Teleporting from the Bonean Dragon caverns, after bidding Ulna farewell and Tibia deciding to come along with the rest, to the badlands of Planet Rock was a rather sudden and unexpected affair for the group, as all around them was nothing but flat stone. Winds picked up and played with Leon and Samateus' feathers and hair, whipping the flames of their Firian allies of the group. Graveheart and Jade both raised brows as they looked around, finding they did not recognize any of the terrain around them. Pyrus shielded his eyes, squinting to try and see if there was something he and the others were not able to immediately, but Leon simply chuckled and shook his head, raised his tail lightly, and with more force than thought, slammed the ground next to his feet with the underside of his tail three times. Everyone gathered felt the ground at their feet tremble from the strikes, Pyrus raising a brow at his companion, the others all confused.
"Give them a moment." Leon said simply, Samateus rolling her eyes pointedly. Soon, they could all feel the stone at their feet shaking slightly, then the tremors became more and more pointed before a trail just beneath the surface could be seen approximately a kilometer away and moving quickly toward them, as something burrowing headed directly to where Leon had supposedly summoned. Leon slapped the ground once more, the swift moving disturbance visibly stopping and turning sharply before it was within ten meters of the group. As the group watched, it circled around them before dipping out of view before the earth where it had sharply turned erupted up and outward, the stones falling harmlessly away from the group, Leon even going so far as to raise a wing to deflect a larger stone that would have struck Cryos to ensure such.
Dust obscured the majority of the large form that raised itself from the upturned stone, massive talons worn down from burrowing through solid stone slammed onto the earth before them, each longer than even Leon stood tall, attached to the forepaws of the beast that heaved itself up. Crimson Crystalline forms in the shape of scales lined its back and punctuated scales along the larger forelimbs from the five-digit paws, tracing the outline of the newcomer to reveal that it bore no visible wings, instead having a second set of forelimbs to help the first, with much sharper talons, and plantigrade hind legs supporting the almost bear-like body. Its face was what unnerved the group, a beaked maw obscured by armoured tendrils that flared out like the petals of a flower and a lower jaw that split in two as it roared challenge at Leon.
**Challenge? I don't think you wish to do that.** Leon warned, the great beast swiftly closing its jaws and recoiling, eyes wide. It hesitantly chittered, cautiously lowering itself to cautiously step forward.
"Yes, I am. I apologise for disturbing the deep-earth, but we have need of the burrowing ones. No more hiding, I have made myself known to Fire, Bone and Sand, Ice will be next." Leon addressed the large figure, whose eyes went wide when they realized he had been the one that summoned, and confirmed himself to be the maker. Hestitating only a moment, it slammed a paw on the ground, looking to the circle it had made as three others like it with varying crystal colours, one even appeared golden, carefully unburied themselves from their hiding spots. It chittered again, looking with concern at the gathered group, and Jade took that opportunity to make her distaste at the situation known.
"Yes, We are with the Maker, and I'll be damned if I'm left out of this when it's my governance. How in the hells are you able to hide out here with no one noticing?" Jade asked, Pyrus and Graveheart simply watching her, wide-eyed. Leon however, sighed and rolled his eyes lightly, smirking at her as the large being shifted his stance slightly, yet otherwise did not move.
**Empress, we do not hide, though we have been doing our best to keep off the seismic sensors when near the capital.** The voice was oddly familiar to Jade, who blinked almost comically as Graveheart moved closer, eyes narrowing as he addressed the massive looming form before him.
"Russel?"
**Yes Commander?** Responded the large draconian, who appeared to grin, his face tendrils curling lightly as Jade facepalmed and Graveheart sighed, shaking his head. The rest having varied reactions of shock, laughter or respectful silence until Leon lightly cleared his throat, eyeing the Rockian Dragon they had confirmed to be General Russel, who had met the group following the attack that had broken Samateus' wing. Jade relaxed, though looked at Leon with a mix of distaste and concern, more than a bit miffed that her own General had been able to shapeshift without her knowledge.
"We can get into the history and whatnot another time, or, if you are willing to fill them in Russel, I can go on ahead to Ice and get the Leopards on board." Pyrus startled slightly, frowning at Leon who shook his head. "I know you want to see them too, we'll encounter them in the future, just for now I want to get them started while any questions on why and how are answered by Russel." Leon raised a brow at Russel then, who stiffened before arcs of crimson electricity danced over his form, much as they had witnessed when Tibia and Ulna had shapeshifted before. Soon after the display and smoke dissipated, Russel was standing before them in full gear, sans helm, offering a hand to shake with Leon, who gladly accepted and returned it. "Take good care of them, hmm?"
"Yes sir, Best regards to the Frostwatch." Russel bowed his head, smirking lightly as Leon released his hand, gave Pyrus and Khilseith a stern look before glancing at Samateus and disappearing as shadow enveloped his form and sunk into the ground. Russel saluted Graveheart, who motioned to dismiss the pleasantries, the other three Rockian dragons opting instead to rise the remaining way from their burrows, quickly moving the disturbed stone back and smoothing it over. Small wisps of energy could be seen beneath the massive taloned forepaws as the rock smoothed and knit together as though never touched. Only the Golden one remained in their draconic form, the other two shifting back to their humanoid forms to reveal another Quarrior under Russel, and another Graveheart blinked comically at.
"Good day cousin, apologies." Addressed the Sapphire-stone rockian who had Gravehearts' attention, Pyrus catching the comment from her and about to make a comment, Khilseith gently nudging him to keep him quiet, shaking his head at a questioning look. Jade appeared absolutely speechless, mouth agape as the younger female Rockian moved to gently hug Graveheart, who returned it almost shakily.
"Saphy, is this why you never joined the military?" Graveheart asked, everyone and everything else forgotten for a moment as he reunited with a cousin he had seen only once since his brother Micah had died.
"Part of it, anyway. Sorry big Cuz, always wanted to tell you, but... You know how dad was." She said, lightly patting one of Graveheart's shoulders. "You're taking this all surprisingly well, all of you. Hey, you're a Swampy yea?"
"Miss Saphiri, if you don't mind, I believe we've been tasked-" Russel interrupted before Tibia could respond to the question aimed at her, Samateus and Khilseith meanwhile doing their damndest not to burst out laughing at how flustered, confused and lost most of the rest were.
"Oh stuff-it Russel, goddess you are so strict." Saphiri responded, almost glaring at the larger Quarrior who returned it with a withering look of his own. The third, with similar red gemstone hair to Russel moving to his side but keeping her head down, smirking lightly at Saphiri yet remaining with her Military superior. "Sorry, I'm Saphiri, my mom was sister to his." She motioned to Graveheart briefly before motioning to the rest. "You all know General Russel, First Lieutenant Ruby and the big girl is my friend, Glimmer, she doesn't talk much."
"A pleasure to be formally introduced." Sternum was the first to recover from the rather strange encounter and introductions, not to mention learning that Graveheart had other extended family. He motioned to each in their group as he offered introductions for the newcomers, ending with Pyrus, Khilseith and Samateus. Even Saphiri stiffened when Samateus was mentioned, eyes going wide as the blue-furred Taalrulthian padded closer to the Rockians, offering a hand.
"Not to worry, I am the Avatar of Ashtareen, but she does not actively judge those I interact with. Not always, at least." Samateus smiled, offering a light rumbling purr as she shook Saphiri's hand, glancing between them before settling on Graveheart a moment, who appeared distant. Saphiri caught this as easily as Pyrus did, even Jade noticing Graveheart seem to step away, without actually doing so. Before any of the others could speak, Cryos sighed.
"I believe we should continue this conversation elsewhere, so we all can take a moment to digest what we've seen and heard? I for one am a bit, confused and concerned." As the only one unaware of the extent of the deception that must have been rampant in order to keep quiet such a massive secret for so many years, and right alongside even the leadership of each world without giving any indication of it. He wondered who closest to him had such a gift, and yet remained worried by it at the same time.
"Not a problem, though Glimmer, you are going to have to change forms. Sorry babe." Saphiri smiled, looking to her golden companion who shook her head. "Why not? Oh you chicken, fine. You'll have to leave planetside sometime though." Saphiri held a brief one-sided conversation with the large Draconian who huffed and turned away as Saphiri then looked to Khilseith, as though able to tell he was not Firian, as he appeared to be, which made him pale visibly.
"You're the one working with the Avatar, for now, right?" Saphiri asked, offering a rather sheepish grin, Russel and Ruby verbally hissing at her for her unprofessional behaviour.
"I am Khilseith, of the Arh'aht, yes, though Samateus is fairly independent of us, the Taal are a wonderful ally and leap to our assistance when asked, or not. I admit, the comraderie amongst this group of alliance leaders is very different than what I've dealt with amongst my own, though I suppose it is likely more due to the fact we are considerably further advanced compared to those we have 'rescued' from the Beast. Many still feel indebted to us, so they are far more reserved and cautious with their speech, than the family and friend dynamic I've been pleasantly surprised by many times." Khilseith smirked, the entire group offering a light chuckle or smile of their own, thankful for the indirect compliment and acknowledgement of their openness amongst each other and their allies.
Samateus took the temporary lull in activity as opportunity to teleport them all to her chambers where she quickly went to release Tessa and Gabriel, the two felines staying close to her as she led their extended party into her lounge, where appropriate mid-day drinks and snacks were set out. Samateus happily curled up on one of her couches, a bit spent after the events of the day, thankful that the alarm going off at the back of her mind regarding Xerxes had finally ceased, gladly cuddling with her small companions that eyed the newcomers but remained with their 'mom' as the rest settled. Pyrus and Zera took interest in Samateus' suddenly withdrawing from the group, both surprised by her actions, Graveheart coming to her rescue.
"Sam's been looking out for and fighting to protect everyone since we met, I'd say she more than deserves a minute or two to relax on her own." He chuckled, earning himself a smile and tired nod from her, where she happily stroked her two companions that took up her lap and closest armrest, her own rumbling purr matching the felines. Khilseith waited more to see who wished to sit where, not wishing to get in the way as Pyrus motioned him over to where he sat with Blaze, not too far from Samateus, Zera and Cryos on her other side. The Boneans sat just past them, and the handful of Rockians filled the remainder of the room.
"Okay, so can someone start from the beginning, like how in the pits such a big deal became a secret in the first place?" Femur piped up after a few minutes of silence, some of the gathered deciding to partake of the food and drink offered, Saphiri appearing to be simply content to observe the group and be away from Rock. Russel smirked and shared a glance with Ruby before Tibia and Saphiri almost spoke simultaneously, the two floundering a moment before Tibia motioned for the Rockian to speak instead.
"It didn't start as a secret, everyone could shapeshift in the beginning, but the need for it was what led it to become less mainstream. With all the technology available to us, and some of -if not most- of what we were used to doing could be done instead with machines, though not without cost and consequence, many would only use their draconic form to have fun or help build or reinforce the more delicate tunnels. As years wore on, and the war started in earnest, those who still could shapeshift gathered in secret and vowed instead to watch and not interfere, as was decreed by the Maker." Saphiri started, meeting Pyrus' gaze at one point and bowing her head, some realising it was due to her briefly touching surface thoughts, and being told off by Leon for doing so with the Firian Prince. Pyrus spoke next, which at first confused a few until they remembered he had been with Leon and informed of everything they were curious about.
"Leon put into place a creed for those he left behind, some followed and some did not, those of our planet cluster had more reason to do so though because he gave us shapeshifting like the Zumahim. It's not something he gave to all the Maker's worlds, in fact our four planets were hoped to be able to keep going as he had left us for a lot longer than we did. Had he not put the creed in place, imagine what harm could have been done by draconians on incursions to our worlds; Firians setting fire to swaths of Lichen, Rockians collapsing the sides of volcanoes, and so on." Pyrus paused, glancing at Khilseith who smiled and shook his head which earned him a slight groan and eye-roll. "Thankfully though that didn't end up happening, and shapeshifters have been in families close to every aspect of life on our worlds for as long as we've been around. Just because we didn't see them as such, doesn't mean they weren't there. Some were easily able to adapt to being unable to fly or go aboveground, others not so much."
"Okay, so I get what some of us can do in our Draconic forms, but I am confused, just what are we supposed to be able to do, to help our world?" Sternum asked after a lengthy moment of silence. Tibia snickering as she glanced at Saphiri and then Samateus who stuck out her tongue lightly.
"We churn the earth under the Lichen crops, bring up better minerals and soil for it, and make sure the cannoli worms are thriving and making that soil. The bigger a worm, the older it is usually, the big ones you keep seeing are older members of the breeding stock we use in the deepwells that are too old to keep breeding so we release them to be caught by surface crews. Gives people something to distract from us and the rest of life really." Tibia explained, Saphiri's eyes going wide as Tibia explained things. "Did Leon explain or show you how we would have exchange groups in the early days?"
"Yeah, he said that a lot of the Bonean cavern we saw, all those crystals and such, that was put together by a bunch of Rockians early on. There was one similar to it on Fire, and apparenly the dens for the draconians on Ice are also reinforced with actual stone and more crystals surrounded by ice." Pyrus smiled, Zera's eyes lighting up at the idea of seeing the caverns they mentioned. "On Rock they have a small iceberg that feeds a waterfall in one of the deep caverns, constantly freezing water furthest from it as it's brought back up from the lake basin which is warmed by a pyre on one end. That pyre has a Magically enhanced flame so it doesn't ever go out, and the ice never runs out as it too is magically enhanced at its core."
"Okay, just how much did he tell you? I mean really?" Saphiri asked pointedly, leaning forward a bit before quickly recoiling and her eyes going wide as Kemet materialized in a dog-sized version of his draconic form, crimson eyes locked on hers with a snarl just barely showing his teeth.
"Prince Pyrus is the one who woke Leonlocke, that is all you should need to know. Please be mindful of your intentions around and toward him." Kemet warned, Saphiri nodding once before Kemet shrunk down to his tiny form and flit over to land on Samateus' horns again, eyeing the newer members of their group warningly. Samateus sighed, reaching up to lightly squish the bat-sized draconian to earn herself a confused squeak and chitter.
"You're being too forceful again, chill out. They're friends, they don't have to prove shit."