ORIGIN

There was more staring, more twitching whiskers. Those are a lot of very long words that-... I am fairly certain are not, in fact, words at all. ...Hmm.

He nodded, passing paws along his whiskers, sniffing a little. "You have a great deal of admirable energy, my friend. And perhaps they will be able to help you, indeed. Another one of them wishes a garden, to grow such plants--in a similar vein to your concepts, but with floral growth rather than the touch of Lessers. Perhaps you can work together..? In fact, you almost look like a very small version of him! Like a small mirror. Fascinating! ...We will be meeting, in a few days' time, in the tunnel that connects the palace room--Cepheus--to the snowy one, Ursa. Do you know it-? You are welcome to join us there, if you wish."

Mossie was, perhaps, an... unconventional potential member, but then, so were most of the rest of them.

Between us, this may be quite the fruitful venture, Archimedes thought.

"Well, it is inspiring," the rat answered. "I will see you there."

He sat quiet for a moment, thinking.

He had enough, finally, to really get on with it. Not planning--not anymore. It wasn't that "the time for planning is over," or some such cliche; he'd always be plotting ahead, now and forever. But it was also well past time to act.

A small core; and perhaps he could make their first order of business... a little more recruitment?

No, he thought; we'll get started. I'll have this Mossie, and Bacchus, and Deli, work on their art. Gatto and I can look for more, in the meantime.

They would grow from there--and if Archimedes had his way, they'd become an empire.