12th Ashan, 721
After Bao had climbed the ladder and found the crack he waited on the floor, mostly quiet as Stan talked to a few others. He had entirely forgotten his question earlier about the Immortals domains, too focused on the climb he had made. It was all very exciting, the past two seasons. Then again, he hadn't expected anything less from Idalos. It was everything Saoire promised and so much more. For a moment, Bao wondered if all of his old Cadouri friends were having the same amount of fun as him, hoping they would settle in as nicely as he had. Everybody he met had seemed to like the Cadouri so far, so all he could do was hope that meant good news for his people.
As he thought to himself about all the Cadouri and the lives they might be living, Bao wondered what to do next. As much as he was taking everything as an adventure he would need a goal. Otherwise, he would walk aimlessly. There was nothing wrong with it, but if he could find new places to go and explore then he could make a name for himself and show people things they had never before seen. If he could find new places and introduce people to new wonders then he would love to do so, more than anything else in the world.
"Bao, the builders are here" Stan called out to the Cadouri from across the hall, two men coming in with some basic supplies to fill in the hole. Bao came over quickly, smiling and nodding to the two workers as they said hello to Stan, clearly familiar with him and the temple. "A'ight, where's this 'ere hole at then?" one of the men asked Stan, who gestured to Bao. Excited to help, Bao started to walk to the ladder, the men following. Once he got to the bottom he gestured up to where the crack was, somewhat to the left of the ladder.
As he pointed he explained. "It's not too big, but it keeps letting drops through just there. I couldn't reach it but you guys should be able to, it's not far from the ladder" he nodded to them. "I was going to try and fix it with mud but, we realized it was probably a bad idea..." he chuckled a little.
As the builders got ready, Stan got the attention of one. "If it makes life easier, my friend here could come up with you and show you where the hole is" he said with a smile, the builder glancing to Bao and grinning. His wife would be jealous when she heard about this one. "Absolutely, but it's a hell of a climb. We don't wanna trouble no one" he explained, looking to Bao for his approval. Bao stood up tall and gave a nod, his arms still sore from the climb prior but willing to go if he had to.
"I did it earlier, I can do it again" he nodded optimistically, willing to at least try again. "Well then, af'er you" he grinned at the Red Panda. The Cadouri nodded and stepped up to the bottom of the ladder, climbing the first few steps just fine despite the arm pain. Stan, as secretive and warm as always, watched Bao with some level of awe himself. Truth was, though Bao didn't know it yet, there was a level of familiarity there - as if Stan was looking back at a younger version of himself. The optimism, the care and compassion for everyone else, and the constant willingness to help those in need all reminded him of who he had been before coming here. Yet Bao was far younger and just as compassionate.
Saoire had made a smart pick with Bao, the priest thought.
After a few more steps, the builder just a couple of steps behind him with some paste and a tool in his hand and his friend holding the ladder for them both, Bao felt his body start to ache more than it had prior. He persisted, but unlike last time his missed footing nearly resulted in a fall, the builder holding a hand under him to stop him from tumbling. "Ey pal, you don't gotta keep going if you don't wanna, I can find the crack m'self" he offered, stopping for a moment to ensure Bao didn't fall. Glancing back, Bao considered it for a moment.
"I don't want to go back down, not without reaching the top. I said I would go, I can't break that" he insisted to the man, knowing it was a bad idea to keep climbing. Yet he did. One more step, then another, all with the builder helping his legs up and holding a hand out to prevent him from falling. Bao wasn't entirely sure why he felt the need to climb this persistently, and he knew he was pushing his small body to limits they weren't ready to go to yet. But if he got down now he wouldn't have finished the adventure he started - and something about that felt wrong.
Just over three-quarters up Bao paused, leaning on the builder for a moment for support and doing his best not to look down. "Thank you" he puffed through heavy breathing, smiling at the builder. Yet the builder shook his head, smiling just as wide. "Listen buddy, you ain't got nothin' to be thankin' me for, alright? Not yet, at least. When I tell me wife I met one of these Cadouri we've been seein' around, especially one as small and, frankly, cute as you, she'll be happy for weeks. So if ya see me back 'ere with her, do me a favor and come say hello, and then we're even - deal?"
Bao nodded without hesitation, the builder scooping him up with his spare hand as if he was holding a small child. "Come on, let's finish this climb aye?" he nodded. Bao did nothing to resist the help, simply glad to be making it to the top. As they went up the Cadouri glanced around again, watching as the glass changed in brightness depending on how high they went and if it blocked out the sun. With each step of the ladder, the color they were coated in would change because of the stained glass.
Eventually, the familiar blue light coated them as they made it to the top, the builder letting Bao step up to the top of the ladder and hold on for himself. "If you feel uneasy at all you tell me and I'll grab ya, a'ight?" he said, Bao nodding and sitting on the step as his hands held on to the side. With one hand he gestured to the hole and where it was, watching curiously as the builder got to work with the paste, filling it in and using the tool to smooth it out and make sure it got as deep in as it could go.
While Bao had made many dens as a young Red Panda, or at least seen Dens get made and tried a few times himself, he had no idea how to really build anything. It was a forgotten talent of his, he had to admit, though now that he was in Idalos he didn't imagine he would really need to build much. Everything worked differently from how it did in the animal kingdom, for the better he would argue. Then again, building his own home in the woods one day would definitely make for an exciting living arrangement.
Maybe one day he could.
Once the hole was filled the builder offered a hand to Bao, who smiled and climbed up against his chest. Tool in hand, the man carried the Cadouri down slowly with him, one finger idly brushing Bao's fur as he did. Once they had reached the bottom, Bao was let down and stood up on the floor. The other builder, who had been holding the ladder, took it to where Stan gestured and stored it away again for another time. Meanwhile, the man that had fixed the hole turned to Stan.
"Hole should seal up with that all nice, y'know where to find us if it breaks again" he nodded, the two exchanging thanks before the builder gave a nod to Bao. "I'll be seein' ya around, you rest up aye?" he smiled, Bao smiling back as he sat down near Stan. Once the pair had gone, Bao glanced to Stan with a smile. "That was fun, but I should probably go home and lie down a while. My arms are sore" he laughed, not regretting pushing himself for even a moment.
Before Bao could stand up, Stan placed a hand on his arm to get his attention. "We never finished our conversation, about the Immortals domains" he smiled. Bao remembered suddenly, nodding and sitting back down a moment. "I'm sorry, I got so wrapped up in everything" the Cadouri smiled to the priest, glad he was reminded.
"Spring is Ashan's other domain, and Prophecies is Ziell. Do with that information whatever you deem fit, Bao" he smiled, as mysterious as expected from Stan. With one farewell, Bao stood up and made his way out the door, already knowing he would feel the strain in his body tomorrow morning. At the very least he had made the climb, that was what mattered as far as he was concerned. Now, while he was resting in bed, he would simply figure out what to do with the information he had on the Immortals and how he ought to worship them.
But that, he figured, would come in due time.
As he thought to himself about all the Cadouri and the lives they might be living, Bao wondered what to do next. As much as he was taking everything as an adventure he would need a goal. Otherwise, he would walk aimlessly. There was nothing wrong with it, but if he could find new places to go and explore then he could make a name for himself and show people things they had never before seen. If he could find new places and introduce people to new wonders then he would love to do so, more than anything else in the world.
"Bao, the builders are here" Stan called out to the Cadouri from across the hall, two men coming in with some basic supplies to fill in the hole. Bao came over quickly, smiling and nodding to the two workers as they said hello to Stan, clearly familiar with him and the temple. "A'ight, where's this 'ere hole at then?" one of the men asked Stan, who gestured to Bao. Excited to help, Bao started to walk to the ladder, the men following. Once he got to the bottom he gestured up to where the crack was, somewhat to the left of the ladder.
As he pointed he explained. "It's not too big, but it keeps letting drops through just there. I couldn't reach it but you guys should be able to, it's not far from the ladder" he nodded to them. "I was going to try and fix it with mud but, we realized it was probably a bad idea..." he chuckled a little.
As the builders got ready, Stan got the attention of one. "If it makes life easier, my friend here could come up with you and show you where the hole is" he said with a smile, the builder glancing to Bao and grinning. His wife would be jealous when she heard about this one. "Absolutely, but it's a hell of a climb. We don't wanna trouble no one" he explained, looking to Bao for his approval. Bao stood up tall and gave a nod, his arms still sore from the climb prior but willing to go if he had to.
"I did it earlier, I can do it again" he nodded optimistically, willing to at least try again. "Well then, af'er you" he grinned at the Red Panda. The Cadouri nodded and stepped up to the bottom of the ladder, climbing the first few steps just fine despite the arm pain. Stan, as secretive and warm as always, watched Bao with some level of awe himself. Truth was, though Bao didn't know it yet, there was a level of familiarity there - as if Stan was looking back at a younger version of himself. The optimism, the care and compassion for everyone else, and the constant willingness to help those in need all reminded him of who he had been before coming here. Yet Bao was far younger and just as compassionate.
Saoire had made a smart pick with Bao, the priest thought.
After a few more steps, the builder just a couple of steps behind him with some paste and a tool in his hand and his friend holding the ladder for them both, Bao felt his body start to ache more than it had prior. He persisted, but unlike last time his missed footing nearly resulted in a fall, the builder holding a hand under him to stop him from tumbling. "Ey pal, you don't gotta keep going if you don't wanna, I can find the crack m'self" he offered, stopping for a moment to ensure Bao didn't fall. Glancing back, Bao considered it for a moment.
"I don't want to go back down, not without reaching the top. I said I would go, I can't break that" he insisted to the man, knowing it was a bad idea to keep climbing. Yet he did. One more step, then another, all with the builder helping his legs up and holding a hand out to prevent him from falling. Bao wasn't entirely sure why he felt the need to climb this persistently, and he knew he was pushing his small body to limits they weren't ready to go to yet. But if he got down now he wouldn't have finished the adventure he started - and something about that felt wrong.
Just over three-quarters up Bao paused, leaning on the builder for a moment for support and doing his best not to look down. "Thank you" he puffed through heavy breathing, smiling at the builder. Yet the builder shook his head, smiling just as wide. "Listen buddy, you ain't got nothin' to be thankin' me for, alright? Not yet, at least. When I tell me wife I met one of these Cadouri we've been seein' around, especially one as small and, frankly, cute as you, she'll be happy for weeks. So if ya see me back 'ere with her, do me a favor and come say hello, and then we're even - deal?"
Bao nodded without hesitation, the builder scooping him up with his spare hand as if he was holding a small child. "Come on, let's finish this climb aye?" he nodded. Bao did nothing to resist the help, simply glad to be making it to the top. As they went up the Cadouri glanced around again, watching as the glass changed in brightness depending on how high they went and if it blocked out the sun. With each step of the ladder, the color they were coated in would change because of the stained glass.
Eventually, the familiar blue light coated them as they made it to the top, the builder letting Bao step up to the top of the ladder and hold on for himself. "If you feel uneasy at all you tell me and I'll grab ya, a'ight?" he said, Bao nodding and sitting on the step as his hands held on to the side. With one hand he gestured to the hole and where it was, watching curiously as the builder got to work with the paste, filling it in and using the tool to smooth it out and make sure it got as deep in as it could go.
While Bao had made many dens as a young Red Panda, or at least seen Dens get made and tried a few times himself, he had no idea how to really build anything. It was a forgotten talent of his, he had to admit, though now that he was in Idalos he didn't imagine he would really need to build much. Everything worked differently from how it did in the animal kingdom, for the better he would argue. Then again, building his own home in the woods one day would definitely make for an exciting living arrangement.
Maybe one day he could.
Once the hole was filled the builder offered a hand to Bao, who smiled and climbed up against his chest. Tool in hand, the man carried the Cadouri down slowly with him, one finger idly brushing Bao's fur as he did. Once they had reached the bottom, Bao was let down and stood up on the floor. The other builder, who had been holding the ladder, took it to where Stan gestured and stored it away again for another time. Meanwhile, the man that had fixed the hole turned to Stan.
"Hole should seal up with that all nice, y'know where to find us if it breaks again" he nodded, the two exchanging thanks before the builder gave a nod to Bao. "I'll be seein' ya around, you rest up aye?" he smiled, Bao smiling back as he sat down near Stan. Once the pair had gone, Bao glanced to Stan with a smile. "That was fun, but I should probably go home and lie down a while. My arms are sore" he laughed, not regretting pushing himself for even a moment.
Before Bao could stand up, Stan placed a hand on his arm to get his attention. "We never finished our conversation, about the Immortals domains" he smiled. Bao remembered suddenly, nodding and sitting back down a moment. "I'm sorry, I got so wrapped up in everything" the Cadouri smiled to the priest, glad he was reminded.
"Spring is Ashan's other domain, and Prophecies is Ziell. Do with that information whatever you deem fit, Bao" he smiled, as mysterious as expected from Stan. With one farewell, Bao stood up and made his way out the door, already knowing he would feel the strain in his body tomorrow morning. At the very least he had made the climb, that was what mattered as far as he was concerned. Now, while he was resting in bed, he would simply figure out what to do with the information he had on the Immortals and how he ought to worship them.
But that, he figured, would come in due time.
