Source: Permafreeze on dA | Date: 3.12.25
Cali walked steadily along in the dim cavern the cool stone floor felt different on her paws than the warm desert sands she was so used to. The Crystalline lights reflecting swirls of colors on her Calico coat. The hallway of stone was slowly opening into a grand expansive space. The walls were covered in brightly shining crystals of all colors, in the center was a chaotic mass of activity, all manner of species and even some humans were running and bustling back and force in front of a massive crystal wall.
Cali squinted her eyes to adjust to the brightness of the cavern, after walking through the darkness of the passageways the shining crystals glared off her eyes, as they adjusted she stopped and froze midstep. Seemingly part of the wall itself was an absolutely enormous creature, woven into the very crystals, the matriarch was moving slightly where her body had been freed from its rocky prison.
Cali remembered back, listening to the elder’s speech about how something had to be done to help, thinking how there was no way that she could actually be as big as everyone had said. She set off as soon as she was able to, determined to do what she could to be of any service at all, and now standing in this cavernous space looking at this ancient female firmly entombed she couldn’t help but think, ‘We are going to need all the help we can get..’
She had received some instructions from the caretakers that greeted her at the entrance, most of consisted of her being reassured that her help was greatly appreciated despite what the matriarch was yelling from her crystal prison. She was told that she was more than welcome to just head down to the work area and see where she felt she could be useful.
Walking down the gently sloping path to the massive leader, Cali watched in wonder as she watched pullers hauling massive pieces of crystal out of the area, Emperians were perched higher up trying to chip away at the colossal shoulders that were incased. It seems that most of her claws and forearms had been freed, there were medics and healers tending to the wounds made by the painful process of removing the shards from her hide. The Matriarch herself was busy mumbling what Cali could only imagine was obscenities at the Haedian attempting to give her some water.
Making her way over to one of the great forelegs she stopped to talk with some chasers that were busy attempting to free an enormous elbow from a very sharp looking cyan mound of crystal and rock, small pools of blood puddled around the base of the rock, you could see where previous pools had been hastily cleaned up in a vain attempt to hide the pain and agony their leader was in.
Cali stood in wonder at the presence of the matriarch, the strength she must possess to endure all that she had been through.. Cali admired her already…. Padding up to a group of pullers who were hauling the larger chunks away from the nearest forearm.
“May I be of any help?” Cali asked confidently.
The other pullers eyed her tiredly. “Please do!” One said with a tiny of gratitude.
Pieces of all sizes littered the area, some with scales and spots of blood still attached to them, vibrant greens, teals, and blues reflected and bounced off of every surface. Colors swirled and condensed seemingly with a life of their own.
Cali hopped up on top of a large piece and using her powerful back legs shoved the massive chunk away from the others, using a combination of brute strength, ropes and a lot luck the pullers toiled away hauling away large pieces of crystal while the other worked on removing the sharp shards out of her flesh. A few healers were always around ready to administer what ever comfort they could to the ailing leader.
Throwing her shoulder into the larger pieces she pushed the larger chunks out of the way of the workers who were prying the glasslike shards out of the Matriarchs hide. She couldn’t fathom the weight the Matriarch was feeling, she had trouble even moving a small piece out of the way, her heart went out to the colossal female. The strength that she must have both physically and mentally, was extremely admirable. Cali had hopes after this entire process was over, and if the Matriarch didn’t despise her, she would actually be able to sit down and have a real conversation with the ancient leader.
They worked and moved pieces for what seemed like hours and hours, She stopped and looked at the progress they had made. Cali’s heart dropped as, to her… it seemed like they had done nothing, but she knew with all these different souls working together they could do it. So long as the Matriarch could hold out and tolerate everyone’s presence they may actually get through this.
CP Counter
Group Event + 3 (Event Proof) 836 words + 8 Total = 11