[open] Tranquility

[♔ Gabriel Alikai]

A delicate deer-like body waded through the more shallow ends of the river, enjoying its coolness. Wings tucked tightly against his body the hippogryph was calm and relaxed, he had quite an affinity for water. For some unknown reason he enjoyed its cool touch more than anything else, perhaps in a past life he was a fish. He chuckled to himself at the thought, golden eyes following a rather tasty looking morsel that was about to swim past him. In a movement that was faster than most would think such a large creature could accomplish he jumped from the water and dove onto the fish. His beak clamping down and his wings opening. He soared upwards with the wriggling specimen caught firmly in his jaws before landing on the shore and beginning to enjoy his meal.



He even enjoyed the taste of marine life, he thought with another chuckle as he finished off his meal. Sitting calmly with his legs folded on the shore he was the image of peace and tranquility. His belly was full and his mind was calm and nothing posed a threat to him.

[♔ Seleukoen Suibhne]

He was on a mission. A mission of all other missions at that. And he was not alone on this particular mission thank goodness. Seleukoen and Zara had recently spoken with the spirit of the forest, and because of that fact, the lion had a single minded focus. Each mighty step propelled him forward in a fervent manner. The lion walked with his head up, shoulders back, and his tail switched behind his frame a few times. He had to be the messenger and delivery man to other random animals about the ancient pact made with the spiritual deer so long ago. At least he looked like a deer before vanishing indiscriminately into thin air. Seleukoen did not know how he was going to do it, but he just had to this task. Once the lion set his mind on something, that was the end all be all, end of discussion. Basically the male was voluntold – voluntarily told – to do this whole thing. And although he normally might not have, he adhered to what he was told. He felt that the threat he had gotten was not an idle one. So here the white creature was, prowling to and fro, to spread the word about knowledge he had just magically gained. Imagine that.

Seleukoen wandered into the river territory, as is seemed like him and his gorilla friend had momentarily separated. She must have gone south or west based on obvious inferences. They had only just left the north, and the female primate did not seem to be in the east. There were only two other options to choose from really. So he would take the eastern territory while she took one of the others. Kill two birds with one stone if they would. Divide and conquer as someone once said. Sel almost marched into the land like the solider he once was. His past history was clearly prevalent in his movements. He was a former general, and a war chieftain at that, so this was bound to happen at some point or another. Whether or not the lion still retained any of his earlier years was in fighting was in question. However, he certainly did play the part well regardless, he was a tried and true veteran.

After quite a bit eastward, the feline came to a stop at the real source of the river. His pink eyes scanned the way it ebbed and flowed, seeing what his next plan of action would be. That plan soon came to him in an unexpected, but very welcome way. Seleukoen felt like he should take the situation carefully however, being that a certain element of concern was present. The lion laid eyes on the hippogryph, nodding a bit to himself. Under the usual circumstances, Sel would not be afraid to approach another. Fear was not something that he was really acquainted with. But what concerned him slightly was that this creature looked like it was part deer for obvious reasons. That was the whole reason he was here, a deer. The man was two seconds from swearing off all animals that looked like they had hooves. He momentarily wondered what eating leaves would be like. The thought made him outwardly cringe. Hopefully the visiting spirit had not just turned into another creature with an eagle head instead of a deer one. Then Seleukoen would look rather stupid trying to tell him something about what he already knew, and why he had showed up. It was worth a good old college try though. Here went nothing.

Waiting until after the hippogryph caught and crunched through his meal, Seleukoen finally approached. There was nothing like getting interrupted from eating for something so random and potentially trivial. He at least had the decency to wait a second though. The lion then prowled forward in a calm manner, but still one that was confident enough like before. He stood a few feet away from the intriguing eagle-like deer, and lowly cleared his throat. One could just picture the male as one of those traveling solicitors that come to peoples’ homes, hoping to sell them something. Technically that was what Sel was doing, selling an idea to the other man, but only there was nothing to buy with money per se. He was trying to get him to buy into the pact in a believable way. The other buck did not say that Seleukoen had to convince others exactly, only tell them about it. Essentially they could take it or leave it for all he cared. Honestly, sleeping in a raccoon filled tree sounded a little bit more appealing. Dreaming dreams of his lineage and a simpler time sounded so enticing. However, getting others to understand the pact was probably a plus somehow. If only the lion could figure out how exactly.

“Excuse me, I do not mean to be a nuisance to you sir,” Seleukoen started, “But I just need a moment of your time, and then I will be on my way, leaving you to your peace again.” The white beast reclined on silken haunches, wrapping his tasseled tail around his big paws. He swallowed once, continuing to talk and just getting the conversation over with as quickly as possible. The sooner he did that, the sooner he could leave. Being a pride leader once meant that he was not afraid to talk to others, even if he did not know them exactly. It was a simple process of initiation, conversation, and separation. Seleukoen dove right in headfirst, not bothering with small talk. That only drew out the process longer than need be. “You can take my words as seriously as you wish, but please hear me out at least. I was visited by a spirit, one not unlike you in fact. He was in the form of a deer and spoke of an ancient pact between him and all existing animals. But that pact was broken over the years. I am its messenger.”

♔ Gabriel Alikai

[Zara]

Sir Seleukoen's advice turned out to be beneficial. The lion suggested she go east. On the way, she removed her homespun outfit from the special pocket in her cloak and donned it.

Now that she was more fully dressed, Zara found the leonine's tracks. She stopped only long enough to forage a handful of plants growing along the riverbank. She consumed some of the plants. She'd save the rest for a later meal. Her eastward trek finally helped the intelligent female gorilla catch up with Sir Seleukoen.

Zara was about to say a polite hello to the lion, but stopped several feet away. He was talking to a deer-like creature with an eagle's head and wings. Now she had a conundrum: Should she remain where she stood or travel a different direction?

♔ Seleukoen Suibhne , ♔ Gabriel Alikai

[♔ Gabriel Alikai]

The lion startled him and the deer-part of him urged him to run away as his body stiffened. He still sat regally, his calm morning had seemingly turned into something a little bit more dangerous. He clicked his beak in warning, warning the other that despite his graceful appearance he could still be dangerous… although his lack of claws of any kind gave doubt to that threat. He eyed the lion after the creature had spoken, debating whether to stand or not. Standing would allow him a way to escape faster yet the lion did not seem to pose a threat other than the obvious threat of being a carnivore.

He let the silence grow, studying the lion before eventually he was about to speak. Opening his beak and suddenly closing it as his head whipped to look in the direction of the gorilla. His eyes narrowed, this was strange. This normally quiet area now had two visitors, he studied the gorilla for a moment before speaking, ”go on” he said suspiciously as he glanced between gorilla and lion. He was knowledgeable to know the gorilla posed no threat as it would not want to make a meal of him… but gorillas were strong.
♔ Seleukoen Suibhne, Zara,