#alantha

Dalamus is Alantha's person. Why she chose Dalamus out of everyone in camp is anyone's guess--as he is not yet particularly physically affectionate nor does he really know how to have a pet--but she clearly favors him, even if she is friendly to all others as well.

While some might think Dalamus is Alantha's caretaker, Alantha sees this differently. She takes care of herself pretty well, considering she has survived up until this point without major injuries.

But Dalamus, oh, she can tell Dalamus is hurt. She can tell he is uncomfortable sometimes when he sits or stands for long periods, or after walking, and especially after battles, but he never complains. It is important for cats and kittens to hide injuries, of course. No need to complain aloud, though--she knows! Nothing some soothing purring cannot fix.

Purring has been shown to have therapeutic effects for people, though whether it can help with physical healing is at the moment purely anecdotal and theoretical. That said, Dalamus enjoys both the sounds of her trill-filled purring, as well as the vibrations of the purring against his hands or chest.

Sometimes he is just so nervous, and Alantha is not sure why. Sometimes his anxiety rises around the others. She can tell his breathing is different, and when she is close enough, she can tell his heart is beating faster. Perhaps he was not socialized enough as a baby kitten. Time for a rub or head bonk to remind him that she is here and all is well. If he is seated, she jumps in his lap so his hands have something to do to distract him (petting her).

Having Alantha bonk or rub against him offers external stimulation that can help ground him and pull him from spiraling thoughts.

Alantha makes sure to meet with new animals who come to camp and introduce herself, and also introduce her person, Dalamus. She makes sure to tell them that he was not well-socialized before she got to him and seems to have been hurt by his previous family, so this makes him nervous around new people and animals, and to approach him calmly.

Dalamus would hate every single second of her introduction of him, the fact that she airs his insecurities so easily. But it keeps both the animals and Dalamus, himself, safe, by establishing boundaries at the beginning. With Dalamus not knowing which animals on the Surface are dangerous or hostile, mistakes or assumptions could quickly lead to tragedy otherwise.

"She's so cute!" Karlach coos, tail swishing with excitement as she looks upon the tiny kitten purring happily in Shadowheart's arms. The request to hold the kitten herself hangs on the tip of her tongue, restrained by the knowledge that she might singe the little thing. She would never forgive herself if she hurt the darling.

"Isn't she? Frankly, I don't know how Dalamus keeps his hands off her. Who could get anything done with this sweet face around?" She delicately rubs the kitten's cheek with a finger, earning her louder purrs as said kitten shoves the side of her face against Shadowheart's hand.

Bright orange eyes watch with some jealousy, imagining how soft the kitten's fur must be. "What did Gale say Dal named her again?"

"A Drowic word. Alantha? Supposedly it means 'midnight'."

Alantha's ears perk up at hearing her name. She stands with an affirmative chirp, tilting her head to search Shadowheart's face with blue-green eyes as the two women coo in unison.

Alantha then turns her attention to Karlach and crouches as she measures the distance between the two of them. Surely she can make this jump? Target locked-on, she positions her feet, wiggles to make sure her footing is stable, and then--

Shadowheart grabs her, firmly but gently preventing her jump. Alantha meows in sad protest.

"Sorry, little one," Karlach sighs, even more crestfallen than the kitten, but offers a smile. "Appreciate the initiative, though."

A moment of contemplative silence is broken only by Alantha's soft mewls as she wriggles in Shadowheart's gentle grasp. She pets the kitten with her thumb, and her eyes light up with an idea. "Perhaps there's a way, after all. Find somewhere comfortable to sit, and I'll be right back."

~

Shadowheart returns to Karlach's tent, kitten in one hand and a couple blankets draped over the other arm.

"What're these for?" The tiefling asks.

"Barriers," Shadowheart answers.

They cover Karlach with the blankets where she sits, up to her shoulders and draped over them, where they are loosely tied behind the tiefling's neck to prevent them from falling. Then Shadowheart slowly lowers Alantha to place her in Karlach's lap.

Though Karlach cannot easily pet the kitten, she watches in adoration as it pads across her lap and sniffs at each wrinkle in the cloth. She moves her arms underneath the blankets, underneath the kitten, and lifts her up to her chest to hold her close.

This close, she can hear the purrs from Alantha's tiny chest, and feel the vibrations through the cloth. The kitten stands on her hind feet, front paws on Karlach's collar, and tiny puffs fan her cheeks as Alantha sniffs at her face cautiously.

"Hi, there," Karlach whispers.

Alantha settles back down and begins kneading, using her teeny tiny claws to soften up the space underneath her in the crook of one arm, and curls up, snuggled into the warm blanket.

Dalamus' cat, Alantha, has learned that she can bribe--sorry, trade with--Dalamus with stones in order to get extra food and snacks.

All she has to do, is find rocks, and bring them to him, and if he is eating something like jerky, he may give her a corner of it.

Through trial and error, she has become quite good at figuring out which sorts of stones Dalamus will reward her for. This discernment thankfully prevents Dalamus from being overloaded with stones, as Alantha does her best to find those which will gain her the biggest morsels of jerky or meat in return.

Dalamus would say that he does not talk to himself. He is lying.

Though rare, Dalamus talks to himself quietly in Drowic. Usually just complaints under his breath, or perhaps mockingly repeating what someone said to him. If having trouble concentrating, he may talk himself through the process.

WIP Wednesday? Or, rather, a piece I felt like it was too "soon" to post, as Dalamus isn't yet at the point where he's indulging in the beauty of Faerûn. He's still pining for the Underdark.

Anyway, it's an idea for a silver cat pendant modeled after his kitten, Alantha. I tried putting stars in various places to fill it in, but they were too sharp compared to the smooth curves of the rest of the piece.

Translations:

(on the left) 55mm

Flat pendant

55mm silver

Emerald eyes