Zelk walked into Fornax with Orlaith behind her. She promised to help the tigress find a stone to give life to. Orlaith had picked Fornax for Zelk to find stones for her, and Zelk agreed. Fornax was her favorite cave, because that's where she could swim underwater. She knew Orlaith loved water too, because tigers, like polar bears, loved swimming as well. Zelk turned to Orlaith as she spoke. "I am going to find some stones for you. You just sit back. When I come back with the stones, just pick one you want to give life to." With that she started her search and used her magic. She easily detected one stone and picked it up. Maybe four of five stones in total would do.

Orlaith was very grateful that her friend was going to help her find stones. She could always count on Zelk to help her out. They were best friends after all. Orlaith knew Zelk since they were cubs, and they have shared a strong bond since. Orlaith sat as she watched her friend gather life filled stones for her. "Thank you Zelk. I very much appreciate you doing this for me. Take your time, there is no rush." With that she let Zelk continue to do her work looking for stones. Orlaith suspected that since they were in Fornax, the stones would belong to sea creatures. But they could be entirely different.

Zelk nodded at Orlaith's thanks as she continued to find stones. She tapped into her magic and found another stone. Zelk was satisfied and it seemed her search was going quite smoothly. In fact, it was much like her search first for life filled stones. Now Zelk was waiting for her three children to hatch. The polar bear was quite excited, and she had no clue what to expect when they did hatch. Nonetheless, she would guard them fiercely, and give them unconditional love. Zelk continued to focus on finding stones for Orlaith as the tigresss waited near the water.

Zelk tapped into her magic again as she attempted to look for a third stone. Unfortunately it did not work. The polar bear let out a frustrated huff. She would not give up, especially for her friend Orlaith. Zelk decided to shake off the temporary defeat. Giving up was not in her nature and it never would be. She called out to Orlaith for a moment. "My magic did not work that time! Don't worry though, I will try again!" With that she gathered herself ready to try again.

Apparently her previous try did not work so she tried again. Fortunately it worked that time, and she found a third stone. Good, she was getting right back on track. Zelk had found three stones for her friend. Zelk decided that one more stone should do, then Orlaith could have enough to pick from. She gathered the three stones, and set them near Orlaith. "I'm gonna find one more stone for you. Sit tight." Zelk had gotten wet in the process of finding these stones, but that was ok. She loved the water, and she loved the feeling on her fur. She turned from Orlaith as she went to look for one last stone.

Zelk went looking for one last stone for Orlaith. She tapped into her magic one last time and it was successful. Good. She picked up the last stone and set it next to the other three. Zelk was a little bit exhausted, but it was worth it for helping out Orlaith. Orlaith was her best friend, and even though they were in different groups, they would stay friends. Zelk sat down next to Orlaith as she shook the water off her fur. Unfortunately some of it got on Orlaith, but she could see the tigress did not mind. "There you go. It's all up to you now." With that Zelk waited for Orlaith to think, knowing this was an important decision.

The first stone is a Pupil Level (+2) multi-faceted Black Diamond in a rough square shape with many angles and faces for light to shimmer off of. It belonged to an intelligent Marsh Strider.

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The second stone is a Fledgling Level (+1) heart-shaped Purple Opal once belonging to an armadillo.

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The third stone is a Pupil Level (+2) smooth tear-drop shape of Imperial Topaz. This stone once sat in the forehead of an ox and eland hybrid.

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The fourth stone is a Master Level (+3) rough chunk of Purple Sapphire. The creature this stone once belonged to was a jackal and octopus hybrid, a truly horrifying monstrosity with the jagged shape of its stone jutting from its mid-back.

@Orlaith

After much thought, Orlaith decided to give life to the third stone, the Imperial Topaz. The tigress had no clue it belonged to a ox and eland hybrid. She separated the stone from the rest and gently touched the stone with her paw. Orlaith felt her magic flood the stone, and she realized it worked. The tigress had completed her goal, and now the excitment of raising a gembound got through to her. Orlaith was about to leave with the stone, but not without thanking Zelk. "Thank you Zelk, for all your help. I will see you sometime soon." With that Orlaith left, hoping the child that would come from this stone was as graceful a predator as she was.

-Exit Orlaith

Zelk watched as Orlaith successfully gave life to the stone. With her job done, she replied to Orlaith's thanks as the tigress left. "Take care, and good luck!" Zelk decided to stay in Fornax for a little while and swim in the water. She simply left the unneeded stones where they were. The polar bear waded in the water, then disappeared into it. She hoped that Orlaith's journey with her new child would go well. Zelk hoped her journey with her new children would go well too.

-Exit