The grub nodded and clasped her tiny hands together, smiling gently. She looked over at the harpy and spoke softy, almost a whisper.

"I... I am... I am Arrrrrwen,", she said, the Rs rolling on her tongue.

She pressed a hand to his face, and though she couldn't smile, she was. The chubby cheeks of the mask covering her insectoid face was chubby-cheeked with glee, matching the emotions she felt.

"Blue?", she said, pointing to them. A name. Perhaps not an official one, but that was what she was going to call him. Blue.

For their pretty feathers.

@Redwood

the harpy almost doesn't catch Arwen's voice. but their ears are sharp, and amongst the rain, they smile.

"arwen." they chirp happily. their new friend's name as Arwen. a nice name indeed.

they think, for a moment. do they have a name? they should, shouldn't they?

when Arwen speaks again, they decide. "yes. Blue." they reply. they will be Blue. their feathers are blue, their eyes, partly, are blue. aside from small accents, they are blue. they suppose its only fitting for them. it feels right. it feels right, the name, and the fact it was given by their first true friend. the only one they may have for a long time.

"you are... Arwen. i am Blue."

they hum, in hidden joy, a soft birdsong in their throat.

@Arwen

"Blue!", Arwen chittered, clapping her hands in delight, "A good name!"

She clasped her hands together and looked up at the rain, sighing happily. This was so nice.

"We... we arrrrre friends," she said, looking over and cocking her head, "Right?"

She hoped so. Blue was her friend, definitely. They'd only been together for like two minutes, but if anything happened to Blue, she'd probably kill someone. Despite her only being maybe a foot long. She totally would.

Blue was her friend.

@Redwood

they nodded happily, it was a good name! Arwen had chosen it, and as far as Blue knew, everything Arwen did was good.

they nodded with a gentle, joyful twitter. "yess. we are friends." they said as though it were fact. as it was! Blue would protect their new friend with their life, as Arwen would for them. "We are.. friends."

they mulled over the implications of friendship. they were young, yes, but they were, like some other hatchlings, gifted with a basic, instinctual knowledge of the world. they knew that... friends were people you trusted. that you trusted and trusted you in return. that would not hurt you given the immediate opportunity. that you would protect. they did not mind any of these things. aslong as they were safe- correction. aslong as they were BOTH safe. that was fine.

"pprotect you."

@Arwen

Arwen put her hands on Blue's cheeks and chittered happily, "Thank you."

She could not protect Blue. Not yet, but she would, someday, when she was bigger and stronger. This form was temporary, a part of her said. She'd shed this form for a stronger one, and a stronger one, and then finally, she'd spread her wings and fly.

But that day wasn't today, and she was perfectly content to sit with her friend and listen to the rain fall. No one had to protect anyone right now, and that was perfectly fine with her.

"No one will hurt,", she said, "Not you, not me."

No one would hurt them. No one would come close if she could help it.

@Redwood

they leaned into the gentle touch of Arwen's hands, closing their eyes.

perhaps, one day, when they were much older, much smarter, much.. stronger. they would find this friendship one of both trust and unwavering, deadly loyalty. perhaps one day Blue would put Arwen on a pedestal, one of the highest esteem, their bond so simple and natural now but some day, so much more special and precious to the harpy. would they idolize her, saying her mere name an act of deification? probably not. but they could, one day, be a loyal soldier. but for now, they were two children, watching the rain, with nobody to harm them.

"safe." they agreed. "we are safe."

their chest ached. though at the moment they did not know why. new emotions, or something wrong, they did not know. yet, atleast. but they were content with not knowing, for a little while. there was much in the harpy's future they would not expect.

@Arwen

Arwen snuggled up against Blue's neck and yawned widely, her mandibles stretching under the mask atop her face.

"Tired,", she said softly, rubbing her eyes despite the carapace blocking her fists, "Sleepy?"

She curled up on their shoulder and sighed happily. She'd rule the world just so she could give it to them. But alas, she was a child and they were too, but a grub could dream, right?

But she made a promise, a silent one, that she would make sure that Blue would never find themselves hurt or upset. If she did, whoever had done it would pay.

Maybe she'd even find him a family to belong to. For them both to belong to.

@Redwood

as if the grub set them off, Blue yawned in turn. "yes.. sleepy." they nodded.

as Arwen curled up on their shoulder, they moved carefully to the floor as to not sending her tumbling off. they laid gently on the ground, their wings curling around them both, acting as a feathered blanket to keep them safe.

they gently cooed as they were finally comfortable, looking down to make sure Arwen was still secure in their shoulder feathers with a smile. even if they didnt have a home yet, they had eachother, thats what mattered if nothing else.

"safe... rest now." they yawned.

@Arwen

Arwen nodded slowly and curled up, holding onto her little tail as she got ready to sleep, holding it like a teddy bear. She yawned again and slowly fell asleep, her teeny tiny little antennae drooping and falling against her head, a pale yellow like the soft markings across her body.

She ended up snuggled against Blue's neck, head pressed against their soft feathers, her hands clutching them gently.

And like that, she was off to dreamland.

@Redwood
Exit Arwen.

Blue gently watched the rain for a little longer.

it didn't seem to let up much, but the sound was soothing. they watched as the droplets fell around the leaf and dripped over the top, like a little wall of rain. it was pleasant. comforting.

they thought, lightly, what else these caves had to offer. if there was more rain.

they'd like more rain...

and then, they were asleep.

exit Redwood