OOC: Everyone is free to join! Here, Sensei Usui will be conducting a mini-workshop/therapy on drawing out one memory on a pebble, then they will have a round of sharing, like story-telling :D

Usui trudged through Tunnel N, lion tail whipping out from behind him. He had just gotten a lesson from Giggle on bone – or rather, rock reading – and had left quickly as he had so much to understand about this world. The boy looked at the tunnel he was in now. It was covered with moss and it gave off a distinctly sweet smell. ”Not too shabby” he mused as he walked further into the heart of the tunnel towards Orion. This passageway was well-lit and proving to be a rather comfortable place for him.

The cub was a solitary creature at the moment. A wandering traveller, asking questions and gathering information on Origin where he may. Having be born not too many days ago, his database was still small, but with each place he traversed, it grew larger and he too grew with wisdom. Right now, Usui was getting bored of the moss walls and the tinge of sugary taste on his tongue. He needed to know more and meet more Gembounds to further unravel the mystery of his existence. And so, he cast his magic carefully to sense whether others were about.

The boy did not pick up any other signs of life. Well, seemed like he was alone with his brain for company. The gangly cub sniffed around and found a palm sized rock. He bent down, grabbed it within his teeth, and carried it to a corner, whereupon he began sharpening his claws but in a curious way. Without really thinking about it, he started to draw out Aquarian. Scraggy circular lines representing the water, and shapes like rectangles and circles representing the fellow Gembounds he'd fought with. Finally, a large oval for Aquarian. After using all his nails, he looked down at the rock, and was surprised to see that he had carved out white shapes representing his thoughts. His first pebble momento of what had happened. He could...draw? The boy grinned excitedly. He had found a new skill! He could start his own...pebble stories!

Then his brain worked. And the boy didn't care whether there was company or not. He got onto his paws and called out, his voice roaring out with the echo of the tunnel. ”Come, all of those who are weary. Come, and learn the way of memories, and lets have a story-telling." He then sat upon his haunches and waited expectantly for someone to appear. ”You can call me Sensei Usui."

The lioness was on her own. Not permanently but just for a little while as she wandered and tried to come to terms with her thoughts. So much had happened and she wasn't completely happy about it. Leon was gone, she could feel him and feel that he was alright but he certainly wasn't in any hurry to be back. Ky was sad about that and wanted to go find him but he'd probably be better off on his own with his own thoughts. Besides, she was supposed to be devoted to Cancer. However, the more time went on the more she realized her thoughts were mostly with Leon. It was certainly a dilemma for her and one that made her head hurt. The lioness shook her head sadly but continued on her way.

After a while the air started to take on a distinctly sweet tone to it but along with that.... She scented something else. A scent that wasn't unlike her own. The lioness' mouth opened to taste the air better and let her senses lead her to this new creature. Sure enough she happened upon a lion! A lion like her! The lioness chuffed to him in greeting before trotting up. Her former sadness was forgotten in her urge to see this cat that was so like her and so unlike her.

Makyna walked right up to him and gave a smile. "Hey! Haven't seen another lion around before. I'm Makyna, it's nice to meet you." The lioness gave a dip of her head before she noticed what he was doing. Scratching patterns with his claws in a rock. Did he know how to write? Peculiar. He couldn't have been more than a cycle old, that much was obvious by his cub-ish appearance but here he was learning how to write... or draw, whichever it was it was neat. Ky needed to sit down and work on that skill herself. "What are you drawing, little one?" She was only a cycle older but already she felt like an older sister to most of the new gembounds popping up.

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words: 351
tagged: Usui
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

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

The boy was full of spirit, and a triumphant feeling overcame him just as he finished his mini invitation and sat down to await his guests. Whoosh. Nothing but silence greeted him though. Disappointed, the boy attempted to cast his spell again and…it worked! In his mind, he sensed a blue throbbing gem headed his way. Someone was coming! He must be prepared. Clearing his throat, the cub brought his right forepaw to his chest and attempted to straighten out his imaginary mane. He then curled his tail neatly around his paws, and his pale green eyes settled into a solemn gaze. Usui sniffed the air and scented a Gembound who reminded him of himself in a different way. It was an intimate scent, one which he instinctively would have veered towards.

His look transitioned from calm to excitement as she walked through the tunnel. ANOTHER LION! And she was a pretty one too. So graceful and elegant…Usui would look like her next time! But as a boy. A smile brightened up her features as she greeted him and introduced herself. ”Nice to meet’ya, Makyna. We’re lion, yes.” Lion. So that was the term to his species. Usui would remember that title for life now. Although he did not betray his youthful ignorance, he had repeated the word li-on to get a feel of it on his tongue.

Makyna’s attention was drawn to his rock. The boy gazed at her solemnly, never having moved once from his scholarly posture. An almost benevolent glimmer lit up his eyes. ”Grab a rock first, Makyna. Draw something. A fond memory. Show me…your feelings.” His voice took on a deeper, slightly wistful tone. Something which suggested a spirit older than his body. Yes, feelings. That was the word. Like the feeling of awe, anger, fear and a whole spectrum of other kinds when he saw Aquarian bite the deer mercilessly. The cub kept his gaze level with the older girl’s and continued. ”We can trade stories afterwards.” He grinned at her and beckoned with his paw to a corner where a couple other pebbles/rocks lay.

She could tell the boy was just as excited to see her as she was to see him. It was no surprise. It was certainly surprising to see another of your species. No wonder CAncer had been so excited when he'd first met Amaria. Having another feline was one thing but having the exact same kind was another entirely. With the child's enthusiasm she liked him immensely and when he spoke he had this sort of wisdom about him. One that far surpassed his age. An old soul. That's what he was and Ky found herself drawn to him even more.

Show him her feelings? Well, what exactly was she feeling right now? The lioness thought about this while she looked around and finding a stone, willed it to her. It was easier to do this now that it had ever been before and without even really having to tap into her magic in a conscious effort it floated over to her and landed in front of her while she sat down. The lioness lifted a paw and then began to drag a claw across the stone. Carving what was on her mind...

She hadn't really been thinking about what was on her mind but it came out as an angry bear stomping away from a circle of various animals while she was highlighted in the middle with a crying face along with Cancer. She supposed that's what was bothering her the most and after she'd drawn it the lioness looked down at her companion. "I guess that's my feelings..." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes as she pushed the stone over and allowed the younger line to see.

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words: 281
tagged: Usui
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

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

The cub watched the older lion get a stone with her magic and was fascinated by it. Perhaps one day he too could master the art. She went straight to work immediately and Usui watched her intently, though not in an uncomfortably stiff manner. A fluffy, rogue-ish boy cub like him was way more likely to draw oooos and aaaahhhhs than to scare or creep another Gembound. She did not take long, her maturity granting her an edge in dotting out the image she got from deep within her true feelings. Makyna smiled now, though he sensed a heavy sadness enveloping her. She was not very spirited to say the least. When she pushed the stone to him, the boy lifted a paw and gently cupped it over to his side to have a look.

His eyes fell upon the image of an angry bear, and a group of other shapes he presumed were Gembounds. Spectators, it seemed. Highlighted in the center was a crying Makyna standing alongside another who looked almost exactly like her. Usui twitched his tail as he read the scraggly lines, lines that had been carved with emotion. Gently, he passed the stone back to her. Then, he pushed his stone towards her.

She would notice that his stone had the drawing of Aquarian and a couple of gembounds all bunched together against it. The boy looked at the lioness and spoke gently. . ”That ‘a my drawing. We face’d just one ‘thang. But the feeee-ling is different. My Gembounds were happy to chase of tha’ monster. But the bear. He no monster. You sad. You guilt. You feel, responsible for a’ this.” The boy pause and flicked with his tail, pale green eyes falling into a softer gaze. . ”Wha’ wuld you ‘ave done differently?” He lapsed into silence again and waited for the girl to speak.

Cancer was on his way home. He was done with this adventure. The game in Eridanus had been one thing, but Giggle's fortune had been a whole other ordeal for him. Now he had troubled thoughts on top of his guilt. The cat had a horrible feeling about what the hyena had said- that he'd push others away, and that despite a bright future ahead, he was doomed to say goodbye to someone in the end... at least, that's what he'd gotten from it. But who? Bevy? No, the little bird was resilient and dangerous to others. She would always be around, and likely always be his friend- if anyone understood his mood swings, it was the multiple personalities of Bevy.

Leon? He could see it. The bear would probably get tired of him soon and leave, if he hadn't already. Maybe then he'd finally have Makyna to himself, no jealous bears to spoil a good thing. The thought twisted his stomach. He didn't want to hog the lioness, she wasn't an object to possess. He just wanted her to love him, and no one else, in that special way... was that so bad?

Makyna...

Could she be the one who'd leave? He felt a chill wash over him, fear like nothing he'd ever felt before. Heart wrenching and painful. The leopard shook his head to rid himself of the anxiety building in his chest, but it was no use. He was so sure now. He'd be alone, Makyna would leave him for what he'd done to Leon... and he hadn't been able to find the bear since to apologize. Woud she blame him? Of course she would, it was his fault. His stupid fault. The sulking leopard cub passed through one cave and into a tunnel, and then as he rounded the corner, he found himself stopping dead. There she was. Makyna.

He crouched where he stood and listened for a moment. She was with another cub, another cat- a lion? The two were talking about... the song and dance routine. The cub questioned her about guilt, and what she would do differently if she had the chance, and Cancer stepped in then, clearing his throat.

"She wouldn't have to do anything differently... the whole thing was my fault." He started seriously, voice dropped to a guilty tone, but not pleading forgiveness like before. He came to stand behind her, some paces away, too nervous of rejection to greet her like normal.

"I insulted her best friend in front of everybody, because I was jealous. If I could change my actions, I'd have apologized instead. I'd tell that smelly bear that I value his friendship..." The cat bowed his head, looking to Makyna now. "...and if I could go even further back, I never would've fallen in love with his best friend... no matter how beautiful or wonderful she is. He deserves her love more." The admission was choked, as if there were tears on the edge of his voice. He looked down at the ground, avoiding their eyes now. "...I'm so sorry, Makyna."

The lioness reached forward with a paw to cub the other lion's stone. On it was a drawing of several gembounds fighting some sort of dragon-like creature. Despite the danger she could imagine it being fun. After all, as long as you had friends near you that had your back how could you not look back on it and remember it rather fondly? Exception being if someone was hurt which apparently that wasn't really the case here. Not if the cub was happy about this fond memory. "Seems like what happened to you all was dangerous. However, I'm glad that you all made it out okay." Then she sighed and looked down at the male with her clear blue eyes, head shaking. "No. He's no monster, far from it. I guess I don't feel guilty per se but I--" A new voice interrupted hers as Cancer showed up. The one who was the cause of her best friend's disappearance and anguish. If she was a more revenge-seeking and angry person she probably would have cursed the leopard out for what he'd done but she couldn't. There was no anger in her just a deep upset that he had caused the whole thing.

"Cancer, we can't help who we fall in love with. It's not your fault..." That part wasn't his fault. She was just as much to blame as he was. After all, hadn't she made an advance on him that day? "I forgive you for that day." Didn't stop her for being upset about it though. "I know you'd apologize if you could but... but he's not here..." Her voice choked up on that last part. It was so awful not having Leon around whenever she wanted him. He had always been there and now he wasn't.

"I know I'm not fully to blame for that night but if I could do anything differently I'd go back and try to stop you from doing that song... I'd even try to stop Leon from storming off rather than sitting there and doing nothing like I did!" She mewled like a little kitten, feeling sorry for herself. This was all so difficult! Why couldn't things be like the way they were when she was a little cub? The only thing she had to worry about then was exploring and playing, that was all! None of this relationship drama! "There are many things I would go back and change in my life... things where I actually took action rather than being a stupid bystander." Makyna hated the fact that she had no spirit to do anything or gave bad suggestions. With Carrie it had been her idea to use the magic which had cost her her leg, during the spar it had been her idea to fight and she'd ended up with a scar, with Fisher she hadn't spoken up enough to make him not attack the Spire and as a result got Deus killed, at Pisces when Midas attacked the snake she could have stopped him and maybe the monkey would be alive, she'd caused Majesty pain by using her stupid powers on him... and now when Leon had stormed off she'd done nothing! Absolutely nothing! It would probably be best if she wasn't even in the group! What did she contribute anyway? Nothing but pain for Leon and contributions to disaster! "I don't ever do anything that helps..." Her eyes opened wide and her voice sounded hollow with this realization.

Perhaps she needed to go too... To go for a day or two and get her head straight. These feelings were tearing her apart.

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words: 604
tagged: Usui, Cancer
ooc: ---
muse: 8/10

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

The pretty lioness responded to his pebble and he nodded solemnly. ” Yessss, it’s great relief we alive, though not unscathed.” The boy listened as she spoke about how she did not feel guilt. He nodded encouragingly, hoping that she would grasp at the right term to realize her true feelings regarding this great sadness that clung to her. It was good that she tried pinpointing the source of her struggles. ”She wouldn’t have done anything differently…” a male’s voice cut in almost immediately. Usui swung his head and his gaze landed upon an older adolescent. He noted that the black cheetah was in an awkward stage between puppyhood and adulthood. Although surprised at his new guest’s entrance, the boy kept silent and just gave him a nod in acknowledgement. Usui was quiet and undisturbing now, a ghost in the dramatic scene unfolding between both love-torn felines as they confronted the issue.

He was inexperienced in youth but wisdom was a trait he had. Concluding all the lovey dovey feelings he himself had never experienced, the lion could only say this. Drawing himself to a taller height, Usui cast his pale green eyes on both Makyna and Cancer, and worked his magic. The rock on which Makyna drew shattered into pieces. ”Th’ past is done. Take action for th’ future.” The cub got up and padded to a corner where he retrieved a new pebble. Cupping it into his paw, he padded back and placed it in front of Makyna, then resumed his usual spot. ”Draw th’ happy memory when it is fix’d and when ye’ is done,” here, Usui smiled at her, ”we can chat again. No time to lose." Usui then looked at Cancer, his deep youthful gaze revealing nothing. He had no business with Cancer yet, and this entire exchange was not going to be one of judgements but revelations.

ooc: Cancer tries very hard to be the person he wants to be, by trying to convince Makyna to go after Leon, because he thinks it'll help. Really looking forward to the apology attempt between him and Leon ending in the epic battle now. xD

Cancer had expected her to be angry. He'd expected her to yell, to scream, to hit him or call him bad names. He'd expected her to shriek about how stupid he'd been... but what she did instead broke him. It shattered him, the damage running deep. She forgave him for the song and dance, and then she dropped into a self-loathing speech he himself could've uttered on a normal day. He cringed with every word. He'd pleaded for her to stay, promised he'd find the bear, and she was blaming herself? That wasn't fair! Then, the cub stepped in, that unfamiliar but suddenly welcome lion cub with his wise words and rock-shattering magic. He told her to draw a happier time, and Cancer felt a deep appreciation for the cub's youthful wisdom. This place needed more understanding characters like this guy. He offered the cub a thankful glance.

As Makyna set to work, or if she did, Cancer would sit back and sigh. "While you do that, let me tell you a story." He murmured, sounding as tired as he felt.

"Deep in our Origin cave, a child was born, into darkness and water. He woke afraid and in danger, so this was all he knew at first. When he met his first friend, he was happy, but it was fleeting.

Then he met her. He met the most wonderful and innocent creature in the whole cave. She showed him how to laugh, love and wonder. She encouraged him to imagine what was beyond his safe water place, and so he went.

But though he made mistakes, she blamed herself. She felt so much love for everyone she met that if anything bad ever happened to them, she took the blame and placed it onto her own shoulders, even if it wasn't her fault at all." It broke his heart.

"So the boy born in water became protective and jealous. Such a perfect beauty was to be protected from the horrors of the world... but in trying to protect her, in trying to make her happy, and keep her from heartbreak, he hurt her." His voice strained now. "He made a fool of himself and of her best friend. He meant well, but like a child born of darkness often is, he was misguided and mistaken. He thought he'd keep her to himself, and in doing so, he pushed her away."

Cancer stood then, and looked upon Makyna with those same dark eyes he'd worn the day they'd met- those eyes that had seen only darkness and terror, fleeting happiness that would be met with more darkness only moments later. "The boy born in water realized his mistake too late, and broke her heart. He..." Oh, this was silly.

"I realize now that... that without Leon around, you can't possibly be happy." He looked up to her and sighed. "So... if you don't come back to Pisces... I'd understand." He offered a weak smile, despite his shattered feelings. "I hope... you'll find him, Makyna. If anyone needs your love, your wonder and beauty, right now... it's the smelly bear with the broken heart." He grinned despite himself, but the expression wasn't natural. "I have Bevy, and all of Maji Walezi. He only has you."

Makyna turned to the cub, eyes staring into his, wanting to take comfort from his words. The past was done... take action for the future? How could she when the past was affecting her future? What if she never saw Leon again? The thought caused a wave of despair to wash over her. The lioness didn't want to think of that. Just as she needed him he needed her as well. He would return but until he did the lioness would ache for him. She hadn't realized how much she needed him until he was gone and out of reach.

Her paws reached out to grab the stone, cupped in her paw pads as she looked down at it blankly. "The happy memory..." She echoed as she stared down at the stone. she had plenty of old happy memories she could draw but for some reason she didn't think it would be right. Just as he said, those were in the past and would stay there. She needed a new happy memory to draw but what? No happy memory would come anytime soon.

She knew what she had to do.

As Cancer began speaking she clutched the stone with her paws, hiding it from view in her paws as she turned to him. His story, it nearly broke her heart but he was right. He was oh so very right. The lioness smiled at him sadly and walked up to him. The lioness gave him a lick on the cheek and peered into his amber eyes. "Thank-you, Cancer. I will search for him and try to find him. While I'm gone I will also try to find myself again... for I seem to have lost that as well. I will return to you though, I promise." She stepped forward and pushed her head into his neck, reveling in his warmth for a moment before sliding her body along his and flopping her tail over his back. "I love you. I will come back to Pisces soon..." She didn't know if it would be with Leon or without him but either way she would come back.

Her gaze turned back to the lion cub, that young wise cub who in those short moments she'd grown fond of. "Thank-you for your help, little one. I will draw a good happy memory for you when I have one and when I do, I will find you again and we'll exchange more pebble stories together. Perhaps a little more." She gave him a soft smile and waved her tail in farewell. Yes, perhaps when she saw him again she'd share pebble stories and maybe show him a few songs. There a few things in mind that she wanted to do.

With that, she gave one last look at Cancer full of melancholy before she padded away to find herself.

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words: 475
tagged: Usui, Cancer
ooc: exit
muse: 7/10

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