"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Erupt is not a creature accustomed to making deals with anyone, be they devils or otherwise. His greatest joy in life has always been in the heated pools and sticky streams of magma. Tephra had been such an easy choice of home for that reason alone. Were it not for the easy access to his favored element, he would have had no care for the place in which he had settled.
There is a flicker of disappointment when she tells him there is no molten rock to be had where she intends to go. He might have enjoyed the change of scenery if he could have had the sulfuric heat of his liquid stone with him as well. He is prepared to tell her no - had even gone so far as to open his mouth to do so - when she continues.
She captures his attention instantly when she utters those two simple words. Not yet. Did that mean she imagined there could be? The possibility is enough to intrigue him, and undoubtedly a woman as astute as this thief would sense his hesitant interest. It had always been easy in this kingdom, his gift. Lava flows so readily that he had only to call it and it would come. He had of course spent some time outside these volcanic borders. Enough to know that there is nowhere else where his element is so readily available.
But also enough to know that there are many places where it lies hidden, buried deep within the earth. Were he a more ambitious creature, he might have already selected one of those locations to try and hone his craft. To pull it from where it lay buried deep beneath the earth’s crust. But he is not ambitious. And ultimately, the ease of access here has long outweighed his interest in proving himself elsewhere.
Yet, when the lovely woman before him offers to help him if he helps her, he begins to wonder if perhaps this is what the fates have been waiting for. If this is the sign he needs to further build his art. If perhaps he might build a similar haven, so he need not be confined to one location in the entirety of this continent.
He is silent long enough that they must be wondering if he would answer at all. But, finally, after gazing for a long moment towards the distant volcano, Erupt replies, “Help me find it buried in the earth, and I will aid you.”
His gaze flicks briefly to her captive, but his purple eyes hold no remorse.
There are no molten lava flows in the Pampas like there are in Tephra. And there is no volcano, either. But Aela has learned to see the world in two ways: to see things as they are and how they could (should) be. As they are, the Western kingdom is the only place with the magma and slag that an aptly named creature like Erupt needs.
But why should it stay that way?
Momentarily forgetting Islay (though not completely, Aela makes sure to keep pressuring fear against the other mares throat like a claw ready to tear it out), the palomino arches a delicate brow at the multi-hued stallion. Erupt himself is full of wonderful possibilities for the Pampas; the lava that surges and twists to his command is all the proof the Seneschal needed.
Erupt brings the possibility of more for Aela. The Flower Court was known for its beautiful flowers, and its peaceful vistas. As a cover for the more sinister things she had mind, the setting worked perfectly. Its beauty contrasted to what others might find ugly; captives kept there like the young Islandres Chief. Change, however, was an inevitable part of life and the slender Empath knew it would come to the territory sooner or later.
Better to be the inspiration for that change than to be caught unaware of it.
"What you can find below our hooves is yours to carve out in the Pampas," Aela tells him, a verbal offering as part of their agreement. Obscene might have his own reservations about the changes she would be seeking, but her mind drifts to her son instead. Fyr would enjoy the flames and fires this stranger would bring. It was an excellent teaching opportunity for the young colt as well.
"As for the rest, I will petition the Mountain and seek to compensate you for what you will lose here."
The pale stallion has never been a creature for political intrigues. He knows this place seethes with it, filled to the brim with the clever and ambitious. Erupt has never cared for such things however. There is pleasure in the simplicity of his life, in knowing precisely what it is that he wants. He does not begrudge those that find joy in scheming, but he is not one of them.
Perhaps that makes him a fool or pawn. He’s never considered it, truth be told. Still, he is rather curious why this pretty thief would go through so much effort to convince him to join her. He has been intrigued by her since the beginning, he cannot deny. If he hadn’t been, he never would have joined her for this strange little conversation.
Certainly there must be far easier marks than he. She had appeared to be handling the painted woman just fine before stumbling across him.
He cannot help but feel he is missing something here. On the other hand, he’s not entirely certain that he cares if he is. After all, if he does not find the Pampas as hospitable as he would like, he could always return.
So he nods when the woman makes her offer. It is an enticing one, after all. If he could wield his element outside this humid jungle, he would enjoy the opportunity to do so. Pulling a thin stream of lava from the twinning bands, he curls it along the blue and white mare’s hind fetlock. Help for help, she had said. So he would help.
