Warmth and serenity, the sound of birds and bugs and the soft whispering of the trees. Different, very different, from Polaris. Aegir stepped lightly through the branches, so warm he wasn't really sure how to react. The other caves, especially the tunnel that lead him here, had been cold and his thin, little body could barely handle it. While he had grown some since his first day, he was still prone to chills. But he would have no worries of that here.

He stuck out like a sore thumb, though, his white pelt blazing bright against the continuous green of the forest, his gem almost shining bright blue. But he paid this no heed as he didn't notice. Nor would it have concerned him if he did. He had a purpose here, even if it was a small one. Oliver had told him about waters all over the caves, but Eridanus had struck his fancy because of the two pools that apparently ate anyone who came near. Aegir wanted to see it because he did not quite believe it. How could water be so cruel?

But, after a while of walking, he became completely lost. It was just a continuous forest of green. After a while, he began to grow tired and settled himself beside a tiny little stream. He leaned forward and drank a lapful of water before picking up a small stone and tossing it into the water. "Is Aegir going the right way?"

He watched the ripples and the splashes for a moment before furling his brow, a little confused. "Water is not helpful. Why does water not answer Aegir's question?" He tossed another in, but only received the same response. Growing a little frustrated, he tossed a third. Nothing changed. He sighed and shook his head before stretching forward to rest his head on his paws, lulled by the rippling of the river. He could not stay angry for long. He had asked and he was given an answer, even if it wasn't quite the answer he expected.

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

Another day of cleaning. Rift was growing more and more agitated by the day. The horse had done more damage then he imagined, infected more then he could truly comprehend. Even if they had killed the rat he had let lose, the horse himself secreted the disease from his hide. And that disease had wiped onto every plant and blade of grass on his way in and out. And between the time that they had been touched by his putrid plague and now, more animals then he truly wanted to think about had also touched those plants and even eaten those plants. So many had to die, so many plants had to be completely destroyed. Sometimes he wished he had Sebastian's fire magic, if only to make it quicker and easier.

He was climbing through the trees, his nose twitching, active, searching for remnants of the plague. But he stopped when he caught a different scent, of something warm, yet cold and definitely a creature. It only took a small glance to see it. A small creature, completely covered with white fur and a gem that almost glowed. He scoffed. They did not belong here if they could not hide well at all. But, then again, he didn't know their intentions. He had to approach them as he did everyone.

He climbed until he was in the tree directly above the bear and then began to make his way silently down the trunk until he could safely leap and land gracefully in front of the bear. Now that he was up close, he raked his eyes across his fur. He was young, not nearly full grown, but almost as big as him. He could prove to be a threat if he became aggressive. "Welcome to Eridanus," he greeted, cautiously. "What is your business in the forest?"

Aegir did not notice the cat. He did not smell its sweet scent among all of the wild and new scents of the forest. It wasn't until the cat dropped down right in front of him that he was even aware there was anyone nearby. He looked up with surprise at the green cat and observed how strange a creature he was. Covered with plants and flowers and branches with fur the color of leaves. A spirit of the forest perhaps? Or some creature grown from the earth?

He gave it a respectful nod, wondering if it had magic that resonated with the trees as well. "Hello. Aegir is simply here to travel. Aegir heard of two waters that eat people and Aegir came to see. But Aegir is lost now and water will not tell Aegir the right way to go." He cast a weary glance at the stream before picking up another stone and tossing it in. His eyes widened at its response to his question before looking at the cat. "You will not take Aegir to the pools. It is not time"

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...

Rift stared at the bear, Aegir, for a moment, a little taken aback by his response. He spoke strangely and the confidence in his voice that he would not be taking him to the Eyes was...weird. Rift hadn't met anyone like this before and he was curious. There was something about Aegir, though, that made Rift calm, like he was trustworthy. But still, he didn't want to put his guard down just yet. "Um, I don't think the water you talk about actually eats people. They're called the Eyes and they're deeper in the forest. Do you...need the way out?"

Rift, admittedly, didn't mind if this stranger stayed. He was peaceful, gentle, and he gave off an aura of trust. But still, if he was lost, Rift would know the way to take him anywhere. "I know the forest, if you need to go somewhere I can show you the way. But, I must ask...why did you say I will not take you to the eyes?"

Aegir frowned, trying to think back to what Oliver said. He trusted Oliver completely and he had said that the water ate people. "No, Oliver said that water eats people. Oliver saw this. Aegir believes Oliver so Oliver must be correct. Perhaps this one has never seen it or perhaps does not know it. Aegir does not know, but Aegir knows that water eats. But perhaps it is not the time."

To confirm his suspicions, he cast another stone into the river and suddenly shivered. His eyes narrowed as he watched the ripples and turned back to the cat. "No, Aegir is not ready to see these 'Eyes'." He slowly rose from where he sat and shook out his gray-white fur, as if to cast away doubts and bad thoughts. "Thank you, stranger. Aegir will need help finding the exit. But first, what is the cat's name? And Aegir reads the water. The water speaks and Aegir listens. It seems to be a unique ability as far as Aegir knows..."

My voice is speaking...
My thoughts are swirling...