There was something strange about awakening. There was a sense of self that was awakened, a sense of life and light. The creature would stir, breaking from her chrysalis. The sound was almost shattering, sensitive to her little ears. She would twitch them as she stirred, rising from the ground where she fell. Life. Existence that was different from what she had previously. The female would breathe in, testing the air. This place, this cave, was what she would know. What she would come to see as her plain of existence. She was new... and purpose was not yet something carved out for her. She was just a baby yet. A newborn in a sense, despite her adolescent sized body. She was just beginning. Curiosity rose within the creature, and two thoughts came to mind. Food. Hunt. There was a necessity to feed, as any living creature would have, and the tanuki would move herself with purpose to the river she had been "birthed" by. The tanuki would slowly stick her paw in the water, feeling a shiver run down her spine. It was cold. Cold. It was a new feeling. A new word that she didn't have a word for. Her mind, limited at this stage, was only just beginning. She would sniff, stomach giving a rumble. "Hungry..."The creature would complain. She'd stare at the water, jaws salivating as she saw something swimming within. Hell, she didn't know what they were... but they looked tasty. She'd reach her paw into the water, aiming to scoop one of the critters up... [Edit After Roll] Success! Grabbing one of the slimy things with her claws Azumi would flick it up onto the bank. She'd quickly move ontop of it, jaws crunching and swallowing bits of meat wholeheartedly. Flesh. Meat. Life. It was all necessary to her existence. Blood would stain her muzzle as she made short work of what she had caught. Upon finishing her meal she'd look back towards the water, debating if she wanted another one of those things. They were tasty... but she wasn't as hungry as before. Could she eat another? "Speech" 'Thought'

~EEYA~

"splish splash"

---

Deep beneath the surface of the water unknown to many, especially not the tanuki above swam a young dolphin. He'd hatched only days prior and already was learning much about the world. He knew that there were land creatures who spoke in strange sounds unlike the melodic whistles of his native tongue. He also knew that they weren't the best at swimming, perhaps they could even easily drown. A theory of his that he hadn't tested. One that he didn't want to test. Who would want to watch something drown and by extension die? Not he. No. He had other things he liked to do with his time...

Such as swimming and playing! Now his playing came in the form of chasing the many fish below the water. They tried to escape him but he was far too fast for them. Easily he snapped one up for himself and let out a happy little click. He absolutely loved fish! There was nothing better! Well... except breaching. He had to admit that breaching was pretty fun in its own right. Perhaps he should breach now!

He swam towards the surface but paused when he saw something wiggling below, teasing the fish that strayed towards the shallow end. Curious the little dolphin floated closer until he had a better view. It was a strange fluffy land creature, wiggling its little strange-flippers below the waters! At first Eeya was curious as to why it was waggling its little flipper-toes below the water but then it hooked out a fish! Ah! It was hungry! Was that all? Eeya could help with that! He didn't know if the land-creature was full or not but regardless fish-hunting was great fun! So, the dolphin zoomed back below into the depths and searched for a nice large fish for the creature.

In a rather quick amount of time the dolphin saw a white and blue fish, a mackeral. He chased it down and grabbed it with his mouth but he didn't eat it. Instead he swam back up to the surface and quite suddenly breached. While in midair he threw the fish straight towards the land-creature before diving back below the surface. Pleased with his display the dolphin came up to the shore where his belly would barely brush the bottom of the water and he poked his head out to observe the furry thing. It always amazed him that these land animals didn't itch all over from the fur!

Eeya gave one of his most friendly smiles and said in his sing-song, whistling voice,
"Hiya! Saw land-creature getting fish so Eeya wanted to help! He get'em big fish for ya!" His voice was possitively giddy. It always excited him to meet new creatures.

.

---

words: 456
tagged: Azumi
ooc: ---
muse: 7/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

Was she expecting something to suddenly come flying out of the water at her? No, definitely not! Azumi would give a squeal, jumping back as all of her fur began to puff up. The splashing water had been sudden, something flung her way. They were attacking! A little growl would escape her throat, her single good eye locking on the fish. She'd pounce upon it, tearing it with her fangs. Aggressive nature filled her, part in fear, part in anger that the damned thing had dare try to attack her! She was only eating! It wasn't her fault... was it? Sure it was dead she'd take a step back, looking down at the fish. Then gaze would sweep towards the water as the sound of something surfacing came again. Fur would bristle upon her back, little ears pinning to her skull. Defenses would be thrown up, her single orb narrowed. She wasn't looking for a fight... she was afraid. She was young and afraid of what this creature was. It reminded her of the thing she just ate, and the one that lay dead by her paws, but this one was much, much bigger! But then... it spoke. Azumi would not feel threatened by the tone, and slowly her ears would lift from her head. A frown was on her muzzle, processing the words, or trying to. The thing that was speaking to her was an Eeya. It had noticed her hunting, to eat, and got her another one of those "fish". Paws would shuffle a bit awkward on the ground, and she'd try to find the words to speak. Embarrassment caused her cheeks to heat, and the tanuki would part her jaws, her voice quiet as she spoke. "Eeya kind. Azumi um..." The tanuki would pause. Azumi... that was what she wanted to be called. Azumi. "Azumi is happy." She'd give a small smile, grabbing the fish and bringing it closer to the water. "Share...?" She'd ask, almost as if uncertain. "Speech" 'Thought'

~EEYA~

"splish splash"

---

Eeya had seen those little things on the sides of her head... ears, maybe? Pin to her skull. It was so strange that creatures had ears like to move all around. He had no ears that stuck out to the sides, only the ones on the side of his head that were immoveable and invisible except for holes. He'd seen his reflection in some underwater crystal once and compared to what he saw with land animals he was certainly very different. Not different-bad, he was different-good because it allowed him to breach and swim very quickly.

The dolphin waited patiently while the tenseness left the other's body and she shuffled her little flipper-toes on the ground. Such strange little actions these guys did. He could do none of them. He had to depend on his face and voice to convey these little tense and nervous things. When the other one did speak it made the dolphin squeal with joy. He was kind! Oh! He liked to be kind! He pushed his face closer to hers and grinned, exposing all of his tiny but sharp teeth set in his beak. "Eeya is happy that Azumi is happy!" To show his happiness he backswam himself from the shore and dove under the water.

He swam a very circles under the water from sheer joy before aiming towards the surface to attempt one of his favorite spinning breaches.

Unfortunatley, his breach ended in failure when instead of performing a spin he only managed to go halfway before belly flopping. He didn't have enough momentum and thus he couldn't complete the breach. It would look like the belly flop had hurt but not one to let a failure dampen his spirits --so long as a competition wasn't involved- he swam back up to the shore and poked his nose right back up to the land creature.

What had she said before he'd left? Sharing? Eeya gave a great whistling laugh before answering in his song-song voice, "I share fish from water to you! Eeya eat already! He no want 'nother fish! Unless leftovers then Eeya eat because eating fun!" He nodded his head vigorously. This dolphin wasn't one who would offer something only to ask for a piece of it back... at least he wasn't like that yet, anyhow. Freshly out of the chrysalis and he was all for altruistic behavior.

Curious at the appearance of this new land-creature who was different than the others he'd seen he asked, "Swim. Can you, Azumi?" His head tilted slightly to the side when he asked this. A habit learned from his capybara friend that refused to go away.

.

---

words: 442
tagged: Azumi
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

So they were both happy. Happy... it was a good feeling. It made her feel warm. Made her feel comfortable. She liked Eeya a lot. If these were the good feelings she got from him then she didn't mind being a friend. She could visit! Have someone to talk to. The tanuki would cock her head to the side, watching as Eeya would move away. Wait, where was he going? Her smile would fade. Did he no longer want to talk? Why was he going away? Disappointment was evident in her slumping shoulders and the lowering of her ears as he went back under the water. "Don't go..." Azumi would whisper sadly. She didn't want to be alone. This feeling was another new one... but it wasn't good. The feeling of sadness. Of loneliness. She didn't like it. She'd pad closer to the water, trying to search for Eeya. She wanted him to come back. If he wanted the fish back he could have it... she just wanted to talk with him more. But then out from the water he came again, startling her once more. Azumi would jump back, fur bristling slightly as the slap was heard. Ouch. Ears would pin down, worry clear in her single orb. "Nn..." It looked like it hurt, but Eeya didn't cry out. He'd go back under for a moment before popping out once more, his face close again. Azumi would breathe out in relief. She was glad he seemed to be okay, and that he had come back. She'd smile once more, twitching her ears. "Eating.. is fun. Tastes good." The tanuki would add, her dialogue still being tested. She'd lower her head to the fish, taking a bite out of it with her fangs and swallowing. Eeya would ask her a question, and Azumi would lift her head again, thinking. "Hmm... not sure." She'd stick a paw in the water, deciding the only way to find out was to try. The tanuki would jump into the water, moving deeper until she had to doggy paddle. Head would nearly bob under a time or two, her muzzle lifted up to keep it from going under. Little gasps would leave Azumi as she circled around, climbing back into the shallow part of the river and flopping down still partially in the water. Swimming was tiring! She'd glance at Eeya, shaking her head. "Azumi doesn't think swim is a good idea." "Speech" 'Thought'

~EEYA~

"splish splash"

---

Boy did she seem happy! Did she think he was leaving? He'd never leave a friend behind! Not when they were turning out to be a fantastically fun friend like this one was! The dolphin bobbed his head up and down in agreement with her words. "Yaa! Yaa! Anything that is tasting good is fun!" He said cheerfully. "Only thing not fun is... is..." He pondered for a moment before he piped up again. "Getting face stuck in wall! Hahaha!" He laughed about it now but when it happened and he had gotten his beak stuck in the side of the shore it was not fun. He thought he was going to drown or be stuck there forever!

"Not sure? Must try Azuuuumi! Swimming is good fun!" He said happily before backswimming again but this time he didn't zoom off. He stayed close to the shore just in case the little land-creature would need his help. The little animal came out into the water and the dolphin gave another squeal of sheer joy! She was swimming, she was swimming! However, it was short lived when Azumi simply paddled back to shore after nearly going under once or twice. Paddling around like that was no way to swim! You had to really dig down and do better than that! Or maybe she wasn't capable of the graceful stuff that he did...

He followed her and gave a little sad blink. "Swim no good idea?" That made him sad to think that she could never enjoy the water. He was content to let her live her life on the land when an idea occurred to him. "Hey, hey! Eeya big! Eeya swim good! Eeya let you swim with him! Grab fin or climb on back and we go swim together! Show you how a real sea-animal goes!" His voice was excited. Why hadn't he thought of this before? The little animal could easily ride upon his back or just grab his fin and swim next to him if she were braver. He didn't get tired in the water, in fact he could just stop and float if he felt the need to rest.

.

---

words: 361
tagged: Azumi
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...

The swimming test had been scary. Her heart was beating so fast in her chest, anxiety welling within her. What would she have done if she went under and never managed to get back to the surface? What would she have done then? Death. The thought would come to her and make her shudder. She didn't know what death was like but she knew she didn't want to find out any time soon. Not when she was just beginning in this world. The tanuki would try to calm herself down, focusing on the shallow water at her paws for the moment rather than Eeya. Azumi felt bad that she had failed in swimming successfully... but every creature would have things that they were good and bad at. Ears would twitch, guilt eating at her when she heard Eeya's voice. Azumi would frown deeply, turning her single eyed gaze upon him. "Sorry..." She'd apologize. Maybe if she practiced, or had someone give her lessons in shallow water she could try... but right now it was too scary to move out into the deeper water. Eeya would have an idea though, excitedly explaining it to her. The tanuki would blink. Ride upon his back in the water? "Nn..." She was still uncertain. "Eeya no drop Azumi? Won't leave her in water alone?" She'd ask, hoping for clarification on this fact. "Will try if Eeya promises not to leave or go under." "Speech" 'Thought'

~EEYA~

"splish splash"

---

Sorry. She apologized for not being a good swimmer.Even without the apology it was okay, Eeya knew that everyone couldn't swim like him. Especially with fur to weigh them down. All was forgiven! Especially when she agreed to his next idea. At first she seemed uncertain but then she said yes so long as he would be careful and not drop her. That was a piece of kelp! Of course he'd be careful! Careful was his middle name! Or was it? He didn't have a middle name, or last name either. He was just Eeya!

"No no! Eeya no drop Azumi. He be careful extra! No leave her in water or drop her or go under too deep!" He bobbed his head up and down vigorously. "Eeya promises!" With that he came closer to the tanuki and turned so she could have easier access to his back. The ground underneath the water rubbed against his belly and his flippers while he waited for the sound and feel that would tell him when Azumi had gotten on. He could barely contain his excitement! Little whistles of joy escaped his beak while he waited.

When he felt the little soft paws of the tanuki he would whistle even louder and quiver under his gray skin. Yay! They were about to swim together! So much excitement and joy. "Ready, Azumi?" He would wait until her signal then he would say, "Let's go! Hold onto Eeya top fin if need to!" Land animals could hold onto things with their toe-flippers right? They certainly looked dexterous enough for grabbing and holding onto things.

Now, the dolphin careful maneuvered away from the shore. His powerful tail helped him to go forward while he wiggled his front to move him out to the river. It only took a few seconds then he was off! He didn't start off fast, the weight of the tanuki reminded him to take it slow. He kicked his tail fin and took them towards the middle of the river, slowly getting her acclimated to the feel of him swimming and what it was like on the water. "Azumi is okay? No scared or almost fall off?" He swam around in small circles, his speed barely more than a crawl. He wanted to go faster but would wait. What if he was terrifying the poor Amumi? That just wouldn't do!

.

---

words: 398
tagged: Azumi
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this."
Thinking looks like this...