ORIGIN

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Pride had often been absent, of late. He had warned the Seven that he would be, when he could--he was always aiming to better himself, and in learning to better protect his group he had to expand both his knowledge and his magic.

He had journeyed to Canis to speak to the bone-reader--both about bones, and about Lesser Gembound familiars. He had spent days in Eridanus, and in Cetus, and the tunnels, studying and learning more of them. He had visited Monoceros, and he had visited his friends Amras and Mercurius several times in his travels.

One of the things that the fortune-teller had said to him, however, had stuck with him; that he was misunderstanding something greatly. Something he'd done, or was doing, and the repercussions. He had thought about this, and he feared that it might be Envy. He'd been, perhaps, unfair on the weasel; they wanted to be a king, and even if they didn't quite grasp what this entailed, they were--to their credit--at least trying. Maybe he was wrong; maybe the casting had more to do with his magical research. But helping Envy more--which was meant to be his main task--couldn't hurt, and anyway... he had a gift to give them.

"King Envy," he called out, a questioning lilt to his musical voice. His steps approached the now-familiar throne, and he paused. "Are you here?"

@Envy

Envy hadn't slept much lately- whether things were going well or not. Then again... they really never had. There'd always been something keeping them awake, whether it was hunger, or thirst, or just the turmoil of emotions inside of them.

But somewhere along the line, the little creature had been settled on their throne,- perhaps thinking, perhaps worrying, perhaps waiting- and had drifted off. The weasel awoke abruptly with a thrill of terror jolting them awake, unused to the feel of such smooth, cold stone beneath them. They were aching, and cold, and the familiar weakness tugged at their limbs, a familiar knot of hunger in their belly. They looked around, shivering slightly in the cold- and for once the weasel looked almost as skinny and bedraggled as they had before their fight with the Bloodberries.

They were confused, for a moment, at what had woken them; the weasel could have sworn that they'd heard someone calling their name. Then they became aware of the sound of familiar hoofbeats approaching through the sleepy haze still clinging to them. The expression on their gaunt face brightened, and although they knew Pride was already close, they straightened and began to frantically groom their sleep-ruffled fur.

"Pride! I'm here!" They looked up once they were in a more acceptable state, and dropped back down onto their belly, deciding that it made them look a little more relaxed. They hadn't absorbed anything since before their rest, and it showed; they were skinny, fur sticking out where bones jutted beneath, and where they'd lain at odd angles. Just how long had they been asleep?

But they were used to it, and aside from the momentary bout of frantic grooming, they gave no sign of feeling any different.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride tilted his head, his eyes briefly flicking over Envy. His own mind was absorbed in his... gift, or task; yet he still noticed the weasel's unkempt state. Perhaps... this isn't the best idea. Perhaps a child would be too much of a drain, or worse, neglected; and our King is hardly the most stable-... but no. I decided this. Perhaps it will bolster them, some; confidence, and maturity... we shall see.

The white stag stepped further forward, bowing his head to his King, and then approached the throne quite closely. His eyes slipped shut as he spoke, his magicka sparking to cause the diamond at the center of his throat to glow. Again, as it had with Mercurius, it didn't beautifully shimmer, or float off toward the Throne--instead it just sheared off and fell away, dully undramatic.

"My King. I wished to speak with you--and to offer a gift, of sorts."

When the sliver of his stone had fallen away, he carefully nudged it toward the weasel. "I know that I have been absent, of late; for that I apologize, though I feel I am learning much. But I also wish to apologize for my previous... impatience. I am meant to be advising you, not growing frustrated; I am meant to lend whatever wisdom I might have, not become impatient. It is my own failing, and I would like to correct it. I offer, too..." and here, he nodded toward the stone, "as a show of good faith and of friendship, a shard of my own stone. You can utilize your own magic on it--or have someone else do so--to create a child, if you wish, of my stone and at least partially my form. I entrust this to you, King, to do with as you wish."

@Envy

If there was anything Envy had been expecting, it wasn't this. "A... A gift?" they asked slowly, raising themselves up a little bit like an excited child, the perking of their ears and the twitching of their tail plain to see. Their gaze darted slightly as Pride apologised- they weren't quite sure how to respond. Sure, they'd prefer Pride to stick around forever, to stay close and never leave them... but it wasn't like they could really stop him. As much as they hated it, Pride came and went as he pleased... but hearing the words out of his mouth, that he was sorry... took the weight off the weasel's chest. He wanted to correct it. Perhaps that meant he'd stay closer from now on! That he'd stay with them! Their heart hammered. "Does that mean you'll stay with me from now on?" they asked, trying in vain to keep their voice from sounding too pleading.

The weasel watched then as Pride began to create his gift... The weasel's eyes widened slightly in anticipation, and they watched with bated breath as he dropped a small shard of crystal before them. They looked up at Pride wonderingly. "A child?" they echoed. This was unexpected, and set every quill on their body standing on end. For a moment there was only a baffled numbness, shock creating a void of emotion inside of them. Why? Why was Pride doing this? But at the same time... the little weasel felt a warmth the likes of which they'd never felt before, flooding them. Soon the shock was replaced by excitement and the weasel quickly scampered down the vertical surface of the throne to collect Pride's gift.

When they reached the ground, the weasel picked it up, first in their small paws, cradling it, examining it- so white and pretty that at times it sent flashes of light into their eyes and scattered little flecks onto the world around. Like a magpie, they examined it, and it was clear that the gift was appreciated. They didn't know what to say. Finally when they looked up at Pride, the little face was beaming.

The stone was very pretty and they had half a mind just to keep it in their hoard, but Envy thought about what a child of their own could bring to the kingdom. It could be beautiful like pride, and look like them... only... so much better...

The weasel felt their heart beginning to grow heavy. Not wanting Pride to see it, they looked down towards the stone once again and examined it. But maybe the child could share in some of their problems. Maybe it would understand. And most importantly, it would be theirs to raise and nurture however they wanted. If they so pleased, it would never leave their side.

The weasel's eyes glazed over. The possibilities seemed too good to be true, and yet... they knew, somehow, that whatever the outcome, they'd still be somehow envious. Finally, Envy struggled to speak, but even as they did so, they failed to keep their voice level. It cracked. It was almost too much. "...Why?" they croaked.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride considered, watching Envy as the diamond chip enthralled them. He sighed softly through his nose as he thought over his reply. What were his reasons? He decided to be as honest as he could.

"I have made friends, some close. One is very close--I would introduce you to him, at some point, perhaps. Envy, do you know what a story is?" Faint excitement lit in the stag's eyes, in his voice. "He tells stories--fantastic ones, with heroes and adventures and--I have tried to make some, myself. I could tell you one, if you wanted--but he and I chose to create life, as well as tales. And then I thought to myself, that I had treated you perhaps unfairly; and in an impulse of... I suppose good-nature? I decided to share my being with you, as well. You are also a friend, and you have long been close to me, and have sacrificed on my behalf. I thought perhaps... you might like it--a child, born of you, and of me. To raise as your own?" He hesitated. Truth be told, he hadn't really planned anything. "I suppose I simply felt that you--deserved it. That you should have it," he decided firmly.

Pride circled and moved to lay beside the throne, perhaps weary from his travels. "I do not know if you have even raised a child before? We were both young when we first met, but we were apart for very long. Oh--and on that note. I am certain that I will travel, but I will try to return here more frequently, and be here if you need me. I have many puzzles that... still, sadly, do not have answers. I am disappointed at not having found them."

@Envy

Envy listened for a while, little paws grasping onto the jewel that Pride had given them. They listened, first, as Pride told them of stories. They thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, yes! I knew someone a long time ago who told me many stories... of gods and kings," the weasel tittered excitedly. If only Khloros could see them now! They wondered briefly what had happened to the ancient horse, although Envy realized very quickly that they definitely wouldn't miss the stench of living decay. "Could you tell me one?"

They shuddered, turning their attention back to Pride as he continued, only for their heart to sink. As happy as they'd been for Pride's gift, they felt it all quickly draining away. A strange expression crossed their face for a moment, the sparklee in their eyes draining, the edge of their lip twitching. "You... you did?" I... was an afterthought? the weasel found the thought coming up hard in their mind, leaving their gut quivering and hollow. They looked up at Pride. What could they say? Pride wanted them to meet this... 'friend', but Envy found themselves dreading it already. Pride had decided they deserved it and that they were worthy of Pride's child... but despite everything they'd been through, Envy was always the one who came last.

Pride asked if they'd ever raised a child before, and although they'd seen Gembounds born and at least tried to help, they never had. They shook their head, trying to shed the melancholy. "No, I've... never raised a child." And despite everything, Pride would still be leaving. They bitterly wondered if he would be going back to see their new 'friend'. Their insides curled with a feeling of jealousy. I'm his king! he can't just leave me!

They watched as Pride lay down beside the throne, and, struggling to remain calm, Envy bounded after and clambered up onto the deer's back, curling up into a tight little green ball on the deer's shoulderblades.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride smiled, faintly.

"I will tell you a story that has no end. It is one that I was making, to tell others; I am curious as to what ending you think it should have. What others might think, too. Perhaps I shall leave it without an ending and see what listeners think."

He took a breath, glancing back at the weasel at his back, expression friendly. "Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a young wolf born in the caves. This wolf was born with magic, as are we all; and as he grew, he cultivated it. He found that he could see the past, the present, and the future; he also found that he could not change the future. No matter what he tried, his visions would always come to pass--sometimes even because of his very interference."

Pride shifted a little, getting more comfortable, before continuing. "He saw changes in the weather, and storms before they came. He saw lights that went out, and could look into the past to discover why, and how to fix them. Others began to come to him for wisdom, and as the wolf grew older, he offered it gladly, for he was kind of heart. But one day, he saw a vision that struck his heart cold."

A dramatic pause, and Pride made eye-contact with Envy, also dramatically. With but one eye. "The wolf saw a disaster that would strike: a flood that would fill the caves, and kill almost all of those living within it. Hundreds of lives, washed away. It would not happen, yet--not for a year or more--and he did not know what to do. He debated with himself, tormented, pacing through the caves until bones showed through his pelt. He watched the Gembound live their lives, happily oblivious to what was coming, fighting their little battles and romancing their partners, expecting long and fruitful lives to come of it."

"And this wolf, this seer, he did not know what to do, even still! Did he tell them all that it was for nothing? That they would all die, and to make their peace? The wolf knew that nothing he would do could change the future, after all. Or did he lie to them, leave them to live out their last happy year or so in oblivious bliss?"

Pride looked to Envy for a long moment, before asking--"What ending would you tell, my King?"

@Envy

Envy listened, and as they did so, gently kneaded at Pride's fur with their paws, uncertain of what else to say, or do. Occasionally the weasel would suck in a breath as though about to speak, but then Pride would go on, and they'd fall silent again. They liked hearing the story, but it made them feel inexplicably down. It made them think back to the wolves that they'd met, the gold one and how confident and secure she'd felt in her power. The black one who was too big and strong to worry about them or care. Of course it'd be about a wolf and not someone small like them, someone who had to work for everything they got... but instead the wolf was handed great power on a silver platter.

Envy thought about trying to learn that power for themselves, wondered if they could do it right here and right now, and whether Pride would be impressed. The weasel held their breath, and focused, trying to tap into a new power. But to their surprise, there was no flow of magic to tap into, and after a moment they gave up trying. They might have missed a line or two pf Pride's story because when they looked up, it had taken a turn, and Envy was somewhat baffled. The wolf's power became his downfall and he saw the end. They didn't know if it made them feel better, or worse. The weasel flicked their little tail and listened with round eyes, engaged once again, and meeting Pride's silvery gaze.

"Neither!" The weasel sputtered, sounding horrified. They shot upright on Pride's back, then transferred the fragment of stone from paws to mouth, and finally scampered to his head and once again lay down. "He should look for a way out or some place they can all be safe and then tell them! But then..."

The weasel paused. "Maybe he'd never find one and he'd die alone in a hole just before the flood came out of shame. But if he did... Then the Gembounds he saved would hail him as a king forever!" The weasel twitched excitedly.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

Pride's first reaction was disappointment. Envy's priorities, even at the idea of a cave full of dying Gembound, seemed to still revolve around "king," around being king, around what gained the most power. He knew Envy wasn't a bad sort, he'd just-... hoped they'd have gotten past that by now. They seemed more interested in the consequences on the wolf in the tale, than on the other Gembound--that was what appeared to drive their decision.

His second reaction, though--and this was perhaps more telling of his own cold and calculative side--was fascination. After all, Envy was more interested in the consequences on the wolf. Wasn't that strange..? Were they truly so selfish that they were unable to consider the main point of the story?

Or perhaps Envy simply wasn't communicating their reasoning enough?

Pride watched Envy for a moment, curiously, before speaking fairly simply. "And may I ask your reasoning for those choices? A possibly tragic ending; or, perhaps not. What prompted that decision for you?"

@Envy

Pride's question set Envy fretting again, both their neck and the quills along their head and back straightening up. What should they say? What did Pride want to hear? They panicked, curling up just a little tighter against the comforting curve of the deer's head, and looking down at his fur. They shuffled their paws, twitched their tail as they thought, quills trembling softly. "Well it... it's just..." they stopped, a short pause, quills flattening. "With either of those endings, either way it's just... hopeless. Either way, everyone dies, and in the end, regardless of what he does, everyone will be panicking and suffering. And the wolf would always wonder if he could maybe have helped them, even if he failed a hundred times before. And with my ending, if he died- even if they all died- he'd know he'd tried."

The little weasel tried hard to avoid showing 'weakness'. They tried to make it look like they were tackling the question from a logical standpoint than an emotional one. But somewhere along the line they felt themselves failing. They thought instead of the wolf proudly leading a kingdom of gembounds away from the floodwaters, saving many and becoming a great and noble king- although they couldn't help but feeling themselves sour at the proud image, knowing that the wolf would be able to look far grander than they ever could.

They turned the gem over in their paws, holding it as they would a child- thinking. "There's... enough bad things happening in the caves already without the stories being sad too... And I-... I mean... Don't you think the Kingdom would prefer a happy ending?" The weasel finally finished, letting out a small breath of relief, although they still nervously waited, with bated breath, for Pride's response. "But it's..." they cleared their throat nervously. "...your story, of course."

They wondered for a moment if they should show off- they had a brilliant idea, a wonderful one- one that they were certain Pride would adore, one that they were suddenly ever so proud of. The weasel twitched in excitement, sucking in their breath and beginning to gather their magic together. They felt the warm flow of magic begin to flood them- although it didn't have quite the intended result- and they felt it warm the gem they held in their paws. It seemed to glisten more brightly for a moment- and the weasel was entranced.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

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