Welcome to Gaia! ::

((LMAO Zion thinks Valkon is a worm. That's too awesome. Too bad worms don't have bones although it could be interesting having him try sometime as a prank on Zion. heheh ))

He knew the sound of that voice. Turning, Valkon smirked raising an eyebrow in slight surprise. Chronos was not entirely as he remembered him. Stepping back through the barrier, the yokai circled Chronos entirely, his grin widening with every step. Chronos had to know that he would tease him. A little at least. Valkon always showed his amusement plainly and now would not be an exception.

"Well, well, well... Look at you. All grown up too." he smirked, folding his arms as he stopped in front of the legend. The smirk grew on his face as he commented, "Hey, Chronos. You're still a fox." Then he broke out into laughter, patting him on the back.

"So I got you back afterall. Lord Azmodeus also I hope. The barrier is his. Good. Makes sense as it will protect all of us more. Is Watcher one of yours? He can be annoying and I think he needs an attitude adjustment. How much did we lose though? I can always send the crows to retrieve whatever we need. Nevermind. Questions can be answered later. First things first. Zion."

His eyes narrowed at the thought of the red-eyed irritant, but then he whispered so that only Chronos could hear him. "I think I found something of yours. He's got a watch exactly like you make. Numbered even. Said he's had it as long as he can remember. You did not have any essence stolen that you don't know about, did you? He seems to be alot like you, my friend. He had the second watch but gave it to me for a promise to meet you."

He was thinking pointedly about what Loa had done to him. Chronos had been older when they had first met, so it was possible he guessed.

Turning around he watched Zion a moment. "Zion, this is Chronos, the watchmaker I told you of. I'm not sure what's going on, Chronos, but I felt like he was meant to be here with you. He's very inventive. Created a glowstick that could be useful, too. Hawke, come on."

Glancing towards Hawke, Fosull, and Loa, he nodded indicating that his son do as Chronos asked. Loa and Fosull could decide for themselves what their daughter wanted. He was sure she would take the marking. It was a means to an end, but Valkon would have asked for his son to be marked anyhow. Now was as good a time as any.

Valkon glanced over at Jenga, for the first time acknowledging her presence. There was challenge in his eyes for her to take the marking. He was truly curious what she would do. His eyes gleamed in amusement as he watched her.

Hawke turned as his father did. "Uncle Chronos!" he grinned. "Yay! You are back too!" Then he noted the scythe that the legend held. "Oooo! I like the new scythe! It's awesome! Can you make me one too?" He blinked his eyes round and large as he stared at the shape and coloration of the weapon, then grinned sheepishly. "Later. Only maybe smaller. I think that one's a bit too big for me."

He laughed. He wanted to have more power too like his dad did. "Sign me up. It's where I want to be anyhow. And I'm tired of being in here. I want to figure out my new bracelet." Hawke held his hand out for Chronos to inspect its dark gleam. "Shadow I think. Should be useful and those bones back there did not need it."

Jenga had rubbed the sting from her muzzle and stood to regard the barrier thoughtfully. This looked to be magic, of a sort she had no knowledge of. She let the others muse about tis cause and the solution. She wasn't entirely sure they could do anything about it, really. But the new voice beyond the shield made her ears snap forward sharply, eyes narrowing. With the barrier between, she didn't drop into a defensive crouch, though apparently she might as well have, as it seemed he held the key to why some could get through and not others.

She eyed him suspiciously, not even much assured by the fact that the nine-tail seemed easy and familiar with him. She remained still, almost as if frozen, watching him warily. Her tailtip did twitch as she thought, but nothing else moved. She did not even blink as she measured him, considered him. To the casual eye, he certainly did cut a handsome figure, but... something niggled at her. She frowned just faintly, sweeping her whiskers back minutely. Finally at some length, she spoke.

"I would like to know exactly who it is, or what it is, we are pledging loyalty to," she imparted smoothly, her gaze intense. She was no spineless fool to give in to obscure demands out of a driving and unthinking fear. Oh no, not she. Her chin was up, her back straight, her shoulders back, looking less the cat and more the calm and capable female. And for once, due to her inner drive to assert herself as confident and even possibly something to be reckoned with in her own right, she completely missed the first attention the yokai had bestowed upon her. Even had she known, she'd have shrugged it off. Some things were more important than her own personal curiousity.

"Is there any other way out? What if we don't want to?" Nebula asked and joined the other Ghostling who was asking questions. She wanted out and she wanted to be safe, but was the cost worth it? She just wasn't so sure.

Nebula looked at the others who joined and it looked easy for them. What was wrong with her? She just wasn't sure. Too scared to be sure.

"Watcher can wait." he agreed but listened to what Chronos was saying. His son. No wonder there had been so many mannerisms that reminded him of the fox.

"Your son. It fits. I am very glad I did find him then. He belongs here with you then." Valkon stated softly, soberly. He glanced over at Hawke, smiling faintly. Hawke and Zion already seemed to like one another. It would do them both good to have a friend.

Then he said, "I wondered about the worms when they reshaped back there to attack the birds. It's why we left the main cavern."

He glanced over at the one on his shoulder, stroking it a moment. "These are alphas, are they not? Which means they were a bit of protection for us as we went through the cavern and why they matched our coloring. It was to keep the others at bay a bit more." It made sense, but he planned to study them a bit more and see what could be done with them. A few at a time could probably be safely handled but not the amount that was in the cavern behind them.

Hawke blinked in surprise then a grin split his face as he happily stated. "Uncle Chronos is your dad? Then makes us like... cousins, Zion."

Corviy tilted his head as he tried to shove the worm from his chosen spot on Hawke's shoulder. Instead of moving aside, the worm wrapped itself around the leg of the bird. The bird jealously reached down to peck at the creature.

"Stop that. Both of you." Hawke growled as the bird's feet dug into his shoulder more. He pointed a finger at them, frowning.

Arthas frowned as he listened. The worms being aggressive could be to their advantage at some point. Perhaps a small army to control should he figure out how to fully control his worm. Perhaps it was useful afterall getting trapped down in this place. There could be more things to discover during the day and at some point they would return.

If not, he would. He still had Frostmourne and even not at full strength, it would still be formidable. And serving was a point of view. This could be to his advantage still. He stood by his choice and remained silent as the others decided.

Touma still scowled, but he watched intently as Chronos greeted his 'found' son. Perhaps these were not all that he had thought. Perhaps... But the marking still bothered him. He was quite certain that Valkon was darker than he appeared. So too this Chronos. The scythe he held could be considered such and it almost whispered of the lives it would take in some way.

These thoughts made him hesitate. Even if the worms did turn aggressive during the night, there was the day where they could perhaps be used to find another way out. But that was a big chance. Still he waited as he watched.

Nebula listed to the Legend and nodded. She didn't like this much, but she didn't want to die either. She watched as the other Ghostling that was on the fence finally agreed to it.

Nebula looked back to the end of the tunnel, to the 'death' that was awaiting her. She looked to the barrier and the others to 'life' under someone else. Which was worse, she wondered. "I dont' want to die...so fine." She finally said. Free Will would have to wait till there wasn't a death threat.

((Congrats, Mina. ))

Valkon stared at Chronos a moment, raising an eyebrow at the sideglance. Obviously there was something he had missed. The worms or Watcher though? "Watcher and I will agree to disagree on most things I think. I still owe him one for that memory he shoved down on me." His tails twitched in annoyance but then he grinned wickedly. "I'll find some way to return the favor."

The second marking surprised him somewhat but he knew Chronos never did anything without a reason. He was certain there was one. They would have a private talk about a few things later, not the least of which was all that he had missed at the castle.

"You know, these worms could come in handy, but I didn't figure they had any bones for me to steal their forms. Although I've not really tried." Valkon mused as he continued to watch the various ones around him. "I might try it later when I'm sure noone is around to step on me."

The yokai turned his attention to Jenga a moment raising an eyebrow as he appraised her. His lips twitched upwards as he watched her. "There will be time to explain everything later. When we get time. Look at it this way. At least you will be safe."

All the while Hawke had watched closely. It was a rather cool looking marking when Chronos was finished with Zion's hand. He thought where he wanted his marking. On his hand of course. Afterall, he and Zion were cousins and this would just prove it more.

Hawke stepped forwards. "Me next, Uncle Chronos. Um... hand I think. That way Zion and I are still cousins." Holding his arm out, he winced, then pursed his lips. If Zion could do it without crying, so could he. "Go for it."

Arthas moved forwards behind Hawke. He was not removing his armor for this. It would have to be the hand. Pulling off the gauntlet he wore, he held his own hand out as he waited patiently behind the younger ghostling.

"Let's just get this done. We all need to get out of here before those worms notice us then. It is not good to turn your back to an enemy." he glanced back the way they had come. "At least no longer than necessary."

Touma shook his head, finally breaking his silence. "I'm a nightwhisper. I can't afford to have a marking like that where someone can recognize it." He contemplated the size and shape of the marking. Where would it be the least obtrusive? A shoulder beneath his clothing would be sufficient.

"My shoulder." Unbuttoning his shirt and vest, he removed the garments for the moment. "That way if I am seen, there is no marking to trace me." He was still uncertain of this. Still so uncertain, but he had little choice in the matter. Glancing at the others around them, he figured they would do as they needed to.

Disdainfully Jenga sniffed at the shapechanger's comment. "Safe? Safe is relative. Safe can mean a warm bed. Safe can mean having a protector. Safe can mean being self-sufficient. Safe can mean a cold cell." She gave him a mildly haughty glare. Fine time to decide she existed! "Your words mean nothing when they impart the same." She lifted her chin at him defiantly, eyes glittering. "But if I must take the mark, I shall be the one to determine where it goes."

She turned to the fox legend in her turn and bared one shoulder, slipping the strap of her dress down. "Here," she told him distinctly, indicating the hollow in the front of her shoulder, right beneath the outer edge of her collarbone. "This is where I would bear this master's mark of whom I know nothing of." Her gaze was equally challenging to the one who marked them, though she had little idea of how he'd respond to such defiance.



Hasii watched and listened, baffled. Taking a mark? To be safe? He himself didn't feel one bit in danger... why should they? He considered slithering out to ask, but the bigger ones looked rather intimidating. He was rather small, even for his kind, but consequently could fit into all sorts of nooks and crannies to stay protected, and had done so. What good did a scratch on the hand do? And who were these ghostlings? Curious, he crept a little closer, but stayed back against the tunnel wall, well in the shadows.