>>5221094You hold back, waiting with bated breath to see if the titans’ rage will get the better of them…but beside you, Rath’s arms that were previously tightened around her FuzzBuzz suddenly relax, a series of slow, calm breaths mirroring the gentle rise and fall of Behemoth’s shoulders. A single Jackling darts from your hive to Ziz’s leg, its stinger lancing home as the world around you slows to a crawl.
“Wh-what is-?” Ziz begins, bewildered until your voice echoes in her mind.
“Neuromancy, to give you time to give me some context as to what the hell happened when I left.”
“I don’t know!” Ziz wails, staring at her siblings caught on the precipice of an all-out brawl. “He…he told us how proud he as of us, and Behemoth got really emotional at that part. Father asked us to ensure you reached the Cord safely, b-but I could tell what Father had said about being proud of us really upset Behemoth. As for Levy…they just seemed off in their own world. Maybe I was the only one who was really listening?”
“Given those two? I wouldn’t doubt it.” You sigh, turning your attention to her siblings. “I’m going to try and break this up…but I’ll need your help to make it happen.”
“You have it, my friend! No question!” She says, and at that you allow reality to resume as you place yourself between the warring giants.
Of all the lines that’ve been drawn in the sand today, this one is quite literal—a physical barrier that erupts from the earth between the two titans, earning you their attention and ire at this bold interruption.
"Alright, you two, break it off.” You order, firmly. “I’m not asking. You've said some harsh words to each other, don't let this escalate beyond that. Back away, calm down, and we can assess the problem together in a collaborative way."
“YOU’RE TRULY A FOOL IF YOU THINK FOR A *SECOND* THIS ONE CAN COLLABORATE ON ANYTHING THAT ISN’T HIS OWN NARROW-MINDED-“
“Shut up, Levy!” Ziz screeches through all seven heads, her words layered with the tell-tale reverb of Skintalking. “I know you’re hurting! We’re *all* hurting! And you’re just making it worse!”
Two things take you aback, after Ziz’s rebuke. The first is that Leviathan hesitates, words failing them in the face of their sister’s declaration of fact. The second is that Behemoth has yet to make a move, and while his frame still quakes with barely-restrained rage, he’s holding back...and he’s not the only one. You were so focused on Rath that you failed to notice the young man to your right, until now. Dorian’s face is a mask of steely resolve, his liquiform hands undulating with the effort required to…
…do exactly what Rath’s doing, you realize.
Then, Ziz’s Skintalking earlier must’ve been-
(Continued)
