Pride had mentioned some cave unexplored by even him, by the name of Fornax. It was otherwise sometimes referred to as the Great Furnace, and he had rather expected an actual furnace. His mind already regaled him with ideas of a dragon forged from it, scales of wrought-iron and with fire in its belly. The thick, cloying warmth from the sea and its sauna, however, was still appreciated. Oddly enough, it smelled like worms here and the shores were soaked down to the bedrock.
Mercurius liked this cave anyways --- it was most certainly warmer than all of the others. Eridanus had nothing on this. Some innate instinct drove him to become drowsy and yearn to find a spot of light to lounge in. He had half the mind to listen to it, moonset eyes already dancing around the various rocks for the best one to sun himself on. Distantly, Pride spoke, causing him to whirl his head around so hard that a joint in his neck popped. Wincing, the old lion glanced to the tumultuous waves, "I wonder how it moves. Perhaps, it is stirred by something great in the depths. A fish with fins that would scrape the edges of the islands as it swam, an immense serpent which consumes its own tail in constant rhythm."
His ramblings quieted into soft mumbles, mostly to himself. As his companion spoke, Mercy perked up, alert, and turned to the deer again. "I think they will," he intoned with a soft smile on his face, bumping shoulders rather companionably with Pride.
@Pride
"Speech." Kallista had never been to Fornax. She'd heard vaguely of it, but had never gone to it herself. But she was wandering now, unsure of what to do or where to go, and she found herself in the cave filled with water. Immediately she tensed, but she didn't turn back. She could hear waterfalls and the roaring water. It was almost soothing, and it made her think of Pisces. So she stayed.
It wasn't long before she found a couple others. The sight made her eye narrow. A deer and a lion, it seemed. She couldn't tell if they would be friendly. The deer, probably. But she wasn't sure about the lion. So she sat away, at a distance, and watched them. She didn't know if they had seen her, didn't really care. She was content to stay here and watch what happened. Were they here for a reason? It seemed like they were. But for what?
Until she found out, she'd just sit here in silence and watch.
Mercurius couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face as the shoulder-bumped deer distracted himself in the environment, lest he become too overcome with cheer. A soft chuckle escaped inky lips as a bird called overhead and seemed to appear at the duo's side. Farther away, a smaller cat with stripes and fiery eyes sat. With a gentle beckoning of his tail, he called toward it with a woofing sort of sound. "Come closer if you wish! I do not bite," he tossed his head toward Pride with a smirk, "my friend here most certainly cannot." Clearly, the pale beast was in a good mood, joking and beckoning softly.
Moonset eyes slipped over to the peregrine falcon, warm and bashful at the eager interest. "Ah, no, I am simply rambling and musing about things." A shy look was cast toward Pride at the praise, ears flickering back and damn near doing everything but blushing boyishly. "Although, I suppose it could become something of a legendary tale to describe this..." Mercy tossed his head up and down, his version of stroking his chin with thought, "great furnace and its inner workings."
But, alas, he was rambling again. "Pride, this was your idea, wasn't it? Perhaps..." he smiled toward the deer, "... you should do the introductions, and let these awaiting two know what your idea is." His moonlit gaze betrayed no ill will or malice; they simply showed amused kindness. After all, this was Pride's idea.
@Kallista @Gea
"Speech." Kallista stiffened as someone else came into view. A bird, who perched beside the other two before speaking. She was tense, ready to leave at a moments notice.
It was then that she noticed the lion had noticed her. Her eye narrowed as he beckoned her closer. She watched the others warily, ears perked to catch every word, before she slowly walked closer until she wasn't as far away. She wasn't too close either, but hopefully, it would be enough to satisfy him. She then listened. Pride - was that the deer? Her gaze flicked to him briefly. She was still tense, and it would take some time for her to relax, but the lion's gaze of kindness allowed her to at least stay.
@Gea @Pride @Mercurius
Mercurius nodded as he was introduced, moonlit gaze still moving along the shore for a patch of sunlight large enough for him to lounge in. Finally spotting a resting place, the aged old lion trotted over to it in one last burst of speed. Plopping down in the spot, he smiled softly. "I've not a bit of violence in me, friend," to that effect, he closed his eyes briefly to conjure up a small orb of light, "see? I only use plants and lights." And, sometimes, the nights, he thought, reminiscing over the corruptive darkness that still lay within his being. The little 'firefly' followed Mercy's gaze toward Kallista, dancing and beckoning softly before vanishing in a blink of light.
The scars marring the fiery-eyed little cat spoke more than words, as did the wary demeanor. A pang of sympathy rang true to Mercurius's heart, and he lowered his head and voice, speaking softly. "What's your name, friend?" Turning his great crown to the peregrine falcon, should she still be around, he asked, "and yours, too?"
@Kallista @Gea