Note! Pride is able to join at any time during this thread. I think we might pause if they get to their house before Pride shows up to allow him to catch up!

James approached the Throne with wings carefully folded and hooves clicking softly on the rock. His steps weren't as heavy as they'd once been, with his bone structure having been forced to change with the addition of wings. He enjoyed the quiet, if he were honest. Living with creatures who's feet and paws naturally muffled their own sounds made his own steps painfully obvious, especially when he tried to sneak up on anything.

"This way, Comet," he said, trotting the last few steps to the base of the Throne, "I suspect that with Pride gone, he probably won't be lone coming back, so we can leave something to let him know we're looking for him."

Setting down a black stone he'd kept in his woven bag, he stood back up and sighed, "And now... we walk all the way back!"

He laughed softly and huffed, glancing at the wolf, "We could always practice spells on the way, if you're up for it. All we have to do when Pride gets here is talk to him, introduce you and him to each other, and explain your motives to join the Seven. I'm sure Pride will be delighted to see you, too. And... I can explain my wings."

@Comet @Pride

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet followed the horse to the Throne. She had gone on many hunting expeditions throughout Orion, but had never been there before. It looked a bit creepy-- like many of the other ruins in this cave. The only thing lush and green in the whole area was their house.
She listened to James and watched him set down a black stone-- then announce that they were going back. Well it seemed like an awful lot of work to walk all the way there, drop off a stone, then go all the way back. But she felt it was worth it.
The walk back was even, at a almost leisurely pace. They weren't really in a hurry to get anywhere, so there was no reason for them to hurry. From what James had told her about Pride, he sounded nice, but even so, she was still really nervous about meeting him. She had no doubts at all about joining the Seven, but talking to others that were bigger, and older, than her was not her strong suit. Not to say she was scared, just-- intimidated. Then there was also the same nagging doubt in the back of her mind that told her she might not be good enough to join.
Pushing those thoughts away, Comet decided to listen to James and practice some spells to get out her nervousness. But it seemed with her nervous energy her spell refused to work.

@James
@Pride

The stag was, as it happened, on the way back from Eridanus: pacing sedately, content with food, his mind elsewhere. Diamond armor hung at throat, neck and flanks, and alongside him bounded his familiar: Mischief, the white hare.

Upon spotting James and his companion in the distance, Pride veered for them, changing course, offering an amiable nod as he called out his greeting. "Hello, J-" Then he faltered, blinking. That--that is James; I recognize that gemstone anywhere, but those wings-?!
"James? Are those-... ahh, wings? Where did you get those?" he asked, too shocked, for the moment, to fall back on his normal politeness. He should have been introducing himself to Comet, but all he could offer her was a brief, distracted (even baffled) nod.

James gently nudged Comet's head gently to encourage, before readying his own spell. He ruffled his feathers and inhaled, pushing out what magic he could to create a wisp. A companion in the dark, a little fairylight that he'd relied on in the past for comfort. The floating like burst into existence, big and bright, though not as bright as the one he'd very nearly blinded himself with.

He hummed and let it drift down to Comet, "Look, it's a Will 'o Wisp. You can touch it or play with it, it requires little magic to sustain, and will remain for a few minutes."

Perking up at his name, he turned, face stretching into a smile, "Pride! We were looking for you! I left a stone at the Throne, but it seems I didn't need to."

Trotting forward, his crest flared up in pride, "I was tricked into falling off a cliff! I can tell you the details later, but when I emerged from my chrysalis, I had these, among other things."

Gently nudging Comet forward, James craned his head up, feathers fluffing up, "This is Comet, my daughter. Ari and I have been um... collecting? Collecting children. Mostly him, since he found this one and my son back home, as well as... a lot of stones..."

Now, James wanted the children, but the task of trying to raise them all seemed more daunting than anything he'd ever done.

"Go on, Comet," he urged softly, "You can ask. I promise he's very nice."

Please remember to only tag the next person in the thread, if there's an order like this one has!! It only piles up tags even if it's not your turn.

@Comet

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet had not expected to meet Pride so soon, but they did, before they had gone very far from the Throne. He was HUGE. And if that was possible, seemed bigger than James. She nearly fainted in sheer nervousness, her legs were trembling under her small body. Luckily she felt a comforting nudge from James, and a Will o' Wisp appeared. It floated down to meet her and she inspected its warm glow as the horse greeted the huge stag.

Her attention on the Will o' Wisp was broken when James finished his small talk with the deer and nudged her forward. Now she was the center of attention, and it was very scary. But Comet was a brave wolf, so she gathered her courage and faced Pride. "Could-- could I join The Seven?" she got out. Despite James's assurances, she still didn't feel all that comfortable around the stag. "I, um, think I'll be good because..." her mind was blank and her rehearsals were forgotten. "I can work hard, and I'm good at magic I think." Darn! She should really just stop talking right now. She shut her mouth and looked at Pride, trying not to shake.

@Pride

Pride peered, blinking. Tricked him off a cliff-?! The blinks took on a sort of confused horror, but James was brushing past it (Not bothered by it? -No, he's hiding it in front of the cub. Damn...) Pride thought.

He offered the horse a slow, meaningful single nod, one of acknowledgement (which might be awkward if his assumption turned out to be incorrect), then looked to Comet. "Ahh, gathering children-? For protection, I hope? -My name is Pride. It is good to meet you, Comet; you needn't be afraid of me." Most of his 'size' perhaps came from the antlers; Pride was half James' weight, if even that, and certainly much shorter. Those branching tines, however, certainly took up a great deal of intimidating space. "Of course you can; though may I ask how much James has explained to you? -Come, both of you; sit, if you like. You look as though you've been travelling for awhile." It was a polite note, even as Pride turned back toward the Throne, settling himself back down to lay beside it: but this was a gesture of invitation, really. He didn't want to make it seem as though they all had to stand, uncomfortable and formal, though perhaps the horse might prefer it that way; Pride really didn't know.

@James

James held a wing down to brush the feathers along Comet's back, much like a hand, though much more gentle and soft. He lowered his head, crest falling back against his neck, and he nuzzled her cheek softly.

"Good job, Comet," he said softly, and looked up at Pride, happiness shining in his eyes, "She's a master. At magic. Already her magic is so... in tune with her mind and body! It's amazing! I couldn't be more proud."

The nod that Pride had given meant so much. An acknowledgement that he was not okay, but that Pride wasn't about to get him to share his feelings until it was ready. Relief flickered in his eyes and he nodded back, gently, before shepherding Comet along like a duck with it's little duckling. It was rather adorable.

"I say gathering lightly," he said, "I know I've told you of my partner before. He has such a big heart and so much love to go around that the moment he sees something or someone he could help or nuture, he takes them in. I'm glad to help, too. To teach them what I can about the caves, about the stories I've been picking up. In my free time I explore, though I'm not gone for long. Anyone who can share with me their stories, I'm happy to listen to."

He still seemed adamant on the idea of a social gathering, of sharing stories and history, of learning and growing as a whole community.

James nosed at the ground and picked a spot that was slightly softer than the rest, and slowly lay down, leaving a space against his chest with his wing tucked in front of it, for Comet to hide should she be too nervous or scared. He hoped that she would come out of her shell if he was patient enough, since Comet's independence was something he'd been immensely proud of since she'd brought that snake-skin home. Something told him that he was raising a little nomad.

@Comet

Comet

Arctic Wolf

The little pup beamed when she heard James's praise. It felt good to know that someone else other than her thought her magic was powerful, because you can't judge those things yourself. She hoped that if she joined The Seven then she would be able to use that magic for better things.

Comet didn't notice, or even if she did, understand the exchange that happened between the deer and horse. Such signals were still a mystery to her, and she wasn't the best at deciphering such things.

It had been some time already, and since Pride did not seem to have tried to eat her or anything, so Comet assumed that they were safe. That did not stop her from shaking a bit though, more out of nervousness than fear. "Nice to meet you too." Great, she had gotten that part down from her practicing. Taking Pride's offer, she followed James and laid down in front of his chest so as to not block his view.

"Well, um, so far I know that they are protectors, and they help defend against bad things." Comet snuggled closer against his chest, "I want to train my magic so it is super good! Then I can help fight stuff. But mostly, I am learning some healing, and I want to help with animals who are hurt." Now that she said it, she was already getting a lot of ideas. Maybe if she trained hard enough, she would be able to protect many animals! That was her main goal really, protecting her family, and others.

@Pride

"Yes, you have," Pride agreed mildly as James spoke--to the mention of having spoken of Aristotle before. "May I ask," he went on, as James finished, "if you ever brouught Ari to meet Mercurius?" He knew he'd mentioned it, suggested it; every time James spoke of him, it reminded him of his own close friend.

"So, a powerful magic user, hm? I'm happy to help with whatever learning I can, of course, and you're welcome to stay here, Comet. There's homes off in the ruins for the taking, though some may need cleaning up; James has one out there, I believe, and could show you around if he hasn't-?" A questioning look, cast James' way; perhaps he'd already given her the tour.

'Well, um, so far I know that they are protectors, and they help defend against bad things.' Pride hid entirely how badly this tore at him. They did, certainly they did; or rather, they had. And the other white wolf, the one that Comet obliviously, brilliantly resembled, the one who'd looked exactly like her, but older, had been one of them. And he was dead, now; and would Pride lead this one down a similar path? Not that he blamed himself for Fireheart's death, but it had happened, and he feared the omens that this cub's arrival wrought. "We will be very careful training you, yes?" he offered, after a moment, kindly.

"So, would you like to join us? As I've mentioned there aren't many; but perhaps you can show me what you know, or tell me of it, if you prefer?"

@James

"I tried," he huffed, "I tried to get him to meet you, to just... get out of the house or something. Though since I disappeared for so long, I doubt he feels comfortable leaving Sun or Comet."

James looked... frustrated. And tired.

"I showed Comet my old place," he said, "She's been with us more than a week, I think. We've moved into one larger place and are planning to make a trip to Eridanus with everyone. Have you heard? Some Gembounds wish to make a village, there. I'm hoping that it'll allow us freedom, with everyone watching each other's kids."

Speaking about it made James remember just how exhausted he felt. Ever since he came back, it was like he'd stepped into a whirlwind. Sun and Comet were angels, but he couldn't go anywhere without worrying or fretting. He... he wanted his freedom back. His ability to come and go and not have to worry about what he would find when he came back.

He was... aware of those the Seven had lost. He'd known very few of them personally, perhaps glimpsing them while getting water. It was a loss he'd felt through others, humming in the stone of Orion itself. Just the thought made him somber, and he looked down, sighing gently. He moved his attention back to Comet and Pride, watching the two interact silently.

@Comet