Acheron was excited to finally show Lorelei her home.

"Home," though, was a bit of a strange thing to call it. Mostly it was an empty, well-lived space just near the Throne--a Throne they left untouched, despite the lizard skeleton encased in gemstone at its top. But all around it, there were signs that a family lived there.

The gardens were the main thing. Acheron knew that Pride's best friend, Mercy, had grown and tended them; they had spread, so that a carpet of various greenery, vegetables and fruits, flowers and vines had flourished all to one side. It wasn't a small garden, either, and Pride no longer had to always go to Eridanus to graze.

Next were the little collections--pretty stones and feathers, bits of dried grass and leaves as a bed to sleep on, and little formed crystal bowls of water to drink.

But it wasn't that Acheron wanted to show Lorelei all of this, exactly. And as she cheerfully set the fruit cake down (it'd stopped her chatting the whole way here!), and dislodged Pride's gingerbread house from between her antlers with a shake of her head, she wasn't thinking that she couldn't wait to show Lorelei all the rocks and plants.

It was more... inviting her in, to be a part of Acheron's life even if just for a little while. She was sad she'd missed so much of their potential friendship (being knocked back into her gemstone and all); maybe they could finally catch up!

"Come in! Sit wherever! We have beds. There's some food--oh, no fish, though... Dad, can she eat your present?" Maybe rude to offer someone else's gift, but she didn't realize it. She was just being generous, and in her mind, everything that belonged to the family was shared.

"There's water, though!" she cried, remembering how much Lorelei had liked it. It wasn't like she could swim in a crystal bowl, but... she could drink it, or just--be near it--right?

Acheron's hooves clicked as she trotted over past the throne, sniffing around. "Where's Mischief?" she asked Pride, then turned, little tail flicking as she peered happily at Lorelei. "There's gardens here if you want to see them! And this is the Throne, and there's an arena thing off that way, and old ruins--all burnt and crumbled!--over there, if you want to explore at all!" She nodded in the relevant directions, then trotted back, attempting to briefly, happily touch her nose to one of the giant leopard seal's. Anyone else might've intimidated her--Lorelei dwarfed her, now. But Lorelei was a friend, and she was just happy to have her here.

doberman photo credit: pato garza on flicker

"Mischief is-... somewhere," Pride answered, glancing around.

He'd used his magic as long as he could to try and aid Lorelei's journey--casting his mind-magic to try lift her weight a little whenever she moved forward, so long as she had allowed it, anyway.

Now that they were here, he didn't need to cast anymore, and he stood quiet for a moment with a soft exhale. It was hard to disentangle the mental threads of his twin links--one to Mercurius, one to his familiar, Mischief. But after a moment he thought he'd found her--dozing off behind the throne. "Don't eat the little white rabbit, please," he asked, amused, pacing off to find her. "And of course you can eat the food! Just leave a little for me to try," he called back, over his shoulder. His tone was friendly, welcoming. It wasn't often they had guests.

It was funny, he thought; Mischief was the familiar he'd bonded with during one of Naskital's first visits--maybe even the very first. How long had it been-? A year--no, two?

Mischief and he were close, now, though truthfully he had no real need of a familiar. But she was his companion, and her boisterous positivity helped him when he tended to slip into morose memories.

When he emerged a few moments later, she was bouncing about at his feet: a white arctic hare, a greenish gemstone above one eye, her leaping and bounding playful. Pride gave a nod to Lorelei, and reached for his magic again.

With a flash he summoned up a little banana, nudging it also toward Lorelei, in an attempt to be a simple good host. "It'll taste good, though you'll sparkle for awhile, if you've never had one," he warned--they were magic, and even carnivores seemed to like them, though he wasn't sure if she was still hungry or not.

"You're welcome to whatever you like, though; do let me know if you need anything. If you have any questions, and so on," he added, with a nod. He didn't want to interrupt too much; if she'd been his own guest he'd have asked questions about her, but for now it was his daughter's friend and he'd let Acheron take the lead.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Lorelei

Pride's assistance had been more than welcome. Maybe she'll have to figure out some magic that makes her float like that. It would make exploring the caves a lot easier.

The ruins do take her breath away. Even falling apart, the pillars and carved walls dazzle in the crystallight. "Wow, this is lovely."

She grins at Acheron, "Don't worry, I did just have that cake the gift guy gave me. I'll be fine for a while." Lorelei accept's Acheron's nuzzle, pressing back slightly.

Mischief's appearance is a welcome one, and she watches the familiar bounce around Pride's hooves. She watches the rabbit for a good while, not immediately noticing the offered magical banana. When she does notice it, she decides that while she isn't hungry, she might as well give it a try. She bites on it, not bothering to peel it. Not that it really matters, with teeth as sharp as hers.

It is tasty, especially for being a fruit. The shimmer on her skin isn't something she notices right away. Lorelei turns back to Acheron. "How about you show me your favorite spot here?" she suggests.

@Acheron

Lorelei's suggestion was a great one, and for a split second Acheron brightened as she thought of Orion's watchtower. The thing was tall, with a winding staircase carved into its stone, and an incredible view of the surrounding cave, but-...

She sobered as she realized that Lorelei would probably never make it to the top. It wasn't that it was too narrow--it had been built, she thought, with large creatures in mind--but it was a long, walking slog and Lorelei wasn't really made for stairs. Instead of being tactful, though, she blurted this all aloud. "Man, I'd have loved to show you the tower--it's really high, and it's got a great view but... I'm not sure you can make it up?" She turned, nodding toward the structure's distant silhouette, barely visible from this distance.

She'd let Lorelei decide, but--"Otherwise, we can check out the ruined city! Some Gembounds still even live in there. But there's a lot to see, and it's always fun to explore."

Acheron paused, then nodded toward Lorelei's things--to the sculpture and the food. "You can always leave those here, and we can get them on the way back?" she suggested; it'd be awkward, she supposed, to have to carry them all the way.

doberman photo credit: pato garza on flicker

Pride listened quietly, watching, pleased that Lorelei seemed comfortable here. He didn't interrupt, bar to give an offer or two in mild, polite words. "I can watch your things, for you, yes. If you go exploring, please be careful," he added, this last directed only at his daughter.

It might have seemed unnecessary, given that Acheron was an adult, but he'd seen the results of her carelessness before: two weeks locked in a chrysalis, with himself fretting in near-panic the entire time. He'd rather her not repeat that, for her own sake if not for his.

"I'd offer to help you up the tower, but it might be... awkward, all three of us trying to go up at once. Still, the offer's there if you'd prefer."

Otherwise, he stayed quiet; he was glad that Mischief seemed to be welcome, and happy that his daughter had such a friend, but he could sense that this was their adventure and he'd leave them to it if they wished.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Lorelei (and @Spark if you wanted to join?)

Spark followed with a casual trot, falling further from the group. There were a couple of reasons they fell behind: One was the boxes they carried. While the cardboard container was of less concern, The other, larger gift they held by its ribbon (Which had not been tied around the box, instead glued on the top- whatever the substance was, it held fairly strong) was more fragile. It held the scales they had traded their prized knife for. The box itself was also fairly pretty, and Spark wanted to preserve the wrapping paper for as long as they could. Maybe they could repurpose it?

Second: They didn't want to intrude. Though they had met Archeron briefly, they were little more than acquaintances at this point. She and Lorelei were close, and to insert themselves into their conversations might feel awkward, and invasive at worst. Besides, they had other things they wanted to do.

They looked to the throne and the skeleton of Reseda, acknowledging its presence. Her presence. Despite the cycles that had passed, it still unnerved Spark. Something about the hollow sockets constantly glaring at those below. They could imagine spite behind them- but luckily it'd stay just that, imagined. They dropped their belongings by the throne, were the skeleton would guard them. Well, as best as a dead thing could.

It looked as if the hybrid and seal were going to split off on a tour, which Spark didn't mind. They turned to Pride. "You said you have water? I want to try something."

A tower. As cool as that sounds, she's probably not getting up that alone. A shame. "Aw, that sounds really cool. Too bad. Maybe sometime I could learn some magic to get up there," she wonders.

She sets her gifts down in front of Pride. "A whole city? Sure, I'd love to check it out! I'm ready when you are!"

Seems Lorelei hasn't noticed Spark.

@Acheron

"City it is, then!" Acheron, unlike Lorelei, did notice Spark's arrival--and she blinked, brightening a little more. "Hey! You want to come with us, Spark?" she asked. She didn't know her near-sibling as much as she should, and she was definitely down to take a new friend, or family--whatever they may be--along on this adventure.

To Lorelei, she grinned, doglike; her little fluff-tail wagged, teeth briefly gleaming. "It's not usually snowy," she confessed, "but we can probably find our way. Anyway--this is Spark! He's my brother, sort of!"

Or--cousin? She didn't really know. Pride's... adopted son? Had had a child, and that was Spark. Pride was her lifegiver, but cave family dynamics were a little bit beyond her. "Spark, this is Lorelei! She's a friend I met when I was really young. A puppy! -Fawn!"

...Whatever one called a baby dog-deer hybrid. Acheron sure as hell didn't know.

doberman photo credit: pato garza on flicker

Pride dipped his antlers to Spark in greeting, a friendly expression crossing his face. "Hello, Spark," he offered.

He let the chatter of Acheron and Lorelei pass pleasantly over him, his ears instead sweeping to hear Spark's words. "Water?" He paused, giving this a "Hmm," of thought. After a moment he turned, hooves crunching through snow to take him to one of the divots in the ground--barely visible past the white blankets that now coated it. "I don't," he admitted, "but perhaps I could make some-? What did you have in mind?"

He turned his attention to his magic, not noticing when Mischief hopped off, clearly intent on following Acheron away. He didn't mind, anyway; and if they got in trouble, this way, he'd know. Hell, it was a weight off his mind, really.

After a moment, some of the snow began to melt: sizzling away, steam wicking up as water dribbled out of nothing. "Here," he offered, stepping aside so Spark could see. There was perhaps a large 'bowl' full, almost fully liquid slush against the rock. "-Do you need more?" he asked, his gaze flicking curiously to them.

red deer img credit - dan seagrave

@Spark

They began unpacking, opening the cardboard box again with tender care. Intent on this task, they let one ear follow Pride’s words while their eyes remained fixed on the container, as they pried a packet of the mix from the rest. ’What do you have in mind?’ “You’ll see.” Spark’s tone betrayed an indulgence; they liked being mysterious from time to time. Of course, there was nothing sinister in their response, as there wasn’t in what they actually planned to do.

They turned at Acheron’s call, blinking owlishly. ”Ah, no thank you. I have something I want to try.” they watched as she turned to address the seal, how hadn’t seemed to notice their presence. Expected, as Spark had not made it known. ”They, and I think I’m technically your niece?” They corrected with quiet humour. They nodded at Lorelei. ”Nice to meet you.” The last bit did not escape them; both Spark and Archeron were hybrids. The confusion was not unique to either, and that brought the creature some kind of peace.

”Hmm?” Their attention shifted to Pride, investigating the water he had collected. They were grateful, but… perhaps it would be too cold. ”Thank you. This’ll do, for now at least. If this works.” If it did, they could all have a good hot drink to return to, and another happy memory- hopefully. But how to melt it further? Perhaps their own magic could assist them, though they doubted their typical lantern glow would provide the heat they sought. Instead, they reached for something different, a new spell.

Warmth bubbled up inside them, fiercer this time. Old fear crept, and a younger self anticipated a familiar chest pain. Thankfully, they exhaled it in a slow breath, whistling through their lips and towards the water. The remaining ice steamed away, leaving the liquid warm. Ready for the next step. They moved to open the packet, the new ability left unnoticed by Spark themselves.

@Lorelei