James returned home with his head low and his spirits in the dumps, ears down. He'd thought Ari was... bad, but destroying stones? How cruel could one get?

Suddenly he desperately hoped his heart was pure enough to count for the Three Kings. Ari's wasn't.

He entered his home, the doorway now covered in vines to keep dust and wind out, making his way inside.

"Comet?", he called out, "I'm home. I have... bad news. And good news."

He'd let Comet decide which she wanted first. Good or bad. He walked over to the chrysalis and nuzzled it gently. All he needed was this tiny life and Comet, and that was truly it. With his eyes drooping, he turned to face where Comet was coming from, patiently waiting.

@Comet

"I'm here!" Comet jumped out from behind a pile of furs and attempted to ambush James. Of course she missed, and tumbled on the ground. "Did I scare you renny? Did I?" Her wide grin faded into a worried look when she saw the expression on his face and his tone of voice. Something was wrong.

Before he had left, James had told her that he had gone to Canis. For what, she didn't know, but that room was full of bones. "I took really good care of the chrysalis and even polished it!" Polished, as in using her tail to brush dust off of it and lick it till it shone. That was the best a wolf pup could do honestly.

But Comet sat down and her tail stopped wagging. "Bad news... bad news first." It had to be really bad to make him sad like that. But he had been sad a lot ever since they left Aristotle, although it was getting better.

@James

James jumped and gasped, laughing, "You did- careful not to scare me too bad, okay? A little bit is alright, but I get startled easily."

He nudged Comet over to the bed and sat her down, laying beside her and working his jaw.

"Do you remember when Aristotle came back with that sled?", talking quietly, "He went to the Collector. I did too, today. He told me that Ari collected 5 gemstones, just like the ones you and I and your sibling came from. And... and he destroyed three of them. The two he brought home were the ones he 'spared'."

He exhaled and pressed his nose to Comet's fur, inhaling shakily, "He did that in exchange for the sled."

James still couldn't believe it himself.

@Comet

"Sorry, renny." In this situation it was probably a good idea not to scare him anymore. She could see that his feathers were rather ruffled, whether it was from the thing in Canis or from her scaring him she didn't know. Comet laid down on the bed and leaned against James.

Aristotle? Sled? Oh yes, Last Legs. That was a rather fun sled, she enjoyed it actually. The Collector... that name sounded creepy. Did he collect things? Oh, she had been wondering how Aristotle had gotten the sled. Five gemstones-- this stirred up a memory! There was the day that she had been playing around with Sun since they had been left home alone while Aristotle had gone to go on an errand. She had watched him scoop five gemstones into his bag that he wore around his neck, and leave. So those must've been the gemstones he had been talking about.

There was nothing bad about this, she wondered what was so wrong about collecting gemstones. But then it came. "He destroyed three on them." What? Had she heard that correctly? He had destroyed three of them. THREE. Three stones. Three lives. Stones like-- the one revived by James. Her sibling. And she herself and James had gemstones too. Would she, could she believe this? Her eyes met the horse's and she could see that he was telling the truth. He didn't lie, he never did. That meant this was real.

"No. No no no. This can't be true." Aristotle was kind, loving, nice! He valued every single life, not even killing lessers unless it was for food. The conflicting thoughts tore her mind. Who was she to believe? Her own, very own renny, who she was now closer with than to Sun or Aristotle? Or the lion who had first found her and took her into his custody? Gave her a family?

Comet tried, really tried to think of a reason that this could not be true, but the evidence lined up. He had come back home without those stones, and there had been no explanation for what had happened to them. "I-- I believe you." She was set on it now, this was the truth. The little love and respect that she had once had for the lion were gone now. This hard truth had dissolved the last of it.

How had she once believed him? Aristotle was a liar! He would PAY. Did she really mean that? No of course, not... did she? Her sadness and doubt was replaced by rage. And the need to DO something. But that would have to be tucked away for later. For now-- for now she would have to express it some other way. Even the rain did not answer her call, and all she could do was glower at the pelts that she was laying on. Skinning prey, a skill that had been taught by the lion. Had he twisted any of her other ideals?

@James

James wrapped Comet in his wings and tucked her against his chest, "I'm so sorry, baby..."

He hated that even now, Ari was hurting them. He held her tightly and pressed his nose to the top of her head, grooming her fur gently. He sighed against her fur and kissed her gently.

"We're moving far away," he said softly, "And hopefully we'll have a new life. Speaking of... the good news."

He continued to snuggle her into his feathers, glad his mutation essentially made him a pillow. Secretly, he was glad Ari never got to enjoy his feathers.

"In exchange for spreading the word about Ari, the Collector is going to make me a harness and a sling so that I can carry your sibling safely. I believe I can carry you, too, as long as you don't grow any more."

He teased her gently, nipping at her ear and smiling into her fur, "My princess is growing up..."

@Comet

Comet was as rigid as ice when James pulled her close, but his warmth seemed to make a her melt a little, and she curled up against his chest. Even though they had left Aristotle already, the secrets that he had hid from them, continued to affect them.

Far away... yes, that sounded good. Far away from Aristotle. Far away from problems. A new home, a fresh start. Having been so caught up in the bad, Comet had completely forgotten that there was good news. "Good news?" She sank further into his feathers. Ah, so warm here. Aristotle didn't have any feathers, and didn't give as good snuggles either.

"Yes, we need to spread the word about daddy. He is not very nice." The word 'daddy' now felt strange on her tongue. Was he really her dad anymore? No, she was with James now, the bestest renny in the world. She had no need for daddy anymore. "I mean, Aristotle. That's who I meant."

The price that the Collector had asked was really nothing anyway. She would spread the word even if it were not asked of her. "Then you can carry us everywhere!" Riding with her sibling would be so fun, someone to snuggle with while James carried them places. Maybe even while he was flying!

Comet giggled and gave him a lick. "I'll never grow up! I'll stay small forever!" But she had to admit, that she was growing at quite an alarming rate. At this rate she'll be too heavy and big to do much. But she'll be strong enough to protect her younger sibling! That thought satisfied her, and she yawned.

"I can't wait to move. Then we'll be far away from da-- Aristotle and have a new life with Kaimana and Levi." The pup felt her eyelids start to droop. "And we can... adventure... every..." Comet couldn't stay awake any longer, James's warmth being too comforting. She drifted off to sleep.

"Exit to sleep?"

@James

James nodded slowly as Comet spoke, rocking her back and forth. It saddened him to see her switch from daddy to Aristotle, but... it was what was best. He hoped spreading the word would do good for everyone. The Edenfolk, Pride, the Bonebound... maybe he'd alert Khloros too, though he really doubted one lion's influence, stunted by early realization of his weird habits, would spread that far. He'd tell him anyway.

He looked down and smiled gently, watching his daughter fall asleep. He kissed her head and sighed. He wished she wouldn't grow up, and would stay small forever and ever. It wasn't realistic, though. Growing up wasn't bad at all. He himself grew up too fast, and he was just glad Comet had the chance to cling to childhood a bit longer.

"Goodnight, Princess," he said softly, curling his body around her protectively, using his wing as a blanket.

He lay awake for a bit longer, his mind racing too fast to sleep. Eventually, he did, slipping into unconsciousness, curling just a bit tighter around Comet.

@Comet
Exit James.