ORIGIN

BARATHEON

---

The dragon hatchling, who currently believed himself to be a lamb, was sitting in the middle of Tunnel I. What was he doing sitting in the middle of the entire tunnel? Playing, of course. The young dragon had fund himself plenty of things to amuse himself outside of Orion. His birthhome was lovely and he did plan on going back as soon as it got too late, he didn't want to leave Flafe for too long since he was still so young and loved her company. He was just curious and wanted to see what all was in the world... or at least the world at the tunnels bordering his home.

After raising himself from the middle of the tunnel and ending his play he decided to investigate. During his investigations he saw various green leafy things that Flafe liked to eat but what he didn't like. However, on the ground was dirt. Lots of dirt! The dragon stuck a paw into it and it came away dirty. His eyes grew wide with wonder and soon both of his forepaws were in the dirt while he sat his rump down as well. He squished the dirt around with his forepaws and made little dirt castles. In a very short amount of time he had several little castles built up. Now, he needed to put on the finishing touches! He glanced around but saw nothing at first. Then he looked upwards and saw a few leaves on a bush that was much taller than he was.

He crouched and waggled his tail in the air before leaping as hard as he could. He leaped several times, even flapping his undersized wings for extra air. It was all in vain though, he just wasn't big enough to grab the leaves. In his frustration he opened his little mouth wide and released a shockwave at the bush. It blasted all the leaves off of the bush and after fluttering in the air then came falling to the ground around him. The dragon plopped his rump on the ground and clapped his paws happily. He was absolutely delighted at his success! Now he set to work with decorating his castles with leaves.

.

---

Somewhere in the tunnel, another child had strayed away from its comforting companion. Having found his way through Eridanus, his birthplace, the little Peanut Birb had stumbled across a tunnel opening. He remembered going through something like this with the Fox. It hadn’t been pleasant, but he wanted to find the Fox again and repent for his wanderlust, so he stormed in. A quick-beating heart and a frantic gaze were not soothed by the fact that this tunnel… was not the same tunnel. It was different. It wasn’t cold and drippy. It wasn’t right. The beautiful vegetation from that big room poured in like a winding cascade, reaching for the shadows that were not to be touched.

Peanut Birb had allowed himself to stray far enough in that he could not quite see the exit – suppressing the knowledge within that he ought to scrap his efforts and go back to search for the right one. His quick stride slowed, and it almost seemed - almost seemed - as if a tiny frown had tugged down the ever-disgruntled stretch of his beak. He blinked and glanced left and right as he walked, inhaling and softly chattering to himself. Maybe… maybe he’d just go a little farther and then turn around. After all, tunnels were linear enough that even he would have trouble getting too lost.

Suddenly a sound startled the young gembound, and he jumped. What was that?! He had not known fear until now – until he had gotten himself separated and lost and swaddled in the unknown. Now the unknown assaulted him in a far more direct way. He stopped where he was, inadvertently holding his breath and staring wide-eyed in the direction that the rustling had come from. His heart pounded a little faster, but slowly his thick legs began to take him towards it, through the velvety shadows and grasping plants…

Emerging from the underbrush, several things were revealed to him. First, a small white and pink creature. It seemed young, like himself. It looked very strange, but also fluffy like the Fox thing. But not something he wanted to cuddle (since he already felt a mild air of claimed seniority – despite only possibly being a few days older than this thing). The next thing he noticed were the curious little creations around it. Mounds of dirt, decorated and enticing. He cocked his head and eyed them for a moment, then looked back to the pale beast. What was it? Had it made those things? The possibility of danger did not come to mind, for he had not yet been introduced to any danger posed by another being. Feeling less afraid now that he could see what had presumably made the noise, the baby bird snapped open his beak and let out a few introductory “peeps”.

BARATHEON

---

This was so much fun! Sure, his "castles" were little more than mounds of mud with leaves sticking out of them but the baby dragon thought they were quite good! He sat among his village of castles, gazing around with satisfaction at his work. In his opinion he had a whole little village full of lovely houses for... for... Hmm... Who would live in his castles? He cast around for something to add to his village and saw a little beetle crawling around on the ground. For a moment he eyed it hungrily but decided he should spare the beetle for playtime. Then he would eat it afterwards. Carefully he used his claws to pick the little critter up and added it to the village of mud. He then saw a little worm trying to crawl away and he scooped that up too but instead of setting it loose within the village he used it as a sort of "toy".

He made growling sounds to simulate speech as he walked Mr. Worm through a day in the village. His little tail waggled out behind him in happiness as he played. While engaged with his little game he was completely unaware of the approach of another until he heard the peeping. His little game of fantasy play ended there as he turned his head, worm still clutched gently in his claws. Oh! What was this? Certainly it wasn't a lamb because it wasn't white or fluffy. Well, no matter this not-lamb was still welcome to play.

He imagined the little peeping sounds were the creature's way of saying "hi" so he used his other paw to wave in greeting. The dragon's small fangs were exposed in a happy grin as he asked, "Play?" He pointed with a claw to the "village", inviting the not-lamb to come and engage in a game with him. They could both play village together! Well... with that not-lamb's lack of arms how could it pick up a worm? He turned back to his castles and pondered that for a moment but decided that they would figure it out together.

.

---

The bird’s announcement seemed to get the attention of the stranger, who looked up from its noisy business to take note of him. It had something clutched in one paw. A wiggly something, that looked very much like what the Fox thing had taught him to “eat.” The bird stared relentlessly at it for a moment before his gaze slid over to the other forepaw, which waved back and forth at him in a curious gesture. Then he looked at the other’s face. A smile. The bird cocked his head sharply to the side, something that had become habit now whenever he took in anything interesting. Then, the stranger said something. “Play.” What was that? The hematite gembound remained perfectly still where he was, watching and following the claw that pointed towards the interesting mounds. Was he being invited closer?

With a quirky hop, he moved a little closer, glancing between the white creature and its kingdom. He would stop beside the stranger, look to the mounds of dirt, and then back at the other gembound as if to say, “now what?” Had it made those lumps of dirt? The bird also noted that, in addition to the wriggly worm, there was also a scuttle-y beetle out and about in the little town. What a delicious looking city this other beast had made. He clacked his beak gently together a few times in anticipation. Eating was what that was for, right? That scuttle-y thing there. With sudden resolve, his long neck extended and his head darted forward, open beak chasing after the shiny bug.

And in his mouth! It never stood a chance. Not that the little bird had yet pondered upon ideas of chance, and the meaning of life and all in between. He just figured that, since it was his duty to eat, so it was the bug's duty to be in his mouth. It was a crunchy duty. The bird blinked and shuffled his body a tad, feeling satisfied. Looking back to the white gembound, he'd open his mouth and croak out the first note in that mystical word "eat" as his declaration of victory, although it was hardly recognizable without the rest, "Eeeeee!" He didn't really feel like putting in the effort to make the rest of the word.

BARATHEON

---

The feathery creature seemed a little confused at his gestures. Head tilting at a funny angle that caused the little hatchling to giggle with amusement. Perhaps he didn't really understand words either... Baratheon pointed again with his free paw at the castles. Gesticulating furiously before turning back to his little game.

Finally the little feathery not-lamb hopped closer which caused the little dragon to clap with glee. He only stopped when he realized that such enthusiastic movements would surely cause the worm to squished in between his claws. "Play!" He said again, not a question but an enthusiastic affirmative that he did indeed have a friend to begin games with. The little dragon took his eyes away from the village to search around for a bug for the not-lamb to play with. He certainly couldn't have Mr. Beetle. The busy bug was already scuttling around the city doing his beetle-y business. Far be it from the bird or dragon to interrupt him.

Well, far be it for the dragon at least. After the crunching sounds had reached Baratheon's overly-large ears he turned back around to the not-lamb. For a moment he looked puzzled at what the creature was eating, until he glanced downwards at the village to see that his citizen was nowhere to be found. He gave a gasp of shock as he put two-and-two together.

His pink eyes turned to the bird with dread as he mouth articulated his most deepest and darkest desires, "No!" He cried. With the sound you would swear that his best friend had just been eaten. Nevermind the fact that he had first plotted on eating Mr. Beetle himself, this was now a citizen of the city who had just been slaughtered! "No!" He cried again, grabbing his ears and pulling them downwards in absolute terror. How could that young life have ended so quickly?

How could he show the not-lamb that these bugs were not for eating but for playing? He looked around, quickly searching for another victim --ahem, excuse me-- playmate for his make-believe establishment. His eyes landed on a little cricket who had the misfortune of hopping by at just the right --or should it be wrong?-- moment. Before the unfortunate bug could react Baratheon snatched it up with his free paw, right in between two claws. Carefully he showed the bug to his companion. He gave the creature a stern look and said firmly, "No." No other explanation was given. What other explanation could be wanted or needed? His words spoken so clearly and full of expression would beat anyone's attempt to explain why the bugs were friends and not food for this moment of play.

Now that he'd explained why these bugs weren't to be eaten for in his mind he had certainly given a speech worthy of critical praise. The dragon turned around and demonstrated what the bugs were for by taking the hapless cricket and moving him around the city like a child playing with a doll. He make growling noises and grunts that simulated talking as he also brought the poor worm down to join in on the fun. Mr. Worm and Ms. Cricket were bounced up an down and moved about the village as the dragon gave the them make-believe lives and little make-believe jobs.

Having demonstrated what sort of play this was Baratheon turned and offered the not-lamb Mr. Worm. Now he said firmly again, "Play." As he held the worm out to his friend.

.

---