There were two things that existed in life. Fire and Oxygen. The twister roared bellow the platforms, its screams dominating the room. The air that belonged to the thing of wind was air that was asking to be tamed, to be used. The vents fed that air, and they were hot as flames, just waiting to feed a fuel that they had never known before.

The fire sat, nestled in a nook just inside one of the winding ledges. While the rest of the world was hot, this small, cracked object sat and grew to the size of a large dog, growing hotter and fiercer than the winds that whistled by. Indeed, this flame wanted, even before it became known to the world, as something with the power and strength of the true winds-- of the twister bellow. The fires could hear the roar, could feel the strength in the gentle rattle of the earth. Yes. That oxygen. That was what the flame wanted.

... It took a while for the fire to grow to the point that it could move.

For some reason, the fire found that unlike what it imagined itself to be like-- free, hungry, spreading wildly through grasses and air alike-- it was actually quite grounded and solid. This was immediately frustrating, and upon the realization, the fire struggled to move.

The fire did not come into the world with a roar like the Twister of Monoceros. It did not come in with a sizzle or a hiss or any natural fire noise. Instead, it birthed with a sharp, loud crack as the tip of the fire broke forth. The beast of flame's horn broke the crystal shell that had caged its heat and fury, the crack still ringing in sensitive ears. The fire snorted, struggling free of the orange-red cage, and with a few more sharp cracks, the lumpy grey animal plopped on to the floor and almost over the edge of the cliffs.

It seemed the being didn't mind almost plummeting to its death. And why would it? For the beast of flame saw the source of its lust and greed-- bellow lay the twister, roaring with rage, demanding to become hers.

post roll;;

The whirlwind bellow answered her simply. The branching fire on the horned beast's face crackled-- yes, that was the noise of fire!-- and she felt power grow in her veins. The wind would become hers as the heat spread to the feet tucked under her. Alarmingly, they grew too hot to handle. Stumbling, the grey baby managed to retreat from the edge just in time to promptly catch fire.

The twister laughed in her ears, the heat vents coming to life around her and feeding her fierce flames. They crawled up her legs, burning, starving to consume the young rhino. She had been born Fire, and so Fire she had became. Her ears caught next, her tail followed, soon the fire scored her entire body.

The beast screamed in response. The noise was drowned by the dominating noise of wind in the room, the awful cackling of the world around her. She had always been fire, yet now she became fire. She would know nothing else. Nothing, at least, until something that was not fire nor wind, yet somehow similar to both came along.

tag ;; fang

She'd heard nothing of the cracking or hatching of the creature. In fact, she heard nothing of the outside area as the little mongoose was asleep in her little den. It was a tiny hole in the wall where she kept all of her stolen goods. So far she'd only confiscated three things but she hoped to increase her collection by stealing and pillaging, perhaps by trading too but she would see about that. However, now as she lay curled up in her den she was thinking of nothing but her dreams. Dreams that were accented by the wind of the evergoing tornado and soon, the sound of screeching and screaming. At first, there was simply Fisher in the dream. He'd fallen from a tree and was in pain so he was screeching. Her dream self tried to aid the poor fellow noodle but he wouldn't be relieved of the pain. The screaming grew louder and louder until her real-world eyes opened.

The silver pools were wide with panic. The screeching, it was real! Her ears heard it from outside of her den and it was terrible! What sort of animal made a sound like that? Fang almost didn't want to go outside lest some banshee or other horrible creature was trying to find its way inside of her den but curiosity got the better of her and she poked her head out. No fantasy creatures were trying to off her today but there did seem to be an unfortunate fireball screaming its head off at the top of the ledges.

Oh wait... that was a gembound... That didn't look good. Gembounds weren't supposed to scream like that or be on fire like that either. At this rate the poor thing, whatever it was, would be a roasted critter in no time. As much as Fang loved cooked meat she would have to pass on letting this one roast itself. With a size that large it could prove useful.

Quick as she could she bounded up to the other's level. Careful to keep a safe distance lest she get trampled the little mongoose called out. "Hey, Screamin' Fireball! Try rollin' around on the ground! Maybe that'll put the fire out!" Seemed like the logical decision to her. It was better than sitting still or running around like a ninny. "An' don't fall off the cliff! It's a long way down!" She added.

Either way if the creature made it out or didn't Fang would get something out of the deal.

---

words: 420
tagged: Nemesis
ooc: Fang >.> you're an awful person...
muse: 8/10

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

A noise that was not the wind or the fire came to the beast's flaming ears, and although she had been thrashing frantically to stop the fire, she stilled to listen. The creature of flame did not understand this new noise, shrill but... What were those sounds? Why did they have meaning? The rhino did not question the command that was given to her, instead simply fumbled to the ground and began to roll.

Fires did not roll. She had no idea what she was, or what that strange thing of not-wind-or-fire was. It made no sense, but very few things could manage to question words shouted at them when they were literally on fire. Maybe she could consider it when the stumbly, fumbly, desperate attempt to stop being on fire was done.

;; post roll

As the grey animal rolled back and forth, avoiding the edge, the wind died down around her and the strength of her fire dispersed quickly. The flames after all were only powered by her own, untamed magic, and once she stopped considering herself literally made of fire they seemed to understand they didn't belong all over her fragile, soft skin.

The beast lay panting on her side in the aftermath. The burns weren't deep, thankfully, because of the strange new-noise creature. Her skin ached, the heat radiating off of her grey flesh, but she was alive and not too harmed. Her midnight blue eyes flashed up to look at the small thing... Dusty colored, quick like fire, light like air. She was too breathless, too startled by her first moments of life, to think about trying to say words back at the narrow, small creature.

Instead, she just stared in dumbfound awe. This being knew how to control the fire.

tag ;; fang

Diamondfang watched as the fate of this creature played out before her. Would she get a new lackey or a meal? It didn't ignore her command to roll. It complied and just like she'd imagined the fire dimmed and then was put out. The mongoose didn't know that the fire was from the gembound herself, in fact she didn't ponder where the fire was from at all. Instead, she was more interested in getting acquainted with this newcomer. She'd worry about the fire later.

The strange gray thing with a head full of gems lay on its side, panting from the heat of the former flames. Now that she wasn't up and screaming the mongoose approached. The little creature ran up to the larger one on all fours and came close to its head. The silver eyes peered into the creature's blue ones. There was no denying that look of awe. Did it really think that Fang was so special for suggesting to it how to put the fire out? That was certainly a good thing. If the gray animal was in awe then that meant it would be easier for Fang to enlist her as a possible ally. The more the merrier.

"Howdy! Glad ya didn't burn yourself too bad with that fire. Seem a bit scorched up though, maybe some water would help ya, hmm?" There was no water in Monoceros and none nearby but she knew where there was some. Question was if the little animal was ready to go that far. Fang didn't think so so she didn't bring it up, not yet. First they had to get better acquainted.

Fang sat back on her haunches and gave a charming little smile. "My name's Fang! Do you have a name, Fireball?" Fang actually liked the name "Fireball" and even if this thing gave her an alternative she probably wouldn't heed it. Giving nicknames was one of her specialties or so she figured. Legs still didn't seem to appreciate the loveliness of the given nickname. "An' ya don't have to go on gawpin' like that! I'm just a gembound like you... Well, I'm an older gembound with a little more knowledge but you'll get there one day. Just remember to respect your elders." The mongoose winked before giving a grin that exposed her namesake.

---

words: 387
tagged: Nemsis
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

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

The controller of the flames made more sounds, all which had meaning to the rhino but at the same time confused her considerably. What was water? Fang? She wasn't a ball, but she was fire, so that was fine. Gembound...? There were so many words, which brought ideas to her brain that made everything spin. Why was this critter so small and yet so powerful? The rhino carefully got to her feet, which took a lot of effort and made her skin ache with the fresh pain of the burns.

Right. No more... Gawking. Name, name... What was her name? She didn't really know, not immediately. Fireball worked for her, kinda. "Not... Ball. Fire, Notball." She managed to do the noises, much to her surprise. Her voice was deeper than the smooth, silky tones of the controller. She blinked at this, toes scuffing at the earth, considering the long fall she almost tumbled down.

Again the Fire-Notball considered the idea of water. It sounded good... The word had cooling, comforting feelings to it, and for some reason seemed likely to soothe the roughness of her skin and throat. The smell of burnt skin was not a good one, and water... Water would help, wouldn't it?

The Controller.. Fang.. they were both Gembounds. Were gembounds things that made the noises with ideas and concepts instead of with heart and soul? Hm. "Water," the rhino agreed, eyeing the vortex in the middle of the room. She only knew fire and air, but she would figure out what water and gembounds were. It was only a matter of time.

tag ;; fang

The newly hatched gembound still looked a little confused but that look of complete awe was all but gone. At least the large one rose to her paws... er, hooves... feet? Fang stared at those large toes and marveled at them. To be that large would be amazing. No one would dare mess with you or talk back to you! Then again if you were that large how in the world would you sneak around and collect pretty little items? No. It was best that she was this size. Leave the bullying and stomping to the larger creatures. As long as they could be controlled it was all the same. Those large feet would be just like her large feet when she rode on the back of such a powerful creature. Diamondfang the Queen of Thieves and the Stomper of Enemies! Had a nice ring to it.

"Sure sure, Fire not Fireball then." Whatever suited the large rhino worked for her. Fire fit just as well as Fireball even though calling her Fireball amused her a tad bit more. In either case she needed this one to be her friend so stepping on toes by giving her an unwanted nickname wouldn't work. "You're Fire the Notball Gembound!" The little creature called out with a smile on her face. That probably wasn't her name but for the moment it was all that they had. Besides, the other gembound seemed pleased with it so it was alright.

Fang followed the creature's gaze after it copied her word. The tornado? Why was she staring at that? "No no, that's a tornado! It just sits there... for some reason. Perfectly safe as long as you don't go runnin' up to it. Water is... different. I'll show you! If you're up to it, Fire." The gray skin of the rhino looked irritated after the run-in with the flames. Fang pondered leaping onto her head to lead her like she had done Erebus. However, with the water so close and the rhino still burnt she refrained. Perhaps another day she would acquaint herself with riding this creature but for now she would hold off.

Suspecting that the newborn would be alright with finding a source of water to soothe her skin the mongoose bounded off down the trail towards the gorge. She'd seen a nice cool pool of water there before and she was certain it was just what she needed. "The water's not far. Just in the gorge." She said over her shoulder before putting on another burst of speed after she rounded the turn to the gorge. The ground lowered and lowered until they'd reached there destination. Ahead of them lay the water just as the mongoose had promised. "Voila!"

Not wanting to get her own fur wet the small red meerkat leaped first onto a large stone on the ground and then higher up to a small branch protruding out of the side of the wall. It gave her a good spot to view the rhino and would make it easy for them to talk to each other while she did so.

---

words: 519
tagged: Nemesis
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

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

Fang agreed and so it was; for now, the young rhino would be Fire the Notball and that was a wonderfully simple name. All the baby knew was fire and wind, so of course being called Fire was suited enough. It was interesting to her that the Controller of Fire was named Fang, which wasn't an... essence, but more of a part of what she was, a physical sort of form. Teeth. It all was hard, wrapping those thoughts up and lining them up in her head, and for the moment she simply wanted to stop thinking and just do what she had to do. Which, of course, was what ever Fang told her to do.

But first, the small creature who seemed like the wind that carried flames, told her that the Tornado (she would remember this term and add it to the others, Vortex and Twister she knew innately) was not water. This made her snort, for of course the thing of Wind was not of Water-- but what was water. She just didn't know and she had no frame of reference for it. She nodded at the mongoose who suggested they go to the water, and suddenly the Controller was off just like the wind. She was so fast!

Determined to keep up, the rhino bolted. Her clumsy, large, lumbering form seemed hard to turn but once it started moving their seemed no way to stop her. She thundered through the ledges, keeping close to her new companion but always stumbling to a stop before she got to close. Her legs were so much larger than the tiny mongoose's that her gait easily kept up with the smaller animals, but she definitely didn't want to trample the one who had saved her life.

Fang shouted a word that was almost an emotion more than a noise that had any real meaning, more like the crackle of a flame than something that could be understood. Yet she felt it, the excitement, running through her blood like the very fires of who she was. Before them was the thing that must have been water-- a pool of something. It did not race around the room nor consume with hunger... It just lay there.

The baby rhino wasn't afraid of the water. The Controller brought her here, and so far Fang had only helped her. So, confidence in hand, the rhino bolted and charged the water. Waves crashed up around her as she floundered into the deep end, but the beast was almost born for water. Although fire and water were no to mix, the rhino could feel the harsh sting of the liquid's touch almost immediately melt into soothing coolness. She kicked and kicked, keeping her head out of the water, and made her way to where she could stand comfortably in the cold, reassuring water.

Water was good. Like Fire and like Wind, but calm and soothing. Necessary to survive. She didn't know how she knew, but now her deep blue eyes were peering back up at Fang, bright with wonder. How much more did Fang know?

"Voila!" She shouted up at the mongoose on her perch. Part of Fire the Not-ball wanted to know why she didn't join the big rhino in the water, especially since it was so nice, but... Hm. Maybe it wasn't good for the thick, fluffy stuff that looked like thick, orderly bunches of flames on her body.

"Feels good. Water good!"

tag ;; fang

No hesitation at all, the rhino simply thundered into the water after having followed her obediently. Fang noticed and was pleased by this. This creature was one that could certainly be used. At least for the time being while she acted in this manner. The little creature's pleasure showed by the smile curved up at her lips and the glittering fang that showed in her mouth. The vixen watched as the rhino floundered about in the water and cooled her skin. It was obvious that water felt good to her and the little creature was glad. Happy servants were obedient servants. She could have sniggered to herself for sheer joy but refrained. How would it look if she were laughing at the ones she was controlling right to their face?

No, the little creature simply lounged on her perch and watched amused slightly when the rhino mimicked her. "Of course, water is usually good. So long as ya don't drown in it!" The vixen gave a short laugh before turning her sharp little eyes back to the female. Hmm... she wondered how far that obedience would go. She'd rolled when told, followed when told, gone to the water when told, never mind that Fang could have been lying the whole time. She had still listened. Fire was always useful so long as you used it right.

"I knew that the water would help you though... You're Fire but the water was here for you. Just like I was here for you when you hatched." Time to test a little theory. The mongoose tensed her hindquarters then leaped and landed with ease on the rhino's orange gem. She had no want to get in the water for it would only bog down her fur and make her heavy. "We're friends you know. I'm your friend and you're my friend. I rescued you because I heard in a dream one night that Fire would serve me by being the bestest friend it could be." How in the world was the rhino ever going to believe this? It sounded silly even to her own ears. "I'm a Queen though and while we're friends a queen must have someone that serves her, and in that dream you were sent to be that someone because you are worthy and special. You are a Fire that flickers and brings warmth to her Queen but also a Fire that is strong and burns her foes. Doesn't that sound nice?" The vixen leaned over the side of the gem and peered into the rhino's eyes with such a sincere expression that it would seem like her words were real. Of course, every single thing was pulled out of her rear but who knew that but her?

---

words: 458
tagged: Nemesis
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

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

Fang said another weird word... "Drown". It didn't sound good at all, so she wasn't about to think about it or try and find out what it was. Nope. She'd stay right there in the safe water. Her midnight blue eyes batted as the mongoose went on about how the Water and the Fang were there for Her. All for her. Just like the Wind! She understood.

The Rhino started when the mustelid leaped into the air and landed neatly on her horn. Immediately, Fire the Notball leaned her head back and up higher, careful to keep her friend from the water. If she wanted to go in she could, but no point in dunking her without her wanting to get wet! After all, she had Fire Fur, and perhaps it didn't like the wet.

Her ears swivled as she listened to the sweet, honeysickle lies. She was one, too young to know a lie, and two, too trusting of her hero to ever suggest such. Fang was a Queen. She would of course keep the Queen warm, and especially burn anyone who dare hurt either of them! She was Fire, she was the raging, flaming storm! A grin spread across the baby's face.

"Yeah!" She replied, pride swelling through the Fire like a windstorm swept over arid, dry underbrush. "Be there for each other... Family!" The word had come out of no where, along with the term "herd"... But Fang didn't seem right for a herd. Herds... Herds were bigger. Many more. But they could be a family.

"Fang, Fire, Family!"

tag ;; fang

Fang half expected the rhino to glare then toss her from her face in agitation at such a bold-faced lie. The mongoose even tensed her body in case it happened... but it didn't. The rhino simply took her words for face value! The Fire grinned at her and she grinned back with relief, seemed as if she wouldn't be getting dunked today. And why shouldn't the Queen of Thieves not be dunked? She was the best at thieving and lying. This little mongoose could get away with anything!

The little mongoose patted the youth's cheek with her paw. "Exactly. We're a family, jus' you an' me! The Queen of Thieves and her Fire." The little creature cooed to her in a sickeningly sweet voice. Family, eh? She'd never used the word, actually she'd never even thought about the word but she supposed it was a nice addition to her arsenal when she wanted to get others to blatantly follow behind her. Queen was also another one when dealing with newborns. Perhaps they all would be susceptible to this sort of manipulation. She'd just have to test this theory.

"So, my Fire, what say you we go on an adventure? Meet new gembounds? Oh! I've got just the person for you. Big guy. He'll be part of our little family too." She hadn't told Erebus that she was a "Queen" yet but she was working on it. The little hoofed creature was already pretty loyal perhaps she could bring him under wraps too, just like she'd done with Nemeis. Diamondfang certainly hoped so... twisting someone's mind until it worked under hers was proving to be quite fun.

---

words: 276
tagged: Nemesis
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

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