ORIGIN

Envy scampered through the dark, their movements flowing, paws pitter-pattering against the icy ground. Small breaths steamed around their muzzle and they moved with a dead-set purpose. It was the first time they'd felt like this for many cycles- awake, alive, energetic- and they were going to make the most of it, even if it killed them.

They raised their head briefly to sniff at the air, but, finding nothing too overtly suspicious, carried on their merry way, bounding on down the tunnel... only to look up in confusion as a shadow fell upon them. They looked up, and upon the shape. The realization of what was happening- again- fell upon them, crushing their jovial mood in an instant. The weasel sprang back with a shrill shriek of rage, shock manifesting physically in a shockwave of magickal energy, potentially powerful enough to knock the bird clean out of the sky.

"The fuck are you doing, asshole!?"

"Speech."

Envy was overcome with a savage feeling of relief as the bird was sent tumbling and rolling in the air, only to right itself and come flying back. Envy arched their spine and bared their fangs, preparing to unleash another energy wave. Luckily, the strange bird appeared to come to their senses, and Envy was appalled by the shocked look on his face.

What did the bird think they were, a rat?!

Needless to say, the bird's immediate response didn't help the situation one bit. Their face turned sour, visibly offended, bristling all the way along their length. "Really? I thought you were gonna ask me to dinner, maybe gimme a peck on the cheek for good measure," Envy snapped, fur prickling upright until they were as spiky as a toilet brush. "No shit!" They glared daggers at the owl, coiling and twisting, their tail lashing at their back, barely able to contain their anger.

They were sorely tempted in that moment to let out another energy blast, knocking them clean off that stupid rock.

"Speech."

Envy's eyes narrowed slightly, accepting the apology with a small snort and a thrash of their tail.
"Overeager? Is that what you're calling it?" they muttered underneath their breath, but the fur along their spine relaxed slightly. They eyed the owl suspiciously as he settled his ruffled feathers and repositioned.

The weasel narrowed their eyes at his words. They didn't seem to appreciate the change of subject, but obliged it nonetheless. "Nope," they said bluntly, an edge of offense in their tone. "Why? Do I look like I spend my life stuffing my face?" they gestured pointedly towards their tight stomach.

Envy began to bristle again, and though they'd never admit it, they were slightly embarrassed; the weasel had never hunted before in their life. They folded their paws against their chest in a slightly self-conscious manner. They forced a grin. "Or is this your way of making excuses?."


"Speech."

The owl's silence caused the weasel to twitch and quiver until they were fit to burst. Gosh, larger creatures seemed to spend so much time thinking and got to the point far too slowly. It was bothering Envy just as much as the other's refusal to show them any kind of respect or remorse. How rude! Envy continued to bristle, glaring at the owl with all their tiny, cold heart.

They sniffed disdainfully. "Reeeeaally? A question? Fine." Envy rolled their eyes. But they tapped their foot, clearly tiring of their little game. They were still pissed at the owl, but lucky for them, he wasn't giving them much fuel for the fire. It seemed that they were gonna have to make their own. "I don't know how many mice usually burrow into ice and eat rocks... but I'd say this tunnel isn't the best place to be looking," they drawled, glancing pointedly out into the tunnel looming beyond, from which an icy chill crawled forth. "...And Cetus is just kinda gross, if you ask me."

Truth be told, Envy didn't have any clue of the state of lesser Gembounds in the cave, nor did they care. They could get along perfectly well with nothing more than mosses and grasses, and they hadn't hunted once since the day they were born. They'd probably make a poor hunter, no matter how much they tried to convince themselves otherwise. Mice probably fled for miles around when they heard Envy's pattering footsteps, and well, they hadn't put any effort into honing their sense of perception. It was all pointless, really.


"Speech."

The owl's screeching voice sent a jolt down Envy's spine, the noise grating at their sensitive ears. They winced vaguely, but otherwise glared evenly at the owl. They peeled back their lips in the ghost of a smirk, holding the bird's gaze even as they fluffed and flared. Even though within, Envy's heart began to pound, and they had an inkling of danger- they felt certain that one wrong move and they'd surely be eaten. Envy felt the nervous thrill of magic running through their skin, and let out their breath. They rose up tall and held the thread of magic tight to the tip of their tongue for when it was needed. Feeling safe in their own power, Envy took the moment to do what any reasonable Gembound wouldn't.

"My my, it seems I've struck a nerve... What's up? Can't handle a taste of logic?" They paused, still grinning, their body quivering with tension. "But wait! I forget... You'd rather a taste of me."

Envy watched the owl's feathers darken and snickered, apparently unimpressed. Was he really trying a gemling's trick like that? Flushing their fur darker was the first thing Envy had ever learned how to do, and they'd come so much further since then. "Fine. I'll 'scurry' away. I'm a very busy weasel, you know. I have better things to do than be insulted by the likes of you." Envy released the magic they'd held so close, and like a ghost, their slinky body faded into the darkness.

They snuck on, past the owl, and down the tunnel.

"And... by the way..."

What was that? The glint of their eyes in the dark? The glisten of spittle on a fang?

"You should probably work on your little party trick."

-exit Envy-

"Speech."