As Azar yawned, Kielo heard the sound, and responded with a yawn ending in a high-pitched whistle. Though they did feel tiredness tugging at their limbs, Kielo's attention was drawn to another matter, and that was hunger. It had begun to gnaw at them over the course of their conversation and now a low growl rumbled in their belly.

"At first I was really lost... but the more I wandered the more I started to notice... I can always here the river. I can follow its sound or work out how far away it is. And there's always a soft hum, sometimes louder than others. And I know if I veer off the track by how the earth feels beneath my paws. I mean... I'm still lost, but I'm starting to learn my way." Kielo's face appeared strained with concentration as they struggled to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Little did they know it, but in lacking sight, Kielo's other senses were able to detect much that would go unnoticed by other Gembounds.

The hybrid blinked, muzzle opening in a grin as they spoke once more. "Aw, thank you!" They responded with a small giggle. "I think that you are, too!" They raised their muzzle, sniffing the air, and caught thesweet scent of new growth, somewhere nearby. When they were ready it would just be a matter of following that scent.


---

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

tags: @Azar
notes: here

Azar
It's a new world
It's a new start
And it's alive with the beating of a young heart

Azar eyed Kielo with concern; the hybrid looked distracted. Perhaps he was tired, too, that was a possibility. "Are you alright, Kielo?" Asked Azar, "You seem distracted.." The fox cub smiled, he himself was rather tired and the day was probably nearing its end anyway; he didn't know. How long had Kielo been awake? Azar himself had been wandering for quite some time now. "Hey, Kielo," He whispered, "Do you think it's fate, the fact that we met? That would be funny, wouldn't it?"

The idea of fate had always confused Azar. A life determined from the minute you were born was just too bizarre, Azar himself believed you shaped your own life. He thought that his own purpose in life was to help those around him, to make everybody else happy with themselves just as he was. He lived alone, he wandered alone, but he would do anything to help another. Despite this, he didn't mind loneliness, and it didn't bother him one tiny bit.

When he finally recovered from his small daydream, he looked back up at Kielo's kind and sightless face.



"Speech."
"Thoughts."

@Kielo

Kielo gave their head a vigorous nod until they felt dizzy, lifting one paw after the other and then folding their scraggly wings against their back. "Yes, yes! I'm well!" they answered, then stopped and thought. How to describe it? "I'm just... y'know... hungry." Kielo sniffed the air again, pink nose twitching. Their long neck craned in a way that might one day be regal, a stunning sight to behold; but for now, they were bedraggled and the sight was almost humorous.

They fell silent for a while, thinking and sniffing, dropping their head and twisting their ears to listen to their words. "I don't know," Kielo murmured, and their eyes widened in curiosity, their voice an epitome of honesty. "I think it's just chance. But that just makes it even better, doesn't it? Just think... Of all the other Gembounds who might be alive out there, I met you, and you met me. Maybe it is fate, but either way it's good."

Kielo fell silent, their neck still craned upwards and ears pricked, oblivious to Azar's daydreaming.

---

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

tags: @Azar
notes: here

Azar
It's a new world
It's a new start
And it's alive with the beating of a young heart

Azar considered Kielo's words. It was good that they had met, he supposed, it was a meeting he would always treasure. But Azar himself wasn't convinced that it was accident, or that it was meaningful. He shook his head, confusion engulfing him as his young mind spun and thought. He wished he could solve every mystery of life, every question he asked himself. But he couldn't; he was no genius.
"You're hungry, huh? I guess that makes sense." Azar wasn't hungry, not really, it was only tiredness that made him feel fuzzy. The fox cub stared into Kielo's sightless eyes, his mind once again wandering. He knew it was a bad habit that he would have to break, his daydreaming, but he couldn't help it. He hoped Kielo wasn't speaking, because he was far beyond listening. When he finally blinked and saw the cave walls once again, he had new questions with no clear answer.
"Kielo, why do you think we exist, us gembounds? It's a very strange thought, isn't it? It's like asking why you are blind." Azar chuckled to himself, he knew that topic might hurt Kielo but also knew it wouldn't. Kielo was a strong individual who knew how to handle himself. Unlike Azar. Azar was weak, weak and small.



"Speech."
"Thoughts."

@Kielo

"Yes, and I can smell food near." Kielo nodded, their paws itching to move and seek out the plants that would satisfy their craving, but at loathe to leave their friend. "I think I may go find it, perhaps. Do you want me to bring you some?" They sniffed again, taking another whiff of young plant life. Although their appearance seemed outwardly carnivorous, Kielo had not yet considered other creatures as an option.

The downy creature seemed surprised at their question, blinking their eyes of delicate pink and regal purple. "For the same reason as the trees and the rocks and the water, I suppose," they said with a shrug. They'd never really considered it; and it didn't really matter, to them. Like sight, they tended not to dwell on truths that lingered just out of their grasp. They didn't tend to pursue facts or knowledge. The extent of their curiosity reached to the world beneath their feet, and that was for navigation purposes. But, they didn't want to disappoint Azar. "..Maybe one of the older Gembounds knows. We aren't the only ones in these caves!"

They shook their head.

"Or maybe one day we'll all find out."

---

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

tags: @Azar
notes: here

Azar
It's a new world
It's a new start
And it's alive with the beating of a young heart

"Food? I don't mind some, if it isn't too much trouble." Azar dipped his head in thanks, he really liked the fact Kielo even thought of him. That was enough to make him swell up in pride. Azar grinned even more as he thought of meeting Kielo, and everything the hybrid had done for him. He realised he must look stupid, smiling at absolutely nothing... and then he realised that Kielo would not see him smiling anyway.
"I'm smiling right now, Kielo," He said, "You made me smile."



"Speech."
"Thoughts."

@Kielo

Kielo gave an eager nod, a grin visible on their muzzle, their tongue lolling out slightly. The hybrid stored that information aside for later, excited to bring Azar back some tasty green plants. "Okay! I'll bring you back some food! then you can have it when you're hungry, too!"

As the silence extended between them, Kielo hopped onto all four paws and stretched, getting ready to begin their search. Right before they set off though, Azar spoke, and Kielo's smile grew wider. "I know!" they giggled. "I can tell by your voice. You make me smile too, Azar!" these last words were spoken as though Azar couldn't tell, and as though Kielo didn't know, but the hybrid gave a playful flick of their ear.

They raised their muzzle and sniffed the air, finally beginning to trot away. "I'm going to eat now!" they told them. "I'll be back soon! Promise!"

and then they carefully bounded off down the track, only to trip as soon as they were out of sight.

-exit Kielo-

---

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

tags: @Azar
notes: here