Pollen had been branching out a little, after getting settled in and all. There was a lot to explore- Ursa was huge, and so was Leo, and there were so many smells! She missed the Palace, though... But, there were so many different plants. Could she get seeds for them, maybe? But-- no, right now, she didn't see many plants at all in this place. Pretty gems, maybe... really reflective, and shiny, and pretty.

She was drawn to the sound of water, thirsty and tired from walking so much. Four padded paws carried her to the waterfall and its pool- how pretty, too!- and she marveled at it, staring down into the crystal clear water. It rippled with the waterfall's additions, and Pollen turned her head this way and that, giggling as her reflection warped in the mirror. She was getting more color, still- her muzzle was dark! And the mane atop her was slowly growing in, and she felt less fuzzy than before. Patting out over her, she inspected her reflection, opening her mouth and flexing her inner nostrils, sticking her tongue out.

Funny. That's the right word for it. She didn't look like anyone, and anybody she knew didn't look like anybody else. There wasn't a why to that wondering, just a small realization, and a 'huh'. That's just how life was.

Bending down, Pollen drank up some of the water, as if drinking from an oversized cup. It didn't take much to get her fill. A small clatter of rocks, and Pollen slowly turned her head to look, water dripping down her chin and pouring over her chest. "Hello?" She squeaked out- most likely, nobody was there but a few lessers, but it still didn't hurt to say something.

She twisted around the other way, and her eyes landed on... An alcove. Huh! Pulling back, Pollen shoved up onto her hind legs and wandered closer, paws together in front of her abdomen. Just behind the corner, the air wavered and danced, and she stretched out to look at it. One paw came forward, gently reaching, not quite touching. Was this magic? She didn't smell anything.

She stood and watched for a moment more, her tail faintly wagging behind her.

(for t4, gm chosen rift item!)

Moments were precious things. They were the unfurling of a flower's petals when all conditions were right; the old bear striking at the flash of silver scales in water; the whirling of a rift preparing to bring another strange, foreign thing into this Cave.

It gurgled slightly, the veil's surface warping like a sheet of cellophane.

Then, it hurled something in the coincidentally vague direction of curious little Pollen. Being about the same size as her, it was fortunate that the object would miss by a wide margin. It made a hollow THUNK! as it crashed into the floor; then, of course, a series of smaller thunk!s as it bounced and rolled to a stop.

Once all was still and quiet... Pollen could surely see that it was no dangerous projectile. Hell, it could only be a weapon if you clobbered something over the head with it.

Constructed entirely of carved, well-loved wood, it was a pear-shaped sort of pot. A large hole sat at the top, and a myriad of small ones had been poked into the bottom. The inside had a waxy feeling. Water leaked from either set as it lay. Faded blue paint was streaked across its surface.

It could serve a nice purpose to Pollen as a watering can, perhaps, or something to wet any floors with.

... or as a shower, if someone were to be kind enough to hold it over her head.

@Pollen

Her first mistake was leaning in a bit too much as the surface began moving. What--

Motion made her squeak out loudly and skitter backwards, scrambling over and cowering as though she'd find a big rock to hide behind. Except, nothing was there, and a few donks of wood hitting crystal sounded out with the... thing, rolling. It was still, and Pollen whined softly from the roof of her mouth, crawling forward like a terrified kitten.

She essentially was one, but that was besides the point.

A gentle paw came forward to prod at the object, jumping back as it rolled just slightly, water rolling out from the top. Water? Drawing closer, she used both paws to tip it up, trying to hold the top with one paw and the bottom with the other. Except, when she picked it up, nothing came out... What? She sniffed at it, and she could see the water beading at the holes, and she drew back. When she moved her top hand, though, water just...

Poured.

Pollen nearly dropped it in a panic, fumbling and getting her legs wet. Ah! A weird watering can? What? Why was it watering now? She grabbed the top again, and it didn't change- the hole? Slamming her hand down on it, it seemed the beading stopped, and she grinned.

Oh! A weird pot! She played with it, lifting her hand and then letting it suction in, each lift coming off with a 'pop'.

She turned back to the rift, squinting to it. Huh. Was this some weird gardener shed? Standing up, she cupped her paws around her mouth and leaned forward, squeaking out a "thank you!" to the strange thing.

So weird! She should show Miss Aethril- she'd love this. Or, Eggbert! Eggbert couldn't pick it up though-- and it was really heavy for her, too. Dropping back to all fours, she awkwardly rose her head to bite at its neck, finding purchase and drawing back. It tipped- the rest of the water spilled with it, too- but... She could drag it.

And she would. She did drag it all the way back to the Palace, taking breaks or switching it up by waddling with it like some sort of giant egg in two paws. A new thing! A thing that didn't come from the Palace!

Ooh, she couldn't wait to tell everyone about it!

;exit pollen.. there she go..