SOMNUS
Still roosting upon his croup, Alba gave a satisfied clack of the beak, the blacks of her eyes growing far softer at this wanderer’s words. No longer was her eerie gaze full of distrust and judgement, but now instead swimming with innocent curiosity. Gold and white feathers ruffled in satisfaction, puffing up at the praise. ’A beautiful owl’, he had called her, and if that wasn’t the surest way to Alba’s young heart, then Somnus didn’t know what was. Unbidden, the dunalino chuckled, a deep, hearty sound. Well then.
“The pleasure is ours, good sir, I assure you,” he murmured in turn, dipping his head in a formal nod, never one to forget his manners. From there, he grew respectfully silent, keen verdant depths assessing the stranger more thoroughly. He was handsome, in a noble, roguish way, carrying with him an air of those familiar to the workings of politics and courtly encounters. With a strong jaw and a frame the nearly towered over Somnus’ own, the Dawn King took a selfish moment to appreciate the man’s physical assets before focusing on his pale, milky eyes. There was a bit of scar tissue about his right eye, semi-circular, and it looked peculiarly like the scar of teeth… Yet Somnus resisted the urge to frown, and instead upheld his small, polite smile, listening to Orion explain just what had brought him to Delumine’s soil.
Orion’s story was one that Somnus was growing accustomed to hearing. It was a tale that had once sprouted his own lips, seasons ago; lost and searching for a place to call home. A frightful thought erupted suddenly in his mind. Had it not even been a year since his arrival? And yet here he was, King of the Court he had stumbled upon. Ironic. A dusty golden ear was tilted forward despite his internal musings, listening raptly, his stance attentive and erect. Orion was a wanderer, a lost soul, searching to set roots into Delumine, searching for a place to lay his head and offer him protection. It was innocent and seemed truthful enough, and the Dawn King’s smile only grew, especially hearing the grullo’s kind words in regards to Delumine’s exquisite beauty and splendor.
Okay, so maybe he was a little biased…
Emerald eyes glittered in the sunlight, and his posture slowly relaxed. Alba, for her part, still looked absolutely smitten. “A reasonable desire, I assure you,” the dunalino began, rolling his shoulders as he turned to regard the mighty citadel standing proudly behind them, head lifting in admiration, “You’ve found yourself at the right place. Our Court is home to all kinds; warriors, knowledge-seekers, medics and doctors, and those who simply wish for a safe place to live… We turn no one away, no matter their history or creed.” With remarkable poise Somnus turned his head to regard the grullo once more, still smiling warmly, expression kind and earnest. “Would you care for me to show you around?”
@Orion <3 He's such a sweetheart ;-;
