ORIGIN - Embrace, Dance Away

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The cat-sister Iqniq had told her of other rooms, and it intrigued her. She originally wanted to explore all of her leafy home, slowly taking in every single plant and root and mushroom she could find and discover their uses, but the curiosity to see more of the caverns brought her to distraction. After that mishap where she was daydreaming so much about the gleaming sky Iqniq had described where she had mentally switched the stomach settling plant for the laxative, she decided to give in and just explore. When her usual standardized mind was in disarray, she knew she had to set it to rest.

And what a thing to see!It had taken a long time to get here, her being so small, but what a sight to behold! Everything was intensely colorful and vivid with a vivacity that the rest of the caverns and tunnels she'd seen thus far lacked. And when she had entered the room, but just felt the difference in her little bones, that pulsing energy, the desire to climb and explore and live.

Her wounds were healing nicely after the....experiment with the burned giant. She had to bandage up her arms with cloth she had found along her travels, after she had cleaned it as thoroughly as she possibly could. Luckily it had been preserved under a flat stone she had to move, so nothing had eaten away at it or seeped into the fabric. It was a very lucky find, even it there wasn't enough to cover the big tear on her knee, or the smaller cuts all over her. Those she just let air out and scab after treating them.

She'd become very good at treating cuts with her plants.

She laughed and climbed over rocks to get a better vantage point for seeing over the room, and spotted just a glimpse of a shape that caught her eye somewhat obscured behind a stalagmite. Excited and abandoning her usual caution to the wind, she scrambled to see what it was.

@Tennessee

TENNESSEE

"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play"

Currently the wild lemur had made Polaris his home away from home. Eridanus he appreciated a lot because of the dense vegetation but he'd recently had the thought of beautifying Polaris. He could bring in dirt and plant new shrubs to make this place gorgeous again. Right now there were scorch marks and the ground was quite infertile but he was ambitious and sure that he would change all of this. First though, he needed to catch a cave deer to aid in his efforts. That wasn't going good so far... He'd tried to wrangle the things and jump on their backs but none of that was working. Perhaps he needed to go for more docile deer... but he really wanted the Tunnel Runner stag that frequented this area. He was large with strong single pronged antlers. His short fur was blue-gray with glowing white spots all over his coat. In short he was absolutely gorgeous and Tennessee wanted him.

He was not one to give up.

Days and days he'd hung out, trying to wrestle the deer into submission but he'd all but failed. Never had anything been so difficult in his life! Currently the deer was hanging out near the stag and his tiny harem of females. If he could catch the male then the females would certainly follow and he'd have a nice starter herd. However, things weren't quite going as planned as aforementioned so now Tennessee was resting after a particularly bad fall that had his back bruised. Sure he'd been whooping and hollering when it happened but now he needed a break. He'd try again in a few hours.

He took his satchel and banjo from around his shoulder and back. After digging around in the satchel he came out with berry dye, a feather pen, and his leatherbound book. With one paw he held a feather that had been dipped in berry dye and in his lap was his leatherbound book with the list of all the different species of flora and fauna he'd seen.

The large lemur was sketching, drawing the herd of deer and writing more information down along with it. Daisy sat at his side, curled up in a sleeping heap. Tennessee turned his head to her and gave her a stroke across the back as she slept before turning back to the task at hand. Currently unaware that he was being watched.

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"This is how I talk!"
This is how I think!

402
@Cayenne
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7/10

Cayenne had scrambled up onto, what was to her, a very tall stone structure, all glowing with jutting crystals that pulsed with an inner life, overlooking what appeared to her to be a cat-sibling with a thing on its head, a gourd thing with strings on it, something it was scratching on with a feather, and a big cozy looking rat next to them which they petted with affection. She had no idea what any of it was or meant, and she wanted to find out! Still exhilarated with the thrill of new exploration, she showed a wide smile plastered on her face, revealing her little fangs, as she jumped down from her perch to a spot right in front of the cat.

Landing with ease, she postured in a friendly manner, her tail lashing behind her in a playful way, the way she had learned from her sister Dovefeather when she was feeling happy. "Hello," She grinned, grabbing her tail and curling it around her feet. "What are you doing? What is that?"

Without waiting for an answer, she came closer at peered at the drawings and murmured a soft 'oh' of wonder, looking over to the tall giants just a ways away. "You're studying them?"

She looked straight at the red cat-sibling who looked an awful lot like her, and said, "I'm studying plants, are you too? They're all over the place where I come from, the jungle, I mean, and nearly all of them have different uses, and it's just fascinating." Her eyes were glittering with just barely contained excitement. "My name's Cayenne, what's yours?"

@Tennessee

Tennessee was so involved with his work that he was caught completely by surprise when the new gem landed right in front of him. Daisy however was unamused and simply twitched an ear in response, traveling with Tenn had allowed her to become accustomed to many things. The red lemur fell backwards with a sharp cry if alarm, dropping his book and pen on the ground. The rapidfire questions that came at him were obviously from a female but he did not know who yet.

After a few moments the lemur sat up and looked at the new creature. He has been surprised by her sudden arrival but now he was surprised at her shear beauty. Her fur was a closet black with beautiful honey colored eyes. She was so attractive that Tennessee found himself at a loss for words. That was certainly a first... He had seen many beauties on his day but none like hers. He simply could only state in wide eyes adoration with his mouth agape, showing his long pointed fangs. However, after a few moments of silence ticked by he gathered himself and hastily rose to his rear paws. He could feel heat rising to his cheeks in embarrassment. Fortunately his dark color hid the blush.

The male took off his hat respectfully and put it at his middle as he gave an elegant flourishing bow. While still in this pose be said, "My lady, m'names Tennessee but truly yer th'only ten I see." His words came somewhat easier now despite the fluttery feeling in his but. What sort of Angel was this that could force him into this state? "An right ya are! I'm , uh, studyin these here deer an takin notes on em. An plants too! I jot down any new ones in my here book! See?" Happy that such an attractive lady was interested in the world as he was he grabbed his book and turned to the section on the plant species. Here he handed it to her in case she wanted to get a closer look. "I sorta wouldn't mind plantin some 's these guys here. Y'see I wanna turn this barren plot a land into a place where I can raise deer an grow plants...like... Like a ranch I reckon." He nodded his head here. Happy to have explained everything to her."You're a researcher too then, I reckon?"

@Cayenne

Cayenne's smile faltered a little when Tennessee called her a ten, looking around slightly. What did that even mean? But then he went on smoothly about his book and his findings, grinning when she saw some of the plants she recognized, turning the pages, and growing even more ecstatic at seeing ones she had never seen before. She glanced up at the cat-brother and said, "I am a researcher yes, but I suppose I'm more interested in healing qualities? I just came from this interesting meeting with two giants...I mean, two deer, and one had burn marks all over. I used the red and blue leaves that you've drawn here," She tapped the two separate pages and her eyes came alight, like they had an inner fire within. "And I made plants come to life! In the palm of my hand! All over me! I actually made a difference! I mean, it hurt like the dickens and left me with a couple of cuts, but I did it!"

She grabbed ahold of Tennessee's hand. "Do you think I could help? I mean, with making your ranch? I could go and gather seeds and make them grow here!"

@Tennessee

TENNESSEE

"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play"

The red lemur watched her thrilled that she seemed so involved with his little book. "A healer, eh? Well, that's mighty fine!" Especially fine since he wasn't really a healer himself. "I'm not much of a healer m'self. I just like t'take notes, y'see? What I like is t'build stuff! An' t'tame stuff like Daisy-here an' hopefully those deer over yonder." He continued to listen to her, nodding his head at what she said, honestly intrigued with the story. "Wow? Really? Boy, I ain't never seen nobody that could do somethin' like that! Gee! If ya could help out with th'ranch then ya could plant stuff for the cave deer t'eat! It'd be perfect!" The red and blue leaves? Ah! The leaves from the Iceberry Bush and the Tamisen leaves! He wondered how much more plants there were in the world? "Boy... Beautiful face 'an an amazin' ability! Why yer the whole package!" He said cheerfully tipping his hat to her respectfully.

When the female lemur took his hand Tennessee felt a flush of heat to his cheeks as well as more intense flutteries in his belly. For a moment he simply stared wide-eyed with his mouth agape in a goofy smile. "Ur... uhh... Oh!" He said straight up, tail raising into the air while he used his free hand to give a salute. "A'course ya can, Miss Cayenne! I'd never pass up the help of a pretty an' talented lady like yerself!" He laid his saluting hand on top of the one she was holding with her own. "But I must warn ya, miss. It'll be a lotta work. This place is pretty barren, y'know. I'm thinkin' I need th'help 'a some 'a those cave deer to bring some fertile dirt here for the seeds't'grow an' that'll jus' be fer starters!" He could picture it in his head now. Carts or baskets woven to carry dirt that was toted by the cave deer, the perfect operation.

He patted her hand with his own, a smile on his face as he stared into her eyes. "I don't wanna overwhelm ya or nothin'."

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"This is how I talk!"
This is how I think!

352
@Cayenne
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7/10

Cayenne listened intently, trying to keep her face still and her body from dancing. She was just so, so full of energy and the pure desire to start her garden in this beautiful place! Together, with this cat-brother, they could create something perfect!

"No no, it wouldn't be overwhelming - this could be our lives work, Tenn. Our mark on the caves, just think! We could catalogue and write down and discover every plant and fungi out there to help any gem that becomes hurt, and we could understand all of the lesser gems and take care of them here! Just think!"

Still holding his hand, she tugged on him and pointed to various corners of what they could see. "We don't even have to have the whole room, per se, just our space! Look, we could put a small fence up in that corner for the plants, and over there in the under-hanging crystals we could put the mushrooms, perhaps Booker could help, I heard he can grow mushrooms and I met him once, briefly, he's just covered in them-" She took in a breath in the middle of her rant, "and over there we could house the cave deer and there could be just grass for them, maybe some relaxing weeds for them to eat so that they're docile, I've eaten those, they have these white flowers on them and they're very pretty." She inhaled again.

She looked at him now, grinning, her fur standing on edge from excitement. "Would you do this with me? Tell me you will, Tenn!"

@Tennessee

TENNESSEE

"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play"

Oh, happy day! This gal just got better and better! She seemed so positively happy at the thought of helping him with his huge endeavor! It was making him absolutely giddy! He began to bounce up and down on his paws as she outlined ideas that he'd thought of and of ideas that he hadn't! All of the lesser gems? He'd cataloged them but he'd never thought of actually trying to tame every single one. Mostly he'd just thought of the rats and deer but what about the bats and the fish and the rabbits? Didn't they deserve the same? Of course they did! "Boy, Miss Cayenne, I'm thinkin' an' it's just makin' me excited!" What if they could take it a step further? What if... "What if we made a place here, all our own where we could offer to help hurt gems and feed those that need it? Our ranch could be a little home t'those that want it." All they would need would be a large supply of plants and a large supply of deer and other animals that gave meat. He could already imagine it! He started bouncing even more on his feet.

The rat behind him lifted her head at the noise, head tilting to the side curiously. "I've met Booker too! He's a nice fellow, calm sort, I bet he'd just love t'get in on this too!" He turned his head to look at what she was indicating before he thought to finally scribble it down. He looked around wildly and snatched a page from his book and grabbed his pen, jotting down everything that she said. Writing! Oh! He'd have to each her to write too! And how to play his banjo... and ride a deer, as soon as he learned himself.

"Ya bet yer pretty tail I will! This is all perfect! Makes me excited just thinkin' about it! Where should we start? With the deer? With the dirt? The fence?" For the longest while he'd been planning all on his own but now... Now he had someone else to bounce his ideas off of. He was so excited that he lurched forward and wrapped his arms around the smaller lemur in an absolutely overjoyed hug. "Where have ya been all my life?!" He leaned back, hands on her shoulders as he again was struck with another inspiration. That was probably a good thing because he didn't have a chance to be embarrassed about his sudden show of affection.

"Ya should write down all the plants ya've seen. Ya can sketch'em an then I can write what ya've got t'say about'em." Here he grabbed his book and pen and handed them both to her.

______________________________________

"This is how I talk!"
This is how I think!

452
@Cayenne
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7/10

She saw how Tenn matched her excitement and laughed, bouncing up and down with them. "And we don't even need to have building materials, we could just use plant growth to make structures, maybe even grow some trees here! I mean, it would take a lot of effort, but just think! Small, strong trees over there that hold up a woven canopy of those vines that flower, and comfortable nest underneath where anyone can sleep, and I could help out anyone who got hurt! Maybe some flowers for perfume around the back of it, that would soothe, wouldn't it? Be nice and comfortable for those in pain, I think." She kept her big grin as she watched Tenn.

She really needed to practice with her magic, she thought, nodding at bringing Booker here. No more mishaps like...like trying to weave with her plants. No more of that. She itched a small scratch under the bandages on her arms after Tenn took the book back from her, feeling absentminded for a second, and when he asked her where they should start, she stammered, "I-I don't know! We need plants first, don't we? What do you think?"

He was....scribbling something? She tilted her head. What was he doing? Whatever it was, she wanted to know! But before she could ask, Tenn was grabbing her into a big hug and a whooping laugh, and she laughed with him, hugging him back. He liked this just as much as she did!

She...liked this hugging business, she thought, as he handed her his book with bright eyes. It was warm and happy and comfortable. But when he asked her to sketch the plants she had seen, she suddenly felt shy. "I- I don't want to ruin your book, Tenn. And what do you mean, write? Is that what you were doing earlier? Can you teach me?"

"Oh-" She shook her head, laughing. "That's right, I can just show you." She reached into her satchel, taking out a wide variety of samples she had. "When I was treating the giant, I sprouted a lot of plants that I had taken from my home - I had the seeds all over my fur, you see, and I just made them grow, and it gave me a huge assortment of the ones I had been around." She frowned, for just a second. "I don't think I'll be making them grow off of me for a long time. It rather hurt." She rubbed her arms a little before going back to the plants.

"Here, this one, with the white flowers, I mentioned? This one calms you down and makes you sleepy, the more you eat, the more it affects you, etc. I tried it after I ate a root that made me crazily energized. Do you name the things you've come across, Tenn?"

@Tennessee

TENNESSEE

"Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play"

He did think... And he loved every bit of it! Growing the plants here with magic would work quite well and it'd be quicker than him trying to grab seeds and cultivate them himself. He felt more attune with the animals, not with the plant life. He could let the talented Cayenne handle those sensitive details. "I think that would be brilliant! Have'em rest in those soothin' nests an' I could keep'em well fed." He could just picture it now.

He scratched his chin, pondering. Why yes, they needed some healthy plants to begin making things from... but for plants they needed soil. This place so far was nothing but rocks, fungi, and gems. "Plants first, yes! They'll be th'basis for th'rest of our ranch. But first..." He gestured around to the rocky area with his tail. "We need t'get some good earth here. Even if we grow our plants with magic they won't last long without good soil t'live in. I know how t'weave baskets an such fer transportin' an' Eridanus has plenty of vines'n'such t'spare. " Perhaps that could be their first order of business. Earth then a small supply of soothing plants to maybe calm the deer down and make them easier to catch and manage.

"Ruin? Miss Cayenne, I promise ya won't ruin nothin'! Writin' an drawin' ain't hard. I'll show ya everythin' ya need t'know." He was fully prepared to when she mentioned that she could show him instead. Would she be growing more? His thought was answered when she pulled out a sample from her satchel. Tennessee peered closely at the plants. He'd never seen them before and was happy that he had a chance to now. He picked up one of the plants, turning it over and over in his hand as his sharp blue eyes studied it. His eyes traveled back up to Cayenne when she mentioned that growing them off of herself hurt. His eyes widened as he finally noticed the bandages over her arms. Had using her magick done that to her? Oh no! She couldn't just go around hurting herself to please others! That was absolutely terrible! He could feel his heart go out to her. Such a beautiful creature should not have to experience pain in this world. "Oh no! Miss Cayenne! I don't want ya doin' nothin' that hurts. Here! Here! You should sit an' not strain yerself. We can start renovations later when ya arms are better." With that he took off for a moment only to return with a large flat rock that he had some difficulty toting. He put the rock next to Cayenne and patted it with a paw. "There ya are! You should sit!" He sat down on the ground next to the rock and pulled out his book, prepared to answer her questions.

"We can rest here an' I can give ya some lessons on writin' an' drawin'." He looked up at her, eyes gleaming joyfully. "As fer namin', yes! I name all th'plants I come across but this one... I think you should name it since ya found it." He grinned causing his eye teeth to poke from underneath his lips. "I'll show ya how t'write letters an' such when ya name it." Oh! This was so much fun!

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"This is how I talk!"
This is how I think!

548
@Cayenne
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7/10

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