(( To be set after the end of the thread 'To Find Our Place,' after Clover finds her name and after the bbies have their bath )) Her enthusiasm grew even brighter. She had spotted a familiar shape! The Vazi was here to help celebrate the finding of her name! Oh, she was enormously pleased! How could this day get any better? "Vazi! How are you, my friend? I haven't seen you since we were both children!" She rose from the hills and from her precious clover patches to greet the magnificent stag that stood before her, a small ways away from her little gems. The scar, the proud stance, the calm smile, the gentle look in its eyes, they were both familiar and different than the Vazi she used to know. "You have grown!" The Vazi was at least a full head taller than her, not counting...Her eye gazed upward a little. "You've...." She felt her face flush with heat.Those antlers....were... She was at a complete loss for words. Her heart was beating ridiculously in her chest. Words completely failed her. She wanted to say that she had always thought fondly of the Vazi as time went on and she never got the chance to see them again. She wanted to say that she appreciated beyond words the sentiment to protect her, having now understood the principle with her sweet Pounce. She enjoyed the short time she had with the stag, and she always counted on them as her friend. She never thought the Vazi would grow up to be so.... so.... handsome. "I-I-" She swallowed, her voice shaky and weak and shy. "H-how have you been?" Stupid, stupid! Stuttering again, after all this time! Get ahold of yourself! @Ambrus @Vicktor @Vazi "This is how I speak."

VAZI HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

---

He was on his own, ever vigilant for the competition. He needed to see what was up ahead in the other caves. To see what the carnivore menace had built that he would have to tear down. Hopefully nothing too terrible, he just wanted to get this job over and done with with no difficulty. His great antlers were raised high as he finally made it into Pisces. It was a busy nest of activity as the creatures prepared for... for whatever stupid things it was that carnivores did. He didn't care. He just wanted to know how many there were and who they were.

He stayed on the outskirts watching the activity. He almost didn't notice her at first. Until, his name was spoken... His old name. He turned sharply, eyes glaring until he saw who had spoken it. Her... The nameless beaut that he'd played hide and seek with all that time ago. His heart... His cold heart that felt as if a hole was in it, melted. She... She was so innocent. So pure. He could see it even now. Had it been tainted? Why was she here? Didn't she know about the carnivores? Likely not... She was the type to see the good in anything. Just like Wynry...

Look what happened to him.

He wanted her. Needed her. To protect her. Her to die... That would murder him all over. He would protect her from this day and forever...

Even if she didn't want his protection.

His old name, he didn't mind that she used it. She was the only one who could get away with it without getting a tine in the eye. A smile, a genuine, non-crazy one graced his lips. "It is a great thing to see you too! I have missed you so, my friend." Why couldn't he have fallen in love with her instead of that horrible beast?

He dipped his head in an elegant bow to the female. For the moment his scouting was forgotten in favor of this majestic maiden. When his gaze lifted to hers again he could see that she was flabbergasted just as she had been before. He let out a laugh, pleased that his appearance made her feel in such a way. It made him feel powerful... Feel strong... Could he make her do whatever he wanted? Would she follow along like a good little doe?

He hoped so.

"You have grown as well. I must say that you are a lovely doe. Even lovelier than the first time that I saw you, my dear." He winked and in a moment of sheer giddiness tilted his antlers in a way that she could see them better. If she wanted to look at them by all means he would let her. That was what the lady-deer liked, yes?

"I... I have been..." Oh no... Wynry... His duty. Getting distracted. But this was different. She was purity at its finest. She must be protected. Must be told the truth... "Many things but not well. Can we... Can we slip away to speak, my dear? There are things I would like to tell you but I would not like... others... to hear." He asked earnestly. Truly he would love to tell his troubles to her. She was an herbivore, a deer, like him.

---

words: 538+
tagged: @Clover
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

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

Clover...Clover, that was her name, oh, what a beautiful day this was! Clover couldn't even find the words, her mind went pleasantly and warmly blank when the Vazi bowed to her and smiled so politely to her. The Vazi was elegance embodied, a perfect gentleman. She made several nonsensical stuttering sounds when the stag tilted its head in such a becoming way and complimented her. It was embarrassing and flattering and thoughtful and she could barely think! She felt warm all over and awkward and fluttery and weak-kneed. And when she saw that wink! She felt like she was going to faint! Her stomach was incredibly busy tying itself into knots, and she shyly cast her gaze to the ground, chewing on her lip to prevent herself from saying anything stupid. But she somewhat snapped out of the spell when the stag mentioned it was not well. Concern filled the mindless empty-headed feeling, she she looked over it up and down, worried. "I would like nothing more than to do so," She said, heart-felt concern in her voice. "But I must watch over my Vicktor and my Ambrus. They are too young to be left alone. Surely you remember how difficult it was to be alone when we met, at that age. I would not like them to experience such a thing." Clover glanced over to her precious bird and her cub a little ways away, content to talk with each other, obviously curious as to who she was talking to. "I never want them to be lost." "This is how I speak."

VAZI HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

---

Ah, wasn't she so sweet? He helped to fill the hole in his heart or cover it. He knew that it was a temporary thing, that he would never have it filled but the ache felt better with her around. If only he could stay with her and just play games as they used to but duty called. He could not stay with her forever... She would have to come back with him.

He would have her.

"I would like nothing more than to do so,"

Pleased, he tossed his head and started to turn. "Then, let us--" Unfortunately she continued and spoke of two others, young ones... impressionable ones. Perhaps they would be herbivores and he could bring them along for his herd but alas, luck was never on his side. The lovely one indicated a cub and a meat-eating bird. Hatred twisted in his gut, the hole was uncovered. "Yes... Of course..." Voice, a touch of aloofness coloring its tone, sounded again. He didn't want them. He wanted Clover! Those things would be the death of her! He knew they would! That's how it always ended!

He didn't want to lose her too...

"My dear... Surely you must know..." His mission. He remembered why he was here again. "Your caring nature, you would not. You are so pure, so beautiful inside and out. But those... creatures... Will be the death of you. Believe me, you must believe me!" His voice and eyes were becoming frantic with worry. "I trusted a carnivore and my brother ended up dead. Do not allow that to happen to you as well!" His voice had been becoming louder with each word but he voiced it down to a low hiss, hoping she would understand him and believe him. He didn't need another pure creature lost to the world.

---

words: 305
tagged: @Clover
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

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

"They will be the death of you," The Vazi said, and instantly her heart dropped to her hooves. The very thought was completely ridiculous, but the pure worry in its voice kept her from casting it completely aside. Vazi's brother was dead? Because of a carnivore? Her mouth opened slightly, but- but what could she say? Her heart lurched, remembering the sound and the sight of her sweet Pounce tearing into rabbit flesh, the sickening crunch, the satisfied burp, the licking up of blood. She remembered the vigilant search for every last drop, every bone. She couldn't....couldn't completely disregard what they were saying. But to say that her Pounce would do that to her was- was wrong! "They would never do that," She said quietly, deep worry and concern for her gems warring in her chest. She looked up at Vazi, pleading her case. "I love them, and they love me. Pounce cried for hours about accidentally nicking my leg in a game, and Ambrus was so careful with their claws when I was carrying them around, since they cannot fly yet, careful even when I was running around. They have never hurt me." She watched the Vazi, whose expression was painful and worried for her. To suffer the death of a loved one was something she could only imagine in her stories, for a plot device. It was... she wished to never experience that in person. She wished Vazi never had to, truly. "If you just met them, you would know. They are only sweetness and kindness, they really are. If you had seen the hurt that Pounce felt when they ate a lesser gem for the first time, you would understand. Pounce was scared to eat, hated to harm another. Pounce would never hurt anyone--" She froze in the middle of the sentence, remembering when Pounce shocked that ridiculous cat-thing Basil, sending the annoying creature crashing and convulsing to the ground. She didn't like Basil in the least, but...it must have been painful. "On purpose." She finished lamely. "But do come and meet them. They would love to speak with you I'm sure, and you would surely impress them." She made her way to her beautiful little gems, kissing them and congratulating them for their patience. @Ambrus @Vicktor @Hasira "This is how I speak."

VAZI HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

---

Oh, she was so sweet and naive but she was wrong. That was the herbivores greatest weakness. Their naivete would be their downfall. It had almost killed him until he had woken up at the sight of his brother's dead body. "Oh, you are so sweet... so trusting..." His eyes closed and he shook his head. He could almost imagine her as Wynry, her weakness. He had to protect it. His eyes opened, steel gray locking onto her beautiful white figure. "But you so very wrong. Carnivores want you to believe that they are kind, that they love like we do but it is an illusion. All of it. When they have used you up then they will leave you, if you are lucky, and kill you if you are not." She couldn't see as clearly as him that was all but she had to learn.

Her words fell on deaf ears as the stag shook his head sadly at her ignorance. "Oh, my dear, I do wish you were right... but you are not. Give them time. They will hurt you. I know it." He could not see the "sweetness" in the carnivores that she could. When he looked at them all he felt was hatred in his heart and a shadow over his soul. Sickening. They were a disease that needed to be wiped out. "Evil... All of them..." That was more of a whisper to himself as the sweet doe went to fetch her "children".

He did not follow. Even though she was sweet he could not. The stag watched from afar, eyes narrowing in anger at the little creatures. He wanted them dead. He wanted to go stomp them to take them out of the world but he could not. The pure one was standing with them and he was sure it would taint her soul to see such actions carried out on the ones she loved. He would have to slowly introduce her, to show her the new world he had planned.

---

words: 337
tagged: @Clover
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

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

[/quote]

He was too occupied rolling around beside Ambrus, happy and content with his friend. They were sweet just like him! They were unique and part of his world and he wouldn't have had it any other way. Smiles and soft laughter drifted through the air. Till finally it had shifted direction. Eyes wide he could smell someone new. Someone with her, turning around abruptly he could see him.

He was tall, large and towered over her. Coat dark, antlers an intimidating sight. All he could do was stay put. He didn't like the look of this new 'friend'. Something in him warned him, but maybe it was just first meet jitters? No...this was different. "Do you think...he is nice...Ambrus?" Voice low, he whispered to his feathered friend. Until finally she had turned and made way to both Ambrus and himself.

The glance that red deer had given the two young gembounds. Something was amiss. His tall ethereal friend nuzzled and kissed the both of them for their patience. He was glad she was close again! But he couldn't help notice that once she had turned her back on the red deer. It was as if he looked at them through no facade now. His intentions shined through loud and clear. Only to dissipate as she turned to him again. He was wary, maybe it was just his size? Maybe this is how he looked to everyone on the first meet? He sure hoped this instinct was wrong.

"Speech"

"Thought"

@Ambrus

The answer was no. Vicktor had asked the browning eaglet if he thought the red stag was nice. Ambrus glared angrily at the large, mighty beast and so wished he was fully grown. He'd teach this antler for brains what it was to be a predator, as he put it. Ambrus looked to vicktor, whispered back, "no. He thinks we'll hurt mom." the eaglet was livid such a thing could be even suggested. He loved mom, more than himself. And that adoration was possibly the only thing keeping the foolish gemling from attacking the great stag outright.

The flightless feathers fluttered angrily, poofing on end and making his little body seem that much bigger. His torso lowered to align itself parallel with the flooring. Little taloned limbs spread apart, while useless wings unfurled ever so slightly, trying his best to become intimidating like the stag was. "my name is ambrus, sir, and I love my mom very much!" he chirped loudly, glaring up at the beast as he inched a few steps closer.

@clover
@vicktor
@hasira

{p.s. Sorry for the delay D8 }

Clover stood over her little gems, half-protecting them, smiling all the while. She didn't hear the comments the stag muttered behind her with dripping hatred, as she preoccupied herself with greeting her sweet bird and her lovely cub. She was still a bit worried, wondering what Vazi had gone through to be so....how to put it? So deaf to her words. They refused to listen to her, even though she clearly made perfect sense. Why were they so sad? Why did they think she was in danger? Her gems would never hurt her. Looking clearly at Vazi, she said clearly, "I love them and they love me. Not all creatures are the same, my friend. I have watched them both from the moment they woke up, and they are both incredibly beautiful souls. And they are mine." She looked down to the two beneath her with a sweet smile. "Ambrus, Vicktor, meet Vazi. I met them when I was the age you are now, when I was much the same size, too! Imagine meeting each other after so long, when you both are all grown. It is very pleasant to see old friends after a long parting. Odd to think, hm? I am practically ancient," She said this last part in a very silly tone of voice, then it shifted to sound almost dreamy. ""It has been such a long time." Then she looked up to the stag, as pleasant as daylight. Surely after formal introductions everything would be much more pleasant! Being polite and showing your manners are always very important concepts, after all. "Vazi, this is Ambrus, who I met in Canis, and Vicktor, who I met in Cetus." @Hasira "This is how I speak."

VAZI HASIRA

"shattered innocence"

---

He watched them, the hatred barely concealed in his steel gray eyes. That burning hatred, he wanted them gone. Their names chiseled from the books of life. Soon. Very soon he hoped he would get his wish. His poor friend, they were using her and they would hurt her. It was unspeakable! So, so terrible! He wanted to brandish his antlers and rip into them but he had to wait. Here was not the time. He had to get them on his own territory then they would be his as would his friend.

Play it cool. Be... Patient.

That eagle. For its bravery it would be killed but perhaps the panther could be used as a slave. "That is what you think now... But you will learn." He gave a sad sigh and shook his head before a smile, a genuinely fake one meant to trick appeared on his face. "However, if you believe in them so perhaps we should really all get to know each other. I live in Orion now, perhaps you should all come. There are other children there that they could play with. Perhaps your... children... would like it while we could catch up, my dear." Oh yes. Let them learn from Beast, then they would know of their true place.

He finally approached, his large form sauntered up to the pure one's side while he looked down at first the panther and then the insolent eagle. He felt the urge to suck out its water but no... Punishment later. Nice, slow... punishment. His eyes turned to the white doe with nothing but kindness in his gaze for her. "What do you say, my dear?" Voice was gentle, kind. He had to be with her innocent and naive soul. Slowly he would show her the true cruelty of the world.

---

words: 304
tagged: @Clover @Ambrus @Vicktor
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

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