The desert rose found himself in Orion, albeit late to the party, apparently. Fire marks were scored across the sides of old, fallen buildings, blackened roots of vines clinging in death to their walls. Something had happened here. Something recent. Last he'd been through here, these walls were crumbled yet covered in green.

Now, the only thing left was ash and soot. It curled around Desert's wings, flew into his eyes and nose. This was unsettling. What had he missed..?

He'd made his way to the forum, blue eyes scanning the floor the whole way. He had some people to talk to- seven of them, he presumed. What he had to say ran over in his mind like a pacing being, running back and forth with different iterations, all the way down to the inflections. This had to be utterly perfect. he couldn't muss up his appearance, muss up their perception of him so early. Hemlocke and Vargas knew him- he was able to challenge the one, and the other- well. Okay, he was still conscious around him, but he knew his patterns. Not knowing who he was going to talk to gave him nervous butterflies rising up his throat.

His wingspan, as wide as ever, fluttered as he circled down to the forum. This would be a good place to meet. He could see others coming- if anybody decided to attack for his intrusion, he could easily escape before they came for him.

Digging inwardly, Desert drew up his head and roared out, his voice ringing clear and loud. "Members of the Seven!" He paused, looking around for movement. "I seek a meeting in the forum!" It wasn't much louder than his loudest was, but at least he didn't have to strain his vocal cords drawing on his magic for this.

He could've sought one out personally, but he had no clue who existed in it other than an 'Envy'. Perhaps they would make an entrance. Cautiously patient, Desert lowered himself to his hindquarters and folded his wings around him like a protective shawl, his claws interlocking.

Now to just sit and wait.

Despite standing attentively, his ears were his focus rather than his eyes as he waited to hear for approaches. He'd missed the holographic impression of a deer glancing about, instead keeping his eyes trained ahead of him, of where he expected an entrance to be made.

Careful steps of hooves meeting rock alerted Desert, who's head strained not to whip around and instead tilted with a regal quality to look upon whoever had approached.

A quick glance over told him of a particular king-like quality that far outweighed whatever he was trying to make, the white coating catching his eyes easily against the dull colors of Orion. Though, Pride? Why were many of the beings in these caves named after nouns?

The irony of the desert rose having not one, but two nouns in his 'name' was not lost on him. Perhaps he could change that. If Vargas gave him permission, of course- and it wasn't like he wanted to change it. He was proud of it.

Desert's body followed his head as it stood to face Pride, his tail curling and hovering above the ground below. "We have not," Desert replied, dipping his head in respect. "My name-" The word caught in his throat for the briefest of moments- "Is Desert Rose. I've only heard about you and your partners- if only to sate my curiosity, what do you do here? He was prepared to tell Pride what he did himself- but for now, he hesitated and waited for a response, an kindness in his words that was unusual for him.

Desert was unaware of any incoming magic. He simply dipped his head to Pride in the brief silence that followed, eyes looking over the deer. He'd wanted to know what the Seven aligned with the masters- this answer didn't help, not much, yet he wasn't all to disappointed.

Just had to work at this, then. Not all answers came free, and he couldn't risk offending the deer or Seven. Would would-be aggressors be the masters?

The question gave him pause. A brief crack in his formal facade shined through at it, his eyes squinting at nothing when he sat in consideration. "I suppose it wouldn't be bad," he chuckled for a moment, thumb claws tapping at the rock below. He had time.

Questions, though. He didn't want to interrogate the kind fellow, but he did have some more to give. "I have a few, if that's alright? I can answer some of your own, as well, if you'd prefer." After all, an equivalent exchange was often the best way to promote genial relations, as far as he knew.

This was more Desert's speed. It was a casual discussion, both parties considerate of one another without threat of danger or a higher rank looming above them. He could speak to someone he wasn't already a servant nor commander of here and now- and despite his previous mission to come here to pry into their group, he relished the freedom simply sitting in the forum gave him.

He silently hoped that Pride could give him as many questions as he could, simply to give him an excuse to stay longer.

Desert hummed softly to himself in thought, laying down in mirror to Pride. They should be safe here, no? His tail curled about him to brush away dirt from in front of him and between them, idly listening while trying to make the area a bit more suitable to them. He paused when the Throne was mentioned, before continuing like nothing had happened. "Perhaps a change in scenery should be nice." His tone held amusement under it as his head tilted. "Though, as for me-" he sighed out, lost for words and claws grabbing lightly in the air. "Are you aware of the Trials that occurred this era? They woke me to take part." He softly huffed with humor off to the side. Pride was pleasant enough, and he could feel his guard lowering slightly. No need to lie, not right now. "A lot of this is new to me."

Speaking of which, his attention snapped to the banana that popped into existence, blinking rapidly with his satellite ears pushing forward. He hadn't seen anything like it before- and it'd been so long since he'd smelt anything sweet. Actually, he couldn't remember a time that he'd smelt anything like it. "Thank you," he offered sincerely with a dip of his head, taking it in careful teeth and putting it in between his folded claws.

"Desert is fine, if that's easier to say." Oh, imagine Vargas hearing him now! Telling someone to refer to him as a shorthand of his designation? Even that would earn him at least a demotion. With that said, though, he sheared his teeth into a good third of the banana, chewing it thoughtfully as Pride got comfortable. When he spoke again, the dragon's head flicked back up with a smile.

"First question," he began softly, "What is this? It's great." It was delicious- nothing he'd ever had before, that was for certain.

Putting that aside mentally, though, he craned in his head in to regard the deer. The armor hadn't off-put him- he practically admired it, now that he was looking at it. It reminded him of the bracelets he'd left back in the Warren. Had he made the- was that diamond?- armor himself? It was beautiful.

"In all seriousness, and I hate to sour the conversation by mentioning them, but how do you stand on the Masters?" He glanced to Pride's face with an intense look, not entirely meaning to look as serious as he did, before taking another bite of the banana and leaving it with nearly only the stem and a part of its flesh. Were they listed under the potential threats? In any case, however he was answered, he'd follow along with it despite his true standing on them.

Which was a bit of a fanatic following, perhaps, masking a fear of questioning. Not that he'd let it flare up here, right?

Desert's attention remained on Pride as he swallowed the last bit of banana. Sure enough, he noted he was sparkling with a soft 'huh'.

More changes were given to more trial-goers, and Desert glanced down to his recently modified claws in thought. Why was this incentive being given? Was it not a waste of powers? Hm. The example of defense wasn't lost on the champion, however, and he returned to watching the deer as he spoke. "I commend you for taking her down, then."

He hummed in thought. "I believe so. A lot has changed- we didn't have cats back then," he added in with a flavor of amusement. Why did Vargas love them so? They had cat-adjacent beings, yes, but not these current designs. However, turning the conversation back- "May I ask who threatened you?" That'd give some insight as to who the Seven had opposed, then, and who opposed them.

Pride approved of the name, and Desert committed the fruit's own to memory. Watching his arm, he was in the brief moment of smoothing them down when time paused.

He didn't notice- how could he? Magic was a fickle thing, and his mind was as frozen as his body in the moment. Instead, he only heard what Pride took precious time to think over, considering the rapid response as an example of honesty.

It was true that their motives were a mystery, yet perhaps they all simply stood on different paths on bringing back the life they used to control. So Nemean had gone to the Seven? Hm. "So that's what happened," he offered under his breath on Raheerah, concern flashing through him. Why would he attack? He didn't ask, not yet, as he had his own question to answer.

Why did he ask? He was prepared to answer, and yet he gave pause. There was still no way of telling how Pride stood on the matter. Yet, in this forum, he had a moment to think about his own answer. "I grew up under them- it seems the general consensus is against them," he began with a sigh. "I'm not sure where I stand on them." His nostrils flared in discomfort. He should be singing their praises, yet in this area of truth they laid out he wasn't sure of his own. "They have... Unbearable power. If Raheerah had attacked, there's no telling if Nemean or Astraea or any of the others wouldn't either." His ears flicked back. "I... Think I'm afraid of them."

Nice therapy session, Desert.

"I only wish to protect the others like you do." But how much could he do? He could just train them and hope they'd survive, while Pride was out here actually doing something unprompted. "I can't do much," he admitted quickly, claws interweaving with each other, "but I've taken up a group near Hydra to prepare them for what may come. I fear for this generation if they're not prepared for whatever lies ahead."

Perhaps the Seven and the Sentinels had much more in common than previously expected.