ORIGIN

The cub watched as the alligator preached to him, flinching only slightly from the sudden outburst of words. He stared at him with an intense gaze, following his caretakers guidance. He wasn't able to make heads or tails of something called the Children of Rot, but he was starting to understand the rest. The name offered protection in return for food, safety. The cub smiled and nodded, showing that he understood.

When prompted to listen closely he inched forward, eyes and ears at front and center, ready to listen to whatever his caretaker had to say.

He took the warning heavily, nodding and keeping his expression serious. It was something he was beginning to understand and in fact he didn't really want to leave his caretakers guidance, or his side for that matter. His ears perked up at the question given to him and he nodded, his own words tumbling out after.

"Munkir! Munkir...Barrattiel." He shook his head in conformation, happy that he knew at least that. He cocked his head to the side in questioning however, still curious as to what his caretaker had said. "Wha' are Children of Rot?" He sat, watching and far to willing to learn from his caretaker, the rest of the world not seeming to matter.

@Dragon

"Speech" - Magic - Link/Familiar

"Munkir? Barrattiel. Two names?! Hrm. It is good to meet you, then."

Dragon considered Munkir's question, a soft huff escaping him. He was already bombarding the youth with information; how could he phrase this simply enough..?

"We are," he began slowly, choosing his words with careful thought, "a group of Gembound who live in this swamp. We aid one another. Yes? Help each other, when we need. Do you understand 'help'..? We seek knowledge. So that we may survive. Do you understand?"

Dragon dipped his head briefly into the thinner mud, exhaling thoughtfully so that a number of bubbles churned to the surface and popped. He realized, with a blink, that the water was outright algid--the air, too, fairly cold. He drew upon his magicka as he glanced to Munkir. "All creatures like you and I--all Gembound--can create magic! Mine is fire, and heat, and other things. I do not know what yours is, but my advice to you is to find out, and master it! It will help you survive."

As he spoke, the water around his legs took on a faint glow. The water bubbled here and there from the heat, and Dragon plodded closer--further onto shore, and nearer to the cub--to share the warmth. "This is magic!" he explained.

The young cub watched as his caretaker said his name, a smile forming on his face. He nodded eagerly, showing his appreciation to the sound of his name. He listened with rapt attention as the alligator spoke about the Children of Rot. It sounded nice enough and he wondered if he was to be apart of this group. He nodded in agreement when asked if he understood what his caretaker was saying, more or less understanding what was going on.

He watched as his caretaker began speaking of magic, hanging on to every syllable and listening for the words that fell from the reptiles lips. Magic was fascinating to the young cub, and he was enraptured with the concept of it, and how he seemed to possess it as well.

The sudden heat from his caretakers magic made him gasp, watching with intense anticipation. He felt the pang of cold flee his body as the alligator drew closer, a happy smile on his face. Again the rush of energy filled him as his power drew closer to the skin, attempting to utilize what little magic it possessed. Another attempt at using Fauna Cleanse was called for, his body taking the reptiles words to heart.

The surge of energy was intense, his body becoming stronger and healthier. The pulse of his magic obvious to any who knew about magic. It made him beam with pride, a smile on his face to show he was a magic user too. The primal force within him already making itself known.

"M' I a Child of Rot?" His curiosity spoke, wanting to be apart of what seemed like a happy thing. His little body stumbling over to try and curl up next to the warmth that was his caretaker. His fur drying faster with the newfound heat and turning its normal brass color.

@Dragon

"Speech" - Magic - Link/Familiar

Dragon peered sidelong as the little cub worked his magic, huffing slightly in approval. Whatever it was, he imagined it was strong!

"You learn quickly. This is good!" he rumbled, his tone warmly encouraging. Munkir's question, however, gave him pause. He considered, lying still in the swamp as the cub's source of heat. "You are under my protection, for now," the alligator decided. "Whether you are a Child, or not. That is for you to decide! If you wish to be Children of Rot, you may and we will all protect you, and teach you. But I will be your ally even if you are not, for those born in Cetus, I will guard." He said this firmly, and clearly: he'd protect Munkir, and the bear could be his brother, or not. It was not clear whether he did not wish to push such a decision on a newly-hatched Gembound, or maybe he wanted to reassure him--or possibly it was simply the truth. In reality it was all three; Dragon's decision was carefully-considered, but swiftly decided.

"If you wish to rest, you may rest! You may stay with me as long as you want. I can teach you to hunt, or to fish. There would be much to teach you about the prey and the predators of this cave. Some are dangerous. Some must be burnt to be eaten!" He exhaled in a slow rumble as he thought, for a moment--then once more continued. "Or I can teach you more of magic, Munkir; or if you have questions, I can answer those."

He glanced sidelong at the cub as he spoke, the same instinctive alligator father's instinct bringing a warm and protective feeling to Dragon's heart.

The young cub offered a happy smile when the words left his caretakers lips. He had done well, his magic strong for now. He listened, laying there on the shore nestled to the warmth that was Dragon. It was his choice on becoming a Child of Rot? He already knew what his answer was going to be, he was going to be a Child of Rot, wanting to stay close to someone who was caring for him.

His caretaker listed off all the things he could teach the young bear. The tired smile across the cubs face showing his joy at the infinite knowledge his caretaker seemed to poses. He had so many questions, but his hatching and magic use had tired him out greatly. His little body not used to all of what he was doing. He shook his head, eyes drooping with the tiredness he was starting to feel.

"Wanna be..Child of Rot...stay here...rest." It had taken him a few moments to piece his words together. Trying to get across what he was saying. That he wanted to join, to become a Rotten Child. To stay within this area, to rest and ask questions and be taught later. He was already drifting off, feeling the weightlessness of unconsciousness take him into the world within his mind.

-Exit Via Sleep-

@Dragon

"Speech" - Magic - Link/Familiar

Dragon lay there, pride and warmth filtering in at the little one's words. Not many of those that he took in and protected, guided, chose to become Children. He looked after them anyway; the young, the newly-hatched, deserved a chance to grow and to find themselves. He supposed it was good, too, to have allies elsewhere later on.

But Munkir's immediate decision to remain with him--and with the Children--pleased him. He was unsure what sort of creature the cub might grow to be, but large or small, powerful or gentle, Munkir was now family. He would ensure that he taught him, trained him, as best he could.

He began to open his jaws to speak, but he realized almost at once that the bear cub was breathing more slowly, rhythmically, at his side. He is asleep.

The alligator was too bulky and thick-skinned to turn and look at Munkir, or to offer him a nudge or rearrange him, and so he simply lay exactly how he was. He did, however, murmur quietly. "Rest, then, Child of Rot. Rest, and I will look after you, and you will grow strong."