Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

These lands were where Dubhán's scent had led him before he lost track of it on the sandy bridge between the mainland and this... island? He hadn't seen enough of it know for sure how or even if it ended on all sides, but the Geminus prince knew thst his brother must be here somewhere.

This was the longest the two had been separated, and like any Geminus twins they were practically each other's shadow since birth. Dubhán and he had eaten, slept, hunted and trained in tandem for so long that Darcia now felt as if he had two paws missing. Imbalanced. It was a mystery why Dubhán left to begin with, there and gone in the night like a ghost who knew how to cover his scent. Their parents were devastated, the family was devastated... He...

Darcia paused on the cold sands, inhaling slowly then exhaling with just as much speed. He would find him, bring him back home and everything would be fine again. For now, he just had to stay focused and keep his senses alert. There was much to be seen here even beyond combing for clues or signs of his wayward sibling, like the unique shade of the sand he was stood on. As dark as his own fur, flecked with icy foam at the edges from the sea beyond. He hadn't seen sand like this before, only the brown or gray granules that rested along riversides in the Sunless. It didn't help him any as a poor holder of prints, but it was at least an interesting sight.

A flicker of movement caught his eye, and the light press of something settling on his shoulder brought his eyes to the shimmering, violet form of Gentian perching upon it. At least he wasn't completely alone.

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Colby's eyes had almost slid straight over the still, inky form on the slate black sand. It had only been the turn of the youth's head and the flash of brilliant violet and white that had drawn the daydreamer to his senses as he ambled down the shore. Colby was vaguely aware it had been a bird perching, now he focused on this new face up ahead. Not any kind of bird that Colby had ever seen, admittedly, and he trudges closer with an easy, natural smile welling to his face.

"Cool parrot." he says, not with cruel intention, only interest. Parrots were often brightly coloured things, and so he makes his confident guess on this fact. A little closer, he's able to take in the details of the other lion's appearance. He had ears unlike Colby had ever seen and he realises he had been staring a beat too long. He ducks his head to diffuse any discomfort and huffs out a laugh. "I'm Colby. You from around here?" As a recent arrival he has little to compare to, easygoing curiosity getting the better of him.

@Darcia

Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

A man approached, pelt a soft shade of sand thst Dsrcia could say he'd scarcely seen in his homelands outside of travelers or the clan that resides near the edge of the Sunless where greener, lighter growth could be found. The boy had passed by several others on his journey away from home, but outside of a few questions regarding 'what was he' or something to that effect, most had strayed away from the Geminus heir.

Before the stranger could even speak, words began to swell in Darcia's chest; questions, questions and more questions. Had he seen someone who looked like him, around the same age? Did he know of any popular gathering points in the area? Was there anything particularly venomous that he should keep an eye out for? But he kept his jaws shut as instead, a question was tossed his way along with a... compliment? Maybe?

He felt Gentian shift with an offended sounding trill before lighting off once more, likely returning to his search for any useful herbs. Oof.

"He's a violet-backed starling," Darcia offered awkwardly, shrugging his now bare shoulders before clearing his throat and straightening. "And I'm not! From around here, I mean. Are you? I could really use some pointers if you are, I don't even know what this region is called." He was forgetting something wasn't he? But what- a ha! He was being rude. "I'm Darcia Geminus, prince of the Geminus Clan of the Sunless Stretch!"


@Colby

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

No outright aggression or stoicism was a welcome change for Colby. Strangers were often wary or generally suspicious of solitary travellers, which was a sad but unavoidable fact. Colby doesn't mind to be corrected as the yearling offers one, not when he is so pleased to have someone to talk to.

Was it him or had said starling sounded irritated as it alighted? Colby hadn't enough experience with birds to know for certain. "My bad!" he says affably, and pricks white-spotted ears to listen. His assumption had been wrong, but it is not a discovery that disappoints the paladin.

"Then we are fellow newcomers." Colby nods happily, pleased to find they had something in common. He isn't really expecting a title from the youth - @Darcia, he soon learns to be his name - and Colby quickly corrects his manners. "A prince!" he echoes, "Pardon my manners, young sir." and now he dips his head in a proper angle of bow. Home was far, but habits ran deep and Colby could not ignore the respect stature deserved.

"I'm afraid I don't know much about this region itself." he says with that same easy smile on his spotted face, "But I've done a lot of travelling, and priorities are always the same when you end up somewhere new. Shelter, food, water." None of which had had himself, admittedly. "You have any of those sorted?"

Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

The apology was met with a nod and another shrug from the boy, his lupine ears folding back briefly as he spoke.

"He'll get over it, prideful thing." As if he wasn't, too. Darcia lifted a paw in a light wave before lowering it back to the sandy turf, long claws tapping at the dark granules as the man revealed his own newness to the lands. A small part of Darcia deflated at that, disappointment in knowing he wouldn't be able to truly glean anything of use about the area. But, that could always be rectified later once he crossed more paths.

The stranger's show of deference with met with a smile, elongated fangs gleaming as Darcia chuckled and shook his head. "It's not a problem, I doubt the title means much outside of my homelands anyhow." It bothered him a little more than he would ever let on, knowing that his rank ultimately meant nothing to those who didn't know of him or his family, but the Geminus heir was not here to throw his weight around. He was here to find Dubhán. As for food, shelter and the like...

"Hm? Oh, don't worry yourself about me." Darcia flicked his twin tufts against the sand, shifting his weight slightly. "I'm resourceful when I have to be." In new lands with new resources, he'd had to be careful, but he could do it... right? Right.

@Colby

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Was the bird a pet, or a companion? Colby wonders to himself as watercolor eyes briefly track the soon-disappearing flight of the violet starling. He'd honestly never spoke to many creatures that were not feline by nature, lest he realise the prey he hunted were intelligent. Now was not the time to question the food chain, in his opinion. Colby doesn't press it.

"Titles are titles." Colby insists confidently, "You can be a lord wherever you wish if you have the certainty." Admittedly, from the order he came from ranks were often earned through loyalty and hardwork rather than birthright. Any squire could rise and swear fealty to the cause, after all. But Colby wasn't so ill-experienced that he wasn't willing to bow to royalty or differentiate the two. When he tried to think too hard on it it confused him. So 'respect your betters' it was because simplicity was far far more pleasant.

The breeze plays with his mane as Colby tilts his head. "Then you have a plan?" he follows up, an arch of his brow unintentionally betraying his disbelief. It's not that he didn't trust the words of the yearling, but he knew he wouldn't have had any clue what to do with himself at the dark lion's age. Colby couldn't help but pry. The tan lion was meaning to be helpful, not condescending.

@Darcia

Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

Right now, Darcia had very little certainty on anything, if he was being honest. This was the furthest he had been from home that he could think of, not counting several training exercises beyond the Sunless to practice his skills on terrain that couldn't be found in the sprawling forest. But those hadn't been on his own and had a set date for return home. This? This was a bunch of unknowns on every front. He dint know how long it would go or when he could return.

The boy shook his head to clear his thoughts of those grim whispers, making sure his lips were pulled into a carefree smile as he replied. "I see, I'll keep that in mind then."

A second prod at just how loose his plans are nearly topples that smile, but Darcia kept its presence firmly pinned upon his muzzle. His plan was simple, and everything else that he would need to do in between it and accomplishing his goal were secondary. He liked to think he was a resourceful kid, able to take hits and roll with them both physically and mentally. Thst should be enough to keep him going right? That and sheer force of will.

"Of sorts," he offered vaguely, flicking his tail tips back and forth. "Enough to get me started, but there's always room for flexibility, right? You can't Account for everything." Okay, enough of that. "What about you? Why have you come here?"


@Colby

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Colby is convinced by the smile, used to taking things at face value. He had no reason to suspect Darcia had anything less than a full plan of action, complete with cool slogan and backup-backup plans. But if he asked, then he had to think less about his own problems. The forever-encroaching 'when and where's my next meal' or, 'what's going to disturb my sleep this time'. Colby was not fully accustomed to rogue life, even his strict training. Maybe he shouldn't have daydreamed through so much.

"That's true." he agrees, but his easy joviality does falter a moment as he is asked of his own paths previous.

"I uhh," he muses, battling with the idea of lying but finding it too uncomfortable. "I was asked to leave my order." he decides to summarise. Unless Darcia really wanted to know the nitty gritty frustrations and displeasures of his ex knight's order, Colby would not sour what otherwise had been a pleasant meeting with his issues.

"I was a paladin, a guard. Now I'm... not. I guess." Oh-ho, that was so very complicated. Did you really stop being in service to a deity because some big-boots said so? But then had he even truly sworn to something in the first place? Colby had't really believed, but it had been simpler to pretend to in exchange for purpose.

Colby peers at the lapping waves on inky sand and shifts his weight from paw to paw. "Soooo mhm, that's me. Hoping things go better here, y'know?" He forces a smile but he can't quite make it reach his eyes. Sorry for the feelings dump buddy.

@Darcia

Make my messes matter
Make this chaos count

Asked to leave? Darcia can only assume that the man's "Order" is some sort of group, a notion confirmed as @Colby mentions a past rank held that was now lost to him. So this was a forsaken guard cast to the winds, but what exactly had he done that was so heinous to warrant expulsion?

"Oh, that must, uh, be hard to lose a purpose like that," the boy offers, surprised by how freely the words were offered up. Darcia's first and most dramatic thought was murder most foul, he'd killed someone he wasn't supposed to or committed some other unforgivable and blood drenched sin. He always had been told to keep his wits about those who were too friendly without any reason to be. Was that awkward show of teeth at the end of his explanation genuine or a slasher's smile? He just didn't know.

The rational, less fatalistic part of him that was actively being shushed figured it was likely something more boring like an injury or illness forcing him to retire or a more political matter. But murder was more exciting.

"I know what its like to have your entire world turned upside down," Darcia continued, unintentionally squaring his shoulders as he was reminded of his own purpose and goal for leaving his woodland home. "I wish you luck finding something to strive for here, though."

Let every little fracture
In me shatter out loud

_{BG — ART — CODE}

Colby was oft an open book; but admittedly he worried he had gone overboard upon reading the yearling’s expression. But easily it was a relief to share the burden he’d carried for many months now, burning a hole in his chest like a brand.

"It was." he confirms with a soft exhale, tail tip swinging as he reminisces a moment too long, watercolor eyes hazy. He doesn’t know of the measurable leap @Darcia has taken with his imagination. Did he even miss home, anyway? Wasn’t it just better to be out here, doing what he wanted, whenever he wanted?

"You’ve experienced something similar?" he echoes a question to Darcia’s connection, and Colby’s brow creases empathetically. "Changes comes for us all, doesn’t it." He’s not nihilistic with that comment, more contemplative. Change could be good, even if it was intimidating. It was touching to hear the well-wishes, added. He bows his head gratefully. "Yeah, you too. Gotta keep on going and see where it takes you."