[kabuto_rocks]

6

The Yonyuu stared in surprise, intrigued by this sudden connection he felt with Re'elmorin. He had always felt rather nervous around him, and had never really noticed how much they were alike, at least in appearance. Re might be one of the only pets who knew what he was going through, and oddly enough that comforted Yuri. Of course, his harsh tone reminded Yuri that they didn't really have anything else in common...Still, let him come along if he liked.
Nodding to agree with Rae, he recognized the signs of anger in his friend. Waiting until he could talk to him quietly, Yuri whispered in his ear.
"Calm down okay? A pet like him could turn you into kibble." He joked

[SpringsSong]

Mya couldn't help but chuckle.  "That's the truth of it." She said, growling slightly as she walked up beside Yuri.  "I suggest we get moving again.  It's hot enough as it is out here; we don't need anyone in an... irritable mood." She said.

Re just shrugged as he glared at Mya.  She was going to try and make this as painful for him as possible, it seemed...

{12}{5}

[SweetDisaster]

Rae sighed. It seemed he -- they -- were stuck with the other Yonyuu. For now. The Kuhna bristled slightly, an instinctive dislike for Re pricking at him. He jumped lightly on top of a steadier-looking rock, squinting warily over the distances.

Nothing interesting. In fact, nothing BUT bubbling liquids and black stones. How boring. He sat carefully, taking infinite pains in doing so. He didn't need black dirt and dust getting into his fur. He glanced at the others.

Mya's suggestion was reasonable, so he nodded. "All right--I'm all for going. Let's head to the top, shall we?" It seemed as good as any a place to go, and they could see around from there.

{39}

[kabuto_rocks]

7

The Yonyuu nodded. It made sense to start moving now that the whole Re incident was sorted. He began walking up a stony path that seemed to lead uphill, throwing a nervous glance at a bubbling lava mound that frothed a few feet away. Glancing back at his friends his mind couldn't help but wander. He knew that neither of them would agree with him, but having the other clockwork pet could be an advantage rather than a hindrance. He swallowed nervously, trying to work his way up to asking about Re'elmorin's past. He knew about it of course from Mya but he still felt curious. At the last second he lost his nerve, instead deciding to whisper something to Mya.
"Stuck with the babysitter then?" He teased gently, making sure that the clockwork pet couldn't hear him

(I'll move the plot along a little bit in my next post. Sorry if it seems it's standing still for now)

[SpringsSong]

"Unforntunately." Mya said, just as quiet.  She knew that Re would make everything more and more difficult for her if he caught on too much about her friendship with Yuri and made assumptions about that.  "Also... just yo ya know, Re tends to... assume things.  Especially when it comes to friends like you and me." She warned.

Re could care less at the moment; he was busy looking about the Volcano before he said, "And, ah... WHERE are we heading now?"

{13}{6}

[SweetDisaster]

Rae hopped from stone to stone, feeling rather annoyed and yet, in a way, pleased. After all, was Re not older than them? He might have some common sense they didn't. Yet. There was no doubt they'd gain it quite quickly, judging from the look of things. The Kuhna carefully tucked his tails around him, wary of sudden spouts of lava shooting up.

He shot a look of impatient dislike at Re's question. Although, truth be told, it was a kind of reasonable question to ask. "It depends," he muttered, rather coldly, "I suggest you ask yourself--why would we be here? And then maybe you can work out an answer." It wasn't much of a hint and Re would gain a bit of respect from Rae if he correctly answered. But then, he wasn't supposed to answer correctly.

{40}

[kabuto_rocks]

8

"Assume things?" Yuri frowned at Mya, not understanding what she meant. As he looked at her he paid no attention to where he was going and suddenly his foot caught on a lone rock. Flapping his wings in a desperate attempt to keep upright, he landed on his face and skidded slightly. Blinking in surprise he lifted his head and gazed confusedly at his friends. He could feel a slight numb pain-not particularly odd, he rarely felt the sting that most people did due to his mechanism. But there was something else. A vision? Or a memory? He swallowed silently, a million thoughts whizzing round his head

[SweetDisaster]

Rae was nearly hit by one of Yuri's wings; the Kuhna leapt out of the way with a surprised hiss, eyes widening as Yuri fell. He appeared unhurt, if a little confused as he raised his head. "Are you all right?" Rae asked nervously, his voice cracking. If Yuri was hurt, could not walk, and yet refused to go back, how on Evelon were they going to do anything?

The Kuhna ventured slightly nearer, fur on end. "Is...is something wrong?" Why was he just lying there? Why wasn't he getting up? Fear tugged at Rae's throat; he swallowed nervously, eyes wide as he tipped his head, gazing expectantly at Yuri. Surely he'd answer?

{41}

[SpringsSong]

Re stood still and just looked at the Plush Yonyuu as she dashed over to Yuri.  "Are... are you all right?" She asked.  Then, when she realized he wasn't answering, she cleared her throat.  "Do... do you see a memory of yours?" She ventured a guess.

{14}{7}

[kabuto_rocks]

9

The Yonyuu swallowed, trying to piece together what he'd seen. Small cages, pups crying...It had seemed so real and yet suddenly it had faded once again, like a dream. Rae's question broke him out of his trance.

"Oh yes, I'm fine. I think..." He scrambled to his feet, only half paying attention. He could see the image of a man clearly in his mind. A man advancing on a cage of small pups. Not his cage, he was tucked safely away from harm. But the others-they were in danger. The man bent down and picked up a pup, holding it tightly. The whimpering grew louder in his mind, so loud he was sure it burst out of his head and tear him open...

Then just as suddenly as it had started the whimpering stopped. He could hear Mya speaking, her voice clear and unclouded by memories.
"A memory? I think so. Or a dream. There was a man and some puppies and..." He broke off once again, frowning deeply, "He killed one, I'm sure he did. It was so real." He threw a glance at his friends, hoping they wouldn't think him crazy

[SweetDisaster]

Rae studied Yuri anxiously, his fur still standing out, but starting to droop again. His tails twitched nervously. The Kuhna had to think a bit before he could formulate an answer. No, Yuri had never teased him before, or made fun of him, or been sarcastic...nor had he shown any crazy tendencies towards bending the truth...Um, are you feeling okay? seemed to be a terribly inadequate answer, too.

"When you were young?" he asked tentatively, instead, his tails ceasing their violent flicking about. Rae brought them close against his haunches, broodingly gazing at Yuri, and then at Mya to see her reaction. If she thought he was crazy...Rae squirmed uncertainly. It seemed so unrealistic, but..."Are you...it's part of your past? A memory?"

{42}

[SpringsSong]

Hearing the last part of the sentence was enough to get both Mya and Re riled up to some degree; Mya because she hated hearing of such things, but Re... he growled as his body creaked with mechanical sounds.

"He killed a pup?" He seethed angrily.  He let out a pained howl before saying, "I remember many deaths from my past, but the one that pained me the most was the death of a pup... Where was this place?" He almost seemed to demand.

{4.0}{2.3}

[kabuto_rocks]

10

Yuri felt his heart sink slightly. He could see Rae didn't really believe him. Still, he didn't blame him. It didn't seem likely, and if he hadn't experienced it himself then he wouldn't believe it either.

The next part made Yuri think. Was it definitely a memory? He answered in a heartbeat.

"Yes-there's no way a dream could be that real." He shivered with fright. If that was part of his past, did it mean there was worse to come? He didn't even want to think about it, but he knew he had to.

Re's anger startled him but he knew it was justified. He felt a stab of worry. Where was it?

"Urm..." He faltered, thinking hard, "I-I don't know. I'm sorry but...It was lab, that's all I know for sure," A sudden ray of realization hit him, "There was a window! I couldn't see much but I think it was raining." He sighed, wishing he could help more. If only he knew someone who could help him then...

[SweetDisaster]

Well...Mya and Re both seemed to take this information as if it was everyday happening...perhaps it was part of being Clockwork? Of being a Yonyuu? Rae twitched his ears, expelling a low breath, and set his mind to work. A lab...a lab? Nothing came. He shifted to one side quickly as another spout of some gooey brackish liquid spewed from a hole, flattening his ears against both Re's howl and against the hissing sound of the expelled gas.

"What were the walls made of?" he suggested. "Did you see? I mean, I know that some places have walls made of specifics, and if we could find out, then maybe we could go there." Anywhere as long as it's away from here, the Kuhna thought, flinching against the intense heat. Gah...this was not a fun place to be...not at all. "Like," he added in explanation, "Aldrect is made of marble, and stuff...whereas...well, you get the point..." He tilted his head to one side, quizzically studying Yuri.

If such things had been, truly, in Yuri's past...how had he learned of them, suddenly, now? When he had tripped? Was it really that simple? The young Kuhna sighed.

{43}

[SpringsSong]

"Tengel..."

The word came as merely a hiss from Re'elmorin's lips.  Myan?? looked at the other Clockwork Yonyuu and said, "It could be Baian, too, you know.  It rains a lot in the Swamps." The Clockwork Yonyuu nodded as he said, "This is true..."

Both seemed to think for a minute.  Finally, Mya spoke up.  "I think we should go to Baian.  It seems like a place that would match your description of the outside scenery you could see best."

{4.1}{2.4}