Garnet-Epsilon

A soft snort at the mention of it's size, a wry, "Yeah, I guess me not being an issue helped me avoid a horrible fate, I guess," before following the line of James's gesture and nodding, before fluttering up and perching on a half-broken stair.

"This is... a nice space, y'know? I just dug a nest for myself before and that was all good. I think I'll need help flushing this place out up here, though, do you have any advice for decorating in this place?"

Epsilon makes a mental note to avoid using their spike-magic, or at least until it spots someone else using the same spell... that magic had always felt odd to use, anyway. It's not like anything that gets in here has high odds of getting past the door, and James, anyway. it adds with a mental shrug.

@James

James hummed, "I can make baubles. You can hang them up there, and if you want something soft to sleep on, there are Comet's furs. I'm certain she'll let you have some."

He stood on his hind legs, wing flapping gently as he poked his head up, putting a hoof on the stair and nosing towards one of the windows, blocked with rubble.

"If you push that out, you'll have more light coming in," he said, "I'll toss a couple lights up."

He fell back onto his feet and picked up a few glowing baubles, tossing them up into the space.

"How long will you be staying? I and Comet wish to leave soon," he explained, "Orion is nice, but it's... not the best to raise a child in."

@Garnet-Epsilon

Garnet-Epsilon

"Baubles..." they mutter quietly, a smidge confused, and follow James's next gesture to the window, looking at the window and inspecting the rubble before deciding to leave it closed, kind of preferring the shadows up where they will only be sleeping.

"Who's Comet?" is their next question, and they walk back over to the opening to snag the airborne shining objects, catching them one after another, and having to dive for the last with a short "Meep-!" and then a sigh of relief.

They pause, and appear to think when they are asked how long they'll stay, and fidget with the bauble in their paws before looking up. They turn an abashed smile towards James, and let their ears flick in nerves and tail do the same.

"I'm not sure? But I did offer to help you keep an eye on your kid, so I won't leave before that. But... why not raise a kid here? There's lot of shelter, looks like kind neighbors, and there isn't anything obviously dangerous here... and don't you have anyone else you'd be leaving behind?"

Don't tell me I picked the one that's most likely to leave...

@James

"Comet's my daughter!", he chirped, "Adopted- but I swear she's more like me every day- it's scary, if I'm honest."

James shook his head, "I raised Comet here, but we want to move somewhere that's a bit more green. We've been planning Eridanus, but with the new caves open, Comet and I are going to explore there and see if any of them are nice. If they are, that's where we'll go. I want both my children to live comfortably, somewhere lush and green where they can play and hunt."

He was in love with the idea already.

"We're not leaving now, and I think because the Seven are so low on members, I'll have to come back every now and then to make sure Pride is alright- he probably will be, but just in case," he said, smiling, "You have a while until this little thing hatches, too."

@Garnet-Epsilon

Garnet-Epsilon

"Adopted..." they repeat, now very obviously confused but y'know what? They'll roll with it.

But, as James explains, they nod along, taking note of this Comet - hopefully someone they'll meet soon - having been raised here, and probably having more connections.

But- "Oh? The Seven? What's that? Is that what you call your family?" Time to play slightly dumb and get some information about the current state of the group, easy-peasy. "And who's Pride? Shouldn't he... y'know, come help?" Now they sound a bit hesitant, and they gesture at the chrysalis, and they don't have to fake the mild look of irritation when they add, "No matter who you are, if you align with someone you owe the weakest and most at risk members your help. That's just... just decent.."

A sigh, and they bodily shake off their irritation and wing down, gliding over to perch near the massive structure of crystal, and they give it a once over as they add, "Yeah, it looks like this one has a good deal of developing to do. Usually when they're close to hatching, they fill the entire chrysalis with their body, and you can't really see through it." they explain, and gesture at the open space that can be faintly seen through the rough quartz. "Ah- sorry. I tend to ramble..."

@James

James hummed, flipping through what ken he had to try and answer, "The Seven is a group. They're based in Orion, actually. Pride is the leader and I'm a member, though we're so few now because... we lost some of ours. In the trial. Nassir and Fireheart."

The horse huffed and raised a brow, "Who are you calling weak, kitten? I'm not weak, and I'm doing this on my own for a reason. Perhaps... perhaps it's to prove to myself that I can. That I'm not weak."

James stood up and walked over, pressing his nose to the chrysalis and sighing gently, wrapping a wing around it, "You still have a ways to go, little one... but that's alright, I'll be here to watch over you."

He turned back to Cirrus and cocked his head, "... Why do you want to babysit my child?"

James' eyes were kind, but there was... something in them. Suspicion.

"You arrive one day and you immediately offer to babysit my child," he said, "That's horribly suspicious, you know."

Amusement, and then he pinned Cirrus's tail beneath his hoof, not enough to hurt, but he wasn't going anywhere if he ran, "I want to talk, please. Someone told me once to be diplomatic, so I shall be. Why are you here, Cirrus?"

@Garnet-Epsilon

Garnet-Epsilon

"I'm... so sorry you lost some of your group. That Trial was horrible, from what I could see from the entrance. I was lucky I didn't go in." Epsilon is genuinely sorry, and they flutter down to the floor. "I uh, didn't mean to call you weak, James. I meant the child when they emerge. Kids take a.. lot of energy." a sigh, and they sit, letting their tail splay out behind the with a sigh, and they offer a very dejected "Sorry..."

It says something that Epsilon doesn't comment on the "kitten" thing. The term reminds them of Delta, and so they don't actually recognize that the term is in reference to them.

Watching James approach the chrysalis, and the affection makes their heart twist, and some traitorous part of their mind wonders why they never got anything like that... or if they only did as a chrysalis, and needed to earn that affection back. Either way, it makes their eyes slightly damp, and they don't notice James's suspicion until they've been asked a question and pinned underhoof, the sharp and sudden pressure causing them to offer a shrill yelp of alarm and an instinctive jolt in one direction, wings up in alarm and another yelp at the bolt of pain that lances up their pelvis as their own movement.

"I..." they need to take a few breaths, and the tears that started as remorse turn to pain as one or two slide down their face, and they look up at James with an honest expression of fear.

A deep breath, shuddering- oh boy are they glad in some twisted sense that they don't have to fake this, and they start with, "I... I have been around here for a while, actually. I don't know what to do with myself now that I'm alone..." a short inhale, suspiciously like a half sob, and they continue, "I don't want to talk about it right now, it's... it's bad. I ran from the Gembound who run those blasted Trials..."

Another shuddering breath, whoa looks like Epsilon really needs a cry right now, poor thing...

"I'm a coward."

@James

James blinked, taken aback by the reaction. He'd expected a fight, but... perhaps the creature wasn't totally lying. He bent down and lifted his hoof, laying down so he could pull Cirrus into his chest. Maybe he was younger, maybe he wasn't as experienced, but if there was one thing he was really good at, it was hugs.

"You ran away," he said, considering, "... Perhaps you're not a coward. Just smart."

He rubbed Cirrus's back and leaned his head over so he could pull him just a little closer, "You're not alone. Somehow, despite all odds, you managed to come here into my house. And I'm a lot kinder than most Gembound."

Though hopefully not by a lot. He still had faith in some other people.

James kept Cirrus tucked into his chest, warm and safe and hopefully comforted. He needed it.

"I want to get to know you," he said, "My name is James. Can I have yours? We'll start over."

@Garnet-Epsilon

Garnet-Epsilon

Epsilon is staring at the ground when James lifts his hoof, and they flatten themselevs to the stone when they feel the larger Gembound's presence get closer and touch them- but.

There's no pain. It's... kind of nice?

Cirrus-Epsilon is tense, and remains so, with heart hammering under their small ribs, the very edges of their wings almost blue-ish with a flush that also dyes their face between scales and fur on their face a deep sapphire, one of panic and almost relief as a few more tears slide down their face as they try to process the affection.

"I was given the option to leave, so I ran for it- so did another, but they were young, had... ideas. Ideals. Dignity. I wouldn't say it was smart, I ran away and left younger Gembound to take my place. To take whatever punishment is the result of my exit..." a sharp sniffle, and Cirrus unlocks their wings and folds them close, hugging themselves tight as they're... pet.

"I want to get to know you."

That's the plan, some part of their brain snarks, but that part is shut up quickly by the part that feels whatever guilt Epsilon is able to generate over their current situation.

Cirrus is finally able to turn their head, slightly to the side, unpinning one ear to allow the movement and they look up at James with one eye, and they blink up at the horse. "I've done a lot of starting over, what's once more? a wry and watery smile, and then they add, "Mine's Cirrus. That's who I am now, and that's what matters..."

Right?

@James

James smiled softly, "Well then, Cirrus... thank you. It's nice to meet you."

He sighed and nuzzled them gently, "Who was this other Gembound? Could they possibly be found?"

He hoped they were okay.

"Do you want to help me get dinner?", he asked, "I need maybe two rabbits of food for you and Comet, and I have some grass out back to snack on- and some fruit."

James lurched up to his feet and shook himself off, head down and nose against Cirrus's side, ears up, still supporting him.

@Garnet-Epsilon