ORIGIN

Giggle tilted her head, immediately curious about this stranger who'd apparently taken in and guided the young one, going so far as to aid him and introduce him to other youths. A large part of Giggle's time was spent doing much the same, and thus far she hadn't heard of another Gembound who did so. Thus far, in fact, everyone she'd met here was younger than her, bar Aza'zel.

She sat, regarding Ambrus with a bright, intent gaze.

"May I ask who this 'creature of light' is? Would it be possible for me to meet them?" she asked.

She was wondering if it was an ordinary Gembound, or perhaps something more, something older, like Dovefeather's "All-Mother" perhaps, or even an older being such as the Lorekeeper. And regardless, she thought it wise to look into it: maybe she could network with it. Maybe if the other was part of another group, they could agree to guide fitting Gembound to one another--or simply to ask one another for help, when it was needed.

"Where could I find them?"

She hadn't put together the "mom" and the "creature of light," not yet; Ambrus's phrasing had been too exuberantly disjointed for that. It didn't matter much, though; she'd never heard the name.

Hell, she'd never really been out of Canis before--just one or two diplomatic sojourns.

Giggle eyed Ambrus, hoping she didn't dampen his spirits by asking about someone else, and not more about him--but judging by his cheer in mentioning this mentor of his, he (she hoped) would not mind at all.

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Roll the bones.

@Ambrus

his eyes light up again as she asked about mom, and he couldn't help but flutter useless wings.
"i'm sure she'd be delighted to meet you. she's a uh..i think they call them deer. her gem is one of her eyes, it's actually quite strange."
he then took notice of giggle's gem, a red color and situated on her head, almost in the same position as ambrus's.
"i'm not certain where you could find her right now, or where she lives - if she's even chosen a place. i slipped away. i love mom and brother but sometimes i need a break."
he acted exhausted, but in truth it was just the little bird's true self shining through. developing quicker with each passing day, and he feared clover wouldn't approve of his behavior. he'd keep such things to himself. he then gave a small grin, thinking of 'sitting' as giggle had done but he was still not quite sure how to walk properly. so he remained standing, looking up at the larger creature.

@giggle

The hyena pursed her lips a little bit, half in thought, half in disappointment.

"Hmm. Would you be able to tell her I'd like to meet with her? I think it might wind up being important," she said firmly, nodding once.

The hyena lifted her hind leg, scratching at her ear.

"Meanwhile, do you plan to stay in Canis? I can show you where most of us hunt, or help you find somewhere to nest up in the fortresses, if you like."

She eyed the eagle again, wondering if he might accidentally electrify some of the bones. The idea of Aza'zel getting a shock when biting into one was half-amusing, half-alarming, but she assumed Ambrus would... again, hopefully... know better.

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ROLL THE BONES

@Ambrus

Suddenly, the eaglet felt a little uneasy at giggle's interest in his mom, and didn't understand what could be so important. He cocked his head to the side, wings unfurling just to furl again nervously. Ambrus was not one to beat around the bush nor keep his thoughts to himself, so he spoke up about his concerns.
"what would be important? She knows azazel, I'm sure she'll come back to canis. If not to greet him then to swoop me away on another adventure."
He gave a chirpy chortle, remembering the very first time he was carried way on the back of the creature of light, and how she'd given him his most prized possession. Giggles next offer was very enticing, and his over protective nervousness dissipated glacially.
"that would be nice of you, I've caught fish alone but never a rat. I don't think we have fish here in canis."
He said childishly, the juvenile ignorance shining bright. But he was but two cycles, with still much to learn.

@giggle

Giggle tilted her head, watching Ambrus as he spoke. She wasn't the best interpreter of avian body language, but she thought maybe he seemed nervous at the talk of his mother? Or maybe it was merely modesty?

She dismissed the thought; it didn't matter much, not unless the creature of light was overly fragile or had something to hide. Either way, she still wanted to meet her. But Ambrus's excitement at the prospect of hunting was far easier to read, and the hyena let out a soft, indulgent chuckle.

"This way, then. Come on." She turned and began to amble down the narrow path worn in the stone. It would change to slicked mud presently, then lead through her den: a puddle-pocked, fern-framed area of dirt-covered stone, a garden of many fungus growing on a ledge at one end.

Beyond this, she'd lead Ambrus down toward the western wall. There was a tumble of massive boulders and ledges here; to get to the carvings one would have to skirt around, pressing between stone and rock wall. But they weren't going to the rest of the carvings--some were even visible here, anyway, scrawled into the cave itself. There were paintings made in blood, too, and fairly fresh; one even looked like a map, half-drawn, and depicting the various tunnels and caves of Origin.

While ambling down, leading the way, Giggle would answer Ambrus's other question--namely, what was so important about meeting the Creature of Light?

"Most of the Gembound I meet, Ambrus," she eplained as she walked, "are much younger than I am. We have a lot of young hatching in Canis--I'm not sure if it's the same elsewhere, but here I see at least one young one each week, sometimes many. They need guidance; they need shelter. I often need to teach them how to hunt, and where; to provide shelter and an answer to whatever questions they have, before they move on."

She was now picking her way down that mud path, crossing through her den.

"This is my den--please don't damage it, or my garden; the fungus is very important. Anyway, my point is, if this Creature of Light does the same things, it'd be wise to speak with her. If one of us is injured, or must leave or go to war, for example, maybe the other could look after whatever young the first was looking after, you see? Or if one has too many. And I'd like to simply talk to her about it, to see what she has to say. Perhaps we can give one another advice on the topic. The sharing of knowledge, Ambrus, is always important." She paused, looking forward to the boulders, now-visible in the distance.

They were pocked with water-worn holes, and the sound of rats scuffling within--shying from their approach--was briefly audible. She turned to Ambrus.

"They live in there. The rats, that is. You can hide on top, wait for them to come out--or you can try to chase them out with your magic. I'd not go in after them--they'd probably tear you to pieces," she added, in a tone of warning.

Then she stepped back and sat down. "If you'll have trouble getting them out, and you're hungry, I can try to help."

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ROLL THE BONES

@Ambrus ; I hope it's okay I said he follows? If not, I can edit!

ambrus hopped along with giggle, keeping up as much as he possibly could. but eagle legs weren't made for terrain treks, however the youth's wings were still useless yet. he listened in silence until they reached the rat's nest, before he'd consider responding.
"oh okay, that does sound pretty important. i'll tell her you'd like to talk to her."
he flashed a genuine grin up at the larger beast, before his azurite gaze glided toward the nest. what if he could shock the rock, zap out the rats? he wondered - to use the charge spell, or the static spell? he would test these theories.

as his attention did turn upon the hunting ground, his genuine grin morphed into a wicked one, gracing elegant features with a sinister twist. his wings spread ever slightly, his attention focused upon the large mound, summoning his magic to attempt and charge the rock piece. the bird's execution was perfect, his body braced by widespread, taloned limbs. alabaster tail feathers fluttered about as his flightless wings remained unfurled. he exerted a loud screech as he charged the rock. electrical currents could be seen pulling from within the eaglet, casting upon the mound - which then was encased in electrical shocks. a few rats spilled out, squeaks could be heard as one came rushing right at ambrus. whether in panic, anger, aggression - he didn't know, nor did he care. the eaglet cawed again, jumping high into the air as he then landed with inexperienced equilibrium upon the rat, digging his talons deep into the soft carapace so as to inflict a slow, painful death upon his morsel. when the rat was dead, which took a few moments, the eaglet struggled to carry it back to the not far giggle, as he still could not fly and was too young to conjure the strength to carry it by his beak. but soon, he was able to drag it to her, where he placed it between the two, the bird's body now in front of giggle.
"we can share, if you'd like?"
the eaglet offered, which was far from his normal personal traits. but he quite enjoyed giggle's presence, appreciated her tips and tidbits.

@giggle - THAT CRIT SUCCESS DOE

Giggle laughed, kindly but raucously, at the eagle's cheerful pounce, his successful magic, and his friendly offer afterward.

"No, I'm not hungry--but that was good. That's good magic. Strong," she said, nodding her approval. "You're free to hunt here, but don't kill more than you need to--we need to leave some rats to breed, or we'll starve, mm? What else do you need?"

She sat, eyeing the rat beneath his talons. It occurred to her that perhaps he hadn't killed it as quickly as he could have--but she chalked this up to juvenile inexperience. Surely he'd be a more efficient hunter and killer later on.

But now she'd let him eat, and wait, and see how else she could aid him before heading back to her work.

"I could show you a place to rest, if you like, once you've eaten. Or tell your fortune in the bones." It had become something of a tradition, foreseeing the future of all the Bonebound who grew up nearby upon their first meeting, but she wasn't sure it was necessary or even wanted in this case.

This eagle certainly seemed to know what he wanted in life.

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ROLL THE BONES

@Ambrus

the eaglet wasn't exactly conscientious, but from time to time he did experience such things - so when giggle refused his offer he felt satisfied that he'd actually asked first before ripping into his meal. he was then reminded of the time he'd caught a small fish from the pisces ponds, and began to eat without asking mom and brother if they wanted any. he remembered how rude that was, and how bad he'd felt. he felt proud now, having learned from that mistake. so he ripped into the rat's flesh with razor sharp beak, pricking small pieces as he swallowed them. all the while, listening to what the larger beast had said. he took a few more bites before responding.
"i would like to find a suitable place for a perch, so that i could come here and nest when i didn't want to be bothered. somewhere up high. but i'm afraid, it might have to wait to be built until i can fly."
he fluttered his useless wings, creamed feathers falling from them as browned, larger feathers began to take their places. he continued to eat, taking in the information she'd given him and filed it away. mulling over the fact that if he over hunted, say for sport or for practice, there would be none left for anyone, and he'd surely starve - along with the others. it would take him some time to finish the rat he'd caught, so he would have to find a place to hid it, bury it to preserve it until he was hungry later on.

@giggle

Giggle listened, intent, then dipped her head and stood, padding back off up toward her den and the bone pit beyond. She was put in mind, by the bird's request, of Mau's bone tower. Something like that should suit the bird rather well.

"There are fortresses and towers of bone up on the hill. It's possible you can climb one, even build one yourself; you'd just need to make it stable enough for your weight. Later on, you can fly to the top. It's this way."

She'd pause, glancing back, waiting for Ambrus to finish eating or burying his rat, or whatever he was doing with it with those long, wicked, blood-slicked talons. She watched with approval in her gaze. Then she turned, leading the way up the gently-curving, mud-slicked stone path, picking her way around shallow pools of water and piles of bones. Her pit passed them on their right, and soon they were heading up toward the other side of Canis, the fortresses looming up above.

"I was born in one of these, you know. Do you see that one tall, neat tower? A cat lives in, and on, that one. It is her home and a throne, at the top. You could create something similar--either on the ground, or atop a fortress? I imagine those claws of yours would be suitable for climbing, if you beat your wings--even if you can't fly, yet."

She stepped aside and looked back to the eagle, peering to see if he approved.

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ROLL THE BONES

@Ambrus

he'd quickly found a place to hide the rat, behind a rock where it covered the morsel's entire body. he then moved many other, smaller rocks on top and around so that the rat wouldn't be seen. now he just had to make sure no one would get to his stash. he cocked his head in thought, took a few steps back where he then attempted to charge the buried rat mound so that when something touched it, it would zap them and they'd hopefully back off. he summoned his magic, pulling from his energy to use his charge spell. weak electrical currents jumped from the eagle's body to the mound, and he noticed it was indeed charged. even if it was a weaker charge, it would still give a small zap that would ward off any sniffing inspector.

with that, the eaglet hopped quickly after giggle, flapping his wings to attempt and go a little faster. he listened to her as she spoke, and his azurite lenses lit up brightly.
"that sounds lovely, i'd like to build myself one. a throne..for me."
it was as if he was in awe, his eyes gliding from her toward the direction they were heading. he struggled to keep up, but was able to make sure and do so. even if it was physically draining for the aviation creature, who was now bound to the earth.
"born in one? that's pretty cool. i was born near the wall,"
he began exerting a chirpy chuckle.
"i was so scared."
no harboring hardly any fear at all, the eaglet could barely recall what made him so afraid in the first place.


@giggle