Trial By Fire

[Dhall]

February 20^th, Year 1

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It had only been a week or so since... something has taken up residence in one of the newly constructed homes in the shadow of Pride Rock. Whatever it was, it hasn’t moved, but things were already seeming weird. Many of the soldiers had... some sort of new clothing on. A floating, luxurious cloth that breathed like no other, in colors rich and beautiful. Some of the younger or less experience seemed especially excited about it, chattering about some sort of strange properties.

The odd thing was, no one could really determine what it was in there. When asked, some said it was a god. Others, a monster. Still more, a demon. No one could really decide what it was. The only truth was that, once a day, someone was sent to the mess hall for ‘fresh fruit and you’re strongest drink’. That was the only solid fact.

A small group had formed around the aforementioned housing, murmuring and giggling to themselves as they try to take a peak at what it is that’s going on. Safe to say, this new addition is causing some distraction.

[Michi]

"What's going on over there?"
Michi's ear twitched at Shani's questioning voice. A small crowd had caught the two's attention, the chitter chatter of various voices and giggles.
"Dunno," the kitten replied, before tapping Shani's shoulder with her tail, "Lets go check it out."

Michi led Shani through the crowd, the two felines weaving in and out between people's legs until they got to the entrance of the new place that was set up. They both stopped just inside the entrance, Michi taking in the look of the place, and both of them adjusting to the slight increase in heat.

"Hello?" Shani called out.
Once Michi's eyes adjusted to the dark, she blinked at the sight of the strange looking creature that it seemed resided here.

[Dhall]

Upon entering the tent, the smell of herbs and ingredients blends in the air, rising through the smoke hole at the top of the house. Stunningly enough, for all the heat, it doesn’t smell like anything is burning. The figure in the back is sitting at the side of a forge pit, tending to something within. Fingers work carefully in time with a spinning jenny nearby, which leads into the heat. On the opposite side, a line of spools are spinning up colored, shimmering threads and yarns.

”Hello?"

The strange creature at the forge halts its movement, and turns slightly in her seat, “Ah, I see more from outside have gotten brave, instead of just standing outside. What can I make you?”

The voice that meets them is low and smooth, surprisingly friendly for something looking like the inside of a volcano.

[Shani]

Shani's nose twitched as a number of new, strange smells wafted through the air. Smells that reminded her of the kitchens, of Jasper's magic, and of the crash site where she had met Zamora. Fire, that's what it was. There was also the sound of crackling flames, and the creaking of wood, or perhaps metal as the spools turn. One particular smell seems to be coming from the voice at the back, similar to the fire smell, but also mixed with that of rock and earth.

Both young felines tilt their heads at Dhall's words, unsure of what she meant.
"Make us?" Shani questioned, tilting her head.
Michi padded forward, her tail tapping Shani's shoulder as she does, the cub then following behind slowly. Michi could see the inhabitant of this little den better now, and she was unlike anything the kitten had ever seen, and considering the amount of strange and interesting creatures that made up the freedom fighters, that was saying a lot.

"What is it that you make here?" the kitten asked, green eyes looking at all the different coloured threads, before turning back to the lava woman,
"And who are you?"

[Dhall]

The woman laughs softly, a noise like warm velvet. It's here she turns to face them fully, stone form pulling slightly from the hole in the side of the forge. It seems she's got a tail instead of legs, and she's powering the forge herself.

"I am Dhall, exalted 'God'," she exaggerates the last word, making quotation marks in the air, "Fire Elemental, Forge Queen, and celebrated enchantress, and I can make almost anything you two cuties desire. Though, I specialize in armor and protection."

Again, she laughs, expression friendly and kind. This is how everyone who had braved her tent had been treated, but Shani and Michi were extra special. They were small and cute, like icing on the cake.

"And how may I address you two?"

[Michi]

"I'm Michi," the kitten purred, her whiskers twitching as she approached Dhall, not a drop of fear in her tiny body. Why should she be scared? Dhall had already proven herself friendly in Michi's book, even with all those fancy titles.

Shani also approached, though albeit a bit slower, if only so she wouldn't run into anything or anyone,
"My name's Shani, I'm one of the medics," she gave a tiny dip of her head, looking in the direction of Dhall's voice. While she couldn't see what the other looked like, her voice was warm and welcoming. Like Michi, Shani felt no reason to be afraid of this stranger.
She'd have to make sure to ask Michi for a description of her later though.

"You make armor and stuff? That's so cool! We definitely need someone like that, I know the last battle the peackeepers were in didn't go so well, but Shani could probably tell you more, since she was the one who had to patch everyone up afterward." Michi blurted out, her eyes darting between Dhall, and all the different materials and creations scattered about.
"I don't know if either of us really need anything though," Shani added, "Medics don't go into battle, at least not on the frontlines, and Michi is still a cadet..."
Michi turned to Shani with a good humored twitch of her tail,
"give it a couple months and I'll be a peacekeeper just like the rest. Heck, you're already on your way to becoming head medic."
Shani only shook her head, a smile spread across her face.

Michi thought about it for a moment, before sitting on her haunches, tilting her head,
"I dunno anything about armor though... could you make something that can be worn everyday? Like a collar or something?"

[Dhall]

“Michi and Shani. It’s a pleasure to meet you both!” Dhall sings, broad stone hands carefully reaching down to scratch either underneath the chin.

“I did hear some vague whisperings about a battle. A few others have been in here for fitting, and it sounded like it was quite the mess! So I’m here to do what I can. Nothing tests your mettle quite like a trial by fire.”

Dhall turns to her work as the two felines chatter, listening to them talk. Such sweet things, they seemed to be friends. But when Michi talks about armor, the Elemental can’t help but let a small laugh slip.

“My dear, as I’m sure you’ll notice, there’s not much metal here in my workshop,” Dhall purrs, motioning to the room around her. True to her word, there were some bits of metal here and there, but the bulk of it is reams of cloth, herbs, dyes, sewing supplies, and looms, with the occasional smattering of glimmering gemstones, “All of my armor is made for comfort, gaining it’s protection from its enchantments. Think of it... like a lucky penny. It makes all of you lucky, not just your pocket. I’m sure I can find something up your alley.”

It’s here Dhall glances back at the two, giving a playful wink as she shifts to gather a few bolts of cloth from their stands, “Now, Miss Up-And-Coming-Medic, would it be too bold of me to assume you carry some sort of saddlebag? You’ve got small imprints in your fur. I often see that on horses often wearing tack.”

As she speaks, she seems to be picking out a few bolts by the tags attached to them, glancing each over before passing it up or selecting it.

[Shani]

Shani gave a small smile, "It's nice to meet you too." She hadn't been expecting the sudden scratch under her chin though, and stiffened for a moment at the feeling of rough, stone like fingers.
The cub managed to get over the slight surprise however, and made an attempt to let out a purr, though unlike her slightly smaller companion, Shani's vocal cords weren't meant for purring, and it came out as more of a soft grumbling noise.

Michi's ears twitched at the noise, and she raised a paw in front of her face to stifle a chuckle. Her attention is drawn back to Dhall when she explains the nature of the armor she makes. Well then that made the whole thing much easier, since she didn't think her tiny body could carry the weight of metal armor, even if it was cat sized. Even more interested now, the kitten jumped up to look at all the different cloth.

Shani looked at Dhall when she adressed her, tilting her head,
"Imprints? Are there?" she hadn't really noticed, though as she turned her head and ran her muzzle over her fur, she did indeed find some spots in her coat where the fur was more flat.
"Oh," she hummed, turning back to Dhall, "yes, I do, they're for carrying medic supplies... I'm not sure what you mean by 'tack' though..."

[Dhall]

"Tack is what horses or pack animals wear, usually. Saddles, pouches, cargo... Adding a bunch of weight to fur and flesh leaves little imprints. If you'd like, Little Dear, I can make you a new bag. More space to hold things, softer padding, maybe even make it waterproof and sterile..." Dhall hums idly as she thinks, sewing patterns whirling around in her head, "Could even enchant it to keep needles sharper, too. I've got something for everyone. Speaking of, Blessed Michi. Do you have a favorite color?"


As she speaks, stone fingers work diligently. trimming long, thin strips of cloth from multiple bolts. It seems she's got some sort of plan.