Nyxthorn - Koru/Xayah/Ema PT1

“We’d best make haste in finding the Matriarch’s pets. She is agitated, beyond so, and the Caregivers aren’t faring much better for it.” Koru frowned, sharing a concerned look with Xayah. The many caverns the critters could have gone hiding in seemed endless. They can spread the word on their way and recruit other Haedians and outsiders to join the efforts of calming the Matriarch.
Eyeing across the walls, Koru spotted a fallen quill lodged in some crystals. “A few others went through these caverns, we can begin through here.” He pointed a paw out to the quill. “At least one of them has hurried away through here, perhaps more.” 

“Might I join you Vayrons on this search?” A mellow yet clear voice spoke out, drawing the two’s attention. An Empyrean, clothed in white garb all across her body, stood tall some paces away. Silver jewelry and chains wrapped across her veiled head and robed chest. The headpiece jingled pleasantly as she turned her head. “I am Ema. I may be of aid soothing the creatures, or searching elevated areas.” 

Koru nodded politely at the Empyrean’s introduction and smiled equally so at her offer. “Koru, and this is my wife Xayah. We’d be thankful for the aid. The more of us join the search, the better.” Ema gave a small bow to Xayah in turn, her headpiece jingling quietly.

“Then let us head forth.” 

—

“Maybe the rest will come out from wherever they’ve run off to if we can herd a decent amount back to her,” Xayah thought aloud as she walked along the cavern, attention going to the quill Koru pointed out before she focused further down where they could’ve gone. 

Ema extending her help and an introduction was appreciated, the vayron feeling some comfort in having an extra set of eyes looking with them. “It’s nice to meet you, Ema. I wish it were under better circumstances, but your help is greatly appreciated. Between the three of us, we should be able to locate some of them.

They were noisy, colorful little creatures. Xayah wasn’t so naive to think that it’d be a piece of cake to find them, but she was hoping it wouldn’t be completely impossible at the same time. Not with how there was already a dropped quill in the direction they’d gone in. Yet as the trio continued further into the cavern and the cacophony of working around the Matriarch faded to echoes, Xayah found another sparkling quill.

“It seems they didn’t crawl into any tiny holes we can’t follow into,” She thought aloud, gently picking up the quill to move it where it wouldn’t accidentally get stepped on by someone. “At least, not this group. Yet. I hope these treats we were given are as irresistible as the Caregivers claimed.”

___

“Fruit and berries rolled into little balls of goodness. How could they resist?” Koru hummed in amusement. The Nyxthorns were curious and cheerful, sure to come when beckoned once they were able to hide from the noise for a time. Hopefully by the time the three of them found the first one, they could bring it along calmly to convince the rest to follow the example of the first.

“I hear the quills of one,” Ema spoke out of her silence, her neck craning high to listen. Koru and Xayah quieted down, ears perked for the sound. Sure enough, the small clitter of crystals could be heard down the tunnel. With the two vayrons in the lead, Ema lowered down to come off less imposing to the small creatures. 

“There,” Koru called quietly, paw pointing to a small crevice where a Nyxthorn sniffed the air, bunched in the crystals as tight as he could fit. “It’s alright, little one. You are safe.” He comforted, reaching some of the yummy treats from his pouch with his magic. The Nyxthorn raised his nose with curiosity, but his eyes still looked around for anything alarming. From the colorful runner, to the fiery puller, and the veiled Empyrean behind them. Something about the robed Tyrian struck as familiar, like reminiscent of the Caregivers. The Nyxthorn seemed to sigh, then crane his nose to the treats. And snatch it to himself to munch on it enthusiastically. 

“What a relief this one is safe and found,” the Empyrean sighed.

–

“It doesn’t seem too bothered now that it has a treat,” Xayah chuckled, clearly amused as she gave its head a light pet before looking further down the tunnel. “Hopefully this one will show the rest that it’s okay to come out now.”

She certainly didn’t want to go and wedge herself in small crevices to find the rest. A brief concern that quickly passed the moment they were close enough to wherever the other nyxthorns were hiding. It was like they could smell the treats and could hear the one snacking away. Whatever fear they had was long gone, instead replaced with being almost pushy in their chittering as they pawed at the treat pouches.

“Hold on- hold on! Here- They do not seem that stressed now,” Xayah exclaimed as she pulled treats out of the pouch on her side to try to pass them out, feeling very much like she was being swarmed. “Let’s get you guys back to the Matriarch, hm? She’d benefit from your company.”