Ofolrodi

by Imploding Colon


Repercussions of Cat-Watching

"We are not refusing the request," Merula declared, vibrating into the construct. She peered down at Rainbow Dash from atop the massive tunnel-weaver. "We simply do not understand it."

"It's not that complicated," Rainbow Dash said. She and Seraphimus stood before the arachnid company at the end of a lower courtyard overlooking a sea of silk strands. Hundreds of thousands of square meters of interconnecting webs bled their way down into utter darkness below. "I wish to have company with me when I go down to meet Abaddon."

Merula's forelimbs shifted. The construct vibrated, eventually producing: "But your companions are not the Austraeoh."

"But they are Eljunbyro," Rainbow Dash remarked, eyebrow lifted. "Or at least Odrsjot. Heheh..." A slight smirk. "...some more 'frantic' than others."

"There is no denying their importance in your arrival here, Austraeoh," Merula declared. "However, the Song Queen's message has been sung for you and you alone. While your companions may join you, I cannot promise that they will hear the music, much less understand it." Merula's abdomen shook. "The Winter Mother wakes to speak to one soul alone. When she produces music, she means it for a specific audience. You will likely be the only one capable of comprehending the strings."

"That's perfectly fine."

A moment of silence.

Merula shook once again. "We still do not understand the request."

"I do not think it comprehends individuality," Seraphimus muttered.

"Shhhh!" Rainbow insisted.

"The Winter Children are many," Merula declared. "It is how we best served the Queen of Strings."

"I understand that Abaddon is only wanting to talk to me," Rainbow Dash said, trotting forward slightly. She looked up at her reflection in the jumping spider's big black eyes. "After all, she's been preparing this... Song of hers for Goddess-knows how long. But I would nevertheless like to bring my... uh... my companion here along."

"To what purpose?"

Rainbow took a breath. "Illumination." She smiled. "Some of us mortals depend on our eyes more than our ears."

Seraphimus clenched her beak.

The hatchlings perched along Merula's strings crawled back and forth. There was a slight shifting to the tunnel-weaver, and soon all were still again.

At last, Merula spoke: "It shall be granted."

"Cool beans."

"Although we still do not understand how those hearing the Song and not understanding it can stand to be enlightened, we trust the Austraeoh's judgment. She—above all—comprehends the nature of illumination. Her gift is that of Penumbral Harmony." Merula's abdomen then shook to the other side. "We truly hope that this request is not being made out of fear or suspicion of the Chorus Keeper's motivations. We do not mean the Austraeoh harm and we never will."

"I... think we're a great deal past the whole 'afraid of the freaky giant spiders' thing," Rainbow Dash said. "So you shouldn't need to be worried about that. But... even still..." She smiled. "I must now request that I bring two companions of mine."

"Very well," Merula's forelimbs twitched. "That should be no problem whatsoever. Who are you wishing to bring besides this specimen?"

Rainbow tilted her head aside. "You can come out now."

Silence.

Seraphimus droned: "Jordan. You've lost your touch since you depended on metal claws. Move your damnable tail-feathers out into the open before these creatures suspect something."

There was an audible, lengthy sigh. At long last, Wildcard emerged from the shadows like an inky spirit. He glared at Seraphimus the entire time.

"These two griffins," Rainbow Dash declared. "I would very much appreciate it if they accompanied me while being an audience to Abaddon."

"Very well." Merula's pedipalps shifted slightly. "If it pleases them to protect you in the presence of the Queen of Strings."

"Actually... I think they're a bit more wary of each other," Rainbow said with a slight smirk. "It'll be for the best."

"We trust the Austraeoh."

"Most awesome things on this plane do." Rainbow Dash spun about—a bit too swiftly for her own good—and by the second revolution she was facing the two griffins with a dizzy expression. Shaking out of it, she smiled pleasantly. "See? That wasn't too hard."

Wildcard hand-signed: "You almost welcomed disaster."

"I doubt these things would have attacked the two of us at this rate," Seraphimus muttered. "The only disaster would have been you staging a spontaneous rescue from no threat whatsoever in our absence."

Sneering, Wildcard gestured something Rainbow didn't recognize.

"Only natural that they taught you barbaric crudity at Wyvern Point," Seraphimus exhaled.

Wildcard's feathers ruffled.

Rainbow whistled shrilly, and both avian felines turned to face her. "Hey. Hypothetical situation. If you were being invited over to visit your friend's Nana during tea, would you piss all over her lemon candies and break her precious china?"

The two griffins merely blinked.

Rainbow frowned. "Don't. Buck. This. Up." She pointed. "Abaddon's the super eldritch spider grandmother and you two kiddies better be on your best behavior."

"I only meant to suggest—" Seraphimus began.

Rainbow leaned into her face. "Shut. Up." She then threw a glare at Wildcard. "You too."

The Desperado's goggles rattled.

"Luna Poop..." Rainbow rubbed her temple as she hovered away from the scene. "Bard was right. You are a friggin' chatter box."

The two griffins were left fidgeting in Rainbow's absence.

Merula spontaneously vibrated: "Penumbral habits are truly fascinating. Do tell us—are all mortals from Paradise so banal in their discourse?"