AW for Maji Walezi, but I'd prefer if Makyna posted first! <3

Leon didn't know how long he had been asleep for. It must have been at least a day before he was awake enough to remember what happened. It must have been a little bit longer than that, too, before he had the energy to slowly pull himself onto his paws and stagger away from the battleground. The earth was littered with speckling of crimson and streaks of burnt, black dirt. Claw marks, pieces of melted leather, and tufts of fur spoke of the fight that had occurred there just the day before. And the fissure. That deep, dark maw in the earth that had swallowed Cancer whole. It was the only reason Leon was still alive, yet the bear turned his eyes from it, lips pressed into a grim line.

His entire body ached even more than when he had first passed out. The adrenaline pumping through his veins had protected him from the pain, but now it was here in full force. His muscles screamed and his bones felt like they were going to shatter, his chest was tight and breathing hurt his lungs. His vision was still blurry even. The deep gashes that cut across his throat and up the right side of his muzzle had crusted over, but would be quick to reopen and bleed again at the slightest trauma. What was worse was the general feeling of unwellness through his whole body, as an artifact of both his chipped stone and the radiation that Cancer had hit him with. It made his stomach churn and every so often, Leon would have to stop where he was and vomit. Even after his stomach was emptied he dry heaved and choked, his body desperately trying to heal itself.

The trek back to Pisces took far longer than the run from it. It was a couple hours, at least, of Leon stumbling through the tunnels and cave rooms, having to stop for numerous rests until finally he found the entrance to Pisces. Just a little while ago he had lingered here, tormented by the path that promised to take him through it. Some part of him was still hesitant to enter, knowing that if he did, he'd be met by the worried faces of his friends. The rest of him was just desperate to find somewhere he would be safe. If he could just... go back to his den... he could sleep and everything might be okay.

Leon huffed and pressed on. It wouldn't be long before somebody would notice his return - especially since he was returning alone. His head hung and he limped, fighting through the ache in his body to make his way back towards his den.

Makyna had been devastated. As soon as they had launched themselves at each other she had been powerless to stop them, powerless to do anything but watch them go. The lioness couldn't even go and help Fisher because he'd disappeared into hiding soon after the events. Guilt. Depression. Anger. They all boiled up into one lump that sat in her gut. This lump of emotion made it impossible for her to eat, to sleep, to do anything but worry. Whenever she checked on Leon's emotions all she received was a huge pit of anger, of the type of rage that only happened when one was fighting. If she focused on it for too long she would grow angry herself. She would remember what she'd walked in on and what made her throw her magic at Fisher. This sort of thing didn't make her happy to dwell on. Makyna didn't like being angry at her friends, she just wanted everyone to get along! Why couldn't they all just be happy together? Was that too much of a childish dream?

It seemed like it. Cancer and Leon hated each other. Cancer hated her. Fisher probably hated her. The only one who probably cared out of the bunch now was Leon but he was busy fighting Cancer in a battle that she didn't want to happen. The lioness was too clear-headed... She could see all sides of the situation and it hurt. Cancer had felt abandoned so he turned to someone else for comfort, Fisher had been unsuspecting and had just fallen into the moment, Leon was angry at her being yelled at and cycles of Cancer being less-than-kind to him. If only she could just be mad and see one side of the situation...

But she couldn't...

With a sigh she had gone back to her den and laid down but she didn't sleep. She stayed awake for who knew how long thinking about what had happened and what could have been done differently until she felt that familiar pull. The one that told her when Leon was around. The lioness lifted her head and before the bear could even make it to his den she was there. For a moment she just stared, disbelieving that it was truly him. All of his wounds, everything he felt, she could feel it. The scrapes, the burns, the claw marks... all of it. In this she forgot everything else she had been pondering over the night. It all didn't matter for this was Leon. This was her savior. Her love. Her life. He was back and he was hurt. He needed her and right in that moment she knew she needed him.

With a choking sob she ran forward and began to lick him, to groom away the blood and charred fur. She didn't care how it tasted, she only wanted to help. Did it cross her mind that she was betraying Cancer the same way that Cancer had betrayed her? Yes. But as far as she cared the leopard had given up on the relationship. If he was allowed to do what he wanted then so was she, it was over. She could forgive and understand why he did it but she wouldn't go back to him for more heartache... Not when the one she had missed, had pined over was here before her eyes and so battered. It hurt her... It truly did.

After she'd groomed his head and shoulders the lioness stepped back, gazing into his amber eyes. Those eyes that she had just realized that she'd thought she'd never see again. He was truly, truly here. Again, sobs wracked from her form as she stepped forward again and she softly bumped her head against his. Leaving it there, letting her gem touch against his soft fur, it felt so good to just sit here like this. She remembered that time in Cetus... when they'd held paws. It was like that only magnified ten times over because he had come back for her... Even though she hated fighting, he had fought for her...

Still with her head in his fur she said with voice choking against her happy tears, "I thought I'd lost you... I thought I'd never see you again..." Her sobs rang out for a few moments more before she stepped back again, gaze sweeping over his battered form.

Then, it occurred to her.

In this moment with him... Where was Cancer? He hadn't limped in after the bear. Makyna peered around Leon, hoping to see his dark form but no. He wasn't there. Worry in her eyes she looked back into Leon's gaze. "Where is Cancer?" Had... Had they fought to the death? Was their leader returning? Even though he had cheated on her the lioness couldn't just look with a blind eye if he had been killed. She still cared about him and as angry as she was for what he'd done to her, she couldn't just not care if he'd been killed

But perhaps she was overreacting... Perhaps that leopard would show up.

---

words: 847
tagged: MW... and Leon <3
ooc: I think me being upset earlier helped my muse XD
muse: 10/10

"Talking looks like this!"
"Thinking is this!"

enna . ratchet . calypso
sweet and soft . bright and cheery . critical and melodic
ooc ;; notes and tags

Bevy didn't know what happened, but she had heard the commotion and from her perch she saw Makyna-- when had she come home?-- and Leon-- Leon!! Immediately the pitohui bird took off, her wings spread in a flutter of jet black feathers, swooping down to meet the pair with bright eyes.

That was when she saw, however, that Leon was badly injured. It was like nothing she had seen before-- the burns, maybe, but there was some strange way his wounds had been made; it didn't make sense. "Where is Cancer?" Was he missing? Had something worse happened to her best friend? Panic seized her and her throat and wings tightened and she fumbled to the ground, landing on the soft moss in a bit of a tumble.

"Leon!" She peeped, getting back to her feet. Good as new. Makyna was taking care of his wounds, licking at his burnt fur and blotched skin. She shook her head, collecting her nerves. She puffed out her chest and raised her eyes to Leon's gaze-- though he was surely lost in Makyna's. He cared for her like Enna cared for Cancer. It didn't bother her. She simply steeled herself for what she had to do.

"What happened?" She demanded promptly, beginning to build up healthy bacteria in her beak. This was the process she always used, to make sure her spells didn't horribly backfire on someone who was already injured. She focused, waiting for the news, trying not to get distracted by the gaping pit in her stomach. She could feel, vaguely sense, the magic working. It wasn't enough, but she was trembling with the effort. She had to know what happened.

Where was her best friend? Why was Leon so hurt?

You are the avalanche, one world away
My make-believing while I'm wide awake
Just a trick of light to bring me back around again
Those wild eyes, a psychedelic silhouette

I never meant to fall for you but I
Was buried underneath and
All that I could see was white
My salvation
my, my
...

and that’s when the shadow came, and darkened your china face
the dancers still shook and swayed, but i couldn’t look away
they were all in their chemicals, a hundred cars up an icy hill
and we were stood under them, grim and quietly grimacing

and you spoke with that voice i love, and love awoke in my boilin blood
where death sat a sec before, the road is lit and i’m going home
He dragged his paws on the stone floor, knowing that he'd be found even before he reached the dark, lonesome maw of his den. It had been weeks since he felt this floor, weeks since his eyes moved over the familiar cracks and patterns in the dust-laden rocks, weeks since he felt the familiar weight of mist on his fur. But it was welcome. It was what he'd missed. Even after all that happened, his muscles had creaked to a slow, and the mist made him smile - tears gathered in the corners of his eyes.

Before he saw her, he felt her. Everything in him pulled towards her, it was the feeling of his other half finally coming together, the feeling of him - his other half. Leon's eyes slowly lifted from the floor, still dotted with tears, the brown fur beneath his eyes darkening. Just as she stared at him in disbelief, he stared at her back, unable to tear his eyes from the golden girl that emerged from the darkness to meet him. Unable to look away, for fear that she'd vanish when he looked back. Unable to look away, for fear that he would look again and see something else - maybe she was a memory and he really was dead. But she choked out a sob, and Leon felt the squeeze in his chest. She ran forward and as soon as she met him, his legs gave out, his muscles finally found their reprieve. He collapsed into her embrace, accepting the safety and security she gave him over all else.

there will be no caving in, no suicide note, no pills & gin
i’ll hear your voice again, and it stirs me like a pealing bell
echoed by everything, everywhere, by every fraught fibre, by every cell, hear em telling you:

you’re not the only one feeling this stuff, you’re one of us
Hind legs folded beneath him, his head lay on the back of her neck, pressing his wounded face against her right shoulder. His left front paw came up, clutching the back of her head and holding her, holding her closer than he'd ever before, so afraid that he'd lose her he couldn't move again. His wide eyes brimmed with tears now, staring past her into the cave room that slowly began to populate with the faces of his friends. He could feel his heart staggering, reaching out for that heartbeat he felt, reaching out for the synchrony it craved. He barely registered the pain of her rasping tongue against his wounds, knowing that she was only doing it to help; that was right, he'd forgotten. The pain was forgotten when he saw her.

As she started to pull away, Leon instinctively clung to her, unable to let himself let go of her. But as soon as his muscles felt defiance of his will, they screamed, and he squeezed his eyes shut before releasing her. It took all of his strength to hold himself up as she withdrew and he met her eyes, still wide, still frightened, in complete awe, pleading - please, have me back. Then she cried again and his heart wrenched, but she moved forward and she bumped his head. The bear's short, round ears pressed flat against his skull and he pushed back against her skull, only the lightest of forces; his expression softened until it betrayed naught but doleful, defeated and half-lidded eyes, simply relieved that he was home with her.

and thats when the shadow lifts and the camera reveals her lips
and the lava under your skin – you gotta always remember it
and try not to talk at all, and say all of that common stuff
no just let the lava come and all the love you been holding off
yeah that’s when we’re rising up – feel the elevator pull your guts
each floor’s like the medicine drops – the only fear is the fear it’ll stop

but it won’t because, cause its in your blood, you’re one of us
Her voice illuminated the silence and his eyes lightened, flickering up to meet hers again. The cracking of her melodious intones pierced him and he rubbed his thick muzzle against her cheek in a bid to stifle her tears. "I wouldn't - I couldn't..." Leon stammered and strained to speak through the tightening of his throat. As much as he had wanted to leave her behind, he knew that one day it would have to end. Be it sooner or later, it would end and he would go back to her. He would always go back to her whether or not she wanted him, or needed him, or even thought about him, he'd go back to her if only to see her happy again. The bear felt his heart quake, closing his eyes as he relished the sensation of her being so near.

Before long she pulled away again, leaving Leon feeling exposed. That happiness and warmth suddenly spawned in him began to plummet as she asked that question, Where is Cancer? Leon blinked at her, for a quick second dumb founded, and then jealous, and then upset, and then guilty. Almost two seconds later there was a fluttering of wings, and suddenly Bevy had drifted down from on high only to crash land in the moss, then hop back up and greet him. They both pressed him for what happened. Leon was dead on his feet, and for a brief moment he found that familiar frustration bubbling up in him that they hadn't just expressed their worry for him. Then, he was guilty again - Cancer was their leader and arguably more important, he'd been here to care for everybody whereas Leon had simply vanished. It was Leon's fault he was gone.

The bear's shoulders dropped, as did his gaze to the paws of the lioness. "He- I'm sorry-" Leon's voice broke as he struggled to maintain evenness, struggling through that pit in his stomach that had suddenly opened up, the pit- "I don't know." He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head slightly. "We- we were fighting, and he knocked me back. He came at me with the knife. Then the ground shook and opened up, and suddenly he was gone." It was hard enough for him to remember it, let alone recount it in front of Makyna and Bevy, the two Gembounds who cared about Cancer the most. His voice shook with shame. "I don't know where he is." Leon's voice strained, and his head finally hung. "I'm sorry."

yeah that’s when we’re rising up, out of the ashes and plastic cups
arm and arm on a dirty rug, where they’re all dancing to jungle love
i don’t care if a shadow comes, and covers us like a shovel of rocks
the party’s still going on

and i heard cathedral bells
His shoulders quaked as he quietly cried - and then he raised his head, as if it weighed a thousand pounds, and he looked back at Makyna. His eyes gleamed, and they pleaded forgiveness, for understanding, and for her to come back. He pleaded for her to come back. Cancer was gone and it was his fault, but he needed Makyna, he needed her to understand, he needed... he just wanted her to love him.

He was here, he was really here. She felt him hold her and leaning into his embrace. A rusty, growl-like purr erupting from her throat as she lay in his embrace. This was how it was supposed to be. This was what she wanted, what she needed. All those weeks when she had been alone and thinking about the past. This was what she missed. The lioness was one halve and without the bear she hadn't felt complete. Now, she was whole again and the rest of the world didn't matter for that brief moment that they were reunited.

However, when everyone started showing up and she herself had asked the question it all seemed to end for a brief moment. Her Leon, she could sense that he was guilty and afraid. Afraid that she wouldn't forgive him for losing the leopard. Perhaps she should have been upset, should have raged at him but she couldn't bring herself to it. If anything had happened she'd no doubt that Leon hadn't meant it. In one's rage they could do things that they normally wouldn't. Had she not just acted out against Fisher? It would be hypocritical of her to judge Leon for anything he may have done. Right now, he wasn't even sure what had happened to Cancer. No one could be sure unless they looked... right?

Bevy hopped onto Leon and the lioness gave her a smile of gratitude. The bird always knew how to fix up her patients and Makyna was glad for her presence. Bevy questioned Leon further and while Ky was eager to hear his answers as well she moved forward towards him. The lioness knew better than anyone else what he was feeling and right now he needed her comfort. Hell, she needed his comfort so she would grant it. Whether it was wrong or not didn't matter as she leaned forward and used a paw to pull him into her embrace. In any case, that leopard had tried to kill Leon... or it sounded like it. Violence was a cruel master when turned against friends.

While her paws were wrapped around him her gem began to glow. She didn't quite know what was happening but something was surely going on. Her eyes which had been closed as she buried her face in Leon's fur opened and stared off into space while her head lifted. Subconsciously her paws tightened a little as she used a new ability she hadn't formerly had before.

---

words: 416
tagged: MW... and Leon <3
ooc: GM contacted
muse: 8/10

"Talking looks like this!"
"Thinking is this!"

enna . ratchet . calypso
sweet and soft . bright and cheery . critical and melodic
ooc ;; i know this looks like ratchie's talking here but it's just flat tone, def not bright and cheery lmao

Enna felt herself slip suddenly. Like her mind just lurched out from under her. She went into some kind of shock, her actions becoming automatic. Panic consumed her, wild, furious, uncontrollable, unhandable panic. Cancer and Leon fought? He pulled a knife on Leon-- he did this to Leon? What had Leon done to him-- and... And he was gone. Was he dead? She shut down everything, quickly, abruptly. She couldn't think about this now. Leon needed her now.

The bird hopped forward, still trembling, but she didn't ask anymore questions, only giving a calm, empty, "Hold still," as she touched her beak to the bear's paw. The creepy, crawling healthy bacteria began its slow transfer on to the grizzly. "I'm going to fix you up. Things are going to be alright now." She felt like she was watching herself do all these things, as she waited for the bacteria to transfer before she took off, getting her vines and leaves and everything-- she had a special care package put away just for times like these, and it took her less than a minute to retrieve it and bring it back.

"I have just the thing. We can go look for him later, I'm sure he's fine," she told Leon, her voice so much more even than it should have been. She wanted to be sick, to cry, to lash out-- to do anything, yet all she could do was move forward. She had to help while she could. She couldn't fail Leon, couldn't lose another one. "What matters is that you're going to be okay. I'm going to make sure nothing gets infected." She began to, carefully, surgically, get to work fixing up Leon.

"Makyna," she hardly turned her attention to the lioness. She was a bit in the way, as it was. She got out her bigger strips of leaves, unrolling them carefully, taking a dab of cobweb and sticking it too one side. She fluttered up to where the worst of the wound was, her mind distantly noticing the glowing of Makyna's gem. She simply focused on applying the bandages to prevent infection before it started.

it echoes when I breathe
until all you'll see is my ghost
empty vessel, crooked teeth, wish you could see
and they call me under, and I'm shaking like a leaf
and they call me under, and I wither underneath
In this storm

Makyna would soon find a series of scenarios evolving before her very eyes. The distant cave wall in the far end of Pisces would transform to mirror the wall of the pit that Cancer had tumbled into. The wall opened up, and out it spat the black leopard who tumbled onto the floor. The shifting and groaning of the earth, however, had greatly damaged him - as he fell onto the floor, he remained still, lifeless. Bleeding. Bleeding everywhere. Dead. The wall opened up again, and Cancer fell out a second time, this time stumbling onto the floor of the pit. Alive. Barely alive. But a shadow would hover over him. The lamb in front of him shifted, and then turned her head away. The dragon suddenly dove down and devoured the leopard. The wall opened up again, and Cancer fell out a third time, coughing and sputtering, and then the lamb shifted and turned away, and Cancer wandered around the pit looking for a way to escape. Then the wall opened up a fourth time, and Cancer tumbled out, and the lamb shifted and raised her head. She looked at Makyna. Directly at Makyna, into the eyes, the soul of the lioness, and then there was a flashing white and a burning in her head. The visions faded back into the far wall of the cave.

The little fennec fox tottered into the clearing. Barely hitting 2 cycles just a day ago, she had felt a certain change in her attitude – that she had hopes, dreams and aspirations she wanted to accomplish rather than just blundering about in adventures of her own, and she was so excited to tell Cancer all about it. Her juvenile body had not changed much, apart from more fluffy luxurious sandy fur and a plush-like tail. Quix wanted to find Cancer to talk about her own aspirations and discuss about her friends. She had brought new additions to Maji Walezi not too long ago and wondered if the fat leopard had any plans in mind to help integrate them all and help them to grow. The faint scent of blood distracted her from her thoughts then. It was extremely vaguely familiar. Twitching her small nose, she attempted to follow the scent. Ears flicked around to hone onto any potential sounds. She thought there was a faint shuffling of leaves which reminded her of Bevy. Immediately, Quix darted forward, little claws clicking onto the ground as she dashed to find her friends. Very soon enough, she found Bevy, Makyna and a huge bear resting at the clearing. The bear was injured too! Immediately, Quix’s memory fled back to the time Usui got injured. It was the same bear! Also, she recalled Makyna’s stories. Was this her special friend then? Why was he injured? Why was he in Maji Walezi? The little fox gazed up at Makyna, then Leon, then Bevy, large blue eyes focusing on each of them. A huge, sinking feeling got to her spirits. What if Leon got injured because he was rescuing Cancer, like that time when he’d rescued Usui? "Does anyone know where Cancer daddy is? I need to speak to him," she managed in hushed tones, then her eyes fell upon the bear’s wounds which Bevy was tending to. She then looked at Leon and yipped with a smile. "I know you! You rescued Usui last time the rocks came down! You’re quite the hero!” And then she grinned and wagged her tail, and came close and attempted to use her magic to re-vitalize the bear by concentrating bacteria along her right paw and hovering it around one of his larger wounds along the limbs.

The bear's eyes lingered on her for moments more before they broke away. He could feel the wall that he had built crumbling now - what once was breached was no more. The walls were gone now, washed away by that deluge of emotion. Not even rubble remained after Makyna's anger had inspired him, and then took him over, and left nothing behind. She would know everything that he felt, and after that surge of helplessness and need, he knew that she had felt it too, and then she moved forward to make everything better again. A quiet sigh leaked from his lungs as she pulled him towards her. Leon let it happen, his body falling into hers again. His shoulders leaned against her, and his torn neck stretched across her shoulder, his chin resting on her back. She'd given him all and everything that he'd wanted, and so he closed his eyes, relieved.

He barely felt it when she tightened her grip. Bevy had hopped forward, touching his paw only slightly. He couldn't feel that either, when the bacteria began to fester within him in an attempt to ward off the potential illness that infection might bring. There was too many things for him to feel, and in turn he felt nothing, nothing except for the warmth of the lioness. Leon's orange eyes slowly opened again, flickering down to see Bevy. He was thankful for her, too - thankful that she had accepted his return and that she wanted to help. He really needed it. As much as he believed that all he needed was Makyna, he needed help to make sure that he wasn't going to succumb to the pure lack of energy his body had too.

The bird fluttered off, then swiftly returned with a care package of leaves. Leon turned his head only slightly to watch her, tuning his ears to listen. In truth, he looked exhausted. His eyes were half open and looked like they had dark circles under them, stained with tears as the fur was. She tried to assure him that the leopard would be okay, but Leon truly had no idea. He didn't know where Cancer had disappeared to, if he was trapped in the earth forever or if he would emerge somewhere else, beyond the cave? Bevy reassured him and hopped around, preparing the dressing before fluttering up to apply it to his chest. Though she spoke to Makyna, Leon summoned his strength to shift slightly and allow her access to his now scabbing injuries. "Th-thank you Bevy," He murmured tiredly, and then tucked his face into Makyna's thick ruff as he felt the bird poking around his injuries.

In a few quick moments, another creature had arrived on scene but Leon didn't recognize her. She was but a tiny thing, sandy coloured fur and bright blue eyes, hopping up to the gathering with curious questions. Asking where Cancer was. The bear very slowly withdrew his face to glance over at her, but couldn't find it in himself to repeat his explanation. It was no matter - she quickly became distracted, pointing out that he was the one to save Usui. Well yes, but how did she know...? Leon furrowed his brow slightly, but before he could say much, she was suddenly right next to him summoning her helpful magic as well. "A- ..." The bear stuttered, and his voice broke away. A hero... No. Not anymore.

Makyna heard nothing of what was said, she was barely aware of even Leon's presence as she stared off into space. Only the steady flow of his happiness was there, like a backdrop as she stared at the far cave wall. Apparently her want to know what had happened to Leon sparked the new spell and she was able to see exactly what would... or could happen. Four visions were presented to her, only two of them had any hope. Or... maybe two. Makyna didn't know what to think about the lamb staring at her, only that she wanted intensely to meet up with it and see her. It was a burning desire embedded deep within her soul to see that lamb.

After the vision was over and that flash of white assaulted her she closed her eyes again, body giving a sharp jolt before sagging from the effort of the spell as she buried her muzzle into the fur on Leon's neck. While laid in Leon's neck she thought about what she had seen and pondered what it all meant. What she had to do next...

Her head, specifically her gem, burned from the intense spell and again she gave a start as she heard Quix's voice. She felt for the young fox but was hopeful. Cancer's future wasn't completely bleak, there was hope. Lots of hope, if only they could get to him. They would get to him. Maji Walezi would not lose its leader, not if there was something she could do about it. Forget her emotions, she had to set them aside for the good of the group. Maji needed Cancer. The lioness took her head from the bear's fur reluctantly and turned her gaze to Quix though she didn't let go of Leon, not again, not yet. She gave the fox-pup a smile, happy to see her little daughter again. "I know where Cancer is, my child." Now her gaze turned back to Leon. "And he's alive..." Then she buried her face in his fur again, as she realized she wasn't completely correct. "Maybe. There's a fifty percent chance." This part was muffled but if anyone listened, especially Leon, then they might be able to hear.

Her head lifted up again as she looked at each of them in turn. Ky didn't know what Quix was speaking of with Leon having saved Usui but it didn't surprise her. However, he could be no hero today. Ky would have to go get Cancer now and he would have to stay. It hurt her and sent a stab of real pain through her heart at having to leave him behind, but she would for his wellbeing. He'd just been in a lifethreatening fight and needed his rest. "In any case he's in Monoceros, in a pit with a lamb and a dragon. I just had a vision... four of them, actually. One was Cancer dying from the fall to the pit, another of him being eaten by the dragon, but the last two... He was alive." Did she even have to say what was to be done?

"If I am to save him I must go to Monoceros quickly and rescue him." There was no fear in her tone, just resolution. She had Leon back but Maji was still broken until their monarch was returned. Not to mention that deep desire to see the lamb was still within her. She had to go.

---

words: 558+
tagged: MW... and Leon <3
ooc: ---
muse: 8/10

"Talking looks like this!"
"Thinking is this!"