ORIGIN

(Backdated to a few days after Quintus rescues Bartos, before the MW meeting, before the babies hatch, and before Vicktor turns hella evil)

His mind was still reeling. Every time he woke he was met with the aching, howling pain of his broken leg. He'd gotten out most of his anguish in broken sobs, weak and pathetic, in the solitude of his newfound den. He was terribly afraid. Orion was the only place he'd really known, his only home, and suddenly it was turned against him. It was there that he had lost Clover, and in her place Hasira and in chains and his wretched hurt. It was only thanks to Quintus that the boy was safe, but he was in a place he didn't know, surroundes by Gembounds that called themselves a family and didn't know him. They tried their best to comfort him, but that couldn't chase the fact that he didn't belong. He was so suddenly and viciously thrust into their arms, he doubted they had ever wanted to take him at all.

At first he was afraid to reach out to her for fear that he would find something he didn't want to find. But then he tried, he sent out a simple thought, and then another, probing cautiously around the mental bond that had formed between them. He did it in the privacy of his den, afraid still that the others would know somehow. Of course they did. By now, they had to know of the sad crippled cat and how he lost his beloved.

He'd resigned to the den, where the benitoite shards were left to germinate and already were slowly growing. Sleep was gracious enough to take him, casting him into a far off land where nothing that happened was real. There, all his tragedy was just another nightmare.

@Vicktor

Vicktor still wandered aimlessly with one destination in mind; Clover. Yet even with this definite goal, his feet never brought him to fruition. He had wandered into many other gembounds; even a fight or two! Yet Clover was nowhere to be found. After he had allowed Vazi to take her; his putrid lies luring her pure heart away. The young jaguar began to hate himself now; how could he had allowed such a thing to happen...Vicktor could have very much been her guillotine, sealing her fate from not speaking up. For listening to her rather than his gut. No there was nothing he could do but hope and wait; so that one day he would be greeted by her sweet ethereal glow once again.

Abruptly he stopped; realizing exactly what room he had been aimlessly walking through. Pisces; the room that housed that vital moment that was seemingly preserved in amber memories. The last time he had seen her; heard her and loved her all the same.

Matter of fact the young jaguar was lost; though one couldn't exactly be lost if you had no precise destination to go. Slinking around Vicktor began to realize he was possibly around or in the area of one's home. Coming up to the mouth of a den that kept someone rather small...at least from what he could make out. Hunkered down he slowly approached; why? Well he didn't have an answer, Vicktor was a very curious child still; and this stranger...who or what ever they were seemed harmless.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Bartos

The cat's slumber was often riddled with dreams, and every time he tried to understand them. But dreams were always strange, with Gembounds saying words he didn't know and having faces that didn't belong to them. Often it was Hasira haunting them, lurking nearby soon as he could feel Clover's light. And he tried to run, but no matter where he went, he knew Hasira was just behind him. His broken leg twitched, a finger of pain striking his limb. He shook awake, eyes peeling wide open in time to see a dark shadow encroaching from the mouth of his den. And though they weren't even the same shape, his mind couldnt help but jump to Hasira.

Bartos squeaked and tried to jump to his paws, to get away, but his hind leg screamed in agony and he stumbled backwards. Bartos was left in a fuzzy heap, his fur standing on end, staring at the feline with frightful blue eyes. But it was just that. A feline. Not Hasira. "...Who are you?" He breathed, wondering, almost hoping that this was just another harmless member of Maji Walezi.

@Vicktor

The small individual seemed to be fast asleep; at least they were before something woke them. Either a bad dream or the presence of a large lurking feline; either way they were awake now. A squeak escaping their lips Vicktor could only frown, they were startled; that much was obvious. Stumbling backwards and fur raising it was clear they were a feline just like Vicktor. Only much, much smaller. The cat spoke up questioning who Vicktor was. Keeping himself low as not to be perceived as a threat Vicktor eyed the cat. Mostly taking in the view of their hind leg. Poor thing,he felt so sad for them. A twang of pain fluttering past his heart he couldn't help but wonder what exactly happened. But that was best to leave in other thoughts, especially since it was something so cruel to be given. So he simply swatted it away before speaking up.

"Hello, I'm sorry for scaring you I'm Vicktor...are you ok?"

It would be clear now that he was still a child; voice harmless and youthful; eyes wide with loving wonder. All contrast to his abnormal size. Vicktor was rather clueless who's home he was in; completely oblivious that a group called the Maji Walezi lived here. He had wandered through without drawing much attention; which wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Bartos

It took him a small while to quell the panicked thrumming in his heart, but he met the feline's gaze, and he recognized that softness. It had emerged in but a couple seconds, mirroring an expression he knew so well... A softness that he'd encountered before. It inherently soothed him, despite not knowing this large predator. That look was enough to reassure Bartos that he would be alright. As alright as he could be, given the situation. Bartos swallowed and relaxed the puff of fur along his spine, settling down on the ground. He was still deeper inside his den, but he was willing to accept the jaguar's presence, twisting back his ears as he shifted himself into a more comfortable position. His hind leg remained cocked out to the side, unable to pull it in underneath his body.

"I-It's okay." The cat answered, his own wildly frightened eyes easing into a warm, sad blue gaze. "My name's Bartos. I'm alright. I just... You kind of startled me. Are you a part of Maji Walezi too?" He blinked at the jaguar, trying to let his body relax.

@Vicktor

Watching the feline calm and flatten his bristled fur was such a relief! Vicktor knew well what could happen if emotions such as anxiety and fear were raised too high; regardless of what magic it was. But to see his new friend relax; laying their body down and breathe easy. Speaking up that all was ok. Well that was great; calming even enough for Vicktor to slink farther into his den. Still keeping himself a few feet away from the cat; it was only polite after all.

Bone white eyes watching their blue gaze the young jaguar listened intently. Their name was Bartos;, such a unique name! Clover would have loved it and told them. He mused these thoughts for a moment or two. Until another name escaped Barto's lips. Maji Walezi? Who, were they? What were they? A few moments passed and Vicktor shuffled his front paws a bit; ears flickering back and forth in thought.

"Bartos...that is a very nice name. I am sorry for startling you; I didn't mean to. But I- I don't know the Mawji Walzi...Maji...Walezi..."

Attempting to mimic the unfamiliar words through his accent was difficult at first but soon they felt natural flowing over his tongue. Curving his pronunciation to sound each syllable out so similar to Bartos.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Bartos

The cat offered a small smile as Vicktor tested out the name of the group. It had confused Bartos the first time he tried to say it too - it was a bit of a tongue twister - but Bartos eventually got the hang of it, as did Vicktor it seemed. "It's alright." He added, easy to forgive the jaguar for startling him. It wasn't entirely his fault; in fact, it was more Bartos' than anything. He had been sleeping in the first place and roused by a nightmare, thinking the shadow was Hasira. But it wasn't, and no matter who this feline was, anyone was better than Hasira. He was relieved that here, he would be safe from the stag. The members of Maji Walezi promised him that when he joined their ranks.

"Maji Walezi is the group that lives here. They're very kind. They took me in after..." His voice trailed off, cobalt eyes flickering aside. It was painful to remember. Painful to relive. "I got hurt. In Orion." He finished and looked back at Vicktor. There was solidarity in the answer, reassuring him that Bartos hadn't originated from this place either. He felt like he was just as much a stranger to them. "Do you know anyone that lives here? Or are you just passing through?"

@Vicktor

So Maji Walezi was a group in origin...huh, how many groups were there? Vicktor was sure he would find out eventually; or maybe Bartos knew the answer? Listening to Bartos he paid close attention while the cat seemed to trail off. White eyes still attempting to lock with his cobalt. It wasn't until the injured cat spoke up again did the jaguar understand the feline's actions. Was that where their leg got injured? But that thought flickered out; Orion was a familiar name. Clover had spoken about it, how the stars and structures gave off a feeling of peace and wonder! But, if Bartos had gotten hurt there, maybe it wasn't so peaceful...

"I...I don't know where I live; not anymore...but I was born in Cetus...I was passing through until I wandered here and saw you. I was looking for someone dear to me actually...I have been for what feels like eternity..."

The young jaguar's eyes flickered to his paws, shuffling under himself as he thought on the sorrowful memories. Vicktor didn't really have a home as far as he was concerned. Where ever Clover was, well that was his home. But not knowing her fate nor her location well he was destined to wander aimlessly; though still visiting Cetus under the guise of a house; but not a home.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Bartos

The cat listened with some sympathy as he spoke of being born in Cetus, though that wasn't his home, not anymore. Or maybe it never had been. And he was a wanderer, passing through the caves, making Bartos wonder what kinds of things he had seen. Bartos knew a great many Gembound who explored the caves, but never had he really thought to ask them of the things they encountered. "Who are you searching for?" He was compelled to ask, for he too knew the pain of losing someone, and searching for them for an eternity... he couldn't imagine how much it would destroy him to lose Clover for so long. And yet... it was a possibility. One that he didn't want to face, but a possibility none the less.

@Vicktor

"Who are you searching for?"

Vicktor's maws widened into a smile; just thinking about his ethereal doe brightened his day tremendously. But when he got the chance to speak of her; well there was nothing else quite like that. A rumble caught in his throat he coxed it down; purring would only jumble his speech. He thought back to her; attempting to find words that could hold to her beauty and grace. But the following would have to do.

"Oh! Who am I looking for! Oh that is such a hard thing to explain! She is heavenly! L-like if...if the heavens and stars ever did speak she was their last mouthpiece. She glows like them to! Or...at least from stories she has told me...B-BUT she does glow! She is so tall and ethereal! Kind and loving! I love her a lot yeah! She understand and protected me when she found me awhile ago! "

Vicktor stopped; well...his description was endearing and from the heart. But gave no name...how would they know who she was? Eyes wide as if it was sacrilege not to put her name to a heavenly description he spoke up again.

"Her name...is so beautiful...I helped her find it back in Pisces! OH! Her name is, Clover!"

A smile evident on his maw he spoke from the heart; his sweet and tender deer. Shining as if she has fallen from the very heavens to grace Origin with her presence. She was perfect, and he just wanted her back.

"Clover Speech"
"Vicktor Speech"

@Bartos