ORIGIN

It was a new day, although it was difficult to tell with such a lack of light in the caves these days. Still, bright red eyes snapped open. With a grunt, she rose from her bed, the spot beside her cold and lonely. She stopped to stare at the empty nest for some amount of time before finally turning to her sleeping offspring, his hybrid form sprawled out on his side. She could see the dried blood still on his fur from the other day. He seemed at peace in the slumber.

Disgusting.

"Wake up!"

Gadanai slung loose dirt from the floor at him, then walked out toward the trees, stopping just at the edge. She pulled a branch of foliage toward her mouth, chewing on it while she waited for Vuiligheid to do as he was told.

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Sometimes, just stopping to enjoy some delicious food was all an elephant needed. It was almost soothing to listen to her own teeth grind upon the greenery. Her trunk functioned on the purpose given, wrapping around branches and twigs, stripping off leaves and guiding them to a hungry mouth. As she grazed, her ears rose and fell against her neck, fanning air over the rest of her body and cooling the blood vessels in those big, flapping ears. A big swallow finally came as she decided to pause her efforts, looking toward Vuiligheid expectantly.

"Vuiligheid, my treasure. Come and grab a bite. We are going for a walk, today."

No questions. Gadanai then returned to eating, steps taken here and there to get into reach of more green food. Twigs made a satisfying crunch between her molars, adding some texture to her meal. She ate to her satisfaction, then began to walk. Lesser gembounds fled from underfoot as she crashed through the thickest of brush as if she were strolling through and open field. Her tusks broke apart her path, leaving a bit of an open wake for her offspring to follow in.

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The forest was peaceful. Every tree branch and every bush rubbed against her as she forced through them, tusks shoving the obstacles from her path as her trunk snag bits and pieces, feeding it all into her mouth. While they walked, she called upon her stone, summoning that coveted sensorial link. She could feel it inside of her, filling her up before reaching out toward her target. Gadanai exited the forest and came upon the Eyes, just as she felt the tether form and strengthen.

A gasp escaped her, emotions running through the fresh vein between them. Suddenly, she knew all he knew and felt all he felt, just as she did with Jasmine. Not a single word was formed. Gadanai stepped to one of the pools and pulled gallons of water into her trunk before drinking from it, the refreshment helping her ground back to herself. The dissonance was unbelievable, but worth it to her.

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