RP:Gifts from Kits and Kittens

Part of the The Most Dangerous Game Arc

Winter Berry Garden

Satoshi has been frequenting the garden.... well, frequently. And each trip includes the lugging back and forth of a large, shiny green egg. The kit doesn't seem to mind these bouts of exercise, content to sit beside the badger-sized egg while relaxing in the garden. Today, however, Satoshi is far from relaxing. She's presently circling the patch of earth that once harbored the dead magic. Its presence can still be felt, but it's been buried in a sea of pleasant smelling plants and the most unusual bud. It would be an understatement o say Satoshi was startled when the enormous plant blossomed open and greeted her with a barbed tongue, although she's since gathered that the thing means her no harm--something about the plant feels almost... kin-like? In fact, the kit's even taken it upon herself to toss tidbits of meat into the flower's waiting mouth, delighted by how eagerly it snaps the pieces up. "I don't know where you came from, but you are quite possibly the greatest plant in existence." Much, much better than those horrid Ya-Te-Veo trees, anyway.

Daisy tries to sneak quietly through the opening in that hedge, but that just isn't happening today. There is a squirrel, you see. A white one with a big bushy tail and black eyes and the cutest nose ever (next to Daisy's... and the Queen's... *stops sucking up*). And this squirrel is trying desperately to keep our sweet kitten from going into that garden! Hopping backwards on one foot, cause the squirrel is clamped around her other, Daisy stumbles into the garden. "It's okay. I put it there- oomph!" She lands on her corgietush in the snow. That squirrel decides it is having none of Daisy's ridiculousness need to be near dangerous plants and darts off into the bushes. The kitten bets that creature just wanted to throw her in the snow. There is a smile when Satoshi is spotted. "Do you like it?"

Satoshi twists herself so that she's half leaning backwards to peer in an almost upside-down fashion at Daisy, all the better to smile at the kitten while still tossing snacks to the plant. "Did you put this beasty here? It's fabulous. What sort of plant is it? 've been calling it a Kraken Bloom, myself, because it reminds me of the brute in Vailkrin. Always hungry, y'know?" The name is so ingrained in Satoshi's nickname-infested mind already, that she's unlikely to even remember the proper term should Daisy provide it. Another chunk of meat goes down the flower's mouth. If only Daisy knew this meat had previously been the second cousin of the squirrel she'd just encountered.

Daisy wouldn't mind knowing about cousin squirrel kabobs being dinner for the plant. Everything has to eat and this druid is no vegetarian. Snow is brushed from her coat as she pads over towards the new besties over there. "I'm not even sure it has a proper name." More than likely, Madigan created the thing on her own by cross breeding seven different plants into one. "I think Kraken Bloom sounds like a good name." Sir Bloom seems to like the name too! It sends out one of its vines through the malanga blanket towards Satoshi so it can tickle her palm into "holding hands". Awww.

Satoshi can't object to 'holding hands' with a plant vine. So few living things actively seek out contact with the frigid kit, it's something of a sore point with her. Giving the vine an affectionate squeeze, Satoshi looks back toward Daisy with a lopsided grin, "It's wonderful, really. All that you've done with the garden to set it to rights. I might not speak plants, but I know these ones are happy, and that makes me happy. I-- what happened to your tail?!" Sure, the corgi-butt style is cute, but where did the kitten's adorable, fluffy tail disappear to? They don't just up and walk off! As if sensing the magus' distress, the nearby egg gives a sharp jerk and falls over, as a wave of concern emanates from it, aimed at Daisy.

Daisy folds her paws behind her and grins at the ground, kicking at the snow a bit in something of an 'aw shucks, m'am' type of manner. "I'm just glad you like it. They are very happy here." And how happy indeed! Kraken Bloom is so pleased to get return affection from Satoshi that it actually purrs a little. Not that soft rumble like a feline, but a higher-pitched kind of coo. Almost like a fox. Hn. Go figure. "My tail..." The kitten pouts a little, looking back at that five-inch stumpyness. "I had a disagreement with someone named Kuzial. I saved the part he didn't eat, but Daisy," Yes, bovine Daisy, "took it from me."

Satoshi frowns. Not at the cooing plant, but at Daisy's words. Kuzial took her tail? Now the kit is quite happy she fed that House Insignia to a dragon. Hopefully when the drow comes stalking, he'll have an angry saurian to contend with. The thought is enough to draw a feral sort of smirk from Satoshi as she kneels down beside the druid. "You should be careful around ones like him, Sundrop, he'll eat you alive if you're not." Oh, if only she knew how accurate that remark is. "Actually, it was my concern over such things that brought me here. I've someone I'd like you to meet. It's quite eager to meet you." She indicates the enormous egg wobbling beside them. The shell practically hums with feelings of protectiveness and worry, yet runs thickly with a slow sort of patience that toes the line of laziness. Emiur's fifth and final offspring is not a quick or active creature, but judging by an egg that's four times the size of its siblings, it promises to house a very large and capable young couatl upon hatching.

Daisy can't help but to move in closer to Satoshi. Oh sure, people call her the Ice Queen, but the kitten thinks different. She smiles again, leaning in to give the other woman an armless hug via nuzzling under her chin. Kuzial had definitely promised to eat the druid alive (bit by bit he said), but she won't tell Satoshi that. "I'll be careful." Her attention is directed to the meeting of that someone and she brightens, ducking under the Queen's arm to take a peek. "Oh, he is beautiful!" Like she can see right through the shell or something. Happy just radiates from the feline as the rest of her ducks under that royal arm so she can get to that egg. "But why me?" Furry arms wrap around the egg after she climbs on top of it for the cutest of hugs. "So warm." She giggles, pressing her cheek to the shell.

Satoshi settles back on her heels to watch the egg wibble-wobble beneath the kitten-turned-hen. Daisy's question draws a look of mild surprise from the kit. "Ah, that's right, you don't know them. A dear friend of mine, a couatl named Emiur, sired these eggs. Like all couatl, they're intelligent and aware within the egg. They've learned a great deal about the world and the people in it, from Svilfon and myself, and they've sort of... chosen who they want to be with? They've such distinct personalities, I think they're drawn to certain people that best suit that. Svilfon cares for the noble little Alahir, Hildegarde and Kenway are a pair of knights, Iintahquohae is a source of adventure for Pinquettki, and my Emielle is eager to learn." As she's spoken of, the hatchling couatl peeks out from the front of Satoshi's coat, cerulean scales shimmering with the movement. Emielle, like the kit, is curious about the final egg to hatch. "The last one has taken its sweet time. It's been waiting to meet you, ever since I told it about a wonderful kitten repairing my garden and brightening Frostmaw."

Daisy 's stumpling sways idly behind the kitten. It isn't as sweepingly dramatic as her full tail once was, but her content is present all the same. "I want to meet him too!" The queen says such nice things about you, doesn't she kitten? She watches little Emielle peek out of Satoshi's coat and even curls a single finger to wave hello to her. "I bet he'll be big and strong and smart." She sits up on the egg like it should have some sort of saddle and presses her paws against the shell. "Come on out and play with us, little couatl!"

Satoshi and Emielle fix their gazes on the egg as it moves in response to Daisy's coaxing. Although it seems to be taking care not to dislodge the kitten, quivers still course from top to bottom before a fissure cuts its way across the rough emerald surface. The crack grows in size, spreading and spiderwebbing in every direction until the entire shell is one big maze of fractures. Too late, Satoshi realizes what's about to happen and says, "I think you should get off of i--" Burst! Green shards erupt in every direction as Daisy's weight and the network of cracks combine to collapse the shell. But Daisy isn't sent crashing to earth. Rather, she'll find herself plopped onto the broad back of the newly hatched couatl, its head twisted around to regard her from deep golden eyes. A forked tongue flicks out to stroke the feline's cheek in greeting as its psionic mind pulses with pleasure and contentment.

Daisy can't help but to hug the sweet egg! It just feels so warm and comforting and... cracking? She looks down at that crack then up at Satoshi's warning. Yes. Too late indeed! "Whaaa!" Furry limbs latch onto that couatl. "What is this?!" She's never seen one of these before. That is a lie, kitten. You just saw one peek out of Satoshi's coat... cloak.. jacket. Oh gosh, picture Satoshi in a bomber jacket! So cute. Wait. Clothes! You saw a tiny one in Sato's clothes and now here's a fatty couatl that has picked you! Feline giggles bubble out of the druid when she is kissed. "Oh Satoshi! Isn't he beautiful?" She nuzzles under the creature's chin. "I love him."

Satoshi kneels down beside kitten and couatl, a hand resting on each of their heads--the one on Daisy's, to ruffle her hair, while the serpent gets a light stroke to the scaly nubs that will one day sprout a glorious crest of feathers. From the front of the kit's coat (Dami has dibs on the bomber jacket, sadly), Emielle slithers forward to give her newly hatched big little-brother a nuzzle of greeting. The pair of psionic snakes project wordless delight, at seeing each other, and knowing each of their kin has found the best partner for them. "He is the son of Emiur, so naturally he's beautiful~," Satoshi says with a smug smirk and nod. They might not be her offspring, but the magus is still quite proud of them. Still grinning, she looks toward the hatchling and adds, "You'll protect her, yes?" And to Daisy, "You'll teach him what it is to live, yes?" It is, after all, a lifelong partnership filled with give and take from both sides. Satoshi made a similar agreement to Emiur years ago, she fully intends to see it through with his young now.

Daisy is in such awe! Especially since this hatchling isn't all gross and slimy like things usually are when they come out of eggs. Behold! The power of ch-- No kitten. Just. No. She watches the siblings enjoy their meeting while leaning into that ruffling of her hair. Royal pettings! Everyone will be jealous. So jealous. "Teach him?" The kitten's eyes glaze over with that dreamy shimmer eyes get when something is loved already. "Oh I promise." The couatl is given a squeeze. "What should we name you, hm?" There is a short pause. "Mamoru." Cause it sounds like a good name for protecting.

Satoshi pats the large couatl once more. "Welcome, Mamoru. If there is a single pure thing in this world, you are with her now." The couatl's golden eyes are turned on Daisy then, reflecting the same awe as the kitten. From his mind come waves of happiness, heavy and slow like a beast waking from slumber, but no less potent for its sluggish state. Satoshi sits back in the snow then, allowing Emielle to slip out of the coat and wind her way over to her brother. As the little blue couatl twines her steady, haste-free way across Mamoru's scales, her mind-voice pipes up to inform Daisy of details she deems most vital, ~I am Emielle, fourth hatched of Emiur and Ling's clutch. Alahir is our eldest and noblest brother, in the care of the great and powerful wizard, Svilfon of the pointy, fire-proof, and irrefutably glorious hat, smiter of fierce dragons, knight defender of Frostmaw, and teacher of many mage students.~ Satoshi frowns slightly. Had Svilfon taught Emielle that rambling title, or had she created it herself? ~Our second hatched sibling is Kenway. He dutifully quests alongside the goodly knight Hildegarde. Pinquettki, our sister, hatched moments after Kenway, in her excitement,~ there's just a hint of disapproval in Emielle's voice here, for her sister's hasty decisions, ~to meet the supernatural seamstress, Iintahquohae. I imagine they will go on many adventures together, and will have as many tales to tell.~ Emielle sounds wistful at the thought, causing Satoshi to smile and reach out to scoop her p, before the tiny couatl starts twisting herself all over Daisy in exploration. "And this rambling little scholar is Emielle."

Daisy 's furry face hides that blush Satoshi pulls from the kitten's cheeks with that compliment. Luckily she is quickly distracted by the voice in her brain going on about creatures she doesn't know and people she does. Oh seamstresses have to be met, but that will happen one day. "She is sweet," Daisy purrs at the little couatl. "The information is helpful." She grins at Mamoru. "Right?" The fatty couatl flickers his tongue at Satoshi and then nods at Daisy before resting his chin in her lap. Daisy can only smile and pet her new friend down his back. "Thank you so much, Satoshi."

Satoshi shrugs. "Don't thank me. He chose you. They all chose, really. Funny thing about couatl," a soothing finger strokes Emielle's head, as the serpent reared up indignantly at there being anything 'funny' about her grand species, "they're aware from the eggs. Svilfon and I told them all sorts of things while they grew within, and thye each chose the person they wanted to be with, from what we said. Like their father, they're quite clever. I don't think they've chosen wrong~."

Daisy leans down to kiss her sweet Mamoru on the top of his head. "Maybe they choose, but would he even know me if you and Svilfon hadn't told him of me?" Thoughts of the dancing wizard makes the kitten smile. She does owe him another. And! They can have a sibling couatl playdate! One of her paws grazes over the wing nubbin. Oh no! "What is this?" She peers closer. The druid really doesn't know anything about couatls. Hopefully this goes well.

Satoshi tips forward to peer at what has Daisy's attention, concerned there might be something wrong with Mamoru after his lengthy incubation. Upon spying the nubs, however, the kit smiles in relief. "Oh, those are normal for the hatchlings. That's where their headcrests grow later on. They'll get tail feathers too. The only feathers they're born with are on the wings." She nods toward said rainbow-colored wings, still slick with egg-slime yet brilliantly hued beneath. Satoshi privately suspects couatl have their full wings at birth purely due to their innate vanity, because a barewinged serpent would look positively silly. And just a hint too ugly for their pride to handle.

Daisy 's lips part with the tiniest of gasps. Wings. Fly. Air. Up. Ohgod. She glances to the sky above them and then down at those wings. A towel is pulled from the kitten's bag, cause one must always know where their towel is, and used to gently wipe off that slime. "But..." You can do this, kitten. Voice steady. Don't shake. "I don't know how to fly," she whispers. Oh you know how to fly. You just don't much care for heights. Worried greens lift to look up at Satoshi. "What do I do?"

Satoshi leans over to Daisy to whisper in her ear in conspiratorial tones, "Just between us, the hatchlings don't know how to fly either. Not yet, at least." Throwing Daisy a wink, the magus settles back into the snow. She'd caught the look of worry on the kitten's face, but chosen to take a casual approach and tone, in hopes it serves to settle Daisy's nerves. "I can teach you, however, if you like? Being deputy commander of the Eyrie means I've got mounts aplenty of hand to give you lessons. It's wonderful, flying. You don't realize just how big the world is, until you can see it all below. And the clouds~. Ah, they're glorious! Did you know they're made of water, and not fluff? Their voices are similar to fog's~."

Daisy isn't very much calmed, but that is awful nice of the Queen to be so considerate. And kind. And pretty. And tailful. It's okay, kitten. Your tail is still cute. Sorta. Stop worrying about that! You have flying to learn about! It can't be so hard, right? Just listen to your friend go on about how lovely it is. You do like clouds, right? She nods. Right! So there you go. Flying with Satoshi will be fun. Then you can tell that werebear warlord where to stick it! "I will try." The druid smiles weakly. "Clouds can talk?"

Satoshi is oblivious to Daisy's internal conversation, although the inquisitive look Mamoru gives the kitten throughout suggests he's privy to her thoughts. Psionics. They're tricky things. Satoshi nods eagerly, "Oh yes, they can talk, if you know how to listen. Rivers, rain, fog, snow, ice. If it's a kin element, I can hear its song and sing to it in return~."

Daisy doesn't know anything about psionics or thought sharings or anything like that. Sure little Emielle popped in her head for a minute back there, but that doesn't mean anything. At any rate, she'll figure it out when that plump couatl gives her his first 'ah. yup'. Until then, her inner dialogue will just continue being ridiculous. Probably after then too. Not quite sure Daisy's crazy is going anywhere. "Kind of like the plants." She smiles, pleased to have found something to have in common with the royal figure.

Satoshi said to Daisy, "Ah! Yes! Druids have described to me how they hear the voices of plants. It sounds very much like how I hear waters and ice. Kirien says the earth sings to him in the same way. ...Yet, I've spoken to mages and mancers alike, who can't hear their elements' voices. I don't know how one can work closely beside and element, and never be able to speak with it. Seems rather hit and miss, non~?"

Daisy giggles at the Queen's sudden excitement. Not because she has it, but because they have it together! So it is not so much at her as it is with her. "I think they just don't know how to listen." Which really is the case for anyone trying to listen to anything.

Satoshi nods in agreement. "It's true. Too many are deaf to the land's numerous voices. More's the pity, but more's the songs you and I get to hear~." The kit flops backwards into the snow, half-tempted to make a snow angel as she glances toward Daisy. "I'll take you to hear the cloudsong. How many do you know, that can say they got to talk to the clouds~? Few outside the Eyrie, that's how many!" Satoshi grins then, closing her eyes and letting the drifting snowflakes land on her face in tiny, icy kisses. Emielle, watching the kit, cocks her head to one side. After a moment spent simply enjoying the snowfall, Satoshi speaks again, without opening her eyes, "I'd like to extend you an invitation into the Eyrie, Sundrop. You and Mamoru. It's something of a family to me, and I'd hope it could be the same to you both."

Daisy would like very much to hear the clouds sing. Maybe they can have a dance or two while they're at it. Stupid heights. Why you so scary? She looks over to tell the queen a such but can't. Why? Oh Satoshi doesn't have to make a snow angel. She already is one. So pretty. It's not wonder this woman is the queen. Kind and strong and smart and beautiful too. Ah, maybe Emielle will tell her mistress about the feline's thoughs later. Her ears perk up a bit when the question pulls her out of her daze. Family? How long has it been? Stupid broken promises. She doesn't pounce for once. Instead she crawls over and nuzzles under Satoshi's arm so her own can wrap around the woman's waist. "I would like that. A lot."

Satoshi's form stiffens at the contact initially, a tension born from recollections of when Aurelia had nuzzled into her side in much the same way. But Daisy is not Aurelia. That kitten is dead and gone, because Satoshi had failed to protect her. Without a word, the magus rests her hand atop Daisy's head and lets the tension melt away as swiftly as a snowball in Summer. Catching Emielle and Mamoru's eyes then, she allows a string of throught to trail to them simultaneously, ~We won't let that happen to her, will we?~ Both couatl nod. Even the Kraken Bloom responds, voicing a strange bubbling purr from where it lurks among the malanga.

Daisy enjoys the silent cuddles, deciding she should really do something nice for the queen. The garden doesn't count! Fixing gardens is druidly honor anyway. Though with all this protection, I fear for the lives of any who dare harm the kitten. She's got her own little army of protectors! "When I meet up with Snoozle again, I want to make a present for you." Does Satoshi even know about the stygian unicorn pony?

Satoshi's thoughts have drifted off with the snowflakes and are only partially called back by Daisy's words. Her voice, faint and slow, echoes her distant state of mind, "Hm? Snoozle?" Daisy won't find Satoshi refusing presents, of course. The kit loves gifts, earned or not!

Daisy smiles as she toys with a button on Satoshi's coat. Idle girlchat is rare, isn't it? There's always something trying to eat you or capture you or take over your kingdom. This is nice. "She is my stygian unicorn pony. She claimed me when Hector and I found the unicorns at the river Styx." She sits up and digs in her bag a little, looking for a specific trinket. "Maybe you can have it now." Looking towards the hedge, the kiten whistles, hoping Snoozle is near.

Satoshi flicks a curious gaze toward the kitten. "That sounds like quite the story, Sundrop. I'd thought Stygian unicorns are pure myth." A lie. She's never even heard of such a thing. She -has- heard of the river, mind you, but she'd always thought that was a myth too. And here Daisy is, claiming to have been there and found an unknown species of unicorn. How does the little druid manage such things?!

Daisy seems to get around quite a bit. Especially when a girl has crazy dryad friends like Hector. What fun that one is! If it weren't for Hector, Daisy would have never met Snoozle. Ah, there she is! Right there through the opening in that hedge trots Daisy's little pony. Stygian unicorn pony at that! "Come sit with us, Snoozle." The creature lowers her head and just stares at Satoshi and the couatls for a moment before hesitantly making her way across the garden. So pretty, isn't she? Daisy finds her trinket and pulls a tiny cork from the top with to claws. "Unicorns can heal." She mentions, as if everyone knows this sort of thing. "This particular one heals the undead." She smiles sweetly to Satoshi before petting a paw down Snoozle's back. "Be still for me, sweet Snoozle." And she is while the kitten swipes a claw over the unicorn's leg. It isn't deep. Just enough to make her bleed into the pendant. It only takes the unicorn one lick of the wound to seal herself back up. "There. Such a good girl." The pendant is recorked and handed over to the Queen. "For an emergency." Aww! Snoozle has her head in Daisy's bag and found an apple.

Daisy gave 1 carved amber daisy pendant to Satoshi.

Satoshi sits up and accepts the pendant with open palms, all the while unable to decide where she should be looking: at the healing object, or the magnificent unicorn pony. Both are unusual and wonderfully unique, but courtesy demands she focus on the gift. And so Satoshi lifts the pendant up to peer at it before throwing Daisy a lopsided, but perfectly sincere, grin. "I'll keep it close. Thank you." Means of healing the undead are rare, and treasured by a kit prone to injuries. Satoshi bows her head to the druid. "Thank you, truly, Sundrop. And you as well, Snoozle." After all, it was the unicorn's blood that gave the object its potency.

Daisy || Snoozle chomps noisily on the apple. Such bad manners! She'll swish her tail though, and nuzzle Satoshi's elbow. If any of us could speak unicorn, she'd be saying, "No worries." <3

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