Nix winced hearing the outraged roar of his fellow Monarch… oops. Pretending he didn't see anything he shielded the foxes under his wings. Almost as soon as the roar started it ended, the light being sucked back into the distance.
Caius blearily blinked the white light out of his vision. Only to see Littlest trying to steal Mishi's core! What a brat! Dropping her paw on Littlest's tail, then dragging him back with her fakest smile.
Littlest yipped in alarm as he found himself face to face with Mother Caius… "Yip?" Mother Caius looked especially scary with blood all around her jaws… what would she do if she scared off her pretty birdie?
Caius rolled her eyes then tossed Littlest toward Mishi's twitching leg. She didn't want Mishi to die just yet. Brushing her tail over her Pretty Birdie, "Aiya, Pretty Birdie, do you have a way to keep our meal fresh?"
Nix tucked his wings as he glanced over Mishi, his tail and limbs had been ripped off and were now being eaten, leaving only bloody stumps. There were a few chunks missing along his back where Nix could see Mishi's core. Talvi had ripped Mishi's tail off and was eating it off to the side. Rahm was gnawing on a back foot with two others playfully tugging on the mangled flesh.
The mountain man's lips twitched seeing the unbothered foxes… hopefully that meant the blinding light was nothing of import. Right. Then he half trotted, half jogged to Randy.
Randal stumbled toward the Healer, blood dripping from his head, shoulders, ribs, honestly it would probably be easier to name what wasn't injured or bleeding. Kokono was in her little person form, her body almost cut in half from the trident strike.
The mountain man paled seeing the wee warrioress laying limply in Randy's arms. Scooping Randy up like a babe he ran over to their Healer. "Oi! Mage, ye too!" He wasn't sure if a healer could heal the wee ones… he'd never seen them injured before.
The Healer lifted his robes to jog toward Randy. Blood was dripping down the Mountain man's arms. Ignoring the white dots still blurring his vision he pulled the Mountain man's arms down to get a better look at the pair.
The mage let out a long whistle. "Aye be thinken… ye need ta learn ta dodge Randy." He half joked as his head became the perch for three of the wee birds. Their sorrowful chirps did not bode well.
The Healer pulled out a dozen enchanted crystals, two potions, and a dragon scale. Healing Randy wasn't something he had to do often, but he was always prepared. Pouring the dark red potions over Randy, then setting up the formation to increase his self healing ability. Using the dragon scale as the center, Randy was enveloped in a blue light. "Aight, now ye stay there while we look over ye Kokono."
The Mage held Kokono in one hand, carefully piecing her back together. The silver flames were growing alarmingly dim, "I donna ken what ta do, they donna respond ta earth or fire spells.
"Can ye feed her fire? It be faden fast Mage." The Mountain man pointed out.
"Aye ken see ye lug, did ye no jus hear me say she no be responden ta fire?" The Mage snapped as he looked around for any of the remaining pillars… none.
The Ranger gritted his teeth, "Wee Overlord, ken ye share yer flame? How do we heal her?" Surely the others would know.
The birds all shared a concerned look, Hito changing into his small person form. "We are not of flesh, more than just earth, we can change… but fixing is a different concern." The longer they lived the more independent they became. Kokono had already taken some of Nix's silver fire, dragon scales, and dragon bones. She was… already different from the rest of them.
The mountain man stiffened even as he let out a breath of relief. His head was once again a perch for Nix. He could see the glowing fires in the other's eyes, as well as the wee beasties all chirping sadly.
Nix sighed as he settled his feathers, "They are not immortal, they will all die, cherish them, for they have only one life."
Randal paled, "Nay, I've seen death, she no be dying, she just be weak… ye made em. What did ye use? I can fetch more parts."
Nix nodded, "She is not dying, but anymore parts and she won't be mine, her pain because your heart did not rely." A silver flame wrapped Kokono up, forming an egg. "Whether they live, whether they die, whether they kill for others, that is still for them to decide."
Randal caught the egg of flames. Watching as Kokono's body… dissolved. "They should no live or die fer anyone else. They should be liven for themselves."
Nix's eyes crinkled in a slight smile, "That would be nice, in the world that we live, but they are of me, and for others not a want, others are a need."
Randal cuddled egg to his chest as he closed his eyes. She needed him. She needed him to believe. Because he was lacking… she was hurt. "Ken aye… how can she be stronger?" Strong enough to survive even when he failed.
Nix blinked, "She is the strongest, she knows not defeat, she is bless by gods three. If one is lacking, look in hearts deep."
Randal gritted his teeth even has his flesh was mended. "Ye be saying, cause I be lacken… she be hurt?"
"You want to attack, she desires to protect, you rush into battle… she watches your back." Nix held up a wing to forestall the denial, "She was your armor, she was your wings, your injuries she healed, until even her flame thins."
Confirming he had their attention, Nix continued, "She gave to you willing, no matter the cost, she is still young, such a burden much was lost. You want her stronger, the problem not her, look back and think… what did you offer?"
Randal choked down his anger. Damnit. DAMNIT. DAMNIT! He'd seen her fading… he'd ignored the signs.
"She needs not remorse, she needs not your hate, she is still willing, little more I can say." Nix said as he dropped two feathers. "Her fire is yours, your pride your own. Support is not weakness, remember your goal."
The Mountain Man barely breathed, dang it… he wanted a bird… He felt like his scalp was being bathed in a soothing spring. He pleadingly looked to the wee beasties all avoiding his gaze… why did none of them want him? Hearing that they needed others, yet he was the only one without left him seriously doubting himself.
Nix flew off to see his heart bearer. She was a little worse for wear, but on the whole uninjured. Her mate Alexei was leaning against Kaveri, they both looked ready for a nap.
Alexei lifted one eye lid, "Ugh, are we sure that goat was only a lord class? Kaveri is almost a sin beast right?" His bones were still numb. Everything was numb or aching.
Nix landed on Kaveri's spine. Kaveri was coiled up around Alexei and Azarius, his bellow barely showing where he'd swallowed the sea goat. "A sin beast to be, but such beasts range from boss to legendary. Kaveri is young, hundreds not even of three, nor is he bless by two gods of the sea."
Alexei let his eye lid fall, "Ugh, of course there's no straight answer."
Neolani raised her head, "What was that light? It was like… sunlight, but that wasn't Ru."
Nix glanced up at the cloudless sky. "Eh? There was a light? Isn't there always after each night?"
Neolani clenched her already bruised hands. She'd avoided most injuries but that mermaid's strength had been enough for even her strength to faulter once or twice. Her mana pool was practically empty as well. If she didn't have access to Nix's mana pool there was no way she would have survived the fight with even one of those lord class mermen.
She'd defeated lord class before, but the difference had been painfully obvious. Their speed, strength, and spells had all been at least double any lord class beast she'd ever faced.
Nix tilted his head, "You call on my blessings, embrace more than my strength, is it so surprising others do the same?" She should have been able to see the blessings surrounding the intruders.
"I thought someone could only have blessings from one being at a time." Neolani said through gritted teeth.
Nix blinked, "Eh? What made you think so? Was I not one of three?"
Neolani's breath caught… why… had she thought that… then again, she'd never really been one to pray to the beast gods. It wasn't a surprise none had blessed her. She glanced up at the shining sun… perhaps she would pray for a blessing.
She sat beside Alexei, "Any ideas about that light?" Neolani asked half heartedly.
Alexei wrapped his arm around Neolani's shoulders. "Not a clue. I'm just hoping he wasn't roaring at us."