ORIGIN

She never thought that she would return to Cetus, not anytime soon at least. Yet somehow here she was, passing the tunnel's entrance through the threshold of a place she'd come to know as purgatory in its constant dismal cast and eerie haunts. Logically, much of her fears were wrought from perception and a child-like belief that there were monsters hidden within the mist and underbrush of the shadowed jungle. She knew this but it did not stop her heart from seizing in fright as her tentative steps brought her toward the misted room that only now did she realize hummed with a life and sound of its own. How strange that when she'd first come, the noise had escaped her altogether but now that she acknowledged its existence, it was impossible to unheard. Her gaze shot from left to right as if the source would be somewhere near, it certainly sounded so, but when nothingness was all that greeted her sight, she deemed the whole notion a lost cause. For the time being.

Her hooves clicked mutedly against the damp floors as Delphine sauntered through the dense foliage. There was no particular reason as to why she'd decided to return but that this room remained one of the most unexplored by far. So it was, she swallowed her trepidations and forced herself through the fog, this time observing her surroundings with tension for her sidearm. "There's nothing to be afraid. Nothing at all." She whispered, aiming to placate herself as best she could before her nerves forced her back from where she'd started.

He had left his two new playmates, that coyote and the precious snow leopard. They all promised to meet again, he was excited for that. But he had heard the sound of hoofed feet walking through the swampy terrain nearby. Sounds echoing throughout the very mist that made up Cetus. Those feet could be Clover's! Was all he thought back then. He had said his goodbyes and took off into the thick fog! He had waited so long it seemed! A sharp twang in his chest and an ever building anxiety for her safety. Even with new found friends to occupy his time, he felt miserable.

Was she ok? Would the red stag treat her well?

Stopping abruptly he listened, gathering his bearings on where the noise was coming from. It was so easy to get lost in Cetus. The soft sound of hoofed feet reached his ears once more. He had to know if this was her. No. It had to be her! Rushing through the thick fog he came to a small clearing. He could see no trees, though he could barely see three feet in front of himself now. It all was so dense here. But he could hear her, this had to be her! Just up ahead! She was walking right towards him and he knew it!

With no self preservation he ran into the clearing, only come in contact with the now realized stranger. Eyes wide he stared up at at them. She was something new he had yet to see before. He had no idea what she was! All he knew was that this, wasn't Clover to say the least. Oh no, what would he do now!?


"Speech"

"Thought"

She had not realized that during her escapade through Cetus, she'd actively avoided the areas crowded with towering sentries, trading off for a particularly foggy clearing that made seeing past her feet a considerably hefty task. It dawned upon her that if she intended to properly explore the room, it would have to be up close and personal with its every nook and cranny which in her defense, was an unattractive option. The young mare bore neither the desire to peer into the black pools of water nor did she particularly care to inspect the ghastly trees. In fact, nothing about the place called to her and for the umpteenth time Delphine questioned her decision to return.

A sound scuffled from ahead but she could see nothing past the dense fog that'd collected around her, taunting her fears from hiding. Immediately, she tensed, her muscles coiling in a reaction that was engrained into her very system. When the onyx beast burst through the veil of ash and smoke, the young Gembound reared, her front legs kicking the air in a devastating shriek as she slammed upon the ground with a force that awoke her powers in a burst of earthy hues splattered across her vision. The earth responded, trembling and shaking with the force of her magic as Delphine kicked about, manic with the thought that her life was in danger. Only once before had this occurred and the results had been life-threatening. She had vowed then that she would never again allow that to happen and though it'd been presumptive of her to think danger the moment she saw a predatory creature, she could not help the nature of a prey when faced with the predatorial beast before her.

This stranger, this hoofed beast before him had begun an aggressive display. Shrieking as they slammed down upon the ground with such force it rattle the young jaguar. Jumping back wide eyed and in awe. His instincts were fighting now, run to safety there is no hope of winning! Or attack them back, win just how Clover had taught you. But those fights were only play time. This here, was the real thing.

Beneath his paws the moist earth began to rumble. Trembling and shaking him as he backed up. Belly flat against the every moving floor beneath his feet. This stranger was hysterical, kicking every which way and unleashing ungodly shrieks! What was he to do, he peddled backwards into the fog, just out of their reach. He could remember back when Clover had explained to him, why strangers may seek out to hurt him. He was something called a predator, a carnivore. Many other gembounds were uncomfortable around such others. He would have to forgive and show them all. He wasn't a cruel carnivore! He was nice! He promised!

Standing tall he yelled out to the flailing black beast behind the safety of the fog! "I 'm not here to hurt you! I thought you were somebody else! I'm sorry!" His voice ever so slightly shaking along with the terrain below.


"Speech"

"Thought"

Delphine was rarely so easily thrown from her more logical roots but trauma had a way of breaking foundations and even after the beast spoke, the young mare would take some time still to recuperate. When she calmed, it was with a fair distance between them. Enough so that she could still see him but also if the need arose, she could run or fight. Her breath came and went in ragged spurts until at last, she was able to find sense when it'd only moments ago been lost. Still her muscles remained coiled, tense and unrelenting. "I-I-I'm sorry..." She whispered, her gaze fixated to the floors for she knew then that perhaps she was wrong for lashing out as violently as she did. "I've bad experiences with... Surprises."

She sighed a broken sigh and shook her head of the terrors that threatened to swallow her whole. The beast was harmless and bore with him no ill will, it'd been cruel of her to act in such a volatile manner. Her head dropped and finally she dared to glance to cat. "Forgive me, I am Delphine." Her voice quavered still but there was a rising confidence in its lilt. "I am not familiar with this place, it is quite... Imposing." She admitted, thinking that perhaps he could understand from whence her reaction spawned that it was purely instinctual. "Who are you?"

With luck on his side his kind, reassuring and apologetic words got through to the black beast. They ceased their violent flailing, and much to his pleasure so did the ground. Standing up tall, legs still somewhat wobbly he stared at this stranger. Their body posture still made him feel as if they were tense. But that was understandable. He was a carnivore that surprised them on accident. Well not entirely on accident, he had thought they were Clover. Well hoped was more like it, that feeling blinded any sense of self preservation he had.

They apologized, explaining they had bad experiences with surprises. Vicktor understood, he had been surprised by a lizard turning back around and biting his nose before. The young cub was sympathetic, after all it wasn't just her fault. 'Forgive me, I am Delphine.' He had a name to his new friend now! Delphine! It was longer than some he had met before, but it was their name and a rather pretty one at that!

"Hello Delphine! I am Vicktor! Oh this place isn't as scary as it looks! I've grown up here my whole life! Though....it cant get hard to see..." He paused now, with Clover the whole living in Cetus was a lot easier. After all with her ethereal glow she kept the thick fog at bay. The only upside to being alone without someone to light up the way, was that he was learning how to maneuver around by himself.


"Speech"

"Thought"

The more the predator spoke the sillier Delphine felt for reacting as she had. It'd been prejudiced of her to do so and for it, she knew only guilt as it rose in her chest. "Hello Viktor." She barely managed before he rambled on about Cetus and though he himself sounded reassuring, her heart was less convinced on the matter, particularly after the scare. Her gaze shot from left to right, skeptical to his testimony. "I... You grew up here?" Knowing not what it was she wanted to say, the Gembound asked the first thing that came to mind before shifting from one foot to the other, a nervous habit in an alien environment where she knew little to nothing of her surroundings.

"Do you know Cetus well then?" It dawned upon her then that if the wild cat were not averse to the idea, he could very well be her guide. The exploration process would be sped up considerably and she could leave infinitely sooner than if she were to do this alone. "I was hoping to explore this place but I've lost my way and it's hard to tell where anything is. Could you maybe help me?" She inquired with a hesitant smile and what was imperceptibly a shy tilt of her head.

'You grew up here?' He nodded quite rapidly, his enthusiasm and pride about his home clear and true. 'Do you know Cetus well then?' she questioned. He knew a little bit about it, he always seemed to arrive where he wanted to. Especially when it meant finding Clover. Though he thought on it for a moment or two. He never gave direction, nor has he ever walked with the destination route in mind. He always thought of the destination, never the path to it though. Maybe it was a sixth sense? He just knew, and that was really all he did know.

She explained about having lost her way, a frown slide across his face. It wasn't fun being lost, he probably knew it better than anyone. Though he always did end up getting lost himself, if it wasn't one thing it was another. Standing tall he agreed, he would help her find her way! "I will do the best I can! I just need to know where you are going! I don't travel like others I don't think? But if I know my destination I always find my way around in Cetus!"


"Speech"

"Thought"

She basked in his childlike enthusiasm and pride for his home, clearly deriving similar join in a vicariously shared experience for if anyone had asked her of her own home's, she would have responded in kind. Her features only lit ever brighter when he offered to help to which she gave a short laugh and an eager nod of her head. "Well I don't really have a destination in mind, rather... What's something fun or special about Cetus? Like Eridanus has a huge mushroom right in the center of the room." Her gaze flitted to take in the sight of the short proximity they could see, wanting to note something unique about the cat's home. "And you've got loads of mist here." She added none too insightfully.

With a toss of her head, more habitual than indicative of anything, Delphine motioned for Vicktor to lead the way. "Go ahead, you're the professional!" Cetus, it seemed, was always more easily accomplished in the company of another. If she'd been alone, she imagined she would have ran for the tunnels not two minutes into her expedition. It made the whole point of coming here redundant but she could not help the battle between her curiosity and fears. It made for a strange concoction as she awaited for the black panther to move.

"Well I don't really have a destination in mind, rather... What's something fun or special about Cetus? Like Eridanus has a huge mushroom right in the center of the room." She didn't have a destination, but rather asked for something fun or special cause Cetus. A wide smile spread across his face as he practically went into a dance. If she wanted something like a huge mushroom then he knew just the spots! He would help her, he would show her around Cetus. After all it is what Clover would want.

"Well we dont have a big mushroom but we have a tree with lots of COOL roots! Almost screaming! And and we have this place with the sound of humming from the deep water! Im sure there are other parts but Clover says their not so 'safe'" 'Go ahead, you're the professional!' She didn't have to tell him twice! Not sure on how his new friend Delphine could keep up he made sure to keep it at a nice brisk pace. After all he was beaming with energy so this was a default pace for him!


"Speech"

"Thought"