Zephiran was merely checking out the surroundings. Popped out from his small homestead to stretch his paws. A good rest, he was wanting to keep adding more stuff to his hoard. Leaving Belvadair behind to rest, or maybe he was doing his own thing. He wasn't sure, but he didn't judge having a friend to adventure with.

Small things here and there. There was a simple goal in mind. To find little rocks and trinkets to take back with him. Maybe to see if he could find anything more. Everyday meant something new for him. He loved it.

The first thing he did was find another rock. A mere little stone and he baubled it. Made it glow a light blue. He went to pick it up between his jaws, lifting his head up high. Moving on through the ruins. It's a wonder what he might find today.

---

"Speaking"

( @Pride )

Pride was not far off, and the sight of the passing wolf pup had him lifting his head from where he'd been grazing at the garden's edge. He watched Zephiran make his way into the ruins, and idly wondered who he was, and where he'd come from. And, of course, what he might be doing.

The caves seemed to hold some sort of cycle of life, in the sense that long periods of dormancy were often followed by swathes of newly hatched children. He thought they were in a period of the latter, assuming he wasn't imagining things; was this pup as young as he seemed?

With nothing better to do, the white stag wandered after Zephiran, noting the faint blue glow that appeared at his paws. He called out, his tone light and friendly. "Hello there. May I ask what it is that you are doing?" If he weren't outright unwelcome, he'd introduce himself, of course; but if there was something the wolf was looking for, maybe Pride could help.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Zephiran

The silver pup was oblivious, until the voice called to him, the world was in his mind to find things. Mainly rocks he could collect. Wilder opened up a few ideas for him, truthfully? Zephiran wanted to see what he could make. What else he could form.

A voice echoed to him, a slight startle in his paws. Ears flickered as he turned to the sight of a pale deer. Big large.. horns? Antlers? Bone? Zephiran wasn't sure what it was, but they stuck out of his head.

Zephiran let out a warm smile. A swift sway of his tail. Upon noticing the new creature, he took grace in his statue and pawed his way over. In a nice manner, he gently set down the stone. His head cocked to the side, blue eyes rested upon the stranger.

"Well hello! Oh I’m just looking for things like these small rocks!"

Zephiran wanted to decorate inside the cellar. The glowing rocks provided a little bit of lighting to place in the dusty broken pots and hallways. He thinks it would look good.

"I'm Zephiran! I don't think I've seen anything like you before."

It was nonetheless a compliment. Zephiran had seen a few things. But the deer was new, or maybe he hadn't paid as much attention as he thought.

"If I can find loose gems, sometimes I'll use those too!"

To make something to match his necklace, he thinks he could rock a few more smokey quartz. But he hasn't tried to go looking far for those. Not yet anyways. Someone had to stand on guard if one of them wasn't there, right?

---

"Speaking"

( @Pride )

Pride blinked, looking down at the stone. "It is good to meet you, Zephiran. I am a deer--a stag," he offered. "My name is Pride." And then he laughed good-naturedly. "I am surprised you've yet to see anyone like me. There are other deer in Orion, and enough of my family in the Seven here that if you stay around, I am sure I will not seem unique for long."

He leaned down, pressing his nose to the ground. A small bit of striated gray agate--darker on top, lighter on the bottom--began to form from the rock there. It remained small, but when Pride finished, after a moment, it was very distinctly in the shape of a wolf. He nudged it forward, and stepped back, clearly intending it as a small gift. "May I ask what you are using them for?" he asked amiably, and then nodded in the direction Zephiran had been going--"-if you don't mind my delaying you with the question. Do not let me keep you, if you were in a hurry."

It was said in an open, friendly manner; there was no guile behind the words, no insinuation that the pup should leave. Pride was just... overly polite. Or overly formal, at the very least.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Zephiran

"Huh, I've been around here for a moment. I just must not have noticed. "

There were so many smells and new things all the time. And truthfully, sometimes he didn't leave the cellar. Sometimes he enjoyed resting there or trying to clean it. Zephiran wanted to make it perfect.

"It's nice to meet you! That's so cool!"

Zephiran eyeballed the small statue. It was beautiful. Could.. could he make something like that? Well he tried, just exactly how Pride did it. Though… nothing happened. Lame.

"Oh! I've been using it to decorate a den. Stuff like rocks and gems. I haven't been able to do that though! I don't mind at all."

There was a warm smile from Zephiran. A comforting one. His eyes drifted back and forth from the stag and the gemstone he made. How pretty it was. One day he'd learn it. And one day he'd make gifts however often he could.

"What's the Seven?"

The pup asked. Was it something wilder would have warned him about? A dangerous crew? Wilder did say to stay away from all white creatures. So far he didn't feel like he needed to walk away. Surely this was different?

---

"Speaking"

( @Pride )

Pride listened polite, and then nodded. "If there is anything you need for your den, feel free to ask. One of us has grown a garden here if you wish, though I imagine you do not eat plants-?" It was delicately asked, though after briefly hesitating, Pride went on. "If you see a small, white hare with a gemstone over her eye, please do not eat her. She is my familiar; her name is Mischief."

He considered, studying Zephiran for a moment, wondering what other advice he might offer. "There are craftsmen living in the ruins, sometimes. There was a blacksmith, and someone who creates things like bags, and jewelry and lights. I do not know if they are still here or if they've gone back to Monoceros--the cave with the wind-storm?" He made it a question, because he didn't know if Zephiran knew the place. But maybe it'd give him a starting point, if he wanted more decor for his den.

"And as to the Seven--I lead the Kingdom of the Seven while our King sleeps. We protect those who need protecting," he said simply. "If you ever find yourself hunted or in danger, and come here, we will help you."

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Zephiran

"I was merely seeing what I could find. I don't know specifically what I want."

Zephiran tilted his head at the knowledge. Plants.. he could maybe use some of those. Or maybe use them to see how to make a gemstone one. That would be pretty wouldn't it? He shook his head.

"I don't but I'm sure they look pretty!"

But then he mentioned a familiar. A little white rabbit with a stone in its eye.

"I'll make sure she's safe!

Of course that meant relying on the information from his friend. That should not be too difficult. Though he noticed lately Belv had been out and about a bit more often. Zephiran didn't mind, he liked staying by the cellar.

His head tilted to the new knowledge. Someone could make things. Stuff it sounded like to wear. Lights he could do himself, but other stuff? It'd be fun to have more art pieces in his home…

"Maybe I'll go look for them and see what they have! Or I can send my friend on a journey."

Zephiran wasn't sure the one eyed wolf would accept his weird wish. But hey, he wouldn't know until he asked. Right?

The deer before him explained briefly what the seven were. It sounded like a group who protected those that needed it. Deep down he felt slight guilt for that. Zephiran hadn't seen his one friend in much time. He hoped that she wasn't in much danger.

Only a bit here and there.

"Do you need any others to help you?"

He hadn't had much experience with fighting, but he did want to help those in need. Something he felt was right to do. And if not, that was fine. He had Belvadair to help him too.

---

"Speaking"

( @Pride )

Pride tilted his head at the offer, curious. Zephiran was young, very clearly so, and yet rather than accepting help he was offering it. That spoke of a maturity, a sense of responsibility, that the stag had to respect.

But he certainly did not want to make demands of a child, regardless.

"We will always accept any help in protecting against danger," he started, being careful with his phrasing. "More often than not, it is quiet. But if you would like, we can help to train you? To teach you magic, or combat if you wish. And then if there is danger down the road you might aid, and be confident in your ability to fight. But you needn't join the Seven for that--though you may do so if you wish, of course. We would not turn you down."

Caves knew there were enough dangers around that turning allies away would be foolish, regardless of their age.

Pride's memory flicked back in time, briefly, and he remembered another young wolf that had stood before him. That one had since died, protecting others--but it was a reminder that Zephiran might well have the heart of a protector, too.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Zephiran

Zephiran thought about his response for a moment. The words lingered in the air. Zephiran hadn't experienced danger yet. And he hoped not to anytime soon. But he did want to help those in need. Just like the others helped him. When it wasn't danger he needed help with, he wanted to learn anything. They gave him stuff to learn.

"Well, I wanted to ask, Do we always have to fight? Like is it required?"

Zephiran would rather not fight. Though he wouldn't be scared to defend something that needed it. It's as simple as he doesn't understand it all. He doesn't get it.

Not for a while.

"I think I'd like to learn though."

The silver wolf had his own set of questions. If he could do it, all that sort of thing.

"I.. I just don't know what I'd be doing without help. Maybe because I haven't met anyone bad."

In his eyes, everyone was good. No one tried to hurt him. Everyone helped him. Gave him information, Wilder gave him this cool necklace that he's going to treasure.

One he plans to pay back.

---

"Speaking"

( @Pride )

Pride laughed quietly and shook his head. "No, not at all. We have plenty who simply remain for protection. We just try to do what is right." He paused, offering a brief, warm smile--or the best a stag could approximate one. "I am glad you have only had positive experiences. Perhaps it means that we've done an all right job in keeping the cave safe." Because caves knew there were monsters out there.

Pride pushed that thought almost violently from his mind. He did not want past memories cropping up now, to taint his conversation with a child.

"I would be glad to teach you, though, what I know. There is a lot of useful magic out there. Mine is of the mind, but I also know a lot of light magic. There are those among us with fire, or plants, and other things." He paused, thinking. What would impress a child? No, what would be fun for one to see?

He thought over his magic, and very nearly displayed his ability to fly--but that was something special, he thought. Not something that could be learned, or even taught by him. That would be cruel to show off. How about-... yes. He focused for a beat, imbuing himself with magic. "Watch." It was a command playfully given, and a moment later he took a few quick steps, then leapt--and when he came down, he bounced.

It looked like a bound, but ridiculously high--not as high as he'd sometimes achieved, but enough that it was clearly a magical soaring through the air. He landed and shot off again, a few flying, floating leaps, before he clattered to a halt near Zephiran again. "...Among other things," he added, amused. "Ahem-... But yes, you would be welcome to live here and train among us if you wish. If you would like to do so... 'officially?' Tell me. I think that-... Hmm. How do I explain this? Groups of us, when we gather, we tend to share a magic. I think there is a shield power that I could teach you right away--or you may simply gain knowledge of it. It's a strange phenomenon, but useful, I think."

He had no idea how else to explain that, when someone joined the Kingdom, they learned a magic shield spell.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Zephiran