Kivara Starscrape Heaves

[Jackie Cat]

“We did all we could,” he said off-handedly, shoving off the thoughts crawling in the back of his mind, and shrugged. “I guess the mission could be considered a success since we stopped your ‘colleagues’ from doing whatever craziness they were planning, but well,” he motioned to their surroundings with a hand, “it’s kinda hard to consider this the best outcome. But, hm, all things considered we’re fine? So I guess the others must be alright, too? Maybe here, maybe somewhere else.” Before more intrusive thoughts latched on him, Silver focused his entire attention on Matthias. “What about you? What’re you gonna do once you get outta here? Got folks to meet and more missions to sabotage?”

Matthias nodded along with friendly interest. The boy had probably done his best, dissatisfied though he might seem.

"Ah, that I don't truly know," he admitted. "This was never in any of my plans, my dear Silver. Perhaps it is time, at last, to fully turn against the Covenant, as I have meant to for... a long time. But while there remains a chance that I can hold onto my position as it has been... It is too valuable to sacrifice."

There were too many steps between now and then for him to know. Time would tell.

---

"Okay," said Laura, feeling nauseated. "I believe you believe that. But there's nothing to be done about it right now whether it's true or not. We just have to get out of this place. Then we can... talk about, uh. Everything."

Like how to send this guy home, if that was what he wanted.

The Greninja cleared his throat. He'd been so quiet, Laura had forgot the CDE agent was standing just there.

"Sounds good to me," he said, amiably. "I'm sure it is all ðe big non-understanding, ne? Let's get free and safe for ðe present time."

He pointed upwards. "I have seen several of ðese constellations, seems to me like..."

He quickly etched a diagram in the cold ground beneath him, checking with Laura and Malachai when he wanted to confirm something.

"All ðe major constellations, ðe 'Arcana', are here, similar-like to ðe night sky, ne?" He pointed to an empty space in the centre of his diagram. "We gotta go here, okay? Ðat is my feeling."

 

[canisaries]

"Okay," said Laura, feeling nauseated. "I believe you believe that. But there's nothing to be done about it right now whether it's true or not. We just have to get out of this place. Then we can... talk about, uh. Everything."

Ben looked betrayed, but he understood. Laura had just met him, and she's spent a much longer time with Andre, who'd apparently managed to play innocent all this time. He was damn good at it.

"Sorry," he said quietly, grasping his paw.

"All ðe major constellations, ðe 'Arcana', are here, similar-like to ðe night sky, ne?" He pointed to an empty space in the centre of his diagram. "We gotta go here, okay? Ðat is my feeling."

Andre and Ben both gathered around the diagram.

"Well, I have no better ideas," Andre muttered.

 

[Cresselia92]

"No, it's not like that," he said. "I didn't kill his trainer. I just met his trainer, and then his trainer went missing after he left me. I didn't do anything to him. Ben is just making assumptions."

Oh. So Andre could speak his language, too? Well, he might as well respond with something.

“…Ah. So that’s what really happened?” Silver muttered lowly, keeping his tone as neutral as possible to not let his suspicion slip through. Something was off about the way Andre was looking at everyone, but the Sneasel decided to play along for the time being. “Hmm. I guess that matter with Ben’s trainer and your meeting with him was just… a very unfortunate coincidence, then. I apologize for my outburst.”

But I swear to the gods, if you’re trying to gaslight me like my psycho bitch of a ‘grandmother’ has done with me…!

Alas, as much as he wished to listen to his instincts demanding more answers or permission to rearrange someone’s face, that wasn’t really the best place to be discussing that kind of ‘truth’, as Andre had put it. They were still weak, lost, and who knows how far away from civilization.

He glanced at Ben, who seemed even more desperate and frustrated with the situation, until he was forced to admit temporary defeat. That amount of raw emotion… it’s couldn’t be something born out of simple assumptions and conjectures. Gut’s feelings definitely had a role, but Silver knew well that mere belief wasn’t proof enough in a courtroom, and it definitely wouldn’t fly in Forlas where there was no way to gather clues and Andre was one of the ‘good guys.’

As a show of sympathy, Silver patted the Teddiursa on his shoulder and gave him an encouraging nod. “Hang there! Will… huh, find answers to broken heart. But now, survive place!”

Right. Survive the dungeon. Silver checked out Matthias’ map, humming to himself. He shot a furtive glance at Andre, then nodded in agreement. “Yes! Let us, err, try idea!”

 

[JFought]

Isidora was not happy about the new arrivals and the revelations they brought. One moment it felt like she was figuring things out, and the next she was watching heated diplomacy in a language she couldn't understand because one of the Wayfayers was apparently a murderer the whole time, all while an enemy she had just fought with spectated and made casual conversation from the sidelines.

Looking at Andre now, she wasn't sure what she saw in him anymore. She couldn't imagine a deerling killing anyone out of malice, but he wasn't a deerling. And the look he wore as he was accused... She couldn't understand his words, but she did understand that, and for now, she believed Ben over whatever lies he must've spouted.

Still, he's one of us. It's not like we can just... kill him, or leave him behind. As frustrating as it was, Laura was right that they needed to play nice until they got out of here, and that applied to both Andre and Matthias. But that wasn't going to stop her from keeping her claws extended and shooting the greninja dirty looks. He's an acceptable target between the two, right?

She kept a healthy distance as the group gathered around a diagram Matthias had drawn. So, this dungeon's puzzle revolves around constellations? She glanced at the ceiling. Makes sense. Too bad she knew literally none of them.

"I'm sure Malachai can lead the way," she said with a mischevious smirk. "You already did a good job navigating us to Laura. Solving this puzzle and finding the dungeon's heart shouldn't be too much trouble for you, right?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

Malachai nodded, and cleared his tiny throat.

"Yes, of course. Assuming that the proposed solution is correct, and no supernatural obstacle prohibits entry to the indicated cavern, I should be able to locate it shortly. Please excuse me."

The Noibat took to the air and vanished into the darkness with a clatter of wingbeats.

With the dragon-bat off searching for Matthias' proposed destination, the Greninja looked up at Isidora and answered her dirty looks with a polite smile.

"We need not be enemies," he said, simply.

Laura looked away. There wasn't much chance she could help convince anyone of that. Not in these conditions, at least.

---

Malachai returned swiftly.

"I have found the cavern matching Matthias' description," he called, and immediately set about herding the gathered 'mon towards his findings.

The cave in question was much like the other 'rooms' in this dungeon, but the bioluminescent constellation above was especially prominent, and seemed to glow brighter as the Wayfarers entered. It was an intricate tracery of interlocking spirals, stars in a helical pattern radiating outward.

Looking up at it, Matthias sighed with vindication.

"Auriga," he said. "The World Entire."

Also known as the Beacon of Life.​

"What was that?" hissed Laura, ears pricking.

"What was that?" heard Silver, Isidora, and everyone else, as if Laura had always spoken their language.

Still no sign of Betel, but something had stepped in to restore their ability to understand each other...

 

[canisaries]

Both Andre and Ben's ears pricked up as they heard the mysterious voice.

"Do you think that was the dungeon talking?" Andre said.

"Can they do that?" Ben asked.

"I know there's someone who became a dungeon spirit at Ranger HQ," Andre elaborated. "Sinopa, I believe."

"...What's Ranger HQ?"

Andre sighed. "I can catch you up when we get out of here."

Ben frowned. "Can't someone else do it?"

Andre sighed again.

 

[Cresselia92]

Silver studied the fake constellation shining from above them all, holding his hands on his hips. He couldn’t claim to be a professional stargazer or anything frivolous like that, but even he could admit that the sight of those fake stars was equally beautiful and relaxing.

His ears twitched and his feathers shook when he heard the mysterious voice, and he peered analytically at the walls. He was so focused on his task that he didn’t even turn when he heard the others commenting what had just happened.

"What was that?" hissed Laura, ears pricking.

"Do you think that was the dungeon talking?" Andre said.

"Can they do that?" Ben asked.

"I know there's someone who became a dungeon spirit at Ranger HQ," Andre elaborated. "Sinopa, I believe."

Silver brought a claw to his chin, pondering the strange phenomenon. “Hm, yeah, there’s a good chance this might be some kinda dungeon shenanigan. Maybe this place hosts some spirit or deity, and…”

He trailed off, his eyes narrowing. Something was feeling both odd and right. What was that?

Then he realized whose voices he had just heard, and his eyes widened. It wasn’t only Matthias or Andre, but also Laura and Ben. Not only that; he could also follow their discussion perfectly, without missing or misinterpreting a single word.

Could it be…?

“Wait! Did I just—and y’all—?” he stammered, his mouth running as his brain was still flipping back and forth between languages. He shook his head to clear his mind and stared at the others, a hint of anticipation glinting in his eyes as he settled back to Tojohnese. “Hey! Can y’all understand what I’m saying right now?!”

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Uh, yeah!" exclaimed Laura, a grin creeping onto her face. "Nice to understand you again, Silver."

She turned to Isidora. "Hey! Isidora! How 'bout you?"

And then, silently, to the astral plains, "Are you there, Betel??"

No reply from Betel. Was this not their doing...?

Matthias sighed again, this time with relief. "Ah. That's much better. Now I can understand what you all are saying – communication should be much easier, now."

He gestured around.

"This is the dungeon heart... and it's marked by the Forlasan constellation of Auriga. Traditionally associated with... perspective. Seeing oneself as part of a larger whole, in particular."

All souls speak through this voice. Gossamer wings abuzz. The ache of gum and tooth. Rain sizzling on warm scales. Berry juice stains make such perfect glyphs. The pull of North through lateral line organs. Moonlight on the waves.

Matthias blinked, his face twitching as he reacted to the barely-perceptible rush of feeling that suffused the cavern.

"I believe we need to share... a memory, perhaps. Or a... Hm. Some kind of subjective experience, some 'truth' that is raw and meaningful to us. I guess I have an instinct saying so, aha."

Malachai landed beside Laura, and chuffed irritably. "How wonderfully vague. Perhaps you'd care to demonstrate?"

Matthias smiled wide, bowed, and nodded. "Of course. Within me is the memory... of moonlight, shining silver on the waves of some lake or ocean. I am standing on the beach, damp grains of sand between my toes, looking out over the water. It occurs to me in this moment... that it would be a beautiful place to die. I take a step into the water, and the cold seizes me like a fist. The last thing I think of, is to wonder if this cold water can quench the anger inside me."

There was a pause. Who would jump to speak, after an apparent confession of attempted suicide...?

"And did it?" asked Malachai.

Matthias nodded. "I believe it did. I can no longer remember what caused it to burn so within me."

Overhead, the stars glittered brighter.

All souls – feeling, wanting, needing, searching, bleeding...