ORIGIN

The cub - no, Niru- decided to think of a name for his power. Yes, a wise choice. Cancer nodded in approval as he turned away. Settled on his perch, he watched the cub climb up after him. Temptation hit to pick the cub up and help him, as he'd done so many times for Quix, but the thought of Pisces, the past, stoned him. He sat still, and was rewarded for his stoic patience when the cub found his way onto the throne. There, he settled down in a similar pose. Cancer found it amusing, and honestly, quite flattering.

The cub then asked him something that he hadn't been expecting. Not really. He'd offered the cub a save haven, but to be asked to mentor him, to... well... Cancer looked away in deep consideration. On one paw, he could take in the cub as a father might, raise him, teach him to be the best he could be and more. On the other, what right did he have to claim another innocent as his own? Quix now suffered because of his so-called parenting. She'd been left behind after everything that had happened. Would Niru suffer the same fate?

No. No, he wouldn't. Cancer steeled himself. He'd do right by Niru, raise him properly. Show the caves, show anyone who doubted him, that he could do something right for once. He turned that yellow gaze on Niru again with a profound mix of emotions, then hardened, nodded.

"Alright." He agreed. "You'll have to live by a few rules, though, if you're to be my pupil." His warning was well intended. "You're to be honest, and true to your word. A promise made is a promise kept." He explained first, foremost. "Understand also, that we are but children in this world. We must learn more about the world we live in if we are to understand our purpose here." He paused, giving the cub a chance to let that sink in. These would be rules to live by, and should the cub ever fail to abide by such rules, he'd have to be responsible for his actions in turn.

"Speech"

His new ward had questions still. He'd encourage them- it's how a person learned to be, after all.

"This part of the caves is called Orion." He flicked his tail and reached back, into his armor, pulling the tablet from its pouch and setting it face-up between them. With a careful claw, he tapped the stone where he'd carved in Orion's shape and name. "This map shows us where we are. I'll carve a larger version on the walls here, so you always have a way point."

"These tunnels," He'd point first to the tunnels on the map, then to each one in turn around them in the cave. "lead to many different places. That one leads to Monoceros. It's forbidden, remember- the dragon lives there, and remains there so long as we do not disturb him further." He pointed next to Tunnel K. "That will take you to Canis. If you ever have trouble, that's the safest place to go besides here. A group called the Bonebound live there, led by a bird named Azazel."

"That tunnel there leads to two places- Polaris and Eridanus. Polaris isn't safe right now. Golems and a great beast lurk there, hostile. Dangerous. Eridanus, however, is where I do most of my hunting now. I'll take you there soon, to teach you." He indicated to the map now, pointing out the rest of the caves. "Cetus is here. It's easy to get lost there, so I'd suggest waiting until you're a bit older before venturing that way." His paw lingered over the misty room before slowly, pointedly, hovering over Pisces.

"This... This place here, Pisces, is forbidden. It's... It is home to a group called Maji Walezi, led by a good bird named Bevy." He sounded distant as he spoke these words. It still hurt. "The group is good, but there are people there that don't like me. Mentioning my name would put you in danger, so don't, okay?" He lifted that paw and lowered it to rest on the lion cub's head, affectionate. "I don't want my new favorite ending up injured or lost, okay?"

"Speech"