―――― //Welcome!! c:

The world isn't fair. It was an interesting sentiment, and interesting excuse. The world wasn't fair, and yet for many, it was, or more than fair. Were they to excuse the transgressions of others, or of themselves, simply because the cards hadn't been dealt in their favor? Or, was the meaning something far greater than that? What really was fairness in the grand sense of it all? What was family, and family ties, for some who were not lucky enough to have it, or for those whose familial bonds had been more akin to torture? Atticus himself had been lucky to have a welcoming, strong family, one who helped to raise him up to be the best man that he could. Did he always hit that mark? No, he would not bring himself to think that he was near perfect in any regard, yet it was a standard that they were all flawed, one way or another.

Atticus knew what it meant to rebuild, what it meant to go off and discover yourself, to walk far enough, and wide enough to escape the aspects of your past that you wanted to forget, to extend your knowledge and your capabilities as an individual. Sometimes, it was for the best. Even if you had a loving family, you could not simply sit by and allow them to mind you all of your life; you could not sit and be part of a group, rather than understand who you were. As cheesy at the phrasing was, it was like a flower; for most of your life, you could remain as a small bud on a large bush, surrounded by other flowers and buds just like yourself. You could grow, blossom,a nd die all in the same place, or you might fall free from the bush, and become something far greater- a boquet on a dinner table, a flower in someone's hair; but perhaps that itself was far off topic.

Orpherus was on the nose about one thing, however. Atticus was quick to notie him standing upon the border, sticking out against the calm plains as a shadow atop the hillside. Kit, who was making his usual rounds along the border, simply took a breath in as he continued his way forward to greet the stranger, his steps calm and languid, his gaze stark and serious, but yet not unkindly as he soon enough paused at creature in front of him, quiet for some moments as his gaze swept over Orpehus, taking in the small details of his posture and the way he held himself before he dipped his head slowly in some from of greeting, the large melanistic jaguar sitting back on his haunches. "Welcome to the Ascendants, stranger. CanI have your name, and how we might help you today?" Unfortunately, the greeting would be much the same as any other, but Atticus tried to muster up a touch of a smile to his face, awaiting the answer to his questions.