ORIGIN - not even the stars are safe in the sky

It was a busy day at the camp. Or, rather, it was busy with Attikias- the lights were flickering and dimming somewhat as he worked, leaning into a large pile of termite dirt he’d had Carja deliver long ago.

It was only now that he’d actually wet it into mud, mixed it with fiber, and began to use it for his kiln.

The paper laid against his side as he glanced to it, red clay smudged on its edges and the pictures being followed to a T. Thank the caves that Volta had found it- perhaps he could make jars like the ones Elspet had given him.

He stretched, somewhat, having just gotten into his work- he had a long while to shape the kiln to the size he wanted, and he had a lot of dirt to use for it. The groundwork was already started, and he'd made a few small ropes of it, staining his hands red as he shaped the wet clay into an adobe structure.

The Elenya Clan camp is developed and busy, with its sandy dirt showing evidence of a lot of foot traffic. What started as a natural clearing has grown due to the expansion of new homes- the original shack with space to fit around five humanoids lays in front of a small copse of trees. Directly in front of it is a firepit, circled by small stones and dry logs to seat one’s self at. Urns with various powders and dried spices are found, and two bent metal rods poke out of the ground to hold a grill or spit.

If the first hut is south, then the second is to the south-west, nearby and larger than the first. While the first only has a sloping roof making up its lone back wall, the other is more of a tarp on sticks, creating a roof that protects open urns and pelts from the rain.

Further along this direction is a large workbench. Broken tools and projects lay strewn about it, and many wooden figures dot on and around it, carefully made to stand or perch. Notably in this area is an extremely lifelike figurine of a deer. Though, it seems almost hidden by a few leather straps, and pointedly turned away from the camp.

Between the table and rain-shed is a well-beaten path to a nearby river that can be heard faintly in the quiet of the night. To the table’s right, however, is a more hidden path, leading towards the nearby Eyes. It doesn’t seem to get much travel. By its entrance is a large, lumpy stone statue, decorated with silvery and blue flowers at its base.

Past this is a large nest, the area recently carved out of the pushed-back treeline. Carja’s personal, portable hoard is located here, as well as her saddle when she’s not donning it.

Running along back towards the main hut is a construction in progress, beside a mix of urns and weapons that have been strewn about the area. Almost all of these have been seemingly scavenged from the tunnel before Monoceros- most are broken and unusable at this point. Near this, as well, is a secondary smoke-pit, designed to cure leather over it.

(when the camp description is longer than the actual post--)
@Aviatrix

- AVIATRIX -

...whoa. This place is cool.

Aviatrix doesn't know what they were expecting when they were running through the undergrowth. They weren't expecting anything at all, actually—they were just running around for the sake of it because they had a lot of energy and they were bored and this was better than just standing around or sleeping. But, man…

...this is just… wow. They can't help but stop and stare, taking everything in; from the paths, to the houses, to the stuff within them…

And, luckily for them, the camp seems almost empty right now. The only gembound they can see is some weird bipedal one making something out of mud, and while the action doesn't interest them all that much—there's nothing shiny, only mud, mud, and more mud—that does mean he's distracted.

And distraction means he won't notice or try to chase after them when they do find something shiny and steal it. Hey, maybe if they're really lucky he won't even notice it's missing until they're long gone! This is a place full of plants, after all; it's easy to lose someone in them.

With soft, careful paws, they creep closer. Carefully, they stick to the edges of walls and shadows cast by huts, staying pointedly away from the main paith. In the dappled underbrush, their spotted pelt blends in perfectly; out on the dirt path, they stick out like a sore paw.

The biggest hut looks the coolest, to them, but a single passover doesn't reveal anything particularly interesting. There are metal rods dug straight into the ground, something that gave them pause, but on further notice and sniffing and even tugging on them, they find the rods, despite their shininess, hardly give.

So it's further into the camp they go, prowling towards the second hut—not even a hut, really, more like a tarp, held up by several big sticks. Those, too, are thoroughly sniffed at, and some of the urns are even looked into, but their search still yields no results.

Surely there must be valuables somewhere in this place? There's gotta be something for them to steal—it's too big not to!

Eventually, after lots more prowling, carefully making their way down another path, ducking beneath ferns and generally being very very sneaky and not there, they stumble upon something that finally catches their eye.

It's not shiny, per se. Not at all; there are still no shinies here to speak of.

But… looking at the collection of wooden figures, little animals and stuff all made out of wood... Aviatrix has to digress that maybe treasure doesn't always have to be shiny. Because the works made here, lined up on a big old table, painstakingly carved in perfect detail, right down to the texture of the fur…

...yeah. That's cool.

They think they've finally found their thing to steal. But—which one?

The deer catches their eye first, mostly because it looks the most detailed and also because it seems to be intentionally obscured by a few strips of something brown, hiding away the main part of it. The mystery in it intrigues them in a way they can't resist. They want to see the whole thing! What kind of deer is hiding behind those leather strips?

Still as careful as ever to not make any noise, they dig their claws into a wooden leg and clamber up onto the table, weaving between the other wooden carvings to stare directly at the deer. Tail beginning to wag in excitement, they grip one of the strips with their teeth and pull it away…

The deer is detailed enough to feel real. Intricate down to the detail of its hooves, it looks like it could leap off of the workbench and run away at any moment. Aviatrix's eyes trail up from its legs, to its neck, to its face…

...a face that holds wide, terrified eyes. A face that holds an expression that looks into them; the carving seems to question them, as if saying have you felt fear?

Aviatrix makes it a point to not feel fear, actually. They live for risking it all, putting their dignity on the line!—but never have they ever really been in danger. Never have they risked their actual life...

...but the deer, staring into their soul, looks like it had.

With a terrified yelp, they topple off of the workbench, falling back-first into the dirt. Don't like that—don't like that at all!

@Attikias

Attikias had continued working, not noticing the little civet exploring his camp. He had his project in mind, after all, and he couldn't notice everyone that came by.

Especially when they were sneaky thieves like Aviatrix.

He'd moved on to the dirt itself- he still needed to make the pit for it under the kiln to put in the- glass? Whatever that was, in the diagram, and he squinted over to investigate.

A crashing noise- and a yelp- caught his attention. Twisting around slowly, Attikias planted his hands on his crossed legs, tail thumping in thought as he looked about. "Is someone there..?" He didn't sound particularly urgent- perhaps it was one of his family, after all.

He blinked, and waited, hoping for some sort of response, perhaps.

(sorry for taking so long :[ ) @Aviatrix

- AVIATRIX -

Is someone there…?

Uh. Hm.

Nope! Nobody's here! There's definitely not a slinky, sneaky little genet in the dirt right now, trying to comprehend why that one wooden statue is super, super sinister and also they swear it looked at them—

—okay, Aviatrix. Calm down. Think it through. The resident of the local camp you've decided to steal from has heard you fall from the place you were trying to steal from. What now?

Well, they think it's time for—

—a trusty distraction!

There's a twig that they consider themselves lucky they didn't step on earlier while skulking around. Quickly, they clasp it between their jaws, throwing it with a flick of their head as far in the other direction as it can go, hoping it clatters against something.

That way! Go that way!

@Attikias

( no problem! i... have also taken a while on this post :pensive: )

Attikias straightened even more, lifting himself up on his worktable and looking out into the camp. Maybe it was nothing.

His tail flicked at the noise. "Hello?" He called out louder this time, a hand raising up. Careful steps brought him forward to the other side of the camp. "Is someone there? I'm friendly," he attempted to placate whoever was possibly in the bushes, looking around for the source of noise.

His foot nudged the twig, and he squinted at it. It didn't seem out of place, and he craned over as he inspected it, picking it up with one hand and turning it over.

Then he shrugged, threw it into the trees, and returned back to his work. His tail was still lashing at the thought that there was someone there, but there was no use in worrying about it if they didn't want to come out.

@Aviatrix