In the deep loneliness of the tunnels, something shifts in the walls. Something pulsing, something living, aching for freedom. A segment of the rock wall begins to crumble. It is barely noticeable, mere pebbles and dust slowly tumbling down the wall, until something is revealed. A dull and dusty serendebite stands out against the bleak grey rocks. Dust continues to fall away until the gemstone is supported no more, and clatters to the ground. The lonesome sound echoes through the tunnels, then all falls still once more.

The Bone King had been patrolling the entrance to Canis, just to check and see if there was anything amiss. There hadn't been anything wrong, but, there was a strange noise. It was the sound of something pulsing quitely, a mournful sound. It was like the mournful and sad bellow of a saxophone, and it made Azazel's heart ache with its call. Quick to investigate and inquisitive as always, the ave had shifted his course toward this sad sound, descending into the tunnel between Canis and Orion.

The sound would sometimes fade away, confusing the bird and stopping him in his tracks. Gazing about, the vulture tilted his rufous head. Where was this sound coming from? A small rumble and crack of pebbles turned his head, and the bird raised an eyebrow, descending to investigate. Just then, whatever made the noise would make one final CRACK! and free itself from whatever had inhibited it. A plume of dust seemingly erupted from nowhere, and Azazel shot toward it. Whatever this noisy thing was, it was now deathily silent. Perhaps a new Gembound hatching? But there would have been a light. Now there was nothing but a dark stone like Leon's simply lying against bleak granite floors. Perhaps that was what made the ruckus... But why? How?

Coming yet closer to this unknown gem, the bird landed a few feet away, waddling closer and closer. His head ducked low, and he would stare at the now still stone intensely. "Was it you?" Spreading his right wing to balance himself, the bird lifted his right leg and tentatively reached out to the stone, tapping it gently with his talons. He instantly withdrew his foot, careful about this stone. "Hello?" He chirped, leaning close again. Just what was this thing?

{ art by almighty } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }

Icarus
The Guardian

Icarus ran through the caves like something was chasing him and he was running for his dear life - only, there was nothing chasing him. The cub liked the feeling of the wind rushing past him now that he was surer on his legs. The claws of his right paw were slightly longer than the others and scrapped against the ground as he ran, creating a constant, rhythmic echo through the tunnel.

Somewhere further down the tunnel he made out a voice. Icarus ran through the mist towards what he guessed to be another gembound.
And indeed, there was a gembound. A feathered creature with a beak and wings, using its claws to nudge a rock. Was the other gembound seriously talking to a rock? "Hello?" Slowly, Icarus approached, hoping not to scare the stranger. His striped tail swished lazily behind him, seeming to have a life of its own.

"Listen to me."

table by lisa

Curiosity forced her on. Ever since she had 'hatched' and met two particularly interesting specimens Amaria had wanted to see more and more. So she had traveled. At first her travels had been in the sheer darkness, but that hadn't at all bothered this kitten in the least. Not with how she could use magicka to see better. Then all of a sudden her world had been brightened and she could see without the aid of her red sense. It was kind of sad really, now having only really needing that sense of magicka when she was in a particularly dark place, but it was fine. She still adored it.

The place her paws had led her to was strange. So strange it was eerie and just a tad frightening. Her head was held low as her blue eyes searched the dull, gray rocks that surrounded her. Though she was scared, she kept moving. What was an adventure without a little bit of fright thrown in the mix anyways. Her ears twisted and turned, trying to listen for anything but it was so silent she was sure she could hear her own heart beat echoing off the rounded walls. And then a loud crack echoed through the tunnel and it was all Amaria could do not to mewl out in fright. However, she did just about jump out of her fur and land a good few feet away from where she had been standing.

Amaria struggled to ease her racing heart as he chest heaved to draw much needed oxygen into her lungs. Once she calmed herself her ears pricked forward and she listened as voices seemed to drift down through the tunnel. Maybe a new gembound had been born? Much like she had. She had never witnessed another being born, but she kind of grasped on to what it meant. She began walking again, almost in a hurried motion as she was all too curious to see who it was. Or even what they were.

Skidding to a stop just as two creatures came into view. A strange feathered covered creature of which she had to guess was a bird and another that was similar in structure to herself. They were looking at something. Something Amaria now wished to see also. So, without hesitation she pranced right up to the two and peeked around the bird. "Hey, what ya guys doing?" She questioned as she studied the dark onyx stone that not all bothering to care if she had interrupted anything. "What's that?"

Life is precious.

She was pretty far away from her home in Pisces but adventuring was something that she loved. The little lioness couldn't stop wandering until she'd seen all of the rooms in the cave, including these far reaches. The further she went though the more foreboding everything felt. These tunnels had an eerie feel to them, so much so that with every mysterious sound or scuttering of an unintelligent creature the little lioness was practically jumping out of her fur. By the time the strange clacking sound appeared Makyna was nearly a nervous wreck. So, when that sound came she gave a terrified little squeal and took off running. She didn't know where she was running to but she just needed to run.

Her tiny paws were almost silent as she zoomed through the cave... And right into the presence of three others. Two of which she knew quite well, the third was similar to her but was white in color with beautiful stripes slicing through his pelt. The thought of being around her fellows calmed her soul somewhat but it could do little to help slow her down...

"Whoa! Watch out!" She cried out as her claws skidded on the ground trying to get traction. Fortunately, she managed to stop herself right as she landed in the midst of everyone else. Her blue eyes looked around apologetically at her companions. "Sorry..." She said sheepishly to her friends.

As sorry as she was for having made such a clumsy entrance she was happy at seeing Aza'zel and Amaria. They were a couple of cool guys! And this new feline, he looked cool too! "Hey!" She greeted them happily before her attention was caught by the gemstone on the floor. It reminded her of Leon's obsidian. "Is this a new gembound?" She asked, her curiosity already taking hold.

"Speech." || "Thoughts."

table by lisa

words: 306
tagged: Aza'zel, Icarus, Amaria
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

Scrutinizing the stone even more, he didn't notice a bright white cub racing toward him gleefully. The rhythmic echo of claws upon smooth and barren granite alerted the bird, and he jumped back in fright as he crept closer and closer, blue eyes twinkling with curiousity. "Hi?" That was his reply. A questioning greeting back. Why not? This little boy seemed much younger than him, so he couldn't just launch into conversation about something he likely had no clue about. He'd prod the stone once again, furrowing his brow. What could possibly tell him about this rock? Maybe Makyna. She had past-seeing powers. But, she wasn't here. Sure as heck Azazel wasn't going to fly all the way to Pisces to find her.

Next to come up was another new cub, but this one was more adult-like, yet the same size as the first one. What was with him and cubs? Azazel seemed to attract them... or maybe this stone did. Hopefully none would decide to play a little bit of Cat and Bird. Of course, if they got a taste of his feathers, he was sure that they'd leave him alone. Feeling a soft head over his shoulder, Aza turned to look at the cub, listening to her talk and following her cerulean gaze to the dark stone. "Well. I'm trying to figure out what this is and what to do with it." The Bone King murmured, carmine eyes flickering back to the stone. If only someone here had past-vision magic or if Makyna was here.

Okay, maybe she was.

As if on cue, the golden lioness would appear, aquamarine eyes noticeable from anywhere. But she literally just flew in. Claws skidded against rock, and the bird stepped off to the side, just to make sure he didn't get flattened by Ky. "It's okay." He chirped, nodding cheerfully. The older cub seemed to know the middle child, but the first one was pretty new-looking. The ave hadn't seen him around before! Well, he didn't know any of them besides Makyna, but that wasn't the point. Gazing back at the stone, he tilted his head. "I dunno. I was flying in Canis, I heard a big crash, and this rock fell out of the wall." That was it. Absolutely it. Nothing else. Then there was a little lightbulb moment in the ave's head. Carmine eyes flickered toward the eldest cub, chirping quietly, "Maybe try your past-vision magic on it? Maybe we can know more about the rock?" Surely that'd work!

{ art by almighty } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }

Amaria listened with the utmost curiosity as the bird began to speak. All the while she inched closer towards the stone that now lay upon the ground and when she got close enough, batted her right paw at it. She jerked back, half expecting something to respond yet nothing did. She lifted her head and looked at at it curiously again. Still nothing. So this time she gave a soft purr in thought before she simply went as close as she could to it and began to 'play' with it.

Batting it between her paws rather gently. When she heard more foot steps she turned her icey blue eyes up and instantly beamed with a wide grin. "Maky!" She mewed happily and quickly shot up to her paws and raced over to the lioness; the stone now completely forgotten about for the time being.

She pounced at Makyna, laughing all the while as front half draped over the lioness' back and she made to playfully bite at Ky's ear. "Are you here to see the black stone too!? It kinda looks awesome. Do you know smelly bird?" She gave a wide grin, exposing all her little baby fangs. She meant no harm towards Aza'zel over her words, but she was still somewhat fresh out of her egg and it didn't occur to her just yet that some words might come across as offensive.

She looked to the other white cub that had been quiet simply watching before she looked back to Makyna. She was definitely happy to see Makyna again after they had gotten separated awhile back Amaria was worried she'd never see her again.

Life is precious.

The young one noticed her immediately, obviously since she almost crashed into everyone. "Ammie!" She purred happily as the other female ran up to her. The lioness giggled and playfully nipped at her friend before her attention turned to partway to the stone. "I did! Let's investigate, shall we?" The lioness turned back partway to toss the rest of the leopard over her back completely so that she could carry her over to the stone where they could both take a closer look. The little leopard was small, smaller than Ky and weighed a lot less so she was easily able to carry her.


"His name's Aza'zel and he doesn't smell." Makyna's words were kind and gentle though you could hear the seriousness in her tone. Sure Aza'zel probably didn't take baths as often as he should but he didn't smell too bad. Plus, there was no need to say it out loud.

The lioness sniffed at the rock and listened to Aza'zel's words. So, it had just fallen. Strange little thing that it was. The idea to use her spell to see into its past seemed like a good one. So, she saw no wrong with it. "I'll try." The lioness extended a paw and touched the stone, waiting to see if she saw anything useful in its past.

"Speech." || "Thoughts."

table by lisa

words: 220
tagged: Quest
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

Though the stone didn't move, a sensation of excitement lit up the air as it was discovered first by a bird, then three felines. Something had jarred it from its hiding place in the rocks, freed it from its prison - whether or not the stone itself knew was a mystery unto itself. It did, however, seem to delight in the presence of these Gembounds. As the lioness approached it, it reveled in the magic she offered it, graciously reliving what memories it held bound to its gleaming black surface.

Images and sounds would soon fill the mind of the little lioness. Heavy footsteps, and the clattering sound of metal. Visions of a shadowed figure whisking in and out of existence. They were going somewhere, the holder of the stone and the figure - and there was panic, a desperation that Makyna would be able to feel right down to her core. Sounds all seemed to get louder and louder, drowning out everything in the tunnel. Voices, screams, the metal was heavy and dragging the stone's holder down. Every emotion possibly felt by the creature would swell within Makyna now - then suddenly, it was gone. She would be met with a feeling of emptiness. The shadowed figure would occupy a fading, blurred vision; reaching - then gone.

What excitement had once filled the air dissipated, and the stone closed itself off from the Gembounds. It had made an active effort to relay as much information to the lioness as it could, but now its magic had to recuperate. The stone will be unable to react to any further actions from now on.

Well, he had been curious about the stone, until somebody had mentioned a 'smelly bird,' and since we was the only bird nearby... that meant the cub was talking about him. Huffing quietly, the bird tried to ignore her, but smiled a little as Makyna stood up for him and how he smelled. What did it matter, anyways! Everyone smelled, for all Azazel cared! Rocks were stinky, cats were stinky, and even dogs were stinky! Everyonnnnneeee.

Back to the rock, Azazel watched as the lioness prodded it with her nose, hoping to recover some of it's memories. He'd watch hopefully as Makyna's hackles possibly rose, and she stepped back. Once that occurred, the bird skittered forth and watched the stone fall eerily silent once more. Not enough magicka? Surely The Bone King could aid in this! Reaching forth, he tapped his beak lightly on the rock. Hopefully he could give the stone magicka and allow it to speak once again or show the Gembound what it wanted. Surely it would not have forced itself from the wall for no reason other than fun!

{ art by almighty } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee }