Somnus  Of course, in his defense, Somnus had no idea of the lady Florentine's battle prowess. He was intimately familiar with Ulric's own mettle and dexterity when it came to the art of war, but knew nothing of the Dusk maiden in their company. Outwardly, she did not appear as a warrior, but looks, as he knew, could be terribly deceiving. So, sucking in a deep breath to fortify his patience and rally his self-restraint, the golden tactician's keen emerald eyes offer Florentine a look at her choice of words regarding his fabulous derriere and his handsome jawline. Of all of the compliments to have ever been sent his way, which his pride would not outwardly admit to being a pathetically dismal few, those were by far the strangest he had heard. "Ah," Somnus began, a fond little smile upturning the corners of dark lips as he recalled the chestnut fellow who had greeted him upon his arrival at the Dawn Court, "Yes, I've had the pleasure of meeting Charlemagne. He's a good, studious fellow." The tactician quite enjoyed their brief deliberation, and fully hoped to share even more intellectual debates in the future. Then, at Ulric's rather haughty remark, Somnus' verdant eyes shot across the sparse space between them, regarding the roan warrior and long-time friend from over the top of Florentine's wild flaxen hairs. "I can assure you that I was doing no such thing," he remarked with a flick of his tail, as though affronted, even though he knew that Ulric was only making fun, as he was known to do. As if Somnus would ever let his brilliant mind be swayed and altered by questionable edibles. "But yes, there was a pink dolphin. Smaller than it's ocean dwelling cousins, but if you should wish to see one someday, Florentine, I would be honored to accompany you to the Rapax River to try and spot one." Florentine went on, then, divulging a bit about her life in the Dusk Court. She held the role of Emissary, a rank that Somnus himself had fleetingly cast his eyes on within their own homestead. He nodded, respectful, acknowledging her achievement of being so much more. The progression, however, was halted by the action that the dunalino stallion had been dreading since their first steps into this massive hedge maze. The thick green brush began to shake and quake ahead of them, and as Ulric, and in turn Florentine ventured forward, Somnus did so as well, cautious, ears perked forward and at attention, nostrils flaring, eyes narrowing to peer through the thick vegetation and try to make out just what was rustling about, as well as what could have made such a formidable sound. A part of him wants to back off, but Somnus was no coward, and would stand with Ulric and Florentine against any foe they may encounter. The brush rustled, then grew still, the leaves shaking before halting movement all together. It lasted only a few seconds, as though whatever had been lurking inside simply vanished, but before the muscles in his spine could even hope to relax, a small beast burst forth from the hedges, except... It wasn't a beast at all. A petite, multi-colored creature, of browns, whites, and tans, leaped from the bushes, languid and graceful. It was a cat, sleek and calico, that had been napping rather peacefully when the arrival of the three winged creatures had ruined it's afternoon slumber, and when they drew close, it had growled before throwing itself from the bushes. The feline stared at the three of them through judgmental green eyes, expression quite miffed and affronted, before trotting off with a tail crooked, all with the presence that it was quite done with their tomfoolery. Somnus found himself staring, watching the cat as it trotted off down the maze and around a right corner of hedges, then spoke, amusement coating his accent now that the anxieties had drifted away. "... A bloody cat." By Oriens, a cat had riled them up? Perhaps he was fretting for nothing. "A cat." |
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