Scion. That was the name of the creature that started the whole clean up of the chaos, he made a mental note to remember them. Something about them had intrigued him. He had already gotten curious about creatures like Esther, those that were corrupted, and though they didn't seem to be, they had the same lingering scent on them that Esther had, that he could only assume was a group of some sort. Other creatures might not notice it, but being canine, he could catch the subtle hints of similarities in scents and it just acerbated his curiosity even more.

Not long afterward, he found himself seeking the creature out, following their scent and looking around for them. He paused for a moment when he entered the tunnel, the scent heavier here than anywhere else, which meant they were here or close. Hello? He called out, taking a moment to sniff the air, trying to locate the creature he wished to talk to.

It hadn't gone far, just a few steps out of Canis and into the connected tunnel as it began the trek back to Draco but the voice that called for it made it pause and turn. Mildly impatient, a little annoyed, but humoring. "Yes?"

It looked the other up and down. They were young - not quite a newly hatched gembound, but not full-grown either. And also yes - a gembound, a normal non-hybrid, non-valkhound, non-specialty made gembound. So why the hell was it coming up to it? Eh, it would entertain it for a bit, as long as it didn't take long.

It lumbered forward until they were in a proper speaking range and tilted its head. "What do you need? It was, uh, Nikolai, right?"

@Nikolai

His ears perked up slightly, noticing the creature he had been looking for, Scion he remembered their name to be. Yes. Scion, is it? He nodded in greeting for a moment before lifting his head, instantly getting to business. You're from the same group as a mained wolf named Esther, correct? Are you corrupted as they are? He knew the questions were sudden, very random and seeming out of the blue, but there had been on his mind since he had met this creature, itching to know more.

He had learned plenty about corruption from Esther, and for that he was extremely thankful. However, he wanted to know more of the group, as well as have the chance to question another about their experience with corruption if possible. He assumed that everyone in that group was corrupted, but this was a wonderful chance to learn.

His face remained neutral and his body relaxed, but his ears pushed forward showed his curiosity and excitement for information.

It nodded and then tilted its head. Corrupted? Was it not obvious from looking between it and the maned wolf what made one corrupted and one not? Scion wanted to be a little offended but it had to remind itself that not everyone was as familiar with Chaos and corruption as the forge, and this gembound seemed pretty young.

"No, I'm not corrupted. It would be obvious if I was. With the oil and all." It tried to remember Esther, and yeah it could place a face to it but that was about it. Nothing really else. It didn't go out of its way to socialize. "I am. We are called the Chaos Forge." Its eyes narrowed in on the young wolf's face, the excitement in his eyes and expression and huffed. "We're recruiting, if that's what you wanted to ask."

@Nikolai

So his suspicions had been correct. The oil and the air of something being off was simply that of a corrupted individual, but it was better to ask than to assume. He raised an eyebrow at the bold comment of joining, a small snort escaping him. Do others joins to quickly without questioning your groups work? That was a stupid notion to him. Why would anyone jump into something, much less joining a group, without learning what they could first.

I'm interested, yes, but I would like to know what it is your group does, what it values and how it handles its members. He wasn't about to put himself into a position he couldn't get out of. He was a soldier at his core, even at such a young age, but he would only work for those that he believed worth his time and effort.

Scion snorted as well, louder. "Sometimes, yeah." It was honestly a little funny how often gembound devoted themselves to the cause without really understanding why. Well, a lot of them had also been hatched right into the Forge so there was that too.

The beast's head tilted ever so slighty as it regarded Nikolai. Looked him up and down. Young, yes, impressionable, probably, confident, definitely yes. Master Vargas might like him. And if he'd helped destroy order, that already got him some free brownie points. "Well, first, you gotta understand something. These caves," it raised a wing and gestured to the tunnel behind them, "have a purpose. Or had one. And its been, uh, "out of order" for a very, very long time. Which, unfortunately, isn't going to fly with our Creator for much longer. So the Chaos Forge - that's what we're called - is kind of a way of bringing back that functionality. You know, before we're all destroyed." Its quills rattled a bit as it chuckled faintly. "So that's what we're about. I won't lie, its not exactly a soft or kind setting - we're soldiers, essentially. And workers. But it's important work. And if you put in your weight, you'll be treated well and rewarded."

@Nikolai

He listened diligently and nodded, absorbing everything like a sponge. Soldiers, and workers. He was fine with that. He liked pulling his own weight, liked doing what needed to get done. He hated weakness and the inability to do his work and recently he had felt like he didn't have any work to do. It was slowly driving him mad.

I think I like the idea, I don't know much of these caves and the order that used to be there, or really anything about the Creator you spoke of. But I have the ability to help and honestly I need something to do. He wasn't going to lie and say he cared about the order of the caves or wanted to please this creator of theirs, but he would be truthful about his want to work, his want to do something with his time, with his life.

I'm interested.

Scion shrugged. It wasn't surprised that Nikolai had very little knowledge - few gembounds really did. "That's okay, if you join up you'll learn quickly. All you need to really know, though, is that if the caves keep sitting around wastefully, we're going to be destroyed. All of us. Sooo, I'd say it's important enough work." There was an actual bit of excitement in it now that it realized the canine was interested. It could get another reward from Master Vargas for this, if he proved to be useful. And he seemed, at the very least, competent. "Nice. I'm sure Master Vargas will want to reward you off the bat, for helping out in Canis."

It glanced back, again, and the tunnel behind them. "I was just about to head back to Draco and report in - that's where the Forge is - if you wanted to come with me and meet Master Vargas." It hadn't really expected to have company on the way back, and it would have preferred to be alone so it could get back faster, but it was worth the slowdown if it was bringing a recruitment in tow.

@Nikolai

He didn't really care all that much about rewards, that wasn't what he was here for, but at the same time he wouldn't say no to it either. He wasn't stupid enough to look a gift look in the mouth. Instead, he would dip his head in acknowledgement, content to follow it to the leader.

Very well, lead the way. He said simply, content to follow Scion back to the Forge. He didn't know where he was going, so of course he would need Scion to show him the way. But, for the most part, he would remain quiet, always keeping an eye out and an ear twisted as they walked, listening to everything around them.

-follows Scion-

@Scion

Scion nodded and turned without any other words. It would lead Nikolai back to Draco and probably exchange little words on the way, unless he started a conversation first. It was content to walk in silence.

Maybe this time it would choose a vacation for a reward. That sounded nice.

*exit