Searching Around [End]

[Tigeress]

Finally! She had managed to get away from that prodding, poking foster parent of hers. For someone so big, she seemed shocked that Astyana was so small. That, or she was just realizing that children existed. Syraelia was fond of her in her own way, this she could tell, but the femme obviously hadn't expected what raising a child would be like. Especially one that wasn't even her own!

She was a little overprotective, and fawned over her to the point of annoyance once or twice (in Astyana's humble opinion), but overall she wasn't that bad. However, Yana was determined to gain her independance at a young age, and so had begged and pleaded to be let out alone for a while. She'd gotten a close enough response, Syraelia had taken her to the city, she'd apparently met many pleasant others in this place, and so she felt safe letting the little one wander around while she was only a few steps behind.

Try as she might, however, Yana couldn't seem to lengthen the distance between them, and so let out a frustrated 'harrumph'. Which must have looked adorably hilarious coming from the small deer. It was a little concerning that she was the only little one around, all the big legs jogging past her giving her a fright on occasion. Syraelia was bigger than most of them, especially in her bipedal form which she was in now, in case she had to pick up the little one and get her out of harm's way.

She would have one of those someday. They looked fun, and it would be nice to be bigger than everyone else. Astyana was a small child with big aspirations, she would be the Queen of Spades someday, and that's just how it was going to be. She'd show that bag of hot air she'd been given to how a Real ruler acted. Man that old fart had grated on her nerves. She was convinced to give the higher-ups a good name, and shame those like little mr.princess. Though, she was a little envious of his pretty things...

But there were more important things in life, of course. Syraelia told her this often, though she didn't know why it seemed like such a bad thing to want to get ahead. Surely she was aware that Astyana would give her pretty things when she was queen, she wasn't selfish after all. Not really, anyway.

[FlyingPanther]

Silvanus and Igal had set off into the city once again. Silvanus was still trying to finish his commission, trying to find the most perfect gems at a reasonible price to fashion onto the rings. He was having a horrible time. He had visited the palace to try and see if the jewellers there knew any place where he could get nicely priced gems that the uppers would see fit to wear, when all of a sudden he had encountered Igal and the other parentless children. That day he had left with a child, and not with the information he needed. Needless to say, Silvanus looked slightly ill and very nervous as he looked through the jeweller district for what he needed.

Igal was trying to be good. But he couldn't help but be completely bored. This wasn't exactly a fun outing for a young child, but Silvanus insisted that he be by his side at all times. He could have easily stayed at Silvanus' friends house, where they both stayed together while he attempted to finish his project before the Queen would take him away from him. Igal didn't exactly care for Silvanus, indeed the man was more like a stranger nice enough to let him into his life and teach him a few things before he reached adulthood, but he certainly didn't want to loose the closest thing to a parent he had. He already lost a pair, he didn't need to loose another.

The young mix breed sighed slightly, and Silvanus gave him a look that clearly was suppose to be an apology. "Well, what about that one?" the boy said pointing to a particularly beautiful blue gem. Silvanus smiled as the child attempted to help him, not realizing that he really just wanted to hurry up and get home. "It's pretty isn't it? No, the Queen probably wont want something blue. Red is more appropriate. Or maybe some sort of yellow topaz...but Red is better." Silvanus noded to himself more then the child, picking through the stores and the rocks once more.

Igal grew tired of walking around with an anxious parental figure, and at his next chance, decided to bolt. When Silvanus wasn't looking, the little Selkie Lake-ian ran away. Igal wasn't worried, though he knew his Foster Parent would be, because he knew where to find him. Silvanus would be at the Jeweller District for much longer before he realized Igal was gone. The realization didn't upset Igal...Silvanus certainly had good reason to be worried. Besides...he only took Igal because he was the last baby left....

It wasn't long before in the distance he could see...yes...one of the other babies from the baskets, and the lady who had gladly taken her. She thought that lady odd, and was glad that she hadn't picked him...but then again...she was probably thinking the same thing about him. Igal had been to tramatized by the events of everything to really have gotten to know any of the other children in his same prodicament...but he decided to go over and have a little chat. At least, it wouldn't be as boring as looking at gems all day long....right?

"Hey." He said lamely, and in his usual monotone voice to the small doe who he knew from his basket.

[Tigeress]

Astyana and Igal were a lot alike, in the fact that they felt strange with their adoptive parents, though appreciative for their support. And... the eagerness to be on their own, though, that was more of a general child thing. Syraelia wasn't aware of this however, and so in stopping to admire some wares being sold, she couldn't have expected that Astyana would dash off in the other direction, as far as she could get.

This direction just happened to be the one that Igal was travelling as well. Luckily for her. She loved being on her own, but she tended to get scared if she couldn't find a familiar face in a little while. Something she would overcome with age, surely. She spotted Igal a ways away, instantly remembering him as one of her basket-mates. More than that, he was a familiar face, and so she eagerly pranced over just in time to hear his comment.

"Hey." She chimed back, warmly. He sounded either very depressed or very bored, and she was far too eager to know which one. His parent had seemed more like the one she would have liked, if only because he was a deer like she, and that might have been a little more comforting than a big bondage kitty. Though, she knew how to keep Astyana in good spirits, so that was nice. She often got homesick, and parentsick... a term she had recently coined.

"Where's your.. erm... what's his name?" She didn't know whether the young male would like his adoptive father to be called his parent, or father, as she didn't really know if she considered Syraelia her mother really. Not that it would have offended her if someone addressed her as such (though it might have made Syraelia a little snarky), but better to avoid stepping on toes. If only because she liked this male the most out of their batch. The others were either really weird or annoyingly sad all the time. And he was a Jack, like her.

Finally noticing the absence of Astyana, Syraelia began rapidly scanning the immediate area, a large knot forming in her stomach. Oh yes, this was a great way to start her parenting experience. Luckily, she spotted a familiar form, one she had seen claiming a child from the basket not long after she had... but where was his? Maybe Astyana had met him and he was allowing the kids to play somewhere... though he didn't seem to be keeping an eye on them if they were, which was strange. She made her approach quickly, stopping a moment only in sheer embarassment. 'Hello there, have you seen my missing kid?' She mentally sighed to herself and tapped him on the shoulder politely.

"Excuse me, I don't know if you remember me, we adopted kids from the basket at the palace there? Yes, I ah... don't suppose you've seen Astyana- the girl I picked up? She managed to sneak off.... again..." Embarassment registered on her features full-flushed, her hands fidgeting with the cuffs that bound them, not even remotely concerned with the stares she may have been getting. She tended to be more... noticeable in bipedal form.

[FlyingPanther]

Igal noticed that the small doe approaching seemed alot different from when he first met her in the basket. Such a short amount of time, and she already seemed to be cheerier. Perhaps it was the foster parent she recieved. At any rate, something was a little odd to him. Maybe it was the fact that she seemed so energetic despite the fact that she was from the Forest of Kahmden, a region known for their...dispassionate residents. Or at least, this was what he had been told. He internally laughed, maybe they had switched region personalities while in the basket.

He however, had a true reason for being dispassionate as he was. Who would be passionate about life when the very people that gave it to you decided you were an abomination? Decided you were not fit to keep...simply because you didn't look the way they hoped you would. He knew of the fates of the other basket children's parents...only because it smelled so thickly upon the creature who had collected them...but he was different. He had just been...unwanted. He had been the last picked as well....and almost felt like Silvanus had just taken him out of pity, or something else.

Silvanus was a good parent in the 'taking care of' aspect as well as moral influence asepcts...Igal could appreciate him for that...but he couldn't feel love from his new foster 'Father'. He didn't blame Silvanus either...after all, he wasn't his blood kid. He did appreciate the care that Silvanus gave him, and once he took his place in adulthood as a Jack he would have to find a way to repay him...but that was all. Just a caretaker in his eyes. "Silvanus? He's off in the Jeweller District somewhere....He was commissioned by the Queen of Hearts himself...and he's been rather stressed over it. We have been visiting that area of the market frequently." again his monotone voice rang out, though...possibly more monotone then usual...indicating that he had been extremely bored by the visits to the Jeweller's District. Really, every young child would be! Though through his words one might not consider Igal much of a child. It seems his expriences grew him slightly.

"So what did your lady end up naming you? And for that matter, where is she?" he asked, realizing that her adult also was nowhere to be seen. Igal had not had a name before meeting Silvanus, as his parents just dumped him, and didn't bother...he wondered vaguely if any of the other children had names...or if they hadn't even gotten their name before this had happened to them all.

---

As Silvanus was searching through yellow gems to possibly accent the red ones he would be trying to find at a later date (the market seemed truely absent of marvelous rubies) he was approached by a familiar face. He squinted slightly, trying to remember who she was, and where he remembered seeing her. His eyes opened and he gave a small smile depsite her worried look when he remembered he hadn't really met her, but she had been one of the other parents to take a child the day he took Igal. She had taken that very cute little doe.

It seemed she had lost her kid, Astyana. Silvanus' smile flattered slightly as he answered her. "Ah, yes...I do remember you vaguely." he said taking her in slightly. He figured it would be good to truely remember the other parents, who knew if Igal had grown attached to any of his basketmates and would want to see them again? He sighed mentally however, between Corvistowne-ians and Torquehelm-ians, he was sure meeting the odder bunch of females lately. It certainly wasn't the females fault, it was more a character flaw in himself, he realized. He just...didn't feel comfortible infront of...odd...people. Silvanus hid his inner thoughts wonderfully though, as he always did. He would truely hate himself if he made someone feel terrible just because of his own flaws.

"I'm afraid I haven't seen your little doe...but Igal and I will look for her..." He was about to say "Won't we Igal?" when he looked down and realized he was childless to. He looked back up to her...his face a mixture of pale white fear and complete red embarrassment. "It seems....we are in a similar predicament...." he said a little to calmly...as if he was trying not to freak out. This was the first time Igal had run away from him...or been taken...or...gods...why hadn't he been paying attention? He scratched the back of his neck, his trademark nervous twitch, before taking a deep breath to try and calm himself before smiling at the female. "I'm Silvanus...perhaps we should both go look for our renegade children...erm...?" The 'erm' was more of a question as to the female's own name more then anything else. He was not trying to be rude by any means...but time was of the essence...and his usual formal greetings wouldn't do for now.

[Tigeress]

It was true, Astyana was a little more... chipper at the moment, however, this was mostly because for one- she was starting to grow a little concerned that she might get lost, and the arrival of Igal had eased that fear considerably (now at least if she got lost, she wouldn't be alone again... she didn't like that very much), and for another- after her fear of getting lost was relieved, the excitement of being on her own began to sink in. She had an impish nature to her when in a situation she particularily enjoyed not common to one from her realm.

Then again, she hadn't even grown up there. She grew up around a rather unusual Torquehelm-ian, bright and saucy where she should have been downcast and apathetic towards life in general. It had rubbed off on the little doe a bit, especially with how Syraelia always reassured her that it was best to see the silver lining and look on the bright side of life and all that stuff. She figured the reason for Igal's unusual downcast nature was similar, unless his foster parent happened to come from the same realm, allowing him to grow up in the realm of his birth. Not that she knew much about how creatures from certain realms were "supposed" to act, she only knew what Syraelia had told her about those from Torquehelm and Forest of Kahmden, and knowing how she was "supposed" to act really only served to confuse her. So she settled with ignoring it, and acting as she would, which suited her quite well.

She could tell from his tone that he felt similar to her about his... parent, which made things easier for conversation's sake. The last thing she wanted was to sound distant or unappreciative and have one of the other kids talk down to her about how fortunate she should feel. She felt fortunate, fortunate that she found someone compatible with her who didn't get on her nerves and was reasonably.... adult-ish (a.k.a NOT a bag of annoying hot air like a certain someone she had met...), and was not creepy or weird (like a certain other tall, red-eyed someone she'd met). "Oh... huh. Want to go explore?" Being the equivalent of a human child, a very young one at that, she didn't have a very fanct way of speaking or extensive knowledge of how to carry on an 'adult' conversation, and tended to want to play more than anything. She had grown up faster than the average kid with what she'd been through, but she was still a predictable child with a rather one-track mind. Though, the thought of being queen had crossed her mind more than one... having shiny pretty things... still a rather child-like motive to obtain power.

"Astyana. She told me why, but I forget. I ah... kind of ran off, back there somewhere I guess." She pointed behind her in a very vague direction, obviously not too concerned with where she had gone now that she had another companion who had (hopefully) more exciting interests. Looking around curiously, she couldn't spot anything of immediate interest that she wanted to investigate, so was content with letting the... rat...dog...boy... thing make the next move. Truth be told, she thought he was a little weird, being a mix of two different animals, but she had enough sense to know that saying something like that out loud would quickly end her up alone again.

-----------------------

She could see the confusion in his eyes, and knew that he probably remembered little more than a vague image of what she looked like, though, that was all she'd remembered of him. She had just managed to find a way around asking for his name right away and seeming even more rude than she had been, just walking up and bothering him like that. His attempts at making it seem as if he remembered her were appreciated, though it was evident when he realized who she was, and that he didn't really know her. She couldn't help but give a small, appreciative smile. "Vaguely, I understand. We didn't really stick around long."

He seemed like a rather prim and proper member of society, though he was only a 5 like she was, he was a Heart... which was naturally above her simply because of his suit. Other than that they were equals... except she was bound and chained for the sake of lifting a curse on her realm, something she desperately hoped for every day because of her past. Touchy thing, that. This seemed like one who had a rather... cushiony life, simply from his calm, casual awkwardness around someone like her. He reminded her a lot of Astyana, especially when she'd first received the little one. It had taken her a week to get her to stop hiding under the couch whenever she came into the room. Now she tolerated her, and from the running away, she could tell that tolerance only lasted a while.

Her personal embarassment was quickly swallowed up by concern and sudden nervousness catching up with her again as she watched him very carefully try and keep his composure. "Yes, it does... but at least it could mean they're together?" Anything was better than the thought of Astyana being in unfamiliar territoty, on her own, with nobody to show her around. She felt incredibly foolish and careless to have taken her eyed off the young doe, but the thought still existed that Yana really didn't have any interest in what she did... or being near her for very long. Being a parent was very... dissapointing sometimes.

"Syraelia. Yes, I'm sure they didn't get far. Astyana does this sometimes... she doesn't like being alone though for understandable reasons, so I'm feeling confident she's with your son, Igal." Or... god, what if someone had taken them and lead them into believing they were safe with this twisted stranger? No, Astyana would know better... right? She had a picky preference for those she liked, and passively disliked much. This was usually enough to keep her out of trouble, but there were some convincing criminals out there... Keeping calm was a good idea though, think of the best. Surely things were fine, she'd just wandered off.

"Where should we start?"

[Vyn]

(The concept of a twisted stranger finding the kiddos first really tempts me to have Ophelia find the kids. >_> [cough] On that note, would you guys mind if I joined in~?)

[Tigeress]

[XDD I <3 you Vyn-luff, and I'm totally cool with you joining, so long as FP is (which I'm pretty sure she will be <3)]

[Vyn]

Ophelia simply couldn't help but think someone had gotten bored and loosed a herd of orphans upon the Capital City.

While she was not at all aware of how close her beliefs were, she had wandered into yet another unattended child. Not just one, either, but two. Slowly she brought back to mind a vague announcement she'd heard recently of five little ones being given new homes. Pravus, a fiesty kitten she'd taken a shine to, had been one of them and these two...they must have been as well. Which also must've meant the little ones had guardians nearby as well.

The sight of the fascinating little ones almost left Ophelia wishing she'd taken a closer look at those baskets. Ah well, early bird got the worm and all that. Shrugging her shoulders, however that was possible for a deer such as herself, Ophelia strode smoothly forward and flashed a trademark grin in their directions.

"Not lost, are we?"

She cheerfully hissed out, an odd combination of sounds to be sure but a decidedly suiting one for any who knew the ever unusual Ophelia.

[FlyingPanther]

Igal tilted his head ever so slightly at the doe, whose mind seemed to be all over the place, at least to him. Or maybe he just couldn't understand that she was still a child, that HE was still a child, and it was normal for them to have thoughts that strayed or ideas or questions that didn't nessesarily have to do with the conversation at hand. Children where suppose to want to explore and play, but truth be told, Igal knew very little of how a child was suppose to act, let alone know that children were usually more active and rambunctious then adults. Running away from Silvanus had been slightly out of character in that way. Maybe there was still some hope for a childhood for him?

"That's a pretty name...Astyana. I was not so lucky with my own...but I suppose, boys aren't suppose to have pretty names. Unless maybe you're Silvanus..." he was soon confused by the point he was trying to make....How could Silvanus have a pretty name if he was a boy? He guess some people just got lucky...and that they could pull off names that were like that. Igal felt slightly awkward, as he could never pull off such a pretty name like Silvanus. No....he was truely Igal. Ugly...rat-like yet not completely...Igal. The only thing that truely saved his looks was his region. Maybe if he had looked different, or rather, had been a different breed he could have pulled off a beautiful name...but no. He shook his head mentally and continued to speak.

"Ah...you ran away as well? Silvanus was getting a little to boring looking for the perfect stupid rock for His Majesty." again monotone, but now with a hint of annoyance. Why should that bastard be rewarded anyway? What did he do to deserve such attention? He had sent 5 kids off to whatever fate befell them, including himself and Astyana. He had no love for the Queen. But then again, he didn't really think Silvanus did either. The only reason that anyone cared to please the Queen was because of the consequences that would occur if they didn't. The Queen ruled through fear. Igal took comfort in the fact he was not of the Queen's court...and that a regime like that could never last for long....revolts would always threaten the Queen...no matter how hard he tried to supress it with more fear. Igal sighed mentally...how did he know these things? Why couldn't he just be....free...and careless as Astyana? He was slightly envious...or...maybe...greatly.

At the invitation to explore he cocked his head even more. There really wasn't anything in this area he wasn't familiar with...as Silvanus had taken him here on numberous occations. But just as he was about to reply with a yes, and to ask the question of where she would like to go, a strange Corvistowne-ian approached. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly, as he looked at the doe. She seemed awefully familiar...maybe she had been one of the adults who was looking to adopt? No...it was something more....he had heard of her, probably from Silvanus. "Lost is not the word I'd use to discribe ourselves," he said in his emotionless...to old sounding to be a child, like voice and vocabulary before he continued to ask, "Are you Ophelia? I heard about you from Silvanus, he says you are a friend." though honestly, with the last bit, Igal couldn't help but give a skeptical look.

---

What the Torquehelm feline didn't realize was just how much of equals they actually were. Heart or no, he was still a five, and the Heart only gave him that small leg up. He had been fortunate to have been born with an anthro form, like she...otherwise...she might have been the one with the bigger leg-up. His life was also far from cushiony, though he really didn't complain. He was happy to be a roving man, but he had needed to borrow a room at his friends home in which he could raise Igal in. While Silvanus might be the one who loved to move from place to place without any real home to call his own, he knew that this was not proper for a growing child, espeically one that had been abandoned like Igal. What Igal needed was a stable enviornment, one which he had been trying very hard to give him, though not really succeeding completely. Another thing to add to his stress levels. Though none of that mattered at the moment.

The boy was missing, and from what she had told him, so was her young doe. "I would certainly prefer to believe that our two young ones are together rather then...flitting around alone, Yes." he admited out loud to them both. He could tell she was really hoping the same thing as him. How horrible would it be to find one and not the other...and with only so many more hours in the day left, this was truely a nightmare. Silvanus began to slowly realize that he needed the boy probably more then the boy needed him. For selfish reasons no less. What a disappointement he was beginning to be to himself, when he had never really felt that way before at all. But that was something he needed to put asside. Secrets could not be told, never, not to anyone...and certainly not to this female he barely knew.

"A pleasure to make your aquaintence, Syraelia. And yes, let us go find Igal and your little girl...Maybe some midpoint between where you where and where I am...They can't have gotten to far..." He wiggled his little deer tail with determination, and with or without the female, slung his brown leather sack over a sholder and headed towards where he had said they should start looking.

[Tigeress]

It was strange, how he seemed so torn between worlds. In his eyes was a dim glimmer of childlike innocense, but it was tarnished by too many hardships in such a small span of time. She knew that look, she knew it lay in her eyes as well. The thought made her sight, her mood dampening for only a moment. This was what Syraelia had told her about, that feeling of hopelessness... she said it could consume a person faster than they could have ever imagined and then eventually there was a point of no return. She didn't want to reach that point, she had a feeling it lead to something bad. So instead she tried to focus on a new idea, starting fresh. This was her life now, everything else was just a bad dream. She held onto this escape for now until she could face it all later.

Whatever he had chosen to ease the pain seemed to only remind him of it worse. She felt she should make him feel better, but she didn't know what to say. Instead, she perked immensely when complimented on her name. Not that she'd had a choice in the matter, but if it was pretty, then she would be proud of it. "Thank you... yeah that's kind of weird... maybe he wants to be a girl?" She honestly couldn't fathom why he would want a pretty name, unless he wanted to be pretty... like a girl. Then again, Astyana's reasonings tended to be Very simple.

"What's your name?" She couldn't remember him saying his own, only that he didn't like it very much. She hoped Silvanus hadn't given him a silly girly name, that would be weird, but then again... she didn't really know what a guy name should sound like. She'd... never really met any until Igal. Syraelia had two feline friends she spoke of from time to time that hung around the city, but she'd never met them yet. Apparently they worked often in different places, so it tended to be very hit and miss. Boys didn't seem so bad, Igal was interesting enough in her opinion.

"You mean His Buttheadedness." She snorted, pausing only a moment to double back in her memory and make sure she hadn't imagined the irritation she'd heard in his voice. It would be bad indeed to insult the Queen of Hearts around the wrong people, people who actually liked him... somehow. For some strange reason. "Does Silvanus actually like that bag of hot air?" She leaned in, whispering it with evident distaste and shock. She didn't notice his envy of her self obtained freedom, possibly because she didn't understand how anyone would want to live a life they didn't enjoy. Her head had little focus in how politics worked, she only knew that someday she would learn.

"I want to be the Queen of Spades some day, you know." She said, smirking a little with mischief in her eyes. Somehow it seemed like it should be something secretive... as if it was a bad thing to do, even though it wasn't. Her mischief was taken away by the arrival of a stranger, however, caution quickly taking the place of excitement. Syraelia had been very careful to warn her about... certain types of creatures who were not very kind. She puffed out her chest defiantly, as much as she could, but said nothing. Igal seemed to know what he was doing... she hoped.

----------------------------

She was curious about this stranger, only because she saw a lot of her own emotion reflected in his expressions. Perhaps raising a child had been... different than he'd been expecting as well? Normally one to openly stike up a personal conversation (she had little to hide, and expected that others would share their stories eventually, or tell her to kindly leave it alone... which she didn't mind), she understood this was neither the time nor the place, and there were much more important things at hand.

She, like he, though she didn't know that, was much of a roamer. She had one little place to call home that... wasn't much at all, really, but had learned over time how to live off of very little. This wouldn't do for Astyana who was too pleased by beautiful, nice things, but she couldn't really offer much from her position in life. It saddened her, but she knew of the little doe's ambition, and had a strange feeling that someday she wouldn't need to rely on Syraelia for anything.

Nodding her agreement and understanding, she tried not to think of the bad things that could be happening. Somehow she had a feeling that Silvanus was thinking the same, and it was oddly comforting. She wasn't a paranoid parent after all, she was just... a concerned one. Maybe this meant she knew how to care for the doe after all. So long as she could keep the girl in sight... "I am pleased to meet you as well, Silvanus. That's what I was thinking also." A step behind as he set out, she quickly moved up to his side and began scanning the area as far as she could make out.