Planet Zar: Nexus

Lharoth seemed overwhelmed by her pair of fresh bonds. Already the duo of beast hybrids were wrecking havoc, crawling over her and snapping at Joroch whenever he strayed too near to them. Their bellies may have been full from the swath of slain soldiers but their lust for violence most certainly wasn't.

Joroch despised the throb of anger chewing at him. It was illogical of him to have hoped they'd be different than his own siblings. Her survived his hatching by being quick and clever, not by being liked. For now, he was larger and stronger than the pair of #2's, but that would change when they reached maturity. They'd find out quickly the power of the runebrands glittering obsidian into his flesh.

:: They are fools to have dismissed you so easily. ::

The mindvoice slithered through him like mercury. He remained very still where he lay, stretched upon a dark rock soaking the warmth of the sun like the snake he was. Lharoth and her bonds paid him no notice, but Kjarror and Kjaran weren't far - dispatching the remaining adversaries - and Joroch had no desire to alert them to an intruder until he knew more.

:: What do you know of my dismissal? :: Joroch sent back, quiet as a whisper.

:: As much as I could glean from the Twisted Fate's witches while I was wrenched from the sands to be purged. ::

Joroch cracked en eye open and scanned the edge of the twisted, dead wood, searching for his visitor without raising his head. :: Did you request Lomeelas for your purging? ::

The voice scoffed. :: I was sent where it was convenient, the rest of the journey I managed on my own. ::

:: Why did you come here? ::

A silvery shape shifted through the gnarled grey trees. Joroch raised his head to track it. The creature that slithered between their branches was small, a hatchling, with soft small wings shining under sunlight. She crawled forward on quadruple forelimbs, her head low but lacking deference in her posture. She carried the distinct jawline of an infernal and the wicked hooked tail stinger of a beast. Another relative?

"I came to find you," she hissed.

Joroch quashed the bloom of eagerness in his chest. "For what purpose?"

"You survived things no beast of your rank should manage. I would be a fool to not learn from you." She paused, matching her eyes to his. "Uncle Joroch."

"If you're useful-" Joroch flicked his gaze to the gruesome battlefield behind them. "I'd be permitted a protege."

"I'm very useful." She approached Joroch's flank, her hesitance melting into brazenness as she curled into his shadow. "My name is Sumati."

"Sumat'isa?"

"Just Sumati."