Aristotle watched The collector curiously as he spoke. The lion had no idea how the size of a stone was related to the size of a gembound. But it was true they would have had to been massive to have such a gem. I’m not sure. She was alone in a cave when I found her. I was younger then. Aristotle offered a bit of the information about Abraxas. He knew little of her or where she came from, all he knew was that he had to protect her.

As the lion watched the creature, he noticed it perk up just before it began speaking again. It’s alive? Aristotle asked The Collector curiously. How would something living help them? Carts weren’t living creatures were they? Carts were something you put objects in, and pulled behind you. At least that was the jist of what he had gathered from what The Collector had let on. Then came the price. FIve gemstones all with traces of life in them. He could manage that. At least he hoped he could. They just have to have life in them then? Nothing specific, just life? I don’t have to kill to gain the gemstones? He wasn’t sure he would be able to handle it if he had to take lives just to acquire something to make his life easier.

As The Collector opened his arms wide almost welcomingly, Aristotle stared up at them. Then a scroll was produced, and held out to him. For a moment the lion stared at the paper. As long as he didn’t have to kill to acquire what he wanted then he would sign. The lion strode up confidently to the pile of bones The Collector was perched upon and high enough to reach the paper but not close enough to be invading their space. Aristotle lifted a paw and placed it on the paper. I’ll be back as quickly as I can. The Lion assured The Collector of his eventual return with his price. However he waited for the answers to his questions before taking his leave.

Aristotle let out a curious sound as his paw touched the parchment and a flash of magic sealed the deal. He saw the print of his paw just as The Collector quickly rolled it back up and tucked it away. How strange that was. So the deal was sealed in magic, so more than just his word was the seal on the contract. Then The Collector book crooned almost purring the words that the deal was sealed. Though he wagged a finger at his questions.

Then The Collector was talking again, giving him a point of advice. Telling him to get answers BEFORE he signs a contract. But how was he to know? He had never signed a contract before. He had never had to do anything remotely like this before. However The Collector was still kind enough to share the information, that no he didn’t have to kill in order to obtain his gemstones. Though that in giving him the Gemstones their magic would indeed fade and they wouldn’t be given a new life. He could live with that, as long as he didn’t have to kill others.Then before he could answer, The Collector had vanished into thin air. After that Aristotle found his way out of Canis and back to Orion.

EXIT ARISTOTLE