ORIGIN - Where muse begins...

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Amongst the glowing blue crystals of the spire lay a small red ruby gem, very easily discernable because of its striking colour against the contrasting background hues. It had deposited there a few cycles ago, gleaming boldly, and yet left strangely untouched. Perhaps its tiny size had escaped notice of many who have passed through here. Others might have ignored it because of its insignificance, cast aside like a broken fragment. Whatever was the case, something remarkable was certainly occurring from within the gem, and the stone was now shuddering ever so slightly.

Nestled deep inside, a gentle awareness grew. She stirred, trying to understand what was happening. It was warm, but the warmth was starting to become too much, to the point it became uncomfortable. Hot. Burning. She wanted to get out right away. She realised she could move - two legs, two wings, a tail - fully under her command. Her black eyes, tinged with vibrant azure, slowly opened. There was something on her face, but she could see past it, a red gleam shining in the edges of her vision.

Surrounding her were walls of crimson. She was stuck in a prison. It was suffocating, too claustrophobic. Surely, there was more to being aware than this? There was a deep hunger within her - to feel, to express, to understand. Her curiosity grew, and her imagination ran wild. What could be out there, beyond those walls? She had to find out for herself - to explore and become inspired, and to inspire the world in return.

She spread her wings and began to push against the walls. She didn't feel strong, but she persisted. Her black beak knocked against the prison, trying to find some weakness. It had to break at some point if she continued, she was certain.

At first, there was a slight cracking sound, and as her beak pounded on the wall for the final time, fine lines spread all around her and the crimson world shattered to reveal a bright new world. Light blinded her for a few seconds, forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. She was confused and uncertain, but her heart beat rapidly in her chest. Excitement, anticipation - they were new feelings she liked.

Slowly she reopened her eyes, to gaze upon the true world for the very first time.

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

A quiet cracking drew Oliver's attention, though he was some distance away. A feathered ear flicked; recognition tugged at him.

Someone hatching?

Curious, and a little hopeful, the hybrid turned and leapt from the boulder on which he'd been leaving all the small, shiny objects he was collecting. Feathered forelimbs spread, and with a clumsy flap or two he'd glided most of the way toward the noise.

There--at the Spire..? But--was it safe, there? He'd seen the great blue crystals erupt with devastating power, in the past, and he was hesitant to draw too close. There, though... The sound came again. A soft clicking, a rustle, like a small creature struggling. Biting back his fear, the black crow-dog crept closer, cringing a little toward the ground and offering apologetic glances to the Spire as if this might appease its anger.

Crack.

He paused, blue eyes blinking, and peered. There was, he could see now, the tiniest stone--and faint, slight movement just within. Gently, softly, he called out.

"...Hello? Is someone there?"

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Gypsy

The world was vast. Through her ruby gem mask, Gypsy gazed at the giant blue crystals surrounding her and gaped in wonder at the sight. Her blue and black plumage stood on their ends, electrified by the crackles of power that ran through them. It was frightening and uncomfortable, but somehow also soothing, as if she had found the right place to be. Her heart thudded in rhythm with their energetic pulses, compelling and bewitching to behold.

“... Hello? Is someone there?”

She turned to the sound, eyes widening behind the mask at another creature standing before her. Cloaked in ebony, this living being had wings, just like her, except they were much bigger and more magnificent. Blue green eyes watched her in curiosity, and she mirrored the feeling with her own. Their size-difference did not scare her - she didn’t think he was here to harm her in any manner. Instead, she felt intrigued. Who was this stranger? What was he doing here? Could he tell her more about this world? Did he live here, amongst these blue crystals? She wanted to know so much, and there was only one way to learn.

She shakily stood up on her talons. She felt a little wobbly after her ordeal, but she somehow managed. Flapping her wings once and tucking them in more snugly around her body for good measure, she wagged her long feathered tail energetically as she looked up at the black winged giant.

“I’m Gypsy! What’s your name?” she chirped. “What is this place?”

She hopped agilely on her feet. The crystals were still brewing with some phenomenal power, and her discomfort grew. With a slight shudder, she peered over the edge of the crystal ledge down to the stone below. It didn’t look too hard, and the fall wasn’t so high. She thought she could make it. Spreading her wings, she leapt down from the ledge to the stone below.

"Ow!"

There was a flash of pain as she missed the landing and slipped, landing on her side. It was a minor fall, but the young bird felt dazed. That had been a bad bad idea.

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver blinked in deep concern as the little bird crashed down. Instinctively he rushed over, which in retrospect might have been a bad idea given how intimidating he might look to something so small--but his worry, for the moment, overshadowed common sense.

Claws and talons scrabbled over stone as he hovered over her--metaphorically speaking, as he wasn't flying...--and drew upon magic he hadn't realized he had. Shivers of healing, from him to the bird--but it probably wouldn't help a broken wing. It was meant to strengthen, to cleanse disease, but he didn't know that. He just wanted to help, and his power did the best it could.

He sat back, confused at this, but still worried. Blue eyes peered at the surprisingly pretty, flashy little creature.

"Are you all right? I'm--I'm Oliver, are you hurt?" His brow furrowed just a little as he looked her over, hoping her tiny life wasn't going to end right when it had begun.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Gypsy

“Are you all right? I’m-- I’m Oliver, are you hurt?”

Flashing stars lingered in her vision as the little bird shook her head in a daze. She felt a strange prickling feeling along the side she had landed, as if something was flowing into her. Her right wing felt sore. Blinking the bright stars away, she spread out her feathery appendage and peered at it carefully. It didn’t look broken - there were just some small scrapes along the top edge. She gingerly moved it. There was some pain, but it was manageable.

Gypsy breathed out a sigh of relief. A little hiccup of this kind couldn’t stop her from exploring the world. She looked up at the concerned face looming over her. Geez, he was so huge! It might have been intimidating, but he looked genuinely worried. She was glad this world had a kind creature like him.

“I think I’m okay! Something stupid like this can’t stop me!” Ruffling up her feathers in a proud manner, she hopped back onto her feet with a slight wobble. Gypsy winced as she tried to stretch out her injured wing again, but quickly covered the display of pain with a big smile. How silly of her to have fallen like that. She suddenly felt quite embarrassed about offering such a terrible first impression. She had to make up for it somehow.

“Thank you for your concern,” she chirped. Her plumage fluffed up as she shook herself, her tail waving about playfully. “I just misjudged the distance, that’s all.”

She looked around with bright eyes. “So what is this place? Do you live here?”

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver blinked, and looked slowly around. He was relieved the newborn was okay, but--he wasn't entirely sure how to answer her questions.

He was a bit slow in his thought processes at the best of times, but now, she'd truly stumped him. What is this place? It was--the world? Maybe she meant this cave but how would she know-... He turned back, confused.

"...Um."

Well, it was a start.

"This is. The caves? This one's--got the big hummy thing, and a river, and those big crystals there. People call them the Spire," he added. "It hurts people sometime, so be careful. And I live--kinda everywhere? There's lots of caves."

He slowly sat on his haunches, peering over the little bird once more with concern. She seemed much better, though--perky, spry--so he only hesitated a moment before speaking further.

"Do you want me to--uh... describe them..?" he asked uncertainly.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Gypsy

Gypsy listened, fascinated by what the large hybrid was telling her. There were lots of caves? Those Spire crystal things could be dangerous? No wonder she had felt uncomfortable when she had lingered up on there. She was glad she had the instinct to jump off it, despite the slight injury to her wing and her pride.

"Do you want me to--uh... describe them..?"

She hopped around at his offer, almost falling over in excitement. Of course she wanted to hear more! Who wouldn't?!

"Of course!" She exclaimed. Her black eyes with blue flecks gleamed with intrigue, staring up at the giant intently. "Please do tell me more, Oliver. I want to know! Maybe I'll get to actually see all of these things too! Are there lots of giants like you around here?"

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver peered, listening and thinking. And blinking, too, at the mention of giants.

"Oh, err--giants?" he stammered.
"Uhh--I guess we--we come in all sizes? There's tiny ones and then me-sized and then--really big, like really really big." He considered, tilting his head.

"So this cave's the--crystal place I guess. I don't know their names. If they even have names. There's tunnels that go between them all. There's a big swamp place--I lived there for awhile--there's lots of mist in it uhh--fog? If you know what that is. Like--the air goes white and cool and wet, and it's hard to see through. And tall, dark trees and a big black lake. There's a tunnel with all ice in it--uhh... Cold, white hard stuff. And there's a big cave with forest and jungle. Lots of seeds and bugs if you eat those? I don't know what you eat," he added, apologetically.

Oliver thought, some more. "If you eat rats and stuff they're sorta everywhere. So there's a big room too full of big stone stuff. Like old buildings and towers and a throne, and a big coliseum. And there's lights in the ceiling, like crystals. But not the same color as here? Whitish-purple, kinda. And there's a room full of bones--you have to go through this creepy dead tunnel to get there. And a room that's all hot and windy and red." He paused, then added--"A lot of them have water, for when you need to drink."

He wasn't sure if she might have any more questions--but satisfied that he'd given her everything he could--for the moment, at least--remember, he fell silent. Maybe she needed a moment to assimilate all of this. ...Maybe he should've talked slower.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Gypsy

Gypsy stared at Oliver intently through her ruby mask, listening carefully. As seconds ticked by though, her black-blue eyes grew less focused and more confused. Ice? Fog? Mist? Rats? There were so many words she didn’t know and couldn’t understand. She tried to imagine what they were like, using the wolf-crow’s descriptions. It was very difficult though and she suddenly felt overwhelmed. Perhaps it would be better if she saw these things with her very own eyes.

Just as she opened her beak to ask him to take her, there was a tiny rumble. Gypsy look down in bewilderment at her fluffy ivory belly. Had that unflattering sound come from there? All of a sudden, her throat felt dry and she felt… kinda empty.

“Uhh…” She didn’t know what to do. The noise had been kinda embarrassing.

Her stomach rumbled again, and she blushed under the blue feathers.

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver blinked. He smiled as best a wolf-crow could, and tilted his head a bit.

"Yeah, you're--hungry. Come with me? You're like, really small. We can try bugs and if you don't like this maybe um. Seeds? In the jungle cave."

He turned, moving at a rather awkward gait. His forelimbs were winged, and so he was essentially walking on only a few toes, the rest extended out to form the beam of his wings. It made him sort of hop, like a crow, and sort of lollop. The end result was a rather rabbit-like slow hop along the stone.

He glanced back to see if Gypsy would follow, slowing down as necessary.

"Be careful about the water. It's cold and it's fast and easy to fall in, but sometimes bugs fly around over it. You probably won't be able to fly for awhile yet, but I can try to... catch some with lights. They like lights. If you want to try a bug to eat?"

He led the way to the edge of Polaris's Crysal River; it was wide, deep and swift, its shores steep. It probably looked, he knew, huge to someone as small as Gypsy, and he knew he'd have to make an attempt to keep her safe. If she fell in, he wasn't sure she'd be able to get back out. But at least there'd be some bugs flying around overhead... he hoped.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Gypsy

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