Puppies Quest

>- Chapter 5 ~>

Sunday, Month of Diamond, Sixteen-Seventeen. (2/16/1617)
Idocrase, well more like Cobra now, sighed, stretching his arm out as he leaned back in his makeshift throne in the rebellion base, reaching for wine bottle that seemed to have disappeared. He let out a groan, clutching his head in his hand, feeling the after effects of far too much wine taking place. He muttered a quiet curse under his breath, snapping his fingers with annoyance before the bottle reappeared in his hands. He swirled the wine in the bottle for abit, his mind fogging slightly before he just sighed. He put the bottle down, swinging his legs over the armrest of his throne as he rested the side of mask covered face on his fist. "Hmmm...so, the King's men- hic- believe where they know our base is? Let them- hic- come....it won't matter in the end.." He murmured, a slightly manic grin spreading across his face as he looked at the mask on the table. It was black, shaped like a fox's head with two round green jewels in the place of eyes. The crystals of Jadeite's, one's who had long died. A green triangular crystal was in the place of a nose, the same crystal etched onto the mask to form what could be seen as a mouth. Gold dots circled them, shining softly. Two chains hung down from what would cover his human ears, darker green stones surrounded by gold and black metal. The crystals of two traitorous Emeralds. He grabbed the mask, slipping it on before the charm he had placed on it took effect, obscuring his appearance completely. His now black furred ears twitched, the wine bottle hanging loosely in his grasp as he heard footsteps, soft thuds of metal on stone floors. He glanced up as the door opened, one of the many rebellion members giving a silent bow before speaking as he waved his hand at them. "A group of royal guards are at the door and demand to speak with you, Sir Cobra." The member said, keeping their head bowed as the snake like mask on their head tilted forward. Cobra hummed, looking at the ceiling as his eyes traveled over the star map etched into it. He looked over at them silently, his grip tightening on the bottle. "Bring them here." He snarled, reaching his hand up as he adjusted his glove, listening to their footsteps fading away. He flexed his hand, the gemstones on each finger shining in the light. Quartz, Amethyst, Garnet, Lapis, Rosa. Two of each stones on the fingers of his right hand. He looked at his left hand, drumming his fingers silently on the side of his throne as they shined. Sapphire, Opal, Obsidian, Tanzanite, Diamond. He smirked, his smile sadistic as he barked out a high laugh. So the Empire wanted to play? Then he'll play. He flicked his ears as the doors opened, four masked figures walking in as they looked around the overgrown throne room. Cobra smirked, seeing that his distractions lured some of to their death. Vines and plants grew from the walls and ceiling, small bushes beginning to grow through the cracks. Large columns lined the walkway to the throne, chipped and cracked, stone cobras circling the columns with their jaws parted, heads sticking out with the flaps on their heads flared out, fangs outstretched in a hiss. Cobra smiled, the crystal mouth moving as it was enchanted too. The guards tensed, which only made the smile grow. "Welcome, what can I help you with, mutts?" Cobra asked, his voice laced with a snarl as he tilted his head. One of the guards clutched the hilt of their sword while one stepped forward, speaking in a clearly practiced voice. "Cobra, I am General Thrawn. We have been sent by Painite to request you end this rebellion and turn yourself in for treason." He said, voice dark as he looked at the lounging rebellion leader, narrowing his eyes at the wine bottle hanging lazily in his hand. Cobra just laughed, his voice high and almost broken sounding as he threw his head back. "Give up? Give up!? Hah! As if, I've already amounted enough followers to rival your armies! Why would I give up?" The rebellion leader said, tilting his head to the side as he swished his tail. The guards tensed, thrown off by such an open display of defiance. Small and insignificant rebellions died out the moment any guard was sent...so what was this- scum thinking, saying he could rival their armies and barely war trained soldiers that follow him like a lost pup? Cobra just laughed, clearly enjoying the spectacle before him as he leaned back in throne. "Such a pity you all will have to die today......you do make glorious entertainment." He said casually, his voice sounded amused and bored at the time as he set the wine bottle down, grinning from ear to ear. The guards tended, immediately going to grab their weapons before the plants growing from the floor suddenly sprouted up, trapping one. Thrawn's eyes narrowed, his head snapping around the glare at the rebellion leader before a burst of water was sent his way, causing him to fall to the floor. Panicking, he attempted to ignite some fire before staring in horror as the water froze around his hands, making it nearly impossible to get any flames out. Cobra just smirked, stepping forward as his boots clicked softly on the ground, the gems covering his eyes glinting with clear enjoyment. Without looking, he shot a spike of dark, semi-solid shadows through the stomach of one of the guard who attempted to attack him, their sword falling onto the ground with a loud clatter. He simply tilted his head, the gemstones hanging from the chains on his mask glowing before the guard that was trapped was suddenly crushed by the plants trapping them, now a luscious and vibrant tree where their body laid, twisted and broken among the roots, blood splattered across the small flowers there. Thrawn moved backwards as the rebellion leader continued to approach him, wincing at the bloodcurdling scream from his sister in arms, who was now lying on the ground, burned and dead. Cobra just stopped in front of him, a twisted grin on his face as he laughed. "Don't you see, Thrawn? To my snakes, I am a god, they will follow me wherever I go with the power I possess. So, I'll give you a choice. Return to your master and report back what happened like a good little mutt, or die at my hands." He said, grinning as he looked down at the now cowering general. Thrawn glared, his eyes narrowing as he tried to figure out a way out of this. "Fine....I'll leave. But remember, the Idocrases will never support you, you will fail." Thrawn snarled, glaring at the rebellion leader as he felt blood of his former soldiers drip from his cheek. Cobra just smirked, flicking his tail casually as he walked away, the bodies being lifted and laid respectfully on stretchers, his eyes narrowed. "Some of my snakes will accompany you as far as the city gates, there you will get your fellow guards to return your fellow soldiers to the castle. My snakes will go no further, if you lay a hand on them, I will bring far worse." He snarled, the gems flowing on his mask and making him seem more intimidating than he already was. Thrawn simply gritted his teeth, walking out of the throne room silently as the stretches followed after him, the doors slamming shut behind him.
                                                                      >-★ ★ ★~>
Thrawn sat numbly as the bodies of his fallen friends were laid on medical beds in Tanzanite's Quarters, feeling one of the assistant Garnets melting the ice off his hand as the Titans talked. He couldn't even bring himself to sit straighter in the presence of such beings as the images flashed through his mind. Calcite, Marlo, Narcease...all dead. Yet he was left unharmed for the most part, save the frostbite on his hands that had formed due to the ice. He clenched his jaw, remembering the visible amusement on the rebellion leader's face as he slaughtered his friends. His ears were pressed against his head, tail curled tightly around his legs, a stark contrast to his usual stoic and unbothered stature. Where was Platinum...? He should've been there. Platinum was supposed to lead the team. Platinum could've won. Platinum wouldn't have allowed the rebellion leader to so blatantly disrespect Emperor Painite. Thrawn finally snapped out of his trance when the flames he had so desperately tried to get out against Cobra sparked through his fingers, lashing out aggressively before calming as heard the Titans talk. "You should've woken him up! We've lost three valuable guards!" Sounded the frustrated voice of Emerald, which was understandable. Marlo had been of her Moon, it always seemed to hurt the Titans when one of their wolves fell dead, but always harsher the younger they were. Marlo had only been eighteen. This would've been their first official mission. "I tried! He didn't wake till this morning, and he could barely understand his surroundings before he left my Quarters! I don't even know if he's injured still or not!" Came Jadeite's exasperated and exhausted voice, a clear result of spending so much time caring for Platinum. "We should've never let him become the Platinum Guard so young..look at how it's affected him." Came the uncharacteristically somber...or, sad? voice of Quartz, who's ears were pinned back as tears prickled their eyes, a small rabbit plush clutched tightly in their arms. Thrawn felt silent sympathy, Quartz was the most sensitive, having been made a Titan at an early age, the reason for their immature and childish nature. But...what did he mean by so young? All of the Guards had been told Platinum was appointed at twenty-five, and would be around thirty now. "I told you it was a stupid idea! Why do you never listen to us Painite?! He was a child!" Came Diamond's broken voice, who was staring at the ground with frustration. Calcite and Narcease had both been of his Moon, in fact, they had been engaged before this. Painite in question stood with his head high, the tension clear between the Titans as lightning crackled around him. "I helped our Empire, what was I supposed to do? Wait until the girl was eighteen and had been through proper training? No. He had already begun it. He was an easy sacrifice for the good of my Empire." Painite's voice came as a boom of thunder, making several of the mortals among the Titans flinch, slightly overwhelmed by the amount of Titanic power radiating in the room. Tanzanite, who had been busy preparing the bodies for whenever burial would occur, suddenly looked up from Calcite's body, fur bristling as her two tails lashed, the bright, intense blue tips of the clawed fingers extending, hardened and shining like the gems of their moon as the spoke. "Silence! We have lost too much to bicker among ourselves! Platinum's full knighting is tomorrow, I do not care of the Empire finds out we have lied to them, I only wish for the child Painite has used to know peace of mind! The reason he never awoke was because I kept him asleep, so he wouldn't die when he awoke!" She paused, breath heavy as she glared at her fellow Titans, eyes formed to shine as Tanzanite's, harden and crystalline as small crystals appeared on their skin along with dark patches of blue fur as they glared. Thrawn moved in on himself, the tension upped as the room became filled with Titanic energy, the tapestries on the walls shifting as the crystals along the wall glowed and grew, a blue hue casting over the room. "If you can't understand that, then leave my Quarters. Platinum will return by morning, and he will not be punished if you want me to treat any future injuries you have." Tanzanite finished, features returning to normal as her eyes returned to her normal bright, intense blue, not longer hardened in such...well, disturbing way. Her skin was untouched by fur or crystals, the same pale milky color it was as she turned, continuing to prepare Calcite's body. The Titans stood in silence, not saying anything before Sapphire teleported to their sister, hugging her as they pinned their ears back. Thrawn and the others just watched, not knowing what to make of the scene. The Titans always appeared unbothered by the affairs of mortals, keeping to themselves and rarely intervening since the Great War. So, seeing them so...emotional and attached was, odd. Thrawn silently realized that he had yet to give a report, so despite the protests of both his body and the Garnet caring for him, he made his way over to his liege's, giving a silent bow as he waited for permission to speak. None of the Titans moved, seeming to remember they were in the presence of mortals before Garnet spoke, her good eye looking as a blaze of fire as she spoke. "Thrawn, tell us what happened out there." She snarled, fire swirling through her hair as her eyes locked onto him, tail lashing as it threatened to erupt into flames. "We came across the human's palace, inside we heard voices, they seemed to show no malice, and to great them was our choice. But nothing would've prepared us for the power that awaited inside." He started, standing straight as he waited for permission to continue. "What did this palace hold?" Amethyst huffed, sun-blonde ears pinned back as his sun shaped pupils glowed slightly. "Sir! Since Cobra has begun rebellion, we've faced a verity of threats, stray humans, thefts, murders, you know the roster! Hostile forces we can destroy, but this was one hell of a twist, for we are weak to powers like this!" Thrawn said, pacing back in forth as he shoved the thoughts of the rebellions members who had welcomed them, offering them food and drink as the stated their reason. One had even tried to convince Marlo to follow them..somewhere. Unlike the sixteen who had followed those who advanced on them, he somehow rejected. "What was it..?" Came Painite's voice, and Thrawn immediately felt a chill run up his spine. "A fox masked rebellion leader." Thrawn said, hating how his own voice sounded unsure. Truly, he didn't know what had been more of a threat, the food and drink they were offered after days of travel, the beautiful wolves who had offered pleasures to them that likely would've ended in death, or their King Cobra who lounged in a bloodied throne room now. "What..?" Came a voice that Thrawn didn't quite place, possibly Opal or Sapphire, they always spoke less. "They had us in just two words! Come inside." Thrawn muttered, shuddering slightly as he remembered how threatening but alluring the voices had been. The Titans just exchanged silent glances, a few raising brows or smirking with amusement. "They welcomed us before leading us to their leader, murmuring about how 'Cobra's got you now.' By the time we entered, it was far too late! For inside laid, a sleeping snake with power beyond our minds! Jewels of power adorned their gloves and mask, jewels of the dead! He pulled strings as if we were puppets and he was a puppeteer, leaving us fumbled and helpless! Calcite crushed by a tree, Marlo stabbed through the stomach by shadows, Narcease burned to death! He had all the power!" Thrawn said, feeling flames defensively flare from his fur as he lashed his tail, the images of that horrid mask flashing through his mind. A tension was apparent in the room, fear frozen among the mortals while the Titans stiffened. Thrawn continued anyways, the words tumbling from his mouth without realizing. "It was a game of wits, that none of us could play! He was a clever snake, so deathly sure of himself! He turned our soldiers from soldiers to cowering pups! He was amused, enjoyed their suffering! He claimed that his rebellion saw him as a god! We came with twenty, we left with one alive!" Thrawn said, feeling his breathing slow as the flames died down, his eyes focused on the floor as he felt his hands itch to burn the palace to the ground....but he couldn't. The Titans stood in silence, bodies tense as Titanic power flared out. Lapis, who always seemed one of the easier Titans to anger, lashed his tail, scleras dark and iris glowing the sea cyan dark color that intimidated most. Gray patches formed on his skin as he pushed his way past the other Titans, teeth sharp and pointed as he snarled. "I should've drowned that palace when I had the chance!" Thrawn flinched at how angry the shark-like Titan sounded, his mood being able to switch like the tides of the sea. Part of him felt sorry for whatever seaside town might have its tides suddenly strengthened. Rosa flicked her tail, eyes soft as she shook her head. She walked over, wrapping Lapis in her arms and retraining him in a way as she held him. "We are all mad, Lapis, but that is no reason to act rashly. We destroy the palace, we take the lives of innocents in the villages surrounding it. There is not even a full chance that Cobra will be there, or all of his members. Some will remain, no matter what destruction you cause." She murmured softly, a small rose petal between her fingers before she pressed it against the water and ice Titan's neck, causing him to fall unconscious in her arms as she hummed. "I will take Lapis to his Quarters, the rest of you should search for Platinum. Painite, govern your Empire while the boy is missing, if you will." She said, her voice carrying an undertone of anger before she walked out, the formerly furious Titan unconscious in her arms as she shut the door behind her.