As usual, the cat had been sleeping. Most of his days were spent sleeping. Ever since the group of Gembounds had invaded his space - the brief moment he considered going outside - he had sought refuge in the furthest corners of his den. There, it was dark, damp, and quiet. He had gone noseblind to the tired odor wafting off of himself, but every now and then if he happened to move, he would breathe it in again. But the musty smell of the den helped to hide it. Made him ignorant to the catastrophic state he had descended to.

The voice of the stag had cut through his dreams. Hearing his name, his ears twitched, and then his eyes slowly rolled open. Realizing that somebody was standing right outside his den, Bartos' heart lurched in his chest and he jumped to his paws, ready to hiss defensively at the creature that dared intrude on his home.

It was only Astraea. The stag's calming voice soothed the fur into lying flat on his spine, only to evoke another flash of agitation.

"I'm busy," he grunted reflexively, refraining from entering the light. The cat sniffed and leaned back onto his haunches, leering cautiously at the stag. He had mentioned bringing a visitor. Bartos tilted his head and leered past the stag's long, narrow legs to the cub nearby.

Why. Why? Didn't he know Bartos was better off alone?

The cat frowned deeply. "What is it?" he relented.

In the back of his mind, he considered calling for Senka again.

@Apzohra

Apzohra peered past the stag and was able to see a small l looking cat in the cave. He looked lonely, as if he's been here for a long time. She was excited, it was another gembound! She could see it wasn't another tiger, because if he was, he would look like her. She pushed that thought aside, all gembounds were special, so she decided to gather up the courage to meet the new cat she saw. She straightened herself, then walked over to the cat who wanted to be left alone. To her, it looked like he needed friends, so she was going to be one of his friends. "Hi my name is Apzohra Swiftwater. I'm new here but I already love this place called Origin Cave, it's my home. You must be Bartos, it's nice to meet you!" She walked over some steps closer to his cave until she was right outside the entrance. Her innocence was plain to see, but she was just a cub after all. It felt good to meet another gembound, it showed she wasn't the only one. Her golden eyes sparkled as she looked at the cat in the dark cave. She hoped that the cat would warm up to her, she meant no harm and was just trying to get her bearings in her new home. She had hoped that someone would teach her, like a mentor. She hoped Astraea would do it, but wasn't sure if he'd have the time. The cat she was talking to seemed pretty smart, could he teach her? She didn't know, but focused on making friends with this new gembound she met.

He didn't necessarily expect the cat to leap to their welcome, but to be honest, Astraea was surprised by how brisk he was at their arrival. Then again, it had been quite some time since he paid the cat a visit. When was the last time he had seen Bartos? Certainly, he had seen him since he relieved the cat of his research. But so much had happened between now and then, Astraea couldn't remember all of it.

In any case, it didn't matter. Astraea's expression remained silky as Bartos grunted his displeasure at their presence, only to rescind it seconds later. "This Gembound is freshly emerged from her chrysalis and eager to meet more of her kind," he began.

Then, the tiger cub leaped into an introduction. Astraea watched her, careful to remind her not to tread too deeply into the cave - but fortunately, she remained only at the entrance. He worried somewhat that her overly jubilant attitude might aggravate him and rouse Senka's attention. The last thing he wanted was for the Gembound to be frightened by the shadowy creature. He found himself smiling at her politeness; hopefully, it would serve as a positive first impression to the cat.

"Apzohra is still young and learning the ways of the cave. I was hoping that you may take her under your wing," he suggested cautiously. "She promises to be a keen pupil."

The cat wrinkled his nose slightly at the deer. He seemed to slough off Bartos' purposeful curmudgeonly attitude. It seemed he'd have to try a lot harder to dissuade Astraea from bothering him. But at the same time, he felt it wasn't his place to dismiss him so haughtily. Astraea was an ancient as the caves himself; if he wanted to stay and talk to Bartos, Bartos was certain he'd find a way to do so regardless of whether or not Bartos was in a sociable mood. If it came down to it, even Senka would probably bend to his will. His tail flopped unhappily on the ground next to him, cold cobalt eyes boring into the stag, and then ripping away to fix on the tiger cub as she approached the den.

She was cheery. No wonder Astraea liked her.

He said nothing, his lips pursed with dismay as Astraea appended that the child was an eager learner. A keen pupil, he said. Oh. So Astraea had something in mind for her, then? Was that the reason why he had sought Bartos out? Of course.

Nobody ever came to visit Bartos unless they wanted something.

"Do I have to?" the cat mumbled, pinning his ears back as he averted his gaze back to the darkness of the den. Still, in the corner of his vision, he could see the stag maintaining his firm smile. His air of preeminence. There would be no arguing with Astraea's request.

"Fine," he hissed. The fur along his spine lifted with annoyance. He peered down at his paws, flexing his toes into the dirt, resisting having to rise and enter the light again. There might be other Gembounds waiting out there for him. Waiting to ambush him. To talk to him, question him, try to fix him. He sighed, his shoulders feeling tight. "What do I have to do?" he muttered, evading their eyes.

Apzohra watched the conversation between the stag and the small cat. This cat was going to be her mentor? How exciting! Despite the cat's annoyed attitude she knew in that cat lay a kind and promising gembound. She never gave up on anyone, and saw all gembounds as equal. "I know we just met, but I was hoping we could be friends. You're stone is on the same place mine is, cool!" She had a face of wonder as she looked at his gem. Astraea was right about one thing though, she was a keen pupil, and very intelligent for her age. She listened to Astraea as he told her not to get to close. She reluctantly went back to the stag's side and gave a friendly face to the cat in the cave. If this cat was going to be her mentor, they would have so much fun exploring Origin Cave! Yet something told her this cat hasn't left the cave in a while. She waited for either the stag or the cat to say something, as she sat on her haunches looking at the cat with friendly curiosity.

Astraea didn't falter when the cat at first protested against his suggestion. It might not have been Bartos' first choice, but he was only acting in the cat's best interest. It would be good for him to get out of this rancid den. To integrate himself back into the cave, especially with everything beginning to unfold so unpredictably; he needed a reliable point of influence to contend the mandates of the other groups coming to fruition. So perhaps, it was in Astraea's best interest too. Surely Bartos would understand that.

Ultimately, he seemed to give in to the idea and Astraea produced an even wider smile than before. He glanced down at Apzohra, who was only enthusiastic about beginning her apprenticeship underneath the cat. Bless her innocent heart. He truly did hope that Bartos would teach her well.

"Educate her on the ways of the cave," Astraea said, looking back to Bartos. "Teach her to hunt and fight, and how to unlock the potential of her magic. And show her the vast rooms beyond Pisces, as well. I believe it would do you well to get out of this den for once."

The suggestion was spoken with good humor, but there was also a hint of seriousness to it. Astraea held the cat's gaze for a moment, and then turned his head back to Apzorah, the smile returning as soft and encouraging as ever. "I am going to leave you with Bartos for now, as I have other business to attend to-" like dealing with the Gembound who tainted these waters, he thought, "-is that alright? He will care for you well, I promise."

Once again, he lowered his head to nudge the top of the tiger cub's brow with his nose.

The cat felt a twinge of annoyance when the cub spoke up. Wishing to be friends. As if she knew anything about friendship, or any kind of relationship - hadn't Astraea said she just hatched? Her curious determination was only evidence that newly hatched Gembounds were blissfully ignorant, and Astraea wanted to waste Bartos' time teaching her? He even went so far as to narrow his eyes when she pointed out the similarity in the locations of their stones. On their chests. As if that meant anything.

Maybe he was just too bitter. He was second guessing his decision to accept the request.

But Astraea went on, instructing him to teach her how to hunt (he barely even fed himself these days), how to fight (Bartos had always been a poor fighter - his broken leg was a souvenir of one of the few fights he ever had), and how to unlock her magical potential. That, perhaps, Bartos could do - but whether or not he wanted to was a different story. He puffed, licking his nose nervously as he watched the stag begin his farewells to the cub. So it seemed Bartos would have no way to get out of this then. Astraea had already decided to leave the child with him.

Worse - he wanted him to take her to the other rooms in the cave, too. He couldn't remember the last time he had even left Pisces. Leaving Pisces would mean leaving his den. It would mean... leaving everything inside the den behind. Unprotected. "Wait," Bartos cut in, "what about Clover?"

He didn't want to risk losing her. Not again.

@Apzohra

"Don't worry, I'll be fine! I can't wait to learn." The young cub spoke with a smile on her face. Apzohra was happy that she had a mentor who was going to teach her about being a member of Origin Cave! Not to mention show her around all the places in the cave. The young cub was so excited, she couldn't wait to get started! She may be young, but she had the bravery of the largest creature out there, she wasn't scared, she was a gembound. She looked at Astraea for a moment as she spoke to him. "Thank you for everything. I hope I get to see you again." She rubbed affectionately against his front leg, before moving closer to the entrance of the cave to take a seat. She waited for Bartos to give her the ok that it was fine for her to enter the cave. She would learn much, and one day she would make Astraea proud. She would become a great gembound one day, she would make sure of that.

Astraea smiled and nodded. He was confident that the cub would be fine - it was Bartos he was more worried about it. He just hoped the cat wouldn't try to abandon her. He liked to think he had a little more faith in Bartos than that, but, honestly - it had been a while since he'd spoken to the cat. "You're very welcome. And you will," he assured her.

The stag moved to turn away before Bartos called out. Astraea paused, his brows lifting slightly as he regarded his question. "Senka will protect her," he said with certainty.

Wherever the shadow was.

His lips tightened, as thought to threaten a frown - but it never came. Speaking of shadows...

"And one last thing, Bartos," the stag continued. "Do keep an eye out for Jinsei, won't you? I've heard he's residing around these parts... speak to him when you have a chance."

Astraea cast Apzohra one last smile before finally turning, his body carrying him in long, elegant strides away from the warrens.

Exit Deer Dad.

He watched the affectionate exchange between the stag and the cub briefly, but his attention was mostly on the stag. Anticipating his answer. Wanting to know if he would just brush him off. No - knowing he would. Astraea had made his demands clear, so even with the risk of Clover, he knew he'd be expected to accompany the cub. Sure enough, Astraea told him only that Senka would mind his den. The cat grumbled quietly, lowering his head as he peered over his shoulder at the arrangement of gemstones hidden among the shadows in the far reaches of his den.

Oh. Another request. His ear flicked slightly, and then he felt his mood drop significantly at his mention of Jinsei. Jinsei... who was that? Did he know who that was? The name felt familiar, but he wasn't sure. Bartos parted his lips to ask, but the stag was already walking away.

Grunting, Bartos turned his focus back to the cub.

"Seems I'm your babysitter now," the cat muttered, taking a hesitant step closer. His eyes darted left and right, searching the outside of the den for signs of danger before landing back on Apzohra. "Well? Now what?"

He wasn't sure why anyone would expect Bartos to have any idea of what to do next, because really, he'd been struggling to come up with a game plan for cycles now.

@Apzohra