Pink smoke? What could make pink smoke? The small kitten tried to imagine some creature breathing smoke but so far in her short existence she'd never seen a creature that breathed pink smoke. It was beyond her comprehension so she just stored that away for later. Perhaps she would someday meet this friend. She gave a sympathetic murmur when he mentioned his life being gone. It must have been so difficult... She couldn't even imagine! Poor soul! She hoped the All Mother would take pity on him and help him.

The kitten sat back while the tiny gembound went up to the All Mother and laid before it as he began to pray. The tiny kitten began to pray herself, she began to pray and hope that the All Mother would grant him the vision and memories that he had lost. She hoped that everything would be given back to him. Booker was a kind soul and she felt for him, she really did.

With her eyes closed and head bowed as she prayed she only stirred when the tiny numbat gasped. Her eyes opened and she locked her gaze onto him as he looked up at the All Mother with a joyful expression. He must have received something! Joy rose in Blackfeather's heart as she padded forward to sit beside the tiny creature. "Has the All Mother shown you a vision, Brother Booker?" She asked kindly though she was certain she already knew the answer.

---

246
@Booker
---
5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

We'll light up the sky,

We'll open the clouds...

Booker jumped when the cat's voice rang out, moving up to three legs at the noise, flashing her a sheepish grin. "Yes, Sister Blackfeather, yes She has!" The words tripped over themselves in his excitement, but the little numbat didn't seem to notice, intact eye bright with wonder. "My memories - well, most of them - She gave 'em back! I can remember so much," he added, eye widening as he tried to sort through the vision.

Good and bad, the Gembound was grateful for them both; it had felt as if his brain had a hole in the middle of it, a dark void where there used to be light, and now it seemed to be shrinking, shirking away from the All Mother's brightness. "I dunno how, but She helped me remember my friends and what happened, why I'm out here in the first place." Booker didn't go on, afraid to frighten the kitten, settling for a peaceful grin, gaze ambling back to the Monarch. "Guess that counts as a sign, huh?" He huffed out a laugh, tiny teeth clacking together.

Turning back to Blackfeather, he cocked his head, ears twitching. "You mentioned Her other children. Do more of ya live here, with the All Mother?" The numbat seemed more than curious, bordering on eager. He hadn't felt at home since Polaris was entrapped in the dragon's flames, but Eridanus was beginning to look very, very welcoming, even beyond his family. Perhaps this was what it was like to have a clan, a group, like Quix had talked about with Maji Walezi?

@Blackfeather

The young feline smiled at the little numbat. He was so glad that the All Mother had helped him. "I'm happy for you, Brother Booker! I knew she wanted to give aid to you!" Her head tilted to the side as she gave the most pleasant of grins. Of course, the All Mother could do all things if it was in her plan.

The kitten leaned forward, interested. She'd never heard of adventures or memory repression or anything before. She was certainly interested. "Why are you out here, Brother? If you don't mind me asking." Her head tilted the other way, expression curious this time. "What friends did She help you remember?" Her ears twitched as she straightened her head up at his question.

"Yes! We are all Seers of the Mother. I and my sister Owlfeather were born underneath the Monarch while our last sister, Dovefeather, was born near Mother's Eyes. I see what Mother wants in the plants, Owlfeather sees what Mother wants in the mushrooms, and Owlfeather looks into her Eyes to recieve visions. In that way we all come together and work in harmony." The kitten grinned. She hoped her explanation was good enough and would give him at least a nougat of understanding.

---

2
@Booker
---
5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

We'll light up the sky,

We'll open the clouds...

Booker grinned back, fur standing on end in joy, making him look quite a bit like a puffball with legs and a tail. At the question, the grin faded, replaced by a small frown, eye growing distant as the numbat tried to answer. "There was a fire," he began, tone soft and hollow. "A great fire, that tore through our home. Polaris," he explained, blinking at the kitten. "It was a beautiful place. Dark, but lit by glowin' crystals. I was sleepin' when the fire came. I ran when it reached me... but I left my friend behind." A guilty shudder wracked the tiny Gembound's frame.

"I dunno what happened to him," Booker admitted, wincing. "I haven't remembered for so long, I don't even know if he's d-dead or alive." The numbat huffed, swallowing back stomach acid. "I ran to Mon-o-cer-os, where I found my brother. He was hurt, real bad. We went to sleep... and when I woke up, he was gone." A grimace pulled at his lips, and Booker looked away, focusing on the Monarch instead of the impressionable cat by his side. "He... wasn't himself. He did things, things he wouldn't normally do, y'know? I lost m'self and my memories, for a while. Then I found him again, along with my son."

Booker shrugged, glancing back at Blackfeather sheepishly. "So now I'm here, trying to get this leg 'ere to work again," he murmured, tapping at the lame limb in annoyance, "n' then I guess I'll try n' go back." Then, a thought, and the numbat straightened, ears flicking. "Oh dear. Three of my friends were injured, when my brother wasn't himself. I need ta... need ta see if they're still in Eridanus." Guilt layered the tone, shame creeping into the tiny Gembound's eye like a slow poison. "I didn't even think of 'em 'til now..."

Still, he shook himself out of his funk, trying to pay attention to what Blackfeather had to say, smiling encouragingly. "Harmony. That sounds nice. So you all See for the mother..." Another flash of thought, and Booker hummed under his breath, thinking. "Do any of ya record what She says, or helps you see? It might help to know, in case Her visions don't come true 'til later."

@Blackfeather

Fire! What a terrible thing. It could burn away all that you loved unless it was properly controlled. The kitten didn't interrupt his story though, she allowed him to speak while keeping her ears pricked towards him to show that she was listening. As if that wasn't obvious by her absorbed expression and curious gaze. She wanted to know all and hear everything, that would start by listening to the Children's woes and giving them a shoulder to lean on. That was Mother's way. To help others when they could be helped and when it was what the All Mother wanted. After all, she'd shared a vision with this brother and if she didn't want Black to listen then why share a vision at all?

This poor brother, he'd been through so much. The feline gave a sympathetic murmur while kind understanding radiated from her vibrant green eyes. Sure, she was fairly young but she could understand suffering when it was apparent and offer her pity where she could. "I'm so sorry, Brother Booker. I would like to help you, if I can. You and your family are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you want. I'll even help you look for them if you want." She would... So long as they were in Eridanus. The kitten wasn't sure how she felt about other areas yet. Did other places even have the non-speaking Children of the Mother? "And your leg..." She looked down at it, sniffing. It seemed healed for the most part but if there was still a limp. "Perhaps there is something I can do about it. I will meditate before the All Mother and pray that She gives me an answer."

At his next words she nodded her head. "A record? We keep the records in our heads." Was that what he meant? The little kitten couldn't think of any other way to record what the All Mother said. "If that's what you mean?" Her head tilted slightly to the side.

---

338
@Booker
---
6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

We'll light up the sky,

We'll open the clouds...

Booker offered the kitten a relieved smile, glad to see that his recount of events hadn't seemed to bother her too badly. It certainly wasn't an uplifting story, nor did it have that fantastical quality the numbat liked to spin into some of his own tall tales - it was simply something that happened. "Thank ya for the offer, Blackfeather. My family and I'll try n' find someplace safe... I'll have to ask my brother if he wants ta settle here. Even if he doesn't, I'll try n' come back, fill ya in on the events outsidea Eridanus," he replied, voice mellowing out some.

At the mention of his leg, Booker hummed, peering down at the limb curiously. "Thanks. I dunno if She can do much about it, but I'll take all the help I can get. Hard to keep up with a dragon with this thing holdin' me back," the tiny Gembound explained with a soft chuckle. When the kitten got around to his suggestion, his blackish-brown gaze turned back to her, whiskers twitching.

"There's a tunnel, a ways from 'ere. It's got all these markings. Haven't seen a lot of 'em, only ran through it, but enough to tell that they mean somethin'. If I could study 'em, I might be able to write down what the All Mother sends you an' your Sisters. Then you wouldn't haveta worry about losin' it, say, if ya lose your memories like me." Booker shrugged, grinning lazily. "But it's just a thought. Don't bother me none if ya'd rather keep it in your head, Sister."

@Blackfeather

The small kitten nodded, obviously thrilled with the idea of someone traveling back to give her news of the outside. "Oh, Brother Booker, that would be fantastic!" She wouldn't refuse any help, especially help from such a great creature as Booker! Besides, Blackfeather couldn't imagine herself leaving the All Mother. Sure, she went all over Eridanus but the other places? No, never. They didn't have plants and they just felt so barren and empty. She knew that one day she would have to venture out but for now she was more than happy here.

"Then I will ask the All Mother! I will see if there's something I can do for you." It would be the least she could do. At the mention of strange markings the cat tilted her head to the side. Confused but very curious! "Oh no, a way to take things down... That would be wonderful!" She imagined not having to keep up with everything in her head but instead being able to write it down to have forever. How wonderful would that be? "Thank-you so much!" She said happily, overly pleased by Booker's generosity.

---

189
@Booker
---
6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

We'll light up the sky,

We'll open the clouds...

Booker grinned at Blackfeather's enthusiasm, posture relaxing as the suggestion was, apparently, accepted. "Then it's settled! I'll come back 'ere as often as I can, n' tell you n' your Sisters about what's goin' on out in the caves."

At her reaction to his offer of becoming a sort of note-taker for the cats and their Mother, he hummed, pleased. "Ex-sell-ent! I'll head there as soon as I can, n' come back once I've gotten the symbols all sorted. Then I can write down the things the Mother sends ya and the others... kinda like a... hm. Whadya call it? Ah! A scribe," the numbat settled on, nodding. The word had crept up on him, a new discovery, but it seemed to fit.

"And, o' course, if you and the All Mother need me for anything else..?" The query was left open-ended as Booker passively gazed at Blackfeather, still humming.

@Blackfeather

The cat was obviously pleased as her tail slid back and forth languidly behind her. Her smile was absolutely joyful as she gazed at the numbat. She couldn't wait until he got everything all sorted out. "Then you shall be Brother Booker, Scribe of the Mother!" There were guardians and seers and now Mother had sent a scribe! Fantastic! Her head dipped respectfully to Booker after she said his new title. "May the All Mother bless you and guide you in your righteous task." Her head lifted after her little blessing. Now it was all official.

Blackfeather tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow as she thought. "I don't think so, Brother. If the All Mother sends me any signs or tells me or any of my sisters anything new then I will tell you." Her head dipped down again in gratitude. "But I must thank you again for all that you have offered us. I cannot thank-you enough. If there's anything that I could do for you then just name it and I'll do it." Which was true. She liked this numbat and felt indebted to him for all that he offered to do.

---

198
@Booker
---
6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

We'll light up the sky,

We'll open the clouds...

Brother Booker, Scribe of the Mother. The title felt powerful, important - two things Booker had never felt before... at least not in association with himself. He perked up, grinning, eye a bit misty. Wiping at it with a tiny, disbelieving huff, the numbat refocused on his Sister. "Thank ya, Blackfeather. Really. I... it's an honor." The prayer and the title had touched something deep within the tiny Gembound, some potential that had yet to be sparked. He'd never had much of a self esteem, and a task couldn't grant him one, but to know that he had a true reason - beyond his borne task of protecting Baratheon, of course - was a buoy in a sea of doubt.

At her offer, he was, again, speechless. He had done nothing in his life that made him worthy of this level of trust, this self-imposed indebtment, but to have it nonetheless was a gift, plain and simple. Booker moved a bit closer, bowing his head parallel to the kitten's with a soft smile, gaze to the ground. "And I must thank you," he replied, trying hard to correctly pronounce the 'you.' His slur had gotten worse the longer he let it go, but this seemed important, too important to mess up. "What you and the Mother have gifted me with, this task... it means more than I can say. If you or your Sisters ever need anything, just give the word."

A sigh, and Booker relaxed, working his jaw. Concentrating that long on his words was tough, even now, but he felt... fulfilled, down deep into the corners of his soul. "I mean it, y'here? Anythin'. Jus' tell me, or my brother. He's real easy to spot. Big, n' fluffy, with wings n' pink horns." He sent the cat a wink and a grin. "Kinda sticks out in all the green, y'know?"

@Blackfeather