Steady Pulse

Chimera's growl and the way his hackles raised startled Aliana, but she wasn't afraid. She knew he wouldn't hurt her and that he was being protective of her and their family. He placed his massive form between her and the crystal-studded tree, forcing her to take a couple steps back. Her ears pinned to her head, giving him an apologetic glance. "I won't. I'm sorry." She knew Chi was doing it to keep her safe and she appreciated his efforts. Glancing down at the floor, Ali spotted the crystal Chimera had scraped off of the tree. It no longer seemed to glow like the others once it had been removed from its attached surface. Were these things... alive somehow? She reached down and picked up the seemingly dead crystal with delicate paw pads, inspecting it up close. She gave it a tentative sniff, but no scent came off of it. It wasn't like a salt deposit or anything. It just looked like a transparent rock. But how could rocks grow on a living tree?

Chimera told her they needed to be careful and she couldn't agree more. Not knowing what was happening or what these things were, it was scary. Aliana didn't feel genuine fear very often—only two other times, in fact, both times Chimera had forced himself on her violently—but this was certainly a moment she would never forget. Mystifying and unnerving all at once. She watched the fireflies for a few moments more before she began a slow turn, gazing all around the atrium at the sheer amount of crystals that had sprung up overnight. Her heart beat faster in her chest, keen aquamarine eyes peering around the room like a detective trying to sleuth out the mystery of the crystals. Were there even any answers to be gleaned here?

"Aliana"