ORIGIN

Quick and assertive steps carried Delphine through the underbrush of towering sentries and emerald foliage. Though she often frequented Orion, it did not bear with it the same promise of home as Eridanus did. It was not beneath the kaleidoscope ceilings of the star-room did she heal from a severe wound nor was it doused within the quietude of ruins did she learn to speak and practice magic. All of this happened in Eridanus and it would be to this place which she afforded her heart. Even now as her hooves pressed into the damp earth and the smell of petrichor flooded her senses, there was only joy in her heart. Everything about the place was familiar even her memories of what'd taken place here, the attack, her saviors, Arkrael's guidance. Precious and irreplaceable were these memories and still the room bore with it that soak of home.

Without thought, the mare broke into a run, a mere ghost of umbra darting between the trees, over and under extended branches, past the jutted moss-coated rocks. The wind whipped against her face, its rare caress tracing its gentle caress through her mane and tail. She basked in the sensations that flooded her, reeled in the too rare moments where she could simply let go. As she reached the Monarch, a white mushroom standing tall within the center of the room, she slowed to a stop and just once, breathed into the air with a soft acknowledging whicker. Eridanus was home and she was back.

( @Arkrael )

Paws moved slowly, aimlessly heading towards no true destination. Her head hung low as audits seemed to be continuously pressed back against her skull. Everything was going wrong. Her chest heart more than she had ever felt. Even the pain in her shoulder had not been comparable to how she was feeling now. Wynry was gone; killed. Vazi had not taken well to it, but that was kind of to be expected. What bothered her was how she had been blamed for it, shunned and chased off like she was nothing to him. Anger and hurt swelled deep within her and it was all Arkrael could do to keep herself calm.

Her thoughts were a spiraling mess, spinning out of control as she tried to figure out what she should do and how to handle what was currently going on. It wasn't until she heard the thuds of hooves racing across the moss covered floor did her attention leap up. Multi-colored eyes searched the area, neigh desperately, as her nostrils flared as she took in the scents around the area. Instantly her heart began to race as her mind instantly went to Vazi. Unsure if he had returned to Eridanus, or if it were a good thing or not.

Her legs carried her quickly before she could convince them to go the other way, slowly turning into a gallop. It didn't take long before she reached the Monarch. Ebony filled her gaze and glinting emerald both soothed her nerves and sent her heart twisting. The familiar equine was a relief to see. It had not been Vazi running through the area. Audits twisted and pinned back before a small smile graced over her features. "Delphine, it's good to see you," her voice was a ghost of what it used to sound like. Shaken and wounded as the last time she had used her voice against Vazi. Her tail swayed to and fro behind her as she quickly looked the mare over. There was no lying about the joy she felt to see the mare moving around with ease bathe last time she had seen the mare she had been injured by the white beast, Baratheon.

"Speech"
'Thoughts'

---

Tags: @Delphine
OoC: Sorry about the late response and crappy post

Not soon after her own arrival, the familiar scent of her guardian and mentor drifted closer. She knew there was no necessity by way of gem sensing, it was not hard to distinguish the lupine form from the vast expanse of earth and emerald. A smile graced her black lips and she nickered fondly. "Arkrael." She purred happily though she would not take notice of the melancholy that burdened her friend's shoulders until she walked closer to offer a gentle nuzzle. Delphine frowned. "What has happened? You seem shaken." The truth slid easily between them because the adolescent hid nothing from her and equally so, she was worried for Arkrael's well-being. So far as Delphine was concerned, she'd always seen the wolf as a character of strength, power and guardianship but in a bout as this, there was no dispelling the apprehension that bled through her posture. Head bowed, ears flat against her crown.

She stepped closer, deigning to press another reassuring nudge into the she-wolf's shoulder. "I've missed you." It was a comment, deceptive in its digression but earnest in its pleas. Now that the Gembound had taken it upon herself to travel the caverns rather than settle in one place, it prohibited her the pleasure of keeping consistent company outside of those who were of equal wanderlust. She supposed part of the reason was because she'd been searching for consistency in all the wrong places and now that she'd found it, she did not regret anything that came upon her. She was able to meet a number of Gembounds, encounter a myriad of experiences and establish bonds that she had never thought herself deserving or capable of. Even in Arkrael, she'd found something akin to home.

( @Arkrael )

A low, soothing rumble formed deep within Arkrael's chest as the equine nuzzled at her. It was a tide of relief rushing through her otherwise pain stricken body. Though as Delphine spoke, inquiring about how shaken she was, Arkrael seemed to recoiled just the slightest. Her maw parted just a bit, as if to begin telling Delphine of the latest occurrences that had taken place not long ago, but no words fell and she was soon to close her muzzle just as quickly. Brows furrowed in her distress as she struggled with the idea of spilling her thoughts to her ward. With her audit's pinned to her skull she offered only a ghost of a smile as she slowly sunk down to rest upon her haunches. "And I have missed you as well," She spoke gently, an adoring note to her other wise ill-stricken voice.

"Worry not of my shaken appearance... I shall be alright," She finally spoke again having decided that perhaps, for now, it was not the best of times to bring up the horror she was feeling inside. She wanted to focus on Delphine for the moment, to see what she had been up too since the last she saw the equine. "Tell me though... What have you been up to as of late?" A grin slipped across her features all the while she curled her tail about her side. She was eager to hear of the adventures this young filly had found; and hoped that they were all pleasant.

If there was a moment of peace Arkrael could find in these moments, it would be in those she cared for. All her focus and attention set onto Delphine, blinding out the pain and heart ache that seemed to quake her entire being. She had craved to find her Hatchmate, Tamelyn, but the doe was no where to be found and it had only served to crack her heart even more. It was in that moment that Arkrael truly felt alone. Yet, now she had her friend here. A friend she had vowed to protect and guard over till she could do so no more. To protect and train. So that what happened to Wynry would not befall her. Arkrael knew deep in her heart she would not be able to handle another failure.

"Speech"
'Thoughts'

---

Tags: @Delphine
OoC: Kinda all over the place with that post xD but yeah.

Arkrael was visibly shaken and to see her so vulnerable shook Delphine to her very core. This was the beast who had protected her from Baratheon; powerful and unafraid. Yet here they were now, doused in a juxtaposition so vast that it hurt the adolescent to have to witness such pain etched to flesh and bone. Wordlessly she reached forward and exhaled a breath of warm air along the lupine's neck. There was no touch but the affection plumed in the space between them, its support a silent sentinel where words would not be formed. "Of course, you will." She replied softly but confidently. "Whatever tragedy has befallen you, you will overcome it. As you know, I am no stranger to grief tidings but if you wish not to confide in me now, I will respect that." More than anything, Delphine understood the need for space and silence so she bore no ill will upon acknowledging that perhaps Arkrael was no prepared to face her demons. Not this very moment at least.

She knew her guardian's inquiry was one that stemmed from genuine concern but she also knew that it was a distraction, one she was more than willing to cater to. Slowly but deliberately, Delphine lowered to the ground, pressed closely but comfortably beside the large wolf. "Oh, I don't know where to start but I suppose... Not too much." The adolescent admitted. Arkrael was a consistent presence in her life, enough so that the gaps of her absence were rarely filled with much else but menial detail. All but one thing stood to the forefront and her smile warmed considerably at the thought. "I've a new companion that I hope you may one day meet." Delphine purred, unabashed in her ways of expressing her affection. "He is like me in almost every way but younger. He goes by the name of Meredith, a waterborne child." She stopped, lingering on an afterthought. "I think you would like him. He's quiet and more reserved but of good intentions. We frequent Eridanus often but of the times we were here, you were not."

Her eyes grew half-mast in lethargy and her head dropped to rest against the floors strewn with grass and moss. "I no longer feel the same loneliness that I once did. Not anymore." Her gaze fluttered to Arkrael, eyes lighting with a spark from knowing that she could confide in someone.

( @Arkrael )

A smile adorned the canine's features as she watched Delphine with unwavering eyes. It wasn't that she did not wish to unfold the story for the equine. It was the fact it still pained her to even think of the things that had gone on. She was just not ready to bring such things to words at the moment. "I just need time...and then I can talk about it is all," She inclined her head, almost ashamed in her own weakness to be unable to even voice the words of the horror she was feeling in those moments.

Her attention was pulled right back as Delphine began to speak of her own travels. A smile alight across her features as the equine began to speak of another. "Meredith huh," A smile curled across her features, but it quickly faltered when she mentioned he was a waterborne. Her heart twisted and it was all she could do to keep her composure once again. Crazy how those of Earth found their way to those of water. Still, she continued to smile and listened all the same. "Unfortunately it seems things outside of Eridanus have needed my attention as of late. I apologize for not being around as much as I should." It wasn't that she felt she needed to apologize for her lack of presence, it just felt right to do. Eridanus was her home. The one place she had sworn to protect and keep safe. She had neglected that in many ways. Spending most of her time in Polaris to study Golems and then after all that.


"I could not be happier to hear such things," She hummed softly, flicking her ears as she took note of the noises that made up Eridanus for just a brief moment. Though, something struck at her and she felt a clenching in her gut. She knew what her lover had in store for the caves. Delphine would otherwise be safe as she was not a carnivore, but... if Vazi found out about how close she was to Arkrael, there was no telling what would happen. "Delphine... I," She began slowly, going through her thoughts on how best to say what needed to be said without bring up too much information about it just yet, "If you ever... come across a stag that calls himself Vazi Hasira... YOu must get away from him. He is evil and if he ever finds out you know me in any way there's no telling what he will do.."

"Speech"
'Thoughts'

---

Tags: @Delphine
OoC: Sorry about the late response and crappy post

To her friend and guardian's honest admission, Delphine only nodded with an understanding smile. Though she wanted to say she understood how it felt to need time to oneself, it was a feeling both fleeting and rare for the equine. The one instant where she thought she could empathize, she'd woken alone in this same jungle thus reaping her of the choice as to whether or not she preferred the isolation of her thoughts or company to aid the qualms of her heart. Any other moment, she'd deliberately chosen to confide in others almost instantly. But of this she was certain, they were very different Gembounds and she respected the want for time and the need to heal.

Delphine's head cantered to one side inquisitively, clearly baffled before realization dawned upon her. "Oh you need not apologize for such things, Arkrael, we all have our businesses to attend. I do hope though that things are well or that they will become better." She was quick to amend her statement as it was clear that there were very many things that troubled her.

Her smile vanished when words stuttered to a halt from the wolf's lips, clearly wanting to express her thoughts but finding trouble when it was most necessary. She waited patiently then for Arkrael to find her words as she herself pondered and theorized what it was that she had to share. Surely it was nothing too drastic especially if it pertained to her as it seemed they did not share very many friends. Yet she was soon taught otherwise as the warning was lain between them, the first of many to herald the dangers that lurked in these caverns. Having never before doubted strangers upon first sight, Arkrael's caution was one that brought trouble to her own heart. "I... I will... May I know why or what happened?"

Delphine settled then to listen to the story unfurl of this most peculiar Vazi Hasira and his past with her guardian, Arkrael. She could never have expected half of the things to occur but it only lent more wonder to her tale. Her eyes, never wavering from the wolf, wore awe so blatantly within its emerald depths that there was little to be said or done then. She was a child rapt with a tale that bore far more implications than her mind had yet to fathom. Where love was mentioned, her heart would soar with the notion of her near maternal-figure having once loved another but of the events to transpire, her lips would curl into the beginning tendrils of a frown that brought her muzzle forth to dab away the stray tears. She had never imagined a world where Arkrael would cry and now that she was living it, she did not think she enjoyed it in any way, shape or form.

"I am sorry, my friend." She whispered as the only conciliatory gesture she could summon forth outside of the ministrations she provides in the way that she brushes away her tears and grooms her crown to her nape. "That such tragedy befalls you, I cannot imagine the pain you wear upon your heart. I wish I could do more for you..." Her gaze dropped and she floundered in the silence, wondering what she could say or do before a random thought came to mind. "I know Kerberos, he is a dear friend of mine." Delphine admitted, unable to juxtapose any thoughts at all of the three-headed hound murdering anyone without incentive or motive. "I will be sure to stay away from this Vazi if ever I should encounter him. I promise." Again she went about nuzzling the wolf's nape before casting an imploring gaze to her; if only she could mend the wounds in her heart.