Board Thread:Roleplay/@comment-36289716-20190204220547/@comment-26892768-20190205165817

"If we keep going down this path, we'll come across an open clearing. That should be an ideal place to practice fusion." Garnet replies, adjusting her shades. "It'll only take us-"

And then she's interrupted by an odd rustling noise coming from the trees.

"What was that?" Pearl asks, a bit uneasy. The rustling comes again, followed by a feminine giggle.

Pearl pulls out her spear, looking around at the trees as the rustling doesn't stop, and the giggling turns into full-blown laughter. The rest of the Gems seem on edge, too, following Pearl's lead and pulling out their weapons.

Steven is the only one who doesn't, instead taking a moment to think about the rustling. "...you know, it kind of sounds like a bunch of water moving through the leaves..."

"Well, you're a rather observant boy, aren't you?" A female voice with a slight echo remarks from the trees, her tone sultry and suggestive. It's followed by yet another giggle.

"Uh...I'm fourteen, actually..." Steven takes a step back, clearly unnerved by whoever this is.

"I was drawn here by the rider's desire, but I wasn't expecting to encounter people who could sate my desire as well..." The voice idly muses, clearly ignoring Steven. The rustling continues, but now sounds closer, and yet, quieter...the Gems are quick to realize that the rustling is coming from the grass now, and look around in an attempt to spot the source of this mysterious voice, but...nothing. Then it starts to come from the trees on the other side, and the Gems turn to look over there. "You don't seem related to the boy, and yet...that maternal love..."

The voice lets out a long, drawn-out sigh.

"It's the kind I long to feel for myself...and you'll be a fine source for it."

"Who are you!?" Pearl yells, holding her spear out threateningly.

"Oh? I suppose I could tell you before I take you..." Water starts to pull together into a humanoid figure on a high branch, solidifying into a solid, clearly female figure, even if she clearly isn't human - her skin is primarily black, with a white patch on her abdomen; rows of octopus-like suckers line her legs, and her head is shaped like a miniature orca. Her only clothing is a belt with a golden buckle clipped on around her waist, and a blue cape with octopus-like tentacles extending from it. "You may call me Mezool, in the time you have available to you...now then - "

Mezool turns into her water form again and dives towards the Gems. "I'll take what's mine!"

Steven manages to pull out a massive shield just in time to block Mezool, causing her to ricochet off of it and hit the ground. She floats up, looking somewhat annoyed.

"Crafty one, aren't you, boy?"