Arsu picked his way quietly, as carefully as he could, across the spongy earth of Eridanus. The journey hadn't been too long--an hour? Around that?--and he wasn't sure if Kira was awake again from where she'd curled up on his back, back in Polaris.

He paused to look around, haunches higher on the slope than forelimbs, head lifted with ears cupped forward. The birdsong filled his ears beneath the rustle of leaves in the wind, and beneath this cut the trickle of a nearby brook. His nostrils were filled with the scent of rich, damp soil and foliage. And as far as the eye could see, there was only plant life: moss and grass, orb-light shining brightly through uncoiled ferns, hanging vines and towering trees, bushes and flowers. And the eye couldn't see far; the cave was crowded with it.

He picked his way around a stony outcrop, and down to the water's edge, now that he was certain there was no nearby danger.

"We're here," he said, softly--checking to see if Kira was awake. If she wasn't, he would need to wake her up, for a bit--at least long enough to get her situated, here, and to make sure she really wanted Eridanus as her new home. "Kira-? Are you awake?"

@Kira

Kira

You Broke Me First

Could you tell me, where'd you get the nerve?

Kira was pulled out of the darkness by someone gently calling her name. She stretched out and forgetting where she was, and who's back she was on, she rolled to side and right off Arsu's back, landing with a soft thud at his feet. "Ouch!" she exclaimed then gave a bewildered look around. Once her eyes focused on the view before her all pain was forgotten. It was amazing, she didn't know what she was expecting, but this was just so...colorful. Polaris was still beautiful, but this was all together different. She smiled and let her eyes take it all in. This...this is so amazing! She was in awe and couldn't wait to go exploring and see new things. She ran ahead a few feet then turned and dashed back to where Arsu stood. The grass felt good under her paws and she kneaded the ground beneath her feet. Yes, she was going to like it here very much. I think I will like it here very much, Arsu! What shall we do first? She looked excitedly at Arsu and swished her tail back and forth.

@Arsu

"Are you all right-?" he asked her, twisting to peer down at her with some concern. But her attention had at once been captured by the beauty of Eridanus--and Arsu looked around, seeming to see it through new eyes. He could imagine what it was like, seeing it for the first time; the green and the wet, the birds and the scent of earth.

"I hope that you do like it here," came his soft response, agreeable. "As for what to do... I can show you around, a little-? Ahh, tell me," he asked, and here a little mischief sparked in him, "can you climb the trees-? Try it, if you like," he suggested. "If you are careful not to fall, you can sleep in the branches without the creatures that wander only the ground seeing you. And you can catch birds and the tree squirrels up there, to eat," he explained.

He'd known a few cat-like Gembounds to live arboreally--but would Kira grow too large? Was she strong enough to scramble up the bark trunks, yet? Well--there was only one way to find out, he supposed.

@Kira

Kira

You Broke Me First

Could you tell me, where'd you get the nerve?

Could she climb? She guessed there was only one way to find out. She trotted over to the closest tree and stretched a paw out and tested her claws against the bark. She extended the claws out until they caught and gave it a couple tugs to make sure she could hold on. Then ever so slowly she pulled herself up the trunk till she was off the ground. She looked over her shoulder and giggled then scurried up to the closest branch. She looked down on Arsu and gave a enthusiastic cheer."Look how high I am! This is great. I can see so much more from up here."

She was entranced by the view once more and then a sound drew her attention to the branch directly above her. There was a squirrel right above her and, without thinking, she felt herself crouching down and launched herself at the little creature. She caught nothing but air and found herself dangling by her front paws from the branch. Looking down she found the branch she launched herself off of was not directly below her as she had thought, but a few inches behind her. If she let go she would fall straight to the ground, or she could try and swing herself and attempt to catch the branch. Whatever her decision she would have to make it soon because she could feel her claws starting to look purchase. "Ummm....Arsu? I'm starting to slip a little...Should I let go? The ground isn't that far down, is it?"

@Arsu

Arsu at once found himself afraid--the poor kid leapt, missed, and scrabbled and was now hanging by a thread. He hastened forward, a stumbling run bringing him to as close as he could come to beneath her. He tried to keep the worry from his voice, tried to keep his focus on both the child and the magic he was trying to summon up at the same time.

"Try to pull yourself up, if you can, but I'll try and stay under so you don't fall too far," he urged. Around him--beneath him--a few bushes began to thicken, soft flowers emerging across their tops; maybe it'd be enough to help cushion her fall, if he missed catching her, at least.

It was times like these that he desperately wished he'd had his stag-father's magic--the magic to throw an object (or catch a child!) with only his mind. But all Arsu had was plants, and light; he'd have to make do.

He hoped he wouldn't be the cause for a child's injury so soon in life, though--maybe this one wasn't meant for trees.

@Kira

Kira

You Broke Me First

Could you tell me, where'd you get the nerve?

She saw flowers sprout under here while she looked at the ground from over her shoulder. She took a couple deep breaths then dug her claws into the bark and pulled with all her might. She rose a few inches, just enough to get her hind legs close to the branch and dug those claws in as well. She gave one more heave, using all four claws, and managed to pull herself back up onto the branch. She laid down for a minute, her little lungs working for air. She had no idea almost falling would be so exhausting, She looked down to where Arsu was standing, a look of panic on his face, and said "I don't suppose cats are supposed to fall out of trees, or almost fall I should say, like that. Are they?

She wiggled her way to the trunk and looked down to the ground, her mind working out the best possible way to get down. She didn't think going forwards would work, but sideways might. She tried to picture it in her head, crossing her legs over each other in order to move down. She shook her head, that would be tough, especially with her muscles still tired from dangling. So backwards it would have to be. She stood up and reached her front paws out into the middle of the truck then added her back claws. Then slowly, she did the same motions she had done to get up the tree in reverse. When she was about 2 feet off the ground she retracted her claws and pushed off the truck, twisting to land on her feet.

Giggling she turned and looked up to Arsu. "Well I guess that was a little better. At least I landed on my feet this time. So I guess I need more practice catching food on the ground before I start trying to catch in up in a tree, huh? She stretched her body out and laid down giving her muscles a little break before she continued onto the next adventure.

@Arsu

His muscles relaxed in a sudden flood of relief, shoulders slumping. She hadn't fallen-!

Were cats meant to fall from trees? "I don't know," Arsu admitted. He hadn't seen all that many stumble in the branches; maybe they just landed more safely-? Maybe their paws were like... cushions, or something. He didn't know, for sure. "It is probably safer to try to not find out," he added, humor in his tone; and then, to be sure, he asked "You're all right?"

He paced along, a little, beneath the cub; head dipped down, white lips nibbling at sweet grass that sprouted between the tree's roots. Tail swished; ears flicked, and he looked up, chewing, as Kira spoke further. Her suggestion that she start hunting on the ground earned an amused, soft snort. He did swallow his grass before replying, though--ever the polite one. "I think that's a very good idea," he agreed. He studied the branches for a moment longer. "I can't imagine being up there. I have hooves--perhaps my father, ah, the lion father, could climb. But I'd just fall off. As for hunting..." and here he glanced around at the forest floor and its thick foliage, thinking.

"There should be mice and rats here and there, I'd think, but again some of the rats may be dangerous--I'd start with mice. They'd be good practice, I imagine--and enough food, for you--for now."

Though, judging by the size of those paws (the thought struck him yet again) they wouldn't keep her sated for very long.

@Kira

Kira

You Broke Me First

Could you tell me, where'd you get the nerve?

Kira stood and stretched out her front legs, bowing down and kneading the ground with her claws. She liked this place, liked the trees, the scents, the feel of grass under her paws. She hummed in pleasure, she liked this place and she was fairly certain she wanted to remain here. The cavern she hatched in was beautiful, but it was so bare compared to this place.
Just then a leaf skittered across the ground in a light breeze and immediately her muscles tensed and she locked onto it. Crouching down she wiggled her butt and leapt, landing on the defenseless leaf and tearing it apart. She giggled as the tiny pieces scattered in the breeze and looked back at Arsu, with a look that said she was quite proud of herself. "Well if all else fails at least we know I can now pounce on poor defenseless leaves." Her eyes sparkled with humor as she smiled up at her companion.
Above them the squirrel she had attempted to catch was looking down at them and making irritated clicks and chirps. Kira pinned her ears back and let out a small, but strong little roar, scaring the little creature, and herself in the process. Eyes wide with wonderment she looked around to see if there was anyone but them two of them there then said a little shakily "Was that me?" As the wonderment faded excitement took it's place and she took a deep breath, letting loose another little roar. Giggling she ran around the trunk of the tree roaring as she went. This was so cool. She hoped she could meet other cats in this place and see what all they could do too.
Exhausted from running in circles she collapsed at Arsu's feet and gazed up at him. "Thank you for bringing me here and staying with me. I know you did not have to, but I am glad you did. I have enjoyed having you with me. Is there anywhere in particular you want to go while we are here, anything you want to do?

@Arsu

OOC: I am so sorry it takes a while for my replies. Thank you for being so patient with me!

He jolted a little, in surprise, at the tiny roar. He hadn't expected it, and despite his half-lion ancestry it wasn't a sound he'd heard often. But this surprise wasn't really any fear, and it faded into good-natured laughter. "That was you," he confirmed. "And perhaps the leaves are good practice." He cast an idle eye over them, speculatively; they were certainly erratic in their wind-tossed flight.

He looked back to Kira at her final questions, considering. "Oh, no, you're very welcome. Ahh--I live here, in general. So while no, there's no place in particular I would need to go, I would like you to know that if you call for me--perhaps that roar?--and if I am in hearing range, I will come. So if you need help with anything, please do not hesitate." Whatever it might be. He considered, for a moment. "If you are-" wounded, or afraid, he'd been about to say, but he stopped himself just in time. I don't want to frighten her, he realized.

"-in any sort of need, no matter how minor you think it might be, call. We can be friends, if you like. And if you find it hard to learn to hunt, I am certain I could find someone to help you."

He had a fairly large family to draw from, at least.

"For now, ahh--you were growing tired before. My last bit of advice is to sleep somewhere relatively unseen, not out in the open, just in case. Up in the trees, but maybe not too high--in case you fall? Or deep in the bushes, or some such. Be sure you grow large, and strong, so you can help other children that might pass through, in time." It was a remark given with warm humor, a crinkle of his eyes and a low dip of his head.

Then he stepped forward, offering out his nose to the cub. "Remember, I won't be far off. I'll just go down to the stream, and likely rest awhile myself. So call out if you need me--all right?"

He couldn't always be close enough, he knew. The caves--individually, even--were quite large; a voice wouldn't reach across half of Eridanus. But if he were close, he would come. The cub was a sweet, charming child, and he felt a vague protectiveness for her and her future--and really, she would probably benefit from havig other children to play with.

He thought about that, too. But he didn't really know any. If I happen to run into anyone around her age, I can always send them here, he reasoned.

@Kira

(It's fine!! I'm always up for more threads, too, if you like!)