Fireheart listened in attentive silence, briefly and gently moving to the water's edge to dip his searing paws in. There were hisses of steam, not unlike that provided unintentionally by the white stag a few moments later. And then Fireheart backed off, again sitting to listen.

He did not blink much, showing little emotion, but that didn't mean that his mind wasn't working. He was taking in the details carefully, considering them. "Mm, by all means, please do tell me about your history," he replied, inclining his head to one side. As for the rest, he offered little more than brief nods; the stag's description of his magic made sense enough, he supposed. And as to the failure (and Pride didn't say what he had been trying to do--only that it had failed), Fireheart could do little more than perk a brow. "And what were you aiming for?" he asked, mildly.

The information about the trial he tucked away for future use. He might tackle it himself, some day; but in the meantime, now he knew. Perhaps it would be best to see, first, what became of Pride.

Pride shook his head gently, looking at the water. He pulled himself back up, haunches dripping a little from the ever-present moisture pooled up along the rock, and then lowered his snout back down again.

"There is a Master who lives in this pond. His name is Tenzin, and he is very kind--selfless, even. He was harmed recently, returned to his stone, and I'd like to leave him a few ice flowers... perhaps they won't last long enough for him to see, or maybe they will. But I hope that he is all right," Pride added, quietly--and then he glanced to Fireheart. "And in his case, I do mean Master-master."

The white stag took a breath, and closed pale eyes, concentrating this time; and this time, a few icy flowers gently formed along the water's surface, like water lilies left to drift, but with a clarity that real petals could never have. Light danced across them, and a nudge sent them spinning slowly out across the cold lagoon.

Pride looked to Fireheart, nodding, and turned to settle back in. "Well, prepare for a long tale, then. Banana, if you can make it," he added, with amusement. "Some time ago, there was a lizard--a large one, by the name of Reseda. She was cold, and manipulative, but rather stupid, as far as such things go. A lack of common sense, for one; an inability to read others, too. Reptilian, in that respect, I think," he went on, with a sad shake of his head. "She wanted power. To lead, she thought; but really, to control and dominate, to have others grovelling before her. And so she came up with a strange idea: that she was Greed, and that she would gather children up as they hatched, and train them, and name them for other traits that she imagined to be sins. Lust, Sloth, and Wrath, and Envy; and even Pride, yes." A second nod confirmed this.

"To make a long story short, she was skilled with magic, and I allowed her to imagine that she was using me, whilst in turn I used her. But she had gathered more than simply me, and whilst we gathered and actually arranged things, such as aiding another group or the like, Reseda--Greed--only wanted us to obey. She clashed with us too many times, turned to violence too quickly. Envy led us--a small, green weasel--myself, and a few others. We lived simply as Reseda's prior would-be victims, protecting one another, but Reseda continued to haunt us until one day she took one of our smallest captive. She was killed. Her bones still hang across the Throne of Orion," Pride added, coldly, with an even look at the wolf. The wolf did not flinch, or look away, or react at all; he simply listened, and Pride found it difficult to gauge him. He was tempted, for a moment, to try and read Fireheart's mind; but more likely the wolf was just an attentive audience.

Pride shook his head. "Some time after that, Envy returned to their chrysalis; but we determined to ensure that others were safe from the likes of Reseda, going forward. We battled the Bloodberries in Eridanus, after that. We've fought the Hive in Cetus, alongside Master Astraea. I've arranged meetings between groups, to keep the peace. There isn't that much to do; but we train, and we ensure that the weak who might wander our way are protected."

Fireheart peered down into the lagoon at Pride's explanation of there being a Master within, brow perked. Harmed..? "Are they not meant to be exceedingly powerful? What could harm one so?" he asked, glancing up at the stag. Pride showed no signs of lying, really, but that didn't mean he was telling the truth.

When a banana was suggested, Fireheart (wondering abruptly if this was some form of universal magic) obliged. He was not particularly hungry, but he gauged the chances of it being some form of trap to be rather low. The banana would make him sparkle, but he was white, regardless; easily seen. He split the fruit in half, carrying half to Pride, and going back to his place to sit and gnaw politely on his while listening.

And something about the following tale struck him strangely. He tells it from his perspective--naturally--but with a focus on himself. He's had little reason to see things from others' viewpoints, Fireheart tentatively concluded. No matter; it was still informative enough.

"And it was she who trained you? You said that you are a master of mind magic; she taught you this?" he asked, head tilting. And then--calculating--added, "What can you tell me about magic in combat, may I ask? I've never had occasion to test it, to enter a--battle? Were they large-scale; is there any magic you find more useful than others?"

Pride was a bit surprised at both the actual banana appearance, and being offered half; he nibbled politely, himself, after speaking. "Oh, thank you."

He listened to the wolf's questions, watching him with interest. "Hm--she offered training, but I quickly surpassed her. That isn't meant as bragging. It's quite possible that, in our spars, she was simply unlucky; magical is not stable, after all. But even as a child, I rivalled her. So I suppose that she showed me the way; but after that I took pride in my own learning, my own knowledge, my own perseverence. Most of my magic has come from my own testing, and refining."

The wolf, it seemed, had a keen mind; for his next question was one the stag would not himself have foreseen, or even thought to offer unasked. "Ahh, magic for group combat-?" he asked, tilting his head up to stare thoughtfully at the middle-distance. "I would think it depends on who you're fighting, and on the terrain, to some extent; but there's shared utility that is useful regardless of where and whom. The fights I've been in were large-scale, aside from those I fought alone. The Bloodberries, when they attacked, were perhaps half a dozen against another half a dozen, and a few random bystanders or allies thrown in on either side. That was mostly chaos; they were untrained, and it was Envy and I running in, late, to the defense of the plant-growers in Eridanus." Brief bitterness flared at the memory of Rift, and his later "losing" Blackberry. Bastard, he thought; some things could be forgiven, but not that.

Pride's mind briefly swam in memory--unpleasant memory. The mire of morals versus common sense, necessity. He shook it away with a grimace, blinking.

"The second battle was against those in Cetus who had succumbed to the fungus known as Mother. In this case, we were on the attack: a large combined force. Bonebound, the Children of Rot, the dragon Dread. Even Astraea, as I've mentioned, came in at the end. But that was... slaughter, more or less, though I don't think anyone strictly died. A surprise attack. Darkness was our ally, there: light magic to hide our approach," and he slowed as he went into specifics. "We went in quietly, and then fire, as I assume you might approve of, to burn away the fungus. If you're looking for a mentor in flames, Dread the dragon or Dragon the--well, alligator; both are, I think, masters of fire. Though Dragon may prove a better actual teacher," he added, with thoughtful amusement. Ahh--explanation was needed. "Dread is something of a... weapon, with wings and a barely-coherent mind. Dragon is keen, thoughtful. You can find him in Cetus. In any case, fire worked well for burning out the hive's nest, especially by those on the wing. Nothing can really reach them, and they can breathe down fire without repercussion, unless there are magic-users on the other side. Fungal magic was used to pull the Hive fungus from the infected."

"In the Eridanus fight, I would say that ranged strikes, camouflaging magic, and magical shields were, or would have been, the most useful. It was, in truth, the same in Cetus, so perhaps those three things might be a good thing to aim for, for group battle."

The white stag pushed up, and focused; after a moment, a shimmering barrier rose before him. He was relieved that it had worked, and offered Fireheart a nod. "Can you see this shield? Try and break it, if you can."

Well. This was... a lot to take in.

Fireheart did his best (while licking banana off his muzzle) to concentrate; to pay attention, to learn and perhaps most importantly, to remember.

Shields. Camouflage abilities. Ranged magic. He'd have to learn all these, and remember them. Pride was coming across somewhat arrogant, in his mind, but nothing deliberately offensive and certainly nothing he couldn't live with. It was... no, perhaps not arrogance; more a self-centeredness that the stag likely wasn't even aware of. He hadn't asked much about Fireheart, for example; he was answering readily enough, open and friendly, but it was like an information dispensary rather than real social interaction.

Fireheart did not mind one bit. He wasn't here to discuss his background; he had no real need to delve into his past. Learning was important to him, and he took it hungrily. "I will look for Dragon at some point, then, thank you," he responded simply, to that; "As for shields, and camouflage, do you know who I might look to to teach me that?" he asked.

He was taking in lessons, too, even those unspoken, from the other stories. Surprise attacks were effective. Group battles could have their tides turned by outside forces in an instant. It was good knowledge. Good information.

And now, Pride had put up a shield, and challenged Fireheart to break it. "I don't have much in the way of offensive magic, I'm afraid," the wolf answered. He'd spent his time wandering the caves, investigating, hunting, living--not polishing his powers. In retrospect, he'd missed an opportunity, there; it was time, perhaps, to rectify that. He pushed up and stepped toward Pride, concentrating.

When his jaws opened, what came out was no torrent of flame but a blast of hot air, instead; and even that was weak. But he could see it: see the way it spread over the shield, blocked and harmlessly dispersed.

...Interesting.

Pride waited, and let the magic fall away after the blast of--hot breath?--failed to damage his shield.

"Well--I could teach you, if you wish. You can even join us in Orion for awhile, if you like. Guardians, and all that," he added, with an inclining of his antlers. "I have a number of utilitarian spells I could try to teach you. Things for scouting, creating illusions, moving; things of that nature."

A brief moment's thought, and the stag was floating: drifting, idly, a foot or two above the ground. He turned, bringing himself out in a slow glide over the lagoon and back, nodding to Fireheart. "There's a great deal of use to be found in creativity, I find. You can bend magic to whatever purpose you wish. In any case, I will likely head back, now. You can find me in Orion, if you want; Dragon can be found in Cetus." He'd said that already, he thought; but ahh well. "May I ask how old you are?" he added. He hadn't wanted to pry, before; but the wolf's demeanor seemed aloof, almost old. Yet his magic was that of a cub; it was a strange discrepancy and the stag wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Hm--I wouldn't mind going back with you, if you don't mind?" Fireheart suggested, glancing at the stag and his... hooves that weren't, apparently, touching the ground.

Hm.

"I'd gladly take that place you mention, at least for now. Guardianship is certainly a noble cause. But as you can see, my magic desperately requires training before I can do battle. If you can teach me what you know of that barrier, and indeed whatever else you find, as you mention, utilitarian; I would be in your debt."

The firelight in his eyes flared briefly, glowing with interest, infused with magicka; and he awaited the stag's response. Should Pride lead him off to Orion, he would follow; at least, for now. His own pack had wandered off some time ago, a well-matched pair intent upon their own destinies, and he could hardly fault them for that. He'd been alone for a long time; perhaps it was time at last to move on, and to find his own path.

exit Fireheart

Pride inclined his head.

"No, of course; that's what the invitation is there for. No debt required," he added, with some amusement.

He paused only a moment, glancing back at Tenzin's lagoon, sorrow flowing through him. He hoped the ice phoenix was all right; that he recovered. The thought that he'd suffered (and for what-?)--such a kind, gentle being--pained him.

Pride shook his head a little, and for a moment he fought to create one final, magic gift, to leave; in his mind it was a small phoenix, formed of diamond. But his magicka was still beyond his control, in that regard--too strong a spell, requiring too much concentration.

The stag exhaled and turned away, nodding toward the tunnel. "This way, then," he offered gently, turning and settling himself down on his hooves before leading the way toward Orion.

exit Pride