Maintain

Having made her report to the Elder Candy Queen quickly rallied those at the hub and returned to the Caregrivers domain. Hundreds of reoseans poured into the underground, the previously small tunnels felt even more claustrophobic as the once nearly empty caverns suddenly found themselves practically overflowing with reoseans all moving in the same direction. As the hoard progressed deeper and deeper many curious haedians, drawn in by the noise emerged from their domains to question the sudden surge in outsider presence. Upon finding out their purpose many of them joined the group on the pilgrimage while others quickly returned to their clans to pass on the message that the surface dwellers were rallying to help the matriarch. The haedians that returned with their clansmen brought with them a varity of items to help aid the matriarch. From excavation tools to literary materials to baskets of food, the haedians poured all their resources together with what the surface dwellers brought with them to offer to their beloved ruler.

Before long the group entered the Caregivers domain, the golden clad haedians were shocked and alarmed to see the massive throng of surface dwellers who had gathered to help their matriarch. As Candy Queen explained the situation to the golden haedians many of them started to openly weep tears of joy and thanks as they were moved by the sudden surge of generosity and support. The hoard of reoseans emerged into the inner sanctum of the Matriarchs prison and paused at the entry way. Every single surface dweller who entered the chamber couldn't help but be shocked and appalled by the state of the Matriarch, sure Candy Queen had described it in detail to the Elder and yet seeing it in person was still beyond horrifying to witness. Trapped before them was a massive haedian unlike anything they had ever seen before, dwarfing every reosean they had ever seen before a massive black skull was pinned to the floor by what appeared to be a melted cascade of stone and crystal. It had short crystalline horns just barely visible at the back of its skull protruding out from the stone of the cave and wicked exposed crystalline teeth like that of a crocodile. As Candy Queen approached the trapped Matriarch you could clearly compare the size of the two and the Matriarchs teeth alone were easily three times the size of the runner. If you had told them that this was some long dead extinct creature from millennia ago they surely would have believed it had it not been for the slight opening and closing of the jagged crystalline teeth as the Matriarch fought to breath under the weight of the earth itself. It was impossible to read the Matriarchs expression as the only skin left of her face was pulled tight across her skull but as the hoard entered her previously peaceful tomb she roused from her slumber. "Oh... the rainbow one returns..."

Her mouth opened slightly wider in what might have been a derisive sneer as Candy Queen approached the Matriarch first. "You've brought an army with you as soon as you have gained access to my chambers." the Matriarch spat, venom dripping with every word as her barely contained pain and hatred lashed out at the vayron. "No Matriarch. This is not an army. When I returned to the surface to tell them of your circumstances, all those you see before you rallied to lend you any aid you might need." Candy Queen bowed respectfully while trying to ease the haedians distrust. The matriarch was silent for an uncomfortably long length of time before finally she opened her teeth once more. "....aid...." she snorted, "Do what you want... It's not as if I can stop you..." the massive haedian resigned herself to her prison well aware that there was nothing she could do to stop them if they meant her harm. With the matriarchs permission finally granted, Candy Queen nodded to the hoard of surface dwellers gathered around the outskirts of the chamber. At her signal they all rushed forth, groups formed at every exposed part of the matriarch which admittedly was only three places. The only parts of the matriarch that were visible were her head, one of her paws, and the tip of her tail. With each new reosean that gathered around the matriarch they all respectfully introduced themselves to the matriarch and began to access the situation. All around her the matriarch could hear concerned voices discussing the best ways to help her, to ease her pain, to free her. The separate groups analyzed the exposed parts of the matriarch, gently massaging the exposed fur and skin , trying to assess their condition while also ease the unending aches that came from being stuck in the same position for countless years.

The matriarch could hardly believe her no longer existent ears, as voice after voice spoke kindly and gently to her. Telling her stories, asking her what she would like, proposing plans to help her escape the shackles of the earth. She found it nearly impossible to respond to the near constant out pouring of love and respect the surface dwellers were showing her. As she thought back to the countless years she had spent watching the surface dwellers live blissfully unaware of her peoples suffering she began to feel new emotions for their circumstances. Perhaps... perhaps it was not yet the time to give up yet. As reosean after reosean banded together to help the matriarch the entire mood of the underground seemed to lighten. The groups quickly passed out the materials they had gathered and presented them to the matriarch before putting them to use. The diggers displayed their tools and explained their plans to gently chip away at the stone, the scholars displayed their literary materials and offered to read stories to their beloved leader to ease her mind during the process, and those who brought food with them offered the Matriarch her choice of any item to enjoy. Candy Queen smiled as she joined the Matriarch in listening to a scholar recount a lovely poem while carefully placing a basket of fish into the Matriarchs gaping maw. The gentle feeling of tiny paws massaging her weary exposed hand, skull, and wing combined with the out pouring of love and attention from the scholars and farmers moved the Matriarchs heart. As the diggers got into position the Matriarch let out a content sigh as she relished the respite from the eons of emptiness she had endured.