ORIGIN - And Grew (Kingsfoil & Open)

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At some point, something had fallen.

A small speck of amethyst, cracked off by virtue of time and accident and entropy. It had fallen, pinging off a few rocks, hitting the edge of the throne and picking up some stray magic there, bouncing off to roll down towards the edge of the dais, in deep dust and shadow, blended with its surroundings. It lay there, unnoticed, and there it started to grow.

And grow.

And grow.

A stone shell had formed, looking very much like the stone around it and shrouded in shadow enough to be well-hidden. The small sliver of amethyst that would one day be Euron was left in relative peace, blind to the happenings of Orion, the room of stars, and the slow-moving plans that would one day consume all of them. There was nothing for him at this moment-- not yet-- but to be formed.

Awareness, when it happened, came all at once, like a kick to the head. Suddenly, everything was too small. Suddenly, he had limbs and skin and organs and they felt and what they felt was that it was time to move and go into wherever out was. Euron, on instinct, kicked out with newly formed legs, smashed backwards with a head too soft to really do much damage to his shell. It was his hooves that found the weak spot, that little place where there was some give-- a few more poorly-aimed flails in that direction and suddenly the prison he'd never recognized as his shell had given way, freeing his head and thin little legs, which kept flailing for a bit until the cold really hit him.

He didn't like the cold.

Overwhelmed by this new world and it's.. worldiness everywhere around him, Euron lay still, blinking dully at the shadows that surrounded him, trying to figure out exactly what was going on.

Euron

KINGSFOIL HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

It had only been a few days, give or take, since his birth. He'd found an old crown lying on the ground and decided that this was to be his. It would let all of the creatures know that he was special, the true leader of the herbivores. Yes for now his father was the "Lord" but he would never be a king. Only those that were Perfection could be kings. His father had said so himself. His mother he had yet to meet but he knew she was a Goddess. An ethereal being that no doubt was worthy of the title of ruler. It made him wonder why she wasn't a Queen but... no matter. He had other things to attend to. He was yet young and still had much learning to do with his pet. Despite his father's shortcomings he certainly was a kind one giving him the little winged mutt and allowing him to name it.

"How about... Kutu? I like that name. What about you?" He didn't particularly care what she thought but it seemed like a good thing to ask anyway. After all, he'd given her the option of riding on his back if she so wanted. That was mostly so he could easily keep an eye on her and buck her off if she misbehaved but she didn't need to know that.

"Hey, Kutu, did you hear that?" Not that he expected her to answer. The young stag took off in the direction foreign noise. The shattering. It was strange and perhaps he should have been frightened but King could feel nothing but curiosity.

Out of the shadows he came the white wraith, walking right up to the gangly legged horse in front of him. His head tilted to the side and his nose wrinkled as he tried to decide exactly what it was. His father told him that herbivores were good and carnivores were bad... but he was so young that he couldn't tell the difference yet. "Who are you?" The fawn finally asked at length. "Are you an herbivore or a carnivore?"

words: 350
tagged: @Ashtoreth @Euron
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

Ash didn't know if this was better or worse, but riding on the tiny fawn's back reminded her of her once decent childhood and she sometimes could pretend that Kingsfoil was Eos. He wasn't. He never would be. She hated him. She hated all of them just so much. Sometimes, the hatred was the only thing that kept her going.

... Regardless of all that, being on the bratty king's back meant she was farther away from his hooves and horns and in a position where she could launch into flight. If her wings worked. She was afraid to try, frankly. For the most part, she tried to zone out, at least until the Hasira Prince spoke to her and suggested to her a name.

She had.

A name.

Already!

Ashtoreth didn't have working vocal cords, and that was a blessing in disguise. It meant she didn't blurt out anything she didn't mean to say. This time, however, she felt the rage boil to a forefront and she gave her wings a violent, angry flap.

From under the flap, came a soft whisper, one that no one would hear but the baby King and his pet.

"You --- look like an Ashtoreth, a star..."

It was a small act of disobedience, but hearing her father's voice, gentle in her ears... Well, it almost made her feel okay again. Safe again. Like she hadn't had everything stripped from her. They could take her and beat her, but they couldn't remove the memories of her family. She could hold them close and bring them out when she needed to.

@Euron

Footsteps in the dust.

Euron took a few minutes to register the noise, occupied as he was with catching his breath for the first time, but he craned his head over his shoulder eventually to see what was coming. Instinct filled him with a tense anticipation, the unbidden instinct to question whether this was friend or foe rising up in him. Kingsfoil's striking appearance-- melting out of the shadows, a stark white shape that looked more like a ghost than anything real, a bearing as regal and convinced of its own power as anything else that called itself "king"-- served to exacerbate that tension.

This was Euron's first taste of the idea of power, seductive and fleeting as it was. Euron had had no parent to divine providence in his ear, to promise him the world. Those thoughts had never been planted inside his mind, fertile seeds with thick strangling roots-- this was their first introduction to his mind, and he found that he liked the idea. He wanted that sort of confidence and bearing. In this moment, Euron promised himself the world-- or some significant place inside it.

Euron opened his mouth to say-- something, he wasn't sure what-- but closed it again and tilted his head as flapping directed his attention away from the striking white fawn, towards... whatever it was on his back. He squinted at the thing, as uncertain and curious and dubious as he was about the fawn and their surroundings and this whole world which was still only moments old to him.

The answer to Kingsfoil's questions came unbidden to his mind; automatic, knowledge planted there by the magic that had forged him. He knew what he was, and he didn't think to question that; he only blinked, and spoke, responding to the cruel confidence in Kingsfoil's voice. "...Euron." he answered, still squinting at whatever it was Kingsfoil was carrying. "Herbivore. What's on your back?"

@kingsfoil
@Ashtoreth

Euron

KINGSFOIL HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

"You --- look like an Ashtoreth, a star..." Oh? A star was she? In his young life no one had ever bothered to defy him, to say that he was wrong and do something that he didn't like. He could feel the new emotion of annoyance bubbling in his gut and with a snort, he replied with a sneer. "Well, you look like scum to me so that's what I'll call you. Kutu." He couldn't really threaten her with tines because he had none yet but he could very well threaten her with other things. "Your new name is Kutu and that is final. If you don't agree I can always change your mind with my hooves." He lifted his nose into the air stubbornly, satisfied that that would silence her.

When he reached the young colt before him the fawn couldn't help but admire his form in an offhand sort of way. The little one was gangly with youth but even so he looked rather large, a great creature to have on his side. Especially after he confirmed that he was an herbivore. The young king smiled thoughtfully, indulgently. He wanted to know what was on his back? He could certainly let the other child take a closer look.

However, his buck was weak and he was unable to throw the carnivore off of himself. Hopefully it would at least catch her attention and make her less likely to complain about silly things like names. To the colt he said, "This thing is Kutu. Don't listen if she says otherwise, carnivores are stubborn and are lesser beings than us. That's what my Daddy says and he's a Lord. Oh--" Here he puffed up his small white chest, head lifting to show how he was of royal birth. "I am Kingsfoil, next in line to rule the herbivores." His voice was sickeningly arrogant but he couldn't help it. He'd been raised to be so since before he was born.

words: 328
tagged:
@Ashtoreth
@Euron
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

Ashtoreth exhaled a gentle snort when Kingsfoil told her off for saying what she had. It was just a memory, and he could threaten her with his hooves all he wanted. He couldn't hurt her mind, only break her bones... And frankly, she was used to the feeling. A tiny smirk slipped across her face as she thought, What, you want to break your pretty toy? Try me. She had no way of saying it, though her tongue twitched in her throat, her teeth clicking softly. Oh, how she longed to knock the brat down a notch... Unfortunately, she knew she'd be killed if she so much as scratched the kid.

... The oldest child there glanced at the horse-- for a moment, wincing, she thought it was Eos. He would be bigger though, wouldn't he? His colors were wrong, too, though they were close. She turned her eyes away from him as King started to introduce his pet, and as he bucked, she got the message. He didn't throw her off at all, but she slipped off, flapping her wings as she went. It still hurt to move them.

A bit of wind softened her fall as she thumped on to the hard rock floor. She hunched up on the floor, avoiding the eyes of either of the herbivores. Maybe they'd play kick the carnivore with her. She pretty much expected it at this point.

@Euron

The exchange between the two creatures fascinated Euron, who glanced looked back and forth between them with wide and curious eyes. Euron was a strange mix of impressionable and stubborn as anything, as many young things his age were, but all of Kingsfoil's words and actions were cementing the admiration in Euron's mind, making him someone to follow, someone to emulate. He nodded to Kingsfoil, at them being better than carnivores. That belief was easy; what sapient creature did not want to believe in inherent moral superiority, and that they possessed it.

And so fell one domino in the long line that would lead to the moral decay required to follow someone like Kingsfoil with absolute loyalty.

Wanting a closer look at the Carnivore, Euron mustered his fresh energy and pulled his legs underneath him, trying to use them for the first time. This was more challenging than it appeared; Kinesthetics were not always automatic, and needed to be calibrated.

Unfortunately, the calibration of this baby sense of his was not quite to speed with the rest of his brain, and Euron's first attempt at standing did not work quite so well. He expected his legs to hold him securely, as they were supposed to, but his legs hadn't gotten that memo-- they were wobbly, weak, shaky. He balanced for a few seconds and then dropped down again, abruptly back on the ground.

Which had not been what he was expecting.

Euron scowled darkly, looking down at his legs like they'd insulted him gravely, and then glancing at Kingsfoil and the other-- Kutu, apparently, her name was. Trying to save face, he chose to use his words instead, hoping neither would notice the failed attempt at standing he'd just made. "What /is/ Kutu?" he asked dubiously, "What are you?"

He wasn't sure the etiquette of the situation, so he asked both of them; the look he was giving Ashtoreth was something closer to pity than hatred or arrogant superiority. She was a carnivore. How terrible for her.

@kingsfoil
@Ashtoreth

Euron

What a good fellow this Euron was. He seemed to be absorbing the inflow of information without question or fault. That trait was something that Kingsfoil appreciated. Loyalty and obedience, two things he was only starting to learn about in others. It pleased him to have a new "friend" that would believe him on whatever he said. His tiny little tail twitched back and forth, obviously in a pleased way as Kutu fluttered to the ground before Euron.

The young king watched his new companion as he tried to stand on wobbly legs. Kingsfoil himself knew how difficult it could be to walk on newly formed legs so he offered encouragement. "Come on, get up. You're not weak. I can see it." He knew this because this one was not like his brother... that malformed thing that he was supposed to help. Euron dropped back down but before he could go on further about that failure the fellow herbivore spoke and questioned him about Kutu.

Eager to speak more about his "wisdom" he went on to share, forgetting momentarily about the equine's failed attempt at standing. "Kutu is a carnivore and a mutt. Since she's lesser she gets to serve as my pet and my servant." He repeated words his father had said to him before. "I am a deer like my dad and my mom." He stepped forword to Euron, sniffing at the young boy curiously. "What are you?" The fawn might have been rotten in every way but he was still a child and still wanting to know everything that existed within it.

Fortunately for the newly dubbed "Kutu" his attention was on something --in his mind-- more interesting than a beaten down hybrid. Of course, he was young and his attention could shift to something else quite easily.

@Ashtoreth
@Euron

Ashtoreth breathed, in and out. Even just using a little of her magic was enough to drain her. The bratty Prince was ignoring her for now, and that was probably for the best. She half listened, attention wandering away as it was allowed to do when she was away from Hasira. The boy was just as bad as his father, but he was forgetful, absent minded. Hasira would constantly be watching for her to slip up so he could knock her down-- at least, that's what it felt like. She could relax, for a moment, when she was alone (ish) with Kings. He was a dumb boy.

Her ears caught hold of the question-- what are you, echoed back from Euron's wondering. Her eyes lifted to brush against his gaze, shivering, and she felt the memory wander through her battered, broken body. Her digits, carefully twisting a wild mane into a beautiful pattern. Under the light of the crystalline stars, we bards sing along to newfound bars! Through ruins and tunnels, caves and rubble, we the brave do decree! We are the few! We are the free! Eosphoros sang to her, in his loud, booming voice. To the herbivores, the sound would be a simple, quiet murmur on the wind at their hooves. Quietly, she wished it was Eos instead of this foal-- but they were similar. Bards, alike. Could Euron sing? He likely wouldn't. Not for her.

She was beneath them.

@Euron

That Kingsfoil had seen his shameful attempt to stand filled Euron with shame, particularly as the other had offered him words of encouragement. The soft skin of his nose flushed red in embarrassment, and he was thankful that the questions about Ashtoreth had distracted Kingsfoil from further comment on the failure. Quickly, determinately, he attempted to wobble once-more to his feet, the skin of his nose still scarlet.

This time, it worked. He rose to his feet almost too fast, but having done this once before proved helpful-- when the wobbling began, he managed to weather it long enough to tell his legs to be still the way he wanted them to be. They did, after a few harrowing seconds, and he began the slow process of adjusting to being so tall.

He wouldn't try walking just yet.

Given that it was Kingsfoil who answered him about Ashtoreth, Euron inferred that Ashtoreth didn't speak, though he assumed this was a reflection of the fact that she knew her place in the world, not that she couldn't. He nodded, to Kingsfoil's explanation-- again, the eagerness of youth and that just so sapient want to be superior-- inherently superior-- to everything around him. He wanted to believe that, and so believing it was easy-- after all, being superior by your nature was easy if you were the ones that were superior, and it didn't require regarding the inferior as anything more than what they were. Who cared about their plight, their circumstances, their experiences, if you didn't have to be associated with it? He nodded, liking this.

"I see." he said, "Pity for her. She should be honored to serve." because, to his mind, it was an honor to serve those superior to oneself, especially since he was one of the superiors.

"I am a horse." he answered, knowing this for a certainty. "Though I do not think I have parents."

He glanced behind him, at the egg; would he know, if he had parents? Was it something that had simply not been imparted to him as the knowledge of everything else had? He did feel like he had an honorable legacy of some kind, but he didn't know where, exactly, that came from-- or if it mattered, where it came from. Ashtoreth's singing drew very little attention from him; he twisted an ear in the direction of the murmur, but couldn't place whether it came from her or the ground at his feet, and so did not remark upon it. These caves were full of strange noises, the ones he generated by hatching only the most recent of many.

@Kingsfoil @Ashtoreth
((Sorry if anyone gets tagged twice-- i realized i'd been using the tagging system wrong, so i went through all my threads and redid the tag so it would notify people if it hadn't the first time.))

Euron

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