Winds howled along the open spaces of Monoceros. For most creatures avoiding the drafts would be a struggle not largely worth it. But for a few creatures, the winds were a welcomed invite to aid and advance learning to fly. As such, occasional avian lesser bounds could be seen gliding along the cavern walls. Perhaps that is why the egg of raspberyl first appeared in this windy cove.

Along the high ceilings after a row of winding stairs lay a series of platforms. On one of those nooks sat a deep raspberry stone tucked safely into a corner. Not as small as a pebble, it was still easy to overlook as it was wedged against the stone wall. However, it’s bold coloration made it more apparent when glanced in that direction.

This became all the more the case when the day came that it shifted just slightly. Just a tiny nudge really. A tiny crack followed around the ruby surface of the stone. Wedged so tightly against the stone wall, it was difficult at first for the crack to spread. But spread it did with time. Soon, a small head was able to pop out of the egg.

Pink eyes blinked while pigeon chick took in their surroundings. The wind howled from below but it was only a faint breeze from where the stoney egg sat on the platforms. That was the main thing they noticed at first. Then slowly they took in the rest of the area from their rasberyl stone haven.

What drove her to Monoceros was a mystery. She had never visited the windy cave before, although she had heard of it before. Perhaps destiny was pushing her towards the place where she would find yet another sin waiting for her. Perhaps it was simply coincidence that she was there. Either way, she had wandered here and her eyes just so happened to rake across the place where the young chick hatched.

She paused mid-step and looked up, making sure that she wasn't seeing things. But there it was, a little bird perched in a wedge. She had a funny feeling about it, just from the sight of its red stone, and decided that she might as well call up to it. She got closer, trying to ignore the wind pushing at her and called up, as best she could, "Hello there, young one! Do you need help getting down?"

@Lust

The wind howled, whirling around the cavern though mostly avoiding the chick as they rested in their perch. With a bit of a struggle they worked their way out of the stony egg and half hobbled, half hopped closer to the edge of their perch. The cave was quite a sight to behold, vast and open with a twister of wind swirling in the center a ways away. It was a ferocious sight for such a young creature to first take in. Now what to do?

As though able to read the little bird’s brain, a new sound carried itself along the wind. A soft chirp was surprise responded from the yellowish pink puff ball. They scanned the room in search of the owner of the voice. For that voice! So different from the wind, so pleasant and confident! They had to find out who owned it!

And there they were! A large creature below them stood looking up at the fancy pigeon’s platform. Instinct should have warned that a large reptile is no friend to a tiny creature like themselves. Instead they were in awe at it’s form. Long and slick with a head that seemed to carry itself effortlessly with poise. Much more fascinating than the dreary caverns at least.

“Hello!” They chirped down at the much larger reptile. “Yes! Ah, getting down would be nice, I guess. I mean, if it's not too much trouble or anything!” The pigeon became somewhat flustered. That little voice of beware came into their understanding, but twisted in meaning. After all, their supposed hero was so much larger, and probably stronger and more beautiful and powerful than they were! How can you talk to someone like that easily?

Tag: @Reseda
Notes: Aaaaand, Lust's first lil' crush is formed, lol

Reseda didn't notice the bird get flustered or embarrassed. She didn't notice at all that it had any feelings for her. How could she when she didn't have any capacity to feel herself? But she did pick up that being nice would be to her advantage here. The bird was gentle and sweet and she would benefit from being sweet back.

She raised a claw and focused it on the big, intending on latching onto it with its magic. However, the crevice was small and she wasn't experienced enough with the spell to focus on the tiny chick. The wind howling made it even more difficult to notice.

After a moment of trying to aim properly, she gave up and set down a claw. "I can't reach you while you're in there. Do you think you can climb out without falling? I might be able to help you if you do."



@Lust

They watched as the Komodo dragon lifted a claw and focused intently on them. So intense. Lust couldn’t quite understand the reasoning behind the stare but it seemed important. To be important to such a large and magnificent beast! It was almost too much for the lil’ chick to bear! Lust beamed with pride, but also felt more embarrassed by the action. Eventually, the reptile’s claw lowered and they ducked their head away for a moment.

More words soon followed causing the pigeon to return their focus again. Could they get down themselves? Would that please the larger creature? How great that would be to please her? Lust had no idea of what kind of swindler the Komodo dragon was, just that they seemed powerful and confident and awesome. It was settled, Lust had to try!

With a deep breath and a flutter of tiny baby wings, Lust hobbled as quickly as they could to the edge of the platform they hatched on. Faster and faster! They were going to do it! They were nearly there!

And then a baby talon found its awkwardly to a pebble blown up by the wind. Lust tumbled crown over tail towards the cliff, stopping just at the end. Head faced downwards, wings spread out to either side. “Ahhhh!” came a loud cry, stumbling back to their feet to back away from the edge. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m sorry! It’s so far! I’m not as big as you are!” they cried out.

Tag: @Reseda

Reseda watched as the bird backed away and huffed in disappointment, misunderstanding their disappearance. Surely they had wanted her help to get down? Sometimes it became apparently obvious to her that she didn't understand gems. She was about to turn around and leave when a sudden cry hit her ear and she looked back up. The bird was fluttering away from the edge and Reseda realized that they had been trying to jump.

She had only asked them to become visible. Had she not been clear or was this pigeon just dumb? Well, it didn't matter because she had an opportunity to try again, now that they were more visible. Hey, hey, it's okay! She consoled the young one. Don't worry, I'll get you down. I can reach your now." She held up a claw and aimed, letting the magic lose. It aimed true and would latch onto the pigeon, if all went well. "This is going to feel a little strange. Try not to move."

Focusing carefully, she tried to lift the pigeon from the alcove, hoping that the wind wouldn't catch her as she was floating in the air. She pulled back, wanting to carefully set the bird down in front of her.


@Lust

The tiny chick ceased their crying at the consoling words of the reptile. They gave a tiny sniffle and then hopped back towards the edge to look down at her. Such a kind, benevolent creature she was! Lust could hardly believe their luck that almost immediately upon hatching they would be fated to meet such a magnificent specimen. Though the rest of her words were a bit confusing the chick tried very hard to keep as still as possible, barely even breathing.

Then their body began to feel weird as though a strange tingling, tickling sensation went completely around them. They shuddered as the strange sensation enveloped them. With a tiny gasp of surprise Lust found that they were floating in the air. An instinctual part of their brain clicked and tiny little wings began to vainly flutter. Wind howled past as Lust slowly drifted closer to where the Komodo Dragon was. The winds buffed the poor pigeon chick but somehow, they managed not to stray too terribly off course.

With a small “plop” the pigeon landed on solid ground. Well, mostly solid ground. Luckily the Komodo dragon’s large form blocked most of the wind from further tormenting the chick. And large she was! Now that the chick rested in front of her, they were able to tell just how mighty of a creature they were. So large, with such shiny skin, and taunt muscles hidden just below. To think that this creature was so powerful and yet so helpful to a lost lil’ thing like them! It was almost more than the pigeon could stand. How fortunate they were indeed!

“Oh! Oh, thank you so much for helping me! I can’t believe my luck that you just happened to be coming by! To be found by such a strong, and powerful, and pretty, and amazing creature like you! I can’t believe it! I-“

Lust stopped, realizing they had rambled on and embarrassed themselves again. With a sharp chirp, they attempted to bury their head in their wings. “Thank you,” they muttered between the downy feathers.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes:

coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda was thankful that the little bird was not swept away by the winds. She was reminded, again, of why she never visited this cave. Annoying, inconvenient, a good many things that made her frustrated. Also loud. She couldn't stand the wailing of the wind.

But at least she managed to set the bird gently in front of her. She set down her claw and released the magic effortlessly. She was about to open her mouth to greet the bird when, all of a sudden, a flurry of words came pouring from their mouth. A little shocked and taken aback, Reseda simply listened, drinking in each word with a growing sense of darkness. Would it be this easy to reel this one in? Could this be someone she was looking for? Another Sin? Or a follower? Or simply an ally? She did not know. However, she decided to play it back.

She grinned awkwardly, looking a little flustered, yet delighted. "Oh, well, you're welcome! I couldn't stand by while you were trapped up there! And thank you, I guess, for the compliments." She went quiet for a moment, before continuing on. "I'm Reseda, by the way. Do you have a name yet?"


@Lust

If it were possible for birds to blush, the yellowish white of the bird’s face would be as deeply pink at the speck of raspberyl gem on their cheek. Lessons were rapidly being learned by the little chick. One was that they were tiny and could use the help of much larger and majestic creatures than themselves. Two was that they would easily talk much too much. These seemed like important lessons. What else would they learn during this precious post-hatching time?

“Reseda…” they repeated in their head. So, their savior had a name. And such a beautiful name at that. Fitting to match the creature before them. Oh, how they could repeat that name in their head again and again and it would ring so sweetly. Reseda seemed like such an amazing person. Oh, if only they too could just as powerful and confident and brave and kind as the great Reseda!

Their thoughts were broken, though, by the question extended to them. A name? That was quite a question. To be fair, they haven’t had much time to really give it much thought in the short time of life outside their chrysalis. From hatching to being rescued, the pigeon hadn’t had much of a chance to think of anything really. Well, outside of marveling at their new hero.

“I …” They lowered their head again, not able to look the Komodo dragon in the eye. It was bad enough to recognize that they were leagues away from where their idol was in terms of size, power, and, well, everything. But to admit that not only was their name not nearly as amazing as her’s, but that they had no name at all?

Eyes downcast, they slowly shook their head. “I don’t think so,” they muttered softly.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Reseda
notes: "Would it be this easy to reel this one in?" - Yes, yes it will. Poor, naive bird

coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda wasn't quite sure why the bird kept looking away, but perhaps it was feeling some emotion that was alien to her. She could not comprehend it, but she did her best. Was it feeling envious of her? Of her form and her name, for some reason? It was a small bird, after all. But if this was another Sin, and it was perhaps the one she thought it was, then perhaps it felt the emotion she had least concerned herself with: love; or, at least, some form of affection.

Gems were strange, strange and stupid and Reseda didn't know why they let themselves feel such things. Then again, she liked the bones, didn't she? She liked to crunch on them. Did that make her affectionate of the bones? No, she did not love the bones, she simply enjoyed their company. But wait, wasn't that what affection was? No, wait, she destroyed the bones. That didn't make her anything close to affectionate. She simply felt most comfortable in her home chewing on bones. Yes, that was it, comfort. Not affection.

But this bird was affectionate of her. Was it her power? Her body? Her voice? Her name? Maybe all of these things? Either way, it certainly boosted that area within her that desired everything, especially the affection of the lesser, even if she could not understand such emotions. She gave the young bird a gentle smile. "It it alright, little one. If you'd like, I would name you. If it is not impertinent of me, then I would name you...Lust. Yes, if you so desire, that could be your name. It would fit you well." If it accepted this name, then it would be the one and she had her sixth sin. One more to go.


@Lust