Desert was on edge when he heard the rumbling growl down the tunnel. He knew Alpha was out- had it found trouble? Grumbling to himself, he dragged himself from the warren and looked down the smooth slope.

It was laying there, looking at... Something. Desert huffed through his nostrils, displeasure crossing his face. He could hear the voice of an explanation calling down, and he made his way towards them, letting his claws click on the rock below. Intimidation, it seemed, wouldn't work, but he could let whatever was here know that it was dangerous in this tunnel.

He didn't want to bar anyone from Hydra, of course. People could pass. But, why would anybody want to explore down here? Grunting, Desert came close enough to speak, his pupils at pinpricks on the child. Why did it care so much about a species? As far as he knew, species were for the lesser to care about.

He cleared his throat. "I am this child's..." There was a pause. "Commander." His voice was clear and he held his head high. "How may I help an outsider to our tunnel?" A glance was shot to Alpha, one holding negative connotations on the word outsider, but the gaze stuck as he watched the beast exhibit some protective tendencies. "I won't say you aren't welcome, but we have no use for beings seeking just friendship here. May I perhaps offer passage to Hydra? Is there something you need the Sentinels for?"

Why else would they be here? They could receive something out of it, too, if he played his cards right. Then again, he was talking to a child, and he put too much faith in her understanding what he was talking about.

It was good the orthoclase was eating, but he certainly didn't want to divulge in it. It was- well. Honestly. It was kind of nasty, he'd admit, but he'd certainly eaten worse. The child needed to eat more than he did, anyways, but the gesture was appreciated. "No, thank you," he gave with a quick chirp with a wary look before returning back to the okapi.

The okapi. Why define yourself by your species? Stepping closer, Desert took in a breath to judge her smell- new, as far as he could tell, and one he could try and remember. "You're knowledgeable on Hydra- that's good." Deeming her safe, he pulled back and sat down with his foreclaws close together to push his head higher. "You're no bother. We don't receive many visitors, after all."

Of course, they didn't really go searching for them, but it was all the same. Alpha didn't have much in terms of knowledge on the outside world, as far as Desert knew, so this could provide an opportunity for it. The dragon himself was still trying to figure out what they did and didn't know- there was some level of innate knowledge actual new beings seemed to be born with. Some things they knew he'd forgotten long ago.

Knowledge was a valuable resource, here. And here, Desert listened to what Alpha had to say- it'd shown some confusion on a few words, which he made to help fill in. "Family and parents are people you're related to by blood. The Overseer is your life-giver, as you know- a more informal," there was a pause at that word, a warning with a head tilt and a squint, "thing to call him is a parent. Ruby-Beta is your sibling, and classifies as family."

... He missed his own family. But, he shook out the thought before he let it consume him with a shudder of his mane and a flexing of his claws. "Where is your family, okapi?" He turned the question to her, tail flicking a few times behind him in idleness. She must be far from them to wander into this tunnel.