Wilder leaned back, turning to lick down a patch of fur over her shoulder that had raised during the harrowing moment a second ago and stubbornly refused to settle. "I'm glad you like it. Hopefully it will help you." Her breathing was evening out now, but the exhaustion was setting in. It had been a long time since she pushed herself so far with such powerful magic.

"It takes a long time, I won't lie." She smoothed her fur back and curled her tail around her paws. "And it can be dangerous. But practice, okay? And keep your friends close. I understand you have someone you care about." She smiled, tilting her head ever-so-slightly. "These caves can be cruel, but its easier when you have someone next to you."

@Zephiran

"I love it! I'm going to love it forever!"

Zephiran let out a pitiful but small howl to excitement. Claws clicking against the stones. Ears cupped forward. Then he moved his paws, adjusting to slip the necklace back over his neck. Loosely it hung, but he'd grow into it.

"I'll practice every chance I get! I wanna add more to this!"

He proudly showed off his necklace with a roll of his shoulders. Puffing his chest out.

"Oh! Yeah! I had found another near me when hatched. Though I dunno if she feels the same way. I am supposed to meet up with her soon though. I think?"

Zephiran didn't really say he wanted to meet up with her again. But he supposed she wanted to. Right? Or was he oblivious that she wanted to explore on her own?

Either or. He shook his head. The silvered pup knew. Knew what he wanted to do. To repay this feline for their help, and to make sure Daphne doesn't get hurt. For that, he'd learn any power to help her.

"Can they? I haven't really seen anyone unkind."

There was a tilt of his head, with the question rolling off his tongue. None he remembered ever tried to hurt him. Not one. Daphne wasn't exactly thrilled to meet him, but it didn't ring a bell if she meant to be unkind. What could be unkind here?

---

"Speaking"

@Wilder

Wilder felt herself warmed at Zephiran's enthusiasm. It settled down that new and slightly bothersome part of her that needed to throw herself bare just to help in any way she could. It wasn't something she minded, of course, but it could be troublesome. "Take care of it," she purred. "The chain, I think, cannot be enchanted further. But you can add more bits and pieces, or create your own things when you've mastered that magic."

She nodded, understanding. "Oftentimes we are separate, but always remember who you care for, and who cares for you. You'll see them again." In the back of her mind, images of ruddy wings and a gentle face, and of a large black dog that she hadn't seen since her youth. I wonder where you are now.

But...memories faded at the sad truth, that the soul in front of her was yet unmarred. Hopefully, he would stay that way. He would know nothing of the Masters and their cruelties, of the Creator and the Hive that ever seemed to fight for control and leave ruin in their wake. She sighed. "Yes. You are young, and I am glad you haven't run into anyone that would skew that worldview. But there are some here that will hurt you for no reason, or toy with you for...whatever it is they desire. Power, control, cruelty." She frowned. "Don't let it sour your days, don't live in fear, but be wary, okay?" She paused. "And...if they're purple and bright green, I wouldn't even approach them. Or if they're all white and insectoid. Avoid both of those."

@Zephiran

"Oh! I meant I wanted to see when I can make stuff with my own paws, finding things to attach to it! Like cool rocks or gems."

The warmth he felt, had he known he shared it with her, he would be relieved. She was such a unique creature, he wouldn't begin to understand how nice and kind Wilder was. And they offered so much information to him!

"I wonder where she went. We kinda got separated between the tunnels. But I definitely wanna meet her again! I wanna show her the cool things I've seen you do!"

Every part of him wanted to take off and go find her, but he didn't. Zephiran figured she would be alright in the senses of handling herself.

"Oh! Well! Hold on! In case I don't see you for a while!"

His eyes immediately darted around them, looking for something. Tiny paws made way after lifting himself up. Light scraping until the canine pup cracked free a small pebble. Zephiran closed his eyes, calling for his power. Trying to summon it from the tips of his paws.

It worked! Barely.

Once he reopened his eyes, he saw the pebble was glowing a faint blue. Gently he stuck it between his paws, limping back to Wilder. He put it before them. As a gift!

"Its uhm not much! But you can have something to remember me by too!"

The canine's tail wagged happily, thumping against the fur of his legs. A bright warming smile cracked from his jaws. Watching, waiting to see if they'd accept his tiny pebble gift.

---

"Speaking"

@Wilder

She sat quietly and watched as Zephiran hopped away for a second, patient, and then eyes widened minutely as he set the bauble down in front of her. "Oh, its lovely! Thank you, I will cherish it!" She reached towards her neck, where a small cloth satchet was just hidden in her fur and opened it up, taking the baubled pebble as squeezing it inside next to the collection of painted stones. I need to get something bigger, was her immediate thought as she struggled for a moment to get it closed, but it eventually was secure enough that she wasn't worried.

She smiled at Zephiran, a purr in her chest. She looked him up and down, for a moment almost looking like she was really seeing him for the first time. "You're a good kid, you know. There's a lot of ugliness in the caves. But it'd good to know there's still good. Don't lose that heart, okay?"

@Zephiran

"Ya I don't want any part of that!"

He smiled softly, a quick wag of his tail. His cyan eyes never removed themselves from her paws. Watching as she scuffled to put his stone in the bag! She was going to keep it! How lovely! Maybe he oughta start leaving some bright baubled rocks around.

A small thing. Maybe it'd get Daphne to return…

"I bet I could make the ugliness go away! What about that!?"

If there was any sort of purr a wolf could do, he'd have done it there. Zephiran was so prideful of himself. Proud to say he did well.

"Thank ya! I've learned so much! I hope I get to see you again soon!"

Zephiran would dip his head to match Wilder’s height before he would attempt to turn on his paws. Wondering which direction of the caves he should go next. Perhaps he'd stay around this cavern for a bit.

---

"Speaking"

@Wilder

She would have laughed, a bitter thing, drawn from years of stress and trauma and seeing some of the worst the caves had to offer, but she kept quiet, only offering a sad smile. "It may be an impossible task, but don't lose hope. I won't." She looked at the cards that still sat in a neat pile next to her, thinking of her Wish, of her prayer to bring good to the caves. Hume is good. It was a firm statement, a truth, to Wilder. And if she were Hume's harbinger, then she would bring the one to bring good to all, to nurture it, and protect it.

She suddenly looked directly at Zephiran, and something in her eyes shifted pink and gold. Around her, light began to gather, not too dissimilar to the spectral feathered wings that she would sprout. But from her body rose the image of an owl - not a strange beast of one, or any special otherworldly animal, simply an owl, wreathed in those shimmering colors of pink and gold. The visage of Hume rose from Wilder slowly, a startlingly beautiful display as her wings seemed to briefly embrace the both of them.

"If you need me," Wilder murmured, the madness sparkling in her eyes once again. "I'll be in Andromeda. I will watch for you - as will she." She looked up as the image of the owl rose and dissipated into the air above them, leaving glittering stars behind that slowly faded away. "Be good, Zephiran. Be safe. I'm sure we'll meet again."

@Zephiran

He would drift a smile backwards, as his paws stopped for only a moment. Bright pink fluttered behind the feline. Feathered wings seemed to appear behind her. Lights danced. It was a show. Wings shimmered in pink and gold.

"I did not know you could do that too!?"

Zephiran exclaimed, absolutely losing his mind. His paws did a sort of tippy tap dance against the stones. In complete awe of the light show before him. That's so cool, he'd thought to himself.

The image of the owl soon rose and dissipated into the sky in a flutter. Glittering stars bursted from the show.

"You betcha! I can't leave as cool as you did but! I'll come find you again some day!"

Zephiran promised the feline. A promise he would deem quietly to keep himself. With all the ugly that was told about, he'd try to turn it all good. Oh how he wished to learn more about his powers then return and regift. Lots of things he decided he will do. Exploring and regifting the knowledge that was given.

---

"Speaking"

@Wilder

Wilder smiled and something like pride filled her with an uncomfortable heat. Had she brushed by arrogance just then? Perhaps - it wasn't an insane concept, she had a lot of power in her paws, she had seen a lot and knew more then your average gembound. But she knew it was all a facade - if ever she was removed from the Spire's radiation she would be nothing. She remembered the helplessness in the claws of the Black Wolf, the disconnect from the caves rendering her a normal, powerless cat. She would not forget that helplessness.

So, instead, she simply smiled. "It is a simple illusion. But the owl is real, and she is a part of us. Should you see the images of her - the owl, a meteor, Noctua, feathers in pink and gold - you may find me there. Good gathers to her like moths to a candle. Don't get too close, as with the Spire. Too much of a good thing..." She shrugged. "But...it is not a common thing. I apologize for holding you up - be safe out there, okay?"

@Zephiran

"Oo! I love her! I'll keep a lookout for her."

Zephiran smiled warmly. The idea of one day creating his own illusion. What stories he could tell. The things he could find. One day he plans to tell his story. Maybe he can get Daphne to begin to tell more too.

"Well, I wanna go look around. Then I'll come tell you about it!"

And with that, he'd turn on his paws. The caves had such a story to tell. And he wanted to know about them. Unless Wilder had more for him, he'd head out on his merry way.

---

"Speaking"

@Wilder