The Fossa squeaked excitedly, glad to hear the encouragement in the other's voice. It sounded almost excited! Twice more he went "Ahh, ahh!" before mimicking him again. "Uhh, mmm, nnn!" not realizing that Vinnie was merely thinking.

There was a funny sound, and he squeaked unhappily as the Gembound seemed to leave. He did as the bird had said, sitting down where he'd been standing. It took a little while, and some words he could hear, before the other Gembound reappeared. He leaped to his tiny paws at the scent of blood, and eagerly pounced on the fish, digging into it where he could reach the meat.

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

VINNIE THE VOICE

Ahh, that nice, warm, fuzzy feelin'. Look at him! So cute! Hungry little guy. Adorable. Wow, he's... rippin' right into it, huh? Little bit savage, heh... Faint worry flickered over the gull. What if it was like one of those little weasel guys that'd jump on him and bite his neck?! He took one web-footed step back, nervous, but a second look reassured him.

...Nah, he's harmless. Eyes ain't even open, yet.

He set himself to sentry duty, looking around carefully as the hatchling ate its first meal. Anything might smell the fish, and come after him... Them... Or well, after the fish-...

The gull settled down, at length, watching the fossa.

"Good! Good job. Good, eh, eatin'. You got quite the appetite, there, kid. The question is... now what do I do with you?"

Vincenzo watched. If birds could frown, he would frown. How the hell was he meant to help this thing? There wasn't anywhere really warm and safe in Polaris...

Hell.

He waddled closer again, settling down, again extending out a wing to offer the baby some warmth. At least he could try to keep him warm and dry, for now, and see if maybe his eyes opened soon.

He had to hope.

________________

@Mongo

Mongo tore into the fish excitedly, enjoying his first ever meal. The blood felt nice and warm going down his throat, and once his little stomach was almost bloated with food, he began to lick his lips, feeling sticky blood in his fur. However, his tongue being rather small, and being unable to see the mess made him rather ineffective.

Once he was done, he turned back to the seagull, hearing him speak. He toddled up to his side, feeling the wing press against his back. The fossa curled up against his side, nestling into the warm feathers. Without thinking, he licked at the feathers affectionately, making a soft sound in his throat.

Feeling the pain in one of his closed eyes, he brought up a paw, pawing at it again even as he licked the gull.

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

VINNIE THE VOICE
Vinnie peered down, and gave a soft, gentle croak. He began to speak, quiet, as he nestled closer to the tiny hatchling.

"Right, there we go, kiddo. Just stick by me, yeah? Oh, hey--" He peered more closely as the creature pawed at its eye.

Is somethin' in its eye? He looks like he's hurtin'. Oh, hell, maybe he's blind?! Concerned, the seagull leaned closer, peering at the pawed eye.

"No, no no no--don't hurt yourself, kid--... Aww hell, you are blind, aren't you?"

Well isn't that just my luck. I go to be nice to the kid and now I got a responsibility. Hell. --No, that's selfish. Vinnie, don't think like that. He needs help, the kid needs help. With another soft croak, the seagull turned, resting his long neck and head over the hatchling in a protective manner, resigning himself to rest... and to keep watch, for now, unless the little fella had something else in mind.

________________

@Mongo

Mongo made a contented sound as he felt the warmth get nearer, pressing into the soft feathers. The Gembound near him began to speak, seeming concerned, before getting nearer. There was suddenly a weight on top of him, and he squirmed, trying to see what he was.

His eyes would open, halfway, one at a time. His right eye opened first, seeming rather normal. That eye was a rich, dark brown, seemingly normal. His right eye, however, was hard to make out. It seemed to be rounder than the other, and completely black. When the light hit it, there would be glimmers of different colors. The brown one had a visible pupil, somewhat slitted, but the other gleamed oddly, as though it weren't a normal eye.

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

VINNIE THE VOICE
Vinnie sat for awhile, his own eyes drifting shut. But then the little hatchling was squirming, and Vinnie turned, peering down quizzically.

Oh! His eyes are open! Good, healthy, dark--doesn't look blind, at least. Wait--what's that? ...Ahh HELL, it's his rock, ain't it? One of his eyes. Half-blind, then. Well, at least he's gone the one...

He settled again, looking around, but just couldn't relax with the young one in the open like this.

"Ehhh. I don't guess you can move, little guy? Walk? It ain't safe out here. Big stuff, you know? It'll eat ya if you ain't careful, like you ate the fish?

Damn. Never thought about that, wonder if the fish was scared... Vinnie shook the thought away, blinking, and peered down at Mongo to see if there was any indication at all that the fossa could understand.

________________

@Mongo

The Fossa squinted his one good eye, having a hard time closing his eyelid over his gem. It bulged out slightly, preventing the eyelid from closing properly. It was hard getting used to seeing, pupil dilating and shrinking with seemingly no rhyme or reason as his eyes struggled to get used to being able to see.

As he twisted, he could see something big and white. Was that the thing that had been talking to him? As he looked, he could see orange feet and a long, orange, pointy beak. He squeaked again, unable to vocalize his question. What was it?

Mongo looked up at Vinnie, tilting his head at his voice. Eat him? He didn't want to be eaten. And he didn't think he would taste good, either. Not good like the fish had. That had tasted very good!

As though in answer, he stood, squeaking, and took a few wobbling steps. Where did the thing want him to go?

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

VINNIE THE VOICE
Vinne rapidly cocked his head to and fro--as birds do, of course--and watched the fossa.

What the hell is this thing? I've never seen anything like it. It's--is it a cat? No? A weasel-... maybe? I've no idea. At least its eyes are open, that's somethin'... Oh, look, it's moving. Good. Good!

He spoke aloud, gentle and encouraging, sparing another glance about to ensure they were yet alone.

"Hokay, little guy--right--just this way, yeah? Or--little lady? Little--somethin'? Just ehhh. Yeah I'm not checkin'. C'mon."

He turned, strutting toward the nearest cave wall--then hurried back, to help Mongo along by gently nudging him with the beak. He stuck close, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings, fearful that any moment some great predator would lunge down and eat the baby before he could react.

On he waddled, trying to lead the way to a fairly sheltered bit of cave wall, one which was well enough shrouded in shadow. As he went, more out of nervousness than anything, he spoke.

"Name's Vinnie, by the way. Good to meet you. Did I say that yet? Never mind, doesn't matter. Vinnie, though. Heya. Hi. Right, this looks about right? C'mon, kid, let's hide ya in here. Right up under these rocks--there ya go, there, see? Nothin'll find ya here. I hope. Just stay pretty quiet, yeah? We're small. The little guys. There's some big guys out there that're real jerks, ya know?"

Still nervously chattering, he moved to guide Mongo right to the safety of the cave wall, if the little fella could get all the way there.

________________

@Mongo

The Fossa squinted, staring at Vinnie. As the Seagull tilted his head side to side, Mongo began to copy him, before having to stop as it made him dizzy. He shook his head, trying to get the world to stop spinning. How did it do that? It made him super dizzy!

However, he tilted his head again as the elder spoke, wondering how he did that. Best he could do was ahhhhs and uuuhhhs, nothing complex like this Gembound. It was super cool! He wanted to learn! Oddly, though, he could understand better than he could speak, so it was easy enough for him to do as the older Gembound said.

'What's a guy? Or a lady?' he frowned, looking at Vinnie sideways. 'And why does he sound so horrified by checking?'
He was quick to do as Vinnie said, taddling after the waddling bird. The Fossa quickly fell behind, but thankfully Vinnie came back, helping him along with his beak. He stumbled a few times, but his awkward steps were slowly becoming more and more fluid, as he grew used to walking on such short legs.

Mongo looked at Vinnie as he began to spoke, only to trip over his legs. So he looked forward, not wanting to fall again, while still paying attention to Vinnie's talking.

He went to do as Vinnie said, approaching the cave wall. Once he was in position, he looked up at Vinnie, and squeaked, "Vin?"

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

VINNIE THE VOICE
Vinnie listened to the little guy making all sortsa noises--and watched him tilting his head to and fro. After a moment he realized he was being imitated, and he was delighted.

Aww, hell, isn't he the cutest thing?! It's adorable! --I hope nobody eats it. Quiet, he watched it open its mouth... and then it spoke!

Vinnie cawed with delight, a raucous noise, before quickly silencing himself and glancing around. He looked back down again.

"Aww, you spoke! You can talk! Vin, that's right! I'm Vin. Vinnie. Your pal, your buddy, friend, yeah? What's your name? Uhh--" He pointed his beak down toward his own white-feathered breast as best he could, then toward Mongo. "I'm Vinnie, you're--? Vinnie, and...?"

He then peered at Mongo, hoping he was getting his point across. The little guy was learning quick--its good eye was open, and it'd said Vinnie's name!

He's got a chance! He's definitely got a chance.

________________

@Mongo