The black cat was drinking.

His eyes were closed contently, rough tongue darting out to gather some water, before vanishing back into his maw. The water of the Eyes was chilled, and felt good against his throat.

However, relaxed as he was, he was still aware. Aware of the whispering of the trees, the murmuring of the birds, the chatter of the bugs. And so, when there was a cracking sound, he raised his head. What had that been? It wasn't the sound of a branch breaking - that sound was very familiar, having broken more than his fair share as he traveled through the trees.

Looking around, his eyes landed on an odd-looking beast. It was tiny, and from the smell, clearly new. The massive panther plodded towards it, stopping a body length away, and called out, "Hello little one."

@Yellow

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

The panther looked down at the new gemling, a kind smile on his mouth. It was... actually rather creepy looking, but he'd seen worse. Nothing could be more horrifying to look at then the disease horse.

"You are rather small, cub. But who knows? One day, you might grow to be big - maybe even bigger than me." he chuckled at the thought. The cub's look made him think it wouldn't grow that much, but he could give the little thing some hope, couldn't he?

He lowered his head to offer the cub his fur, finding that he enjoyed the feel of its hands on him. He'd always loved being groomed by, and grooming, Rift, and so he didn't mind the brushing. He returned the favor, sniffing at the panther before rasping his rough tongue along its head.

"You smell good as well, cub, and your fur is very colorful. If you like colors, then you picked the perfect place to hatch. Polaris is the most colorful place I know." he laid down to be at a similar level to the lemur. "Although, if you like pretty things, you should visit Orion some day. It is beautiful."

And then, as if on a second thought, he said "My name is Sebastian, do you know yours?"

@Yellow

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

The young one made a funny face - a wide, beaming smile. Sebastian wasn't quite capable of such a face, but he couldn't help but to smile as well, doing his best. He chuckled, and said, "Of course you can ride on my head, I shall be your loyal steed." He said playfully.

He allowed the young one to pet his fur, enjoying the touch. To his relief, his fur wasn't yanked or tugged on, nor were his whiskers or ears. Good, this little one was gentle.

"My tongue is like this for many reasons. It helps me to groom myself and others, for one. And it helps me to pull my food off of its source." no need to scare the lemur by saying that he ate meat. He didn't know what the little one ate, but he assumed that meat wasn't a big part of it.

The lemur's excitement was contagious, and he chuckled. "We shall! I will carry you to see any of the pretty things you wish to see." he offered, twitching his tail.

The panther allowed himself to roll onto his side when the lemur rolled onto his stomach, lounging as he observed the cub. "Yellow, that's a fine name." he offered. "Soon everyone in the caves will know your name." he rumbled.

@Sebastian

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Sebastian grinned at the child, flicking his tail contentedly. "We are. You, and me, and my Brother, Rift. He'll be a great brother to you, too. He raised me, too. I'll never let anything happen to you, of course." he smiled.

His ears perked up at the sound of humming and he looked down at Yellow, "You did that? You're a Pressure elemental, then. I'm a fire elemental, myself. My brother, Rift, he's a plant elemental. And he loves his plants - you two will get along great."

He sighed, content to enjoy the silence and the stroking. However, when Yellow began to speak, he did as well. "It is, it's my favorite cave in all of Origin. I do live here - inside of the Maw. It's a great cavern inside of Eridanus. There are plenty of places here for you to make your own."

He couldn't help but to yawn as well when Yellow did, his jaw splitting wide to reveal sharp fangs, a low rumble echoing in his chest. "Of course," he said, remembering long nights spent using Rift as a pillow. He rolled over on his side, stretching out, offering himself to Yellow as a bed.

@Yellow

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

Sebastian couldn't help but to chuckle at the little hatchling, the lemur groggy and out of it. He stretched his neck to groom it, his own breathing slowing until he, too, allowed his head to thump to the forest floor, beginning to doze as well.

-EXIT SEB-

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.