Caer Lazarus

Lazarus didn't know why, but they were attracted to the smell of the rain. They didn't know what rain was, they barely knew what earth was, but there was something about that smell that suggested magic to them, that resonated with all the good things in the world. So, wandering the tunnels around Eridanus, Laz had decided to indulge the scent that wafted so seductively from the mossy room, and follow their nose.

And what a lush, fascinating place it was.

It was hard to keep the wonder from their face. They tried, nevertheless, replacing the wide-eyed glory-awed stare they wanted to wear with a version of a curious scowl-- even at this young age, Lazarus didn't trust the eyes of strangers, didn't want to be naked in their view. Emotions were deep things, to be kept inside and private, away from those who might use them against a person, delved into when nobody was looking. They weren't a public spectacle, even when surrounded by something so magical, so lush.

Small in the verdant landscape, the fluffy little kitten crept forward curiously, scowling furiously at all the new-new-new-beautifully-new things even while internally they marveled. Only the gaping ledge of the fern trench made them stop abruptly, a foot from the edge, eyes wide-- they almost hadn't seen it, they almost had fallen over. Stiff-tailed, stiff-limbed, they crept even slightly forward, terrified and fascinated by the trench so suddenly bisecting the room.

((Joining thread for Guardians!))

Things were going into motion just as Arkrael had wanted. Large paws carried the massive she-wolf through the fern bushes and trees, leading her to where the eyes settled near the far wall of the room. It had only been a couple of days since she came into contact with Priest and Dove. Their allegiance had been given, much to Rae's relief, and all that was left was to find others to make her pack grow. She knew of other groups lingering in the caves, knew they all did their own in protecting what was theirs, but she was unsure if they focused on all the caves. That would be where her pack would come in. She wanted to gather others to join her cause. To have those willing to protect those in need, to fight off the evil that lingered within the caves. She would strive to create this pack, to create this family and to give protection to all of the caves as one large neutral group. With the allegiance of the All Mother Cult she knew there would be no true challenge from anyone within Eridanus and there would be an easy merging of the two groups. Her thoughts were full and overcrowded by things that would need to be done just to get the pack up and going. Distracting her from paying attention to much of her surroundings. It wasn't until she stubbed her toe on a jutting rock did Arkrael jerk to a stop. A yelp escaped her from hitting the rock, but it soon grew into an annoyed rumble as she glared down at the moss covered ground. A sigh escaped the she-wolf before she brought her head up and turned her heterochromia eyes to her surroundings. She really needed to not delve into her thoughts so thoroughly while she was walking. Especially since she was headed right for the trench. Her eyes lingered on the gaping hole in the floor, a small, forlorn smile just barely catching onto her features. Oh how she missed her hatchmate so dearly. Tamelyn would have been proud in what she was doing and Arkrael knew the doe would have stood beside her while Rae worked to complete her mission. A breeze shifted, rushing through the area and right pass her and it was then that Arkrael found herself catching a new scent. Her large head turned, searching the area until her eyes settled upon the black fur of a small feline. A kitten by the looks of it that potentially only emerged here recently. She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should bother the kitten as it stared into the trench. She shook her thoughts and finally decided she would. Perhaps she could help the kitten if given the need. With that in mind the she-wolf prowled towards the kitten, making sure the kitten knew she was approaching. She would hate to startle the cat and send it jumping into the trench. "Hello, little one, She spoke gently, warmly so to seem inviting. speech @Lazarus Words: 507 table code © rasta 2015

Caer Lazarus

The trench looked a scary-long way down. Certainly much longer than Lazarus wanted to risk climbing down, at least right now. Probably eventually, they would make the risky climb-- because even a dour kitten was still a kitten, and couldn't resist such risky and secretive places to delve into-- but not right now.

Laz didn't realize the scowl had slipped from their face, replaced by speculative curiosity, until a wolf had spoken to them. Laz jerked up-- but didn't jump forward, thankfully-- and spun around, quickly replacing the scowl on their face. It wouldn't do to look un prepared.

It was a wolf, looking at him. A she-wolf, who was keeping her voice gentle and inviting. They were torn; part of them rebelled to being so addressed, contrition and grumpy to the core-- but part of them was also a kitten, was drawn to the warmth. They settled for sitting up strait, wrapping their tail around themselves and trying to look dignified and regal and not like a curious kitten at all.

"Hi." they answered importantly, "My name is Lazarus." Not little one-- that was undignified-- but they prevented themselves from saying that, because that would be unwarranted and rude.

@Arkrael

A smile warmed Arkrael's features as she slowly sat back onto her haunches, all the while studying the small feline with curiosity. "It's nice to meet you, Lazarus," She spoke gently as she curled her tail along her side, "My calling is Arkrael, Guardian of Eridanus." Her introduction was left small and to the point as she held herself as proud as any alpha wolf would. It would be her official job now soon. Or at least she was aiming for it to be so. Audits twitched lightly, listening to all the sounds around them as if she were expecting company, but she continued to keep her focus on the feline before her. "Do you have a place you call home, Lazarus? She questioned thoughtfully. Arkrael knew the child was young, fresh out of their chrysalis, but that did not mean she could not offer sanctuary here within Eridanus. She could offer the feline an opportunity to join a pack. To join a family. To have a chance at something that would surely be grand. That is to say, if Lazarus was at all interested in keeping the caves in order. With being so young, Arkrael could not assume and make judgements on the character of someone, but she was not hesitant in her interest in the feline. If the feline had a place she called home then that would be it, she would still lay the offer before the feline as there was no telling on the situation, but she would not expect any acceptance of it. She would hope for it, if not just to see to the protection of the little kitten, but she would not press the matter if the feline chose otherwise. speech @Lazarus Words: 287 table code © rasta 2015

Caer Lazarus

It was so hard to keep a scowl, when the person you were scowling at was being so gentle and so nice. Arkrael did not even seem to be forcing herself to stay calm and gentle; it seemed automatic. Was it that xe was so small? The little wayward feline tried to scowl all the harder, but the expression on xyr face faltered somewhat in the face of her tone, in the face of her questions, in the face of curiosity.

"Is that a title?" Lazarus asked, curious despite xyrself, xyr tail flipping back and forth. The way she'd said it, "Guardian of Eridanus", it had weight to it, like those specific words held a lot of meaning simply through their attachment of one another. Words were power, this was something the young Lazarus knew almost automatically, and titles were the sort of words that gave automatic power and authority to their wearer.

The question about home floored xyr, and Lazarus looked around, uncertainty writ clear on their face. Did they have home? They'd hatched, of course, and they'd done that somewhere else, but.. that wasn't really home, because home was also a word with more power than it seemed to have on the face, that meant more than it seemed to. "I.. don't think I have a home." Lazarus answered slowly, more bemused than upset; it hadn't ever occurred to xyr that xe needed one.

@Arkrael

Arkrael paused for a small moment upon Lazarus' inquiry. Her tail flicked and moved about beside her, displaying the fact she was pondering over the idea of the words. "Yes, I suppose it is," She finally spoke as a warm smile returned to her features. She had never thought of it that way in all honesty. It was just something that felt right to say. She was, indeed, the Guardian of Eridanus. Having taken up that role since she could remember Arkrael had spent much of her time patrolling and making sure Eridanus was kept peacefully. It was in that idea that she had begun to gather others. She knew she would not be able to protect everything by herself. Eridanus would be no problem, but the other caverns and tunnels within the cave were another story. She knew several of the other caverns had been claimed by other groups and they would surely protect their own, but Arkrael knew there were places that needed looked after. Like Orion. The place that was now occupied by a stag who only wished death upon Carnivores or anyone who went against his words. Quickly the wolfess shook those thoughts away. There was no time to be pondering over what Vazi was possibly up to. Not when she had a little kitten before her and by the sounds of it a kitten with no true home. "Well, young Lazarus," She began with a thoughtful note to her voice, only pausing when her ears caught the sound of wings against the air. Not a muscle stirred within the wolf as the large creature suddenly plummeted down from the canopy of trees. Not even when the large creature just straight out bumped into the back of her neck. Pheo snorted and squeaked as his hands and paws gripped into the fur of his wolfess, dragging himself up as his wings spread out only to be pulled back in and tucked neatly along his side. Opal eyes glimmered and gleamed at the small kitten that his wolfess was talking too and he gave a gentle sounding noise before looking at Arkrael as if questioning her. 'Is this new friend?' Pheo's words filled Arkrael's mind and Arkrael had grinned to the dragonbat that was now leaned half way over her shoulder. She nodded to the dragonbat before turning her full attention back to Lazarus. "If you're interested. I am gathering a pack together. A family. Eridanus is our home and if you would have us, we would be more than happy to have you part of our family," She gave the offer to the feline, heterochromia eyes watching for any reaction. "speech" 'PheoThoughts' @Lazarus table code © rasta 2015

Et In Arcadia Ego.

Lazarus, vaguely, liked the idea of titles-- they came with power and respect to his young mind, so they flicked his tail back and forth, considering. Arkrael had won that bit of respect from him now-- though he couldn't say liked his own title as 'young' Lazarus. He might've even said something to that effect, if the little dragonbat hadn't flown down to nestle in Ark's fur.

He didn't hear the thought exchange, of course, but his little blue eyes grew wide, making them look even huger than they already were in his angular, wedge-shaped face. What-- how-- he wanted one! "What is that?" he asked, forgetting to be dour and dignified in his fascination. "Why is on you?" The when can I get one remained unspoken, but nevertheless hung in the air, courtesy of Lazarus' obvious fascination.

Laz continued to look at Pheo as he considered the option that Arkrael had laid out for him, swishing his tail. He'd be lying to say he wasn't interested at all, in that potentiality. That the idea of 'home' was not comforting in a way that he didn't understand, something existential and deep inside. He didn't like to admit to that weakness, to needing other people-- he was a fiercely independent kitten and he didn't need other people, or a home, or a pack, or anything. Packs were something for dogs, anyway.

But he also couldn't deny that he wanted those things, somewhere in him.

"Well..." he said, considering. "I guess, yeah, I'll join. If you need help protecting." he waved a paw around to indicate Eridanus, pleased that he'd found a way to save face. "Guardianing." he added, as if that were a word, proprieter of dignity that he was.

@Arkrael

Coding: Cecil ♥ Image: April ♥ Pattern: dinpattern.com

Audits twitched as heterochromia eyes watched the felines expression change to one of intrigued curiosity upon Pheo's appearance. A soft laugh escaped the she-wolf as the fully grown dragonbat gave an odd noise as he climbed around to quite literally hang from Arkrael's neck. "This is Pheo. My companion. Or Familiar as some gembounds call them," She explained as her chest rumbled with a sound that would surely come off as affection. 'Yes! Hi! Hello! Name?!' Again Pheo's voice filled Arkrael's mind and the she-wolf grinned. Lazarus Her own thoughts met his in answer before she spoke directly to Lazarus, "He says hello." A grin caught across her muzzle when Lazarus finally answered her and she nodded in response. "That is good to hear. There will be a gathering soon. So that everyone can become acquainted with each other. There will also be other things explained during the gathering." Her thoughts trailed for a moment as she pondered of the idea of gathering everyone she had managed to convince to join into a large gathering. It would be a fun festival and she would be excited to see how everything goes and what everyone chooses to become when it concerned what exactly their position within the group would be. "speech" 'PheoThoughts' Sorry kinda smallish. 209 words. But we can also close this thread soon as well since Laz has officially joined now. Unless you wish for them to do some other things, which is a-ok with me. @Lazarus table code © rasta 2015