ORIGIN - temper, temper, tell us your name

Purity's jaw had worked uneasily as he padded away from the main copse of construction, pacing towards a more open-ended pond that he'd visited so long ago. Fish swam under its surface, curling in schools and drawing the feline's mint-green eyes.

What would it be like, to live a life so unaware of everything that happened? And who's to say that wasn't him? His nostrils flared as he paced closer, eyes flicking to the closer shore as he dropped his white-tipped paws into it.

Finally, it was time to clean himself. His tail swayed as he trudged forward, dipping in his oily maw and washing the water over himself like he was visiting a birdbath. Ah, that felt good. His eyes closed as he stretched up, wading further into the water to bathe.

When he was satisfied with the depth, he sat and dragged his claws through his coat, grooming himself without the use of his tongue. For now, at least- he didn't want to worry about some disgusting hairball later.

@Indigo

It wasn't that Indigo meant to try to startle Purity.

She was starving when she slid through the tunnels, wide-eyed and alert as she waited, searching-- but the fish that saw her fled before she could see them and react and give chase, and she knew (from repeated failures before) that it was a useless endeavour, that waiting for the right moment was better.

Holding her breath had started to get a little uncomfortable, however. How long had she been down here, anyway? Did it matter? She had to find a fish.

So far, trying to cast spells to help her hunt had failed, but on the fourth try-- yes she counted --it seemed to bear fruit. Or fish. Or at least fish heartbeats, if that counted. She could see them up ahead, swarming close where the tunnel yawned open into a pond.

The right moment, she knew, was right then. She threw herself forward and darted into the open pond, going and going and not stopping. When she broke through into their territory she saw a dozen, dozen hearts quicken and move out of her way-- but one beating heart had found its way in her hands and she was tearing through the surface of the water.

The room she landed in was dry, but not uncomfortably so. She sat herself back on the shoreline and bit into the thrashing fish in her palm until it went still, looking up around her. The room was dark (she did like the dark) but was illuminated by glittering rocks on the ceiling.

And then she noticed that she had probably splashed a cat on her arrival.

When Indigo saw Purity she stared in unblinking silence, a little stunned. She assumed he was something like the deer she'd seen-- but... fluffier. And smaller. And his paws looked very smushy.

"... sorry," she mumbled through sharp teeth, of which silvery scales had gotten stuck into. She put the fish down between them and nudged it a little closer to the maine coon with her fingers before setting her hands on her own tail, coiling it around herself to sit a bit more comfortably.

Silence fell, and Indigo didn't break it from there.

@Purity

Purity had no warning for Indigo’s entrance. Who would? The only thing he could’ve seen was the dark blot racing through the dimly lit pond, and even then it would’ve been all too easy to miss.

Especially if someone was busy preening.

The descending wave (well, splash, but it was a wave enough for him) that came upon him startled him back, his wet hair sticking out as he retreated from the water. ”Watch it!” He yowled nearly instantly, scrambling out onto dry land and breathing at the cold shock it brought.

He whipped on her once he got his air back. ”What did you think you were--” The complaints started up, his teeth bared and eyes wild as he stalked closer, only to stop short with his body. Wait. Was this that… Creature, he saw at this pond before? His expression calmed, briefly, but he squinted as he placed his paw back down to stand properly.

”My apologies.” Even if there was still venom in his tone, he had calmed considerably down, especially since he didn’t look particularly graceful in that moment. After all, wet cats didn’t particularly look that wonderful to glance at.

Rather, he seemed scornful, glancing away. A sigh in, and he continued. ”I’m… Afraid we got off on the wrong foot.” He glanced to Indigo’s tail pointedly. ”Or, fin.” He cleared his throat, stepping forward and sniffing at the fish, before nudging it back. ”No, thank you. I’ve already eaten.”

He sat, tail curling about himself as he leaned to the left and right, studying her. ”Have you been here before?” She didn’t look particularly the same as that purple bipedal he saw before. How many cycles ago was that, anyways? No, she wasn't the right color, and he leaned in once more.

Besides, he was pretty sure that last one had legs.

@Indigo

The naga recoiled a bit-- there was a strange sense of... regret? Guilt? It boiled in her gut either way-- but it didn't show much in her face or her movements other than the initial flinch. Whatever it was, Indigo was sure she didn't like it.

And she almost got whiplash when Purity started apologizing. Almost. Even if she were young she could still hear that there wasn't something quite right about the cat-- though exactly what she couldn't tell; just that it was likely to kill her for the damage done to his...

Hair? They certainly weren't scales. Indigo leaned down a little to get a better look at Purity, though she wasn't at a necessarily disrespectful distance. "Right," the naga murmured as she scooped up the fish into one hand. "Okay."

At least the conversation was moving on.

Biting down on scales and soft bones, Indigo looked up quietly. She chewed, watching the stars and the dark structures surrounding her. "No," she said a little blandly. At least-- she couldn't recall being here before. It didn't have Polaris's lights and it wasn't as hot as Fornax. "No, I don't think so."

She swallowed. "Are you new?" Her gaze went downwards, scanning her mind for what happened in previous interactions-- "I'm Indigo Eyes," she recited robotically, taking another bite of fish.

@Purity