weeping shades of indigo

shed without reason

i did a good job, he said so himself. he seemed happy that i was able to connect with the energy within my gemstone, and i had to admit, i was pretty pleased with myself. i smirked as the large cat spoke to me, rather elated he offered me a home. now, first, a name for my power? i thought of a way to describe it, but was unsure. none the less, i nodded.

"i will give it a name, i need to think on it."

i said matter of factly, watching as the onyx male ascended his perch. i wondered, did he own this part of..this place? i had more questions for him, and i'd venture pushing my luck. i wanted to know so much more, and besides that much, i felt safe around him. like nothing could touch me, like any danger he may warn me of was nothing compared to this mighty cancer. i looked at him with hopeful eyes as i followed him in quick succession. little paws lurched my small frame into a clunky, clumsy run toward the larger cat's forefront. i halted at a respectable distance, veered away just a bit and hunkered down near him. i was careful to mimic his posturing, then i looked at him again, pleased.

"i'd very much like for you to teach me more things, you're a great teacher! and i will also try my best to do what you ask of me."

i tried not to sound desperate, but the truth was i wanted to please him in any way i could. to be his star pupil, to be the cub he was never disappointed in. i wanted this approval all the time, and i shall strive for it.

"spoken words."

@all welcome
xxx.
muse=10/10
no notes.

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

The cub - no, Niru- decided to think of a name for his power. Yes, a wise choice. Cancer nodded in approval as he turned away. Settled on his perch, he watched the cub climb up after him. Temptation hit to pick the cub up and help him, as he'd done so many times for Quix, but the thought of Pisces, the past, stoned him. He sat still, and was rewarded for his stoic patience when the cub found his way onto the throne. There, he settled down in a similar pose. Cancer found it amusing, and honestly, quite flattering.

The cub then asked him something that he hadn't been expecting. Not really. He'd offered the cub a save haven, but to be asked to mentor him, to... well... Cancer looked away in deep consideration. On one paw, he could take in the cub as a father might, raise him, teach him to be the best he could be and more. On the other, what right did he have to claim another innocent as his own? Quix now suffered because of his so-called parenting. She'd been left behind after everything that had happened. Would Niru suffer the same fate?

No. No, he wouldn't. Cancer steeled himself. He'd do right by Niru, raise him properly. Show the caves, show anyone who doubted him, that he could do something right for once. He turned that yellow gaze on Niru again with a profound mix of emotions, then hardened, nodded.

"Alright." He agreed. "You'll have to live by a few rules, though, if you're to be my pupil." His warning was well intended. "You're to be honest, and true to your word. A promise made is a promise kept." He explained first, foremost. "Understand also, that we are but children in this world. We must learn more about the world we live in if we are to understand our purpose here." He paused, giving the cub a chance to let that sink in. These would be rules to live by, and should the cub ever fail to abide by such rules, he'd have to be responsible for his actions in turn.

"Speech"

weeping shades of indigo

shed without reason

the things he spoke of held a deeper meaning, this much i could discern. however, i wasn't able to fully process this. i would try, definitely. i nodded at him, a motion i've seen just a few times before used to confirm what one has heard. he wanted me to grow to be a man, and i sure would. or, i would try. if that means modeling myself after him, then i shall mold away. after a few moments of silence, my posture clumsily regal, i looked back over the span of the cavern before i ventured words.

"i'll do whatever you want, as best i can. but where do we live? what is this place?"

i asked him with knitted brows, muzzle gliding parallel to the cavern floor as i awaited him to enlighten me once again.


and as i waited with immense patience, i wondered how patient he was. or what he was, in terms of rank. i wondered many things, like if i was the only one to encounter cancer. but that's not true, he knew too much about me. he called me a lion. he had so much knowledge, i was convinced he'd been around the world three times over. i was content, laying here with him, ready to grow and expand in both body and mind with him, for him, around him.

"spoken words."

@all welcome
xxx.
muse=10/10
no notes.

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

His new ward had questions still. He'd encourage them- it's how a person learned to be, after all.

"This part of the caves is called Orion." He flicked his tail and reached back, into his armor, pulling the tablet from its pouch and setting it face-up between them. With a careful claw, he tapped the stone where he'd carved in Orion's shape and name. "This map shows us where we are. I'll carve a larger version on the walls here, so you always have a way point."

"These tunnels," He'd point first to the tunnels on the map, then to each one in turn around them in the cave. "lead to many different places. That one leads to Monoceros. It's forbidden, remember- the dragon lives there, and remains there so long as we do not disturb him further." He pointed next to Tunnel K. "That will take you to Canis. If you ever have trouble, that's the safest place to go besides here. A group called the Bonebound live there, led by a bird named Azazel."

"That tunnel there leads to two places- Polaris and Eridanus. Polaris isn't safe right now. Golems and a great beast lurk there, hostile. Dangerous. Eridanus, however, is where I do most of my hunting now. I'll take you there soon, to teach you." He indicated to the map now, pointing out the rest of the caves. "Cetus is here. It's easy to get lost there, so I'd suggest waiting until you're a bit older before venturing that way." His paw lingered over the misty room before slowly, pointedly, hovering over Pisces.

"This... This place here, Pisces, is forbidden. It's... It is home to a group called Maji Walezi, led by a good bird named Bevy." He sounded distant as he spoke these words. It still hurt. "The group is good, but there are people there that don't like me. Mentioning my name would put you in danger, so don't, okay?" He lifted that paw and lowered it to rest on the lion cub's head, affectionate. "I don't want my new favorite ending up injured or lost, okay?"

"Speech"

@Niru

weeping shades of indigo

shed without reason

he displayed a map, showing to me everything about this cave i'd need to know. he pointed from here, orion, to canis then polaris, then eridanus, then cetus, then to pisces and all the tunnels which connect them. i took sharp note of what he was saying to me, observing the map with sheer inquisitive curiosity as well as filing it away in my brain for later use. every once in a while, while the larger cat spoke, i'd nod and 'mhm,' in agreement with what he'd said, making sure he knew i was in fact listening and logging this information into my mind. when he spoke of the area named eridanus, it pulled at me. like i'd been there before. but couldn't hardly recall. when he was finished with this speech, i looked up at him and grinned as he touched me affectionately.

"i'll be sure to remember."

i said matter of factly. then i stood in one, graceless swoop and pranced around a bit, before tripping over myself and tumbling back down to my butt. i huffed in irritation before looking up at cancer with a grimace.

"now, about my magic. can we practice that some more?"

but without much further hesitation, i climbed down toward the main area's clearing, where we stood before ascending his throne. i turned to face him, though from the distance i was, and did as i'd done before. i focused on the energy from my stone, hoping to pull from it. i squeezed my eyes tight, hoping to draw the magic i've yet to name. and soon, the area around me began to vibrate once more, disorienting the vision as i slowly opened my eyes. the momentum was only able to be sustained for a short time. and as i finished the action, i smiled wide and looked at cancer with sheer pride.

"spoken words."

@all welcome
xxx.
muse=10/10
no notes.

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0