On this beautiful Tallsun day, I can't help but enjoy a walk to stretch my legs. Sure, cats spend much time sleeping and at some point I'll enjoy a nap in the summer sun, but there's energy bubbling up underneath my hide and I need an outlet. My walk takes me along the borders of the Basin, along the mountains. I mark as I go, figuring that the equines won't care as much as other predators. I've been walking through the trees, minding the uneven ground that comes with being at the foot of the mountains. I come out into the sunlight, and stretch, letting my muscles loosen and relax.

Now my path takes me past the Sentinels - fearsome guardians of the Basin, though not so fearsome as some of its residents. Of course I mean myself, but there are rumors and reputations that get around regarding some of the other residents as well. I peak through the entrance as I pass by, glancing at them with subtle appreciation. But what catches my eye is the sight of a little pegasus and some baby animal between her ears. 'How peculiar...' It's worth investigating, and will provide entertainment for my traveling. I walk up to the entrance and sit down between the two sentinels, directly opposite the filly.

She doesn't smell like any herds I know, nor really any of the equines I know. What is between her ears seems to be one of those companion things, though it is very small - newborn, perhaps? I curl my tail around my paws and stare for a moment in silence. "Who are you, child, and why are you here?" They are not of the Basin, and they aren't newcomers from the Threshold - they would have been led here. My voice is gentle, but firm, indicating that I want no nonsense from the child and she should be straight with me. The Basiners are not such a friendly group to outsiders - why else would they have built ginormous sentinels? I am not so opposed to visitors, but it is part of my duty living here to help protect the land. Besides, I want to know what's going on in my territory.

""
Please join! :)
Moar invites: @[Panzram], @[Deimos], @[Ophelia] etc. etc.

Large cats were not something the steed had overly much experience with. The gathering that had brought the herd together had allowed the steed to at least gain a visual on his herd - the tigress amongst them had not gone unnoticed. The very thought of her, all teeth and claws and stripes, sent a tremor down his spine. It wasn't fear, but rather a healthy wariness for his carnivorous sister that caused his nerves to be set alight. But despite his wariness, he was also curious - perhaps his curiosity even rivalled that of a cat's.

So he walked the borders, and he discovered two intriguing things. Of the scents that clearly patrolled the rims of the land, the tiger's was prominent, and as he neared the gate of their magnificent realm, the area which the sentinels stood tall, proud and stoic, another scent came across his path. It reminded him of feathers, of birds and yet also of a creature who was at least genetically closer to his own than that of the tiger he stalked.

Knowing (and also praying a little bit) that the tiger would not take fancy to his flesh, the steed rounded the end, and upon viewing the scene before him of pegasus and cat, he moved to stand beside his striped comrade. He was significantly taller than both of those present - in fact, the tiger probably stood taller than the gangly filly before them, if one were to remove the girl's wings. Shuffling his weight, rearranging his own version of feathers that draped his limbs, the steed peered down at the young belle with his sharp, emerald gaze.

"Speak." He simply prompted, reiterating the orders already given by the tigress, feeling no need to offer anything more.

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I'm not the only one that has come to greet the small pegasus. A stallion comes up next to me, one I am unfamiliar with. I glance over him. Large, bulky unicorn with an interesting rack upon his head. I familiarize myself with his smell quickly as he stands next to me, then turn my attention to the next to approach. Hotaru. She and I have found ourselves together a lot lately, and I offer a smile to her. I don't know that either of us considers the other a friend, but we're comfortable herdmates. Acquaintances, herd mates... I'm unsure what to call it, but it's a comfortable relationship, a pleasant coexistence. I notice that Alice is not with her, and wonder at the reason she would have for leaving her hellhound behind. If companions and their bonded are so close, then how can they be parted, especially when the companion is a newborn? There are so many things lost on me.

Hotaru is much friendlier than I or the stallion are, introducing herself and inviting the foal to do the same. And she does, though it is clear that she and her companion are intimidated. I try to soften my demeanor, but being so stoic as I can be, it doesn't show on my face very well. Perhaps you can see it in my ears and my shoulders, or the twinkle of my golden eyes. I drop my head a little and cock it to the side, examining this 'Tempe'. She seems harmless enough, and as Hotaru pointed out, she is just a child. A very small one. Softly, with a small lilt to my deeper voice, I answer her. "I am Saffron. Welcome to the Aurora Basin." I dip my head politely. I can't say more, for Deimos the king arrives. The air that he carries is fierce and fearsome, and I sense that he is not in the mood to humor young fillies. My heart pangs a little at the tone with which he addresses Tempe and Haruki. I wish that I could protect her from his impatient, barely concealed wrath and contempt. Quietly, I add to his question. "I smell nothing on her but wilderness." A loyal subject might add 'my king' or 'your highness' or something of that sort. But I do not consider him my king. He leads the land and I happen to live in it. I hold little respect for him, for he has not earned my respect. I will not cross him, for he permits me to live here, and I appreciate that. But he is not MY king.

""
@[Grimalkin] @[Hotaru]

It was only seconds that passed, trickling by like a creek choked by sharp rocks and twigs, and throughout those precious seconds, Grimalkin’s sharp senses gave him much to learn and decipher, to digest and mull, chew and postulate. His ears, their tips rubbing against the broad base of his antlered prongs, pricked with expectant interest at the filly before them, his nostrils bathing in what little scent the breeze could offer him. Certainly he could not learn much, for he was no predator nor carnivore like the tigress beside him – he had no need to understand the subtleties that blood could offer, though he could see their uses, he simply did not hold the right wiring within his cranium to decipher such things.

Perhaps, in a land like Helovia, such things could be rectified.

Another arrives, a mare (whom he should probably have recalled from the meeting, but all he felt was annoyance at the way she inserted herself into the situation like they weren't handling it). Grimalkin knew how to use words to his benefit, he knew how to charm and manipulate - perhaps it was to his detriment that he did not see the use of such tools in this situation. Perhaps it was a mark of his good judgement. Either way, the mare had spoken now, and her soothing, maternal actions seemed to have spurred the youth before them into sudden animation - too many words all fell out of her mouth at once, and she finished with a question that caused the brute's muscles to stiffen upon his frame suddenly.

Entrance? She wanted entrance into the Basin? The steed was not racist, but nor was he stupid - there were no creatures with wings striding within their borders.

A strange sensation nearly overwhelmed the titanic steed then. A sense of his life suddenly yet slowly, steadily leaking from his body, a leech drinking his blood, a vampire sucking the life from his veins. The chocolate brute took a deep, shaky breath as the Lord of their home approached, resonating tones rolling over the small crowd before them. Though he felt like his life had just been suspended by the Lord's presence, he found himself growing used to it after some time - he recovered in a matter of seconds, returning to the solid, titanic beast that he was mere moments before. It was almost imperceptible, the change that had swept over him, but he knew those who shared his home were sharp and keen; they would likely know of his momentary weakness, and he hated it.

A small huff exited his nostrils, his unimpressed feelings making themselves apparent as he considered the words of the tigress. "What do you wish to learn?" Vocals were tightened by his thick accented tones; he had picked up on his Lord's mistrusting state and so continued along his original plan, despite Hotaru's presence and attempts at niceties. His question was not kindly asked, but rather posed with a dry sense of challenge - what exactly did this winged flicka want? There was no time like the present for the young belle to learn how to explain herself more thoroughly in the presence of those who could wield one's fate.

[ Sorry about the wait.
@[Hotaru] ]

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I can see that this little filly is not about to get what she desires. Entrance to the Basin is not for just anyone. In fact, I'm a bit surprised that they let me enter. But I'm sort of a collectible - it would be foolish for them NOT to let me in. This filly is young, naive, and has little if anything to offer, or so it would seem. Hotaru keeps trying to play the nice card, but I wonder what it will get her. What is her goal in being nice to the little girl? Grimalkin and Deimos remain stiff, as I might expect them to. My place in this conversation is diminishing, and it seems it would be time for me to depart. The filly isn't going to cause harm to the herd, that much is obvious. Borders defended successfully. If she needs more telling off (and it seems she does, according to the unamused look on Deimos's face), these three can handle it. I am not one to scold a filly for her curiosity. "Perhaps Tempe, you can offer us favors, or a unique quality or magic that you possess?" I will give her that last suggestion as a way to get what she seeks. If not, she will find herself sorely disappointed and turning tail. I nod my head to her, then to each of my fellow Basiners. "I think my usefulness has run its course. Until next time." I send a soft smile toward the filly before turning and continuing to walk the edge of the Basin, marking subtly in the darkness. This is my home as much as anyone else's.

""
276 words
@[Grimalkin]

The stallion winced as the strawberry mare blurted his name forth. Though it was not his true name (for none here would ever know that, if he had any say in it), names still held more weight with him than anything else. His disgust passed swiftly, however, and the chocolate steed did nothing more than breathe a slightly deeper breath, a sigh that had he been so inclined, might have sounded like a gruff, resigned huff of mares.. - alas, he was a bit wiser than all that and so managed to merely stand, statuesque as always, between this outcast belle and the secrets of their realm.

The girl's words were hardly supportive of the idea of allowing her passage. She was young, and naïve, and it would do her no good to expose such facts as if they were the key to her entrance to the realm. Still, it would not be Grimalkin's say that ultimately allowed her passage - he would obey his leader, and (begrudgingly so), his senior in rank, the mare beside him.

"Those wings might look nice hanging on the wall of my cavern." His low voice rumbled softly, a simple comment, made more to himself then the gathered crowd. The tiger departed the scene, and the steed felt some tension slip away with her - truly, he didn't ever see himself becoming comfortable with sharing his home with a tiger. With nothing more to add to the situation, but unwilling to flee from it as the feline had, the stallion stood, mostly silent (except for the mutters under his breath of mares and cats and wings), a stoic and impassable titan guarding his newfound home.


[ Sorry (again) about the wait. Feel free to skip around Grim in future~
@[Hotaru] ]

colourize-stock & larfsalot @deviantart