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What Oleander thought was going to be a nice day, sure the sky was over cast with clouds. It just didn't seem like they type that would open up and just pour down on his parade. The perlino buck stood under one of the worse trees as the rain soaked into the ground around him. His mane clung to his neck like creeper vines to a tree. Tail dropping behind him into the mud that gathered around. Well this dampened Oleander's mood of sorts.

"So much for going to find another book." He muttered a little frustratedly.

As it was, the satchel that hung around his neck drooped from the soaking rain, whatever he had inside was also very wet. Shaking his head, tussled mane going in all directions, but the right one. Grey eyes gazed up at the even grayer clouds through the sparce cover he stood under. It was only with a crack of accompanying thunder did the buck hot hoof it to one of the outlying buildings.

"OK, ok, indoors I will go." He called out as sheet lightening flashed across the clouds like snakes. "Didn't really want to stay outside anyways. All the good things are in here." A grin replaced his sour expression as he shook most the rain water off his coat.

A tremor of a shiver rolled through his spine as the cold of the wet set in. It would work itself out sooner or later. He just had to keep moving and he would soon dry off and warm up again. He could only hope that the rain will stop soon and the sun will shine again.

WC: 275

"I will have to wait this rain out if I am going to get any good books out of here." Oleander said as he looked out one of the few windows, ears flicking to the sides of his head. "Oh well, maybe the hunt of some shiny things will make the day go faster."

Turning around the perlino buck turned away from the window and headed to another side of the building. Grey eyes were on the look out for things that would shine, though in this dull lighting and stormy day. Oleander couldn't quite see much and the kicked up dust caused him to sneeze. Shaking his head, he shook off again, his hide still damp and was starting to itch in places. The water whipping of his tail, he lifted his head slightly. He had thought he had heard something. Was there someone there?

"Hello?" Was all that escaped his muzzle as Oleander's voice was almost drowned out by another fierce crack of thunder outside. That storm was really starting to whip itself into a fury. He was surprised the wind her yet to start blowing.

"Oh, there's something interesting.." His attention suddenly changed from the voices in another part of the building to something that was on the floor.

The item was small, barely the size of a small branch. Lowering his head towards the half rusted out soup ladle, Oleander nosed it over before snorting at it. It wasn't that special after all. He had a few of them back at his home and this one was in worse condition then the rest. Raising a hoof he kicked the piece of metal sending it flying into the darkness. There were better things then ladles. At least he was hoping that there was...

WC: 296

Ears twitching slightly, Oleander looked around in the dim lighting of the building before he gazed upon another Noul, seems he wasn't the only one that was caught out in this messy weather. As he looked at this other, he noticed that there was something on his back. Perhaps a familiar of some sort, these questions were shortly answered by the Noul himself. So his name was Tsarine and the Scuttle Scale on his back was Ayala.

"Hi there, I'm Oleander. I might have been, not too many other Nouls out in this weather." he answered looking towards one of the broken windows. "Don't suppose you two are too familiar with this place, are you? As many times I have ventured into these Ruins. There is very little luster left."

It was true that there were still many places that he could explore, but in truth, there seemed to be less and less. It was getting a bit depressing, or it was just the rain that was dragging him down. The weather certainly wasn't one that matched his sunny demeanor. This was more sleepy, stay in the den weather with a warm blanket and a good book... Which he was running out of...

WC: 203

Oleander couldn't help but tilt his head to one side. The look on his face was one of amazement that this buck had survived this long in the Ruins. There weren't so many that could say the same, not without a loss of limb or other means. Some tragedy that shaped their lives in some means. While he didn't know this younger buck's story, surely one that was heaped with challenges. Oleander himself wasn't one with a glorious life, hardly anyone in Homewood had one. Place was too safe for its own good..

Frowning in his own thoughts, Oleander had forgotten where he was before a crack of thunder outside made him jump. That as most undignified of him, but he wasn't going to show that it was anything else. Perhaps he should have just remained in his home where he could be away from this mess. Shaking his head he glanced back towards the younger Buck.

"Grew up here, huh? Not many that do survive unless they have secret spaces to hide away in. But it seems that is what you had, with this Sanctuary." Oleander nodded as Tsarine spoke on, one thing that made him pause. "You came back for a bucket?"

It wasn't like it was a bad thing, he had seen another doe wander around with one. He had a satchel to carry his things in. While it wasn't the greatest of holding water... It was the worst as everything got soaked.As soaked as things were now and it seemed that the rain was only going to come down harder.

"Lets find your place before this rain gets worse and neither of us can see two hooves in front of our noses." Oleander suggested as he gave another look outside as lightning snaked across the skies again, it was almost as dark as night outside.

WC: 309

"Don't need to warn me about things falling." Oleander said as he followed the other buck, "Had too many things shift and fall on my poor tail I almost wish it were shorter."

While it was said with a joking tone, he knew that falling things around here weren't a joke. Many a Noul had been lost to these ruins and the sooner it all was at ground level the better. Though... It did mean that there would be no more things to find here and he would have to search for other places. Shaking his head, Oleander looked to where the buck was standing, the rain pouring down around them.

"Am sorry about your parents..." his tone going serious for a few moments.

There was mention of the bucket again and a question of what he was seeking. Well there were many things that he was looking for, but most he wouldn't let out into weather like this. Glancing up at the ever grey clouds, wishing there was an Atmos who could dispel this mess from the air. But seems they were stuck with it and whatever else was out in it as well.

"Well, there are a few books I am hunting for, shiny things where ever I can get them." Oleander says as he glances off into the distance, not really looking at anything, though something did stick out against the darkness of the area. Something that was a striking blue color.

"Could that be what you are looking for up a head?" Oleander asked as he pointed with a hoof towards the blot of color among the grays and blacks.


WC: 274

Oleander let the other buck talk, he was one to listen to others, for the most part. He had grown up on Homewood, but it wasn't the most exciting of things. Trees everywhere and not a shiny bit of anything anywhere. Not really something to write home about anyways... If it made any sense, it didn't to him.

"My upbringing wasn't the most glamorous. Parents lived in Homewood, I was very bored." he commented looking away a bit.

He watched as the younger buck went out into the rain to grab the blue object he had spotted. It seemed that it was indeed the bucket that he had been looking for. Well it was good that the buck had found what he had lost. There was talk of a sanctuary and this got to Oleander's curiosity. Was that where this one had lived since he had been a foal? One thing that Oleander had to shake his head at was the eating of the wrong berries.

"Many things in these places seem inedible. I can always lend you a book on telling the difference in other species of plants."he offered as it seemed that Tsarine now knew where they were and how far from where his home was.

"Also got a question for you. by any chance you another solar user? I have been meaning to find another to test something out. Kinda a small redundant thing, but something."

WC: 239

Oleander listened as the younger buck spoke of his past. The finding of the bucket and so forth. This sanctuary sounded interesting. He could assume that anyone who lived in this place would have a safe place to live. But then, not too many lived in the Ruins that actually stayed in them for very long. Oleander nodded as the story was ended, seems fair enough that he would seek companionship in something. He had surrounded himself in objects over the year.

"Sounds like you have had your own fair share of adventures out here." He commented before watching where he was stepping the further into the ruins they went. "The reason I asked is I was wondering if you had gotten used to using your gift. Wanted to try out something with another solar user, granted if they had the right abilities."

Oleander paused as they came to where Tsarine's home had been. The area was suitable for someone living on their own. His home was much smaller then this, but very much crowded with items if not having more. Glancing around the den as it were he noted the bed where the other buck had slept over the years living here.

"Had quite the place here, didn't ya? Quite cozy and safe away from those out there. The scavengers and hunters, predators even." he nodded slightly as he glanced over toward Tsarine whom was collecting things that he was looking to take with him away from the sanctuary.

He had mentioned that most things were open game, so Oleander, silently squeeing like a filly. Pranced over to the far side of the den where the books were and started nosing them over. Glancing at the titles and the looks of the bindings, he pulled a couple that looked interesting and slipped them into the satchel around his neck. When he was finished there, he took a lap around the place to see what else was there.

"Took a while to collect everything here, huh?"

WC: 336

"Hmm. I too have Endure. Also have Cool. I am one to want to pit abilities against each other to see what happens. Like sprout with decay. Drizzle with Spillway. Such things." Oleander said before pulling a couple books from the shelves and tucking them away.

Turning away from the books, he looked at the younger buck. While it was true that what he was thinking was a little silly. But it was who he was, wanting to see the effects of abilities against others. It was just a case of explaining what he was getting at.

"Well, would you entertain me with seeing how Warmth and Cool would work against each other?" he asked watching Tsarine earnestly. "If you don't want to, that is fine too. Seeing this lovely piece of paradise in a land of bones is enough." Oleander glanced around again, his mind thinking of how they had gotten there. Maybe he could find the place again in the future and slip away with a few other items.


WC: 171