leave out all the rest --- keona

[SÉAMUS]

The rusty spotted cat rose at the break of dawn.  A pair of glinting sea-green hues watching the horizon silently, regarding the sun as it slowly set the ocean aflame.  It would be a little time before it fully escaped the line separating sky and sea.  Despite that, Séamus was already on the move, leaving the rest of the ship sleeping, small paws stepping lightly on the wooden planks.

The sand was cool, not yet warmed by the sun's glaring rays, and he quickly trotted across the shore, disappearing into the jungle trees.  With practiced ease, he slithered across the forest floor, jumping over logs, and using the towering trunks as resting spots and boosts.  It was that way he speedily arrived before a waterfall.

For a moment, he watched the falls; the cascading water into a deep pool below.  Lingering by the water's edge, he took a drink and sat beside the hidden steps.

So early in the morning, it was a quiet place.  Though Séamus rested beside the stairs, he had no interest in the hidden Colosseum behind him.  He'd explored it's insides before; drawn in by simple curiosity.  An intriguing enough place.  It would be the perfect arena to challenge his brother - either one, actually - to a spar.  He doubted, however, either Kian or Raziel would accept such an invitation from him.  They were too wary of him.

Not that he minded that.  Both had reason to distrust him, and he had more than enough reason to dislike them.  It'd been years since their family had been united in any way.  No one could expect them to get along or interact particularly smoothly.  It'd been tip-toed steps thus far.  No lines had been crossed yet.

Séamus, despite what his brothers may believe, had no current interest in... Ruining their day (or lives).  Even then, he was more interested in making life difficult for Raziel, not Kian.  His twin, for the longest time, had simply been competition, not a direct enemy.  Now, instead of a competing captain, he was a crewmate.  Even Séamus had not considered that turn of events likely, but it was his own doing.

Before he knew about... The child, Séamus could not fathom why Kian would ditch his crew.  Retirement did not make sense.  Nor illness.  Nothing made sense.  Until her.  Certainly a Faoláin child, but he wondered sometimes.  Kian had not been the only member of the family who had sought Haliaka's favor.  He still remembered her.  The only cat who actually seemed interested in him as living being, not just a pirate or a monster.  She certainly had not cared he was the son of the dead king and queen.

But she was dead and gone; it made no difference now.  Unfortunately, it also meant answers were unavailable.  Pity.

Even if it would be with great resentment, Séamus could accept the common belief as fact.  There was a piece of him at war with the thought however, demanding answers and the claim to the last trace of Haliaka in this world.  There was not much to do about it however.  For now, he would sit by and wait.  Perhaps the answers would reveal themselves one day.

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

It could be easily said that when the sun rose, Keona rose with it.  Sometimes before it even.  By all accounts, the tiny feline should be a little more nocturnal, but she seemed to enjoy waking up particularly early.  Unfortunately, it also meant being one of the few awake.  Of course, the Striker did not find that entirely disadvantageous; she was a quiet creature, who didn't mind having a lot of space and time to herself.  It was easier that way.

Besides, it also meant no one was gonna stop her from her daily explorations.  The earlier she started, the less likely it was for someone to spot her and demand she had someone with her.  Her father was among the ones she specifically avoided for that reason.  Although annoying, Keona did understand the reasoning, but that did not make it any less... Disappointing.

Consequently, the little Fae did a lot of her jungle exploration in the earliest hours of the day, then spent most of the rest of her day sticking to the bay or following the shore.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, she let her petite paws carry her into the trees, following an invisible trail to somewhere she'd been once before.

Since her division ceremony, Keona had not checked out the first figurine's location.  It had been an extremely interesting-seemingly place however.  Even better, it was not too terribly far from the bay, though the distance was made farther by being among the smallest of creatures.

When her perked ears finally met the roar of a waterfall, she knew she was in the right place a pair of pale, sea-green eyes dancing brightly.  She wondered if the stairs went behind the waterfall and what they led to.  She wanted to get right behind the water, if she could.  Without abandon, the kitten began scrambling towards the stairs, before her brain registered another's presence.  Keona very nearly tripped on her face (not that it would be the first time).

Another crewmate was up at this hour, out here.  If she was disappointed, it didn't show; mostly as it was replaced by confusion and curiosity.  She knew exactly whose scent it was.  "… Uncle Séa?" Hopefully, he didn't mind the nickname.  The pronunciation of the first half of his name was confusing enough - which was not helped by her father's use of 'Sea' instead.  Did her uncle prefer Séa or Sea? Or neither?

"Aloha." Oh, maybe he knew what was up the stairs.

code by spacexual

[SÉAMUS]

☠ I will not take this anymore; these words will never be ignored. you want a battle? here's a war —

The larger feline's head swiveled, turning downwards as he regarded the approaching kitten, brows creased in thought.  Amused, he wondered if she was a little physic; knowing without realizing he had been pondering her existence.  It did not particularly matter, he supposed.  With slightly upturned lips, he flicked an ear.  "Aloha Sibi," he offered in turn, teasing her with his own use of a nickname.  Keona was a rather pretty name; no doubt Haliaka's choice, but he preferred the use of her Gaelic name.  No doubt her two names were a compromise, but it also meant that she had a name more befitting her family in any situation that may require it.  As far as he was aware, no situation would occur.  None of their people were here.

"And where are you wandering today, a leanbh?"

It was with something akin to pride perhaps, that he had taken to noticing the way the child snuck around.  Being as small as she was, he was not surprised it often worked well.  Granted, one had to be a little concerned about their abilities if a blind kitten can sneak past them - or perhaps the just ought to be extremely impressed.  In his case, Séamus often pretended he did not see her.  A few times, he had gone as far as initiating conversations with someone who might've spotted her otherwise.  It made it all rather entertaining really.

The feline leaned back comfortably on his haunches, curling his tail neatly over his paws.  Since he had seen her before she noticed him, she might've had a specific location in mind.  Or perhaps she had simply not been as alert as she could have been.  The former made the most sense to him. The only noteworthy location here was the Colosseum, as far as he was aware.  Perhaps that was her goal, though he was not sure why she'd be interested in that place all by herself.  Not only that but it was better to go at night, as in the next few hours it would soon grow hotter.

Whatever the case, Séamus would not mind granted some direction if needed.
[div style="text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; text-shadow: 0px 0px 2px #009E60; font-size: 15px;"]— SÉAMUS Ó FAOLÁN ☠

#psychosocial.

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

Her eyes brightened considerably, muscles subconsciously relaxing as her uncle treated her to her own nickname in turn.  She had noticed, though she did not mind, her uncle tended to use Sibeal, instead of Keona.  While two names may be odd to others, she had grown up quite used to it during her earliest moons, onboard her father's ship.  She had no preference, although she always introduced herself as Keona to her crewmates.  It just made things simple for everyone outside of her family to use one.

Her head tilted curiously in his direction, the Gaelic words washing over her ears familiarly.  Good question.  Her face split into a crooked - almost sheepish - grin.  "Do 'ya know what's... Behin the falls uncail?" She hoped so, but if not, they could always find out together of course.

"I wanna know," she mumbled, shuffling her paws, "can we go?"

code by spacexual

[SÉAMUS]

☠ I will not take this anymore; these words will never be ignored. you want a battle? here's a war —

"Behind the falls?" The pirate echoed, raising a brow.  His head turned accordingly as he realized she must never have been in the Colosseum before.  "Ah.  The stairs 'ere," he began, tail flicking, "lead up to a door, an' beyond that a bridge.  It goes over some lava though, so it's best you be careful if you were planning on goin' alone," he doubted she'd manage to fall but... One could not be too careful with children.  Besides; if she did not know about the place, she might not know about the door's password either.  Thank goodness he was already out here.  "'An past that, there's a massive... Arena, or what we call a Colosseum."

"It's a good place to train, I suppose," he explained, shrugging.  "In ancient Rome, a Colosseum is where gladiators would fight to the death.  Some had to fight beasts, like lions, or even monsters, from some stories." A shame his people had never had a Colosseum or similar arena; the Fae had many capable of warriors he'd be fascinated in pitting against each other.

"Still wanna go?" Seamus did not know if arenas really interested the girl, but she was a pirate after all, not a princess, though her royal blood said otherwise. "We can, but I want you to stick close to me the whole way in, alright Sibi?"
[div style="text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; text-shadow: 0px 0px 2px #009E60; font-size: 15px;"]— SÉAMUS Ó FAOLÁN ☠

#psychosocial.

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

Keona rocked on her paws, eyes practically glowing as she realized he did indeed know what was beyond the rushing water.  She let him explain, though her patience was limited. Truthfully, an arena had very little appeal to the little Striker.  She had extremely little combat experience, mostly due to the fact she never wanted to actually ask anyone to spar with her.  In her mind, they'd no doubt either go too easy or completely destroy her; then of course ridicule her on her inability to fight.  Simple as that.

Fighting in general had little appeal to Keona.  She understood that, as pirates, if they wanted something, they take it, and they take it forcibly, and that often meant with tooth and claw, but she'd rather find a way around violence.  It was not like someone as small as her stood much a chance against anyone.

Nonetheless, the child was up half the steps nearly the second after her uncle made his inquiry before nearly falling on her face, realizing he wanted her to stick close.  Sheepishly, she paced around on her current step and nodded meekly. "Sorry uncail," she mumbled.  "I'll stay by you."

A lot of his words has gone over her head, if she was honest, but lava briefly nosed it's way into her mind and she fought back a shudder.  The volcano had been the worst part of the blood division ceremony.  Keona could not drive the memory of her breath catching in her throat when she realized a step away and there'd be nothing for her paws to hold on to.  No ground.  Just a pit of lava far below her and a certain end to her day.

code by spacexual

[SÉAMUS]

☠ I will not take this anymore; these words will never be ignored. you want a battle? here's a war —

For a split second, the pirate just stood, blankly, brows raising.  A question of whether or not she'd even been listening popped in his mind, but when she started apologizing he sighed.  A fighter or not, she was curious, which meant he'd have to keep up with her, it seems.

Seamus flicked an ear and quickly bounded up the steps, aiming to gently brush the girl with his tail as he ascended.  "Just don't want you getting yourself into trouble, Sibi," he was not sure he'd survive his twin's wrath if he was honest.  If anything were to happen to the child with him in charge, it would not be pretty when Kian found out.  It was almost amusing to think about really, but the mischievous pirate did value his skin a little more than that.

"Besides, we've got to be a tad careful with the door," he explained when they reached the top.  "It's got a secret knock," he added, lowering his voice into something more conspiring, eyes gleaming.  Said door's knocker was a bit tall for the small feline, but he had a work around.

"Gimme one second, Sibi."  Flicking his ear, he let his body shift, carefully transforming into the shape of a red tailed hawk.  Feathers and wings were something very different to him, but being avian had some advantages.  He made quick work of reaching the door, using razor sharp talons to preform the special knock.  Instead of floating down, he simply shifted in the air, landing with a soft thud on his feline paws.  "There," he grinned.

He hoped if she ever planned on sneaking back up here, she remembered that knock; it'd do no good to find her crushed by spikes.  "Now we can cross the bridge."
[div style="text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; text-shadow: 0px 0px 2px #009E60; font-size: 15px;"]— SÉAMUS Ó FAOLÁN ☠

#psychosocial.

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

Once more, the kitten felt her muscles relax, relieved her uncle seemed to be of a kinder disposition than she had perhaps thought.  Of course, the only reason she had ever thought him odd was that her father seemed so wary of him.  The tiny fae wanted to ask, but always backed away from the question.  Perhaps something had happened between them.  Siblings, if she had things right, did not always get along.  It was a normal occurrence... But Keona felt like those disagreements - or whatever - did not always last this long.  It boggled her a little, and worried her.  She liked both her uncles, and her father very much.  Hopefully they'd figure it out.

It occurred to her to ask Seamus, but... She backed out of that too.  At least he was nice, and did not mind showing her around new places.  Even places with mysterious secret knocks.

Keona lingered beside him dutifully, not wanting to disobey his request once more.  When he started changing, Keona's brows creased deeply.  Even without her eyes, she could sense his shape beside her had altered, and her fur grazed feathers before he got into the air.  No doubt the knocker was a little high for them.  No doubt high enough for most others, but... Well, they were the smallest felines got.

When he fell back down, she heard paws.  Keona frowned.  "… Did you change?" She inquired, ears flicking back nervously.  What an odd ability.  Could everybody do that?  "You... B'came a bird, right?" He certainly was not one now.  The kitten did not understand.  The concept of being able to change one's form by will... So strange.  She was not actually sure if she thought it was cool or a little creepy.

Obviously it was useful.  "Can you turn into anything?" Keona tried to think of something big; she'd ran into many crewmates whose voices came from higher and higher up.  Was her uncle capable of being the same height of them?  That... That would be pretty cool, she'd admit.

A little less freaked out, Keona slowly crept the past the door, wondering exactly what would happen if one did the knock wrong.  Did a secret knock mean that something bad would happen for the wrong combo? Or would did it simply mean it would not open?  She did not really want to find out.  Nor did she want to get very close to lava - which she could hear bubbling below - and she skirted a little closer to her uncle.

"C-can..." Stars, she was old enough to walk on her own - admittedly she was still a bit uncoordinated half the time - but she did not like the idea of the bridge.  "Carry me?"

code by spacexual

[SÉAMUS]

☠ I will not take this anymore; these words will never be ignored. you want a battle? here's a war —

He was certain plenty of their crewmates could shapeshift.  It was in no words unusual to him, but to Keona, who was probably never close by at the moment of change probably never had a clue.  He chuckled softly, nodding.  "Door's a bit high up, so I turned into a hawk, yes." If he was honest, Seamus liked being a feline more, and most often stuck with his birth form, but he had spent his time as a reptile a few times and as an avian when necessary.

"Well I've seen a few creatures I've never tried shifting into," he murmured, tail flicking.  He could not shift into any kind of dinosaur, to his awareness, or dragon, though admittedly he'd never tried before.  "I rather like being the way I am, if I'm honest with you," he nudged her gently, smirking.

Keona, being of powerful blood, no doubt had some dormant abilities.  Power he'd yet to see quite yet though, he noted as he carefully led her through the doors. Most of their people had powers, but their family especially, oft inherited more than the norm.  She was, he reminded himself, still extremely young, in terms of their people.  Perhaps one day she'd find herself able to do some of the things he could.

Seamus was about to walk right past her onto the bridge when he noticed the way she raced away from it.  He nearly tripped over his own paws in surprise.  "Sibi?" Oh. Was she scared, perhaps, of the lava?  Or just of the drop?  The feline craned his neck, peering down.  His own perked up ears could catch the bubbling and boiling of molten magma as well.

At first he thought of insisting she be a little braver than that, but decided against it.  He did not want to upset the child.  "Alright." Gently, he aimed to lift her up by the scruff and with feather light paws, trotted across the stone bridge.  "Here we are, safe and sound."
[div style="text-align: right; text-transform: uppercase; text-shadow: 0px 0px 2px #009E60; font-size: 15px;"]— SÉAMUS Ó FAOLÁN ☠

#psychosocial.

[Keona.]

✯ — female. striker of the typhoon. blind. rusty spotted cat.  ref. bio.

Keona exhaled sharply, eyes aglow.  A hawk.  That was really cool.  She wondered if her uncle Raziel, or her father could do it too.  Still beaming, she nodded quickly at his mention of staying the way he was.  She supposed, if she could shapeshift, she'd feel the same way.  Her little body, tiny as it was, was hers, and it'd been what she was born as and was used to.  She'd rather stay like this.

Keona shuffled her paws, waiting as he must have been thinking, shoulders dropping in relief when he decided to oblige.  The kitten was admittedly a little unused to being carried now.  It'd been some time since she had needed to be, since she had no trouble running all over the place on her own.  The lack of ground beneath her paws took her breath away for a split second, a fraction of panic dancing in her eyes before fizzling out like a flame.

She was not hanging, she was being carried.  By her uncle.  Who would not drop her.  Indeed, she grinned quite happily when he set her down, and was rushing forward once more without a second thought.  Her paws only skidded when she reached the colosseum's entrance, knowing without seeing she was about to enter a rather large space.

Keona could feel the sun again here, and hear the tropical bird calls.  She wandered into the arena slowly, ears perked as she focused on every sound, tail curling up curiously.  "How big, Uncail?" She inquired lightly, head tilting.

code by spacexual