ORIGIN

backdated to a little while after this thread ends

Slowly-- very slowly --Ayr's pale face appeared from behind the lichen hanging in front of her den. Although it'd been several hours since the sounds of battle ceased, Ayr remained within the alcove for a while longer, just in case.

She was unsure exactly what had happened, only that she didn't wish to get involved in it. Sure, she had been tempted-- her hoof had hovered at the lichen for a very long moment, until she heard the air wobble and rip apart, and then the sound of screaming and bones crunching in on themselves. Needless to say, Ayr decided something along the lines of 'ah, perhaps not today.'

She was kicking herself, just a little bit. How was she supposed to be a healer if she was going to hide away from combat?

It was something she'd have to mull over later, however, because for now, she had a business to attend to. Many of the plants in Eridanus had been uprooted, burnt or otherwise ruined and killed, and she felt it quite wrong to simply leave them like that. The plants in Eridanus were, after all, a food source and shelter for many.

She was as cautious as a fawn as she stepped out into the open, pale light dancing off her iridescent coat as she began trotting quietly into the main area of Eridanus, taking a look around. It was easy, at least, to see where the fight had taken place-- there were a cluster of chrysalises embedded into the ground, among blood and... other, bits of gore, presumably.

Well, she'd need to wash that up. Ayr gave a little shudder.

First course of action, however, caused the unicorn to step around to a bare patch where the moss and soil had been burnt, leaving brown-black marks raking across the cave floor. She bent her head down, quietly, and shut her eyes.

She exhaled, breathing new life into the dirt, and slowly rose pale green plantlings, brushing her nose affectionately and spiralling out a fair amount, almost covering the marks where the previous plants had died. "Good morning," Ayr said quietly to them. "Hello. Welcome."

@Mercurius

("Pride, these children are innocent, trust me. They have been manipulated to fight a war that is not theirs.")

That was what he had said, mustering up a flurry of vines against his dear friend just as ozone began to crackle and pop in the air. Mercurius had sighed, the glow of glimmering moonstone dulling slightly as he cast the vines back into their canopy — watching as the white stag conjured pitch-black cages around the chrysalises. Then, dutifully so, Pride had gone in search of the missing bloodberries: the source of all of this trouble.

I hope that he does not find them, he thought quietly, staring at the chrysalises, I have never seen such... anger, in his gaze. At least their sons were safe and sound; the garden was yet untouched and undiscovered. Mercurius had lulled them to sleep with a wondrous, if hurried story, then immediately set to the scene of the war.

A scene which featured, most peculiarly, a unicorn. The creature was similar to Arsu and Azizos, though clearly grown and clearly different. There was an influence other than a lion or a stag's, here. Plant life flourished from the being's snout. Mercurius smiled warmly as she welcomed plants into the world, reminded dearly of the more dreamy and whimsical of the twins. With a little burst of magicka, the pale beast approached, head low and spiralling horns glimmering in the orb-light.

"I know that you didn't intend to greet me," he rumbled, with clear humor in his voice, "but hello, as well." Moonlit gaze turned to the plants, briefly, urging them to grow further. Slowly, but surely, grow they did. Each little sprout yawned higher, leaves frilling out and buds sprouting delicate white blooms. "Would you mind if I offered a little help? This — hm — battlefield is quite large."

@Ayr

And then, suddenly, the plants caressing her nose and rising upwards. Moss flooded the burnt stone and ruined soil, and grass trailed up her legs and face. Pale, purple-pink flowers of amaranth bloomed, unfurling and swaying peacefully as their stems grew, before they fell still.

Ayr was amazed, for a moment thinking she'd done this on her own, until a voice outright startled her. Like a deer caught in headlights, she leapt about a foot in the air, landing with a clatter and spinning her head around towards the lion with wide eyes, magicka working more out of instinct than anything else.

The magic began, and then quickly fizzled out, leaving the unicorn fairly defenceless.

Luckily, though, Mercurius didn't mean harm.

Her breathing was fairly quick as, for a moment, Ayr only stared at the lion in silence. She considered turning and running, calling for Elspet and hiding away behind the lichen curtain again, but she didn't. Ayr stood her ground, pale eyes wide and staring.

"Help," she parroted cluelessly for a moment, before realising what Mercurius had said. "Yes, I... apologies. Help would be appreciated." For a moment longer the unicorn stared, and then looked back to the flowers.

"I am Ayr," she said. "I live here, but I did not fight. I only came out to heal what damage had been done by the invaders." She did not know why she felt the need to explain herself, and her presence-- she lived here, after all --but explain herself she did, standing tensely in the same spot and watching Mercurius quietly.

@Mercurius

Ah, he had frightened yet another poor creature of these caves --- and nearly out of their wits, too. Mercurius immediately lowered his head, appearing far more submissive than he did already. His tail flicked once, twice, then settled to be half-between his legs. "Ah, I should be the one apologizing," the pale beast deflected, "my presence should have been made clearer."

There was no point in dwelling on the fact.

"You live here? It's odd that I have yet to see you about; my name is Mercurius, and I live here as well," he rumbled, a hint of curiosity giving a lilting edge to his voice. Oddly at comfort and ease with this creature of the woods, (perhaps it is the similarity to the Stars) Mercurius nodded his head in some odd direction, away from the battlefield, "Travel that way, and you will find my garden, if you ever wish to visit."

The old storyteller paused for a moment, then shifted slightly to face away from Ayr. Moonlit eyes glinted in the orb-light as his spiralling horns did, urging forth magic. A sprawling carpet of amaranths seemed to emerge from nothing, pushing up from the veritable pit at the heart of the battlefield. "I've been working on this, too, as well as another, Oliver --- have you met him?" The sprouts quickly surged up into dense growth, offering forth many leaves and odd blooms. A faint, floral scent pervaded the air, pleasant despite the blood and gore lying about. "He's quite a bit smaller than me, with a canine face and the forelimbs of a bird's wings. He is kind, and grows plants, too."

Though, lately, the crow-dog had been absent, and Mercurius worried for his well-being.

@Ayr

Ayr

Mercy

Ayr

Mercy