Welcome to Gaia! ::

Saradin roused a bit from his sleep, and openned his eyes to let in the midday sun. The first thing he could make out was Eclipse's muzzle, just short of touching his face. "Hmmm... good morning." He was starting to practice being a more gracious guest now, adding the common pleasentries that he always seemed to avoid before. Stiff arms popped as he forced himself to his feet and began rubbing his neck. Then he also noticed Aurahkah nearby and sorted out the words he heard while half awake. "I don't mind if he's being rude," he pet Eclipse's head, "I needed to be woken up."

Practically bowlled over by Eclipse in his drowsy state, Saradin had to comply to his demands for attention before being dragged down forcefully. On one knee, he rubbed Eclipse's fur and scratched behind his ears. "Still the attention grabber." He continued to pet Eclipse, almost forgetting for now how he had work to do. "I didn't intend to sleep all night. I was only taking a short break."

"We share the fascination really." Scratching behind Eclipse's ears and near his chin simultaneously with both hands. "The sword is doing well, I've cleaned off the rust, but the blade still needs to be reshaped a bit and the steel needs to be tempered. It could still take a couple of days. How about you? How have you been doing these past few days?"

"Not a problem, I've dumped more than a few of my own on you during my stay." Saradin still completely drawn in by petting Eclipse. "I've lived what you are going through many times and I know what it will do to you. Try to take one thing at a time. Most everyone's worries won't come crashing down at once, you'll have time to find a way through things. No amount of success in helping others will matter if you destroy yourself before you can accomplish anything."

"Thank you, since I've returned I've almost felt safe here. I stiill don't know how it happened, but I came to love this place." Saradin broke away from petting Eclipse and stood up, still one hand petting his head as he thought though. "I guess I have a bit of a deeper understanding with him, that power that we are born from gives a sort of sense as to what he thinks. But please, do tell me what's been bothering him lately."

"Is that what's on his mind?" He regarded Eclipse, the always cheerful, always playing animal that roved the manor. "Well, I understand what he feels. I'm far from human myself, born from a random moment of evil intent." But Eclipse wasn't an 'animal' after all, he was the same as Saradin, a magical entity without any truely natural form of its own. "Of all the questions that I've let worry me though, that was one that I found simple to answer. I didn't even learn my nature until I was living here, it rattled me more than most things. In the end though, just being near this place was enough. Eclipse, you don't need to concern yourself with being a normal animal. You aren't expected to be the same, in fact its what sets you apart that makes you unique, and that saved me."

"You're welcome Eclipse, it's the least I can do to repay you." Saradin ran one hand along the base of his wing. "You both have already saved me, anything I can do to help is freely given." Then, he drew himself away from the subject. "But, I've been distracted a bit to long now, and my work needs to be completed. I hope I've helped somewhat." In a minute, the forge's flames were lit and Soulforge was again being treated in the heat.

((I have to go. Hope to actually be back on later this time around. *glances at sushi* stressed ))