ANGEL ❝ AURUM ❞ TANGLEWOOD

It wasn't exactly unusual for Aurum to have a lot to talk to Vigenere about. Maybe he had just grown so used to being involved in clan affairs when he was proxy, or maybe his natural caring instincts just got the best of him, but he always tended to act as an advisor to the bright yellow feline. It had just sort of become a natural thing for the two of them, especially since the luminary had never outright rejected his help or advice. As a result, when a few things ended up coming to the lion's attention as of recently, he had made a resolution to go and see Vig. He was sure that some still believed he shouldn't have been leaving his home at all while he was healing, but he wasn't too worried about it. He didn't really feel as though he was going to fall apart, just going on the short trip between his home and Vigenere's. However, just in case, Aurum had decided to wait until a day where he wasn't feeling too much pain, figuring he'd be able to focus more on what he had to say if he wasn't also focused on keeping himself together. Thankfully, today just happened to be that very day.

The trip from his house to Vigenere's had been a short one, involving only one small pause so that he readjust how he was holding his weight. Once he got to the other's door, he leaned back on his hind legs, letting out a soft sigh of relief. One of his back legs had been fractured as well, but not to the same extent that his front one had been. Lifting his healthy foreleg up, the lion knocked gently at the door, calling through, "Vigenere? Are you home? I was hoping that maybe you had a chance to talk about some things." He kept it vague for now, mainly because he didn't intend for this to be a purely business visit. Yes, he had concerns that he wanted to bring up, but he also wanted to check in and see how Vig was doing. Aurum had been gone for quite a while during his stint of being kidnapped, so he didn't truly know how things had changed. He wanted to make sure that Vigenere was alright, and that leading Tanglewood hadn't taken too much of a toll on him.

ANGEL ❝ AURUM ❞ TANGLEWOOD

As per usual, Vigenere was accommodating for the winged lion, happily letting him in with a nonchalant swish of his tail. Aurum would be lying if he said he wasn't glad for Vig's friendship, and especially glad that the other took his advice seriously, even as a simple member of the group. Back when the angel had been proxy, it had been difficult for him to be heard, with Leroy often not around or not listening when he was. The felines way of leading was much different to that, and Aurum was more than a little grateful. So, as he stepped inside with his thin tail flicking from side to side, the male explained with a chuckle, "I just came over to discuss some things, so feel free to tell me if I'm overstepping." Not wanting to focus on words while his wounds were throbbing, the lion made himself comfortable, sitting down before he spoke, "The first thing I wanted to bring up was the traps. I realize that Beck originally set them up to keep the territory safe, but I don't know if we should have them anymore. They weren't exactly any help when The Pitt attacked, and in recent memory, all I can remember them doing is trapping or harming joiners." Aurum couldn't count on both paws the amount of times that he and others had to break joiners out of traps they had gotten caught within, and that wasn't exactly a good thing.

ANGEL ❝ AURUM ❞ TANGLEWOOD

It almost seemed as though Tanglewood was cursed, in a way. Both Crow and Leroy had been rather sporadic leaders, listening to very little and only being present occasionally, yet the group had thrived – albeit with a lot of frustration. Now, however, Vigenere was in charge, and the feline was not only active, but receptive to ideas, as well. However, the frustrations from earlier had come back to bite them in the ass, in a way that filled Aurum with a sense of bitterness. Therefore, he was determined to turn things around, even if he constantly had meetings such as this with Vig just to do so. It wouldn't really have been that much of a hassle, anyways. He enjoyed being around the luminary, and if he got to share his advice and ideas, then that was only a further benefit. He didn't see Tanglewood or Vig as a burden – or at least, not a significant one.

When Vigenere mentioned that the traps had been reset far more often in the past, Aurum found himself snorting, the lion nodding his head, "Trust me, I'm aware. Unfortunately, I'm not sure of where Beck has gone, or what kind of route he had for resetting them..." It was pretty much impossible to figure out where the spirit had disappeared off to, considering he could've been anywhere. Letting out a thoughtful hum as he heard Vig's suggestion, the angel nodded once again, a soft chuckle leaving him, "Leaving the signs up as a warning would be good, even if I'm unsure of how much it would truly keep the determined away. Maybe we could add to them as well? If we add bells or some other kind of nose making thing to the bottom of the signs... maybe we could get a bit of warning before any enemies get near. I'm not sure how effective they would be during the day, but if someone tried to attack during the night? They probably wouldn't be able to see them." The problem of The Pitt's initial attack had been how they had plowed through unopposed, all the way to where the most vulnerable members of the group were. If Tanglewood had some sort of alarm system, they could've gone out to meet them in battle ahead of time.

ANGEL ❝ AURUM ❞ TANGLEWOOD

Truth be told, Aurum had never really seen Tanglewood as a burden either. Even when he had been proxy and had been rather frustrated with his position, he had still enjoyed his life within the group. Tanglewood would always be considered home for him, and he loved everyone within the close-knit family that made up the group. Even in the most agonizing of times, the lion still had family that he loved so dearly here, with Vigenere being one of the close friends that he cared for. It was admittedly difficult to see Vig's not so great days, when the luminary was struggling against the threats that were rapidly encroaching upon Tanglewood, but the angel was glad that he was around now. That meant that he could help, which Vigenere evidently knew, if the demon's current actions were anything to go by.

Letting out a thoughtful hum and nodding when Vigenere approved of his little alarm system idea, the lion pleased that he had been able to make things a little better. When the feline asked him about the mask tradition, Aurum found himself chuckling, saying softly, "Honestly... I don't think anybody has cared about the mask tradition for a while. Back when Crow and Leroy were in charge, very few of the actual mask collecting nights were held, and most completely forgot that the whole thing existed. I don't think anyone would be particularly upset if the tradition was gotten rid of. Although... we could do something else with the masks. Maybe hanging them up around the swamp, for intimidation? Instead of them being something you earn in life, maybe everyone could have a mask made for them when they passed away, meant to represent them. That way, they could both honor the dead and seem as though they're protecting the territory as a whole in death." It was a very spiritual idea, yes, but Aurum tended to be a very spiritual person. He supposed that it just came as a part of being an angel, since he knew quite a bit about the afterlife – or, at least, the afterlife he had been a part of.