Cancer eased his way down into Polaris, relatively pleased with himself. The shale plate on his head was coming along nicely, and it had only been an hour or two since he'd left Pisces. Now, he slipped into Polaris proper. The tealy blue light in this area always astounded him, but it made his horns and eyes look almost green, which wasn't such a good thing. The cat certainly didn't mind the color, but on him, it looked awful. The blue glow, however, reminded him of her. It was a nice reminder of what awaited him back home once he was finished.

He would head away from the dam this time, avoiding the golems expertly and heading for the Spire instead. It's energizing pull was enough for any cat to become impossibly curious- and its height posed some level of challenge. I wonder how high I could get before getting tired?

Careful and waiting to avoid much interaction on this trip, the cub hung close to the wall between the tunnel and his destination. If I just take right turns from each tunnel... He glanced about and in turn, felt conspicuous. Anyone could spot him against the glowing background here, like an outline of life against a solid gleaming landscape. Not too keen on getting surprised, Cancer cast out his Red Sense, to get a feel for anyone or anything (besides the mulling golems, but including them in case any had strayed too close) was around...

...and to his surprise, as his stone horns and eyes became red with light, it wasn't a moment's breath before he noticed something unfamiliar, smack center of the cave. A bird, by the looks of it. Not Azazel, too small, not fuzzy enough. Not Bevy, too big, too ruffled. He stared for a moment, then hopefully before the thing noticed him, he'd move to slip away towards the Spire, slinking along as only a cat could while the glow from his eyes and horns ebbed to nothing.

Flying was a glorious thing! With his growing age and size he found that he could power through the air just as fast as Aza'zel and it was wonderful! He could do neat little tricks! He could fly over everyone else's head and throw down insults and get away again unscathed! He wondered if he did a repeat of the Arkael incident if he would get away with it without being sat on. He hoped not but even he had to admit --albeit, begrudgingly-- that it took guts and brains to figure out how to get to him.

Krakarak soared throughout the tunnels, traveling this way and that. He wasn't going anywhere in particular, just stretching his dark wings. It was fun just to do so. It was then that he noticed a change in scenery. A new place with lots of water and thousands of sparkling and glowing things. He gave an appreciative croak before alighting on a particularly sparkly gem. It was too large for him to take but that didn't stop the bird from pecking at it. He was fascinated by it and refused to leave even though his position was on the ground and left him compromised if someone wanted to take a bite out of him.

As he was admiring the shiny blue below him he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. His head turned and his head tilted as he examined the thing. It was the same color as himself but in a distinctly different shape. What caught his attention though was the fact that it was staring. Why on earth was it staring? Had it never seen a bird before? Krakarak lifted a foot and put on a distinctly disdainful expression before stating in a not-too-kind voice, "Take a picture. Krak Krak! It'll last longer!" He didn't know what a picture was but he felt like the expression suited this particular moment. Well, truly the leopard hadn't been staring that long before it tried to slink away but Krakarak was in a particular mood today and he could do with some entertainment.
____

words: 322
tagged: Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea

The bird noticed him staring and called back with some kind of retort, but Cancer was already well towards the Spire. He left the bird sitting on its gemstone, opting instead to check out the Spire and its magical pull. The cub had never felt more energetic than now, even when he'd last come to this cave. This Spire really was something amazing, wasn't it? He circled its base once, then came to sit, pulling the tablet from his horns and setting it between his front paws. He wanted to add it in, and to do so would require some patience- the area he'd marked as Polaris was smaller on his rock map than in person, but he figured some scribbled lines would mark the Spire nicely. So he began working at it, as if to pointedly ignore the bird and anything else in the cave around him.

The cub wasn't interested in making friends this trip. No, especially not with a loud-mouthed bird like that. He had enough on his plate to deal with, regarding mouthy birds. Azazel was more than enough for him, thanks. But alas, the bird wasn't done. He could feel its beady eyes boring into the back of his head, so the cat turned to look again after finishing his scribbles.

"Mind your own business, beak-face. I'm busy here." Then he'd go about trying to get the tablet back between his horns again. It wasn't easy, but he'd manage after a single failed attempt that would chip away a part of the edge of his slab, but luckily not too much that it ruined the map itself.

Krakarak was quite satisfied with himself. That comment he'd made was absolutely amazing! The leopard had been busy doing... some silly thing, he didn't care what when it came back to him. The leopard mouthed off his own little comment, one that had the raven's feathers ruffled up in a tizzy. Beak-face? Beak-face! How dare he? Sure, he did have a beak on his face but still! You didn't call the great Krakarak beak face! Hmph, the nerve! The dark bird puffed up his feathers and fixed the leopard with a great glare. "You mind your own business, spotty-butt! Krak Krak!" He crowed out angrily.

What in the world was that silly feline doing? Why was it balancing a rock on its head? That was so stupid! Hmph. Since he was so intent on balancing it and he was so rude perhaps Krakarak should do something about it. He flared his wings and let out an angry crow, feeling his magic bubble up. However, instead of it producing a gust of wind to topple over feline's stone it backfired and knocked Krakarak from his perch right onto the ground in a bundle of angry feathers. "KRAAAAAKAAAARAAAK!" He yelled angrily. He was unhurt by the magic backfire but he was not happy about it. Quickly he stood up and started hopping up and down on his little feet, in a fit of rage. "YOU STUPID LEOPARD! THIS ALL YOUR FAULT! I HOPE YOUR STUPID STONE FALL AND BREAK! KRAKRAKRAKRAK!" He screamed angrily at the cat. To prove how much he wanted the stone to fall and break the raven flapped his wings and took off into the air. He made a low flight over the leopard's head and swiped his talons at the stone in an attempt to knock it off.

____

words: 300
tagged: Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea

Cancer paid the bird no mind for the first comment. It was a lame retort at best. He had more important things to take care of now. Like getting out of here. Alas, the bird was of no such convenience. It dove into the air and with a mighty stroke of its black wings, it proceeded to topple itself head over tail feathers backwards. The cat watched with wide eyes and a shameless grin as it righted itself.

"Ha! Serves you right, you pesky poultry!" He gave one more laugh before trotting towards the nearest exit. The bird wasn't done. It swooped, screeching at him, that it was his fault and the cat, annoyed beyond reason now, turned one mighty paw up, extended his claws and swiped...

...but overextended, he missed the flurry of feathers and not a second later got an angry bird in the face, talons and wings chaotic and blocking out his vision. The leopard yowled in protest and again swiped to get the bird away, furious now, and in pain. "GET THE HELL OFF ME!"

ooc: I'll let you decide if the second swipe does anything. xD Poor Cancer, jesus christ.

Pesky poultry? Oh! Now he was really in for it! When the bird flew at him he attempted to knock over the tablet but forgot that the leopard could retaliate so he ended up dodging the first swipe but on his way trying to get out of range the second one caught him across the rear, dislodging a few tail feathers. The raven crowed in pain as he took off towards his previous gem. The bird turned his head to examine his tail feathers only to find a few of them missing. Great! First he got his back plucked and now his tail feathers were missing! None of the lady birds would want him at this rate. "My tail feathers! How could you?! Krak! Krakarak too pretty to have stupid leopard messing up his feathers!" He said in an all new rage.

The bird wasn't sure if he wanted to try and attack again... At least not at close range. A coward wasn't really one to throw himself at the enemy in such a way. So, he tried his gust again. He flapped into the air again and released his magick--

And it worked!

A gust of formed and he aimed it at the leopard with his wings. "You mess up my feathers! Krakarak mess up your rock!" He shouted angrily. He had worked himself up into a fine little tizzy.
____

words: 231
tagged: Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea

Cancer brushed his paw over his face the moment the bird was away, wiping the feathers from his fur. The bird screeched about its missing tail feathers and Cancer considered for a moment plucking the rest, to give it a real reason to complain. Then, suddenly, the bird slapped its wings and a mighty gust caught his tablet and it shifted from his horns. As if in slow motion, the cat whirled to catch it. It fell to the ground and a corner piece flew off as a result. The sound of the rock snapping seemed to echo in the cat's ears a moment, then another. He stood still, staring at the broken stone, then he whirled in his own fit of rage.

"YOU STUPID BIRD!" He launched himself at the crow now, aiming claws and teeth to rip and maim- as far as the cat was concerned, this pest was nothing more than mouthy prey now, and he'd treat it as such. Those leopard legs sprung and he reached...

...and claws swiped close enough to brush feathers before the cat landed on the ground again, teeth bared in full force. The leopard let loose a roar of frustration, more adult than any sound he'd made, and it echoed through the cave like thunder. "Look what you did to my map, you stupid, stupid bird!" He paced below, three steps right, another three left, then stood center again. "Get down here so I can bite your nasty head off!" In his anger, this suggestion seemed perfectly fine. Later, he'd feel like a dick for trying such horrible things, but for now, seething, the cat was only concerned with getting rid of another pest, in the only way a cat knew how to.

Ah ha! It fell! The bird felt an instant rush of triumph that satisfied his boiling anger. As such he began to laugh and bob his head up and down in a joyful little dance. "Ah ha! Stupid stone broke! Ah ha ha Krak!" His joy was short lived as the leopard flung himself at the taunting raven. With a fearful croak he flapped his wings and took off into the air, nimbly dodging the pounce which only caused the bird to release another round of mocking laughter.

Krakarak found himself a new perch on another blue gem, one that was much taller and out of reach of the leopard. From here he looked down at the leopard with a smug expression. The leopard could call all he wanted but Krakarak wasn't stupid enough to come down again, he'd gotten what he wanted. However, that didn't mean he couldn't taunt and aggravate the leopard more. It was fun to see others worked up and angry, especially after he'd gotten what he'd wanted. "Krak Krak. Stupid leopard, that's no map, that's a rock!" Really? How dumb could you be? "You must be very stupid leopard if you think Krakarak will come down there! Ha ha ha ha! Poor stupid leopard! What's the matter? Wish you could fly? Ha ha ha!" He said in an annoyingly aggravating voice. He could say what he wanted now, there was no way the leopard could get him. After all, it wasn't as if he could magically sprout wings or jump ten feet high.

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words: 258
tagged: Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea

It never ended! The stupid bird crowed in laughter and Cancer began to pace again, ears pinned back and eyes burning holes up at the annoying creature. It began to taunt him, and that was it. Gears started turning in the cat's brain as he paced. He knew what he had to do. He had to teach this stupid bird a lesson. He would scare that cocky attitude out of it- or kill it trying. Both options satisfied the fury in the cat in that moment.

Cancer turned and ran rather suddenly for the back wall, not some feet away. Limber from his travels, the leap was easy. He pushed off the ground and landed on the wall, but as soon as those legs bunched, he twisted and sprang from the wall towards the bird, showing off that feline ability. He twisted in the air and reached...

...and this time, to his immense satisfaction, his claws met with solid muscle beneath layers of feathers, and down they both went. He landed atop the bird with both from paws, and those claws dug in hard on impact. It stung to fall so far, but the warmth beneath his paws distracted him from the pain- yes, he'd finally caught him!

"Listen up, you dirty carrion-eater!" He snapped as soon as he'd landed. "You've got three seconds to apologize before I bite your stupid head off!" And then, slowly but tensely, he'd count. "One..."

Krakarak was too busy taunting the cat to even consider that a feline might be able to make the jump. He just thought that since it had no wings it couldn't fly and if it couldn't fly it couldn't get him. Jumping hadn't even been in his thoughts. So, he turned around and started shaking his tail feathers at the leopard. His tongue poked out of his mouth as he added motion to his verbal taunting. If he had known any more motions he would have done them but he was still young and hadn't yet figured them all out... yet.

It was upon turning back around that he noticed the leopard... but it wasn't on the ground anymore. It was launching itself at him! How on earth had it gotten up so fast? Krak had time for one terrified "CAW" before he was grabbed. Both he and the leopard fell to the ground and landed painfully. The bird squawked with pain and tried to squirm away but those claws had him tight! He was trapped! Now that he couldn't escape he felt nothing but fear rush into his belly. Oh oh! This was it! He was going to be eaten by this cruel cat! Oh, why did he have to go messing with people all the time!

"Oh! Spare me please! Mercy! Have mercy! Krakawaw! Krakarak was joking! He-he was playing! Yes! Playing! Don't bite his head off!" Apologize? He wanted an apology. Oh, yes yes! He could do that! He could apologize quite well! "Krakarak sorry! He sorry for calling the smart-pretty-leopard a stupid spotty-butt and-and-and he sorry for knocking the smart-pretty-leopard's stone on the ground. It's very nice stone! Krak! Shouldn't have knocked it down! Sorry sorry!" The raven clasped his talons together as if he was praying to the leopard for mercy which in reality he was. The bird had no backbone when he knew he was beaten.

____

words: 322
tagged: Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

"Talking"
Thinking

table by chelsea