Rainstorm didn't really know that they were being so bad at communicating with the other gembound. It was kind of hard, to talk to other gembounds without being rude or mean, or without them being rude back. This one felt like he was trying to be kind, but Rainstorm was dragging the conversation on to a pointless legnth with their simple worded answers. When the other asked Rainstorm to tell him about themselves, they gave a nod.

"I guess i'm just looking for company. I'm blind, and I can't really see where I am. My ears kind of tell me locations of things with sounds? But that doesn't make things any easier." They said with a pause. "There was a dangerous... Trial not long ago. Many gembound died and that was what made me like this."

All of that was true, really. Rainstorm didn't have much to say. Before all of that, they just lived a quiet life in Eridanus. Now it was hard to even get anywhere at all.

@Pride

This was enough to respond to--mention of the Trial--and Pride at once grimaced. "Ahh, I know it. I have met another who was in it--and we lost two group members. Fireheart, and Nassir--perhaps you saw them in there? The white wolf, the black leopard? They were both members of the Seven," Pride explained.

"The Seven are guardians. We try to protect others, where we can, and to offer sanctuary to those who need such protection. But with the loss of two members to that Trial we are... few. Were you aiming to become a guardian, then? Or did you seek protection?" he asked, tilting antlered head.

@Rainstorm

If Rainstorm could frown, they would have at the mention of a few they knew were lost. The wolf had saved someone, but Rainstorm couldn't entirely remember what happened with the leopard. It felt like so long ago, but just like yesterday at the same time. Rainstorm could see the flashes of the baubles from the darkness that wouldn't leave their vision.

"I saw them. They both went with honor." Rainstorm decided, despite not remembering much of the leopard that was there. Though many of the gembound had saved others, which made Rainstorm think that almost all of them would deserve those words.

"I would like to become a Guardian. Despite my blindness I am willing to learn more to help." The bird replied, softer this time. Maybe they shouldn't have been rude to the pup before. But that issue was already talked through anyway.

@Pride

'I saw them. They both went with honor.' Pride dipped his head, respectful acknowledgment of this statement bringing a moment of silence in turn. He took a sad breath, and looked up again.

He was beginning to realize just how badly the bird's sight was--their confusion, their slow movement toward food and the like. Their halting conversation of prior was explainable, too, by the awful trauma they must have undergone: Pride had yet to meet someone who'd passed through the Trial wholly unscathed.

"Of course," he told her, softly. "I am happy to teach you what I know of magic; there are ways you can see, a little, if your eyes are very badly off-?" he asked. "But if you wish, I am willing to call you one of us, and offer you a place here, and whatever knowledge I can give you. It would be my honor," he added, sincerely.

There was grief deep within his chest. Having lost Nassir, Fireheart, to the Trial had been a terrible thing. But there was something tragic, poetic, in other survivors--survivors they'd perhaps helped--coming now to the Seven in turn, and joining them.

Something... fitting.

@Rainstorm

Rainstorm did have trauma from the trial. They hadn't intended on participating, really. It just happened as they were exploring the area of Hydra, and, honestly, Rainstorm never wanted to set foot in that place ever again. Having something new to put themselves to use... It would be good. They could help the members of the seven while helping themselves, and Rainstorm found that to be okay.

"I can tell where things are by sound - loud noises hurt." They noted to Pride - Rainstorm still couldn't quite tell why but not being able to see themselves would do that to a gembound. They couldn't tell the differences besides having way more sensitivity when it came to absolutely everything, but most particularly sound.

Thank you, it would be my honor to help with anything I can."

@Pride [Fade soon?]

Pride nodded off gently toward the ruins. "I will try not to be too loud near you, then. If you'd like, you can find some place to call home among the ruins, there; I have ways I might be able to help you see, in a way, through magic. I have a familiar bonded to me through whom I can see, at times, and that might work for you, or there are ways to at least sense things through magic. But for now, find a home, and feel free to settle in. I can go with you, or you can call me if you need me; and then anything you need that I have, is yours."

He offered a bow, then realized again that they couldn't see it, and stifled a sigh at his own mistake.

"It is an honor to have you with us," he added.

And he was realizing further that again, their social interaction skills were... not particularly great. Rainstorm hadn't responded to much of what he'd said, but in fairness what more was there to say, bar niceties? Perhaps they were a more to-the-point sort, and he was being unfair, but he'd have to remember this quirk, going forward.

Either way... perhaps he could help them. Only time--and his diligence--would tell.

exit Pride
@Rainstorm

Yeah we can exit! Pride can go with, or stay behind; if you want, hit me up on Disc and we can decide if he'd have been helping them train off-screen or no?