Pyrus found himself taken from the bridge of the Aurora in a blink to a room so dark, even his flame could not pierce his surroundings. Keeping himself standing, albeit barely, he looked down at his hands, realising that his right held the Obsidian Blade firmly, his thumb bleeding lightly for a moment longer. Some of his blood spread along the blade as he watched, shuddering lightly as it appeared to be absorbed by the silvery metal, Pyrus running the fingertips of his other hand over it curiously. He frowned when he felt nothing, no moisture, no hidden slots in it, no sign of why the blood had disappeared.
That was when he remembered what Samateus and Kemet had told him of Vampires, and that the Maker himself was one.
"So the Avatar still has my son with her. Good." Pyrus jumped, the voice sounding right next to and echoing in the space around him, his eyes wide and ignoring the pain spreading through his abdomen and into his chest, trying in vain to see who had spoken. He brandished the Blade in his hand as though born to it, gritting his teeth and growling himself lightly.
"Show yourself!" Pyrus snarled, quite done with deceit and lies, knowing that Xerxes was running out of time.
"Xerxes? That's a name I've not heard in some time." Pyrus stiffened, eyes wide as the same eye that had appeared on the scabbard of the Obsidian Blade in his dream minutes earlier, opened before him however up nearly three meters from the ground, easily large enough to dwarf Pyrus himself in size. It illuminated sandy bronze and blue fur covering a massive feline face, reflecting off a horn that curled off behind Pyrus and out of view.
"You... You're the Maker?" Pyrus hazarded, relaxing ever so slightly, as the being before him must be massive, however did not release his hold on the Blade in his right hand.
"In a sense, yes. You and many others like you were created under my direction and watch, of many different forms and creeds, placed throughout the galaxy on worlds with their own engines. You already know this, I can see." The eye rose up, up, higher than Pyrus could have expected, both of the beings' eyes turning to regard him from above. He could make out a mane of darker bronze fur and a more feline appearing muzzle, almost as Kemet had appeared earlier in order to carry Pyrus around. The Maker's head almost towered above him as high as the Firian palace had over its city, before the beast devoured planet Fire. A rumbling growl uttered from the being before him, massive sharp teeth flashing briefly.
"Voyd has gotten my attention." Pyrus turned then as the black void behind him rippled like water and revealed the alliance before them, the aft of the Ahr'aht ships toward them and the forces of the Beast slowly destroyed or simply disappearing in droves as the alliance forces attempted to rally. Well to their right, what Pyrus assumed was actually behind them, the Beast planet backed off, appearing to be stopped completely. "Your blood tastes of recent injury, but you stand well on your own. I also taste your purity, love, and something else... Familiar, but only just. Who are you, Pyrus of Fire?"
Pyrus spun and tensed immediately, the two eyes focused on him much closer, the muzzle and massive feline maw an arms length from him. He refrained from using the Blade to stab at the being before him, knowing somehow, that it would only anger and upset him, the Blade a gift to reach the Maker in times of great need. Pyrus clenched his teeth, knowing that the being before him could read and had already been reading his thoughts, painfully bringing up a recent memory, showing him the crash. He fought down the desire to rage at the Maker, for letting the crash happen, realising that only he and Xerxes were to blame for their own injury. While imperceptible to the naked eye, the sentiment of understanding and remorse welled up in the being before Pyrus, Pyrus himself swearing he felt the Maker's emotion as his own.
"Xerxes is your father? That is... remarkable, I never thought such could occur, I'm certain he was just as surprised. It certainly explains what I have tasted in your blood." The massive head withdrew again, though still lower, and Pyrus could now make out more of his form, a massive feline-like body, covered in fur much like Samateus or any other Taalrulthian, with massive feathered wings settled atop his back. What made him most different were his horns, the same backwards pointed s-shape as Samateus', but with a spine off one side of the lower curve, one atop and a large curved prong that curled back and then forward on either side of his head. Pyrus was unable to make out much of the Maker's tail, however could tell he did not sport the feathered fin-like wings at the base of his tail and likely had no tail-tip feathers either. "They are still in danger. I can help, however... you know why I have not as yet."
"What do I have to do? Kemet mentioned some sort of... Contract?" Pyrus floundered, he swore he could see the Aurora being harried still without turning to the view of the fleet that the Maker had brought up, feeling as though there were several explosions near the ship making him tense and frown. The maker nodded, watching him closely. Pyrus knew he had to make the contract, to save everyone else. To save his dad.
"There you go, now make the oath." The sharklike grin that contrasted against the black void that enveloped Pyrus again made the young Prince shudder, frowning as he looked to the Blade and brought it before him. Zera flashed in his mind, Samateus, Cryos, all of the others, ending at the glimpse of Xerxes, Magmus, his Father, on the infirmary bed fighting for his life, after almost giving it up for Pyrus himself. Pyrus took a deep shuddering breath, gritting his teeth as he wrapped his left hand around the Blade, and pressed it against his palm, hissing briefly at the feeling of blood seeping around and into the Blade came.
"I offer my blood willingly, to protect and save those I love. In return, I ask for the aid and strength of LeonLocke Hellsing, Champion of Ashtareen." Pyrus unwrapped his left hand from the Blade, blinking as the wound there sealed over as though it had never been. Looking up, he jumped lightly, the massive feline-like draconian gone, instead a tall slender humanoid in a black suit, looking almost like a rockian but with supple bronze skin, blond hair down to his ankles, bare five-toed feet visible, and large feathered wings that matched the ones the draconian bore, stood before him, bowed, and both were enveloped by shadow.
"Shields are down!" Cried one of the Aurora helmsman, Cryos, Zera and Glailen frantically holding onto the railing as the ship was rocked by a beast drone colliding with and exploding against part of the ships' hull. Cinders' internal comm feed went out before all comms blinked off.
"Comms array is down!"
"Incoming!" Cryos held Zera close and both braced against the command console for the next impact, which never came. Cryos carefully cracked open an eye, seeing the bridge around them and hearing no further explosions on or around the ship, assuming he was dead, he sighed, blinking that Zera shuddered still in his arms. Both carefully rose, the ships crew having much the same reaction, Zera gasping and pointing out the viewport gained everyone's attention, gapes of awe as what appeared to be thousands of massive Owls with markings that appeared to mimic magpies flew between alliance ships and Beast drones. Their talons raked into the Beast forces, tearing the ships apart and moving on to their next target with their four-metre wingspans.
"What in the glacier?" Cryos breathed, Glailen directing the crew to work on bringing systems back online. Samateus warned them briefly before a roar echoed through every mind within the alliance, feeling like Pyrus, but very different.
**He's awake!** Kemet cried, elated and expressing his contentment through to the rest of the leaders via Samateus, who laughed lightly at his exuberance. She asked the others and Khilseith to meet at the Aurora's infirmary then, Sternum and Jade sending Femur and Graveheart respectively on ahead, so they could reorganise and help with cleanup as the large magpie-owls had appeared even in the deep catacombs around the world engine teleport pads on Rock and Bone. The birds appeared incoporeal to everything else that was not made of null energy. Passing through or completely avoiding contact with those they saved as much as the ships they were in, or the walls around them.
Ryme made an exclamation of alarm as he stepped out of his infirmary and was met with several flashes of light depositing Graveheart, Femur, Cryos with Zera, Blaze, Flare and Khilseith, who promptly shifted to his Firian form, before him. He blinked almost comically, looking to Cryos questioningly before Cryos motioned back inside the infirmary.
Pyrus then appeared, with a tall figure none had before seen at his side, right next to Xerxes who appeared to be worse off than last seen, the two other technicians yelping in fright and backing away, reassured by Pyrus with a motion that let them know they would take over. Pyrus spoke with the figure, clad in long silver robes and light obsidian-coloured armour on his legs, forearms and around his waist, large furred ears and fur covering most of his body, sandy bronze with blue and golden markings that also stretched along his wings and down his tail, which ended in a thicker bunch of fur, scaled-plates along its topside and mirrored blades protruded out from underneath the plating on either side. They all saw his horns, oddly reminiscent of Blokk to Graveheart, who stiffened when he felt the stranger's eyes fall on him as though the sentiment had offended him.
Pyrus soon nodded and moved to join them by following the two medical techs out of the infirmary, looking completely healed, not even a limp showing from the crash not even a full week before. As Pyrus stepped through the door of the infirmary, shadows rose up and enveloped the interior of the room, blocking view of the inside. Ryme was about to protest when Pyrus stopped him, Graveheart and Femur swore he looked taller too, more filled out in his shoulders, as though he had aged in the brief time he had been with the strange figure they assumed was their Maker.
"It's okay Ryme, Leon's going to help. Thanks for everything." Pyrus smiled, offering a hand to Ryme almost saintly, the physician shocked but was not about to argue, shaking his Princes' hand before quickly departing with his team, muttering to himself that he might need some time off after all of the strangeness of the week. Samateus teleported in soon with Kemet materializing on her right shoulder, in her bipedal form, with a smirk that put the others at ease, though only slightly.
"Okay kid, spill, who the heck is that?" Femur asked, concerned, but smirked and looked Pyrus up and down. "And what did he do to you? You look... taller."
"Really? I guess so, no idea how. But that's Leonlocke, he's a Maker but not really. He's just one of many that had a part in making our worlds, and others." Pyrus responded sheepishly, smirking and lightly laughing at the shocked expressions on Flare and Blaze. "What?"
"You are taller, as though older." Khilseith laughed, moving to wrap an arm around Pyrus' shoulders lightly, proving that he was indeed taller as they were almost the same height now. "Probably his doing, but I don't think it's something to complain about. How much has he explained?"
"Almost everything? It's like he put all the information in my head that I need to know, but it comes out in bits..." Pyrus sighed, grinning sheepishly still.
"Expected, he's fond of shortcuts." Samateus mused.
**I heard that.** Leon's voice sounded so similar to Xerxes' that the others were confused at first, then realised it was the shadows in the room before them that had sent the words. Graveheart stiffened, frowning that such a being now had power over Pyrus, a minor, suddenly relaxing when he felt Leon's acknowledgement of his concern for Pyrus, the reassurance that Leon would do everything possible to protect and safeguard the Firian, and those he considered family. Graveheart blushed when Leon included that Pyrus had specifically mentioned his closeness to the Rockian, and advised that the comment regarding Blokk was actually that Voyd was attempting to mock him by making Blokk have horns mimicking his own.
"Well then hear this, Feathers, he better be okay after this." Samateus snarled, flipping off the shadowed window next to her.
**He'll be fine, you however... I loathe that nickname.** Leon's voice sounded as though he was still waking up.
"Only because of who it reminds you of!"
"Sam, c'mon. You can banter at him later." Pyrus snickered before Leon could respond, Samateus nodding and smiling as she crossed her arms. Graveheart pinched the bridge of his nose, completely frustrated with being kept out of the conversation and feeling completely lost. "Sorry Graveheart, there's a lot to explain, I want to make sure Dad is okay before we go talk." Cryos and Graveheart shared a glance, the two having more softened expressions and smiling at him.
"You've gotten past that emotional block, I'm glad... I'm sure it'll be harder on him to get past that though." Khilseith lightly squeezed Pyrus' shoulders, lightly patting his back and proceeding to laugh at the shock from Femur. "What, worried you're no longer going to have a companion for troublemaking?"
"No... I'm just... This is so bizarre, one minute we're almost all dead, and now you're back on your feet, suddenly older, with a Maker who saved all our butts." Femur scrubbed a hand over his face and flattened back his fins a moment, Cryos and the others nodding as they had much the same sentiment.
"We're all just as lost as you are Femur, for the most part." Cryos then realised Zera had disappeared, looking around and growing concerned. Samateus perked up, blinking comically as she tilted her head aside to her left, looking back down over her shoulder. Zera had moved to hide behind her, clutching Pyrus' staff and shook in fright, jumping slightly when Samateus turned around and crouched before her, gently placing both hands on her shoulders.
**Hey... It is him, Leon just has this effect on those who make contracts with him.** Samateus privately sent to Zera once her gaze met her own. Zera's shaking subsided, blushing lightly as Pyrus cautiously approached, seeing the Obsidian Blade as she remembered it hanging from the right side of his belt and slowly relaxed. She soon had a vicious scowl replacing the fright in her eyes, promptly tossing the staff at him and stormed off angrily. Pyrus caught it easily, raising a brow at the sudden action.
**Tell him I'll talk to him once I get over his disappearing on us.** Zera directed at Samateus, who turned and looked wide eyed when Pyrus sighed and called after Zera.
"Leon pulled me to him, I didn't have any say." Pyrus expertly retracted the staff and returned it to his belt, eyes never leaving Zera. "Yeah, looks like I'll need to be more mindful of what is being said verbally, not mentally, I must have some of Dad's psionic ability." Khilseith was the one blinking almost comically now, the rest gaping and also concerned as now Pyrus was able to read their thoughts as easily as they spoke them. Zera had stopped mid-stride, but had yet to turn back around.
"That will come in handy, when you have to talk to the royal families." Blaze muttered, Flare snickering.
"Yeah I thought about that too, Leon's going to be raising all sorts of hell once he's got dad on his feet..." Pyrus chuckled, turning to them lightly before having to take a half-step back as Zera had run back and embraced him suddenly around his waist. He chuckled, arms moving to return the embrace, hiding Zera's blush. **I'm okay, sorry I scared you... Thanks, for saving my ass again. Yes, I know about the nanites.**
**I'm glad you're okay... Don't ever scare me like that again.** Zera pointedly thought at him, Samateus shaking her head with a smirk on her face as Zera stepped back.
"Let's go have a seat somewhere quiet so we can talk. Sternum and Jade are almost done organising cleanup, Zuma is wanting to come fill everyone in on their end too, but I think that would be too much on top of Leon's bit, yeah?" Samateus' suggestion received nods from all around, Pyrus glancing at the room for a moment before he and Zera led the way to the Table room.