Aetius wandered around in the forest known as Eridanus. She was completely unaware of the massive war that had taken place here, and the kingdom that rose from it. The white snowy owl chick walked in the forest, deciding if this place was right to build her nest on the ground, her new home. At least until she could fly and make a nest higher up, and even more decorative. She took a deep sigh as she walked, wishing she could fly, but she was too young to do so. Then something caught her sights. What looked like a green cat with antlers tending to a garden. Goodness, it looked so beautifully natural. The small chick gasped in delight as she ran over to the garden. Her keen brown eyes looked at the plants respectfully. She extended both of her elegant white wings, delicately holding the head of a flower in them. She softly let go, then looked at the green cat with kind and delighted eyes, speaking in her proper (British) accent. "Is this your garden?" She looked back to the garden with a keen and happy expression. "I wonder if there are others here who can make gardens like this. I want to learn how to tend a garden."

@Rift

Since he had awoken to find a devastated garden in partial recovery, Rift had once again put his heart and soul into bringing his garden back to its former glory. With his love and his magic, it was soon almost back to its delicate perfection that he had kept it at before the fight. The only spot that he found himself struggling with was the crater where Pride had created a ball of super heated flame. The grass had grown, but nothing else seemed to want to take root.

He was in the middle of pulling out some of the worst weeds when he heard someone approaching. He glanced around, a small spike of fear thrilling down his spine, but it appeared to only be a baby owl, gently touching one of the flowers. He made a small noise of protest involuntary as he watched another gembound, a stranger, handling his plants, but he forced himself to stay back. He needed to work through his trust issues.

"Yes," he replied. "I have tended to this garden all my life." With a glance towards the ruined spot, he realized that this might not be as impressive a statement as it was before. "There are others, scattered across the caves, but most are here in Eridanus." He touched one of the plants that he had not grown himself. Perhaps it had been Mercurius, while he had been asleep, or maybe Enka when he was off patrolling. "We all work to grow our gardens together."

@Aetius

Aetius noticed the green cat had slightly growled at her interaction with the plant, but she reassured him. "No need to worry. I would never harm plants or any plant life. I actually like flowers, I'm not sure about others though." Then she turned her head when the cat had mention the word "we", in his sentence. "We? Are there others who live here growing gardens with you, like, some sort of group?" Aetius respectfully hopped away from Rift's plants, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. Aetius looked around the trees, letting out a short sigh. "I wish I could fly though. I wanted to make my nest, but I have to do it on the ground in here for now. Then when I can fly, I'll move my things to one of these trees here."

@Rift

Rift nodded slowly. He wasn't sure if he should be imparting things so easily to strangers, but this one was young and he had to remind himself, again, that he had created the Kingdom to be open to all. "Yes. The Kingdom of Eridanus makes its home here." He raised his paw and gestured towards the massive tree behind the owl. "This is our Home tree. We tend to the forest, we protect it. We nurture life in all of its forms."

A small smile appeared on his face. Of course, a baby owl would wish for flight. Many wanted to be able to fly, him included, although it was a childish fantasy that he had given up long ago. "You will grow. Don't worry, you will fly someday. You have wings that will one day carry your weight."

@Aetius

Aetius perked up at the fact that Rift said a kingdom called the Kingdom of Eridanus lived here. A place where gembounds tend and protect the forest?! How delightful did that sound?! Aetius excitedly hopped over to Rift feeling exultant as she asked him a very important question. "Can I join the Kingdom of Eridanus? Pretty please? I promise to do whatever it takes to help out the forest. I'll even help and learn how to tend the gardens." Her big owl eyes stared up at Rift as she waited for him to answer her.

@Rift

Rift was only a little taken aback by the sudden request to join the Kingdom. He had a feeling it was leading up to this but the suddenness and the eagerness was a bit surprising. Still, he couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Sure. We are welcome to all that do not bring violence." His face grew serious for just a moment and he leaned forward, regarding the small owl. "That is, you swear that you are a creature of peace? That by bringing you into the Kingdom I am not endangering those that cannot defend themselves as well as those that are sworn to the ways of peace?" It was a very important question and, for a moment, Rift wished that he had some of that useful magic that would allow him access to a gembound's past or its mind. But that was rude and invasive and he decided only a moment later that he was happy that that power was not in his control.

@Aetius

Aetius didn't flinch when Rift asked her to swear that she was a creature of peace. The young owl favored peace, and she was going to prove that right now. She puffed out her chest as she spoke. "I swear that I am a creature of peace. I also swear that you are not endangering others by allowing me into the kingdom. I promise not to bring any malice or violence into the Kingdom of Eridanus. You needn't have anything to worry about from me. I promise you." The owl was just a cycle old, so of course she was harmless. Though even if she was four cycles old, she would not bring any trouble to the kingdom anyways. Malice and violence was not her nature. She stood for the good in things, not the evil.

@Rift

Rift could hear the honesty in the owl's voice and he smiled. "Good. Then on behalf of the Kingdom of Eridanus, I, Rift, the Guardian, welcome you." He leaned forward and tapped his muzzle against the owl's forehead. "What is your name, child?"

Once the owl would respond, Rift pulled back and dipped his head, turning to the garden. "Every flower and plant we've ever discovered is growing somewhere in this garden. Take your time - pick out that which represents you and call me over. It will be your gift as a citizen of the Kingdom."

@Aetius

After giving Rift her name, the little owl would hop over to the garden. She looked for a good few minutes, pondering which one to pick. All of them looked so wonderful, so pretty. She gently looked over each one, studying them. Then her eyes fell over a White Rose. This one would do nicely. She then decided that this was the one she wanted. So with that she called Rift over. "Hey Rift! I picked which one I wanted! This one!" She held the plant gently with her wings so Rift could have a better look. The White Rose was what suited her best, it was like Aetius herself, but in the form of a flower.

@Rift

Rift followed Aetius as she called him over. He eyed the rose and smiled. Yes, a good decision. He could see why she thought it would be good. He leaned forward and pressed the tip of his nose (or mask, really), and allowed magic to flood into the ground. The rose trembled as its roots began to move. The earth began to shake and squirem until the roots gently pulled themselves from the ground. The whole flower lurched upwards, roots and all, and it carefully patted down the soft ground so that it looked like there hadn't even been a flower there at all.

Rift gently picked it up with his mouth and handed it to Aetius. "This is yours now. You may do with it what you wish. No matter if you stay with the Kingdom for life or if you should leave sometime in the future, this flower will always represent the home you have with us."

@Aetius