Welcome to Gaia! ::

The angel holds out his arms and embraces the lion close, enfolding him in his wings. "Peace, Taro... sleep. Rest and grow strong. We'll talk of this later, when I return. For now, remember only that I love you and I will safe guard you... remember my promise... no harm will I let come to you, whether from afar or close at home... sleep."

Tam awakens and stretches, crawling out into the misty morning, yawning and hungry... really really hungry... and not for food. He dreads going home in this state. Kero's never seen him this depleted, but there is nothing else he can do. He needs to fit back into his tiny emotional web and soon, or face being very very ill. He closes his eyes and ports home, using up the last of his strength, arriving in the garden, upon the seat of his favorite chair, collapsing even as he sits down.

"Momma... Dadda... thewe's a swick pwetty puppy outside..." comes a familiar shriek from the house.

"It helps, a little, but what Tam really needs is to simply sit and absorb the emotional flows he has set up through the village... a little here... a little there... and he tells this to Hopian, thanking him for his concern. He does look awful though... his fur is all dull and lifeless, and he is but skin and bones... having used most of his stores the night before. He has Hopian put him in his chair by the fire and thanks Salunia for her quick response as well. "I... was so weak... princess... I might not have made it in...."

Tam nibbles at the food, but it is obvious from his gaze when Kero enters the room, that here is something far more nourishing than food. He sighs heavily and lays his head down on his paws, listening to Kero play, enduring Salunia's concerned promptings that he eat and her worried pettings. When Kero is done with his melody, Tam looks at Hopian and nods.

"It would be best if you leave us for awhile, my friend. You, too, princess... Kero and I have something very important to talk about."

Tam smiles at him. "Remember what you just said.... whenever we disagree, remember it..." he says softly in a breathy sigh. "This won't be the last time, Kero... We both know it. We are going to knock heads together ever so often. I don't want you hiding things from me. So tell me when you disagree, then be prepared for a lecture... and iffin you still disagree, we'll discuss it, like civilized people. You are old enough for that much. I did not relish my heavy handed method... but you had to be stopped. Now... not tomorrow... not two days from now... so all I ask of you is that you trust me. I won't ask anything from you I do not deem important in the realm of magic. Is that fair enough?"

Tam nods. "I know. I was going to explain it better, but you were so upset that I thought it best to separate myself from you for a time. You needed to calm down and I had to walk off my anger and fear."

He leans over and licks Kero's nose with a weak chuckle. "Basically, dulcha... you need to grow up... mentally and well.. physically as well. Magic to you is like a sweet sweet candy... you see nothing wrong with it... and find it's complexities intriguing. It's a puzzle that has to be solved... but there are hidden pitfalls in all forms of magic..."

He closes his eyes for a moment and nods. "I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to demonstrate this to you, and I've come up with one that I suspect your elder tried to show you. He dwelt mainly on voidic magic, if I know him and well... I think the idea may mean something more to you, if you see how it affects all the various fields. My sire has an asylum on the fringe of our kingdom... half in the realm of magic, half out... for a reason. I think we should go journey there so you can see with your own eyes what happens when magic controls the individual and not the reverse."

Tam nods sagely. "Aye... the ultimate horror... but truth be told, there are other ways the magic can control us as well... so we will be going to visit my family for a few days. I'll have Hopian and Fortuny decide whether or not they join us, stay here, or go home... Fortuny is getting close... here, she has Shar... in my home realm, she'd have mother and dad.. but she may prefer to simply go back to the desert."

Tam looks hard at him then nods. "Very well, for now... but should ye ferget what ye've seen... I'm keeping that option on the back burner."