This was a really really long trip, at least to Yarrow. They had to go all the way through Orion and through this really long tunnel and before they even left the star room, Yarrow's hands anf eet were killing him. He had cuts ans scratches and they felt every rock and pebble underneath, and he started to cry before his mother went to find some cloth to wrap around them. It helped...somewhat. The pebbles kept slipping under the folds of the cloth and then he had to stop to take them out, and his skin was red before too long with the abuse. He'd never gone so far before, and he never really wanted to ever ever again.

But his mama noticed before too long, eyes sharp with her care and her love, and he was riding on her back for the rest of the way, her descriptions of the waterfall room comforting him, the sound of her voice and the rocking motion sending him off to sleep, to dream of nice big giants and crashing, roaring waters.

And then, mama was waking him up, and he opened his eyes blearily, looking around, and immediately the majesty of the waterfall was right in front of him, and his mouth was hanging open as he looked up and up and up.

Their journey was long and it took it's tole on the rodent, but she did her best to hide how winded she had become. I can do this, for him. It didn't bother her that Yarrow had to ride on her back, he was so young and he had walked father then she had expected him too. He was already so strong and he didn't even know it yet. Once the air had grown moist, she knew they were both getting close. Remembering it now, glad to have returned. Lifting her gaze up to the waterfall, hearing how it crashed down into the lagoon. "Wake up Yarrow . . . we're here." She cooed over her shoulder. Once he was ready, she would let him slide down to stand on the floor. It might be a little slippery, but she kept by his side to make sure to catch him if he fell or slipped. Carrie glanced around, wondering if anyone was near by . . . would they be here? Would they be happy to see her? " . . . Makyna!" Raising her voice, hoping her call out travel down the tunnels. And hoping the lioness was even around to hear the call. --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words words

@Makyna @Leon

While Makyna could have heard the call, it was Leon who had come to answer it first. Where ever his wife was, she must have been busy - but he knew that as soon as she realized who the visitor was, she would come running. In fact, the moment he spotted the capybara, he relayed a message to the lioness.

It's Carrie. Come quick.
She stirred memories inside of him that were both bitter and happy. He considered her a friend, he always would, despite everything that happened. He had done his best to help her, and he was committed to helping her still despite whatever happened in her absence. Yet, he was wracked with guilt and shame. The ghost of her leg, pale and real despite its prior loss, haunted him. It reminded him of what he had done, as it did the fear in her eyes when he had seen her again. She had come back to Pisces for some reason, and upon her back a smaller creature, similar to her if not for his nubby antlers, calling for Makyna. Maybe it was only Makyna she wanted to speak with. But Leon was here none the less.

The bear moved towards her with slow, careful steps, orange eyes watchful of the capybara. "Carrie?" He spoke gently, offering her the softest, kindest of smiles - the last thing he wanted was to scare her again. "It's good to see you." He added, halting a safe distance away to fall onto his haunches. He was doing everything he could to not be intimidating or scary - if he frightened her this time, he wouldn't know what to do with himself.

@Makyna @Carrie

He stopped looking up at the waterfall cause it was making his neck hurt, and he slipped off of Mama's back carefully, mindful of his feet, and he sat on his haunches, one hand clinging to a bit of her fur as he looked around and heard her call out for someone named Makyna.

And when this big big big creature came up to them, he blinked and started to hide into his mama's fur, but stopped when he saw how kind he was and how he stopped a little ways away. He was unlike his family and very much like Mama and the small green winged friend who mimicked him back in the star-room, so to his young mind, this Makyna fell into the good category.

So he immediately made his way to the big Makyna, thinking they would treat him exactly the same as the green one and his Mama, and his arms reached up to him expectantly, his little fingers making grabby motions.

In the nice category, there was absolutely no way Makyna would hurt him, and he wanted to be high up and on his shoulders because it seemed like a lot of fun!

BAROQUE SONGCAT

Baroque inched after his father, hesitant but oh so curious. Although Leon called out to Makyna through their sensorial connection-- perhaps it was just because Baro was so in tune with his arcane magic-- Baroque had heard the call as well. He had also heard Carrie call for his mother, but the voice was unfamiliar to the small child. The grizzly lion crept forward, his tail twitching behind him.

... There was a child! One just like him! Big blue eyes as wide as possible, the cub crept forward. "U-umm, h-h-hello there," He mumbled through his teeth, his shaggy fur twitching. He glanced at the kid's mom, as though he was asking for permission, before he came up close enough to bump his snout into the dark brown child's shoulder.

"I'm Baroque!" He greeted in a friendly voice, smiling softly. He didn't know who the strangers were-- but if they knew his momma, they had to be nice, right? Even his dad said, "It's good to see you!" So... They must be good, right? Maybe he could make a new friend?

She followed Baro out of habit, always making sure to go wherever he went. She had promised to never leave him again, hadn't she? She when he called her to follow because someone was looking for his mama, she grinned. New people to meet, new friends to make! She would never pass up the oppurtunity.

And when Baro sat next to his big soft dad and she leaned around Baro to see the new arrivals, she made a delighted sound and sat down next to Baro. "How cute you are!" She said to the little tiny child with the little nub antlers like her. "I'm Thistle!"

As she stood there, waiting and expecting the lioness to show; it didn't surprise her when it was not Ky but Leon. Little ears pinned back as he kept his distance, she felt terrible for the wayward approach she had given him on their last meeting. It was wrong of her, but the rodent was so very much confused. The lord got her thinking he and others like him were the enemy; but now she knew it was all lies. Hasira was the enemy. "Hello Leon . . I hope it's alright . . " Pausing as she watched her son begin to walk over to the grizzy and didn't show only sign of fear. That made her chest ache, wishing even more that she could have been able to do that but Carrie only sat there for now, smiling to her child. "If it's alright if we stay here." Gesturing to the child, "This is Yarrow, my son." only to soon see two more children enter the room. One of which oddly resembled the bear and the other a frail little herbivore. And the two children were friends? It seemed her hopes were right, this place would be beyond safer then Orion. As the two greeted the little capydeer, she could only stare in wonder. This would be a great place for Yarrow to grow up, at least, if Leon and Makyna would have her back. The rodent feared she might have crossed some sort of line by running away. --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words words

@Yarrowfeld @Leon @Makyna

man oh man. look at me, making everyone wait forever! 8)

Leon leaned back on his haunches, though not enough to stand upright - his gaze wavered on Carrie, but he found himself undeniably curious about the little hybrid that joined her. And... even curiouser, the boy began to wander up to him, and he froze. How would she react to this...? His gaze flickered between him and his mother, and then... he came forward and extended his arms, as if... to be picked up? Leon blinked, wide-eyed, and looked back at Carrie. She had started to speak, asking if it was alright, but the bear was already instinctively reaching forward. He placed his paws gently beneath the armpits of the boy and held him up, elevating him slowly, gently to face level. Bright orange eyes searched the youth, and then Leon grinned. He leaned back completely now and held the boy close - tight enough that he wouldn't fall, but loose enough still that he could escape and clamber onto the bear's shoulder if he so chose.

It was at that point Baroque and Thistle had appeared, and Leon turned his head slightly to grin at the children, only to focus back on Carrie. She wanted... to stay here? "Wh... Yes Carrie, of course!" Leon answered, almost taken aback by her request. He didn't understand her sudden change in temperament, but he wasn't going to question it. He was just happy to see her here. "You're always welcome here. Yarrow, too." He added, tilting his head slightly to send the hybrid another warm smile.

@Yarrowfeld @Carrie @Baroque @Thistle @Makyna

Makyna picked him up with a gentle and effortless movement, raising him up into the air, and Yarrow grinned as widely as he could. This was just as fun as he thought it would be! He laughed and wiggled his toes in the open air, then when he was comfortably and loosely cradled against the bear's warm, soft fur, he gripped it and snuggled into the burning heat under the skin that was sort of the same and yet very different than Mama. Makyna was like a big furry furnace!

"Makyna is really nice, Mama," He said with his tiny, soft voice. "Much better than Father. We should stay here an-and never leave."

Thistle giggled. "Why, that's not Makyna, little Yarrow," She said gently, nudging the child with her nose snuggled up safe in the bear's arms. "That's Leon. Makyna is his..." She looked to Baroque for assurance. "Wife?" she nodded. "Wife, I'm sure of it."

"And, since the two of you are staying here," She stated this as a fact. "You two should join the group that Leon has! Baro tells me all about it, and I'm sure you would like being in it."

She gave Baro a look and a smile. "I would, too!" Not that she'd been invited, the look teased at him, with good humor wrapped in its silence.