ORIGIN

Xireidi shook some of the dust off himself and examined the berry with some curiosity. He'd never really considered eating the berries themselves before. Game was plentiful enough that he'd never actually gone hungry since first emerging. Besides, that was the food that food ate.

Which was a good point. If Gratia ate stuff from the bush that must have meant she was food, right? Even if he wasn't really hungry now that didn't mean he couldn't save the thought for later to get an easy meal.

The youth furrowed his brows as the thought process unlocked by his own strange magic made a horrible but irrefutable point. He'd be better than that though! Gratia could talk, and something else told him that he shouldn't eat talking creatures. Granted she couldn't talk very much, but that wasn't the point!

Now resolute against the spectre of temptation Xireidi took a deep breath, stepped forward and ate... the berry!

It was thoroughly underwhelming.

Sure, it was juicy, but the sugary taste was a little too much for him. It was true that creatures that ate more berries than nuts or grass tended to have a sweeter taste that he actually did enjoy, but he doubted he'd repeat this experiment unless there were few other options. Still, it had been a remarkably kind gesture by the little one.

Despite his darker thoughts, or perhaps because of them, another thought arose in Xireidi's mind. Even though Gratia was young and would almost certainly grow large enough to not have to worry about predators like him, she would be an easy target in her current state. He really didn't want that to happen, especially with as nice a kid as she seemed to be. He decided right there that, as long as it was needed, he'd make sure no one got the bright idea to make a lunch of her. Besides protecting someone could act as a good way to improve his training for what was to come, and having her along could help in case of a famine.

Okay, also a good exercise in gaining mastery over his own mind as well.

"Thanks for the berry." he spoke, with some degree of sincerity, "Was that enough food for you?"

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away

Xireidi looked with curiosity as the small creature rushed off toward the edge of the cavern only to stop and look back at him expectantly. He'd only planned originally to watch from a distance so she'd be able to live as she saw fit, but apparently the Gratia still wanted him around.

He guessed it made sense for a newborn and followed along, keeping a steady pace as she rushed forward and stopped for him to catch up. He had to say, for one so young she might give him actual competition if they were to race. He'd have to consider adding some running into his usual training routine rather than just jumping and climbing.

Finally they arrived at the cold tunnel, one of the many that Xireidi had yet to explore. This cavern of ruins had been comfortable to him, so aside from his curiosity-driven foray into the spooky tunnel he hadn't really tried exploring yet.

"Are you sure?" he asked the excitable young creature. "There's no telling what's at the end of the tunnel."

The canine poked his head forward and sniffed at the air. Like the spooky tunnel there had definitely been others who had walked this path, so it was probably relatively safe.

"That said, the mystery may be half the fun. he said with a smile.

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away

Xiridi smiled softly as the little one rushed forward in excitement, instinctively correcting his balance even after she accidentally bumped into him on the way. He'd already taken one fall and he wasn’t about to let himself take another. He doubted the Gratia would think less of him even if he did though. She was so cheerful and full of energy he wasn't even sure she had registered the fall earlier.

This was going to be an interesting trip though. There was still no telling how far in the frozen tunnel went or how treacherous the path was. Sure there had been travelers before but there was no telling if they were like them or if they had been inane daredevils.

He chuckled softly at the thought as he started to step forward to follow along, realizing that that might have made them daredevils too.

-exit Xireidi-

"The words I speak"
The thoughts I hold
And the self I keep hidden away