"Lolly, look over there!" Bonnet exclaimed, pointing with a small paw in the direction of what looked like the mouth of a large cave, crystals spanning its insides and making the darkness appear not quite as intimidating as it might have to the mute fox. Lolbit hesitated for a moment and Bonnet must have sensed their indecision. "Look, Lolly, this isn't the sister location. We're out, we're free. Besides, those crystals are really pretty. We can take one of them with us before we start looking for a place to stay." Bonnet's tone was reassuring and proved enough to convince her wary friend. They nodded slightly in return and moved into the cave, careful not to disturb any creatures that might lurk inside of this place. Eventually the two of them came to a clear pool in the middle of the cave, illuminated by more of the pretty glowing crystals surrounding them. Lolbit glanced down at the water and tilted their head, an ear twitching slightly. Was it their imagination, or was there something in there with them being reflected by that water...? Bonnet tapped the fox's shoulder. "Lolly." Her voice was hushed. "Turn around." They weren't as alone as they believed. --------------- Looking for basically anything on Lolbit's creature wishlist~
Up against one side of the 'cavern' - the Veiled Shrine was certainly enjoying itself this time - beneath an outcropping of those same crystals that the pair had been contemplating collecting were two...horses? At least at first pass they might've been mistaken for horses. Certainly they had equine traits. But when the crystal's light glinted off of scaled hides, sharp fangs, whip-like tails tipped with a scythe, jagged figurehead horns like crystals themselves, and dexterous, clawed paws instead of hooves well...
Mistake clearly defined. Those more familiar with Teragaian fauna would be able to identify both as Caradras!
They weren't small creatures either. Huddled together, the larger was gray in color and had his neck laying proactively over the darker, smaller one. They appeared to be asleep but at Bonnet's pointing them out he raised his head, shaking aside a lock of white hair decorated by a green feather, then stood with wings spreading; standing he had to be seven feet at the shoulder at least!
I'll only warn you once, he threatened in a weary, rough Mindvoice as the other stirred and lifted her head. I may be tired but I can most certainly still fight!
Wait, she implored the other, standing. He flicked an ear towards her but kept his eyes on the pair. Her eyes were also on Bonnet and Lolbit, or to be more precise Lolbit, with an expression of dawning recognition. It was a moment before she spoke again. We don't need to fear them. Something in her tone made the male regard her knowingly, if surprised.
You've seen them.
This one, she answered, approaching Lolbit. I know this one. My mate, we are finally safe. The male's wings folded, readily accepting her words and together they approached Lolbit, lowering their heads in a gesture of allegiance.
If my mate says it is true, he announced, then it must be so. You are now leader of our Legion. We will follow wherever you lead.
Bond! What I Hold in my Mind I Can Create Male Silinrul Caradras and Glimpse of What May Be Female Byrren Caradras to Lolbit!
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What I Hold in my Mind I Can Create Male Silinrul Caradras
Mindspeech: Bold #6f94bd
Hunters, foragers, miners, traders, crafters. The Silinrul rank of Caradras is whatever their Legion need them to do to keep the war machine rolling along. They are expected to be quite talented.
So what happens when one is talented in a way that others have yet to be?
During his grand melee when all Caradras earn their rank in the Legion something unprecedented happened: a young colt who had been found as a wandering orphan literally made something from nothing. It wasn't major, a wall of stone to block an attack and certainly something a Melaer might have accomplished but it was noteworthy regardless, especially as he seemed unable to conjure fire or heal as the magician rank is known to do. When the dust settled and discussions had been had it was decided that I Can Create would be a Silinrul, a crafter in his case more than anything though he's learned since then to be a diplomatic trader if needed.
I Can Create's power is something he had to learn mostly on his own through trial and sometimes costly error. He can, if he has a clear enough mental image of an object, create it seemingly from nothing. The complexity of the object is less of an issue; he can create a delicate statue as easily as a block and as easily as a bridge, if it may tire him and give him a headache, blurry vision, or body aches. The smaller the object and the more commonplace the material, the easier and less exhausting it is however as it is if he has raw material to work from. Things of wood, earth, or stone are among the easiest, while metals are much harder and he will never, ever try to create anything of gold; after an attempt at making a small coin of gold that nearly killed him he understands it would prove fatal. Creating food or anything to drink more than water is possibleand consumable, but never very tasty.
He's learned to do the opposite as well, mentally picturing something removed or altered such as flattening an upraised mound of earth or removing mortar from bricks. I Can Create trains both his powers and his body to make his gifts stronger. Should he be seen wobbling on his feet, his eyes bloodshot or squinting, or if his Mindspeech slurs it's a clear sigh he's pushed himself too far and needs food, cool water, and rest. When I Can Create uses his powers in large displays there is often a chill left behind, even frost or snow if it is grand enough. Thankfully this cold is most mundane and will fade with time and warmth.
Perhaps as a balancing to this power, I Can Create cannot use the telekinesis his kind are known for, and can only create fire if he either creates something like oil onto an existing flame or something like a hot coal or needle onto an flammable source, or creates both himself.
I Can Create is a very goal-orientated Caradras, and very loyal to both Lolbit as the leader of his Legion, as it were, and to his mate, What May Be. He carries himself as humble and subservient, offering advice and obeying orders as the situation dictates, always using his powers for the good of his Legion even if the exact means aren't strictly what was asked; his methods are often unorthodox if efficient. When he must work against another it's often done in such a way that when the final blow falls none sees it coming and there is little more than vague suspicion to link him to the event, and next to none to link Lolbit. After all that's happened in his life he fully understands that his best odds of survival, and that of What May Be, are with someone who not only understands them but accepts them - with Lolbit - and he will see no danger threaten either. Despite all this, all the hardships and trials in his early life, he maintains a sense of humor and will playfully tease his mate (to her replies of how he boarders on disrespect) and laugh and joke with trusted friends and family.
Physically I Can Create looks much as every other Caradras. He stands just shy over seven feet tall at the shoulders. He possesses the typically Caradras form mixing an equine body with Draconic scared hides, whipy tail, and clawed paws instead of hooves. The scythe-adorned tail tip, fangs, wings, and jagged horn are present too. But it is in his coloration that he defines himself as different. His scaled hide is uniformly gray rather than dark as is more common. His claws are white as is the scythe blade, and his horn fades from gray to white at the tip. His mane and forelock, which he wears unshorn and adorned with green feathers as is traditional, shares the snow-white coloration. Being so shaded makes his amber eyes stand out even more.
Mutation: Arcane Script - Gift of Creation; can not use telekinesis or start fires as other Caradras can
Glimpse of What May Be Female Byrren Caradras
Mindspeech: Italics #df8e83
After her grand melee it was something of a surprise when What May Be turned out to be a Byrren, when her line had produced several A'ni and Drada, such as her brother. But she wasn't surprised, accepting the rank as her due or perhaps... because she'd gone into the fight knowing the ending, or at least suspecting it. That would be because she actually had. Ever since she was a young filly she would have occasional glimpses of the future, flashes of images or a few seconds of time that hadn't happened yet. She'd seen a flash of a mane adorned with white feathers, and had known it was her own. This ability she'd only told to her brother, only trusting him to keep her safe. That is, until she saw the solution to a vision that had baffled her for ages: a small statue that I Can Create had formed to be a part of a trade and was examining for any flaws. She'd seen a Caradras standing before that statue before, and knew that her fate and his were linked. She ensured that they were acquainted and that her brother considered I Can Create trustworthy, then when she was ready for a Chase he was the sole suitor who even had a chance. They've been at one another's side ever since, even thorough the tragedy that brought them to the Shrine.
The gift - or perhaps curse - carried in What May Be isn't true precognition. She rarely understands what she sees when these flashes hit her until the moment she stands in the place or time of their unfolding, such as when she met I Can Create. She may get a flash of a tree with someone beneath it, a mere moment, then days, weeks, or even years later will see that same moment before her eyes. Sometimes she glimpses a loved one in a situation too, such as when she saw I Can Create surrounded by darkness and smoke climbing over rocks. Over a month later he was nearly trapped in a rock slide, the smoke the cloud of dust kicked up and only her words helping guide him out. Sometimes she can speak of what she sees, sometimes she won't, instinctively understanding that at times saying too much - or anything at all - can influence the interpretation of the vision and turn it into a misinterpretation.
What May Be seems to lack the ability to conjure fires, perhaps as a compensation for her visions, but she can use telekinesis on small or light objects.
An iron will in a velvety glove is What May Be. She knows what she wants, isn't afraid to go after it, and is gifted with reading into situations and others true intentions, using this to help guide both her mate and Lolbit as it is needed. But she isn't pushy; it's more she listens and makes keen observations into what is going on that often prove helpful or at least insightful. She's very good with young of all ages, perhaps because of her own loss, and in the keeping of records and figures. She's quite an administrative Caradras! Were she a humanoid in the right setting someone might give her the title of a governmental minister. But when the need calls she can hold her own, organizing those around her to weather the most horrible storms life can throw (literally and figuratively) with a cool head and an authoritative voice. Her loyalty to mate, Bonded, and those also bound to Lolbit are absolute; they are her Legion, now and forever. She has glimpsed this, so it is true.
What May Be is much more along the typical dark coloration of a Caradras with dark purple, scaly hide over her equine-dragon body and wings. The membranes of her wings are dark blue, as is her rough, crystal horn. She has the sharp fangs and claws of her kind as well; the latter is black to match her tail scythe and her uncut mane, making her white rank feather stand out quite a bit. She's among the shorter of her kind, a hand span over six feet and not an inch more.
Arcane Script - Precognitive Flash; can not start fires as other Caradras can but can use telekinesis
Recent Mutual History:
Though I Can Create and What May Be worked hard to keep their abilities away from scrutiny it didn't last forever. First, frequent assaults by another Legion stretched theirs thin, and in a particularly brutal battle What May Be was injured, resulting in the loss of their first offspring together, a female. Then a Melaer in the Legion began spreading word about the two of them, first about I Can Create's abilities, how they were unnatural for a Caradras and denoted some kind of mixed bloodline – something hard to refute as I Can Create was found by the Legion alone as a young Caradras though is untrue. Then, as more whispered, he uncovered and spread word about What May Be and her powers. These were much more brutal, claiming manipulation for a number of events and how she choose to withhold information that might have saved Legion lives. It was quickly turning the Legion against itself and devolved into a witch hunt. For their own safety her brother insisted that I Can Create and What May Be flee, find a place where they could be safe for all time.
And so they made for the Shrine, on a glimpse of the future and a person they didn't know.
Lolbit's ears twitched as they took in the sight of the unusual...horses? They were equine in shape, at least at first glance, but they were much different than any horses Lolbit might have seen...actually, they kind of resembled dragons. Dragon-horses, perhaps? They were both quite large as well, even the female towering over Lolbit by a good six inches or possibly more.
Even Bonnet was at a rare loss for words as the two dragon-horses approached them, bowing their heads in...subservience? She traded looks with Lolbit, who seemed just as lost as she was. Leader? Legion? What did they even mean? "Geez, Lolly, our first day outside and already you've been declared some kind of leader," she joked, though it seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Lolbit wasn't sure how to explain this to the two dragon-horses; they weren't a leader, they hardly knew anything about the outside world aside from what the others would talk about when they returned from their trips outside to birthday parties and what tidbits of information they could get when the mechanics left their computers unattended.
That didn't mean they were just going to abandon these two. Lolbit glanced at Bonnet and motioned for her to speak, knowing that she was the only one capable of communicating their sentiments to the other two. The pink rabbit nodded and turned her attention back to the dragon-horses. "Lolbit wants you to know that they don't think they would make a good leader. This is our first day outside and we don't know a lot, much less how to lead anything. But we can definitely help each other, if that's something you would like? We'll keep you safe, too. Promise."
Lolbit nodded in agreement with Bonnet's words, hoping that they hadn't angered the dragon-horses. As far as they were concerned, they were equals in terms of how lost they were. Something in the back of the fox animatronic's mind whispered that these two needed names, and Lolbit certainly had no idea where that had come from but maybe it was true? They began to scratch letters in the dirt below, Clevo written in front of the mare and Lanix in front of her mate.