Master Vargas? We have returned." Although they had taken down such a large sandworm, now that they were back, they were beginning to doubt if it had all been enough.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas turned and approached, taking in the pair and their trophy as he came to a halt before them. Neither bore visible injury, not that he noticed at a glance. Both seemed weary but that was more than expected. And the trophy...

Or, trophies?

His six eyes shot to the tooth, then the mandible.

"Are those from a Sand Worm?" he asked, his voice a loud bellow as usual. He sounded... Impressed? It was hard to parse, exactly, but it was there, and confirmed by his follow-up question. "Well done! Tell me of the fight!"

It seemed a demand for a report, but at the same time there was a more boisterous, cheerful undertone to it. Vargas sounded like he was half a step off ordering some beers, or something.

@V-Ruby-One

It's head raised higher at the Master's praise (not that it needs the praise! It was just well-earned and well-deserved!) and one of its arms uncrossed, settling one paw to rest on the mandible. "It died and we walked away with only scratches." Of course, he would want a more detailed report, but the Helion considered, for a rebellious moment, leaving it at that.

But the moment passed. It wasn't feeling particularly swayed at the moment, the beast within still peacefully dormant, so it gave a little more. "I used dark lightning to paralyze it. The onyx used his bow to hit weak spots, definitely hit an artery. We did not let it burrow back into the sand once it was free. He jumped on the beast and stabbed with his dagger while I used flame and lightning to weaken it. My fire down its throat is what ended its life." It pointed to its shoulder, where the one open wound it had sustained was scabbing over. "This is all it did to me. Bruises too, but those will heal fast."

It looked towards the onyx, to see if he had anything to add. A slight heat to its glare said, in silent tones, I talked about how you did a good job. Now you better do the same for me.

@V-Onyx-Three

They nodded as V-Ruby-One spoke, thinking it gave a rather accurate and succinct recounting of what had occurred. When it finished, they did not respond right away, thinking there really wasn't that much to add. Perhaps more details could be included... or maybe key lessons learned? They were aware of V-Ruby-One glaring at them, but were unable to interpret what it meant. Had he done something wrong somehow? It didn't occur to him that such giving of praise was transactional somehow, or that what it had said was considered praise at all. It had simply said what had happened.

"We learned about teamwork. A mixture of our talents made it possible." He replayed the scene in his mind again, trying to pick up on any other more specific examples that could be used to illustrate this point. "My arrows were effective, but V-Ruby-One took more risks. Its magic dealt the most critical blows. I have much to learn from it, and magic as a whole." Indeed, even his own attempt at using magic had been more effective than any usage of the dagger, which said a lot about adapting one's fighting tactics towards the situation. "I will be honored to work with them in the future."

They briefly considered asking about what Vargas would want them to do with the mandible and tooth in case he had any plans in mind, but figured he didn't ask about it yet, and it would be best to stick with one topic at a time in any case.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas listened, looking from one to the other as each spoke. He reached for the mandible, lifting and examining it against the light as Onyx-Three went on; then he set it down again. "It looks to have been one of good size, too," he mused aloud.

He then nodded, stepping back. "It is good that you have learned. And have you, V-Ruby-One? What have you learned from this?" His tone was patient, not demanding. He wanted to see what it had to say, before he continued.

@V-Ruby-One

Approval for the Onyx-three's compliments had it nod once and move its glare away. But an addition it didn't expect caused it pause. Honored to work with it in the future. He didn't mean that, he was just trying to suck up to Master Vargas. It had accepted long ago that nobody wanted to work with it, and it preferred the solo living. It didn't have to watch out for anyone, didn't have to think about anyone but itself. Granted, it hadn't felt like Onyx-Three had been any kind of obstacle or barrier holding it back against the sandworm - quite the opposite, he had been a good distraction. But still, it didn't believe a single word.

Its eyes raised to meet Master Vargas's and its lip curled as a sourceless anger welled up within it. Being all calm and composed while talking down to it like a lowly worm, a teacher to a student, like it cared for anything he had to teach. It was not stirring the sleeping beast deep within its belly, not yet, so the fire wasn't quite running through its veins yet. But it was a close thing.

So instead of a complete blow-up, it simply scoffed. "Sandworms burn," it retorted, loudly. "if you shove fire down their throats. And letting go feels good. Was I supposed to learn something else?"

@V-Onyx-Three @vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas eyed the curling lip, and sighed softly. After V-Ruby-One had spoken (and made even clearer its building anger) he slowly sat down. "Ruby-One," he rumbled, "I am not your enemy." He paused, for a moment, as if mulling this over himself, or letting it sink in.

Then he continued. "It is not about what you are 'supposed' to learn, but what you might. All things in life are tests, whether they are intended to be, or not! Perhaps you might have learned that we--the Forge," and here he looked to Onyx-Three, and gestured between Onyx and himself, "are all not your enemies. That we work together to kill our enemies, as you have."

He paused, thinking. Has anyone explained stabilization to it? he wondered abruptly, and looked to it again. He couldn't remember if he had, but it was important. "If you will recall, I told you that it was my job to teach you control, and to teach you to focus and direct your Chaos to where it is needed! That was part of this. I hope you at least have gained an inkling. Beyond this: when is the last time that you meditated before the Black Spire?"

His eyes narrowed as he thought. "If no one has taught you, you must spend time there now and then, or your innate Chaos will destroy you. A visit there might aid you in finding your control."

Or maybe it had meditated; maybe it knew, and it was simply this uncontrolled, even then. That was not a good prospect.

He looked to the two, and then to the trophies. "Now: what do the two of you plan to do with your trophies?"

@V-Onyx-Three

V-Ruby-One wasn't wrong with that assessment. He had missed the fact that beyond the whole teamwork thing, they had also learned how to kill sandworms, something he had never encountered nor attempted taking down before. Yet, that hadn't quite been the main intended purpose of the assignment as a whole. The brief lecture was information he knew already, though it didn't hurt repeating. The part about meditating caught their attention, and they wondered if the reason for its outbursts were connected to that. However, V-Ruby-One wasn't so uncontrollable that they would have attributed it to an external cause beyond personality.

Ah, and now the question of what to do with the trophies. "To make weapons. This material has different properties to test." He paused here, thinking of how Vargas had asked them rather than simply... claimed them? At least, Onyx-Three hadn't done anything like this before, and part of him had thought that if they had gained the trophies as a result of a punishment, it meant they would not be able to keep them. Still, he wanted this to be usable for all of the Forge. "It is plenty. Others may use it as well. Do you have any requests Master Vargas?"

@V-Ruby-One

It wanted to grow angry and more angry and it occurred to it then that it didn't know why. Why it felt the need to explode into rage at every possibility of a slight against it. But Vargas chides me again like I'm a child. Like I do not know who is or is not the enemy! But was he an enemy? It didn't know if it respected Vargas or hated him.

It grit its teeth, both arms crossed across its chest and a hunch coming over its back. "Not my enemy, huh?" it spat. "Fine, but I don't meditate. I don't go close. I hate that thing." It's eyes glanced up and glared at the twisting spire beyond them. Just staring at it made its stomach twist uncomfortably. "You want to teach me to control chaos? Might as well ask me to ungrow a chrysalis. Does that not sound ridiculous to you?"

It snorted and then stood back up to its full height, words suddenly beginning to tumble out of its mouth, frustrations built up and the dam released by the temporary removal of the beast inside. "You know what I learned? I learned that when I destroy and let go, it feels good. And it would have felt better if I didn't have to avoid hitting Onyx-Three. I don't know what you think you can do with me, but I know why I was made. Azrael told me - to be a weapon of chaos, to be powerful and to destroy Order. Fine. Point me at them. I'll destroy them. I don't care. It felt good to lose it. Let me lose it."

Helion V-Ruby-One then curled in on itself again, hunched, looking away, feeling an unfamiliar sting at its eyes from the sudden feeling of rawness in its chest. Fuckin. Stupid. It glared at its trophy and shrugged. "Mount it. Destroy it. Make weapons. I don't care."

@Vargas