ORIGIN

Clawed feet carried the small hatchling over the cavern floors as his eyes flicked to scan his surroundings in a search for something to eat. There had to be something tinier than him out here somewhere, other than the occasional bug that buzzed around. A few of those were rather tasty but they were hard to catch, especially the winged ones. Those things zipped away before he even had a chance to try to grab at them. But such failures only pushed the young crocodile to explore the ponds further.

There had to be something else here other than shiny gems and bugs. Soft chirps pulled from the boy’s throat as he attempted to call someone too him. Maybe there was a creature nearby that could help him out. Guide him toward something tasty or even aid him on his journeys around this foreign place. While it had felt like he had moved rather far away from his hatching site the youngster hadn’t actually gotten too far, his distractions with the things around him holding him in one area longer than he originally thought.

Despite this though Nakhti was none the wiser and pushed on in his imagined travels. Eventually finding himself at the edge of one of the many ponds of the area. Tilting his head a few gurgled squeaks left him as he tried to figure out what may be hiding in that murky water. Cautiously sticking his head beneath the water’s surface he perked up at the sight of a few small fish swimming swiftly away from him. Snapping toward them he pulled his face from the water, unused to the feeling of feeding beneath the surface.

But maybe there was another way to do this? Staring toward the water the boy tried his hardest to think of a different way he could get the fish. But to his surprise there was a ripple beginning to form in the water before something seemed to shoot forward through the water, sending a few of the unsuspecting fish flying out of. There were only one or two of the small creatures but the young crocodile scampered happily on the edge of the pond as he waited to see where they might land so that he could go get them.

The mossy growths which clouded the grounds near the warrens was not the footing that the young buffalo desired. With a misplaced step the plants were easily torn from their perch and sending the youngster spiraling down to the earth. A soft thump whenever he fell, a place which Kharis now rested. A recent fall sending the boy down before he attempted to regain his footing. Lanky limbs kicking out till they were perched beneath him and able to hoist the currently lean form from the plant life.

A snort blew from his nostrils and the determined boy leapt from the lichen prison which tried to keep him. As weight collapsed upon the limbs they wavered, fighting to hold up the bulk which was still so foreign to be upon them. The act of walking still far too new of an act to support the creature properly. But he was free! Hooves clipped happily against the stones as the boy kicked out before bouncing forth to explore the cavern he hatched in.

With each step the calf’s hooves clicked against the stone, a sharp sound casting out to any who were around to hear it. The boy’s own ears turning with each step as he slowly grew used to the noise. Curious gait brought the buffalo unknowingly towards the ponds. Every few steps waving about as a limb rose to advance further. It wasn’t until a distant chirp echoed in the cavern that the boy gave pause.

Of course the child advanced and soon a series of strange chirps filled the air as well as the patter of feet. Limbs scuttled across the ground to produce a sound far different that the one hooves made. The calf was about to investigate as a strange thing flopped down before him. A startled bellow squealed from the child’s throat. Long legs scrambling against the stone to send the boy reeling back to avoid the strange flopping thing.

With his eyes locked skyward toward the now flying fish, the young crocodile scampered over the grounds. The cave around him being put out of mind as all he focused on was the meal that was soaring through the air and away from him. How could he possibly bother himself with watching his surroundings when his future meal was getting away? Happy squeaks pushed from the boy’s mouth as he moved. The foreign sounds of clacking hooves going unnoticed to the small reptile.

Though even if he had been paying attention he wouldn’t have known what that sound meant. To him they were just the regular noises that a cavern such as this might make. Nothing in his mind connected that sound to an approaching gem. But all he truly cared about was the fish that were now flopping onto the ground. A bright gaze quickly found the panicked fish but it was then that he also caught sight of a weird creature. One that was screaming about the fish.

Puffing himself up the young crocodilian scurried forward to the fish furthest from the new arrival. In a quick motion he snapped it up and swallowed it down before shifting his eyes toward the second. That one was pretty close to the stranger but maybe he could scare him further away from it? A few chirps left the hatchling as he moved to take a false charge toward the hooved monster. That other gem was quite a bit bigger than he was, but if it screamed about fish then maybe it would be scared of him too.

Heart pounded against his chest as an unreasonable fear built in the calf’s chest. Eyes were fixated upon the strange flopping thing on the stone floor as snorts pulled roughly from Kharis’ lungs. What was that thing? That initial surprise from the flying thing splatting down before him slowly subsided, panic easing from the tensed muscles.

The joyful squeals of the unseen reptilian in the distance went unnoticed till they came closer. Squeaks and the sound of feet slapping against the floor. The small reptile lingered before scuttling forth towards the thing on the ground, or was it running towards him? Despite what the tiny creature wanted the buffalo wasn’t going to be defenseless!

As the slick looking creature scurried towards him the calf lowered his head. Snout pushing out as the crocodile came closer. And that motion came with a success! That large, wet nose of his smashed against the small reptile before pushing against that scaled hide and pushing the stranger back.

Try as he might it didn’t seem that this new found giant was the least bit afraid of him like he was of that fish. Why not? He was a lot scary than some silly fish! Or at least that’s what the hatchling had thought. No matter what that big beast wasn’t going to stop his charge. Clawed feet slapped against the ground as Nakhti pushed himself forward, only to slow his gait when a big nose lowered into his face.

Even as he tried to dig his claws into the hard ground he found himself being pushed back by that wet thing. Short chirps left him as he moved to push the beast right back. Though that little trick didn’t work as well as he hoped as he continued to lose whatever ground he was trying to gain. Without thinking too much about it the hatchling lunged an open mouth against the nose before snapping his teeth against the soft flesh.

Butting against the tiny creature, no matter how gentle the action seemed to the calf, was the boy’s first mistake. Pressing himself too close and putting himself within reach of those snapping jaws. And before the chocolate coated bovid knew what was happening, before he could pull away, the thing reached out and jaws closed onto the soft tissues of the youngster’s nose.

A surprised bleat with twinges of pain upon the vocals echoed from Kharis’ throat. The feeling stung upon the flesh and all it took to be free was a thrown head back. Glowering gaze was placed upon the other child with a heavy snort as the calf bit back some tears. He was stronger than a tiny bite! Blood dripped from the small wound inflicted upon him as the child’s voice belted out, “Why do that?” Now his poor little nose was hurt. And it was all this kids fault!

Pinching the bovid’s soft nose between his snapping teeth had been rather fun in the small crocodile’s eyes. Soft cheerful sounding squeaks emitted from the boy’s mouth as his feet stamped lightly on the floor in celebration. He didn’t care that the weird hard footed thing in front of him seemed put off by the gesture, especially as that loud noise came out of the beast. Stopping his actions for only a few moments Nakhti tilted his head toward the other gem. Why was he looking at him like that?

He was the only who pushed him first! And he wasn’t going to just stand around and let a giant try to shove him around. In an attempt to return such an upset expression the hatchling stood as tall as possible on his little legs before puffing up. The young croc didn’t know what those strange sounding noises were supposed to be mean, but maybe this guy wanted to play some more? Deciding that was definitely what this strange gem was trying to do his mouth opened wide before he made a short run toward the larger male.