(No they’re just prety-)
(Also that’s just me fluffing my responses dw lol)
Juniper looked worried for Tseth and Lili, but she didn’t ask any questions. She just assumed they were upset about being so far away from their homes. She nodded in return to Tseth.
“I don’t exactly know how to help you… my job is just to watch over this realm. And it’s population is mostly children. But I do know someone who could be helpful.”
Pollux watched the interaction, for once not being loud. They wanted to let Juniper speak, and they knew not to annoy certain people. Castor was relieved at the welcome change from Pollux’s near yelling.
Juniper turned around, her wings spreading slightly. “In the Vault of Knowledge, there’s an Elder by the name Lamed. She may be able to help you. It wouldn’t hurt to talk to any other Elders you might find on the Islands, though.” She paused for a moment.
“Except… as of now, we still have yet to find a permanent replacement for Tsadi, our former Elder if the Wastelands. He… has passed.” Her expression darkened, and she was thankful she turned around at that moment. “But enough about that.”
(Oh I knew I was forgetting something-)
(Apologies)
Lili looked up again, staring at the back of Juniper’s head with a confused expression. “We know of the Elder Lamed, but-“ She glanced back and forth at everyone around her. “-did you just say the Elder of the Wastelands is dead?” How does an Elder die? It’s impossible. Impossible for us, at least. Her wings fluttered anxiously a couple times as she thought about it.
Tseth shifted his weight to his left side uncomfortably. Diverting his line of thinking from something similar to Lili’s, he observed the Temple around them. And then he had a thought. “If you suggest we speak to the Elders, should we not speak to the Prairie Elder here?”
Juniper sighed, and her wings folded back to their resting spot. “Dead. Yes. Elders are mortal, just like everyone else.” She looked down. “I don’t quite know how it works… wherever you come from, but that’s the sad reality here.”
Pollux bit his lip and glanced between Tseth, Lili, and Juniper. Castor spoke up. “How are we so similar, yet so different at the same time?” He wondered out loud.
As Tseth asked his question, Juniper looked back at him, then turned to face him. She smiled again. “You’re talking to her right now.”
Lili’s expression turned dark. “Oh. . . I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.” Lili was quickly learning that she shouldn’t expect anything to be extremely similar to what she was used to. And that if she would be traveling through the other realms as well, she would have to get used to it.
Tseth looked surprised for just a moment before composing himself yet again. “Oh- what a pleasant surprise, then. May I ask, exactly what are Elders here? If not. . . what they are where we are from.”
Juniper shook her head at Lili. “It’s alright. You’re not being rude at all. You’re just confused, as you should be.” She clasped her hands together and tilted her head again. “As you already know, the Elders are the leaders and guardians of each realm. We protect the Islands and ensure that the Darkness doesn’t spread and take over, among other things.”
She looked around the temple. “We mostly reside in our temples, that way it’s easy to find us. I, however, am an exception to the rule most times,” she said, laughing a bit. “But I’m pretty hard to miss, anyway.”
“We’re just normal people, assisted by magic granted to us from Megabird. It’s difficult to qualify as an Elder, though, for obvious reasons. Some realms are more difficult to maintain than others, but it’s all hard work.”
She bowed her head slightly. “Now, I don’t want to take too much time, or I might go on a tangent. And who knows where that’ll lead?” She looked back up at Tseth and Lili. “Are there any more questions you had in mind?”
(So this is how I can get FL lore, I see /j)
Tseth nodded thoughtfully as he listened to Juni’s explanation. “So you and the other Elders are the ruling system here. . . Interesting. Thank you.” He glanced down at Lili to see if she had any questions. She seemed deep in thought about something, looking downwards towards the floor.
Sensing she was being stared at, Lili looked up. “Oh, no. We wouldn’t want to take up much of your time.”
(☠️☠️ Damn you’re just in it for the lore huh /j)
Juniper nodded. “Alright. You should be on your way, then.”
Castor looked at Pollux. Pollux nodded as well, then smiled at Juniper. “Thanks for the help.”
“No problem.” Juniper started to walk away, back towards the area she had emerged from. She paused, then turned around, looking at Castor and Pollux. “Oh, if you see Resh in the Wastelands, can you say hello for me? I haven’t been able to spend much time with him lately.”
Pollux tilted his head. “He’s still filling in there? Damn. I guess he’s the best option, though. Sure thing.” They looked at Tseth and Lili. “Well, we should head to the Forest now.”
Castor nodded. “There should be a portal at the other side of the temple.”
(Cricket is currently doing a sploot, for your information :D)
(Anyway no I also wanted to interact with your idiots)
(And find out about lore)
Resh. So Resh is also a normal person here? Tseth and Lili looked at each other and shared yet another look of confusion. Tseth shrugged and muttered something in Dark Dragon, and then looked at Pollux. “That might be for the best.”
(Small response 😔)
Pollux jerked their head towards the opposite side of the temple. “Let’s go.” They grabbed Castor’s arm and started walking to the other side of the temple, laughing when Castor tripped and stumbled. Castor righted himself quickly and glared at Pollux.
As Castor said, there was a portal on the other side of the temple, framed with stone. A faint image of the forest on the other side could be seen, along with a softened sound of rainfall.
(Also small response :( )
As everyone walked towards the portal, Lili looked at it with intrigue. “Our portals don’t look like this. . . Strange,” she said, and then looked at Castor and Pollux. “Just so we’re clear, we’re going the Forest temple next?”
Tseth walked towards the portal with indifference. He had noticed the strange, almost fogginess of the image of the Forest. But he did not think much of it. If the portal worked the same, then it didn’t matter. What did matter is that he wanted to get through the Forest as quick as possible if it was anything like he was used to.
Castor nodded. “Yes, we are.” Pollux tilted their head.
“Just our of curiosity, what do your portals look like?” They asked.
Castor fluttered his wings impatiently. “Let’s just do this quickly. I don’t like the rain. It gets my feathers wet.” He looked around, then huffed and stepped through the portal, not bothering to wait for the others. Pollux frowned, then shrugged and followed Castor.
Lili opened her mouth to respond, and then quickly shut it again after Castor spoke. After he and Pollux left, she made an annoyed huff. Tseth looked at her and sighed. “You might find interacting with the common people not what you’re used to, Queen. Get used to it.” Without waiting for a response, he stepped through the portal.
Lili only got more annoyed at that, and followed Tseth. I’m sick of this. “Don’t tell me what to do, Krill-”
Tseth turned to face Lili, wings flared. “Really? Because you have been acting like you need an attitude adjustment this whole time. My patience has a limit, and you’re reaching it quickly.”
Lili also flared out her wings defensively, looking considerably more scared than she was before. I messed up-
Pollux paused, then held out their arm to stop Castor. Castor started to protest, but stayed quiet when Pollux glared at him. “You can wait five seconds, Castor.”
Pollux turned and walked towards Tseth and Lili, hands raised slightly. “Let’s try not to argue with each other, okay? We still have a long ways to go from here and we don’t need any more tension.” They looked between the two of them, hoping they wouldn’t be too upset at them for interrupting.
Castor crossed his arms and watched Pollux, Tseth, and Lili. He hoped these stops wouldn’t be frequent. He wrapped his wings around himself to shield his clothes from the rain.
Tseth turned his head to look at Pollux, just barely acknowledging them before looking at Lili again. “Don’t ever call me Krill again,” he said with a growl. He then swiftly turned, walking past Pollux. He hated this. Being stuck in a place that he knew nothing about, with people he don’t know or trust. And the one person he did know was another pampered Light creature who hated his guts.
Lili said an apology that Tseth either didn’t hear or ignored—most likely the latter. She then looked at Pollux. “I don’t think that’s possible. Not to have tension, I mean.”
Pollux rolled their eyes at Tseth as he walked past, then glanced at Lili. “I kind of guessed. Worth a shot, though.” They watched as Castor raised his eyebrows in slight amusement at the situation, and sighed. “Let’s just keep moving. Maybe a bit of walking will do us some good.”
Castor shook his wings out, then turned and kept walking, while Pollux quickly followed suit. They spoke to each other quietly, Pollux seemed worried while Castor looked indifferent as usual.
(ALL ABOOAARRDD)
(🎶✨the toxic gossip traaiin✨🎶)
(You don’t know where those have been)
As they walked, Tseth and Lili fell into place walking behind Castor and Pollux. Keeping several feet of distance between them. It was likely for the best. Lili kept her distance mainly because she thought Tseth was reasonably terrifying when he was angry, and Tseth kept his own distance for his own reasons. He kept closer to the group than he did before regardless—it was difficult not to either way.
Lili glanced around at her surroundings. She only visited the Forest on occasion, considering the sheer amount of dangers it presented regularly. And the rain wasn’t something she was particularly fond of either. She would choose the usually clear skies of her home realm to this any day. The trees did provide some cover, granted, but with the never-ending downpour one was likely to get drenched by the droplets dripping from the leaves regardless. Or, being unlucky, someone could get drenched by the equivalent of a small bucket of water pouring on your head all at once. Hoping that wouldn’t happen, Lili buzzed her wings a few times to get rid of the stray water droplets streaking down them.
Tseth listened to the ambient sounds of the Forest surrounding him. He was indifferent to the feel of the rain. His overcoat protected him from the brunt of it, and he’s spent so much time in his world’s Forest that it was almost as natural to him as weaving through the Wasteland terrain. However, that also came with the constant watching for unnatural movements in the brush and one hand always ready to take out a knife or sword if needed. He wondered if the same threats lurked here, or if there were different ones he needed to be aware of. Unfortunately, the only two people he could ask were engaged in their own conversation.
(Whoa where’d that come from)
Pollux has wrapped his wings around themselves and huddled closer to Castor, who begrudgingly raised a wing above Pollux as a makeshift umbrella. Pollux usually loved the rain, but only when they were dressed for it. And definitely not when they were wearing a crop top with short sleeves.
“It’s almost as if it’s useful to dress modestly,” Castor mumbled. He raised his eyebrows at the hurt look Pollux gave him. “What? I’m not wrong. You’re freezing, idiot.”
“I’m not freezing. Just kinda cold.” Pollux huffed at Castor.
“Whatever makes you feel better.”
(Shit response let’s goooo)
