DEPTHSTRIDERS - 2

"Paints?" Xayah asked, looking at Ornaax with open curiosity. Her time learning with the Watchers had been wonderful, so she was rather interested in another painting experience with the glowing paints. There may even be a history or cultural lesson for her to absorb, to learn and keep close so she could have a greater understanding of what made this clan tick. Of how the clans all fit together.

"Yes! Our clan is renowned for its beauty and brightness, and our paints are just as radiant!" Ornaax confirmed, wide grin splitting his maw as he beamed at Xayah and the many other vayrons that were gathered around. "We have many events involving paints, where we paint not only the caverns but ourselves as well. Anything you can think of for fun with paint, and that's what you can do."

"I see," Xayah mused, eyes sparkling as she thought to the large, celestial murals of the Watchers. If the Depthstriders' paints were even brighter than the Watcher's, then they were likely in for quite the treat. "Will we be making our own paints as well?"

"If you wish to! You don't have to, but if you want to learn then we will show you the process of how to do it. We have plenty of paints available for all of you to use, though." Ornaax confirmed, turning to show Xayah and the other vayrons further into the painting cavern. All around them haedians were mingling and laughing amongst themselves, many already painting the stone around them or each other.

"Are you ready to get some more color on you?" Xayah asked Cislunar as they followed along after an excitable Ornaax, a teasing grin on her face as she cast a side long glance at him.

"Given the fact that I was unable to participate in the Watchers' mural painting and lessons you speak so fondly of, yes. I'm ready to 'get some more color on me', as you put it." Cislunar confirmed, a small huff of amusement leaving him. Ever since they'd encountered the calmer clans who were open to teaching, Xayah had relaxed and been more friendly. To everyone. Not excessively so, but it was no longer short answers and the occasional barbed comment.

The pair ended up being all but grabbed by some excited haedians who'd been encouraged by Ornaax to take some of the many vayrons under their wings. To teach and show them how to make the paints if that's what they wanted to learn, and to encourage letting loose and painting however they saw fit. Sounds simple enough, but getting the push to do whatever they wanted was needed for those who were unfamiliar with their clan and practices. Let alone for those who were unfamiliar with painting. 

"... Truly just paint whatever I feel like?" Cislunar asked, having already stripped of his armor and picked up a bowl. He looked grumpy, but it was simply his uncertainty over being faced with something creative. Let alone the creative freedom presented. He made no move to put the paint on the wall, nor did he move when the haedians with him started chattering about where to start when covering him in paint as well.

"Yes! Paint whatever your heart desires! There's no wrong way to do it!" One haedian confirmed brightly, starting to paint a pale yellow alongside Cislunar's striped. To accent the deep blues and get a nice combo of colors going.

Xayah, meanwhile, was beyond excited. The runner had stripped of her jewelry and robes as soon as she was brought over to their section of the wall, eager to paint the topside plants and animals along the stone. And to see how she was painted by the Depthstriders in comparison to the Watchers and how they'd painted her. What further similarities or differences would be shown between the two clans.

"Relax and just start putting colors up. There really isn't a right or wrong when it comes to having fun." Xayah told Cislunar as well when she noticed he'd still not started.

Xayah couldn't relate. She hadn't wasted any time dilly dallying before getting her paws covered in the glowing paint. Far from the best artist, but she was enjoying the process. And while she was painting, her haedian partner was busy painting all sorts of local fauna along Xayah's markings. Where those weren't being painted, the haedian was also going over her other markings with paint that matched the colors underneath. Or, as close to the color as possible that is.

"Is this from the surface?" Leah, one of the haedians painting her asked, attention on the bird shapes Xayah was painting before her. Never had Leah seen birds before, the haedians 'oohing' and 'ahhing' over the information Xayah readily gave when asked about it. That, and a few other creatures and flowers she used in the painting were far from familiar to Leah and any other haedians that were paying attention to her section of the stone wall.

Cislunar wasn't doing anything in particular for his. He was simply painting whatever colors and shapes he felt like, occasionally peeking down at his haedian partner was painting on him and what colors they'd decided to go with.

"I look as colorful as you now," He mused aloud, amusement clear in his voice as he looked at himself. All of the yellows, oranges, and reds being an unfamiliar color scheme to see on himself. It certainly made him look similar to the paintball better known as Xayah.

Though, Xayah was very quickly becoming an actual glowing paintball of a vayron. So were many others of the expedition group, himself included. Cislunar looked the most relaxed Xayah and the others had seen so far on this trip, which was a bit of a strange thing to see in regards to the grumpy guard. Even seeing him out of his armor, let alone being painted, was a now strange sight. Given the stress from most of the other clans they'd encountered, having this one focused on fun was a breath of fresh air for all of them. 

No helping other clans, no trials. Just fun, plain and simple.