ORIGIN - [The Seven] Cave Rave

’So far so good,’ Temperance thought, staring at all that had been done to prepare this little section of the ruins for the party. A cave rave, if you will.

Strings of lights were hung over the streets, which were swept clean with debris tucked out of view and all recovered plates and dishes being used to hold the food that had been gathered. Whole kooru for any carnivores to feast on (because deer would have been weird, seeing as Temperance themself was half deer and their father was one too), plates stacked high with ripe, fresh fruit and vegetables, and even roots like potatoes and yams were present, everything washed and prepared for feasting.

It was magical as they walked down one of the lanes used for the party, flowers strung up across doorways and braided through the lights to create aromatic décor, even some painted rocks lining the paths meant for those who would attend to wander down. Crystals were strung up too like wind chimes, creating a soft tinkling sound to accompany any conversations that would occur.

There was food, there was drink, and there was decoration. Really, all they needed was a bit of music and it would be perfect, but for Temperance's own sanity they would ignore that part. They didn't have hands to play instruments with anyway.

"Now we just need people," they said, breathing out slowly, hoping that their invitations had reached those intended to receive them.

The Bonebound, Children of Rot, the Elenyas, even the thunder of dragons now occupying Leo and the like. And of course, any lone gembound encountered along the way. If all went well, this celebration would go swimmingly. What were they even celebrating? Why, the Seven, of course! And what they represented. The future of the caves, the protection of the weak and defiance of the violent and the well-being of all who sought it. Maybe they'd attract new members, too!

Welcome all gembound from every corner of the caves! Big or small, all are welcomed here to this celebration! For all the misery and angst that has occurred in the caves, Temperance seeks to create a safe space, a place where gembounds can find solace in Orion, where happiness and excitement flourishes.

Food is provided and expect most diets to be catered for. Party-goers can contribute to the party in any way they wish! They can bring gifts, food, music, anything that will contribute to a fun time! Dancing, chatting, and games are encouraged.

Gembounds can possibly join the Seven through this gathering, and all are expected to be polite and respectful.

In the wake of the Deathmatches, violence and disruptions are completely prohibited and will result in the character being kicked out from the party by whatever means necessary. If anyone causes a fuss or a ruckus, expect a polite request to leave. If anyone doesn't comply to this request and continues to be chaotic, expect a pair of very sharp antlers to encourage your departure. Politely.

Mothered characters can attend but will most likely be forced out if discovered.

Temperance was staring over the party--or well, what would hopefully become one. They had, Pride thought, done a good job in setting it up. He hoped it would give them some of the confidence they needed, among other things. Contacts, for example--friends.

It hadn't been fair, raising two children away from any others, particularly when Ember was so reclusive; Temperance was higher-strung and had needed more than Pride could give in that regard. It was good that Mercy had brought his own children into the fold. An Orion bustling with children and life was a good place to be. Any place would be, full of children and their laughter, he reflected. But maybe now Temperance--and the other children--could meet other strangers from throughout the caves! They could learn from others, make new friends, and form bonds that would last a lifetime.

Or, at least, enjoy food and company for a time.

"You did well, arranging this. It looks beautiful," Pride observed, stepping up alongside Temperance. His gentle gaze swept to his side, glancing over the elegance Temperance had gradually inherited, and the beauty of the black rosettes on an ebony coat. He had grown from child into adult, at some point in the blink of an eye: the passage of only a few cycles had elevated a clumsy cub (who required rescue from ledges) to a pristine adult who held the echo of a dead, old friend. It was always so strange, for children to grow so quickly.

Pride nodded outward. He focused, for a moment, and then sent silver-white lights streaming into the air--sweeping back and forth like spotlights, with occasional sparkles of silver and gold. Hopefully, it would signify an invitation to all who saw them.

"I am sure your siblings will come soon. Who painted the stones, and who hung the crystals?" he asked, gently curious; it looked... professional, almost. Like this place were lived in, and loved--which was, he supposed, true enough these days. He himself had mostly brought food; some of the meat had been his catches, and he had sent word around for everyone he could think of, to invite them to this place. If he were lucky, the entirety of the Seven and at least James's family would come. Pride only hoped that it'd be enough for Temperance to be proud of: that the child--now adult!--would be able to look back on this day with joyful memories, and the sense of a job well done.

@Casimir also!

Ember came in on the wing, the soft whoomphs of wingleather announcing his arrival. A long glide, tail out behind him, brought him in before the pair he saw already gathered there; and he landed close by and picked his way closer.

"Hello," he offered quietly, and then glanced around. He'd brought what he could of decorations, and a little bit of food as well, and set them up over the last couple weeks--well, the food was fresher than that, of course. But the pretty rocks were another story. There were random pieces of dangling scrap metal here and there, and a soft music emanated from his own white pelt, though it faded as he landed--its power sputtering away and failing.

Ember was ever a somewhat shy type, and not one to speak overmuch; but he drew closer to his smaller family members, and circled around to come up alongside them both.

"How many will come?" was all he asked, as if somehow they'd know the future; and his tone held both hesitant excitement and nervousness both. He'd never been to a party, before.

Thalia had told everyone she could about this shindig. Okay, so it probably wouldn't match up to the shit that'd gone down at Deathmatch (Thalia had gotten hammered). But it was a party, instead of just lazing around Eridanus all day. She didn't know if Vivilene would turn up--somehow, she doubted it; but then again she'd not have expected to see her relative at the Deathmatch, either. Eh, she could hope, but she wouldn't expect.

There weren't a lot of others gathered, yet, and Thalia waved jauntily as she strode up, black hooves clicking on the rock.

"HEEEEEY!" she called over. "What's up? This is gonna be the party, right?" Silver eyes shot skyward, or well, ceiling-ward--taking in the dancing lights. "Pretty quiet for a party. Lemme see if I can help out!"

She had a simple wooden piccolo in one hand--nothing special, honestly, just a series of bamboo-type hollow rods of different lengths, lashed together with old vines gone hard and dry. She had a drum, too, slung over one shoulder--a smallish one but it'd do the job. "How are you guys, anyway?" Thalia asked, as she set up.

"Setting up" involved her dropping loosely onto the biggest rock she could find, kicking out her legs to either side, dropping the drum between her hocks and setting aside a little jar of the strongest booze she'd been able to swipe from camp. And once any small talk was out of the way, she put the piccolo to her lips, and took a deep breath.

What came out was a semi-decent piccolo (and drum--Thalia's left hind hoof lifted and tapped an idle beat) solo version of Call Me, Maybe. Not that many would recognize it; it certainly wasn't a song from this place, or even this era, but she had heard it once before and found it terribly catchy. She liked it, she'd memorized it as best she could and here it was now, in primitive wood instrument form, ringing through Orion.

She had other songs, of course--things she'd made up, mostly simple jaunty tunes--but it was best to start strong, was it not?

James trotted along, looking pretty with flowers braided into his mane and tail. He had a whole bag full of his fruit rolls, ready to join the others he'd made.

"Hello!", he said merrily, coming to a halt in front of the gathered people, "This all looks so nice! Lovely job, Temperance, and to all who helped!"

He himself had set up a lot of the strung up decorations, his wings having been a huge help. And with some crushed berries it was a simple matter of painting the stones different colors and lining them up along the sides of the ruins, creating a nice little pattern.

"I painted them," he said, shifting his stance to hide his tail, stained all sorts of colors, "It was... a process."

With that he dropped off the rolls, carefully setting them down beside the assortment of other foods and gathering a pile of grass to set down and munch on merrily. It was nice being an herbivore. Often you just had to bend down and there was food right at your feet!

Lemon was here! He'd heard of a party and taken off immediately, interested in what was going on. So of course he'd worn his best colors, which turned out to be smushing his head in a bunch of crushed up clay from Canis, turning his head feathers orange. Perfect! It matched his eyes.

He swooped down from the sky, beating his wings in the air before landing and skidding, coming to a stop and bobbing his head wildly, his goggles still firmly over his eyes.

"Hey!! I'm Lemonface!", he squawked, pushing his goggles down, "From the Bonebound, o' course! This is a nice gig, love the décor!"

His head whirled around when he heard Thalia's song, recognizing it and swiftly running over, wings half-spread.

"I know you! I know that song!", he said joyously, and then breathed in.

"I THREW A WISH IN THE WELL, DON'T ASK ME I'LL NEVER TELL, I LOOKED TO YOU AS IT FELL, BUT NOW YOU'RE IN MY WAY!", he belted, having a grand old time hopping and jumping- was he dancing? It was awful.