There was a child, not quite as small as when first hatched, having since gained some lankiness and a little bit of height, yet still clearly a young child.

Currently, the winged, fox-like child was observing a small rock with an intense focus. Bioluminescent lights glowed steadily on the child’s wings. Gold streaks were distributed throughout the child’s mostly black fur. An orb, like a gemstone but not, sat in the child’s fluffy tail. But their true gemstone was the teal tourmaline that circled one of their ankles.

It was clear as day this child must be a hybrid of some kind, with their odd amalgamation of features. A hybrid of what or whom was not necessarily clear by appearance alone, though by certain abilities.

Two sets of golden eyes squinted in focus at the rock. Without being touched, the rock moved a couple of inches to the left.

A delighted giggling noise that sounded quite literally like music left their mouth. They grinned with sharp teeth.

Their teeth were unlike a typical fox’s. All their teeth were unnervingly sharp, though their canine teeth were longer. What purpose such teeth could have was unclear.

@Anala

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

Anala was back in Polaris. It had become a rather comforting cave to hang out in, given how energetic she felt near the Spire, and she enjoyed using its advantages to train. She was more of a physical creature than a magical one, though her recent escapades might have shown otherwise, and she was looking for some excuse to practice. Her sparring ring idea was coming along, but not as quickly as she would have liked.

"Hello!" She called gently to the giggling child, assuming their youth from their gangly proportions. She guessed they weren't newly hatched, but they definitely weren't a full 4 cycles yet. "I'm Anala. Are you playing a game?" She asked with a smile, letting the other react from a distance before she made any effort to close it. She could forgo a day of training if it meant entertaining a child, or maybe she could teach them a thing or two? If the teeth were any indicator, they at least shared a dietary requirement.

OOC Notes:

@Rhapsody

Rhapsody had heard a being approaching, their senses almost overwhelmingly keen at times like the ancestors they did not know about. But the approaching being had kept a distance, so Rhapsody had figured it was safe enough to stay where they were. If the being was dangerous and had gotten closer, they could always fly away, Rhapsody figured.

Then the being spoke, and Rhapsody still startled. They hadn't realized the other was a greater, just that they were a living being, since they hadn't looked over. Now, they looked over, pure gold eyes staring at curiosity at the greater gembound... Who happened to be shaped a bit like them, in the way of face and feet, somewhat.

"Hi Anala! I'm Rhapsody," the child's musical voice seemed to chime as they spoke. At the question, they pouted, ears flicking in a semblance of irritation, even though it was more childish disgruntlement than true irritation.

"I'm training! I'm going to be strong like Cousin Gatto, 'cept with magic and physical stuff!" they proclaimed earnestly.

The child glanced back at the rock, then picked it up and placed it in view of Anala. "Watch!" they told her.

Luckily for Rhapsody, the spell did not fail. Obligingly, the pebble lifted into the air slightly and moved a few inches to the left before falling back to the ground.

@Anala

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

The wolf could not help but chuckle at the declaration. "It's a little hard to master both, but I like your determination!" She beamed, seeing much of her young self in Rhapsody. Rhapsody... Didn't that mean something like... enthusiastic? How fitting, much like her own name.

Anala took a few slow steps forward to watch, as instructed. "It looks like you're well on your way!" She cheered as the stone dropped. "Do you know any other tricks? I could show you some of mine?" She offered with a playful wag of her tail.

It was a lucky meeting, given Anala's skillset. If they wanted to learn both, what better way was there than to practice with someone who knew both? Clearly the hybrid had already gotten some grasp of magic, but what physical skills had they learned? And speaking of hybrid, what were they? Some mix of canine and bat? With two sets of eyes and such a unique gem-thing, she guessed there was something else mixed in there too. What an interesting child!

OOC Notes:

@Rhapsody

An ear flicked as the child pouted due to Anala's chuckle. "I mean it! I'll do it! I have a lot of... 'potential'!" Rhaspody insistently told Anala, seemingly quoting the last word from someone else, perhaps.

They grinned, proud of the compliment of their skills. But the child turned thoughtful, considering their potential tricks. "I only have one other magic trick... and it's not nice to use on nice gembounds," the child informed Anala.

When Anala offered to show some of her tricks, the child's gaze lit up. "Really?! Would you spar with me, then?" their musical voice was full of hope, even though that hadn't quite been Anala's offer. "I won't use the mean magic, promise!" they added.

@Anala

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

"Potential is right!" She agreed whole-heartedly.

"Who said I'm nice?" She joked with a flashy show of teeth, all giggles. "My kind of magic can be harmful, too, so it's alright!" She called upon her own magic as proof, setting a paw on a small patch of nearby moss. She frowned as nothing happened. What a great start.

"I'll stick to my physical abilities," She reassured, withdrawing her paw. "So maybe you can learn a thing about them too! That way we're both safe, but don't worry too much about hurting me; if I can handle this, I can handle anything!" She declared confidently, squaring her body up to Rhapsody in preparation for the oncoming attack.

"Try me!"

OOC Notes:

@Rhapsody

Rhapsody tilted their head thoughtfully, before answering the theoretical question. "...Greater gembounds are nice until they prove not-nice, I think," they tell Anala, eyes blinking out of order.

They weren't quite sure what the 'this' was what Anala had handled, but the child was eager enough to spar that they disregarded their confusion.

A scratching sort of attack seemed a good way to start off, the child decided. And their toxins weren't really harmful, so they didn't think to warn the wolf. So far as they could tell, their venom just made one feel happy. It was convenient when hunting for blood, but it wouldn't hurt a greater gembound.

But as they dashed at the wolf, they stumbled over their pebble a bit. They regained their balance in the end, but their trajectory was off and they missed their scratch at Anala.

ROUND 1/?

100%

ATTEMPT: Scratch Face with Toxin Claws
DEFENSE: Childish Cuteness
INJURIES: N/A

@Anala

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

Rhapsody reminded her of someone, she thought, when they did not understand the joke. It probably didn't help that she had confused the poor thing by speaking too soon when her magic had failed, but that was not important now. What was important was that Rhapsody was rushing her, just an intended.

And... oh.

"That was a good try!" She spoke after the other recovered, making sure they were alright before showcasing a trick of her own: a swift kick designed to sweep the legs out from under an opponent. It would prove as a distraction more than anything, if not leaving some scrapes and bruises.

OOC Notes: 3 rounds, or 5?

ROUND 1/?

100%

ATTEMPT: knock them over!
DEFENSE: minor def. from enchanted harness (shoulder blade area)
INJURIES:

@Rhapsody

The other gembound tried to be encouraging even though Rhapsody hadn't done the scratch right at all, and the child wasn't sure whether to be grateful or not. It was nice, they thought, but it didn't really help them improve.

Rhapsody eyed the wolf with consideration as the other didn't succeed their own attack, as well. They were currently about even, it seemed.

But the child wanted to prove they were better than just being able to 'try'. Rhapsody wished to succeed.

Still, there balance was entirely off. They pouted. "I'll get you next time!" they earnestly proclaimed in chiming tones.

ROUND 2/?

100%

ATTEMPT: Scratch Face with Toxin Claws, Take Two!
DEFENSE: Childish Cuteness
INJURIES: N/A

@Anala

ANALA
From a spark to a flame

"I just watched you cast a spell! I know you can do this, too! Come on!"Her tone was a taunt, but her body language was anything but. She wanted to rile them up to get them focused. She knew they could do it, and she knew she could too.

Anala dodged the poorly-aimed swipe before aiming her own at Rhapsody's feet. Sure, it wasn't very imaginative to use the same trick twice, but it was also safer for the other than her fangs or fire. Unfortunately, it made no difference as Rhapsody managed to step out of the way again.

"Maybe we both need a new mentor." She laughed before readying herself again.

OOC Notes:

ROUND 2/?

100%

ATTEMPT: I said: trip!
DEFENSE: harness
INJURIES:

@Rhapsody