Nyx Dawnwalker put on your war paint

Nyx wasn't one for empty sympathy && illusions. She knew the two young Gembounds were anything but euphoric to see her, whatever the reason.
She could only guess that one of the Gembounds who shared her look - Tamelyn? No, it couldn't have been her - had done an unspeakable horror to the young ones, or at least to the fox.

"That wasn't me, I promise." Nyx said, watching the younger creatures carefully, an apologetic smile slipping onto her face. "I've never made a difference between herbivore && carnivore."

The feline crept in front of her friend, an innocently protective gesture, but meaningless to Nyx all the same. Her mind was working, cogwheels turning to figure out of she knew this white deer the children spoke off.
Who would dare lay hands on them?
Hadn't she known a white doe, once?

"You're safe with me, I don't use my magic to attack." Not unless I'm attacked, the doe thought, thinking back to her first fight in the woods of Eridanus. Or was it Cetus?
Yes, Cetus.
Odd how her memory betrayed her sometimes, when she'd been living in those caves her whole life.

"You don't need to fear me." She insisted once again, feeling awkward with the gazes of the small ones lingering on her. She wanted respect, but not fear.
"My name is Nyx, by the way. May I know your names as well?"

"Listen to me."

@Todd and @Lyrastrae

 :

unravel this twisted tale
She was still confused, but things were starting to make more sense. She rubbed one paw against the side of her head, the nicked ear flapping forward after she brushed it back. "The one who hurt me was a carnivore. One like me even, even with the same shiny claws, and the same hot paws..." She suddenly stopped. "Magic! The hot paws. I can make my feet hot." Her face turned sad. "But it hurt, and then they laughed at me."

She shuffled herself, trying to keep an eye on both at the same time. The deer was not going to hurt them, she was pretty sure of that. But the fox seemed so SURE... Oh wait, names! They hadn't even gotten far enough to at least do that. She nodded. "My name is Lyrastrae. Lyra. It's nice to meet someone, someone who doesn't laugh at me, or try to hurt me right away. Not like some. Some are... not nice." She looked back at the fox, hoping he would feel safe enough to give his name. Maybe, he would see this deer wasn't so bad?

weave a new thread

@Todd @Nyx

Todd was confused by this, nervous even. The ones who hurt him had called him a carnivore! Said he deserved it and that was why. All this time he was scared of herbivores, and now here he was being told again that carnivores were the bad guys! Was he a carbivore. His thoughts slopped around, swashing from one thing to another in a confusing mess of emotions and feelings.

I'm not the bad guy!

The little fox whimpered quietly, his entire pelt standing on end. He didn't like this, not one bit. And then... Hot paws! that must have been a spell! it had to be a spell! it was a new one! Todd was looking for all the spells. And then they confirmed it. Magic! "Hot paws? Hot paws! That's magic, that sounds so cool! and so nice, I don't like cold toes..."

They introduced themselves as Lyrastrae. Kind of a mouthful, huh? But then Lyra. that was easier.

Todd gave a small nod, his gaze soon wandering nervously back to the deer. Could he trust them? A deer told him last time that he'd be safe, and that they'd play with him. But then they hurt him! He wrinkled his nose and stared them down. "Todd," he replied to both with an affirmative nod. "You're pretty nice, too!" he responded.

He didn't seem quite so afraid anymore, but still didn't have quite the guts to approach or come out from behind Lyra.

"O-okay. but I'm big and stong now! So if you do, I can make you go flying!"

"Speech"

OOC: Sorry about the incredible lateness! I totally lost muse for Todd for ages and I didn't wanna give a poor quality post ;;
@Lyrastrae @Nyx