[color=gray][quote=Leon]"With something as fierce looking as that... I sure hope it doesn't spring to life." He was cautious at first, only moving slowly toward the statue. He moved around the flowers, careful not to touch what could be poisonous. Then he looked around the statue for anything that was odd like a crack across the smooth stone.

"I'll try pulling out that gem. Maybe something will happen. Kettle?"[/quote][/color]

The statue was quite old, stained with ancient lichen, threaded with layers of vines and remains of animals long passed. It was made of a dark stone, unnatural according to anything Leon might have seen before; it was marbled with deep red, and even in its age the stone maintained a subtle gloss of strength. The only imperfection was a cracked, jagged crevice where the monster's heart should be.


[color=gray][quote=Clavic]"Don't do that just yet. That might not be the smartest idea, all things considered. We seem to have accompaniment. They're ignoring us now. But they're definitely not here just because stone pillars and statues are their optimal habitat. I would recommend mulling over the consequences of removing that gem."[/quote][/color]

So, Clavic had found them -- and he brought tidings of shadows. Kettle slowly crawled to her feet, and though her knees were shaking, her hands were certain as she reached into her robes. Her eyes did not meet those of Clavic or Leon; she let them converse between themselves.

While Leon was distracted by Clavic's well-intended warnings, Kettle raised a steady flintlock pistol and leveled it at Leon's chest.

[b]"I'm sorry, Leon."[/b] Her expression was deeply pained, even as she pointed the weapon at his chest. She could not bear to look at Clavic. Even though Clavic had no face to show his expression, Kettle knew there was nothing good in his opinion now.

A shadow flickered across the path behind her.

[b]"The only way to break the spell is with a sacrifice."[/b] Her throat worked against a sob, and she cocked the pistol. [b]"No one is leaving the forest. I'm sorry."[/b]

She had gathered them all here for only one purpose. Already, she knew, several of their company had vanished into the hungry embrace of the forest.

[b]"Goodbye."[/b]

[color=gray][quote=Nel]Something seemed to be driving her to, and another part of her felt anxiety at the prospect of touching the black, pulsing rune. Chalking this up to her own self-doubt, Nel went ahead, assuming that was what the bird was referring to and pushed the glowing spiral on the white pillar. [/quote][/color]

[i]Click-clack.[/i]

The center of the spiral receded into the stone at the merest touch. The pillar hummed and vibrated. The ground under Nel's feet shifted back and forth, as if something deep underneath was moving and working with mechanical efficiency.

The stone beast -- the very statue that Leon had been examining a moment before -- began to growl.

Yellow eyes opened.

Ivy snapped and wings broke free of the vines.

The stone beast's jaws snapped shut, closing the gem in its violent mouth, and it raised itself up to its taloned feet, tall as a horse with a snaking head full of angry spines and spikes. Its deep, rumbling growl shuddered in their skulls.

Kettle froze, the pistol still pointed at Leon's chest. She stared at the stone beast, pale with fright.

The magpie on Nel's shoulder hopped in delight. [b]"Wakey wakey!"[/b] it warbled. [b]"Wake up sleepyhead! Breakfast!"[/b]