The young oryx walked into Pisces with an open mind. She took a look around, liking how calm it felt in this part of the cave. Everything was so serene, all complete with a waterfall pouring in the cave. The oryx may have just been hatched, but immediately she felt a loyalty to the all of the caves already. Although she didn't know it, she was loyal to the masters too. She watched with her ears perked for any sign of danger. The caves seemed calm, despite the horrors of the mother fungus in Cetus which was completely unbeknownst to the calf. Still, she was wary of her surroundings, and was no fool. She did not need any water, because she is easily able to retain water by not sweating. She also had many adaptation which can make her go without water for a very long time. Now though, she was busy checking out the caves, her new home.

The distant waterfall gently roared, the sparkle of mist it sent up shimmering in the cave-lights. The lagoon lay bright and blue, and beyond it, rolling green, the mossy hills of the Warrens. The calf might, were she sharp-eyed, see a distant figure not too dissimilar from herself: tawny and four-limbed, cervine in appearance. He was picking his way through the green quite slowly, peering around as he went.

@Xevir

Xevir noticed a deer nearby that was quite a way away, but not too far. She was excited to see a deer nearby, so she ran over to him. Once she was right in front of him, and puffed her chest up. She then spoke with kindness and excitement in her voice. "Hello! My name is Xevir! I am a gamsbok oryx, and a loyal gembound of these caves. What is your name and who are you?" The child was excited to see another gembound. It was surprising at such a young age she decided to pledge her loyalty to these caves. But, if it was her home she was born in, of course she would be loyal to it to the very end. A big smile was on her face a she looked at the deer curiously.

@Game Master Dark

Astraea turned, his head coming around, and he blinked down at the child. Bemused, he listened to its strange, bright introduction. Ahhh, a new one. Hmm. Well, times had changed...

"It is good to see a new child. I hope you are well-? I am Astraea," he answered calmly. Then, he paused, curiosity pricking him. "What do you mean by 'loyal?' To whom are you loyal--Xevir?"

The name sat strange on his tongue, and he tried to decide whether or not he liked it.

@Xevir

"Nice to meet you Astraea!" The child liked the name a lot. It sounded very mystifying. But when the deer asked her who she was loyal to, she didn't even have to think twice on it. "I'm loyal to all of the caves because every room in the caves are my home. I'm also loyal to The Spire which is in Polaris. It's not exactly a who I am loyal to, but a what, and that is the caves." She hoped her explanation would be understandable. The calf had not meant to confuse Astraea. She was starting to like this deer already. He seemed very nice too, and that made the calf comfortable.

@Game Master Dark

Astraea again paused, considering this. The child's attitude was good. Useful.

But he wondered who it was that was educating these very young--and to what purpose they might be turning them. Certainly Nemean wasn't offering geography lessons. "Very good, child. Remember that, and it will serve you well. But tell me--you are very young, and the caves are very large; how do you know what lies outside of this one? Who has told you of the Spire, and of Polaris?" He asked it mildly, but suspicion flickered in him.

@Xevir

Zevir saw that the deer was pleased. How did she learn of all this? Well, passing gembounds had useful information. "Some adults I passed by decided to teach me some stuff. I know the basics. The spire is this huge thing in Polaris. So of course I have to be loyal to the spire since it's a part of the caves. You would have to be crazy or weird not to be loyal to your home. I also heard a little bit about each of the rooms from other adults too. One thing I also remember is that one of the adults I spoke to mentioned something about masters of the caves, but I had no clue what he meant by it. I guess since master means ruler or something, I know I have to be loyal to them too." Xevir wanted to know more, but, in due time she would.

@Game Master Dark

Astraea listened with faint perplexity. Apparently this child was simply declaring 'loyalty' to everything they heard about, saw, or that was rumored to be in existence.

It was useful to his plans, of course, but-... well, children, he supposed, were little fools. Ahh, well.

He offered a sweet smile. "Always be wary of where you lend your loyalty, little one--not everything in these caves will be your friend. But so far you are doing well."

He paused. Was there more to say..? Faint emotions of irritation warred with the idea he was at least doing his job. And a dozen other thoughts swarmed in on the heel of that. He decided to wrap it up, and move on, by saying: "For now, your task is to grow strong, and stay healthy. That is the only job for the young."

@Xevir

Xevir nodded at Astraea's words, willing to do just that. She repeated what he said to show she was listening. "I got it. Stay healthy and grow strong. That seems easy enough. Oh, and Astraea another thing. What does masters of the caves mean? What are masters of the cave? If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. But, I can't stop thinking about what that means." Perhaps knowing of the masters could help her as she grew, maybe it wouldn't. Nonetheless, she was bound to learn of that as a gembound. She was going to grow into a strong oryx. She would grow strong just like Astraea.

@Game Master Dark

Astraea thought about this. How to explain it to one so young? He was unsure how she'd heard about Masters without having heard what they were, but so be it.

"The Masters are there to ensure that the cave runs smoothly," he said, phrasing himself carefully. "To keep it running according to its designs."

@Xevir