Blue looked at the article "puppet.." she mumbled as she read Tomen still watching silently. Blue set the article aside from the others to read later if time alowed not wanting to disturb the luporas search

Damion was a little ashamed to answer the cub, but he wasn't one for lying to children " Yes.... many times... but there's no way to take those things back... so we move one and do better next time..... " he said looking ahead and not making eye contact his mind flooded with his life choices.

(Sorry these are so short, im trying to work out some kinks and fest is on XP)

Rose Petal scratched her ears. She yawned, feeling a bit cramped in area.

Ashleigh

Ashleigh accepted his kiss, it was her first real one. She was nervous but she dared to gently wrap her claw around the back of his head so he wouldn't cheat her of a complete kiss. She exhaled through her nostrils contentedly before releasing him. Beaming with a lover's smile. "You are mistaken," she stated while she rolled aside and allowed him to climb in, "It is my nest, I lay claim to it and everything in it, including you; and the egg I intend for us to incubate therein."

Once he settled, she nestled into his bosom snugly, then replied to his other comment. "You know, you shouldn't listen to rocks. How could I choose another draeyl, when I have one just across the hall that so obviously needs me in his life?" She asked rhetorically while her arrow-tail gently rubbed the most sensitive parts of Basil's. "They hate you because you have me as your bestest friend and they can't, because I choose you exclusively. Between my arms, I am your stable mind. You have someone to be jealous for, that they will never have." She let those thoughts sink into his ear holes as she willingly gave herself to his instincts; she didn't care if later Riker and Apollo gave her a hard time. They were her friends and she wouldn't expect anything less.

((OOC: Perhaps it's none of my business, but it would be a good time to provoke Nina and Rose to join the others at or in the dungeon.))

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Ainsleigh & Tatsu

((OOC: Updating since yesterday, and will continue to follow up based on the older posts.))

The two draeyl's arrived at the scene, witnessing the crumbling and complete erosion of the mountain. They searched about for sign's of fresh base camp by Blue's party but yielded nothing. Tatsu had even flown up high at the dilapidated crevasses that fell into the dungeon ruins and called in loudly, but was rewarded only with echoes coming back.

"Our 'Lighnin' Bug' must be calling the shots this time Tats!" Ainsleigh called aloud up to him.

Tatsu heard Ainsleigh and smirked. "She's an exceptional warrior A, they'll be fine!"

"Unless, she's of a mind to prove herself before the company of a couple toms!" She pointed out. Four sets of tracks showed that all the nixis headed towards the front entrance. So they already knew the best direction to pick up sign of them. But if they were in any danger, calling into the crevasses may save them time to get to them. If not, they were likely no worse off from the time lost.

Nvm, sorry

"Sorry for worrying you guys," Rose said quietly. "I'll go and help, if you can lead the way"

Tatsu & Ainsleigh

Though it might've been a wasted hour, Tatsu had flown from the top most hole and glided about the sunken mountain calling into every port and crevasse that promised to go deep within the dungeon. In one massive spot, he even managed to swoop in and land upon the floor. It was risky, but the location was unfamiliar and coated with a think layer of dust and debris. It was a certainty that he was at least standing upon a meter of rubble and refuse judging by telltale signs on the walls. This wasn't new collapse, so he doubted Blue Jay, Tomen or Damien had been here. With every hole checked he had begun a slow and steady circling descent down to Ainsleigh. He had noticed a ball of brown fur and purple come out of the dungeon entrance, then approach Ainsleigh after a brief pause of identification.

Ainsleigh had little to do but take a watch position near the entrance. Moments like this made her envy Tatsu and Ashleigh for their winged flight advantage; regardless of how clumsy those protrusions made flyers on the ground. She'd never admit that fact to them however. Tatsu would call down after every inspection and she would look up and acknowledge him, if only to see something a little different. Her only alert on this vigil was a dust devil stirred up a couple meters in front of the cave. ~How interesting.~ She had thought sarcastically to herself. Tatsu had just finished the last investigation and began circling his descent back to earth when Ainsleigh detected a vibration in her feet.

Light padded feet and a canine gait, likely female coming out of the dungeon. Ainsleigh put her attention to the new presence coming out. From the darkness of the cave the zolnixi features materialized into Willow. She had taken a few moments to orient herself to the sunlight. Ainsleigh was already approaching her slowly, defenses down, to find out what she knew.

"Hello, Blue and Tomen are on the bottom floor, Blue was talking to some old friend of hers"


Tatsu landed not far from the two of them. Willow made to walk past them, but Tatsu wasn't going to have any of that anymore than Ainsleigh would. As Willow attempted to just walk beyond him he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and lifted her into the air with his left claw.

"Just where do ya think yer off too, lil missie?" Tatsu said a little grumpy. "Those are our friends and your parents in there. And there were no friends of ours when we traveled that path before."

"One of the minion that chose to side with us and choose death rather than continue to be a slave to clockwork, might still be alive in there." Ainsleigh posed to Tatsu.

Tatsu looked to his mate, though maintained a firm grip in case Willow attempted to bite his scaly hide. "Small comfort A. I didn't notice any smells of a kitchen, pantry or larder, nor of cooking fires anyplace in that dungeon last time. Those slaves either ate one another to survive, or worse, zombified."

She didn't want to jump to conclusions, but Ainsleigh couldn't deny Tats concern either. "Take us to them." Ashleigh told the young vixen sternly.

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Ashleigh

"I love you, and I've decided I should tell you the truth."


After Basil had settled beside her, Ashleigh closed the gap. She pressed her torso against his side and lay her head upon his strong shoulder as he spoke. "It's best if mates start off trusting one another darling." She said, then began softly kissing him on the neck while listening to what else he had to say.

"I'll tell you why I just disappear at random times only to return, covered with bruises and dirt. But first I need some rest, it's been a very long day"

"You can rest when I am finished with you." She told him. She kissed and winked at him before pulling him under the comforter again. "Now get back to work, before I add a couple of bruises of my own to your collection."