ooc: set vaguely after the OH disband & challenge

something has happened with obsidian. he does not understand but after the challenge, he knows — he realizes — he does not want to stay there any longer. he'd spent far too long down in those dark, damp caves — hoping for a spark, a stroke of affection that would never, ever come. he'd been a burden from the start and he still was, and... he knew. a wound needed time to heal, and if he stayed, that hurt would only fester more until it was all-consuming. leaving the caverns for the last time is heart-wrenching in a way he didn't expect, but elijah knows exactly where he wants ( needs? ) to go.

a new start, he thinks.

he hopes.

gods, he hopes.

the way to @Gawain's home is easily remembered and he finds himself just on the cusp of the area gawain and naz have claimed for themselves. he feels strange to be stand here, uninvited; a guest loitering on their doorsteps. and it would be worse, he knew, because he came both empty-handed and in search of a favor. quietly he chuffs, a gentle rasp upon their door, as he sits to wait.

( and thinks, a little too late, that maybe he should've brought a rabbit for them to share. )

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Gawain heard @Elijah chuff and almost, almost second guessed their ears. Elijah was... here? He pulled himself up to his feet, gave himself a shake, and quickly made his way towards the other lion. He didn't want to leave him waiting, knowing his anxieties may take over and force him away. But, though he'd never admit it, that wasn't the only reason he was hurrying.

"Elijah!" he chirped excitedly, but slowed slightly at the sign of the lion. Somehow, this didn't feel like a social call. It had surprised them that Elijah had shown up, but now they were thinking of reasons he would be here, and the list didn't seem to be predominantly positive. "Elijah, is everything okay?" He looked over his companion's head, making sure no one was stalking him.

fortunately he is not kept waiting long, and he's glad for it — every moment that passes makes him feel stranger, sillier. @Gawain emerges from the shadows of the jungle and elijah alights to see him, answering his greeting with a quiet chirrup of his own. every meeting he has with this lion leaves him feeling soft and off-kilter; warm but unsure. their friendship was new and precarious, elijah knew, and the last thing he wanted was to press too far too soon. it was a fledgling plant that needed just a bit of extra care, and he hoped that gawain, too, was willing to cultivate it to flourish. still, he knows all that and still his heart skips a mild beat at the sight of gawain approaching, and it's all he can do to act... normal.

just a man, visiting a friend, right?

is everything okay? he pauses at that, tail swishing lightly at his ankles — and hopes, one day, that will not be the first question everyone asks him. let this be the healing, he tells himself and hopes it will be true. yes, i think so, he answers with a soft smile — ears tipping forward as he takes a small step closer to gawain. not close enough to cross the threshold onto his territory, but certainly enough to make his intentions clear. i hope you don't mind — i just wanted to come and see you, he admits, and ignores the way his cheeks flush at the admission, swallowing down his pride and pulling forth what little courage rattled around in his chest. i didn't think to bring you lunch, though. i'm sorry, he adds, pairing it with a sheepish smile, something soft that threatens to bloom into more. there is a question here he wants to ask, but it pales in comparison to simply... being here.

because if this was to be a new chapter of his life, then he wanted to enjoy every moment of it.

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I Promise You

I'll Keep You Safe

Gawain nearly bounced on his toes when @Elijah came into view, but he held himself back. He still hadn't worked out why he was always so excited to see him. Was this what having friends was like? Was it something more?

"You're always welcome here," came his immediate reply, and he almost surprised himself by how quickly those words tumbled out. They were true, of course, but the fact that he'd said them out loud like an excited cub, that surprised him. He tried to stay aware of any pride news that would impact his friend, but he hadn't heard yet of the hollow's fall. It wasn't as if there was a hornbill flying around with daily news every morning, though that might be nice.

At the mention of lunch, Gawain laughed. Elijah had really latched onto that hare. "Lunch was a gift, not an expectation," he replied with a smile. "Nothing to apologize for. There's plenty of food. Please, come on in."

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you’re always welcome here, is a phrase that elijah was.. certainly not expecting. it’s been said before, true, but it never hurts to hear it again. especially not for him, who often spends his time deluding himself into thinking he deserved little and less. still, he answers @Gawain's quick words with a smile — warm as it is quick, still strangely nervous for reasons he cannot quite grasp. instead he shoos those thoughts ( and feelings? ) away, and focuses only on this. he focuses on the warm, summer air — he focuses on the look on gawain’s face. and… that’s not really helping that nervous feeling at all. thank you, he murmurs — a polite, knee-jerk reaction, but there’s warmth there regardless.

a gift, he says, and elijah merely smiles. a gift he fully intends on repaying, but he keeps that quiet for now — not wanting to argue on such a beautiful day. instead he latches onto the second half of gawain’s offer. oh, am i going to get the full tour? he asks, and though he aims to pitch his voice into something close to teasing, it doesn’t quite hit the mark. because he’s visibly perking up — brows raising in excited anticipation, unable to hide that. if allowed in, he'd certainly follow in gawain's footsteps, eager to see the place he's picked as home. ( while he is not panicking, that is ).

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I Promise You

I'll Keep You Safe

"Of course," he purred in response to his friend's thanks. To say he wasn't used to having company was the understatement of the year, but it was definitely a nice surprise. "I told Nazonal that I hoped- that you might be stopping by soon, so we'll see if she wants to make an appearance." He flushed slightly, realizing he'd slipped up in their wording. Okay, yes, he had really been hoping he would come by soon. He... missed him. But was that something he could just say out loud?

Elijah's attempt at teasing made him laugh, something that seemed to be happening more and more these days. He didn't used to be such a jovial lion. "I'm afraid there's not all that much to see, but I'd be happy to show you around. And we can certainly go on a jungle tour together." That was an odd thing to offer. But the idea of spending more time with this lion just made him happy in a way he couldn't really explain. Besides, the jungle was about as far as you could get from the desert, and Elijah had said he hadn't really explored it yet. It could be fun! That was the kind of thing people did for fun, right?

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the small slip-up ( if you could even call it such a thing! ) is noticed, but disregarded. even if, of course, elijah quietly enjoys knowing that his presence was... not only welcomed, but hoped for. he smiles to hear it, and lets it linger — expression brightening. Oh, I hope she does! elijah says, gaze cutting towards the underbrush around them. As if expecting to see the little cub that he's heard so much about lurking just there. alas, the bushes seem empty for now but he isn't too terribly discouraged. the jungle was a big place, after all, and it's very likely that naz could be just around the corner from them.

@Gawain's laugh is warm though his words are humble, saying that this place was not much. elijah glances around them with a soft hum, considering. The jungle reminds him a little of the have he'd called home before the pits, but only because of the large amount of trees. aniadar was far more humid and there were strange snippets of bird-song ringing through the canopy — something more exotic than the sparrows he is used to. Still, he offers his companion a bright smile, nodding his head eagerly. Maybe bouncing a little on his paws, too, but he tries to keep his excitement subtle. nevermind the purr that rumbles from his throat, a soft melody vibrating in the air between them.

not much, hmm? he says, looking pointedly at the lush greenery all around them. it was like a masterpiece painting come to life; if gawain thought this was nothing, then he'd certainly forgotten the caverns where they'd met! i used to live in the caverns, remember? elijah says, turning his muzzle back to his friend with a smile. used to, he says, and it's freeing in a way he hadn't been expecting. anything that is not damp and dark seems like a paradise! his tone is a little teasing, but he means it — though he could be speaking of the hollows or the pits of darkstone. comparing the two was unfair and certainly unhealthy, but elijah is clearly glad to be free from the darkness of the hollows.

You should have come sooner, elijah chides himself silently, you would have been welcomed. It is.. an unexpected realization, but certainly a welcomed one. He isn't sure if it makes it easier or harder, but hopes he can make up for his tardiness. And, of course, the question weighing on the back of his tongue. after all, he didn't get to much enjoy this place the last time he'd been here — spiraling out after the raid on firnen. but this was the perfect time for starting anew, right? seeing the jungle through new eyes would certainly help that, a good first chapter.

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Gawain looked around a bit for Nazonal, but she didn't seem to be in the area. No matter, perhaps she'd pounce on his tail later to surprise him. "She's a good kid," he replied proudly. She was growing so fast, and he was immensely proud of them. He grinned at @Elijah's next words, ears flattening sheepishly. "Ah, you make a fair point. It is pretty great here. Though I must say, the night is dark, and the rain is damp, so don't get too excited." The last words were absolutely a joke. Compared to the caverns, the jungle was bright and absolutely beautiful. He loved the home he had made for himself and his family friends. Naz seemed to love it too, with the way she liked to sleep in the roots of the trees. It took a few moments for the 'used to' to process in Gawain's mind, but by that point, a curious glace would be wasted. So he let it sit on the back burner of his mind, content to think about other things, like how best to introduce his friend to the forest he had adopted as his own. This was home, after all.

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there's a real sense of pride in gawain's voice as he speaks of naz, and elijah's ears tilt to hear it. he... thinks he might understand. taking wisteria in and under his wing was... probably not the best idea ( for him or for her ), but the idea of leaving her alone was impossible. he thinks that @Gawain had stumbled into a similar situation with naz after rescuing them from darkstone — and it does him good to get that proud dad kind of look in his eyes. i can't wait to meet her, elijah says softly, understanding and excited in equal measure. perhaps they would bump into them on their tour, especially if it ventured by her favorite areas.

and if not, that was okay, too.

elijah did not want this to be his only visit, after all.

@Gawain smiles, open and easy, even as his ears duck backwards. sheepish is a strange expression but elijah enjoys it nonetheless — his own smile widening until they were a matching pair. don't make it sound so bad, elijah hums, chuckling quietly. it's almost like gawain wanted him to lower his expectations! as long as there is sunlight some of the time, i'm sure i'll love it, he continues with a stern nod — as if leaving no more room for arguments. all the greenery is a plus, too! he adds after a moment, attention wavering just for a brief few seconds — realizing, almost dreamily, that he could build a garden anywhere in this jungle. the ground was dirt and soil, after all, not slick stone.

attention shifting, he focuses on gawain as his ears pitch forward, clearly intent. his head tilts to the side, too, as if to say: well? he's clearly keen on this tour, even if it's just an excuse to spend more time in gawain's company, and a buffer for the question burning on his tongue. still he smiles, cheeky and warm, and it's clear that any impatience is exaggerated.

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"Well, forest rain is much better than the damp of the caves, and with all the stars and the moon, it's rarely truly dark." Yeah, alright, he was proud of this little paradise he'd found. It was way better than the caverns or the desert. It was beautiful and green and alive. Sure, sometimes the monkeys that Naz liked to chase dropped rotting fruit on him, but he was a predator, after all. He could hardly blame them. @Elijah's look pulled him back to task. "My den is this way, though... you've been there before." He smiled softly, remembering the night he had brought Eli back here after he'd had a panic attack. "Not sure quite how much you remember, it was very dark. I'll show you around." He started off towards the den, no doubt that Eli would follow. He paused for a moment, as if remembering something suddenly. "I should tell you, I've taken in another... refugee. His name is Phantom. He's a good kid, said he remembers you, seemed happy to know you were safe. He's staying nearby while he rests and recovers." He looked to Elijah, not entirely sure of how he would react to the news. Phantom's acquisition had been very recent. "He says he's fine, but he struggled to walk at first. Seems to be doing a bit better now, after food and rest." He really hoped this didn't sour the mood too much, but if the youngster still smelled like darkstone at all, he didn't want it to spook his friend.

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