Mostly a thread for myself but feel free to pop in!


Xin had been wandering the cave for a while when he grew bored. Surely there was something he could do, right? He could faintly recall someone doing a spell. Did he have a spell he could do? Surely, he must. He thought for a moment. If someone else could do a spell, then surely he could too! He thought for a moment, and then began to focus-what he was focusing on, he wasn't sure. But he focused on something, trying to do his spell. As he focused, he could feel a very faint feeling-he wasn't sure what the feeling was-in his throat. He began to focus on that, his eyes closed. Hopefully he could perform his spell.

Slowly, gradually, Xin noticed that the room was warming up a bit. It was hardly noticeable, but he managed to notice. He grinned. He had done it! He used his spell! He was successful! Or, at the very least, he thought he was. It certainly seemed as though he was. The temperature in the room had definitely gone up a couple of times, and at the same exact time he performed the spell. So he most certainly did that. He would give a yip of joy, but sadly, he could not. So he settled for jumping around happily.

Slowly, others in the cave were returning from… wherever they had all gone. And now that there was more activity, Macawi didn’t know what to do with herself. She’d been relatively alone — minus Tangak — for quite some time. And her previously chipper attitude had dulled quite a bit into a much more somber version of herself. No longer was she the spritely young coyote she had once been. Now she found it difficult to rouse herself into her previous attitude. Not even when she came across others — like this little brown creature she was seeing ahead of her now. And — oh. Had the air become warmer here?

She had a flash of the type of greeting she would have once given. Macawi greets you, little brown thing! How is This One today? And she’d turn her head to the side and ‘wink’ with the opal in her cheek, throwing a rainbow of color down onto the ground in front of the Gembound. Now… Now she simply sat down before the creature and gave him a small smile. And said nothing.

"Speech"

Words: 180 @Xin

While Xin was happy that he had succeeded in his spell, but something felt different. And it wasn't just the temperature in the room either, although that had changed. It was starting to go back down to normal now. The little marten pawed halfheartedly at some bones nearby, heaving a sigh.

His ears perked up when he heard someone approach. A large coyote sat in front of him, just staring silently. His eyes narrowed, but he didn't do anything. It's not like he could speak, and he hadn't exactly mastered body language yet. So he just continued to paw at some bones, ignoring the coyote other than when he looked at her.

@Macawi

The little Gembound’s silence, and somewhat annoyed look — if Macawi was reading him right — put some of the fire back in her chest. She cocked her head to the side, upsetting Tangak’s balance, and the little bird gave a peep of indignation before settling back down on her head. In an effort to make this silence more interesting, the coyote attempted to find the Magic in herself and create a ball of Light in the air, just to give the three of them (herself, Tangak, and the marten) something to look at. Perhaps this would make one of them begin to speak. Maybe the marten was shy.

Unfortunately, it had been so long since she’d last had a chance to cast any Magic that she was pretty rusty, and her connection to her spells was weak. Absolutely nothing happened. Her brows furrowed in annoyance, but she kept up her silence, seeing if this alone would spark a verbal reaction from her new acquaintance.

"Speech"

Words: 163 @Xin

Xin continued to ignore her. It wasn't like he could do anything. The bones soon became boring, so he plopped down on his side with a huff and faced the coyote. He looked up at her, wondering if she was going to talk. He saw as her brows furrowed, and he wondered if she had tried to perform a spell but failed. He wished he had more than one spell, but alas, he did not.

Xin glanced toward the tiny bird that rested atop the coyote's head. He briefly wondered how the two of them got together, and why there was a bird there. He stared a bit more before losing interest, and began to stare straight ahead, right at the coyote's feet.

@Macawi

Macawi cocked her head again at the marten looked at her with a bored expression. Tangakwenu chirped in annoyance again, ruffling his tiny colorful feathers as he settled down. He noticed the marten look at him, and chirped some more. No longer was he shy. It had been far too long since there had been much activity in the Caves and this absence of others had forced him out of his shyness. He looked back at the marten indignantly. Macawi chuckled, knowing what the tiny bird was thinking through their magical connection. She contemplated the Gembound before her as he stared at her paws silently.

Then she lay down before him, slipping the strap of her bag off of her shoulder, and nudging the opening towards him. “Would This One like his fortune told?” she asked, speaking for the first time since coming across the Gembound. “All you must do is feel around in the bag without looking. Feel for something that you like. It could be soft, or rough, or smooth. Delicate or sturdy. This One will feel all sorts of things inside. Go on if you wish. Or don’t. But fortune telling is Macawi’s specialty. Free of charge.” She grinned at him encouragingly, turning her head to the side so that the light would catch on her gem and splash a rainbow onto the ground — her calling card greeting.

"Speech"

Words: 231 @Xin

Xin blinked as the coyote moved, laying down and slipping the strap of a bag in front of him, nudging it toward the small marten. His eyes narrowed as he eyed the bag. His fortune told? What would the point of that be? The only thing he knew was that he'd be mute forever, and that's all he needed to know! He sighed, and edged closer to the bag. Whatever. It's not like he had anything better to do. Maybe this would make the other go away.

He reached his paw into the bag, feeling for something that he just thought felt...right. His paw moved around, when he felt something that was oddly familiar. He dug his claws into it and dragged it out. ...A bone. The sight made his stomach churn, made him think of happier times. He closed his eyes and chased the thoughts away. Things were different now, and he couldn't just start thinking about that!

Xin's attention returned to the bone, and he felt it for a bit, running his paw along the surface. It was just like any bone, albeit being rather small. It was mostly smooth, but also rough at some places. The curves along the end were smooth, and he suddenly had an urge to flick it about, to start playing with it. He fought against the urge, and continued to observe it before half-heartedly nudging it closer to the coyote, staring at her.

@Macawi

Macawi watched the little marten look at the bag for a moment, and she wondered if he would refuse her offer. A refusal wouldn’t bother her. Her time in the Caves had taught her that not all who lived here believed in such things as fortune telling, or Spirits. And never would she push a belief onto another. That did nothing but cause strife and misunderstanding. Eventually, he did reach a paw into the bag, and feel around for a bit. After a time, he dragged out the small bone with the smooth curves. She nodded as she looked at it, and took it when he offered it to her, dragging it closer with her paw.

She closed her eyes and ran a paw across its surface, feeling the smooth parts and the rough parts. Then she nodded and opened her eyes, finding the marten’s. “Bones, as This One might guess, represent Death. But do not be alarmed. The symbol of Death does not always mean that someone is going to actually die. When a Gembound pulls Death from the bag, it often means the death of some old way of thinking, or some situation which the Gembound has been stuck in.”

Macawi paused to think. Then she continued. “This One must also remember that bones make up a large part of our bodies. They help us move, and they build us up so that we are strong. This bone is probably telling you that whatever rut you have been stuck in — whatever bad feelings you’ve had — will leave you soon. You will experience something new, and you must have the strength to face it, whatever it is.” She paused again, allowing him time to let the words sink in.

“Macawi often Baubles the items taken from the bag, and gives the items as gifts and reminders. Would This One like his bone Baubled? It causes them to glow. Then she will give it to you, if you would like.”

"Speech"

Words: 330 @Xin

Xin watched as the coyote began to observe the bone. He continued to lay down on his side as she spoke, but still listened. The death of a way of thinking? Perhaps how he used to think, that he could speak, even though now he knew he couldn't? His interest begin to perk as she continued, and he rolled over so he was properly facing her.

As she continued, he thought about her words. Bad feelings that he's had, leaving soon? Does she mean how disappointed he's been that he can't talk? But...leaving soon? Is he not going to be like this forever? Will he finally have a way to talk? The thought seems impossible now, but maybe one day...?

When the coyote finished, Xin looked at the bone. Did he want it baubled? He'd have to carry it with him, but perhaps it wouldn't be too bad if he had a bone with him at all times...With a bit of hesitation, he nodded.

@Macawi