The Order - 2

"We- Ignore my protector, honored Elder. We embrace and walk in the shadow of Osiris. His desire for more and his fierce ambition is something I myself strive for," Xayah interjected, swallowing her fear and ignoring the way she could basically feel the tension in the air. It was thick enough she could probably cut it with a knife, could maybe even try to serve it up to their terrifying hosts in exchange for their lives. 

Cislunar's displeased grumbling was ignored by her, along with when he opened his mouth to argue with her. The Elder, however, was not pleased. Far from pleased, actually. His expression visibly twisted, grew colder and harder than the very stone around him as he and his companions seemed to hear nothing she said. Or didn't care for what she had to say. His words were scathing as he called them heretics, hissed out words of their own foolishness and doom to walk blindly in their own shadows.

"Gods- Why must you be so infuriatingly to the point with everything??" Xayah groaned, her hackles on end still and still clear as day on her face and in her voice as she turned to face her guard. The ever frustrating older male who couldn't lie to save his life. Or maybe he could and this was some form of divine punishment with him being painfully blunt for only her.

"You think they would have believed your honeyed lies?" Lune asked, his tone sharp and gaze harsh and unforgiving as he focused down on her, finding no satisfaction in the situation or the way her ears pinned back at his tone. "They are zealots, clearly. Being caught in a lie by them is a far worse fate. Even if we were to somehow trick them with sweet words that work all too well on nobles, is this truly the group you wish to be at the mercy of?"

"I-" Xayah choked on her words, feeling very much like a scolded child. "I could have made it work! We could have figured it out-"

Shira, Shira, Shira...

The echoing whispers that'd started when the elders left only continued to put the two on edge, Xayah visibly so. 

"You're smarter than this. Use your eyes. Look at the crests plastered throughout this stronghold; we've seen it several times now. Every clan had some that were hovering amongst their people. How we didn't notice before is unnerving, but they must be the eyes. Enforcers. I cannot think of another reason to send out armored and armed patrols and sentries to every clan." Cislunar explained, his mind swirling with thoughts of what to do as he turned and urged Xayah to leave with him. If this was where their journey ended, then so be it. He wasn't certain that whatever lay ahead was worth the risk of life and limb if it meant they have to get past these military based religious zealots.

A shifting of stones was the only thing that clued Cislunar in to the immediate threat to their lives that was rapidly approaching. Was upon the pair of them already. As soon as the guard heard the stones, he was tensing and moving on instinct alone. The experienced vayron dropped, narrowly avoiding the heavy bite that would've landed on his neck had he not moved when he did. Instead, the sickening sound of powerful jaws snapping shut over his head sent a rush of adrenaline and fear through him. Mostly for Xayah, though. She was no fighter. 

The attacker immediately continued their assault, Cislunar taking the brunt of a nasty swipe of claws to his side as he tried to dodge to the side, tried to shove Xayah away with his bulk . The horrid screech of claws on metal echoing through the stronghold was unpleasant on his ears, but a familiar sound. One he counted his lucky stars to hear. Had that been on flesh alone, he would very likely be disemboweled right now.

Xayah scrambled away with not even a shred of poise or decorum, terror controlling her as her fight or flight kicked in and her flight took the wheel. Everything felt like it was buzzing, like she was going to buzz right out of her skin from the adrenaline and fear spurring her to put distance from Cislunar and their attacker with little care to where exactly she was running to. Seeming not to notice it was further into the stronghold until a hidden haedian snarled and leveled a swat at her, appearing out of the shadows much like their current attacker had.

It sent Xayah scrambling back the way she came, somehow being safer near the active horrible battle. The runner tucked herself behind a flag post, eyes blown wide as she watched Cislunar and the large haedian exchange blows. The horrible sound of booming growls and snarls bounced off the walls in a twisted harmony as the two tore at each other, Cislunar's armor glinting with the faint light that was present. The haedian… she couldn't tell. Their hide was too dark, and their markings… was it blood or was it what they were born with? How was she to know which way the scales were tipping?