ORIGIN - [Hatching] Life Between

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It'd nod back a greeting to the pup, a belated "Hello.." escaping it. Vargas's own enthusiasm caught it somewhat off guard, and it took a slight step back as Vargas did his greeting and 'appraisal.' It'd let the other two do most of the talking- it didn't have any answers that Vargas didn't, after all.

It'd glance at the curve of gemstone underneath the fledgling's eye. So it was a 'Hiddenite?' Or at least, that's what it assumed Vargas meant when he exclaimed the word out loud. V-Hiddenite-One... That would be a good title- until it was able to earn a name.

It'd nod to Vargas's comment. It was too small too fit most other jobs- unless it traded in physical might for magical might? Though if the color was the ONLY problem, then maybe that could be solved... "It could hide it's color with mud. or Oil." It let a glob of said substance drip off one of it's claws, joining the small puddle forming where it stood. It sure had plenty of the latter to supply, if that's what they ended up doing. It'd wait for Vargas's approval.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Ahh-... So when Labradorite had said newly hatch, it had meant newly hatched. He understood now, given the child's limited vocabulary, that it was likely merely hours old. Although, he reflected, it did seem to be gaining knowledge quickly.

That was good.

He settled in to answer the child's questions first, as simply as he could; while speaking, he rocked down to sit on his haunches. It was an indication that he was in no hurry. "The 'Masters' command these caves. We are-" 'authorities' will be too complex for it- "-the bosses here. You--you are a Hiddenite. It is your gemstone." The ability to sense the stone was simply a Master's power, but he wasn't about to overcomplicate the poor kid's mind. Nor would he make things overly complex by differentiating the authoritarian Masters from "masters" of magic. Not now. "I lead the Chaos Forge," he explained, leading to his answer to the puppy's second question. "We serve these caves. For that purpose we serve many roles. Guardians and scouts, fighters and hunters, trainers and gatherers."

He paused, then--giving the Hiddenite time to mull this over--fired Labradorite a curious glance. "It could, yes. Tell me--what made you think 'scout' with this one?" It wasn't a challenge, exactly; he was just wondering if there was something he'd missed--which he doubted very much--or if the Labradorite's train of thought had taken a rather different route than his own.

@V-Hiddenite-One

“Me Hiddenite,” It repeated to itself. That was important. He had been right.

The puppy’s foggy mind searched for the word bosses, but it found another concept it could tell was connected. “Master, Vargas, Boss… Power?” The dog half stated and half questioned.

Power was… So many different definitions flitted through his mind that could mean such that it almost gave him a headache. There was a certain definition that captured its interest, though, that allowed the pup to focus on reality once more.

“Knowing role there?” It asked with eager hope, then shook its head slightly as it realized the words kept coming out wrong. “Wish knowing all,” He tried to explain with what vocabulary it had. “Wish knowing role,” It stated more firmly. “If one.”

Then it paused. “Please, Vargas?” The young dog tacked on, remembered that he was supposed to be polite.

@V-Labradorite-One

Almost unconsciously mimicking Vargas, it'd settle into a sort of 'crouch sit,' like some sort of cat. Even though it was about the farthest you could get from a cat. It's crimson gaze settled onto The Hiddenite, though it cursorily observed Vargas the best it could without really making eye contact. It'd listen to the answers Vargas gave- stuff that was nearly ingrained into The Labradorite. It was hard to imagine learning any of that for the first time, but it supposed it wasn't born innately knowing that. At least, the Hiddenite wasn't, and it doubted it was special in that regard.

It's tail would curl nervously at Vargas's glance, even if the look in of itself wasn't anything bad. It's pause a moment before responding. "It is small. That limits it, slightly." It stated, "..And it asks a lot of questions." It'd add as an afterthought.

@Vargas

- THE LEVIATHAN -

Vargas laughed, loudly--heartily--at both the pup's polite keenness and Labradorite's matter-of-fact response. His laugh was one of approval, and he nodded to Labradorite-One before turning to the fresh hatch.

"A good enough reason. We will see. Your role, child, will be that of trainee to begin with. Hmm? You will join us--if you wish it." The choice was just that, a choice, though one so young might not (he admitted even to himself) understand all the implications. He buckled down to the task of attempting to explain those implications as best he could to someone merely a few hours old.

"If you join us, it means you will follow our rules. We will teach you many things; train you to fight, to scout, to use your magic. You will help us to serve this nest and purge the cruelty of Order from these caves. And then we will see, in a few cycles' time, which role suits you. Labradorite-?" he asked, glancing to it. "If it agrees--begin training it now. I will stay awhile. You can teach it our rules, and the basics of what you know." He paused, thoughtful, and then--with a slightly more mischievous demeanor--added, "It can be a test for you, too."

He wasn't being all that serious, though--as he always said--everything was a test.

He looked to the child again. "So, what do you think? Do you wish to join us?"

@V-Hiddenite-One

“Trainee,” The puppy repeated the word, intrigued.

Rules were too blurry a concept for it to be bothered by the idea of them. Instead, he was caught up by the idea of training. Fighting, scouting, magic- All of these sounded wonderful to it. "Want learn, please," The pup wiggled in place, eager to gain more knowledge of any kind at the moment.

“Wish join!” It enthusiastically agreed to Vargas’s words, before eagerly turning his hopeful eyes onto Labradorite. “Lab teach?”

@V-Labradorite-One

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