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"No, No. That is not going to work..." The grumble came quietly from the shadows of a workplace.


"You had to go and grab it. AGAIN!" A more higher pitched and Nahtlil sounding voice broke the grumble of a balam that sat with a collection of his lifeless creations

"I couldn't help it." different and more rougher voice, stubbornly excused it's self.

"Oooooh, I see. " The Nahtlil like voice mused sarcastically, before chiming in once more. " Much like how you can't help your own stupity. It all makes since now."

"I'll show you stupid!" The rocky voice growled. Sitting beside a Tahtll a pale white wooden toy seemed to start to leap forward before being halted in mid raise, by an unseen force.

"Easy now you two. " Lament's rich voice softly settled the two other voices down. "It will be a simple fix." The b'alam softly reassured in a soft sigh. Purple and dark tail shifted in the faded light behind him.

" However, Grimmore." The Tahtll spoke and slowly turned his head to look to a smaller wooden puppet. The one that now stood curiously beside the seated b'alam. The strange wooden toy stood on four worn paws. It's carefully carved head turned upward to look back up at his 'Father'.

" You should be more careful in your stray appendage mauling." Lament's brow raised as his maw narrowed out to point the statement directly at the toy. "It's not like I can use just 'anything' to replace it" The b'alam stated matter-of-a-factually to his last carved.

"Well, maybe you should." Lament's maw remained partly closed as a small voice seemed to creep from the underside of a partly closed leathery wing.

"Oh, Epoh. There you are." The gold b'alam's regal and rich voice bounced slightly with a bit of surprise as his great wing stretchered open to revail a third darker puppet. The strange puppet, unlike it's brother and sister was hindered by a mess of string that were tangled about his wing tips.

" He never can leave..." Lament's head turned to give his attention to the darker wooden puppet that sat at his paws. Loveless' darker head turned from the mess of strings to looked back up at her own creator. Bright yellow eyes looked back to the lifeless carving of wood. Slowly the darker puppet's head turned on it's workings to look over at her brother that was still carefully poised at lament's side. The b'alam tail shifted once more behind him in a muse.

"Yeah, and why should we replace it with just 'anything'? " The second voice, from the white puppet spoke up with a spark of attitude "That is stupid, Epoh." Grimmore's white head shook a little as it look back up to the misshapen puppet that took refuge under Lament's partly folded wing.

A sigh left lament as the puppet seemed to slowly receded back under it's shelter, guided by the carefully closing it's owner's wings.

"Actually. I kinda like the idea..." Loveless' voice once more creept brightly from the tailless ebony puppet that still remained at Lament's paws.

"you do?" Grimmore's attention was turned back to look at the darker wooden puppet. "Well, then you're just as stupid." The puppet stated.

"Grimmore. That isn't polite." Lament's richer and smoother voice was the one to be pulled time from his throat.

"It's not?" The white worn puppet head turned slowly to look back up to it's creator. It's blue eyes stared lifelessly back at it's master.

"Yes, it is not." The b'alam told the puppet with a stern nod. Really the Puppet should have known better. Lament's purple ear turned slightly as he was reminded of something that had been spoken previously, and should be addressed as well.

"And you should know that too, Miss Loveless." Lament reminded the darker broken puppet. As the soft words left Lament, the puppet's head slowly turned look down as if ridden by a little bit of guilt. Loveless did after all call Grimmore 'stupid' first.

You see, It wasn't all Grimmore's fault he was such a pessimist. He was the youngest, and had a lot to be spiteful about. Being the last one carved and all, it truly was a horrible thing. The White puppet seemed esepically mean to Lament's first carved, Epoh. Loveless, the second oldest always whispers and spreads rumors that it's mostly because he is jealous of the bound puppet's strings.

As another broke into the conversation, Lament's tail quickly paused in it's swaying. In a instant the two worn puppets quickly turned their heads to look up toward where the voice was head. Slowly even Epoh peaked from under the wing of his father. Slowly the gold and purple wing lifted more so Epoh can see what the others were looking at as well.

The Dark b'alam's shoulder hunched forward. It was Chronos, Lament knew that voice from anywhere. He didn't need to turn around to picture the smile that was on his feature. Lament can hear it his voice. A sigh slowly left he b'alam as a frown took his own maw, and his brow forwarded scornfully.

"Who is that?" The higher voice seemed to come from the darker puppet that was turned and tilted to poise past the gold b'alam.

"Yeah?" the gruffer voice spoke more bluntly.

"It's the stage master, Tah Magus Chronos..." The Smaller malformed puppet shifted to peak more past the shelter of it's father's gold wings.

"Yes. That is Right, Epoh." Lament put on a smile as a soft sigh escaped from his maw.

"Well, I Like him. He says' I have talent." Grimmore's head bounced a little before his body and chest rose proudly.

"He was talking to father, Stupid." Loveless' head turned to look at the white idol looking puppet.

"Hey! Father!" Grimmore puppet bounced a little in protest. He was just now scolded from saying such a thing!

"Now, Loveless what did we just go over?" Lament's rich voice was this time to be mouthed from his lips, and not the voice of the others.

"Sorry..." The Darker puppets head turned down as if to show the darker puppet was ashamed of it's self. The White one's head shifted and turned proudly, before looking back up at the balcony where Chronos watched.


"He is offering help..." The dark mangled puppet shifted more from it's dangle from wing and on string.

Lament slowly shifted from his sit to turn to see the Stage master fully. The dark puppet that was in front of him looked to take steps to join her brother, Grimmore. Both stood next to Lament, lifeless eyes turned upward to poise themselves at magus perched on the balcony.

"Thank you, M'lord." Lament head shifted in a bow. "I am sorry, they can be quiet noisy." The Tahtill stated, and just as he did the two puppets that stood poised beside him own craven heads shifted down to a bow.

"It isn't anything a Master like you, should trouble themselves with. " The Tahtil reassured kindly with a week smile. He spoke of the lifeless creations as if they where real, and not just the wooden dolls they were. "Grimmore, and Loveless fight quiet often, and one is just now with out a tail..."

As Chorons went on to address Loveless' plight, the dark puppet's head was smoothly gestured to gave a nod. In a flowing movement, it turned it's self to show it's wooden bum, and the notch where a tail had been.

"Grimmore, ripped it out." Lament's maw remained partly open as a easy and relax smile remained on his maw. Yellow eyes shifted to look down at the puppet called 'loveless'. The dark puppet's head then turned once more as if to shoot a glare at the nearby white one. It's ebony paw raised to point at the white puppet.

"Again." The voice seethed, before the rougher one appeared to his own defense.

"It's not my fault, you shouldn't have been wiggling it around." Grimmore's head leaned forward defiantly, and with a bit of attitude. Sitting back on it's hunches, his front paws crossed over each other.

"It scares the cubs." the white puppet's head nodded with all the confadance in the world.

"It does not!" The Nahtil like voice almost sobbed in a whine. "Its charming-Unlike you!"

"Stop it. Both of you, you are in the presence of a master!" Lament's rich voice quickly hushed the two other voices. In a instant the two puppets became still and remained lifeless. Taking a slow breath, Lament's colorful tail shifted behind him. The Tahtil's head slowly shook, really sometimes they where more trouble then company.

"Please Excuse their squibbles, M'lord." Lament spoke his teeth clinched tightly together as he held back an annoyed growl. Really, his friends did a poor job listening...


"Master of what?" A curious whisper seem to come from the white puppet as it seem to stir to life once more. It's head shifted to look lifelessly at Loveless.

"Shush-I don't know. Now be quiet." Loveless head turned once more to pose a lifeless stare at her brother. Her head was bobbed as if to solidify her words.

"Really we aren't worthy of such attention, Tah Chronos." Lament sighed as his puppets seemed to misbehave to his spoken request.

"Mr. Brightside, should be returning soon. He is quiet a great help." The Tahtil smiled presently.

As Chronos unfolded his wings, Loveless' and even Grimmore's head turned poised to watched the decent of the large magus. Neither of the wooden dolls shifted or moved to his approach. Laments gold and purple tail shifted in quiet thought. The beginning of his tail just at his hunches puffed just slightly, ears bounced back as his gaze shifted to the side in a moment's glance. Silence took the b'alam as the magus drew closer. Which one, that had been around the strange b'alam might have found a bit strange. If not a bit unsettling...

"Nonsense? " The sound was Repeated softly, from Lament's partly closed maw. However it was the dark and more gritter tone of Grimmore. Tail shifted behind him, as the White Puppet turned his head to look at the puppet known as 'loveless'. The wooden puppet's front paw shifted to his wooden maw as it's head was turned to it's sister.
Loveless' head was slowly turned back, and was shifted by Lament's thoughts to give a slow and stready nod.

"Are we distressed?" Loveless voice answered back with it's own confusement.

Grimmore's shoulder shifted in a slight shrug. It's white wooden tail was shifted behind it's self playfully.

"..Yes, very distressed" The meeker and softer voice was next to come forth. Lament's smller wing, shifted a little to a raise. Just as he did, his head turned to look at the puppet that Chronos had yet to be introudiced to.

"This is Epoh." Lament offered with a little smile after Master Tah Chornos gave his name. All three puppets slowly gave a respectful nod.

"See I told you he was a master. " Loveless' voice was first to sound and the dark puppet was shifted to rise to it's wooden paws. "I am Loveless." The more Nahtil sounding voice, prompted a bow of the darker puppet.

"Grimmore." Was next to come more bold, which caused the White puppet to turn it's head stubbornly. It's little body was shifted to sit on it's back hunches, and both front paws crossed.

"And, you know already know who I am. Tah..." Lament's rich voice came from him, as his head had yet to rise and remained tilted down in the bow. Yellow eyes only glanced up at the Master, before focusing back on the stage floor. Yellow and purple tail shifted whimsically behind him once more.

The strange little puppet that remained for the most part hidden by lament's wing shifted a little behind it's gold, purple and pink shelter.

"He knows who you are..." The little voice seemed to softly whisper from Lament's maw and tickle his own ear.

"Of Course he does." Loveless' voice raised more brightly. "He is a Master, I have been saying that." The insecure black puppet's head turned and twisted to look at her brothers.

"...He knows of your works." Epoh added ominously once more.

"Quiet Loveless!" Grimmore's rougher voice quickly snapped to his sister's arrogance and reiteration. "He is trying to see your hunches and tail!" The white puppet's paw raised and pointed from her bum to the Stage master.

The puppet seemed to quickly want to change the subject from the fact that he had been proven wrong. Grimmore so despised being proven wrong. Loveless knew such a thing, and teased him about it every chance 'she' got.

"Nothing is wrong with old..." The little voice whispered once more softly from yellow and purple maw. Epoh slowly peered more around the curtain of Lament's wing.

"What ever you suggest, Tah Chronos." Lament's rich voice answered the stage master, "You do know what is best." The Tahtlil's maw seemed to tighten ever so slightly, and if one listened carefully, could hear teeth grinding under hidden maw lip. His voice remained rich and un-wavered. Long tail stilled behind his own real bum and only. His head had yet to raise from his bow.
[sage count for dezel ends here]

As Lament spoke in his own rich voice, all the puppets, the black Grimmore, the White Loveless, and the strange little Epoh that was tangled in wing talons, all turned their heads to look back at the stage master Chronos.

Lament's own ears shifted slightly to Chrono's request to follow after him. To where? The work shop? To the place he would have been more then enthralled to call home, where he could make tons of toys for cubs? A place where wishes and hopes were created and manifest into a reality. Where he had a chance to try his paw at being a Grand Weaver of toys, for young Nahtlil's and Tahtils? A place where all of it was denyed and ripped from him-only to be give to some other b'alam. One he never saw, a lesser in his own unspoken opinion.

Sure, why not?

"Of course, Tah Chronos. It would be more then a dream come true." Lament's full unweavered voice crawled from maw. All his puppets remained silent and strangely still....

"Mr. Brightside, should be arriving in due time, you see." The Tahtil spoke in a sigh. His long tail shifted behind him. "he is returning with a few various things, for Grimmore's tail..." Lament's gaze lowered in thought, his rich voice carried a bit of a sigh in it.

"It would be unfair to leave and he not be able to find us." The Tahtil added as if it was impossible for him to leave.

The strange little puppet known as Epoh, shifted to fully behind his 'father's larger wings...

(Kubo count ends here)


2477

It wasn't much longer after Chronos agreed that the two of them, (or rather 'five' in one company's mind) would wait for Mr. Brightside; that there was a bight muffled bark from the bolf 'rafter' entrance of the theater. It was accompanied by a dark silhouette that was tugged swiftly across the regal floor, by an airborne white bolf. The graceful creature slipped through the air and landed gracefully beside Lament and Chronos, at some distance. Red eyes remained focused on the larger B'alam Magus, as the bolf head duck. His maw clinched carefully a hold of a few items that partly dangled free of his toothy grasp. His ears docked back, as his wide eyes looked at Chronos as if to cautiously piece together if he was 'safe' or not. There was a quick glance made over to Lament and his strange cub puppets.

Lament's attention turned to look at his one and only friend.

"Ah, There you are Mr. Brightside." Lament's rich clear voice seemed to smile for the first time. Dark purple tail shifted behind him, and the small puppet known as Epoh shifted a little from behind it's hiding place of his wing. It's lifeless' gaze remained fixed on the Magus beside lament. Though the b'alam's attention was focused on his alabastor friend, not just Epoh's focus stayed on Chrono's but Grimmore and Loveless' too.

How strange...

"Come on, don't be shy. Show us what you have found my friend." Lament's smooth voice cooed to the Bolf.

The albino creature's ear perked as Lament spoke to him, it gained him another glance. Careful red eyes looked back to Chonos, and slowly paws shifted closer to Lament, his path a awkward slant. As Mr. Brightside came to his 'master's' paw, he stopped to look up at the purple and golden b'alam.

"Let us have a look." Lament suggested softly.

with a careful look over to Chonos, Mr. Brightside's maw remained closed and tightened a bit more on the items in his mouth.

"Come on."

In a look to Lament, the both dropped the times that his maw held. With a hop, the Bold flapped himself higher into the air and away from the larger Magus.

Twine, a ball of cloth and what was maybe bones of what was a like a small creature was left behind. As the cloth was drop it made a soft heavy 'clunk' as it did...

All at once, Grimmore and Loveless' attention turned toward the dark crimson cloth. Lament's tail twitched curiously as attention fell from the bolf to the trinket that was partly revealed from the crimson, black stripped cloth...