A single egg laid in the room. Cracks were already starting to spread across the service. It didn't take long for the egg to completely shatter and when it did, a small porcupine stood in it's place. He looked around slowly, his quills, for the moment were soft. He sniffed the air for a moment as he studied the room. He could see a large waterfall, ok, but, where was this place? He had no idea. He looked around continuously until he eventually called out.

"Hello? Is there anyone here?"

He wasn't sure where to go, he shrugged a little, well the only thing he could do for now was explore. He gave a soft smile to himself and looked around while sniffing the air. He began to explore this strange place, wherever it may be.

The owl heard the faint call even over the roar of the waterfall. With a little hop he moved to the edge of his rain-slicked ledge, peering blindly down, his ear-tufts pricked up.

Yes, there was something moving, down there, for sure.

After a moment he thought he'd calculated its location, and with a single flap of his wings and a slow glide, he swept down to land nearby. He knew the ledge and Pisces well enough not to faceplant the ground or even stumble too badly; he ruffled his feathers and stood, turning toward the sound of sniffing.

"Hello?" he asked, blinking large, unseeing gem eyes. "Who's there?"

His voice was friendly and melodic, head tilting with a gentle hoot.

((ooc -- @Victor ))

Victor continued to walk, until he heard a voice behind him. He turned around a little and gave a small smile as he saw an Owl with strange green eyes. He stepped forward a little and spoke loudly.

"Hello there. I'm Victor, who are you?"

He looked around and then back to the owl. He still had a lot of questions that needed answers and it was time to get some of those answers.

@Dark

The owl tilted his head, listening. The stranger spoke loudly, and clearly, so Dark wasn't sure if he was young or older. He ruffled his feathers softly, clicking his beak as he responded.

"Hi, Victor. I'm Dark. I'm an owl; I'm blind. This is Pisces--are you one of Maji Walezi?" he asked, his tone a musical hooting.

As he spoke he continued to watch the porcupine, unblinking--although it might be clear to Victor, by now, that the owl's eyes were gems, and that he perhaps could not see through them.

________________

@Victor

Victor listened to the owl and he gave a soft nod. Now he understood his strange eye color. He stepped forward and gave a soft smile to him, he spoke loudly to the Owl again.

"I see, I understand now. I am Victor, a African Crested Porcupine. I was......just born into this world. Who or what is Maji Walezi? I have never heard of it."

He looked around a little before sitting himself down. He was glad he had some company, as at least this owl could give him some pointers of where he was and what to do.

Dark listened, flattening back a bit and letting his ear tufts smooth back, away from the loud words of the porcupine.

"Maji Walezi is the group that lives here. They guard the water."

The owl seemed to think to himself, clicking his beak, ruffling his feathers. He shuffled a little, talons scraping on the ground, four in front, four behind. He listened to the stranger, to the strange gentle swishing clatter that came as it sat. It was as if it were covered in leaves that brushed together, like fur, but a bit more... harsh, as if those leaves were dry and dead. He didn't know it was fluffy young spines growing in, only that it sounded different.

"I don't know what a porcupine is. What are you for? What do you want to do? What do you like? What do you not-like?" Dark asked rapidly, voice still gentle and melodic. He wasn't aware that the newly-hatched creature might not know all of these things, might not have discovered or decided them yet.

Perhaps, however, even if the porcupine didn't know the answers, at least the questions themselves might frame some guidance.

________________

@Victor

Victor listened to the owl once more. His little tail shook softly as he nodded to him. He smiled softly, there were a lot of questions but he was pretty sure he could answer them, or at least try to.

"I see, I have never heard of them. A porcupine is a rodent with spiky quills. They prick you and stab you if you get too close but don't worry, I will keep them lowered. I wouldn't want to hurt you. What am I for....well, I am not sure to be honest. I don't know what I do or like, or not like either. I am a child, I have just been born so I am still very much learning."

He smiled and looked around a little more. He turned a little, taking in the area around him. This place was beautiful, he knew one thing for sure, he liked this place a lot.

@Dark

The owl ruffled his feathers, tilting his head to peer curiously, albeit blindly, at the stranger.

"Por--... cue--pine?" he tried, hesitantly. "What do you eat? I eat mice. Rats. Bevy eats bugs, I think!" he added, his voice a happy chirp.

"I could show you where to find food. Maybe? If you know what you eat?" Dark hesitated, briefly, confused--had he already asked this? He couldn't remember. With another sound--this one more a doleful hoot--he continued. "If you want to stay in this cave I can introduce you to Bevy? She leads Maji Walezi. Maybe you could join," he added, though he sounded rather detached, as if this didn't matter to him either way.

"Or at least she could tell you where's safe and not. Bevy knows a lot more than me," he explained, friendly--and trying to be as helpful as he could.

________________

@Victor