Azizos peered at Ayr for one last moment, a quick once-over searching for features that may have been missed on prior inspections. With nothing turning up, silvery eyes flicked back to the vulture, who considered his father's ideas with far more depth than anticipated. The lion-stag shifted his weight hoof-to-hoof, ears pricking toward his possible-sibling.

"Perhaps it feels or... rather--- senses in a manner similar to a cornered Lesser." He glanced side-long to either Gembound present, and explained: "a scared rat or hare initially flees and offers no aggression unless placed in an inescapable situation, at which point it strikes at every--- ah, sign of aggression, intentional or not."

Hopefully he hadn't lost either of his new research partners.

Doctor moved closer to the Spire, beckoning forth --- Azizos assumed --- the same magic he had used on the lion-stag and musing to himself something of communication. Ah --- that was an issue, wasn't it? Silvery tines arced through the air as he stared into the facets of the immense precipice, head tilting side-to-side. "Perhaps... there is a pattern in its pulsing glow, or in the hum. A language that we do not yet know or understand."

Regardless, he braced himself for any negative response from the Spire.

@Ayr

Doctor listened, doing his best to nod along. Some of what Azizos said was a little beyond him; the rest made sense, though he wasn't sure how to test such things.

The hybrid's ideas, however, sparked inspiration in the vulture's mind. "Nothing happened-... Rats! Rats, that's it! Yes!" Without explanation, his mind reeling with excitement, he turned and leapt into the air. Ragged wings lifted him weakly, his body still barely past fledgling age. His heavy body bobbed into the air, his single good eye shining with intensity of purpose.

...He was so excited that he forgot to actually explain his idea, but he'd be back soon. ...Hopefully.

Throwing rats at the Spire might not have been the kindest idea in the world, but it might help them learn something about it--its intentions, its level of intelligence, whether it reacted to bodies or to magic and--most importantly--whether it could learn.

Doctor entirely forgot Azizos behind him, for the time being, and Ayr, in favor of sweeping away in a hunt for new test subjects.

exit Doctor; @Azizos