Queen's note: Back to Doomdad! And grandma Wraith. (someone hug lily by the way)

Garnets

Chapter Ninety One:

Stepping Up

"Blaaaaah…"

Asin gave a low sound that was somehow both a sigh and an amused rumble. The man was not quite sure how he did it after a moment. Asin was never sure, the low sound only came out when he used to foster back before the start of the Unholy War. He had to adjust once more in the awkward spot they were in, planting a foot on a faintly glowing white fang while leaning back in. Glancing around the faintly glowing, lilac tinted surroundings.

The argenta man shifted and lifted the small, frosted like crystal to offer to the much smaller girl in his lap. Young woman. Gods, the humans were so confusing with their tiny size. "I know it's bad, take this Lady. It'll help."

Asin watched as the human in question paused trying to use her new shirt to get the taste out of her mouth. Reached to pick up the shard of crystal out of the bigger hand. Lily looked up, hazel eyes worried. "That looks like some… urg… from grandma's… nest?"

"It is," Asin agreed, smiling as Lily turned the small shard around in her hands, making sure there were no sharp edges. "It's a very mild one, won't hurt you, but will help."

Lily hesitantly put the pale blue crystal in her mouth, and then whined. Making a face and spat it out at the stone bitterness from it and the alien cold but not feel, "Gods dammit ewww…"

How did John like these? OR even eat them in the first place?

"You don't eat it, just suck on it like crystalized honey." Asin said, almost shoving it back in.

"It's as bad as the other taste." Lily started to complain before what she held was shoved back in her mouth. The crystal thankfully not small enough to choke on as the much bigger Argenta man held it and her hand in place. His other arm still locked around Lily to keep her from squirming away.

She felt like a cat that was being forced fed a pill. Unable to help the tears that fell, unable to keep a hold of her emotions. Finally, frustrated at being stuck and with everything happening, Lily bit the crystal hard. It hurt her jaw and scraped her teeth, and then the crystal leaked a tiny bit of liquid energy.

Lily jerked again in Asin's hold, squeaking in shock until the rotten, sticking taste was drowned out by the taste of… cold.

Asin chuckled at the reaction, watching intently as the human reflexively swallowed the bit of wraith energy. Signing in relief once Lily did, starting to loosen his hold. Smiling at the wide hazel eyes staring up at him. "There, that's what you needed, don't try to throw up again if you can. Just lean on my little one."

Lily whimpered again, not taking the crystal out much but still making a face. "Everything is horrible…"

"Very," Asin agreed easily, if he thought of his war king's daughter as younger than she was, it was getting better for him to interact. To reassure her if he matched the human's size with Argenta age…

Not for long though, Asin had been trying too hard for a while now to not do that. Just for a bit as the tiny human clung to his arm as she was starting to recognize what was happening around her once again. Or not happing, but where she, they were inside of.

Lily yelled in fright, it was not stone glowing but closed fangs in front of them. She scrambled, starting to panic, and Asin had to hold her tight to his chest plate. Lily looked around and started to really panic at realizing for the fourth time that they were sitting in a titanic maw, one that was bigger than a car.

Asin pressed his head against Lily's, humming himself before a very different sound hummed all around and through them. The wordless primordial sound vibrating through bone and muscle. The emotion for more than herd, like gravel sliding downhill and around them, not over.

Affection-love. Protective-Reassurance.

"It's not the demon," Asin reassured, still holding the human as she froze. His own back pressed into the thick muscle under them. "It's Mother Bastet. You have a painkiller in you right now. Mother is making sure your heart, and you, are safe."

"...grandma?"

The humming shifted to a deep chuckle around them.

"...sorry… for, um… your teeth are scary."

"You are alright, my polite little granddaughter." The Wraith seemed amused, not annoyed as this was not the first time of her getting that reaction in the last hour. The wide crocodile-like jaws stayed firmly shut, but kept humming as it finally seemed like Lily was calming down again. The old wraith was not sure what the healer gave the child in addition to the numbing from what Pa'x did.

Bastet paused and tilted her head slowly, carefully, feeling Asin brace his boots on another of her fangs. 'Looking' downwards intently in a way none of her mortal and immortal children could. Seeing the flow of energies, then through them down to the Slayer himself far under the building. Focusing carefully on the building rage, and then Bastet hummed again, this time in approval.

Her odd, near feral, hell born son was learning.

She could see the Slayer pausing, likely breathing before shifting the flow of his power. Gathering those connections to him, first the Sentinels that had the half formed gifts linked by the mark they had of his.

So very much like the Slayer's new sire.

Bastet missed that younger creation god for a moment, at least what Davoth had been before he spiraled into obsession of loss of the mortal lives he made. One had to learn the ever painful lesson to let your mortal children pass when the time came, and find new joy in their following generations.

The wraith gave a mental shake, careful to keep her head steady. Not wanting to shake up the two living souls she was firmly holding safe. Focusing back on the Slayer and could not help the approval sung to him. He was indeed learning, holding his anger and getting the weakest souls linked to him to settle and sleep. Weak? Unguarded might be a better word. Definitely young souls.

…did her hellborn son have more than one child?

Bastet liked that thought.

Her adopted son needed more family again, as much to rebuild bonds that were crumbled and new ones.

Lily was gasping in a different way in the massive Wraith's maw, affected by what the Slayer was doing. As her own little soul was tied to the Slayer, her frightened gasps were shifting to deeper, slowing breaths. Though the only current mark was a little one on or by her hand. Yet they still had a connection between the souls, she was gripping at Asin's hands before slowing and then sagged as the adrenaline gave out. Then the child was succumbing to the Slayer's will and power curling around her to buffer his closest child from his barely held back anger.

"...mother Bastet?" Asin called from within the Wraith's jaws as he shifted, letting the girl go limp in his arms. Asin changed how he was holding Lily, making sure she was okay and her head was leaned against his left arm, legs over his lap. Lily was very damp still, from a mix of things, but at least no more bleaching from the

"She is fine, my son. Her sire does not want her to be even more affected by himself." Bastet assured, sighing as she at least could hear the low rage of power that was freed to sing. As well as the screaming of the demon that followed. The Wraith bared her fangs in a mix of a snarl and grin, approving of this display.

"I take it he found the demon that tried to eat her?" Asin guessed as he tried to follow the sense of movement of the great head around them. It felt like Bastet was laying her head down in the geode like nest.

"Mmhm." the Wraith confirmed in a distracted way. Unexpectedly finding something out while focusing on the Slayer, Bastet started to see more of the enemies around him. The Wraith was able to trace the twisting flow of the barrier that wrapped around this upper part of her nest city. See the cross lines after a few long moments.

…well, her son's new-old nest city, as Bastet promised Taras Nabad to the Slayer for freeing her. Not that she was planning on leaving here even if that little brat got the city engines up and running. Too long had passed, too much time Bastet had lost when she had not meant to.

Bastet had things to make up for while she was sleeping.

One of the first to do was to have a lovely little chat with the Order of the Deag. Former order. If anything were to form again, it would definitely not be renamed the Deag, from what Bastet understood the title of Deag would be tied against too much pain. Too much betrayal.

Bastet shifted to crack open her jaws, letting out a long breath of swirling, visible energy through her partly open jaws as her head rested over her outstretched forelegs. Unlike before when refilling the gifts of her argenta children, the Wraith was making sure that Lily, and Asin, would be healing correctly. It took a lot of effort to make such tiny bodies remember how to regrow nerves and heal. Sekhmet was much better at this than herself, and liked to be smaller as well, and have hands.

Ugh.

Bastet was almost considering shedding again, to get a different form again even if it would hurt. Yet she liked how this current one came out after the white star's energy that helped. Bastet was actually considerably smaller than she had been, almost half the mass she had let herself get too in all that time of peace. Being smaller might let her get out of the nest, but she would be weakened a lot.

Worst comes to worse, Bastet could shed this body for her real, original body. Push through the barrier of the Corpse Lord, even if it would feed both it and Jakkard. That would be fun to stretch out like that again… only Bastet would surely frighten the youngest children if she did that. Her Sentinels at least knew of her old bipedal form, like it enough to have carvings of it in their keeps and Fortresses.

The massive dragon like Wraith opened her jaws slowly, shifting the muscle of the tongue to be over her fangs. Making it easier for Asin to slide out with his charge. Her argenta son shifted to be cradling the smaller life, even as Bastet cupped her forepaws around him. "She will sleep until that brat is back up here."

He better be coming back up, once he was done… eating? Making an example.

Asin was nodding as he sat again, this time able to lean back against the inside curve of Bastet's right forepaw. It was oddly… calming being carefully sheltered. Asin loved his king, his brother, but sometimes there just was nothing like being able to completely drop your guard around a trusted and well known mother wraith. He kept a hold on Lily, staying awake to keep guard over her.

The man looked up as the big pawn relaxed around them. Not closing, it was just resting, he could see a ripple of dark purple flushing through the Wraith before Bastet put visible effort into calming herself down. Asin wondered what the Mother Wraith would do once freed. He was surprised she felt the need to not brute force her way out. As the man watched, he realized that Bastet was tilting her head back and forth.

Not staying still as when holding them. Asin would bet that Bastet was focusing on things that the Argenta could not see. Or tracking? Asin could only guess, and he was not good at guessing what others were doing outside of battle. He leaned back and dozed in the familiar coolness all around. Trying to make sure Lily was not getting too cold, but if he kept a mark of the Slayer against her back that helped. Only after a while, did the man feel the low growl that vibrated through them. Enough that the human shifted in her sleep, though Lily stayed asleep. The almost sound was felt through the crystal nest, likely through the throne room building itself.

"You need to give your child a proper gift." Bastet addressed seemingly no one, head lifting to not look at the open doors and the energy shield around them.

Regret. Worry- fear.

The normally earthquake deep primordial was different, lower and not as it normally was with the buildinging crushing strength.

"You should feel as such, boy." Bastet growled as she lifted her head, both massive forepaws cupping around Asin and Lily. Though the Slayer had not gotten into the forge. "This is unacceptable. I let the child, your own daughter, out of my sight for all of five, two minutes. And she's brought back to me nearly eaten by a beast. She will be lucky to walk again, you realize?"

There was a long, long pause before a voice spoke up, though only Bastet could understand the rough, primordial words. To the Argenta around him, living and even the phantoms it would be more like feeling the emotions behind the so called words. Yet Bastet herself had been through a new god and wraith, all those young ones learning to speak again and again several times.

She could understand the pain in and behind the word that the Slayer got out.

"...yes."

"You are not just an immortal anymore." the old Wraith flashed her fangs, but seemed far more disappointed than truly angry at the new god. "You have more lives attached to you than capable Night Sentinels willing to go to war. You wish for children, that is fine, but now you must become more than half blinded ball of rage and fangs."

"How?" A relatively short form stepped up to the barrier. Shorter than the Argenta at least as he rested a hand on the shimmering shield. "I know I'm just a monster."

Bastet snorted two streams of mist at the door. "You are not a monster, my hell born son. You are a young, sometimes a very stupid god as evidenced today. Not always thought, and you do honestly follow your heart. But when you start binding yourself to these little mortal lives…"

The Wraith sighed deeply, pushing cool air back into the improvised tomb outside her current nest. Watching as the Slayer stepped into her current nesting chamber. "You need to learn how to give a proper gift, boy. Stop sulking by the door and come here. You will learn this, it's the best way to know when your marked children need you… as long as you are aware. And properly finish bonding."

This risk could not happen again.

The darkened form just inside the door hesitated before coming all the way into the chamber. The blind seeming Wraith tilted her head, where there was a not so faint glow of purple under the scars covering the three sets. Giving the Slayer a good look over, an inspection of how he was more black and ashen stained than the tan and olive green of not too long. The Slayer had his helmet in hand, looking around and wincing as he did not readily see his human. His daughter. The Slayer eyed the massive wraith with her firmly closed jaws. There was definitely a dark purple glow from under the thick scarring over the main eye socket. He walked over to the extended path to the main forge, almost the same spot as earlier where he was grabbed by the split tail.

This time he was not grabbed, though could hear the tail and wings moving on the old creation god. The Slayer looked up, flexing his free hand before the low primordial words slipped out. The not quite man reflexively started to sign what he tried to speak. "...help me. Please."

"Why should I, boy?" Bastet demanded, again she sounded not angry, but that oddly painful time of disappointment. The Wraith was flashing her fangs but kept those crocodile jaws closed.

"I… failed, Mother. I was not far but did not know. Help me?" The Slayer looked up, not letting himself hide away from that disappointment. It was deserved as far as he was concerned and aware of. The not really man put his helmet down and sighed please again, though slowly.

Bastet snorted softly, some amusement coming back to the Wraith's voice and posture. She seemed suddenly very old, and very tired as her head rested carefully on the walkway beside the comparatively tiny new god. Not putting much weight on the pathway as the side of Bastet's muzzle pushed against the Slayer until he put a hand on the scarred hide like 'skin.'

"Why is it, you only call me Mother when you need something, or mess up my son?" Bastet asked in a bemused, low tone. Feeling the Slayer pause and then helessly shrug, he did not know either. The last time he had called the Wraith that, was when his voice gave out and only the primordial speech came. Bastet did not move as two smaller hands grasped her permanent fangs. "Tell me, where is she?"

The Slayer paused, then felt a moment of dawning horror as he reached out his senses, feeling a pool of wraith energy infront of him that was not Bastet. He had thought Lily was being held by the Wraith, as it felt like a healer's gift about the right size for his daughter. The not quiet man looked around, hesitated and felt what might be a heart beat skip as he only saw some of the Sentinels sitting to the side of the door.

Reaching out to the unseen bonds tied to him, thread thin ones and a few like thick cords now. The Slayer paused as he realized he was not sure what connection led to who. Only really able to identify Valen, Haco right away. Other older ones had been tattered from his long time trapped in hell inside that damned sarcophagus. He turned against Bastet's head and scanned below, Finding that she was cupping forepaws together, but also could see one of the middle paws curled oddly against her side with the tail wrapped over it. The Slayer realized that there were three spots Lily might be.

..four, Bastet had one of her hind wings hitched at a strange angle then her normal.

Not a life or death situation at current, but the point hit the Slayer hard. He did not know, and the closest thing that felt like Lily on the surface was… likely not her.

"What do you feel when you are near your child, my son?"

The Slayer stilled, one hand on a fang of Bastet's that was as big as his own arm. He felt… he felt… hope. Faith. Love, annoyance, golden shimmer and coolness, when around Lily. Not sure if it was aimed at him, if the other way, both. Lily smelled like something sweet, soft, but with spicy gold. He looked at the bonds and then turned to where Bastet's forepaws were resting. The Slayer chuffed, and then winced, the point hitting him again, as if this was something dangerous, that took too long to find his daughter.

Then he realized he could sense his mark on Asin, and winced. It made sense, one of his Sentinels would be with Lily. Now that he was paying attention, he could see how one of those cords connected to him was Asin. The Slayer looked up as Bastet pulled back, then held her head near the walkway, it just took a long step to get over to stand on top of her head. He just managed to grab his helmet before, so hooked it against his side as the Slayer shifted to keep balance while Bastet lowered her head.

Letting him walk off her muzzle and jump down to the ground level made of the supporting crystals. Before the Slayer could go to the massive forepaws opening, Bastet lifted her head over him and opened her maw, letting the concentrated, liquid energy drop on the Slayer. Who grunted in shock at the coldness as some of it drained into the back of his armor- then grumbled but put up with it at seeing the liquid was washing off the death char, tar like substance on him better than anything else had short of corrosive chemicals.

Asin was looking up at him from the ground, leaning back on one of the massive forepaws. The Argenta man held Lily against his front, one hand resting on her knees, the other supporting the human. Protective but trusting the Wraith to not be in full guard.

The Slayer knelt down, rinsing his hands in the puddle of liquid to at least make sure his gloves were not as stained. Just some cleaning ash as he walked over and knelt, then sat with his arms out for his daughter.

Asin surrendered Lily to him with no resistance, looking up at Bastet then back, he hesitantly asked, "Still only can speak primordial?"

The Slayer nodded, trying to support Lily against him, hoping he had not hurt her. But even without a mask, she seemed to be breathing okay. Maybe shallower than what would be normal, but still breathing. Carefully, the Slayer held the smaller form, stooping even as he sat to press his head against the side of the girl's.

Young woman.

John sighed, both of his shoulders dropping, he felt old again. He settled on the crystal ground with Asin, feeling how Lily was cuddled up against his front. Moving that little bit in her sleep to press into the familiar sense of safety. The not quiet man lifted a hand to catch a smaller one, staring at the difference between them again, before pressing a thumb into her wrist to feel the now familiar pulse.

"Find a place for your mark. And I will talk you through how to make a proper gift." Bastet drew John's attention away from remembering fragile bones.

The young God blinked, his eyes not having lost the green glow yet. Shifting he gave in and wrapped Lily into a hug, carefully closing his right hand over her left bicep. His gloves kept him from feeling the small scars there, but he knew their spots. John took a slow, deep breath, feeling the Last Gift stir awake to watch with concern.

The not really man half lidded his eyes as he listened to the low, bone vibrating rumble of the other primordial being. It was not hard to lose his sense of time again. He was trying so hard not to push his will again, or he had to, but not when nudging his humans to sleep through his rage. There were no spoken instructions, but still guidance from Bastet.

Was this the more complex side of being a god?

John, the Slayer… BJ. He wanted to be able to know when he was needed by his flower. When she was in danger. Even let her take as much of his power as she could when needed.

There was a visible, though small crackle of orange energy that formed around John's forearm. As if seeping out from under his gauntlet, curling around the wrist to his fingertips. Letting the Slayer trace his emblem on the soft skin, watching it sink into Lily's arm. Just under the surface, not too blatant. John wanted his energy to shield Lily not just from danger, but attention. Like it had been doing by accident, only this time purposefully.

Keep her soft heart, as pretty as it was being crystal…but still so soft. Kind enough to still look for him for comfort, as awkward and sometimes heavy handed as John knew he was.

He just wanted his new family to be safe.

Added note: hello to all the new people that have started following Garnets!