Hat: obtained - Printable Version

"Magic... is a part of you. Of me. Of these caves... You have magic in you. I can weave it..." The words weaved themselves into Zookeeper's mind. Magic. The description was vague, and he stopped a couple times on their walk trying simply to process it, but he thought he got a solid enough idea. It's... something, you see, something that comes in different flavors like "fire" and "light." Everyone has their own, and they can "weave" it, whatever weaving means. Despite his literacy, he didn't actually know many basic words.

Wait a second... what's a cave?

As he questioned this, they walked into a new room: one he registered mainly as small and oooh, shiny! Shelves of gemstones lined the stony walls, and a large table in the center loomed over him. Keeper suddenly felt very aware of how small he was.

At the Blacksmith's word, the cougar cub smiled cheerily up at him. He's been smiling a lot lately. I wonder if my face can get stuck like this. "Nope!" he affirmed. "No questionaroos."

The Blacksmith gave a hum of acknowledgment, and then turned to his task.

The helm was sat atop the table, and his hands slipped up its cloth-covered sides; clawed fingers held it delicately. For a few moments, he was lost in silent focus: but a faint tendril of red energy rose from each fingertip until the helm was engulfed in it.

He remained still, silent, deeply focused on his work: and after a few moments, the light faded.

The Blacksmith exhaled, and then lifted the hat: for a moment he tried to try it on, but his horns were very much in the way.

He turned to Zookeeper, and bent down to offer it out.

"It is... done. I think... it may be too big for you, for now," he admitted, "but it should... leave others charmed by your presence... when you wear it. And the creatures... will not see you as so much... of a threat. You will still need to... use caution... many of them like food," he suggested gently.

But the gift was given: and the Blacksmith waited, now, to see what the cub would say.

He really hoped he liked it!

He couldn't see what was going on atop the table, no matter how much he strained, but his eyes grew huge at the sight of the finished product regardless.

"Oh, crikey!" he awed. It looked the same as before, but something about it seemed more... charming, perhaps? Zookeeper accepted the gift, and with one fumbling paw, clumsily put it on his head. It immediately flopped over his eyes. "Oof!" It took a few shakes of his head until it sat high enough that his eyes weren't obscured anymore, and now the Blacksmith could see the pure gratitude and happiness that shone in the cub's eyes.

"This. Is. AWESOME!" he squealed, running a little circle around the Blacksmith's hooves in joy. The childishness of his voice shone through. "Wheeee! I'm a real 'Keeper now! Look at me go!"

Eventually Keeper winded down with heavy breaths and came to a stop in front of him. Huff, huff-- "Thank you, thank you, mate! I love it! I'll get you the best gift ever, I pinky-paw-promise!"

It was around this time, he realized, that it was starting to get dark outside. He looked back at the cave entrance with a whimper. "I should b' gettin' back," he lamented, "Don't wanna get lost." He slowly trudged his way back, before looking back with a devious smile. "Just kiddin'! I'm never sad. But I will miss you!" he mewed, "I'll come back someday, I pinky-paw-promise-again!"

And with that, Zookeeper bounded out of the Workshop and back to the jungle. Next stop: a zoo.

The Blacksmith beamed, and though it was hidden behind his mask, it could be heard in his words. "I am happy... that you like it," he murmured.

Some of what the cub said--the strange act of sadness, and the smile and joke (had it been a joke?) afterward confused him, worried him a little. But--it seemed fine. He also had no idea what a pinky-paw promise is, but the cub was already making his way away: so the Blacksmith tried to remember to ask him, the next time they met.

"Walk safely," he said quietly, as a farewell--and once again, was left quiet in his forge.