ORIGIN

Khloros led the way into Orion, watching closely to ensure the violent black bat was nowhere near. The horse glanced back, glowing eyes regarding the black fawn behind him.

"You asked of the other deer. Hasira was a stag. I do not know what prompted him, but he wished to be a King." He turned forward again, pacing slowly forward.

"He did not know why he wished this, and there have been many," he rasped, "who have tried to claim such titles. He was angry. He wished to harm others, and to do so, he wished to gather allies to harm those who had wronged him. He wished to destroy his enemies."

Khloros approached the throne, turning himself to face it. He came to a stop, here, regarding the throne and remembering his ancient memories. "I warned him that a true king is a king to protect their people. I have met a weasel, here, that said the same, of being a king; I gave them the same warning."

He flicked his tail, and turned to looked to Artume. "Hasira did not listen, and he began a war. The others banded together, and killed him. He called me a God," Khloros added mildly, "but I am no God. I allowed him to call me a God, as I hoped it would allow him to take my words, and consider them."

He regarded the little deer for a long moment longer; she had the potential too, perhaps, to one day be regal. "One must always remember that the others in the caves are as a body. As one. They may fight; but against a great threat, they will unite. To make oneself a threat, is to make oneself a target. And to be ended. It will be my fate," he added calmly. "If you wish to lead, if you ever wish to lead others; you must remember that it is to guide them, and protect. That is what a king is for. Not to control, and not to destroy. Do you know, yet, little one, what it is that you wish to become?"

He regarded Artume without expression, nor tone, his voice near-void of curiosity. It was a question as much for her benefit as his; to form a goal was to begin the formation of self.

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BRING OUT YOUR DEAD

The fawn trailed Khloros, sticking close to his hooves. His legs were longer than hers, and so he took longer strides, and thus led the way. She didn't mind in the least, instead choosing to keep her attention out for the bat. Bats tended to be rather quiet, she knew, but maybe she would be able to see it coming?

The horse's rasping voice drew her attention, startling her somewhat, as the stag looked up at Khloros. Was he going to tell her about the other Stag? He was! "A King?" she asked, tilting her head. A king, a king... that was someone who ruled others, wasn't it? But who would want all that power? It would leave you responsible for all of the Gembounds in the Caves, and the thought frightened her.

She was quick to decide she did not like Hasira. The little fawn was a peace-lover, and the thought of 'destroying [her] enemies' made her shudder. The throne, she'd seen it before, but the thought of what had occured here made her uneasy. However, she was quick to agree with Khloros. "A ruler is only a true ruler if they protect, not just theirs, but everyone."

The thought of a war made disgust roil in her stomach, the thought of countless, senseless lives lost making her shake her head. While she didn't agree with killing, it sounded like Hasira had been a rabid dog, whom had needed to be put down.

The stag raised her head to meet Khloros' gaze when he turned to look at her, tilting her head. Perhaps, she could see him as a God. Not the good sort of God, the ones who protected their followers, but as a God of illness, or plague.

And yes, the others in the Caves are one, she knew that. And although she didn't want to admit it, Khloros was a threat, and the others would go after him. "I don't want you to be ended." she said mournfully, ears and head drooping.

And, for a moment, she had to think. What did she want to become? And it came to her. "I want to be a peacebringer. I want to be a protecter, someone others can turn to when they need help."

@Khloros

Khloros turned his head slightly, watching the dark-colored fawn, who would one day, too, perhaps be a stag.

"Then do so. Be a protector, if you wish. There are others who share such goals, and it is required. There are many things that would end us all. I am one of those things." He paused, thinking, and added--"And should I fail, others will need to find another way to break this cycle. To end the entrapment of souls."

Perhaps the little fawn could find another way; he was uncertain, but it was not so terrible a thing to try. And peace was a noble goal, far above the banal desires of most of those who roamed the cave, though he did not tend to judge them for that.

"Only be wary that the desire in your heart does not turn to violence. As it did with Hasira," he warned.

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BRING OUT YOUR DEAD