ORIGIN

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Rift rejoiced at the familiar scents of Eridanus filling his nose. As leaped forward and found himself blinded by the lights reflecting off the green growing at every inch. He stood there for a moment, just breathing, letting the music of the plants flood around him. He let his claws sink into the warm, fresh earth and lowered himself so that his pelt was brushing the grass. It was good to be home.

Energy surged into his body and he leaped to his paws, taking off down the field, letting his magic seep into the earth. But it seemed that few things needed to grow more in this area, as his spell seemed to do little to the surrounding life. That was okay. In fact, that was awesome. It meant that Eridanus was still growing and still as alive as ever.

But then he froze. He recognized this area. The torn leaves, the shredded vines, the blood still staining the grass. The place was a mess and many of the plants that Blackberry had destroyed were starting to die. He looked at the scene with horror. Browning plants that should have been bursting with life. Decayed vines scattering the ground that had once swung merrily from the trees.

Was his home really in that much danger? That a bird could walk in and destroy this area? Did so few care about the life in the caves that they could do something like this?

He turned back to where he thought Sebastian would be waiting for him. "Well, this is Eridanus," he meowed, trying to keep his voice as happy as ever. "What do you think?"

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Sebastian
notes: here

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian trotted after the larger Puma, looking around curiously. The other seemed to be really excited, bounding like a new born Gemling. He could smell plants, and life, but also decay, and death. The older Puma was now standing in one please, seeming to be taking in the plants. Sebastian looked around as well, seeing plantlife.

The cub squeaked as Rift suddenly took off, little legs pumping to keep up. However, he had to dig in his claws to keep from running clear into the other, as he skidded to a stop. The cub looked around, seeing torns leaves and shredded vines. His nose twitched, and he could see blood on the grass.

Hearing Rift address him, he looked at the older Puma. He didn't think much of the area, but didn't want to offend him. "It's nice!" he grinned.

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

SPLOTCH

"Hey! Get back here!"

The voice of a Gemling rang out, and the African Wild Dog pup bounded into Eridanus, hot on the metaphorical heels of a butterfly. She leaped up, jaws snapping closed inches from one of its wings. Splotch whined when she landed, glowering at the escaping insect.

She looked around, realizing she didn't know where she was, and seeing dead blades of grass. There was blood on the grass, and decaying vines. It was a rather horrible sight to look at so, after a moment, she focused on pushing energy into her paws. Grass and plants began to flourish, stretching out from her paws.

The Gemling grinned, and began to run through Eridanus, plants blooming from where her paws landed. She looked back to see the plants growing, only to have to dig in her claws as she nearly ran face first into a Puma. "Sorry!"

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

Rift turned back towards the ruined parts of the forest and, sighing, led Sebastian that way. He looked at the ruin miserably. "Most of Eridanus is much more beautiful then this. But there was one, a gembound that seemed to hate the plants, that came her to destroy. I fought her, but she defeated me. This is where we battled."

Not able to stand another look at the destruction, he carefully raised a paw and touched it forward, the magic springing from his ear. Across the clearing, sprouts began to emerge from the earth into small leafy plants. Happy, he retracted his leg and then was surprised to see more plants appearing, things that he was sure he didn't coax from the earth.

He turned just in time to see a dog running his way. With a small cry, he leaped back before it ran into him. Wide eyed with surprise, he looked the dog up and down. Was this the one that had been growing plants? Something sparked in his chest. Excitement perhaps? Anticipation? But for what?

He pushed it away for now and focused on the new arrival. "Did you make the plants grow? Who are you? My name's Rift and I love plants too!"

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Sebastian @Splotch
notes: here

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian tilted his head, trailing Rift. Something seemed to have eaten up his excitement, the older Puma seeming miserable. "It is?" He asked. Then he really couldn't wait to see the beautiful parts of Eridanus, considering how Rift had been talking of it.

He frowned, furrowing his brow. "Why would she do that?" He couldn't understand why someone would destroy all of the plant-life. What was the point? And then, a thought came to him. Was this why Rift seemed afraid of his magic?

The cub's eyes widened at the sound of paw-steps, and he stepped back to avoid being crushed by Rift as the larger cat leaped back, a dog only barely stopping before running into him. The cub ducked behind Rift, peeking out at the pup shyly.

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

SPLOTCH

The Wild Dog squeaked, looking up at the larger cat. Her ears went back, and her eyes widened as she gasped another apology. However, her attention was drawn by movement, and she peeked around him, seeing a black cub peeering at her from behind his legs. Upon seeing her, the cub squeaked, and vanished from sight.

Splotch beamed as the older didn't seem to be angry, nodding. "I did! It looked boring and sparse here, so I made some grow! I'm Wild Splotch, but I prefer to be called Splotch! It's nice to meet you Rift!" she wagged her tail.

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

@Rift

Rift closed his eyes and imagined the beautiful cave. The wonderful monarch with its gleaming silver cap, the serene crystalline eyes that reflected the trees, and his home tree, an old twisted oak with wildflowers and sweet lavender bringing color and life. For a moment, he was lost in the memory, yearning to get away from this place that was soaked in bad memories. "Oh yes, Eridanus is beautiful. And I don't know why anyone would ever want to destroy it. Perhaps the goose is evil."

But that wasn't important right now. He needed to learn about this dog. Maybe this dog could help him. They liked plants and so did he. Maybe they could make plants together! "It's nice to meet you, Splotch! What kind of things can you grow? Herbs? Flowers? Big leafy plants? I prefer to make these." He touched the ground, hoping to raise his favorite leafy friends and glowing mosses. But then he felt a sinking sensation and he knew what was coming next. Without hesitation, he grabbed Splotch and Sebastian and threw them out of the way. Just as they cleared, the ground was rent as the seeds beneath the earth exploded. Fortunately, he had not tried to raise quite as many plants as before and the destruction area was considerably smaller. The ruined area looked even worse now.

Embarrassed, he turned back to the other two. "Um, maybe we should continue this conversation at my home? This place just seems like bad luck."

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Sebastian @Splotch
notes: here

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian hid behind the older Puma's legs, hesitantly peeking out to look at the Wild Dog pup. When their gazes met, his eyes widened, and he vanished back behind his legs, ears twitching. What did she want?

Rift didn't seem to mind much, going quiet. But he was quick to speak again, speaking of Eridanus. "Goose?" he asked without thinking, before looking at the Wild Dog when they spoke in sync. He ducked back behind Rift, huffing.

She was a plant magic user? Why couldn't she be a fire magic user! But, then again, Rift didn't seem to like fire magic, so at least the older Puma wouldn't be nervous.

So distracted was he, he didn't notice anything until he was scooped up, and tossed out of the way. The cub squeaked, staring in shock as the ground blew up, seemingly without reason. He looked at Splotch, shocked, before nodding. "Yes please!"

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

SPLOTCH

Splotch tilted her head, wondering what was going through the older Gembound's head. His eyes were closed, and from the look on his face, he was thinking, seemingly longing. Had she said the wrong thing? But then his eyes were open again, and he was speaking. "Goose?" she echoed curiously, not sure where geese came into this.

But then he was asking her a question, and she grinned. "I like growing flowers! But I grow other things, too!" She yipped excitedly. Unfortunately, the older Gembound wasn't able to show off his magic, as he was suddenly grabbing her and the cub up, flinging them out of the way right before the ground exploded. She cowered, before sharing a look with the cub. "I agree!" she was quick to chime in.

"I'm speaking..."
'I'm thinking...'

Rift nodded to the two, still embaressed by his horrifying failure. He turns to leave, but first pressed his paw against the ground, hoping that, this time, he could emerge some plants to cover the tear in the earth. Thankfully, the ground didn't explode this time and he was able to lead the two gembounds to the place where he had his nest.

As the trees started to grow closer together, there was a sudden halt in the line, opening to a clearing spotted with flowers, ferns, and fungus, with a path leading through. In the middle was a great oak, ancient and twisted with a large opening in its roots. There was a soft glow coming from the darkness under the tree and that was where Rift was headed.

He nodded to the trail. "I asked my friends to move out of the way for me and they did. I've worked hard to maintain the natural beauty of this place, but I've added my own few things." His eyes sparkled as he looked at large beds of purple flowers growing outside of the cave.

When he went inside, it was actually moderately lit, thanks to glowing moss that was growing from the roots. There was a bed of moss laid out in the corner and the rest of the cave was pretty open, except for a small stash of herbs stuffed in a gap between two roots.

He turned to the other two and sat down, trying to contain his excitement, though the tip of his tail twitched out of his control. The earth was soft and springy and he hoped they would be comfortable. "What do you think?" He asked, his voice shaking with happiness.

___________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Sebastian @Splotch
notes: here

Pages: 1 2 3

Rift (Original)

Sebastian

Splotch

Rift (Original)

Sebastian

Sebastian

Rift (Original)

Sebastian

Splotch

Rift (Original)