ORIGIN - [Hatching] Here I am!

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- THE LEVIATHAN -

The tiny head thudding into his chest pleased him. "I am too large for you to harm, but it is bold of you to try," he assured it, assuming that the bumps were some form of (very tiny) attack. What will! What courage! He admired both.

Its ability to immediately declare his name pleased him, as well--"Very good!"--and was a little disappointing; he'd have liked to have such a creature here among the Forge, but this one was destined for elsewhere. Ahh, well; at least the Hand would (he hoped) be pleased. "You will serve the Hand, Aethril, and do as she says. She will be coming to pick you up shortly. Do you understand?" he asked it.

Then he stared at Asher, for a moment.

Hmm.

What now-? They had a couple hours to wait, unless Aethril had that whole... melt-and-appear-elsewhere magic that Lord Dhracia commanded. He supposed he could prepare this one for travel, in case she did turn up and with the intention to take it away. "Are you hungry?" Vargas asked, and considered. He could immediately teach it to hunt, but Aethril hadn't mentioned anything like that; maybe she wanted to train this one herself. He'd not risk it, then.

A banana was manifested in one palm--held away from the kitten while he did it, just in case. That hand was then swept back, a thumb neatly tearing a slit down the peel to let the odor of fruit out. It wasn't the sort of flavor a carnivore would normally like, but--"This is magical food. You can eat it," he assured it. Hopefully the sparkle--if it ate--would wear off by the time Aethril got there.

Beyond this, he had only to wait--the Sentinel had marched off without a word, and Vargas just had to babysit the kitten for an hour or two.

@Asher

The Leviathan spoke, something of being too large for them to harm. The child could only continue to purr, small chuffs of laughter peppering their headbutts. They weren't entirely aware of what an attack was, but in time that would change. For now, they only knew the joys of happiness and kitten love. And evidently, while they didn't quite understand battle or attacks just yet, they did seem to grasp what praise was. Happily squirming and rubbing their flank against The Leviathan in reaction to their pleased words.

Aethril.

The child stopped, albeit momentarily when they were asked a question- and well given a statement so matter of factly on who they will serve. There was that name again. Aethril. They had no idea who they were but, they were told to be a Hand. Hands were good, good for holding close! Right? Okay- well maybe the small child didn't quite grasp the situation, but at least they had the spirit and overwhelming excitement.

Either way, they seemed thrilled with Master Vargas's words. Perking up, tail flickering more like that of a canine than any feline normally would. Though perhaps that had to do with their full-body wiggles, they were after all vibrating with such fervor still. It did take the child a moment, opening maw to speak but only loud and rolling purrs would come tumbling out. But they managed to reign it in for Master Vargas, to the best of their ability of course.

"A-ah...Ae-fril!"

Close. Their purrs morphing the word into that of 'a frill' more than anything but- hey! They were learning! Three eyes large and wide staring up at The Leviathan again for praise. They did it right! Right? Regardless of praise or not the tiny feline nodded- rather rapidly; almost stumbling with a sudden bout of dizziness.

It took them a moment, gaining their balance back before ultimately nodding with vigor yet again at the question of hunger. Food! They weren't sure what they exactly ate, but when Master Vargas offered them the magical food well- there was no hesitation. Only rapid papping and grabbing of feline hands, gentle albeit rapid and everywhere they could manage to get their polydactly paws on. And no sooner than the first grab of the banana they chomped- perhaps a bit too much as they promptly sat down wide eyed and struggling to chew and purr through the abundant mouthful.

At least they had the spirit!

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Good-... Good.

"Well done," Vargas praised. The child's success in... eating a banana... was a good sign, surely? "Now: rest, or explore, but do not leave my sight. Your new master may be on her way."

He would guard the child, for now; keep an eye from very close by--whether it wandered, or napped, or whatever--and ensure that it didn't come to any harm. Whether Aethril or the Sentinel--or both--returned, he'd need to keep this one safe, for now. If it were injured, it could be his head.

Nothing else mattered: for the next few hours, the Leviathan of the caves, the Overseer of Hydra, the new Master of Draco, would be laser-focused on a kitten.

@Asher @Aethril (idm whoever wants to post first)

"What are you standing around for? Let's go."

Aethril had been in the middle of work. A desk in the library she occupied was piled high with books and she'd been halfway through scribbling on a new journal when the Sentinel announced that the little scout had hatched. Aethril, immediately, had left to go see it. She didn't have Dhracia's ability to teleport (not that she could remember, at least) but she did have the always reliable endurance speedwalk.

If the Sentinel followed or not, she didn't quite care. It was an hour or so before she was even close to Draco, but soon enough came the tell-tale sound of heels rapidly clicking on the cave floor.

She saw Vargas first. He was particularly difficult to miss, even in the dim light of Draco. "Where is it?" the Hand asked, only for her question to be answered precisely four and a half seconds later as she followed his acidic gaze to the kitten.

Ah.

Ahh.

She knew kittens. Particularly, she knew kittens that weren't particularly magical or even spoke. Never had any of them been so small. Something caught her throat and held it-- grief? No... --as she stepped a little more carefully over. "Look at you," whispered Aethril, with a tone best resembling... wonder.

It was perfect. Perfect. Small and dark, with three eyes on its face. Plush with feathers. She crouched down next to it with her elbows on her knees and extended a delicate hand to the kit, eyes absolutely enormous. "Hello," her voice was a little choked. "My name is Aethril. Look at you..."

Vargas had outdone himself, as far as she was concerned.

@Asher

The child ate possibly more than their fill, their stomach now obviously round, but full of nutrition for the remainder of the day. The tiny feline wobbled from side to side perhaps a bit more than they did prior, but it was harmless and if anything a bit cute, right? And while Master Vargas was to remain on guard duty till Aethril was to arrive, he would have very little to worry about. At least when it came to the child possibly wandering out from their sight. While yes they were quite excited to waddle about, tail sticking up straight like a balancing antenna, they explored mundane objects as if they were on a mission- though they still remained ever so close to The Leviathan.

The three-eyed kitten was often waddling away to examine and explore a small pebble or two. Often patting at it with their paws before full-body pouncing and falling to their side to bat at it some more. Most of these fights ended with...possible victory? One couldn't be too sure, but whenever the child had their fill of fun with that specific mundane rock or two they would come bounding back towards him and rolling on and around their hands and feet- if they were within reach. It often left them patting and staring up at the very large Valkhound in awe and wonder in between fight sessions though.

And the child being, well a kitten led them to be rather susceptible to tunnel vision. So they hadn't paid much mind to the sounds of someone new approaching-they were after all locked in a death match with these pebbles, of course, one could understand. And their focus was of utmost importance, that of life or death- that was until they heard a voice. Her voice.

"Look at you,"

They forgot all about the great pebble war the moment she spoke. Spinning in place to turn, they stared at her, eyes wide with greeting and suspense. She spoke more, a soft greeting and a hand extended. It took the child no hesitation really, never mind their fumbling as they waddled over, body round and balance not quite all there just yet- they were doing their best though. They shook from the sheer vibration of the purr that welled up in their tiny body, excitement, and happiness overflowing as they bounded over to her. They stopped just short of her hand, it was only a second but- they had learned ...perhaps some manners from Master Vargas in such a short time. Inhaling sharply, purr caught in throat they managed to speak with vigor and joy.

"Ae-fril!

No sooner than her name leaving their maw had they enthusiastically albeit gently headbutted her hand, rubbing their face against her palm and rising to their tip-toes for the love and attention their kitten heart craved. This led to perhaps an overwhelmingly enthusiastic chant in greeting. The next phrase leaving their maw perhaps a handful of times within the following moments.

"H-hello! Ae-frill! Hello!"

@Vargas @Aethril
(Not sure who is wanting to post first but I think it's Vargas turn, idm either way so it's up to yall <3 )

- THE LEVIATHAN -

For some, watching a kitten play might have been a pleasant, quiet way to pass an hour or two. For Vargas, of course, it was the chance to train a future military general.

"Aim for its weak points," he'd suggest, when a pebble was batted across the floor; or "Good, get a grip and do not let it hit you back," when a rock was gripped in tiny paws. "Strike hard and fast so it cannot harm you before it is dead."

It was a silly lesson, really--not because of the fact that his target was "only" a kitten, but because of the fact that his target was a kitten. It'd been given in-built feline traits; it knew how to kill. It didn't have to be taught.

Still, Vargas offered his encouragement, and even in an encouraging tone, until the Valkhand came to collect her prize. Perhaps she'd hear some of his quiet urgings echoing across the hot rock as she came, but Vargas was hardly self-conscious. And when she finally arrived to collect--her approach announced by those clicking heels, the Sentinel not far behind her as an escort--Vargas stepped back and fell silent.

Aethril didn't need his help to collect it; the kitten couldn't hurt her. So he kept a respectful distance, speaking up after a moment. "Everything about it seems to be correct," he informed her, quietly pleased.

She seemed happy with it. And it had come out without any defects, so far as he could tell--a few fewer eyes than he'd intended, and it was tiny, but it would probably grow-? He could never tell, with these creatures.

As long as Aethril was happy, that would be good enough for him.

@Aethril

A strange sound left the Valkhand's throat-- a small but strangled sort of sound as if the air had been taken from her lungs. It was quickly suppressed by a little clear of her throat, and as soon as the kitten touched the palm of her hand, Aethril was gently scooping them up and holding them to the fine, soft silks draped across her chest.

"Hello, little one," she whispered. It wasn't very difficult to keep the tiny creation lifted and supported-- hell, she could have done so with one hand scooped under them. Her free hand, however, had quickly found its place on their back, fingers massaging into the feathers and fur.

She had also graduated from squatting to outright sitting cross-legged on the cave floor. It was a strange sense of happiness, a sort of nostalgic relief not unlike when she met Obieth. That little orange-and-white kitten in her memory came into view again, purring against her under a fur blanket.

Barney. She had named him herself.

He chewed up and clawed the furniture. One of her house-mates (parents? siblings? she didn't know) yelled at him when he peed in the house. He liked eating scraps left over from cooking more than the food that sat in his bowl, just for him. He only slept in her bed. He was twenty-two when he died, greyed and purring, contentedly falling asleep for the last time.

With a hard swallow, her nose tilted into the new kitten. "It's perfect, Vargas," she said, voice thick with emotion. "Truly. You've outdone yourself."

A sharp breath. "I'd like to train it myself," Aethril announced, beginning to push back up onto her feet. At some point during this process, she kissed the very top of the kit's head. "But, thank you. Very nice work."

@Asher

They were so very happy, having received attention and encouragement from Master Vargas prior to the arrival of her, their Aethril. They were practically on cloud nine, purring louder than they had ever before by the time Aethril had lifted them up off the floor and held them against the soft silks that draped across her chest. The kitten of course could scarcely hear the words Master Vargas was speaking. They were evidently melting into a pile of loveable fur and feathers as Aethril massaged along their back.

And being just a kitten and not a mind reader they knew not the thoughts or memories that swam around inside their Hand's mind. All they knew is that they were positively and utterly loved and that this was perhaps heaven. They could only purr and melt in her hands, rubbing their face against the soft silk in an attempt to love her back. Though when a kiss was placed atop their head they couldn't help but meow. A soft yearning for another as they lazily stood just a bit to try and nuzzle her neck as reaching the top of her head was practically impossible for them.

Their tiny paws taking care as if not to step too much against the chest of their Hand, even as they were trying to beg for more attention. It was instinct, to show gratitude and happiness that just felt right. They had no words for this moment, let alone it was doubtful that any would get through their purring if they had even tried. They couldn't wait to see what was in store, a life full of wonder and happiness alongside their Hand, Aethril.

@Vargas @Aethril

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas inclined his head. He pondered, for a moment, the depth of emotion in Aethril's voice. Was she just that attached to cats-? Well, she was flat on the floor, now, with the cat purring in her hands. Vargas allowed himself faint amusement.

"I see you also approve of-" (and the stuffy side of him nearly said 'the feline shape' before abandoning it in favor of more truthful phrasing) "-cats. They are fine creatures." He paused, not intending to rush her, or his conversation, but aware of one more warning that needed giving. She was almost certainly already aware, but it was something he felt obliged to say, nonetheless: words cost nothing, after all. "I do not know if you have many who do not share His magic, at the palace--but at the cost of repeating something you already know well, I will reiterate that this one's mind and form may be tainted if it is repeatedly exposed. I fear I do not know anyone with its element who can teach it, but if you wish such a teacher found, I can send out a scout to find one." Not that he had all that many scouts, either.

"When you are done, here, do you want an escort back?" He, or the Sentinel, could walk her back; he'd not seen her away from Cepheus without a bodyguard since she'd obtained one.

@Aethril

Her eyes flickered shut.

There was comfort in it. Fleeting nostalgia of a little kitten pressing against her neck, mewing and shaking under purrs. She could have handed the world over to the new creation at that moment, stole it onto a shiny, silver plate and presented it all for them to see. She had half a mind to stay aware of what Vargas was telling her, however.

"They're the perfect predators," she mused, head dipping and cheek brushing against the top of the cat's head in a feline-like movement of her own. "Swift, quiet, clever-- but they also make favourable companions. I kept many, once."

But she could only remember the one. Barney was special.

This one, too, would be special, however-- she knew keep in her heart that this new little kitten wouldn't be one Aethril would forget, even after thousands of years of hibernation. It just needed a name...

"I am aware," the Hand replied, but there was no chill or edge to her tone-- no, not while she was nuzzling a tiny kitten. "They'll keep their element. If you happen across someone who can teach it, do feel free to send them my way, of course." She was confident, however, that she could do it herself.

As for an escort, however, she took some time to consider. As she folded some loose silks around the cat to keep it supported and warm and loved the images of the shapeshifting creature fluttered through her mind, and her lips briefly twisted. "Yes, thank you-- if you can spare it."

She refused to let some rebel take this one away from her.

@Asher

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