The dark prince knew felt the rift that existed between him and his sister since his return. She was apart of him, and so this feeling of… separation between oneself was… dismaying.

There was even physical distance between them, now, as Kisamoa appeared along with his bone monster and revelation that he was Kaos. Kianzo’s darkening blue eyes swept from his sister for a few breaths, surveying the chaos that began to erupt around them, before settling on the fiery vortexes that leapt from his twin and shielded them both from view.

Though the now-yearling was enraptured by power, there was one thing that ensnared his hopes, aspirations, and desires more: Kiada. So, despite this great display of power by the newly amalgamated god, his first instinct was to protect his sister. Maybe from herself, maybe from the bone monster’s sharply slashing appendages, maybe from the Kaos God—maybe from all three. However, he shifted closer to her, navy eyes darting towards the direction of her pledge to the God.

Truthfully, there was no dissension in him as his long limbs walked forward. He could easily support Kaos, and gladly devote time to him—should Zo reap the benefits of power. However, there was no verbal pledge that fell from his dark lips; only squared proud shoulders that stood abreast with his fervent sister.

And this was for two reasons: one, the colt was turning to talk to Kiada; two, a stray swipe of the bone monster’s tail stole the opportunity for avowal from his lips.

Keusi, forever the watchful predator for her bonded, gave an eerie scream and leapt forward, her bone-crushing jaws seeking to grasp onto the creature’s tail and jerk its trajectory away from her dark prince. However, the bone monster was the creation of a god, so the young companion’s body and jaws had no effect—except her thick coat served as a cushion as she slammed into Kianzo.

Both hyena and colt hit the ground with an audible thud, a sharp cry coming from Si as she sprawled onto the ground and a low grunt from Zo as his long, strong legs instinctively scrabbled for purchase. His entire right side was in spasm and bruised and scraped, and he felt the broken bones in Si’s limbs and ribs. A low whine pushed out her lips as her incoherent curses bounded through his skull from their bond.

As he unceremoniously lurched, limping, to his hooves, his eyes swept from monster to Keusi to Kiada— finding her untouched. How? Was she more worthy? Was her adherence to power and greatness more than his? …in the din of screams, shouts, and ringing from his head bouncing against the earth, his young mind churned all strange amounts of thoughts.

Finally, he croaked, “Kia,” before limping towards his hurt companion.

But then the Earth God’s healing settling over them like a thick blanket of warm moss. And, though it healed the body, it did not heal the unsettling thoughts in his mind.

Keusi growled as she healed, while Kianzo turned his dark, sharp blue eyes to his sister. There was much to be done.

I tell you, such fine music waits,

in the shadows of hell—