ANNOUNCEMENT WATCH AS WE SPIT IN THE FACE OF FIRE

[METEOR]

METEOR

@KOLE.

The golden chains rattled. Requiem and Vayu, the metal was annoying. Valerius had enjoyed these “ram amongst sheep” customs, but Meteor had to consciously keep from pawing at the regalia to remove the things. Maybe it’d become endurable. Maybe he’d turn into a narcissistic psychopath.

Meteor stopped thinking about ripping off the regalia and tossing it into the volcano when Kole stepped forward. His expression became a smirk. Give Kole a chance to earn status? A given.

“There are sections of the toppled forest which are completely untraversable from the logs.” Meteor narrowed his eyes. “I don’t want a wildfire, but a few paths should be cleared to make these sections easier to navigate. Is a controlled burn within your power?”

@KNOX.

Meteor looked to Knox and nodded in approval as it requested a task. The maned lioness was, as a born cult member, reliable in a way that Kole and Chernabog were not. She had grown up with the stories of Requiem and Vayu. She knew the volcano inside and out from playing within the lava tubes as a cub, even the ones that she now couldn’t squeeze into. And, of course, intimate familiarity with the dangers of Vayu's sacrificial lava pit. Meteor knew that, because he and Xanti, also born into the cult, also had that level of expertise.

“Knox. If we had an Inquisitor of Vayu’s Destruction, I would give xem this task, but, we don’t, and yet the gods must be in balance.” Meteor spared a glance, with a slight frown, to Vale circling overhead. Then looked back at Knox. “Because of the earthquake, useless human plastic has washed up on our beaches. Please sacrifice this unpleasant disgustiness by tossing as much as you can into the sacrificial lava pool.”

@Chernabog

The lion’s gaze slid to the tall dragoness in the back of the crowd. He was surprised she’d volunteered. Thanks to her, the Hawit River System survived the eruption because she had diverted enough of the lava flow into the ocean. And she should’ve had Vale helping her, but the inquisitor had flown off to save xyr own skin. Meteor knew Vale, apparently, had full faith in Chernabog and thought xe would be unnecessary… but was that a convenient lie?

Meteor shook the thoughts out of his head. More important to focus on Chernabog’s task. Give her something that wouldn’t insult her, but wouldn’t require her at full strength.

“Chernabog, go to Viper Island and capture one of the snakes.” Meteor’s tail flicked. A dangerous ask for anyone, except the dragon who could probably tank a few bites of venom. “It’s about time we start investigating whether they’re sentient or not sentient.”