The old storyteller rumbled reassuringly every few minutes, hoping to provide some comfort to the barely-muffled little hybrid clasped in his jaws --- Yew had fought him little on the way here, and seemed to curl up into a fetal position even as she occasionally rocked against his forelimbs. Mercurius didn't have the best experience with carrying such large children by the scruff, not even when Azizos or Arsu were young (they had lacked the scruffs for it, really, despite their maned appearances.)

As the Monarch and her sweeping, low cap came into view, Mercurius was suddenly reminded of the quiet moments he had spent with Arsu, speaking of the world and conjuring up all manner of magic. Among those magics, if he recalled correctly, were shimmering lights meant to reassure and capture the imagination. They had not been as extravagant an illusion as, say, the Eventide, but they were wonderful nonetheless. The lion set to work with his magic, emerging into the clearing presented by the Monarch's base.

While spiralling moonstone caught hanging branches in their wake, dragonflies dressed in shimmering-white scattered and danced in the air. Pleased enough with his spellcasting, thus far, Mercurius rumbled around the feathery scruff in his jaws, "look, Yew." Slowly, but surely --- like his pace --- the dragonflies coalesced into a swarm, dancing as one for a moment before morphing into a thousand butterflies. They scattered glimmering scales that sparkled as they seemed to drift down to earth.

The lion came to a particular spot --- where Arsu's flower seemed to flourish, even now --- and settled carefully. He deposited Yew as gently as he could, and rumbled, "aren't they beautiful?" Moonlit eyes gave the small hybrid a cursory look, eyeing the nasty, possibly festering wounds marring such an child: there was a chunk of her wing missing, as well as a ear, and a number of bite marks. Mercurius felt the phantom antler-scars along his own body prick at the sight, even if they were long-gone thanks to the wonder of a chrysalis.

"Are you alright?" he murmured, after a long pause --- he did not mean physically.

@Yew

Yew couldn't remember the last time she had been carried but... this was nice.

She curled up as Mercurius hauled her, not minding that he wasn't that much taller than her. It was nice, not having to rely on someone else for once, to let him make all of her decisions, even if was just him carrying her around.

His clearing was nice and welcome--she'd spent more than her fair share of time there, at least before her encounter with Mother, finding it Her Home. It was comfortable, and beautiful, and she felt safe there.

His magic cast out, and her eyes widened--"Wow," that was beautiful, and she watched as dragonflies danced, falling apart into butterflies. She wasn't one used to beauty, had once considered herself the most beautiful thing in the Caves, but now... now she would say that was the most beautiful thing she had ever soon.

She was set down, and she stood still, gawking for a long moment. "Y-yeess, ve-errry." And it was. He asked after her, and she turned to look at him, surprised. Why... why was he asking? Why did he care? "I..." her eyes darted around, and she licked her beak, "Willl be. Will be."

@Mercurius

Mercurius looked absently towards the Monarch, directing the shimmer-white butterflies into the nooks and crannies of its gills before his magical flow fettered out --- or more accurately misdirected itself --- and the dancing aether morphed into something unintended, something sinister. Caves knows this poor child didn't need that. What she needed was to know what wonder the caves held, even with dangerous things lurking in the shadows, clawing at the light near-rabidly.

The lion forced himself to look away from Yew's tattered skin and broken wing, instead gazing into her eyes --- if allowed, of course --- and frowning softly. His furrowed brows indicated only concern, though even they softened as Yew didn't deflect, didn't paste on a smile for the sake of making him feel better. She was honest, and optimistic. Mercurius leaned forward to give her another rough lick on the forehead. "It's good to hear that," he rumbled softly, settling down further into the plush grasses beneath the Monarch.

Though, he couldn't help but warn softly, "make sure you pace yourself as you go back out in the world, Yew." Moonset eyes glanced towards his paws as they scuffed the earth. "You will need to, if you wish to see fantastical things such as that, to explore and encounter many other Gembound that are kind and trustworthy." Mercurius's firm edge spoke only of experience and empathy, "turn your back on those that harm you, even if they seem to be within saving. When helping begins to hurt, too, you must do what's best for yourself. Flee, if you must."

He didn't mean to sound so harsh, and immediately recoiled at his own words. Thoughts trailed to the red stag that had sought an end to all carnivores --- be it by death or subservience --- and the mockery of a dead brother Mercurius had seemed to embody for him. The old storyteller sighed softly, almost wistfully, and looked back towards Yew. "I'm sorry."

A spin of magic, and small succulent-esque plants began to emerge from beneath his paws, leaves fat and somewhat sharp-edged. Mercy deftly plucked them from the earth with his jaws, and placed it atop his crossed paws. He eyed the smaller hybrid again, and murmured, "have you washed out those wounds, yet? This plant may help."

@Yew

Yew watched as butterflies vanished into the Monarch, wings twitched and wishing she could fly as she did. She had always prided herself in her wings--at least, she had before, when she prided in herself, but had always longed to fly. How was it fair that such small things, with no intelligence or sentience with which to enjoy it, could fly, while she longed desperately for it but never could?

The hybrid met Mercurius' gaze for a moment, before finding herself being made to look away, fearful of challenging him. She couldn't help but to lean into the touch with a sigh, enjoying the affection that was still so foreign to her. A content grumble settling in her chest. Hesitantly, ready to jump away if he showed signs of wanting her to stay away, she laid down beside him, muscles tense and remaining ear turned towards the lion.

She looked up at him intently, trying to take in his words. The came to her slowly, struggling to understand them, but the thought of leaving Eridanus scared her. "I... leav-leaving Erid-Erid-the foresst... iss it safe? Used to be-be a Bloodberry, won't-on't they hate me?" she asked, licking her beak nervously, ear flattening back.

He apologized, and she tilted her head as she looked at him, asking "So-sorry? Whyy?" she had no idea why he felt the need to apologize. Her eyes widened and she watched as plants began to grow, plucked easily by the lion. "Wish-wissh I could.. could do that. Mine... mine harrm," she attempted to cast her magic, to show him, but it refused to respond. He asked if she had cleaned her wounds, and she agreed, "With-ith wat-ter."

@Mercurius