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 Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 3:24 am
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 3:54 am
"You should know better, Adrastea..."
She had been watched, just as she knew she would be. One simply didn't leave the warrens on their own without good reason and there would always be someone to follow suit. Fortunately it was an individual she had grown to know and trust, though she was never entirely certain of his intentions, he seemed to be guided by logic. Rather than respond immediately, he was often inclined to listen and digest the information before he made his views known. Quite frankly, it was a disposition that had served them all well in the years that had gone by, ensuring that many of their more zealous had been reined in. It had prevented several unnecessary deaths, though it hadn't stopped others.
Unfortunately the black lion couldn't be everywhere, though there were a fair few that wished he could be.
"Metis," Adrastea replied, glancing over her shoulders to be met by the shimmering red eyes of the male. She wasn't sure how long he had been stood there, but she surmised that it was long enough for him to have picked up on more than just a small tidbit of her encounter with the foreign rabbit. Nevertheless, before continuing her conversation she made her way back towards the shadows to prevent what both Metis and she knew would identify as a problem... Eventually the patrols would come this way, and regardless of how moderate or reasonable they might have been, it would not be taken into consideration.
"Your new friend is on quite the quest," Metis mused as he fell into step with the lioness. She was already on her way back towards the warrens, a clear indication that she had no real intention of remaining outside for an extended period of time. Metis was therefore satisfied that she had simply been providing assistance to a curious being, one that they could ultimately use to their advantage if need be. After all, if he had heard their conversation correctly, it seemed that particular preybeast had some rather fascinating insights into the whereabouts of one of their most challenging 'hunts'.
...Or rather, the most challenging hunt of the Scourge to date; Metis couldn't proclaim this was his hunt.
He was invested in the details for very different reasons.
"He is, yes..." Adrastea agreed and shook her head. "Though by the sounds of it, it seems unlikely that he will succeed," she murmured. "The damage to his friend seems to be too severe, to assist in trying to repair something so damaged after so many years seemed unlikely," she pointed out gently.
"It depends on the individual," Metis remarked and tilted his head to the side. "Provided those who hold the tools are skilled, it continues to be a possibility," he continued. Adrastea had once been an oddity among their kind, hopeful and diplomatic to the point of fault. It had been that single flaw that had set off a stream of events that had eventually thrown the land back into turmoil. Admittedly, such a war had been brewing for a very long time, but it had been that single point of failure that had stoked the flame - they had failed one hunt, and that hunt had led them across several territories in pursuit.
...Everything had been laid to waste since then.
Unsurprisingly, Adrastea had learned from her mistake from then on, and had been sure to avoid being quite so 'friendly' with the outside world. However, Metis had not been so quick to dismiss her notions, while she had lost faith, he had stored away much of history in order to mull over it at a later date. What had spurred her on to be so kind had been a source of confusion among some for a considerable amount of time and it had only been when the 'new world' was discovered that they had forgiven her. In failing to correctly hypnotise Spectre, Adrastea had inadvertently revealed a brand new world of those who needed to be purged.
It had taken much effort on Metis's part (and his allies) to secure the notion among the Phantoms that this had all been pre-destined and that the young lioness's actions had been part of a much larger story. It was only then that she had been forgiven, but her cautious nature had never left her after that.
"I would not be hopeful," Adrastea shook her head dismissively and sighed. "We are all aware of what those toxins do to others," she pointed out gently. "They aren't supposed to get back up after it, that's the whole point -"
"Is it?" Metis queried and pursed his lips. "By the sounds of it, it would seem our hunt's new found allies disagree with this. Perhaps there is a cure, we just are not aware of it," he added.
"If there is one, it doesn't exist here."
"If there is one, it may exist outside. If it exists outside, and we know that several individuals are out there, then that places their safety at risk," he replied smoothly. "Our own kind cannot defend against it and prepare for it if they aren't aware that a cure has been discovered," he pointed out. It gave the lioness considerable pause for thought and she furrowed her brow; what he said was the truth, and if they had discovered a way to counteract the agents used to enslave their sacrifices, then it would harm her own kin. The lionesses would never expect another to fight back, while the males would be unprepared for the additional numbers that came at them from behind.
...An armed rebellion would prove disastrous to their own survival.
"You're not finished with this line of thought, are you Metis...?" She asked slowly.
"I am not," Metis confirmed and raised his eyebrow, there was an unreadable glint in his eye, but she could take a rough guess as to what he might be planning.
"The rabbit isn't -"
"I have no interest in him," Metis shook his head. "But I do have interest the efforts of his friends." He paused, albeit briefly and smiled. "So perhaps it is time that we went on a small outing, if only to determine the level of success they may or may not have with the hunted, hm?"
"We...?" Adrastea seemed hesitant.
"I am no potion master, Adrastea," Metis sniffed. "You are, and by extension your expertise will be necessary. I am merely the muscle on this small adventure of ours."
"But the others..."
"Will be briefed on why we have left, but not where," Metis stated. "We are simply following small leads, nothing of great significance." He paused again and popped his lips. "Not yet anyway..."Words: 1121
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