You look so pretty, but you're gone so soon! /O, Joiner

[wormwood.]

NOTHING BESIDE REMAINS — This was not the first time that Aurum had been snarled at in fear, and he had strong doubts that it would be the last. After all, the former proxy was an African lion, and a large one, at that. It was difficult for him not to appear intimidating, even with a smile on his face and a kind look in his one remaining eye. Still, he found himself wincing as the young girl hissed at him, taking another step back and attempting to make himself look smaller, his large body pressing against the ground and his golden wings spreading out flat at his sides. He rumbled softly, adding on to what both Elsweyr and Salvia had said, "Like those two said, I'm not any threat to you, I promise. I just came over to see what was going on... your name is very pretty, you know." His current position was rather awkward, but he still stayed essentially laid down, not wanting to shift too quickly and cause the child to panic once again. Thankfully, he was able to make himself comfortable, his back legs shifting and splaying out as he waited for the child to calm herself. He wasn't intimidated or worried by her hissing, no, but he did want her to stop hissing, so that she would be able to just enjoy her food properly.

Upon hearing Elsweyr's explanation of how Ares had come to be within their territory, he slowly nodded, mumbling to the cheetah as his tail flicked back and forth behind him, "Fear scent, huh? Sounds like she might have been left behind for safety reasons. Maybe her parents are still out there... we should make sure that we take care of her. Treat her as one of her own, and see if her parents come back. If not, we can always just keep taking care of her." He then let his one eyed gaze flick back over to Ares, a soft chuckle leaving him as he saw how she pressed into Elsweyr's tail. He spoke reassuringly, letting his one eye fall shut so that he was even less frightening to the child, "As they said, my name is Aurum. I may be big, but I don't make a habit of hurting people, I promise. I'm happy to welcome you into Tanglewood, alright?" His one blue eye opened once again, and he tilted his head curiously to one side, wondering if she would actually calm down further. If not, he could just head back home, and allow Elsweyr to handle things, with the help of Salvia, if his son wanted to stick around. — OF THE MAN WHO WAS BORN AND DIED A KING.