[center][h2][b]Brown
Avatar of Astarte

Belvast
Level 3 DemiGod of Portals, 18 Might[/b][/h2][/center]

Brown had been flying through a wide stretch of plains when a lone figure came into view. Taking this as a chance to confirm her direction as correct, she lowered her self to the ground quickly, landing beside the young human. His fur clothes were ragged, yet it was obvious he did his best to keep them clean. His nose was crooked and he missed a tooth. A brawl, possibly, yet Brown had no time to waste involving herself in such a matter now.

The boy, meanwhile, nearly had a heart attack. He had just finished recovering his breath when Brown coughed to call his attention.

"Boy, am I on the correct direction to the Valley of Peace?" She asked, looking around. Her long brunnette hair flowed in the air as a particular breeze passed by.

"A-Ah-" The boy stuttered.

"Quickly, this matter involves higher beings."

"Uh... Y-Yes-"

"Is that so? Well, thank you for your assistance." And with no more words, Brown flew off again, kicking off a bunch of dirt in the process.

"Wait! Do you have any water..." The boy sighed and slumped his shoulders once he saw the mysterious woman disappear between the clouds. He was going to the Valley of Peace as well, so he better make good use of his time. Walking was a better use of his time than moping around, and if further down his path he found a river, he'd be even better off.

As he turned to keep walking, he saw a wooden bowl filled to the brim with water.

Never before had he so quickly downed a bowl of water in his life.

****************

"Belvast!" 

The door to the pub burst open very non-peacefully, and from the darkness of the night stepped in a young woman dressed only in a brown dress. Her hair was slightly disheveled and reached down to the small of her back. Her face showed a mix of determination, annoyance and excitement. 

She surveyed the scene inside the pub, not surprised to see half of the patrons were low lifes and the other half were desperate farmers gambling their items away.

Only one stood out from the rest. Namely because of his stature and fur-covered body.

He was also the only one with a mountain of loot beside him.

Brown could feel all the eyes of the room upon her as she flew toward Belvast. They roamed her body, and she didn't like it. The hain there were the first to turn away. The humans the last. One man even dared reach for her, so she smashed another's plate on his face with her magic.

Then she reached Belvast and simply stood there beside him, crossing her arms and tapping her bare feet on the ground.

Belvast blinked a few times as the woman appeared, a confused expression on his face which turned into worry as she smashed a plate into the man's face. [b][color=B05F3C]"Err...Ms.? Is everything alright?"[/color][/b] he asked, innocent eyes looking up as he sat on a literal mountain of bagged salmon.

Brown put a hand over her mouth and looked away, making her following words come out muffled, "You're supposed to tell me to take this outside. You know, privacy." 

Belvast tilted his head before saying: [b][color=B05F3C]"Well, there's privacy in the latrine, but...it smells bad in there."[/color][/b] rather simply. He had no idea what this lady was talking about. [b][color=B05F3C]"But...if you'd like to speak with me, here is fine. Everyone's used to a talking cat around here."[/color][/b]

The woman's right eyebrow twitched as she grit her teeth, lowering her hand and looking back at Belvast. "I need your... Help. I heard you were a wanderer and had seen lots of things. I need some advice." 

Belvast hummed and took the woman by the hand and quickly lead her outside before a plate could try and connect with her head from the patron she'd smashed one into. [b][color=B05F3C]"Ok, privacy needed, run!"[/color][/b] he said as he started fleeing from the pub, holding her hand as an azure gate appeared which he dragged her into, leading them into a chilly cave out of nowhere. Settling against the smooth rock floor, Belvast curled up and his twin tails coiled around one another. [b][color=B05F3C]"Ah...the best thinkspace...So, what was it you needed to discuss?"[/color][/b]

Brown stared at the portal as it closed, then back at Belvast. She chuckled and bit the tip of her tongue for a moment. Until she shook her head and regained her composure.

"My name's Brown. I'm a part of Astarte, so it is in my best interest to take care of that girl. A few things happened and now she's sad. Really sad. I don't know how to cheer her up-" She looked off to the side, hesitant to continue, "So as a fellow wanderer, one who actually pays enough attention to where he goes to be able to tell stories afterward, I figured you would be wise enough to have advice to share about my situation."

"As in, tell me how to cheer her up. She used to love travelling and seeing the land."

Belvast hummed, deep in thought as he scratched his chin with a claw, rolling around the cave on his back and stomach as he hummed in thought. [b][color=B05F3C]"Well...what is it that made her upset? I can tell her a few tales of my own if you'd like, but I doubt that me seeing things a god can see in seconds will be very interesting...Does she like plants? I know groves with lots of beautiful flowers."[/color][/b]

"You'd be surprised what she finds interesting..." Brown smiled for a moment, "But to answer your question, She's mainly upset because her friend ogre was kidnapped and she's being extorted to keep him safe. Vulamera and Vowzra's deaths also upset her quite a bit."

"And she loves plants. Mainly the lavender flowers."

Belvast's eyes went wide as he heard of...Vowzra's...death? Shuddering, tears started welling in his eyes. [b][color=B05F3C]"Y-You're not...y-you're lying..."[/color][/b] he said, ears falling flat against his head.

"H-hey-" Brown narrowed her eyes. What had she said to warrant such a reaction? She'd only spoken of Astarte and... [i]'Their deaths...'[/i] She thought.

"Hey, now," She said softly, inwardly cursing herself for having to deal with another sad person. She knelt down on the smooth stone floor in front of Belvast and put a hand on his shoulder, "There's a... Memorial, at the peak of Solitary Mount. Maybe we can visit that?"

Belvast shuddered, now weeping as he curled up into a ball, a pitiable sight as he clutched his arms to himself and his shoulders, his cries echoing throughout the cave. As an extremely childish demigod, the loss of his parent was beyond devastating. To him, the only purpose he had to wander was to fulfill Vowzra's expectations. That Belvast would fulfill his fate as a wanderer. Now... he had no reason to go anywhere. Slowly getting up from his sobbing, Belvast continued to cry as he went to the back of the cave and promptly slashed the rock with his claws, deep cleaves forming as he screamed in anger, frustration, sadness, and a whole cocktail of emotions that'd leave Lifprasil stunned. 

Brown sighed and sat down, lifting her gaze up to the ceiling, [i]'I screwed up.'[/i]

Belvast cleaved open a boulder and panted, his eyes twitching as they filled up with tears, his third eye opened over where the Solitary Mount was, his eyes widening as he sunk to his knees, completely stunned as he saw it. [b][color=B05F3C]"...Why...Why...WHY!?"[/color][/b]

Suddenly, an object hit the back of Belvast's head. It was a ball of red-colored yarn, thrown by Brown who desperately hid the offending arm and smiled a wide, uncomfortable smile.

Belvast didn't react much, his right tail wrapping around it, the demicat putting it in his lap and clutching it to his chest as he sobbed. 

"Um," Brown looked around nervously. It took her a minute to decide what to do. She levitated over to Belvast and gently wrapped her arms around the small demicat. A part of her wanted to hoist him up and giggle and kiss his face and bite his neck, but that would have been very inappropiate and rather Astarte-like. "Come on, cheer up, I can't let Astarte fall deeper down the hole. I need your help, Belvy..."

Belvast just cried into Brown's chest, his ears flat against his head as he wept into her. He wrapped his arms gingerly around her back and just squeezed slightly, glad that someone was here. Glad that someone who cared was here. 

It would take him a day or two, but eventually his puffy eyes would turn dry, simply sitting in Brown's arms as he tried to sleep.

By then, Brown had exhausted every last ounce of regret at mentioning Vulamera and Vowzra and instead just gently stroked the cat's back.

Drying his face on his sleeve, Belvast looked up at her and said:  [b][color=B05F3C]"Um...I'm sorry for acting like this...I-I just...I,"[/color][/b] as a rather bumbling attempt at an excuse and an apology.

"Astarte acted the same when The Demigod of Sin spoke to her, so I'm kinda used to it by now. It's fine. At least you're a bit better now, can't say the same for Astarte." Brown chuckled.

Belvast sniffled one last time before shaking his head and stretching.  [b][color=B05F3C]"So...what exactly has Astarte so upset? Was she close to Vulamera and...Father,"[/color][/b] he asked, voice still a little shaky.

Brown broke off the embrace and leaned back a bit. She brought a finger up to her chin in thought. "Uh, I don't think so. She spoke to your Father one time. That's when she made me. She's upset because The Demigod of Sin took her friend ogre from her and is extorting her. I don't know what he's asking of her, but she's been really desperate and sad since she spoke to him. I want to take her mind off of things for a bit. You know what I mean, Belvy?"

Belvast tilted his head. [b][color=B05F3C]"Oh. Okay. But...why don't we just go help her friend ogre then?"[/color][/b] he asked, confused as to how a demigod is so easily extorting a god.

"We don't know where the ogre is," Brown raised an eyebrow and smirked.

[b][color=B05F3C]"Oh."[/color][/b] Belvast replied simply before scratching the back of his head. [b][color=B05F3C]"Hmm...I might need help for that one then...I think I know someone who might help me. But, for now, I promise I'll try and make her feel better."[/color][/b] the little cat promised, bowing his head slightly to his new pal.

Brown grinned and thre herself at Belvast, hugging him tightly and giggling as his whiskers tickled her, "Oh, thank you thank you little kitty demigod! Belvy Belvy Belvy! You're so fluffy I just want to bite you!" Brown snorted as she laughed and clacked her teeth awfully close to his nose. It all ended too soon as Brown stopped in her tracks and got up onto her feet, a light blush present on her face.

"Sorry about that, I get these weird Astartian urges to smother everything that is adorable- uh- Not that I'm saying [i]you[/i] are adorable or anyth..." She went silent for a moment, listening to some unseen voice. Then she frowned and rolled her eyes, "Shut up, Astarte."

Belvast was a little confused by the sudden hugs and giggles and threats to bite him. Eyes widening as she said he wasn't adorable, Belvast said: [b][color=B05F3C]"So, um...h-how do we cheer Astarte up? What kind of stories do you think she'd like to hear about?"[/color][/b]

"Huh, that's a good question..." Brown crossed her arms and looked at the ground, before perking up, "A few days before the deal with the other Demigod, she inquired about romance. She thought that since I was a lower being compared to her, I'd know more about it. I don't."

"She also seems really interested in humans and plants, Does that help is picking out a story?"

Belvast hummed, rolling onto his back, tails swishing as he thought up an idea...maybe. [b][color=B05F3C]"Well...I don't know much about love besides how much I love fish...but I've seen tons of people and plants all over Galbar! I even pressed a couple to make sure I remember what they looked like..."[/color][/b] Belvast said as he dug through his gigantic backpack until he pulled out a musty looking tome made of rough bound leather. Opening it up, he showed Brown the various flowers and plants of the land that he'd collected, though a couple were so old at this point that they were just stains on the page.

Brown's eyes lit up like a pair of stars once Belvast showed her the first plant. They didn't dim or look away until the last page had been turned. "That. Is. Awesome! You better keep that book sealed and guarded all the time, I bet everyone wants to steal it!" She gushed, poking one of the pressed flowers. "Yes, definitely, she's going to love that!"

The flower she touched turned to dust, the petals sccattering. [b][color=B05F3C]"Um..M-Maybe I need to restart my collection...these flowers are all far past their prime...[/color][/b] he said as he slowly put the book back.

Brown grinned bashfully and put away the offending finger. "I could bless the book and make it so it keeps the plants in it in a perfect state for you, if you want."

Belvast shook his head. [b][color=B05F3C]"I can't ask that of you...but, I will let you keep it if you want it." [/color][/b]Belvast said as he plucked the book from his bag and handed it to her. [b][color=B05F3C]"A gift."[/color][/b]

"Really?!" Brown looked like an excited schoolgirl who'd just been told that donuts would be given away for free in her school's cafeteria, "I always knew cats were awesome [i]and[/i] cute!" She snatched the book away before Belvast changed his mind and fled to a dark corner of the cave, where she looked started looking through the pages again, illuminating the area with a ball of pure magical essence in her free hand. 

Belvast just sat by himself, cleaning the Mobius Board as he watched Brown flip through the book.

Silence.

"That's it!" Brown whispered excitedly after minutes of having her nose buried in the book. She closed the tome and stood up with it under one of her arms. She ran over to Belvast and pet his head, "Thank you for the book, kitten! If you ever need our help or just wanna talk, just pray to Astarte and let her know who you want to talk to. If it's me, I'll be here before you can wag that fluffy tail of yours!" She grinned and in a blink of an eye, disappeared from sight.

[hider=Might Summary]
Brown has 39 MP and 7 FP available from Astarte.
She used 1 FP to teleport away
39 MP, 6 FP Remaining
Belvast: 18 MP ---> 18 MP[/hider]

[hider=Summary]
Brown tracks Belvast down, does her usual tough act when she sees him and manages to get him to talk to her in private. She asks for his help in cheering Astarte up again.
She discloses the news about Vulamera and Vowzra's deaths while explaining why she seeks his aid.
Belvast is a sad cat for a day and a half.
Finally, he shows Brown his plant collection and gives it to her, who gushes about the amount of plants in the tome. 
After finding a plant that she's sure will impress Astarte, she takes her leave.
[/hider]