ORIGIN

Upon the Cliffs, a tiny wren stood between the rock slabs, her vibrant azure head tilting this way and that with great intent. In front of her was a large pile of tiny stones and shattered pieces of quartz that had eroded during many cycles from the walls. She had spent a long time gathering them from around the Orion. It was her current focus project - to create a stone structure of her own that stood out from the others here. She would make the most wonderful looking building, unique and completed to perfection. She just needed the right materials to flourish her muse to reality.

Gypsy carefully looked over all the pieces she had gathered with sharp, critical eyes, turning them over and around with a gentle talon. She clicked her tongue when she noticed a couple of the quartz pieces had scratch marks, but then decided they may potentially offer a unique pattern when placed together. There was no harm in trying. Art was all about pushing what could be possible, and exploring the unknown. Nodding to herself, she delicately placed the final piece back onto the pile and considered what to do next for a long moment. She needed a base to work on, something nice, flat, stable and big.

Looking around, she noticed a large rock slab had broken off from the Cliff nearby. Her heart raced in excitement and she let out a loud, happy chirp that echoed around the cave. That was perfect! She simply had to drag it all the way here and then she would be ready to work.

Skipping delightfully towards it, she leaned against the slab and began to push with all her might.

"GHHHHHHHHHHHHH...!"

It was no use, the slab was not going to budge at all. She shook herself with a frown and ruffled up her feathers. No, no, no. She had to do this. Her almighty creation depended on it.

Again she tried to push with her tiny body, but nothing happened. The stone, which was more than ten times her size, did not appear to be interested in moving. To anyone passing by and noticing, the sight might have looked extremely comical.

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

A strange creature with a grin suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Declaring that she was small, he offered his help and started to push the slab with her.

“I- I’m not that small!” She insisted between pants of exertion. Well, she actually was - she knew that deep down, as much as she didn't like to admit it. Every other creature she had met so far in her young life had been bigger than her. Her pride felt bruised by this stranger pointing out the obvious fact as if it meant she was weak.

“I- I’m just young! I’m in my… first cycle!” She cried stubbornly. “I’ll grow bigger, I’m certain.”

Gypsy continued to push the stone, and saw that the stranger was really straining himself as well. Despite her prideful response, she was actually very touched by his display of kindness, running to help her when she needed it. She still hadn’t met many creatures yet in the Caves, but it was fortunate to find kind souls like Oliver, and then this stranger.

“T-Thanks!” She ground out between shoves. “Th-This thing is… Just… Tooo... Heavy… Even though… we’re… both… pushing…! Won't... buuuuudddge!!”

Rather spent, she fell back flat onto her bum, sitting with her legs folded underneath her. She sighed heavily and fluffed up her blue feathers in despair. Her creation was on the line here. If she couldn’t move this slab, how was she supposed to create the beautiful building she had in mind?

“Any ideas?” Gypsy asked the kind stranger. Perhaps he could find a solution?

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

“Wh-Why’d you stop?” The stranger asked. His voice sounded strangely strained. “I almost had it!”

She blinked in confusion. As soon as she had asked the question requesting for help, Gypsy thought she’d heard a bark of laughter. She frowned. That couldn’t be right though. The stranger had kindly offered to help; he couldn’t possibly have laughed. That made no sense because laughing in this situation was a terribly mean thing to do. He probably just got something stuck down his throat and was trying to clear it.

‘Yeah, that must have been it,’ Gypsy convinced herself.

“R-Really?” She jumped back on her talons eagerly. “Let’s try again! We should try to coordinate our pushes this time. Maybe that will help?”

Hope and excitement bloomed once more, and she hopped up and down on the spot. Leaning against the slab, she looked at the stranger with a determined smile. “One… Two… Three! Puuuuuusssshhhhhh!”

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

A high voice above them mocked and ridiculed their efforts, and Gypsy felt a stab of indignance. How very very cruel and unkind, she thought, feeling upset. She looked up and saw a black and white creature sitting upon a ledge, peering down at them and laughing.

"That isn't nice, to laugh at others. We are trying to move this stone!” The stranger next to her was ever so supportive. “Come, help us, we aaaaaaaalmost have it? You look strong. Maybe your strength is just enough..?"

“I- I agree!” Gypsy chirped. Her neck hurt from looking up at the figure high above. “That wasn’t very nice at all! Come help us if you can rather than laughing.”

Seeing the kind stranger straining himself again to move the slab, she followed suit, using all of her energy and pushing with all of her little might.

"Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'