||ㅤ— PANTER FLAUCLAWS.

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ㅤㅤMaster X?

ㅤㅤ⌜ Frozen suddenly. Stood upright and at attention, although no sign of whom he assumed was the tyrant was present. Just . . . this X. Uncertain, however, if it was a hologram, or a true Cyber Elf. ⌟

ㅤㅤ Certainly not, Sir.
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ㅤㅤ⌜ clutching a feather toy in his jaws. Huffing and puffing. ⌟
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ㅤ
ㅤ‘ I am not certain if anyone else of our battalion has made it here, so I will take it upon myself to be your guard in the time being. ’
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ㅤㅤ⌜ It wouldn't go unnoticed by the sharp eyes of Panter ; and it shook a worry in his core.

ㅤㅤIt takes a moment for it to all settle. To ponder and let his boss sway, bowing his head to the harpy, ⌟

ㅤ‘ Then . . . very well. I will hold your words to my final breath, Master Harpuia. ’

+

ㅤ
ㅤ‘ You'd want me to keep this from Master X? ’

ㅤㅤ⌜ A mumble to himself, torn. Between his loyalty to Neo Arcadia itself and swearing to Harpuia, there was a rift wedged, and it was beginning to form faster than he anticipated.

ㅤㅤThe fear spoken was present in his eyes. ⌟

+

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ㅤㅤ⌜ Mismatched - shape fangs bare into a mild snarl, shaking his head. ⌟

ㅤ‘ Gwwrrhh — This doesn't sound / right, / Sir. A small dispute should not result in hindering you! It's dishonorable.

ㅤㅤIs your arm intact elsewhere? I will retrieve it if necessary. ’
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ⌜ Such a look had never been present so clearly ; surges of charge bring the tips of his claws to twitch. To see the head of their command torn down, shaken up, / defeated / — not even speak of Zero had disrupted him this bad.

ㅤㅤAnd why Master X of all Reploids? ⌟

+

ㅤ
ㅤ‘ That's NOT true! ’

ㅤㅤ⌜ The words barrel out without him giving it a second chance of thought. Taken aback by his own words, but, it doesn't stop him from speaking again, ⌟

ㅤ‘ Forgive me for speaking out of line, Master Harpuia. I just cannot believe it to be true. ’
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ㅤㅤ⌜ Once overjoyed expressions had now crestfallen, the whirrs of triangular ears drooping, ⌟

ㅤ‘ — . . . harmed. ’

ㅤㅤ⌜ The last of it comes barely as a hiss, ⌟

ㅤ‘ You . . . — Who did this to you, Sir? ’
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ㅤ
ㅤ‘ I hoped to find you in this place relatively un — ’

ㅤㅤ⌜ Feet skid to a stop, digging hooked claws into the earth to keep himself from barreling onto the Guardian. Ah, but, that wasn't the only reason he'd come to stop so fast. ⌟

+

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ㅤㅤYou've a shortage once?

ㅤㅤ⌜ Pouring cautious bits into his mouth. ⌟

ㅤㅤ. . . You're lucky to come back from it.
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ[ @wisegeneral.bsky.social ]
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ㅤㅤ⌜ A side profile of proud wings compliment a familiar form, and at once, Panter's shifted to all fours, zipping to the Guardian's side. ⌟

ㅤ‘ Master Harpuia! There you are! ’
ㅤ

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ㅤㅤ⌜ Run - in after run - in turned up with little reward. Restless he was, uncertain to seek his superior in this strange new world — any familiarity would've been comforting . . .

ㅤㅤA flash of green catches his eye, ears perking straight up and whipping his head it's way. ⌟

+

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ㅤㅤ⌜ Optics round, shrunken in disbelief. Nonetheless does the Reploid's nervousness begin to die down, shoulders slumping with an exhaled shame. ⌟

ㅤㅤThe effort is appreciated.
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ⌜ Maw parts and catches it in his jaws. How skilled!

ㅤㅤStopping his kneading and sitting up, dropping it in one hand, barely the tip of his other claw opening it. ⌟

ㅤㅤ. . . So strange to be in a time where this is well - supplied for you.
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤBut if I have somehow traversed to the past —

ㅤㅤ⌜ Panic, for a moment, joined by a frustrated growl, ⌟

ㅤㅤ. . . I only want Master Harpuia back.
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ. . . I would like to establish a connection with him as soon as possible.

ㅤㅤ⌜ Ears pinned flat against his head, and finally does he give way to the dread building in his core. ⌟

ㅤㅤI assure you, I am / not / of 20XX. Our records of the years have since been lost to time.

+

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ㅤㅤYes, you.

ㅤㅤI want an E - Tank.
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ㅤㅤ⌜ Imposing as he looks, body language gives away the unease creeping into his system. He stays towering over the other, mumbling in mild distress, ⌟

ㅤㅤBut that's not possible . . . Rrrgh . . . This wrack of information is hurting my head . . .
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ⌜ his purrs are so loud it's making the whole ruined couch rumble Good God. ⌟

ㅤㅤYou. Spiky one.
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ⌜ oh yay! he's not getting stopped nor bapped!

ㅤㅤ jumping up onto the couch with a deep, rumbling purr. there he goes, big cat kneading. ⌟
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ㅤㅤ⌜ looking him in the eye while he scratches AGAIN. that cushion is getting shredded . . . ⌟
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ㅤㅤ. . .
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ㅤ
ㅤㅤ. . . The Maverick Hunters have been disbanded for quite some time.

ㅤㅤ⌜ There's something wrong here, he realizes. Ears pin back, lashing his tail again, ⌟

ㅤㅤWhere exactly / am / I?
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ㅤㅤ⌜ stopping and staring dead at him. ⌟
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ㅤㅤ⌜ Stopping his scratching — ⌟

ㅤㅤTHAT VOICE! Who's there??
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ㅤㅤ⌜ BIIIG stretch and oh god he's TEARING his claws into the nearest piece of furniture. ⌟
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ㅤㅤ/ What? /

ㅤㅤ⌜ Panter perks up, head swiveling from side to side with his eyes to the horizons. ⌟

ㅤㅤThere has / always / been four branches of military forces! Master X would not lie about that, for the protection of Neo Arcadia!
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