xp_logs | Illyana, Mel, & Sharon

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Backdated to March 1st, 2024 Eris gets stuck in a tree

Mel was doing her nightly flight around the grounds when she heard it- the screams of a very unhappy cat. As the sound grew louder it became accompanied by frantic rustling. She followed it to a tall tree.

“Hey kitty kitty, how’d you get up here?” Her glow revealed one of those fancy bald cats wearing a posh sweater… and wings? Well that explained how it found itself in a tree, poor thing.

This wasn’t a mutant, right? Like Sharon? Mel held out her hand for the cat to sniff and once she determined it was friendly, scooped it into her arms. It was cute, in a slightly demonic way.

"Eris!" There was movement from the ground below. Sharon was loping towards them in her hybrid form, eyes trained on Mel and the creature cradled in her arms. She came to a halt beneath the other girl and craned her head back to look at them.

"She has been found," said Sharon, relief evident. "Adventurous child. She has flown far."

“Oh! Hi Sharon!” Mel floated down, cat in tow, to greet her. “You know this kitty?” The cat, Eris, snuggled into her. It was the middle of winter and without fur she must’ve been cold.

"Yes. You have the privilege of holding Eris. Youngest in the ranks of cats who are not cat." Sharon turned to look over her shoulder and called, "Illyana. The wayward child has been found."

The blonde jogged up, giving the cat a stern look through her scarf. "Ever since she is learning to fly, is being naughty girl and playing hide and seek. Now she sees why I am saying no trees yet, because she is too scared to get down." She had her hands on her hips, tapping one foot as she stared at the cat expectantly.

Eris let out a loud, warbling yowl, and Illyana's stern look eased just a touch. "Thank you for getting her out of tree. I am Illyana, and Eris is companion of mine. She is cat, but also demon from Limbo."

Mel gazed down at the cat in her arms in a kind of awe. “Well I’ll be.”

Illyana… where did she know that name? Mel wracked her brain. “You work with Jay, yeah?” She realized she was still holding Eris and offered her up to the blonde. “I’m Mel. It was no trouble really, jus’ glad I heard her. Poor thing.”

"Yes. You are Guthrie sibling then? It is nice to meet you." Illyana accepted the cat, tucking her into a sling that was partially obscured by her jacket. "Am going to tell Namor you scream in tree like baby, next lesson is going to be getting self free," she groused at the cat, booping her nose affectionately despite the stern tone.

"Illyana speaks of another flyer," Sharon informed Mel as the demonic cat curled into the blonde's body warmth like the baby it was. "The skies are shared by many. Your brothers. Warren Worthington. The aforementioned individual, also. These have been encountered?"

“I’ve met Namor, he was nice.” Or Mel at least thought he was being nice. She didn’t quite have a word for that interaction. “An’ I’ve heard lots about Warren.” It was cool how many people could fly here, she’d have to find someone to show her some things.

"Much could be said of Warren Worthington," intoned Sharon with a deadpan flick of the tail. "Many stories must be Illyana's, but probably is some kind of non-disclosure agreement."

"Wealth is like being raised in other realm, reality is different from average person experience," Illyana replied. "Warren is prime example, but also good for learning things from, very generous to excellent worker. Namor is royalty without kingdom. Is hard to balance loss of that with current reality. Both are helping me hone skills to rule Limbo as stern but just Queen. Very important to know when to use nice words and when to bring down full might of sword and power."

“Limbo?” If Eris was a demon, was that like, Hell? Mel decided if it was, she wasn’t going to let it bother her. Jay seemed like like Illyana well enough and that was good enough for her.

The blonde nodded, face serious. "It is other dimension. Have heard about Limbo of Catholics, it is not the same. Many types of demons. Some are like Eris, look similar to animal on earth but little bit different. Wings, extra eyes. More paws. Hellhound has... red skin, little horns, race dog build. Others have whole range. Look like human, don't, small, very big. Some very malicious, others are for small mischiefs."

"One day I shall taste one," vowed Sharon.

llyana's eyes narrowed. "You can help Eris with hunt here, get big deer or other wildcat, then I will consider taking both of you to Limbo. Will not take you to die, but Eris will need to learn, and I have offered use of fire-resist hide to Jono."

“Huh, neat.” Sharon wanting to eat a demon didn’t even surprise her at this point. Mel touched down onto the ground. “Is Eris gonna get much bigger? Seems like she’d need t’be to hunt much.”

"Great size is not necessary. Rusty spotted cat, this is no more than 4lbs. An adaptation for surviving in dense forest. Surely there are demons of all sizes upon which Eris may prey." Sharon gave her tail a thoughtful flick. "But first practice is rabbit, maybe."

"Do not think she will get much bigger than bobcat, but might end up smaller. Will need to grow into wings better, she is in awkward baby phase where they are just big enough to start flying, but can already tell will have large wingspan." Illyana ran a gentle finger along the edge of the cat's wings. "Think she will learn to dive at prey, maybe like bird getting fish from ocean or river."

Eris getting that much bigger was mildly terrifying, but right now she was too cute to be frightening. Mel grinned. “Well, if ya ever need someone to chaperone her flights I’d be happy to. Can’t have her stuck up in a tree again.”

"Will take all the training people are willing to give. Cannot fly, so must ask others to teach. Thank you for offer, I accept." Illyana gave the other woman a small smile, then changed the subject. "Have either of you met Clea and Cata yet? Cata has fluffiest coat, Eris uses her as warm hiding spot sometimes."

"Yes," Sharon's reply came with unusual fervor. "Cata is Queen of Cats. Clea is nice also," she hastened to add, glancing at Mel. "She is from another dimension. Excellent photography skills also."

Mel nodded, filing away the ‘other dimension’ thing to ask someone later. “I ain’t had the pleasure of meetin’ either. Lots of people and cats here.” She glanced down at her phone for the time. Sam would likely be checking in soon to make sure she hadn’t wandered off somewhere in sleep.

"Cata shall reveal herself at a time of her choosing," Sharon replied in a tone that somehow walked the line between reverent and ominous. The cat turned to regard Eris, cuddled in Illyana's coat. "But now the little one must be warmed. We shall go?"

"Warmed and fed, I think," Illyana mused, looking toward the mansion. "Yes, it is time to go back. I can tell Jay you are walking if you would like time alone," she offered Mel.

“I’d appreciate it, thanks.” Mel smiled. She would do one more lap and then head in- it was too beautiful a night to waste sulking in her room. Plenty of time for that later. “Y’all have a nice night, an’ I hope Miss Eris stays outta trouble.”