ORIGIN

Oh? Is there something she said? She waved at Vinnie to maybe get them to snap out their surprise.

More to it? What else is there? What is she missing? As Vinnie explained Pippy gave them a shocked, and blank expression with her jaw dropped like something in her brain has malfunctioned and there is now an error on her mind when she got told what she was missing.

Pippy right now wanted to bury her face into either her wings or solid ground and scream into either them for a minute so much for being so stupid on forgetting such an essential factor; of course, flapping! Zeno flapped their wings too when they flew; how could she not recall Zeno flapping as well?

Pippy managed to recover herself, setting her slack jaw back to normal she spreads her wings out and gave a few soft experimental flaps with them herself. She continued to pay attention, but she left her out taut.

With each instruction mentioned she gives them a nod and a hum and moves her wings accordingly to what Vinnie says. While she isn't flying right now, she still tilts and turns her wings like so, so the tiny bat has a mental note on how to do each direction while flying and so Vinnie can maybe correct her if Pippy's positions her wings incorrectly even though the tiny bat believes she has got them correctly.

Her attention was more focused on air as Vinnie now proceeded to speak about wind as it sounded like the most important out all of them

She pays a lot of attention to this lesson about air and nods excitedly in understanding how warm wind is what will help carry her and might not even need to flap. OK, maybe Fornax will be useful to practice then. But when Vinnie spoke about cold air and how she'll drop like a rock her eyes widened, and she clapped her wings together; it was like Vinnie turned a light on as this moment and her expression was essentially a light-bulb moment. It could be why she fallen like she did in Orion besides not flapping! Orion is not exactly a warm place after all.

"Heh... Don't worry I've already learned that one the hard way, never again," she had to laugh too at what Vinnie, it properly wasn't three-hundred she fell from, but it certainly hurt her entirely.


@Vincenzo

VINNIE THE VOICE

The seagull watched the little bat, and offered a few nods of approval as she tilted her wings this way and that.

"Yeah," he offered, tone brightly encouraging. "Just like that. Now ehh-..."

He looked around, and at the river once more. "If you wanna maybe watch some uhh, flight in action," and here, vinnie again unfolded his wings, flexing them about with humor. "I'm gonna see if I can't grab a fish. You eat fish? --Watch close, I guess."

He turned, taking a few running paces forward with wings beating before launching off, lifting up quite rapidly and then turning, banking out with a tilt of his body to hover a bit over Polaris's river. He wasn't really hovering--not exactly--more flying to and fro and forward with constant, miniscule twitches of his wings, and readjustments of his tail. He eyed Pippy for a moment. "Hope you're gettin' all this, kiddo!" he called out, amused, before focusing on the water below.

Keen, pale yellow eyes picked over the silvery ripples, watching for fish. He thought he saw one, for a moment, and dove--slamming beak-first into the water. He felt the shock of ice engulf him, but his beak caught nothing, and he bobbed back to the swift-flowing surface after a moment before again lifting into the air with a raucous cry. "I missed him!" he lamented, loudly--though there had been nothing there to miss.

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@Pippy

Pippy got more eager to learn as Vinnie nodded at her and not once did they need to correct her positions with her wings.

Pippy beamed at Vinnie glad she's doing well with this, and their hopeful tone was bringing her motivation in more. Curious as to what else there is her attention is still not off them or their words.

Pippy followed Vinnie's glance towards this rushing river; is there something in it she is not aware? O-Oh yeah, a demonstration by Vinnie would be helpful as well, give her a general idea on how to do them all so she nods at Vinnie eagerly as they flex their wings like showing off muscles or some warm-up, either way, it was a little amusing for Pippy and made laugh a little.

"Mhm OK go on! I only eat fruit, not fish but sure got my eyes on you," she chirped at Vinnie with her small playful remark. As a Bumblebee Bat, she should be eating bugs, but Pippy is unaware regarding this and so far has survived on sweet fruit by using a Spell which has allowed her to eat fruit without getting ill from it safely. It may become problematic one day when her Spell fails on her but even if she did learn a Bumblebee Bat like herself eats bugs, she'd be utterly grossed out over such an idea and would never plan to do it.

Pippy observed every subtle movement Vinnie makes with their wings quickly taking note how they were flapping their while they were running on solid ground and they took off afterward which she was sure to memorise on to flap the wings before taking off most likely to stop oneself from falling when trying to take off. She also notes how they turned a direction when they tilted their whole body as mentioned before. Then they were going forward, and Pippy paid close attention to even a subtlest in movements within their wings changing; refusing to keep her eyes off them. Their tail is also shifting in sync with their flight feathers also got her attention, and it was fascinating to her; although maybe as Vinnie mentioned how her wing structure is different, she might not have to it with her tail too and only her wings?

Nodding enthusiatically for a briefest of moments to answer Vinnie before going back to observing every movement they make.

Pippy got tense from excitement when Vinnie dove midair; making note on how they positioned themselves for it as it appeared amazing and she hoped she could do it too! She was also impressed how as quickly they managed to stop themselves when reaching the water; wow!

Oh that's too bad, taking her eyes off for a brief moment to observe this river she took note how a silhouette is moving around this river; Pippy is only assuming it is a fish, it could be a rock submerged. But Pippy got so excited on possibly finding a one she quietly pointed one of wings at the spot she believes she has found a fish at as a signal or something to Vinnie; now for Vinnie to try and get it before it gets away.


@Vincenzo

VINNIE THE VOICE

"Eh?" He looked at where Pippy was pointing, as best he could, then shrugged (also as best he could) and dove. Wings folded, he plunged into the icy waters once more, beak thrusting wildly for the vague silhouette.

He felt something bash his beak and saw the faint flit of silver as a fish tried to dart away. A few swift split-second lunges and he managed to snag it by the tail before lifting off and out, again. It was small, but he landed in a clumsy splatter back near Pippy before hammering the fish a few times on the stone. He then looked to her, panting, and nodded.

"It's a fish!" he said enthusiastically, by way of congratulations and thanks. "You want some, kid? If not you oughtta give that whole flyin' thing a shot, eh? I'm here, I can catch ya if you get too high and start to fall or somethin'."

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@Pippy

She pointed at her find with her wing a little faster in her excitement when she got Vinnie's attention; go on, get it before it gets away! Yes, go go go, get it! Watching like she was on the edge of her seat as Vinnie gave it another shot, aiming straight for where she was pointing at once again taking note how they manage to swoop down in such a manner going to a quick stop when they tried to catch whatever this silhouette she found is.

Vinnie took a little more time by the water which may mean they haven't missed this time! And yup soon enough they managed to catch something! Yes, they did it! It may be small, but to Pippy, it appears sufficient in size to her; besides she was glad how she managed to be a little helpful for Vinnie. Pippy did recoil a little at how Vinnie jabbed this fish with their beak her forehead creasing a little in bewilderment and slight disgust, not precisely scared she's only a bit iffy on witnessing this part up close, not her thing. She tries to ignore and forget about it when Vinnie was triumphant and turned back to her.

Pippy beamed at Vinnie and got a little bashful as she rubbed her head a little with a wing when they announced this was, in fact, a fish; they triumphed!

"Oh! N-No thanks, Vinnie! I only eat fruit," she's okay, and this means more fish for Vinnie too which was okay for Pippy. Still, give it a try herself now? Well, if Vinnie will catch her like they said they would if things go wrong, then she'll give it a shot.

"O-OK! I'll try!" nodding eagerly at them as she stretches her wings a little as some warm-up. Taking some deep breaths and hoping any invasive thoughts on what happened last time didn't come to distract her for if this place's air is anything to go by then any faint fear would quickly grow to become suffocating and she'll fall for sure. No, no, be brave; be the bravest there ever was!

Soon she dashes bolting directly to the river, giving her wings a few flaps and a few more seconds later. Pippy, however, forgot how these wings are what she uses for moving on foot too and so she was losing her balance when she flapped her flight limbs again and slipped a little. As she slipped was about to fall headfirst into this rushing water which made her panic and made her flap her wings rapidly and she managed to lift herself off solid ground and manages to stop herself from splashing into the river although some cold water splashed on her face. Nevermind though; the tiny bat is doing it! Quickly as she's flapping she gave her wings a slight tilt upwards and made sure her whole form wasn't slouching while tilting her flight limbs; low and behold Pippy was flying up, she wasn't falling! She now tips her whole body to the left as well while flapping still occasionally to avert crashing into anything.

Concluding on having done enough she leans her body back a little while swooping her wings behind herself to stop, triumph filling her as her eyes were on Vinnie and solid ground with a proud smile flapping her wings still.

But now there's an issue.

"Uh... V-Vinnie? How... Do I l-land safely?" she asked them nervously but had her voice raised so their ears could catch what she said while in midair. She's stuck in the air now as she has no idea how to do such a thing and Pippy does not want to crash like she did last time in Orion, nope not going through that again. Nuh uh.


@Vincenzo

VINNIE THE VOICE

Vinnie watched Pippy with concern--a hopeful concern, like a parent watching a kid. Or any caring adult, really, watching a child. Pippy was flapping, nearly falling into the river (and here, Vinnie swore sharply under his breath). The seagull tensed, wings half-springing out and eyes widening, ready to leap after her--but she'd gained altitude, and started testing out her wings properly.

He watched her bank, and slow, and listened as she went from smiling to worriedly asking him how to land.

Vinnie laughed good-naturedly.

"Yeah, well, that's the hard part, kid. Everyone messes that up at first. Don't worry about it. But there's a trick, right? You just gotta fly down, slowly. Don't aim for the ground, right? Just aim to kinda... drift down at a slow pace. And not too sharp an angle. Once you got that down, you can work on different speeds and stuff. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it."

He lifted off with a flap of his wings, and after circling around the scattered scales left of his fish, he drifted down and demonstrated a landing. He leaned back, his feet coming out, wings arched to slow his descent--and landed with a slight stumble, folding his wings back over his back and nodding to Pippy.

"Give it a shot, Pippy, I think you got this."

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@Pippy

Oh, so landing is the hard part? Pippy was never aware that was the case although it did make her a little more uncomfortable about this part. Well, she indeed has already messed up on it from last time. The tiny bat will try not to worry about failing if everyone messes it up initially, Pippy is still scared on possibly face-planting onto the solid ground like last time; Pippy would prefer not to get hurt. Although with Vinnie around he may help make sure that won't happen to Pippy so maybe she won't have to worry too much.

A trick? Now she was interested she smiled sheepishly a little at this and paid extra attention to this. In Pippy's mind, it was like she was getting told a fun little secret on how to fly like a pro which not many might have wisdom about, and it was being shared with her by Vinnie which made her relax about her current situation a little now.

OK, go at a slow pace and try not to aim at where solid ground is, she'll have to keep this one in particular to her mind as if not she probably will try and aim for solid ground; Pippy believes she can manage everything else like holding her angle not too sharp with ease. It all made sense, and it was easy for her to process it all in her head, and so she considers Vinnie's words on how she'll get it in all due time.

She got a little startled when he also flew up, moving a little bit back midair but settles down again with how Vinnie was flying back down to display how to do a safe landing. Alright, so feet first and lean back while going slow like he told her to do; appears to be all there is to it, although it most likely looks harder than it seems to be, slow descent for one may be challenging.

His encouragement on to give it a try was a good motivator too on trying it herself. Pippy's wings are also getting sore from flapping them so much too, so she gets ready now.

She tries her best to shift her form a little as she flaps her wings a little more slowly and tilts them down a bit as Vinnie mentioned, the tiny bat tries to keep her mind off how solid ground is her target and flies down as delicately as she can. Soon she close to the solid ground so she now does what Vinnie did and tries to lean back herself where Pippy could reach her little claws out and arched her wings, so she stretched them taut while being tag bit relaxed in their muscles. Pippy also made sure they were only a little bit arched behind her as her claws soon made a clicking sound when they touched solid mass. Out some paranoia on still not being entirely safe from getting hurt even when her feet landed she gave her wings a few gentle flaps and moved only one to down till it was no longer midair, next was her other wing which was still flapping when she was shifting her other one down.

Glancing back and forth and it all sank on what she did there makes Pippy give Vinnie such a smile which was so overjoyed; she did it!


@Vincenzo

VINNIE THE VOICE

Vinnie was unaware that bats had sensitive hearing.

Vinnie was loud, especially when excited.

Vinnie was now excited for the little bat, and for her successful landing, and so his volume increased tenfold as he gave a cry of praise.

"HEEEEY! Great job, kid! Nailed it on the first go! I can't tell ya how many times I crash-landed, but you get used to it. Well, you got your whole life to practice, huh?"

He considered, for a minute, and then his voice thankfully lowered. "In fact, ehh, word of warning. Once you're good at flyin' and flappin' all around, try to stay hidden when ya fly. There's plenty of flying Gembounds and I'm pretty sure you're the tiniest. Someone's bound to mistake you for a snack, Pippy." Vincenzo's tone was warm, but a bit sad. "Now, I'm not tryin' ta scare ya or anything, but just--you know--watch yourself out there, yeah? World can be a dangerous place."

He knew this firsthand. He'd almost eaten her, after all.

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@Pippy

Sensitive hearing Pippy has indeed, and her smaller size means things are louder for her when someone more prominent than her in size speaks; which is for her the majority.

While Pippy is glad on how much Vinnie is excited for her, maybe even proud of her which gives her a warm feeling and made her more aware she did well there. But she was not prepared for their raucous praise especially how it happened instantly. Pippy's heart thumped as she flinched, startled by this loudness, quickly bringing her wings to cover her small ears while whimpering; they were ringing in her head. Ow ow ow ow ow.

"Vinnniiiiieee... Not so loud, not so loud; ow ow ow ow..." her little voice whined at them in protest. She was giving a meek smile at them despite her drooped covered ears and whining she appreciates all his praise it made her so overjoyed and happy on managing to do a good job and impressing her new large bird friend here it indeed did. Pippy is glad to be deserving of all his praise, but she was not expecting her ears were going to get blasted like so.

"T-Thank you though Vinnie... That's really nice of you to say. Was it really that good?" she needed to be truly certain she did a good job, although with how much Vinnie is praising her to the point of accidentally blasting her eardrums she is willing to believe his words.

"Yeah... Lots of time to practice heh," she'll have to balance her priorities in practising Magick and flying.

When Vinnie's voice lowered, Pippy moved her wings away from her ears, which are still ringing but only a little. Pippy straightened her small form, Vinnie's tone sounds a little serious now, so she better be sure her ears will register every word Vinnie says.

"O-Oh! OK, I'm good at hiding," a little too good with how her fear makes her spend lots her time hiding in her tiny den. Still with Vinnie's mention how one may mistake her for easy picking or something, which brought a chill down her spine.

"O-OK I'll be careful Vinnie... Still, I gotta ask is there... Any Greater Gembound that may well, hunt or harm me even if they're aware I'm a Greater Gembound too? About all Greater Gembounds I have met so far are nice to me, with some exceptions, but they didn't hurt me either..." so far her only close call was with what seemed to be a Lesser Gembound. Greater Gembounds have yet to harm her while yes a scary-shadowy cat threatened her genuinely she wasn't precisely hurt then neither was ones like Oliver when they went to talk to the said cat. Her only other time is one called Envy and Pippy has mixed feelings about them, they seemed mean but yet they seem to like her, they didn't harm her either too.


@Vincenzo

VINNIE THE VOICE

Vinnie considered the question for a very long moment, looking away, lost in thought. At length, he shrugged a little, readjusting his wings as he blinked back to Pippy.

"Ehhh... I don't know that many people, kid, I'll be frank with ya. But I will say I've heard all sorts of stories. I wouldn't put it past some Gembound, ya know? Like I've heard sick stuff. And stuff about wars, big dragons that'd eat everyone if they could, I heard there was a guy who tried to wipe out all the predators, like--everyone who's gotta hunt to survive. Now... I don't know all the details and I'm not sayin' you gotta run around--or fly around!--bein' afraid of the whole world, right? 'Cause you don't. Just... keep your eyes open. Or your ears, I guess--or both."

He didn't want to frighten the tiny bat, but honestly, it was a violent world out there sometimes. He didn't want her to underestimate it, either, and get killed because he hadn't warned her.

"So, eh..."

Quick, chump, change the topic before the kid freaks out.

"...How long ago'd you hatch? You're pretty well-spoken for a newcomer!"
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@Pippy