The cycles had passed and so the wounds had begun to heal, although Rift knew that scars still existed, whether in the hearts of those that had fought in the battle or on their skin. His changes had been permanent, as well as Enka's, and Sebastian's eye had not regrown. There was still so much healing to do before everyone was finally free, but the news had come from Orion - Blackberry was dead at last. The threat of the Bloodberries remained in a single wolf and Rift didn't really consider that much of a danger. If she appeared ever again, she would be destroyed, whether by the Seven or by the Kingdom.

And so he had spread his word through the Kingdom of Eridanus: now that the caves had finally left their era of terror behind, the Kingdom would celebrate. A festival would be thrown around the great tree that marked the Kingdom's home. Welcome to anyone and everyone that carried no violence or chaos in their hearts. It was this day, now, that they would start preparing.

Rift slunk out from his den under one of the root and quickly bounded up to the lowest root that he made his announcements from. The Kingdom should know that today he would be making the announcement so he cleared his throat and yowled out to get their attention and waited a few moments for them to assemble.

Once some of them had gathered, Rift began to speak. "In light of the news from Orion, concerning the death of Blackberry, I thought it would be an appropriate time to celebrate. To cast aside our fears and our doubts and relax. It'll also be a good time to get the word out about our little Kingdom - perhaps there are more creatures throughout the caves that would want to join us or need a place to stay. Either way, I think this could serve as both an opportunity for us all to let loose and for recruitment as well!"

He paused and flicked his tail. "We'll need help growing and cooking food for the guests, for both carnivores and herbivores, and perhaps insectivores as well. We'll also need some ideas and setup for games, perhaps, that guests can play. And perhaps most importantly of all, we'll need to spread the word! Anyone that is comfortable, run through the caves and spread the message! I'll visit the group leaders myself to give them word of the festival, but there are plenty of gembounds through the caves that might want to join! If you know anyone that you think might fit with us or you want to spread the word to strangers, feel free to do what you like!"

The Kingdom of Eridanus is going to be throwing a Festival in one cycle! Now is the time to prepare - spread the word! Find your friends and family and invite them to the festivities! Help prepare by collecting food by growing or hunting or set-up some games that the guests might think are fun! This is open to everyone that wants to help out and prospective members are welcome to join either now or once the party starts!

@Mercurius @Oliver @Sebastian @Enka @Atinneas @Aetius @Yew

Aetius was now a proud snowy owl, the white bird could now fly freely through the air. The owl also had made a luxurious nest in the home tree of the kingdom. She sat as she listened to Rift explain about a great celebration, a festival. Though she did not see it as good that someone had died, a celebration was good news nonetheless. The snowy owl raised a wing and hooted happily. "I could help spread the word to gembounds all over the caves of the celebration! I am also an excellent hunter due to me being silent when I fly. So I can work hard to help gather prey for the carnivores for the occasion!" Aetius could not wait for the festival! She could just imagine how grand the kingdom's first festival would be. The owl would definitely do her part to pitch in for the event!

The blind lion cub sat down as she listened to Rift explain about a festival. Though the cub couldn't see, a festival sure sounded fun! The cub had gotten a bit larger since she joined the kingdom. She was now 2 cycles old after all. Atinnneas thought for a moment carefully. What could she possibly do to help out? Then a thought clicked in her head, and she raised her white paw in the air. "I can help grow food for the herbivores like plants and other such things." There, that would help contribute to the event. Though she may be blind, she would not allow that to hinder her from being the best she could. She was getting better at travelling blind, and her coordination skills have greatly improved as a feline should be. She listened intently on the discussion of the event, as excitement filled her entire being.

Honestly, at first, Oliver thought someone was being murdered.

There was a horrific sound like someone screaming, a fox maybe? -but louder. Alarmed, his heart racing, he raced toward the sound--half-running, half-gliding, where the terrain allowed it.

His surprise to find Rift calmly ready to explain things left him a mixture of baffled, relieved, and somehow betrayed. How in hell had the puma thought that to be a good method of calling on anyone?! Holy SHIT. The hybrid shook himself, trying to conceal his wide-eyed trembling fear, and eventually, as Rift spoke, he managed to calm himself. He wasn't afraid anymore--but the adrenaline had left him shaky. His annoyance at Rift's horrific yowling, though, left him at least strong enough to answer, though with no trace of said aggravation.

"I can help to grow food," he answered, softly, then added--"I'd rather not... be with everyone at once, though. Too many Gembound," he added in explanation, glancing around. After the massive battle, he felt very, very uncomfortable around others--let alone a gathering of them. Even now, he lingered at the outer edges of the meeting.

Oliver didn't know what "cooking" was, but he could grow vegetables, at least, or force the fruiting trees into bloom. He didn't necessarily like to do that--it seemed to throw them off, a little, or perhaps that was all in his mind, unnatural. But he'd do it this once, anyway, for Rift's... thing.

To demonstrate his helpfulness he focused, looking up. The clouds suddenly began to rapidly coalesce and gather as he gazed up toward the canopy, and a gentle rain began to patter down, out of nowhere. "This should help--but I'll grow some plants," he said softly. "For food."

Zepto flew down from where she was roosting upside down in a tree, then landed on all fours, crouching awkwardly. Having wings instead of arms, and weak legs makes moving across surfaces hard.

"I'm kindaaaa curious about joining, and I could fly around and tell lots of people! If that's okay, of course!" she inquired.

She had not been doing much lately, and she felt antsy from not making herself useful. Come to think of it, she hadn't been doing much since she emerged... She felt a little anxious at this thought, she barely had any experience or abilities, could she even be that helpful?

Then she shook off this feeling and looked hopefully at the group of gembounds. Surely they'd understand her urge to help.

It had been cycles since the War, although it was hard to believe it.

The Forest was beginning to regrow, plants and flowers re-taking the scars that had been left by the monstrous Bloodberries. Sebastian had helped as best he could, but he had no useful Magicks, so the extent of his help had been digging holes, and planting seeds.

But the goose--the Mother, the Leader, was dead now, leaving only one of the Bloodberries as a threat. Rift had decided to throw a celebration and, although he was glad that they were no longer in danger, it put a sour taste in Sebastian's mouth. Blackberry was a monster, sure, but she was still a living, breathing, being. Celebrating her death felt very wrong.

The puma's scream surely alarmed some of the other denizens, but seeing as Sebastian was more than capable of the same, he knew it for what it was. So he gulped down the rest of his bird, and began to follow the sound, trotting along the path that a herd of cave deer had long trodden down. He had long learned that it was safer to walk along the ground, now, after several attempts at running along the trees had resutled in him crashing to the ground. Sebastian had been carefully attempting to learn how to run along the branches again, but it was slow going--having only one eye caused one to have little to no depth perception, and depth perception was needed to leap between branches.

He arrived shortly after Oliver, trotting out of the trees. Sitting before the tree, he wrapped his tail around his legs, looking proudly up at his Brother-King. His tail tapped--even if he was rather irritated with his brother, celebrating the death of another, that didn't keep him from being proud.

"I could spread the word," he suggested and then, hesitant, "When we get closer to the party... I could cook for the herbivores?" after all, he had been trying to get more comfortable with his Magic, and what better way to do so than by using it for the benefit of others?