I'm not all there myself (Chesh)

[Deleted]

Egeria was resting. Trees never really truly slept, but it did happen to be that she couldn't stay away from her source of life for too long without experiencing consequences. Her powers would dim and she'd feel something akin to fatigue until she allowed the image of herself that she called human form, fall back into her tree and lapse into a sort of idle state. It was nothing exciting, although her tree did seem more lively with it's soul returned. The buds of apples seemed more willing to grow and her leaves took on a pretty gloss. The whole apple tree seemed to almost exude and light and comfortable glow, a perfect place for an weary wanderer to take refuge from the summer sun.

Unlike many seemingly comforting things around Tintagel, this one was not a trick...well mostly. Egeria was a generally kind soul and keen to help mankind, but she had the bad habit of pointing out ones more secret issues and making people exceedingly uncomfortable. She tended to treat people more like a interesting book than an actual human being. She cared for life, she most certainly did, but it was drilled into her nature to be neutral and indifferent so she often got lost somewhere in between. Now, however, more than ever she needed to forced herself to recall why she left her family, that is to share her knowledge and help rather than just sit on it like the rest of the wood nymphs in Lantern Waste. Although she did not fight, she would be useful in this war.

[chesh]

Chesh was also resting, but not really in the same way the Egeria was, being that he was a cat in a tree and not a tree in a tree. Or he planned to be a cat in a tree. He often teleported to his favorite branch in this particular tree, because it seemed to be the branch in the best tree on campus. The tree was exceptionally comfortable, and just shaded enough to be shady but just allowed enough son to be cozy warm. Yes, this was a good tree.

What Chesh did not realize, was that this tree was a girl. And so, when he spoke to it, he did not expect it to speak back. Although that would have been very interesting, as he’d never had a two-way conversation with a tree before, it was definitely unexpected. What was expected was that the sun-warmed bark of the tree would dig not-unpleasantly against Chesh’s back as he leaned against the trunk, inhaling deeply for the subtle scent of apple blooms.

“What a lovely day for a sit by a tree.” He murmured, his large eyes slipping closed for a bit of a nap.

[Deleted]

This was not the first time Robin Cheshire had chosen Egeria's branches to rest in. Although she was not resting in her tree every time he'd come for a little cat-nap, she'd been very aware of his presence each time given the connection she held to the nature he'd picked to lounge in. He, or sometimes she, was not an unwelcome visitor exactly nor precisely a welcome one, but, all things considered, he was an interesting one. She'd not thought to bother him before being that she was quite content to just observe him and his curious ways. She'd seen him around campus too, be careful not not be seen herself. No one quite like him had come to Tintagel before, then again, she couldn't say that anyone at Tintagel wasn't unique. Still, she took a special interest in the ex feline because he was something of a puzzle that took a little bit longer to solve than most. He was a Cheshire cat, you see, and she'd not have the opportunity to meet one those before. Perhaps its was time now to have a little chat with the grinning little kitty.

Indeed she said in the whimsical tone that often rolled off her tongue and made her words seem more of a melody than plain speech. She materialized in a soft flurry of pink petals on a branch to the side a slightly above Robin's. A pretty girl she was, actually. her skin was soft and not so pale that she seemed cold, but rather comforting and spring like. Her cheeks the same shade of pink as her blooming apple blossoms and her eyes a transparent blue. The nymph's hair fell in long, wavy, dark locks around her shoulders and seemed to be shifted by some self-made breeze. Yes, she was pretty, but then most nymphs where and it had apparently gotten all but Egeria into a fair amount of trouble in the past.

But do tell me, dear Robin she began after a fair pause to look him over. Why is it my tree you so often slink up to slumber?

[chesh]

It was not very often that people around the school were given to using his first name. In fact, he made a point to ensure that very few people knew it and made a special point to be the type of student whose name got around by way of rumor. Chesh or Cheshire were generally the only things he answered to.

But he felt like he owed the tree at least the use of his first name.

Especially being that she put a welcome ‘dear,’ before it.

Despite never meeting the nymph, he was obligated to like her. Not obligated necessarily, but almost…predisposed to do so. He lifted the lid of one eye to regard her, pleased with how pretty she was. She matched her bark wrapping perfectly.

“Because your tree is the best tree.” Chesh answered matter-of-factly, closing his eyes again as he continued. “It is the perfect place when I want to waste time, because it is secluded, but it is also high enough to people-watch should I choose to be secluded but still observe. It smells nice, and is beautiful year round, likely due to your consistent presence, I’m sure.” He complemented, nodding slightly towards her.

He opened his eyes again. “I am fond of the shade of your blooms just as much as I am fond of the way they ruffle in the breeze. Your leaves don’t make much noise when the wind blows and so my slumber is not disturbed, yet they whisper pleasantly should I choose to listen.” He chuckled slightly to himself. “Admittedly, I usually do not choose that.”

Finally, he shrugged. “and lastly, I feel entitled to it, as cats are wont to do. This is a good tree, a tree deserving of my napping, one that reciprocates deserving-ness and therefore giving of the feeling that I deserve to nap in it.”

Whatever that means.

“How did you learn my first name?” Chesh asked, ignoring any need for a segue in their conversation as he picked up one of the blossoms she’d spontaneously produced and gently turned it in his fingers. Things were strange enough already, no use in following the formalities of regular conversation.

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Egeria greatly enjoyed listening and deciphering words like riddles. It was quite possibly her favorite pastime and Robin Cheshire had certainly given her plenty to work with. There were not many here so willing to give such an extensive answer to any question she asked. Most asked about her abilities, or, at the very least, her name. There where a lot of mortals dwelling in this place that kept strictly to the norms of human conversation, Cheshire, however, seemed to not only ignore them but purposely do so.

She supposed that this wasn't entirely strange given that she had to remind herself that Chesh was actually a cat, a very intelligent and high functioning cat, but a feline nonetheless. Cats carried a sense of haughtiness about them in general and a high level of pride. This was displayed most colorfully by his last reason for choosing her tree. After many complements paid to Echo, she diminished them just as quickly by building herself up and over them all with a comment regarding how her tree was deserving of the cat's presence. She was a clever cat.

Yes she. She hadn't been paying much attention to it before, but Robin Cheshire was most certainly, genetically, a female and thus Egeria would regard her so. It was logical.

Egeria hardly so much as blinked while Robin spoke, taking in her words like some kind of super computer and possessing the many things they could mean. Observational, drawn the pretty things, prefers to be physically above people as well mentally, picky, regards her opinions to be very important. All this and more ran through Egeria's mind, none of it of extreme surprise, but it was still interesting to prove her theories and test her knowledge. Anyway, it wasn't often you found yourself chatting with a cat personified. Finally they reached her name question. Egeria had been curious if she'd get there.

This cat she knew to be fond of riddles just as she so why not give her one to think on?

I am all about, but am not to be seen, she began musically, calling the blossom from the kitty's hand into her own.

I may be captured, but may not be held,
No throat do I possess, and yet I can be heard.

(if you don't know the answer PM me idk if you want to try and figure it out or just have Chesh get it pretty easily)

[chesh]

As the blossom was coaxed from her hand, Chesh’s grinned widened. She rubbed her fingers against her palm and listened to Egeria’s sweet voice sound the riddle. It was an old one; a favorite, like a friend. More of a warm up for his tastes. She loved riddles, but often puzzled them through, and preferred to be dazzled by the winding intellect of others rather than their words.

But all the same. The game was fun.

“You are the wind.” She answered simply, nodding to the tree spirit and rubbing her hands together to think of something fresh in return.

“I…” She began, trailing away after a moment. “ am the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space,” There was a theatricality to her movement and her speech as she delivered the riddle, taking the few steps to close the space between herself and Egeria. “The beginning of every end…”

She stood much closer to the girl now, just within her social space. “and the end of every place.”

“Who am I, Egeria?”



[OoC: OH MY GOSH. I’m sorry this took so long. The same deal for your riddle goes for mine just PM me if you look it up and can’t find it. That is…if you want her to get the answer. ^_^]