Reseda lumbered into Orion, Lust still clutching at the thick skin on her back. The bird was barely a burden and she soon found that she could move at her normal pace. Which was not exactly fast, but was at least enough to get her moving along. They had finally made it and, at long last, she came to a halt.

She turned he head back towards Lust, giving her shoulders a little nudge up in case they had fallen asleep. "We are here now, the room of stars. They call it Orion." She looked away and into the cave, the glistening gems above and on the ground and the great throne rising above the rest. It was not the perfect place to learn magic, but Polaris was another journey to make and Reseda had had enough travelling for now.

She lowered herself to the ground so that Lust could get off of her back. "So, what would you like to do first? Practice magic? Talk about the caves? I could show you how to hunt, if that's what you eat, or we could find a temporary place to stay before we do anything else."

@Lust

The path through the tunnels started out very exciting for the small chick. Riding along the back of the great Komodo dragon they rushed out of one cavern with its monstrous wind vortex and along towards a new cavern. Everything was new to the nearly hatched bird. And they were riding on top of their glorious mentor and savior. Things were marvelous at first.

Then, Lust realized that the tunnels were nothing too special. They were simply rocky pathways going from one location to the next. And Reseda’s swaying back and forth movements had a rocking feel to them. Slowly pink eyes began to close as their eyelids grew heavier. The pigeon tried to fight that instinct, to stay awake the whole time. How could they miss a second of this new adventure? But the rocking motion continued ….

The rocking motion stopped suddenly and was instead replaced with an abrupt shifting of shoulder blades. Opening their eyes, they caught the last bit of what Reseda was saying as she turned to look away from them. “Uh, wha-…!”

Lust stopped in mid-word, the sound caught in their throat. Their eyes widened as they realized where they were. They had left the tunnel and now stood in the midst of a new cavern. This one was very much different from Monoceros. That cave had been near terrifying with it’s thunderous winds. This one was awe inspiring. Gemstones lying the ceiling and walls shimmered and twinkled as though with their own light. Stones and strange structures in disarray filled the area. Crystals were scattered everywhere in a dazzling disarray. Everything sparkled despite the ruins. It was breath taking for the chick.

“Orion,” they repeated the name, looking around them to take everything in. Reseda’s question when momentarily forgotten as they half slide and half tumbled off the larger reptile’s back. “It’s beautiful here,” they spoke quietly, as though to speak too loudly would break the magic of this place.

They hopped forward a couple of paces to look down at the closest quartz erupting from the ground. “Are all the other caves this beautiful?” they asked, not moving their eyes away from the sparkling gem as though to look away would vitiate it's purity.


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

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda stayed where she was as Lust went forward to inspect the quartz in front of them. She nodded with agreement, although she, personally, did not really find anything beautiful. The concept of beauty was, unfortunately, lost on her, but many others had expressed their love and awe for Orion. "Yes. Many call it the room of stars for all the glimmering lots on the ceiling and walls. There are other caves as well, beautiful in their own rights. Polaris is large and open with a river of crystal water and the Spire of magic so thick it is a gem on its own. There is Eridanus, covered in plants and trees, a deep jungle of mysteries. And Canis as well, beautiful in a dark, silent way. Littered with bones and cold with many secrets hidden in its shadows."

She missed Canis and the quiet among the bones. She missed her cave and her crunching, she missed many things from her home. It was annoying having to interact with the world sometimes but it was all for her ultimate goal. Once she was at the top, the world would be hers.

@Lust
So sorry for the wait!

Pink eyes turned from the quartz in front of them to take in the room as Reseda recanted many of the caverns that made up the Origin Caves. Each sounded remarkable in their own way. Then she talked about Canis. Of course, they had never seen that cave or any of the caves the reptile had mentioned other than the one they were currently standing in. Reseda’s longing was not lost on the small bird though. They could hear the notes of comfort and familiarity in her words. Canis was apparently a very important place for Reseda. Lust didn’t understand why, but that didn’t matter. It was important to her; therefore, it was important to them as well.

The pigeon chick turned to face her once, nodding at her words. “There are lots of caves. And all so different too…” The words lingered for a bit. Part of the chick wanted to continue exploring and seeing more of the caverns. But they were not so eager to leave the wonders of this one yet either. The sparkling of the crystals was very enticing, after all.

“You said Canis has many secrets…. Does this cave have secrets too?”


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

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda nodded along with the little bird, but personally didn't really care. Sure, the caves were different, but everything was different, just as there were no two bones that were the same. Thing were different and looked different and smelled different. This was news that did not excite her the way that it excited Lust. But as long as it made the strange little bird like her more, she would continue to play along. "Of course. All the caves have secrets. And don't ask me what they are," she added with a chuckle, "I do not know. That is why they are secrets."

She glanced around the room, suddenly wondering exactly what kind of secrets it held, what kind of mysteries lied beneath the stones and the stars. For a moment, greed gripped her once again and she wished to know all of them, all of the secrets, in all the caves. But she had to remind herself that she needed to focus on one goal, however hard it was. With great difficulty, she pushed down this sudden, primal desire.

She turned back to Lust. "There are many secrets everywhere, all over the caves. But, for now, I am weary from the journey. Perhaps we should find a place to rest?"

@Lust
So sorry for the wait!

The pigeon followed Reseda’s curious eyes throughout the cave. The crystals danced along the walls, the ceilings, the floor. They wondered for a moment what secrets they had. Strange structures dotted the vast landscape, many a great number of times bigger than Reseda was. Lust wondered for a moment what was inside of them, what laid hidden from their eyes. How interesting it would be to learn about them. To find those hidden little places that filled this cavern. Maybe to discover the secrets of the other caverns as well. Or at least of Canis….

Once again, their thoughts traveled towards that cave. Bones and cold, the reptile had described it. That did not sound particularly appealing to the young bird. But it was apparently of great interest to their companion. Lust was curious as to what secrets were there that was of interest to her. What was it there that she longed for? What was important to her?

A strange feeling formed in the avian’s gizzard. They wanted to know what could be important to her. They wanted to have it, to treasure it. To have some part of their idol that they could cherish. It was a strange and new thought to the bird. Almost like an ache. They desired it deeply, to have some part of Reseda with them for surely, she would have to go at some point? She was powerful; surely, she had things of importance to take care of?

Luck came in the form of Reseda saying that she was weary and changing the train of thought for Lust. The strange desire got pushed away for the time being. Lust gave a yawn, reminded that the day had been very long and eventful. Despite the nap taken on the Komodo dragon’s back, a place to rest sounded like a good idea.

The chick nodded, “Yeah, sleep sounds nice right now. But where….?” Once again, the chick took in the large size of the cavern filled with gems and buildings. Then again, did it really matter where? Anywhere near Reseda would be amazing. Though in truth, it was hard to even think of a better resting place than where they had rested between her shoulders on the journey over here.

Of course, this would only be a temporary place to rest. Lust would need to find their own nest at some point in the future. That was a task too minute to burden the majestic Reseda about. No, no, they would have to do this themselves. But at a later point. For now, they would be much content to linger along with their hero for as long as she’d let them tag along for.


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

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda thought for a moment. There were plenty of places in the vicinity that would be good for a nest or den, even if temporary. Large rocks littered the ground and cervices would make good spots to have a den. There were small caves in the wall as well, or the broken city not far away. Reseda began to walk towards a rocky platform a little ways away from where they stood and, as she got closer, she found that there was a hollow underneath the rocks - rather spacious but sheltered.

"This should do," she called back to Lust. She poked her head into the little cave and found it to be warm but dark. She could see fine, but she had no idea if Lust had the kind of vision that she had. But at least a little bit filtered in from outside. Feeling weary from the journey, she squeezed in and settled into a small dip in the ground. She rested her head on the ground and waited for Lust to join. If they wanted to make a small nest, they could. She was a patient lizard.

@Lust

As Reseda slowly began to walk forward, Lust began to move forward as well. They pondered for a bit what kind of space would make for a good resting spot. Something told them that most anywhere would work. At least temporarily. But for Reseda…. That was quite a different manner. She was large and majestic. Unfortunately, the large part meant that a large nest would be required, much larger than if they were to simply rest by themselves. They would simply rest anywhere to allow the reptile the ease of finding their own resting place. But the idea stung the poor chick. They wanted to stick closer to her.

Fortunately, it appeared that Reseda hadn’t quite tired of them yet. The chick bobbed along after the reptile with a flutter of its miniature wings. Reseda was large but was going at an easy enough pace while searching that the chick was able to keep up. Sleep would be most welcomed, though, when a den was finally secured.

They stopped in front of a large opening going deeper into the ground. A tiny shiver went through the chick. This was clearly not what they would have considered an ideal home. It was underground, it was dark, and it was closed off. Lust became nervous about entering the den. They could spy just lightly into the den but not far at all. No, no, this was a terrible location.

Before they had a chance to voice their objection, Reseda proclaimed it as suitable and slithered inside. The pigeon watched her for a moment while weighing the choices before them. If it was adequate for the great Reseda, surly it was well enough for them? Were they somehow above her to demand better accommodations? Of course not, the idea was foolish. It was dark and scary though. But with Reseda there, it should be perfectly safe. What could dare to attack in the darkness with her there? No one could be that foolhardy.

Lust swallowed their fear before nodding. “Ye-yes! Yes, this should be just fi-fi-fine!” And with that said, they scampered into the den after the Komodo dragon. There was space near the entrance next to their hero that should be okay. It was near enough that they could still see and not feel claustrophobic in. It was also close to Reseda and that gave much in the way of comfort. They scratched at the ground then settled down into a puff ball of downy feathers while tucking their beak beneath their wing. It still felt awkward inside the miniature cavern, but it was comfortable enough as they were beside their savior. They could manage through this trial.


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

tags: @Reseda
notes:

original coding by wulf for template purposes

Reseda watched the little bird step into the cave after her and noted its discomfort. Perhaps this kind of shelter would not suit something like Lust. Reseda had to note to herself to find a different kind of place next time they stopped to rest. In the meantime, she could use this insecurity to her advantage. The bird was close enough. Not touching her scales, but close so that her tail would reach.

As if she were a mother protecting her child, Reseda slowly moved her tail so that it curled protectively on the ground around lust, inviting them to get closer or perhaps just to have the sense of safety, as a protector watching over her.

She watched the bird for a while before her conscious started to go hazy. She was exhausted and her body was quickly falling into rest. She looked away so as not to freak out the young bird and sleep overtook her mind, her eyes open and gazing into nothing.

*exit

@Lust

The chick was started slightly as Reseda moved her tail. They lifted their head up in curiosity. Pink eyes watched as it circled around the small chick like a small snake. It was a comforting move, though. Lust gave a soft coo and cuddled up close to Reseda. Then once again Lust lowered their head beneath a wing and started to drift off to sleep.

Various images appeared before Lust; riding on Reseda’s back, a strange sky of lights, of exploring and learning with the large lizard. Lust couldn’t wait to do more with their mentor.


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

tags: @Reseda
notes: Lust exited the thread

original coding by wulf for template purposes