The utterly magical moment had ended as the young one saw Zeno's eyes turn back to normal. He smiles back at Zeno, a somewhat confident smile this time not looking sheepish like his previous smiles did. Little wings were flapping a bit in his childlike excitement. To him, the way they referred to themselves as lowly felt like to the young one they were talking negatively about themselves, that Zeno wasn't equal to the other Greater Gembounds such as himself for not having a Gem. It sure must be tough to not have a Gem on them, but they don't need to think of themselves that way in spite of this.

He was relieved that he was mistaken and that Zeno didn't seem to mind him saying something like that. His smile got sheepish again though, feeling a little awkward for being incorrect about this. Oops.

"A-Ah O-OK, s-sorry about that." He uttered his apologies a bit fast, keeping them short and sweet out of their slight fluster on making a mild unnecessary tension there. Although perhaps being a little embarrassed was unneeded too, Zeno didn't seem to mind. The topic of their Gem or 'blue pip' came again, and he listened with wonder, with Zeno describing to him what a 'pip' is.

"O-Ohhhh, so it looks like a pip, but not one?" he gets it now, although the way Zeno mentioned that a pip starts small and will eventually grow into a great tree. Hope rose in his chest, as that may mean he may become a lot bigger than this and everything may not be as scary as it seems right now. So in a way, they're just like a pip, even their Gem thing here apparently shaped like one. And he quite likes the word for some reason, the sound of the word anyway doesn't know why. With that deep in thought, he thinks if his name should be 'Pip' then? Hmm, but that confuse some others if their Gem's shaped like one and the name of something that already exists. But they like the word they whined inwardly... Deep in thought until as if he just got a light bulb moment he managed to find a way around that. Pippy! Similar but not exactly, that way others won't get confused. It's perfect!

"A-About names, so... I'm a-allowed to call m-myself P-Pippy t-then?" He needs to be sure if he's allowed to do that, the tiny bat still doesn't fully understand and worries he may be doing it wrong.

His concern for the other was almost natural for this young one, Zeno seems nice not scary or anything, and yet they don't have a Gem to call their own. What could he do about that? It's something Pippy may have to think about later, Zeno says they hang around a room with starry skies, so maybe Pippy will go to Zeno when the little bat gets an idea to help Zeno with that. Even so, he doesn't think less of Zeno for not having their Gem, but still. Pippy believes Zeno is doing just fine; they didn't harm him despite being able to do so with his size and all pretty easily.

@Zeno

Zeno "That is correct" Zeno confirmed at the child's understanding of its own gem. There seemed to be more but he wasn't about to ask and disturb its train of thought. As the tiny bat spoke once again Zeno's brows raised in interest. A name already? Not only a name but a rather good one. Not directly copying the subject of conversation but taking it, adapting it, making it the child's own. "Of course that is allowable!" he exclaimed softly, a small sense of pride in 'Pippy' for displaying such thought. In this short time this small bat had gone from hiding away to showing confidence and trust in someone who had initially scared him. There was still plenty of room to grow but this would be the first of many steps Pippy would take into mastering the art of living. In what might have been a silly maneuver Zeno bowed his head once more with a grand gesture. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Pippy." he spoke formally. "Will you be staying in for the evening or going out to find food?" Perhaps a bit random but he had experienced hunger shortly after emerging without realizing it for a while. When fear is the dominant emotion the need for food tends to take a back seat. Know yourself "Before you try to influence others" Tags: @Pippy

Pippy feels quite happy how well they seem to be understanding things; she's doing so well here. Now, she just wonders how she even uses this magic with her Gem. Still, she watches Zeno's every change in their expression over the name she has chosen for herself, seeing if they approve of the name 'Pippy'.

Pippy practically beamed when Zeno said that she was allowed to use it as her name. Overjoyed that she managed to do it successfully, and liked the idea of being called that from now on. It's quite lovely not to be scared and be confident, but she can't say the same for the other encounters she may come across the instinct and fear will most likely come rearing again when meeting other new Gembounds. Still, this is a good start, for if Zeno was, in fact, malicious and harmed her Pippy probably would've gone perpetually into hiding forever until her tiny body expired.

Pippy almost wants to blush when Zeno bows to her. Aw gee~ She quickly follows suit in dipping her head believing it's probably something she should do to a potential friend who won't harm her.

When the question asked, Pippy's smile faltered a bit on how out of random it seemed to be, well although a bit more confident in herself the fog making things hard to see still scares her a bit, and she doesn't need food right now. However, she wants some water, as though Pippy's not entirely thirsty, but the constant straining of her voice for it for Zeno to hear it had made her throat raspy. Be nice to have some water to ease it.

"I-I'm not sure. I'd l-like w-water. B-But this white haze thing is m-making things hard to see. A little scary..." Her unease was coming back a bit.


@Zeno

Zeno Zeno's gaze drifted out toward the fog and back to Pippy. "It is difficult to see out there." he asserted, nodding his head a little. Indeed that would probably be a thing of fear for this youth. The pauses in his words were palpable as Zeno considered the various courses of action he could take with this. "From my scouting earlier it should be safe though. I would have never been able to find you had there been anything in the area to draw more attention." Of course he knew that just vocal encouragement probably wouldn't be enough to cut it. With the wall of white pressing in there was no reason for Pippy to think that they'd be able to see out there. "You won't have to go alone this first time though. I'm sure there is water somewhere around here and if we search together we are bound to find it twice as fast. Besides, this actually reminds me a bit of a story from my youth." As he was about to start crawling toward the exit again a thought crossed Zeno's mind. Pippy had been having trouble even staying up on its wings before. Could the youth even make it far enough to find water, and even if so would they be able to make it back as well? With this reconsideration the larger bat placed a wing down near Pippy like a ramp, offering a ride on his own back should the youth decide to take it. Know yourself "Before you try to influence others" Tags: @Pippy

Pippy nodded nervously in agreement to Zeno's statement. Even if giant things aren't out there right now, whose to say he won't end up falling into a bottomless pit or something scary like that because he might not be able to see it until it's too late. Looking out into that vast area covered in that haze fear welling up once again.

"O-oh that's good, but what about places I might fall in?" With how kind they were to him Pippy chose to voice his concerns a bit more than before, being more specific in some of their questions instead of just letting Zeno assume.

He appreciates the encouragement, but he doesn't know his way around here, even without that cloak of white he'd probably end up getting lost with no idea as to where to go. His face lightened over Zeno's offer to guide him around the hard-to-see area. He quietly hums in acceptance with a layer of appreciation in the tone of their hum to Zeno's suggestion for them both to find water together. The idea that he may get water soon makes himself somewhat overjoyed. He was also slightly curious to how Zeno that they're getting reminded of their youth. Oh?

He quickly started to follow Zeno's leave or at least tried to keep up with them, and at first reluctant to go to the exit, like the one spot in the retreat has an electric barrier that'll zap him if he dares cross it. But when Zeno puts their wing out at first Pippy gave a quizzical tilt not sure what the gesture meant. He quickly realised it was an offer to climb on, he approached right next to the large wing but when the tiny bat was right next to it that's when Pippy got uneasy, he's unsure whether to risk it despite knowing that Zeno won't hurt him. It wouldn't hurt to give it a try... Right?

Slowly with his wings, he shakily gets closer to the large wing reaching with his wings to try and climb on. His movements were slow as to ensure he doesn't fall off as he climbed onto Zeno's back managing to he believes safely get on top. OK did it...

@Zeno

Zeno Once Pippy had successfully gotten on Zeno retracted his wing and let himself stand up tall, stretching limbs like he hadn't been able to do in a few minutes. He probably wouldn't be able to fly with a passenger like this, or at least not in a way that would guarantee the small bat's safety. With as much water as was in this room, however, surely they wouldn't have to go far. "I'll go slowly so we won’t have to worry about any holes. Be sure to keep a look out for water while I tell my story." he assured the youth. His relatively great form sprung into motion, with Zeno taking deliberate strides toward the exit once more. Closer and closer until... The air around them became brighter as they emerged from the shade of the root. Even if the cave's glow was reaching its dimmer period there was still plenty of light to see by. The mossy ground stretched out before them, littered by leaves and smaller roots and becoming more visible by the step. Likewise the shelter behind them was being swallowed up by the fog as they moved farther away. "A long long time ago, on the day of my first memories in this world, I bore witness to a beauty far beyond my dreams could ever have prepared me for." The vivid memories burst to life as Zeno spoke, hundreds upon hundreds of tiny sparks shooting up from the ground and lining the fog above with stars as far as the eye could see. The land ahead of them transformed into a translucent view of the ruins of Orion, or at least an idealized version of them that had cemented itself in Zeno's memories. Ghostly rainbow bees fluttered about, lazily bumping into each other in a silly manner and going about their business. The walk continued, with building after building passing by and fazing into a haze as even more buildings sprouted up ahead. "This was the room of stars, one that exists to this day and one that I will always hold a fondness for. On that day I witnessed all the beauty and terror of this world. I will spare you the details but just suffice to know that the good outweighs the bad by far." One by one the buildings dimmed and the lights flickered out, leaving an artificial shell of darkness above them in the fog. "Such wonder was not to last though. For as long as I was able to enjoy the light I had to wander through one hundred times that length in pure darkness. It was scary and confusing, but in that time I taught myself to fly and learned how the stars burned." A ceiling appeared in the darkness and drew closer, revealing dozens of unlit crystals that passed above by as they traveled. "I learned with a simple click" he continued, emitting a soft click from his wing and adjusting his ears, "I could vaguely tell where I was going and no longer had to fear the unknown wall or pit." A few steps passed without a word, the crystals still passing by overhead. "One day though, as though the hopes and wishes of the gembound had been heard and answered, the light returned. It has been like that for cycles upon cycles now, and through luck it appears that the youth such as yourself will never have to know darkness like we traversed." One by one the crystals above began to light up, shrinking in size as the ceiling began to appear further and further away. The ruins of Orion appeared again, closer now to how they actually looked. With tale told the entire scene began to softly fade away, the fogs of Cetus taking over view again and the land below returning to nothing more than dirt and moss. A small chuckle emerged from Zeno's throat as the last of the spell finished. "That was the best I've ever been able to tell that!" he exclaimed in somewhat uncharacteristic excitement. Know yourself "Before you try to influence others" Tags: @Pippy

When Zeno managed to stand Pippy wrapped her wings around Zeno's neck not too tight though she doesn't to hurt them, she needs to keep a good enough hold not to end up falling once again. Fully buckled in or as buckled in a tiny bat being carried by a massive bat can be anyway.

"Mhm." She understands, actually looking forward to this with that sort of assurance. More so when Zeno says they'll tell their story to Pippy, but she'll keep a lookout for water wanting to do well. Her gripped got tighter as Zeno begun to take off the sudden wind blowing in her face surprising her a little and making her shut her eyes. Even with her eyelids closed she could sense that things got brighter and caused her to open them again and were amazed at what she also sees if the haze was still around them, with Zeno going slow the land around them isn't a blur and her what's around her. Pippy sniffed the air as if trying to find water, but the air, in general, smelled dewy probably from the grey streamers. So instead she took to looking around to find water, seeing a dense forest far ahead of them that managed to break through the fog having trees with massive trunks that grouped, with the many thick foliages all around the two of them. She keeps a close eye out for any subtle indication that water is near them and listens for water too while trying to listen to Zeno's own story.

"Oh? More amazing than your dreams?" She didn't strain her little voice this time; it would make it worse and being on Zeno's back means they probably can hear her right now. She watched with a sparkle in her eyes from the magical change in the atmosphere, the same pretty lights from earlier manifested themselves in shapes she has never seen before. So that was Zeno's own doing much earlier, so beautiful! They were almost like constellations of sorts maybe even an aurora perhaps a mixture of both, showing the unusual structures that look drastically different from where they are now of greens with a starry ceiling on the lights too. She wants to reach out and bat her wing at them, but she resists the urge since if they are the same as before they'd probably disappear the moment she does and mess things up.

More new ones showed as they went past the first ones that disappeared like smoke and becoming part of the fog, each shaped different than the last one, making this pretty demonstration dynamic as if them showing in a foggy area wasn't enough as Zeno went further ahead. Paying excellent attention for all he has to tell her taking note of it being the 'room of stars' she was excited and nervous when Zeno mentioned they saw 'beauty and terror'. But she feels relieved when told that the good outweighs the bad, while she can't vouch whether that is the case for her personal opinion she decides to take Zeno's word for it.

She was puzzled when they all darkened she listened with such invest, the idea of this place being in darkness constantly sounded terrifying making them whimper a bit, but the thought of being able to learn how to fly got her excited at the same time too. The way the darkness got closer to them scared her a bit and held on tighter to Zeno as if trying to protect both of them from it approaching them, but she loosened her grip as the tension seemed to vanish and pretty lights showed again.

"A click?" She wondered what they meant by that, trying to see if she can mimic that clicking thing with her wing but they were a little full keeping hold. She interested in how they managed to do that and how they managed to tell where they were. But the idea of not fearing a bottomless pit sounded nice. Although the crystals were pretty she used the silence to keep an eye and ear out for the water now, her ears giving twitches in reaction to even the most subtle sound that wasn't a crunching sound from the leaves Zeno is treading on. Although nothing is coming up as of right now she still keeps her eye out thankfully the pretty lights are making it easier to see through the fog too so she tries to see if any water catches her sight sadly nothing so far though.

"It just came back all bright?" she was fascinated on that, on how the lights just seem to return. The fact that she is born now, after this seemingly never-ending darkness brings strong relief nonetheless though this story of Zeno's sounds interesting!


She watches the showcase of light in silence again as she tries to see if Pippy can detect water this time, she inhales and holds it there for a bit and tries to strain her hearing if that's possible to hear out any sound. Eventually, her ears twitched when she finally heard the sound of water flowing coming from maybe the right of her and Zeno she takes a deep breath and watches the rest of the story in silent awe as the 'room of stars' showed again. So pretty~. It soon came to an end it all vanishing like into something like dust getting blown away by the wind and only fog once again.

"Hm," Pippy hummed at Zeno quizzically when she heard him chuckle. Was taken a bit by surprise when he came rather excited, and she too followed suit in the excitement "It was so amazing! Thank you!" she also exclaimed but not too loudly no need to hurt Zeno's ears now.

Speaking of which...

"O-Oh! I think I can hear water from the right of us!" she also exclaims to Zeno in her excitement of possibly managing to find some.

@Zeno

Zeno "It was my pleasure. Others may know more about how or why it came back, but that would be a story for another time and from another gembound." hew responded to the thanks. To be honest having another to tell his story to was quite a lovely change of pace. The life he lead was a peaceful one, but it was nice every once in a while to have company other than one's own thoughts. For the moment he decided not to elaborate on the click, especially as the youth appeared to be focused on the task given them. As a fellow bat there was a decent chance they would find it on their own one day. With ears proportionally larger than his they might even be able to master it to a level he never would reach. The art of listening to the life and travels of a single note as it calls back from afar was a relaxing one, but significantly less accurate than actual sight for him. Head turned slightly to the right and ears with it at Pippy's command. It took him a moment and a few more steps in that direction before the sounds of water could be clearly heard. "Good job!" he exclaimed as pace increased ever-so-slightly. It took a few moments but the sounds of water grew crisper and crisper by the second, leading them to a tiny stream cutting through the land. An offshoot from a larger stream nearby no doubt and probably a bit too small for the larger gembound to consider, but for them it was perfect. Without a word Zeno lowered his head toward the ground again, letting his wings fall to the sides to provide a ramp. Know yourself "Before you try to influence others" Tags:

Pippy was curious as to how the lights came back, and so was a little bit excited to hear that another may know although he wasn't sure about encountering another Gembound who may know and asking them. After all, whose to say as to which one will know and if they'll even be a nice Gembound, he too just wants his life to be peaceful. Still listening to these stories were nice to learn about and he hopes to hear more from Zeno and possibly from others in time, Pippy would like to be a listener to some stories others tell.

He was still wondering a little about the click, although Pippy decides to brush it aside for now after all maybe Zeno was referring to 'with a click in my mind' or something and just clicked their wing for emphasis? Or is this something that Pippy as a bat himself will find out just the same as he learned how to crawl with his wings? Maybe he'll learn one day, after all the way Zeno's ears did that movement after clicking was what also confused him. Although regarding listening Pippy does seem to be very good at that, a listener of conversation and a listener of their surroundings right now.

Pippy tries to also point one of her wings in the direction where he can hear the sound of the flowing water so he can be more specific as to where Zeno needs to go. He was a little taken aback from being praised or more to say a bit sheepish. But his eyes brightened when Zeno picked up the pace towards the source of the sound, the water becoming clearer to Pippy's ears by the second, the thrum of it was so relaxing to him, and it finally came into his sight too as the fog gave further away when they got closer.

Pippy too also now saw the stream, while to a larger Gembound it may as well be a shallow sheet of water flowing through the land for it quench their thirst, but yes it was flawless for them as it was perfectly safe to drink. Which could be one advantage of being this small he doesn't need an immense quantity of resources to survive even the most insignificant amount would be enough for Pippy.

When Pippy was offered a safe way down to the ground by their wings as a ramp, despite his excitement of getting water, he takes his time of crawling off Zeno's side rather slowly & delicately til he safely was on the ground and right next to the stream. His throat was so sore and dry; it didn't help with how he had to strain his voice for Zeno to hear. So the moment Pippy was right next to what could be considered the stream's shore the tiny bat buried his little snout in the water and begun to lap mouthfuls of water to drink, savouring the water as right away the coldness of it was very refreshing, and his throat already started to feel better. Finally, he takes a break and lifts his head away from it, the water dripping from his fur.

@Zeno

Zeno Once Pippy had made their way down the Zeno sat himself back up and looked around at the immediate area. Still no signs of any other gembound that could cause them problems. After that one day and a couple of scares throughout his lifetime he really hadn't had too much issue with larger creatures posing a threat, but the young one definitely didn't need anything to justify a timid world view. In the back of his mind as he listened to the sounds of the stream and rustling of the trees Zeno debated between possible courses of action from this point. From here it would be fairly simple to lead Pippy back to their tree and be on his way, but was that really the best option? What was he doing that required him to leave so soon? Then again, if he were to stay close by would Pippy ever really be able to grow? Having a guardian could empower the youth to go out and explore and try new things with the knowledge that there was always a way out, but it could also provide a safety net that would make everything else look so much more intimidating by comparison. Most likely what they needed was a friend, not a guardian, right? No amount of thinking would allow Zeno to see the future, with its infinite forks and uncertainties. For now all he could do was act to the best of his knowledge and ability, even if that turned out to be a mistake later on. "As long as it took to get here, we actually aren't too far from your home. You should be able to get here any time you need if you watch the path." he remarked with a grin at the half-drenched bat. "For now though, how about I lead you back and then let you get some rest?" Know yourself "Before you try to influence others" Tags: @Pippy