[B] Dutiful

[Lutz]

It wasn't often that Rise to the Challenge found himself in a situation like this, yet here he was. As always, he was prepared to do what he must to ensure everything turned out all right in the end, and after consulting with Darkheart this happened to be the wisest path to walk. Children were not Rise's forte. He was not paternal, nor was he particularly tolerant of small creatures that made lots of noise and often didn't listen to what he had to say. But at the end of the day they would be his and it was his duty as one of their fathers to see that they at least made it to adulthood. Then they'd be on their own.

And so he found himself walking through the swamp in search of one of the Legendary kin. He'd never seen one in person yet he'd been told countless times that one usually showed up when you needed them most, especially when it came to blessing a birth. The only trouble was the kin that he'd spoken to about getting a blessing hadn't told him how to go about finding the Legendary kin. Was he supposed to call out? Walk around in circles until they found him?

"Great," he muttered as the overly bright light suddenly winked out, leaving him in the semi-darkness. His halo lit the area around him at least, though the red hue made everything look strange. At least if there were any Legendary stags or mares around they'd be able to find him easily.

[anemosagkelos]

Another light gone, the feathered serpent hissed as the rock beneath it began to lose it's warmth. This was the fourth rock today or tonight, it was hard to tell anymore what the time of day was. In the garden it was all sun; even that grew tiresome, hence venturing out in the world of strangeness that had eclipsed the once familiar swamp.

Wings rustling, the serpent righted itself and looked out into the darkness. Hardly anything of interest there; it turned and noted a faint red glow through the brush. Oh, a kin with wants had wandered nearby. It would at least be something to do. No need to fly although it was always nice to begin with a little terror.

The feather serpent slithered, head held high and wings folded back, until it broke through the brush and found the kin. A curious one, too. It had yet to see such a strange burst of light behind, or was it around, a kin's head. Glow was nothing new, of course, but this particular design... A hiss of thought snuck into the air and announced its presence.

[Lutz]

The sound of rustling undergrowth made Rise pause, his eyes not yet fully adjusted to the dim lighting. He knew he wasn't alone but he was at a pretty severe disadvantage if whatever was coming wanted to fight. Still, he knew not all things that wandered in the dark were foes. It could even be the kin that he was looking for.

The hiss alerted him that it was not, in fact, a kin. He turned to the source and saw a snake looking back at him. It was far larger than any snake he'd ever seen before and in the red lighting he could make out feathers along its head and neck. A feathered serpent. They were rare from what he understood and if the size alone wasn't intimidating enough, the massive mouth lined with teeth would certainly strike fear into most any other kin's heart. But Rise didn't budge, facing the creature head on. It hadn't taken a threatening pose after all and was simply watching him. If this snake was here to hunt it certainly wouldn't have announced its presence.

"Hello," he said, unsure if talking to a feathered serpent was crazy or not. "I'm not here to bother you. I'm looking for...someone. A Legendary kin. You wouldn't know where I could find one, do you?" Yes, it was probably crazy. It was fine. No one but him and this serpent would need to know.

[anemosagkelos]

"Oh, we're almost everywhere, dear," the mare chuckled as she stepped up beside the kin while the feather serpent continued to stare. She liked being able to pounce from any direction should the need arise.

"Now, what it is you are in search of? Besides the blessing, of course. I already know that," she clarified before he could start talking about his upcoming clutch of children. There really should be someone who taught all these kin some proper etiquette and a method. It would save time, honestly, and wouldn't it be nicer if the children came to her for blessings? Children were so much better than full grown kin, some exceptions aside, anyway.

[Lutz]

A voice startled Rise out of his slight staring contest with the unblinking serpent and a moment later a graceful mare stepped into the light cast by his halo. For a moment he was speechless, not thinking a Legendary kin would find him so easily when he'd never seen one prior to today. It was true, then, that they knew when they were being sought out and came to heed the call. As someone who tried to be there to defend the weak or stand up for those who couldn't he found he liked the idea of being able to know when someone needed help.

The question made him pause, though. What was he looking for other than a blessing for his unborn children? He considered the question for a bit, not wanting the answer to seem silly.

"For the foals, strength to live the life they wish to live," he said after a moment. "For myself, the strength and wisdom to help those that cannot help themselves." Rise fell silent for a moment before giving a soft snort in the silence.

"I'm not sure if that's the answer you're looking for, but I'm no poet."

[anemosagkelos]

"Poets are eternally over rated, dear," Atone scoffed as she considered his words. "All they do is rhyme words and pretend to be wise and worldly, but they are nothing but fools." Words were all too easy to paint in a flattering light, one that hid the rotten layers beneath where the poison of lies pulsed. She'd rather have it plain and honest, for once.

Atone hummed, the slightest display of acknowledgement at the buck's desires. Strength to live out their own wants, a novelty that parents oft forgot. A show of guidance to lead. In a past life, she'd have gutted him on the spot. Lucky then that this was the present.

"Your children shall have the gift of knowing who they are and the will to follow the path to a future without regrets," she determined before looking at the kiokote once more. "And you shall guide them, the leader whether it be in fight or comfort. You'll have no rest with that desire," she warned, but then he had already made up his mind to ask it. Kin in need were no more rare than a tree trunk and now they would have one more to beseech and beg. Less for her, then; thank the Motherfather.

[Lutz]

The mare's response made Rise raise his brows slightly. Poetry was usually held in high esteem in these parts, but it seemed she didn't have the stomach for it. That was in his favor, he supposed, and he wasn't going to look a giftkin in the mouth. He waited for her judgement on his desires and when she seemed to find favor he relaxed just a bit. It seemed he had passed whatever test she'd set out for him.

"Thank you," he said with a bow of his head. He took her words to heart despite not being the most paternal buck out there: these children he would see to their adulthood in whatever way they wished, whether it was what little comfort and verbal advice he could give or all the lessons in battle that he could pass on. He'd take more joy out of the latter than the former but he knew it took all types to make the world work and if his children turned out to be softer or kinder than he was, all the better for it.

"Your blessing is appreciated and will not be wasted. I will see to that." There was conviction in his tone and as he raised his head once more, confidence in his gaze.

[anemosagkelos]

"I have no doubt of that," the mare replied with a grin that was just a touch feral at the edges. And then she was gone, leaving only—a swan honked, rising up on its webbed feet and puffing out its chest before flaring its wings out and taking to the skies.