Mother's link clamored its approval, a mental hug and round of applause all at once. "That is a very good idea! My, how smart you are, Wilder; I had not thought of that. Yes, bring a piece of me there. Perhaps, if you can convince them, the Bonebound themselves might tend it; and our family may grow ever-larger." And then, after a pause, and because it was rather obvious that Wilder was an oblivious, gullible, happy creature, she continued. "But know that until they have felt our embrace, they may reject it. It will do no good telling others about us; and if one hears, and flees, they will bring us trouble. They do not understand us. You may need to be clever... but I know you can be clever. Will you be all right?" Saccharine concern laced this.

Reji remained quiet, staring off into Cetus, her mind utterly blank.

@Wilder

Wilder purred happily as Mother's approval washed over her. She couldn't remember the last time someone had been so proud of her or called her "clever" or "smart". This felt so good, being a part of Mother. Why did she ever reject her? "Oh, yeah! Of course they would!"

She bounded into the den - she knew Mother would be in there - and gazed upon the mass of fungus for the first time. Perhaps if she had seen it before, she would have been disgusted by the pulsing, writhing mess of white, but now she only held love and affection for the thing in front of her. "I'll be okay," she reassured Mother. "I won't tell them about you, I promise! They trust me, so this shouldn't be too hard!"

Leaning forward, she gently bit off a bit of Mother's body and held it gently in her jaws. I'll be fine, she said again through the link. I'll see you in Canis, Mother. She then turned and stepped out of the den, tail high and eyes sparkling, walking past Azrael and Reji, the former giving her a gruff snort and a nod before disappearing into the shadows again. She turned and bounded towards the exit of Cetus to return back to the bone room.

*exit, unless stopped