ORIGIN

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Orlaith traveled through Eridanus with the typical newfound prowess a tiger was supposed to hold. Her shoulders rolled with elegance, and her tail held with pride. Eridanus seemed quite nice to the tiger. All the nature it held was wonderful, and it was interesting to look at. As she walked, the tiger noticed a large garden nearby that surrounded a large tree. Unbeknownst to her, this garden belonged to the Kingdom of Eridanus. Orlaith then walked over to the garden and sniffed carefully at the flowers. Orlaith gave an approving huff, becuase they sure did smell very nice. It may seemed awkward to find a tiger sniffing at flowers, especially knowing how fierce a tiger can be. Though, Orlaith was no bully, and she would not just go around destroying plants. Plus, it seemed that the garden was tended to. She wouldn't destroy someone else's possessions.

@Rift

High above, in the great tree that stood before Orlaith in the center of the garden, Rift was laying in the crook of two of the branches. His bright eyes scanned the world below for any signs of intruders or enemies, but he had grown lax and comfortable with the peace that had taken over the forest in recent cycles. He sighed softly and rolled his shoulders, enjoying the warmth of the lamps that hung not so far above him. In his moment of bliss, he almost missed the flash of gold on the forest floor. Even then, though, he might have missed it next to all the colors of the garden.

But he did see her, his eyes opening to see the tiger standing at the edge of the garden. Immediately he went on alert. He did not know this tiger. She was a stranger, but he was careful to keep his mind on track - just because she was a stranger did not make her an enemy.

He stood and began to climb the lowest of the branches that he had been sitting on, silent and swift until it leaned and threatened to break. He jumped, then, into one of the trees at the edge of the garden ad began to make his way over and down, shifting through the branches and leaves, as quiet as the wind.

When he was directly above the tiger, he hopped off and landed in front of her, between her and the flowers, standing tall and staring at her with a level expression. "Stranger. What are you doing here?"

@Orlaith

Orlaith backed away some as a cougar landed in front of her. Common sense told her that the garden here must be his. Orlaith gave a dip of her head as she spoke. "Greetings, I am Orlaith. I didn't mean to bother your garden, it just seemed really nice and I wanted a closer look. Did someone help you with that? You sure did do a good job. What is your name?" Orlaith calmly sat down with her tail curled over her paws. Out of respect, she made a note not to get too close to the flowers, since it seemed that the cougar was uncomfortable with it. "I have water magic you know. I could help water this if you ever need help with it. I have never seen a garden like that before." Orlaith was completely unaware of the terror that went on with the Bloodberries in the forest, but even she as a tiger, would never stoop to such violence.

@Rift

Rift was a little taken aback by the tiger's forward speaking. So many odd creatures have found their way to my garden lately. But he patiently listened and scanned her face. Mercurius had told him the importance of giving someone a chance and he was willing to listen to a stranger if they spoke gently. Which this tiger did.

"Orlaith. I am Rift, the Guardian of Eridanus. This garden is mine." He glanced back at it, the rolling flowers and herbs that grew healthy and strong and his whiskers twitched with pride. "I have tended to it since my youth, but others have helped it thrive through fire and war." He turned back and sat himself as well, but still alert, in case this was some kind of trick.

He tilted his head, curiously. "Do you now? And why do you wish to help? I am a stranger and this is a stranger's garden." For a moment, doubt and suspicion flashed into his mind. Was this some Bloodberry spy? A remnant of the ruined family, trying to fight their way back to terrifying glory? To infiltrate his Kingdom, take back Yew and Huckleberry and destroy it from within?

Last he'd heard, though, the Bloodberries had no tiger and Orlaithberry was even more ridiculous then anything they could come up with. A fake name? No, they had always simply used the first half of their names when undercover, like Jay or Yew. Besides, even if they were a spy, Yew and Huckleberry, he was completely sure, had left the family behind. He internally smacked himself for being so paranoid. This was a time of peace.

@Orlaith

"It's nice to meet you Rift." The tigress listened as Rift spoke of tending to this garden when he was younger. But she also picked up on him saying that others helped him with this garden as well. "That's quite impressive. You said that others helped you with this garden." Orlaith paused for a quick second before continuing. "You also said you are the Guardian of Eridanus. I don't mean to pry, Rift, but is there a group of gembounds who live here, and tend to the cave?" When Rift asked her why she wished to help, she respectfully stood to her paws, and gave him a warm smile. "Yes Rift, I am a stranger. But we are all gembounds. Shouldn't we help one another, then destroy each other? I may be a stranger but I stand for the good of the caves. Strangers can become friends Rift, as well as enemies. I only ask to help out of kindness, not for anything else. I did not mean to make you suspicious, my apologies." Orlaith did not mean to make Rift suspicious. She simply wanted to make good relations in the caves.

@Rift

Rift's eyes widened slightly under his mask. If she'd outright asked about the Kingdom, it would have been better then this, trying to get him to mention it first. It immediately through off every red flag and he paused, staring suspiciously at her. What on earth was she saying? Trying to lecture him? A soft growl came from his chest. "But I do not know that. I don't know that you mean well. All I have is the word of a stranger. How I wish we could live in a world where that was enough. There are too many that do not think we should help one another and I cannot let someone like that any further."

He breathed out, the growl fading and finished, more gently. "I'm sorry, but I must protect my own before strangers. I can't let you stay here if I cannot prove you are being honest."

@Orlaith

Orlaith noticed the growl that came from the cougar, and she quickly apologized. Though the cougar may have apologized first, Orlaith still felt as if she stepped out of line. "I apologize, I didn't mean to insult you. It seemed Rift was very protective of those that lived here. That was understandable, especially since there were gembounds in the cave with ill intent. "I was just trying to show that I was no threat to you, or your own. I also have nothing against your garden or plant life either. I don't know how else to show you of my honesty, Rift, other than to give you my word that I am a peaceful gembound. I am also one of those who wish to protect the good of the caves." Orlaith sat back down taking a second to think. "I understand you must protect your own. Maybe I could stay in Eridanus, as sort of a trial, to show you of my honesty? If not, I understand your reasons." That was the best the tigress could think of. She would not let someone as kind as Rift think of her as a gembound with ill intent.

@Rift

Perhaps he shouldn't be so paranoid and suspicious. Perhaps he could give her the benefit of the doubt. But he couldn't. He couldn't afford to let every little gembound walk into this cave. He couldn't trust anyone that he didn't know. Nobody knew where Jayberry was - perhaps she had recruited a spy into her midst. He couldn't take chances right now.

He thought about, perhaps, giving her a sort of trial period, in the way that he had done with Huckleberry and Yew - they could walk freely the forest, do whatever they wanted, but they could not leave the cave nor participate in gatherings. When they had proved themselves, Rift and given them citizen status. But as soon as Orlaith mentioned it herself, it snapped right out of his mind. Out of everything she had said, that, perhaps, was the most suspicious. "No," he responded, firmly. "I am sorry, Orlaith, but I cannot afford to allow every wandering traveler into my Kingdom, just because they say they are safe. I would like to believe you mean well, but without solid proof that you will be no danger to my Kingdom, I cannot let you stay here."

@Orlaith

Orlaith gave a deep sigh, but she understood Rift's reasons for not letting her stay. The tiger gave a respectful nod towards the cougar. "I understand your reasons Rift, but I promise you I'm not a danger to your kingdom" Orlaith tried very hard to think of a way to show Rift she was no threat, but she suddenly spotted a large, grown white lioness approaching them. Then, Orlaith recognized who that was. It was Atinneas, the gembound she met when they were cubs. The tiger kept quiet, not wanting to disrespect Rift by speaking to someone else while they were having a conversation.

The grown white lioness had caught Rift's scent, and followed it to greet Rift. But as she got closer she quickly noticed the scent of another gembound, who she recognized as well. She let out a low friendly chuff as she greeted the two. "Hello Rift." She gave Rift a smile, then turning her attention to Orlaith. "Orlaith! What are you doing here? Last time I saw you, you told me you left the Bonebound. How have things been?" Realizing clearly that Rift was talking to Orlaith, Atinneas decided to reveal to Rift how she knew the tiger. "This is my friend, Orlaith. I knew her since we were cubs. She is a former member of the Bonebound." Atinneas knew how protective Rift was of the kingdom and Eridanus, though she was unsure what they were discussing.

@Rift

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Atinneas