ORIGIN - To Conquer Fear

Lust wasn’t planning on leaving their nest again any time soon, let along wondering outside the safety that Orion provided. Last time they had left the cave they were suddenly attacked by a strange monster. While they were saved by a stunning eagle who appeared like flames of glory, such a rescue couldn’t be guaranteed for a second time. The rock monster had been defeated, though, with it’s stone being melted down by a spray of lava. And Lust was still young, with a youth’s curiosity and desire for a new adventure.

It was only a matter of time before the second emotion finally conquered the first. So, in time, the pigeon found themselves awkwardly hobbling along and towards a tunnel. A different tunnel than last time. Just to make sure. The entrance was small, though more than enough for a bird to go through, and soon opened up to a wider tunnel with flickering lights, a sweet scent to the air, and soft moss clinging to the walls. It was different than the ethereal Orion cavern but stunning in its own way as shadows and lights danced along the stone walls.

The pigeon moved along in that bird types signature bob. It would be easier if they knew how to fly, but such ideas had been placed on hold for the time being. Soon, though, that desire will occur again now that they were nearly an adult. But the ground was soft enough and they were in no hurry. Indeed, the pigeon walked a bit slower than was necessary while keeping an eye out for others. Because one never knew what was waiting around the next bend.

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

tags: @Kielo
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

It was hard work, but good work, being a parent. Kielo frequently found themselves exhausted, taking long but well-deserved naps when they knew their family was safe nearby. And sometimes, just sometimes, the young parent found themselves craving a change in scenery, a short walk to stretch their legs and ease their joints. Today was one of those days. Usually, Kielo picked a direction and simply walked, trusting their powerful nose to lead them home and their fanned tail to scan the terrain around them. Their tail feathers now felt so large that Kielo thought it was a wonder they didn't brush either side of the tunnel.

Kielo had come far since their hatching; they still moved with caution, but now they were less afraid. They'd come through this tunnel before with Winter, and so they were less bound to Polaris, even if they didn't do so very often.

They enjoyed the sweet scent that lingered on the air in this tunnel, although it almost blotted out everything else... By the time they'd realized that there was a new scent on the air, they were almost upon it, and stopped dead to sniffle at the air, ears pricked upright. Their ears picked up the soft click of small claws against stone. Their blind eyes softly twitched as though trying to focus.

Kielo spoke in a voice that was soft and singsong, well-practiced from cycles of patience and bliss. The last thing they wanted was to bump into someone, or worse, step on someone. And so, seemingly oblivious to possible consequences, they made themselves known.

"Hello? Is someone there?"

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

tags: @Lust
notes: here

Before long Lust noticed a strange feeling in the pit of their gizzard. Subconsciously feathers along their body puffed out to make the pigeon look more like a puff ball. They stopped, trying to figure out why their body was acting the way it was.

And then they heard it. A soft click-click from the way ahead. Lust froze in place while staring ahead. The sound was growing steadily louder. Was it another monster? Was the monster somehow alive again? Lust’s breathing quickened at the thought.

Slowly, reason entered their mind. This sound was quite different. The golem was brash and ungraceful, lumbering forward with a ferocious sound. This was of a completely different nature. It sounded similar to their own talons, except larger and more frequent. Were there two large birds up ahead, walking together? That was what it sounded like to the young pigeon.

Relief overcame them at the thought. If it was other birds, that wasn’t much to fear. Granted, Envy once spoke of a very dangerous bird that had stolen some of Pride’s fur. Unless this was that bird … A bit of panic entered Lust’s brain but they battled to ease it back down to the corners of their mind.

It didn’t matter for soon a strange creature appeared before them. It appeared that Lust’s thoughts were half right for it was a bird of sorts. Or at least a mix of a bird. Lust had never before seen a hybrid. The creature was stunning with its long graceful legs and flowing peacock feathers. And those eyes! A beautiful pink and purple swirled together. Lust’s own pink eyes were drawn to them instantly.

So, stunned was the chick that the creature’s words almost flew past them unaware. Once Lust realized it had asked a question, they were immediately confused. They were right in front of them. Why did they have to ask if someone was there? It wasn’t as though the other creature was big enough to tower over them and have to look down an uncomfortable amount too noticed the bird. Why would it ask that? And why did their beautiful eyes seem unfocused?

The fancy pigeon was perplexed but comforted that this creature did not seem to be a threat. Though it was a bit unnerving just how gorgeous they were. Especially when compared to themselves, who was only now starting to look like a proper bird. “Oh, umm, hello! Yes, I’m here! Can’t you tell?” Lust added, hopping a step closer while cocking their head to the side to better look over the other creature.

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

tags: @Kielo
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Kielo's ears twitched towards the sound, and their head turned towards the source- downwards. The other creature mustn't be too far away, and they seemed smaller than they were, but not by much. After a moment of consideration, Kielo lay down on their belly, furling their tail straight out behind them. They placed their head in between their pink-scaled paws, trying to appear as unthreatening as possible.

"Oh, well, hello!" they greeted eagerly, ruffling their wings against their shoulders excitedly. "I could hear you, but I just wanted to make sure." They thought for a moment, realizing that the younger-sounding voice probably needed a bit more of an explanation. "I can't see you like anyone else would. I'm blind, see?" They waved a paw in front of their face by way of demonstration. "I'm getting pretty good at finding my way around, but I still don't wanna step on anyone."

Kielo sniffed, ears pricking to the sound of them hopping closer. After so much practice, Kielo found it easy to tell where exactly the other one was in comparison to them, and the thought brought a touch of pride. Running after their and Winter's children had certainly taught them a thing or two. They smiled comforting towards Lust.

"Do you have a name?"

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

tags: @Lust
notes: here

The creature’s words didn’t really make much sense to them. Lust had never met anyone who couldn’t see before. Well, except for when they first met Pride who was temporarily blinded. As creature elaborated, it sounded like it was a similar situation except not temporary? Lust was astonished. They couldn’t imagine not seeing the wonders of the caverns and its denizens. How horrible that had to be!

It was then that the pigeon realized that their initial confusion may have been insulting. They gave a slight squawk in surprise at the realization. “Oh! I’m so so sorry! I didn’t realize that you were blind! I didn’t mean to bring attention to it! I’m so sorry!” They ruffled their wing feathers a bit as the word tumbled quickly from their beak in embarrassment. The white feathers of the pigeon’s beak became warm and pinkish in tone as they blushed and Lust was glad that it couldn’t be seen.

Fortunately, it seemed that the graceful creature was not offended. They had settled down on the tunnel floor with their tail feathers fanned out like an elegant dress’s train. Likewise, the chick settled down before them since that seemed only polite to do so.

The warm smile they gave the pigeon made Lust grin and their heart flutter a bit. They nodded at the other’s question before remembering that they couldn’t see it. “Oh, ah, yes. I have a name. I’m Lust. And you’re pretty-I-I mean- who are you?” They tried to recover awkwardly.

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

tags: @Kielo
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Kielo's ears twitched, and they raised their head as Lust became afraid she'd said something wrong. Kielo ruffled their feathers as they formulated a response. "S-sorry? Don't be silly! There's nothing to be sorry for!" The hybrid seemed momentarily flustered as they tried their hardest to soothe their newest companion's nerves. "Besides, I like it when I can help people to understand. I'm not embarrassed about it. Why should I be? It's like if you were embarrassed for having feet!" Kielo stopped themselves and flinched vaguely as a sudden worry struck them. "You... you do have feet, right?"

Even though they looked bewildered for a moment, Kielo seemed relieved as the little one answered their question. "Lust?" they paused, fearing they'd misheard for a moment before offering a slow nod. "What an... unusual name! How cute!" They closed their eyes for a moment, and although the name had some pretty strange connotations behind it, the hybrid didn't think that names should have any bearing on who was wearing it. it was just a name, after all. But they had to wonder where she'd gotten it from.

The little one's accidental compliment was responded by a soft trill of laughter, their pink nose and the beak-material on their muzzle flushing red. "Thank you! My name is Kielo."

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

tags: @lust
notes: here

Immediate relief overcame the pigeon as the stranger reassured them that no offense had been accidentally caused. Lust was appreciative of this. It would seem like quite the shame for anyone to cause such a beautiful creature harm. And beautiful they were; from the long peacock feathers to the pink nose to those stunning eyes that seemed to see everything even if they knew logically they were useless. Never before had Lust seen quite a creature and figuring out just how to describe them was proving difficult. They appeared gentle, warm, and caring. More so than anyone else they had met thus far in their life. That warmth was inviting. The pigeon couldn’t help but smile.

Lust nodded at their question before remembering that such a gesture would be missed. “Oh, yes, I have feet. I’m a bird. A pigeon, specifically. So, I have two feet even.” Once again, Lust felt slightly tongue-tied. Despite having now fully grown into their adult feathers of creams and browns instead of the sickly pale yellowish chick feathers, they couldn’t help feeling the same as they had back then. Especially when compared to such a beautiful mix of canine and avian.

Their name was unusual? True, Pride seemed intrigued by their name as well. But no one else had seemed to comment on it. Perhaps it simply wasn’t common. Or maybe just not the type of name that the hybrid had heard before. For just a moment, Lust was anxious about the thought of being unusual. But then they complimented it and once again the pigeon felt relief. For whatever reason, they wanted to be liked by the beautiful creature.

“Kielo. That’s a beautiful name. I think it suits you well.” Lust added with a small smile.

The pigeon ruffled their feathers slightly, wondering what next to say to the them. They were enjoying talking to Kielo and wanted to continue the conversation for as long as they could. “I hope I’m not keeping you from anything important.”

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

tags: @Kielo
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

"Okay, good," Kielo said, relief evident in their voice as the feathers along their back noticeably relaxed. They didn't recall ever meeting another pigeon before, but sniffling softly scented feathers and warmth- and they knew what a bird was! they were half bird, if they remembered rightly. That was what they'd been told, at least. Kielo ruffled their wings contentedly. "Awww. Are you soft?" they asked after a moment, and reached forward with their nose to give her a gentle nudge.

They withdrew a moment later, the beak-material of their muzzle flushing pink as she complimented their name. "Oh, thank you!" they chuckled, unsure of what else to say in a momentary flush of embarrassment. Their eyes flickered as Lust asked them whether they were busy. They shook their head vigorously, their shoulders following through on the action and wings flaring. "No, no! of course not! I was just out for a nice walk. I'll have to go back soon- but you can come if you'd like! I have a wonderful mate and two adorable little gemlings... Th-though they're not so little anymore! I'm sure they'd love to meet you!"

They hastily stopped themselves, knowing that if Lust let them they'd talk about Winter, Lyra and Vesna until the world ended- they were oh so proud of them all, and the life they'd made for themselves.

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

tags: @Lust
notes: here

Lust couldn’t help but giggle in response as Kielo nudged them with their nose. They liked the attention that was being given. Being soft or not wasn’t something they had considered before but was glad that the hybrid seemed to think it as a good trait. The nose was cool and moist, but not unpleasant as it ruffled against their feathers. It almost tickled.

“I’m fairly soft, I suppose. Not as soft as when I first hatched, though.” Lust thought back to that moment, up high along a ledge in Monoceros. Back then they had been covered in downy baby feathers all frail, soft, and in disarray. Some of those baby feathers still clung around the pigeon’s nest, softening the twigs and mud there along with what grass could be found.

“Oh wow!” Lust responded as Kielo talked about their mate and children. The idea of a mate hadn’t really entered the pigeon’s mind before. But now that they were older …. Would they find a mate at some point? And have little “gemlings” of their own? The thought of a large nest with a few little pigeon babies in it made Lust blush quite brightly. It was a wonderous thought! To have a mate! And little ones! The idea almost made them dizzy!

It was then that Lust realized that they had not responded to the presented offer to meet said children. Lust hesitated for a moment. Would it be okay to travel that far away from Orion? They were just a small bird. And while Kielo was much bigger, they were blind and would be at quite a disadvantage. Wouldn’t it be dangerous?

But Kielo had traveled on their own? It must be fairly safe for the hybrid to have felt confident traveling like that. And Lust hadn’t heard any word of other rock monster attacks. Indeed, Envy seemed quite confused when they briefly mentioned it to them.

Curiosity was a strong opponent which soon conquered fear. “I-I think that would be fun,” they responded with a shaky grin. “It’s been a while since I’ve travelled away from Orion. It would be nice to see other places.” As they talked, they felt embolden by the idea. Perhaps it wouldn't be so terrible after all.

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

tags: @Kielo
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes