Tyler sighed, wondering what kind of magic his stone possessed. Curiosity flooded him, but he tried to keep it under control. It wouldn't be best for him to focus on power, as he was hungry, and hunger would make it difficult to pay close attention. Besides, Dragon was trying to teach him.

He watched as the alligator floated, realizing he had no intent of teaching the cat how to fish. Tyler sat, staring down at the water. It was dark, making it difficult to see, but not impossible. Small white fish swam about in the murky pool. The kitten waited patiently for one to swim by, and when one did, he let his paw crash into the water, trying to snatch the tiny fish.

The cat pulled his paw out quickly, hoping to see a fish flailing in it. Unfortunately, there was no fish to be found. Tyler put his paw back town, shame rushing through him. How would he survive in this world if he couldn't even do such a simple thing as fishing?

The alligator gave a soft rumble of amusement as the cat's paw slapped uselessly through the water.

"It will take practice," he explained. "Things look different above, than below. If you let your limb dangle into the water, you can see. You could reach in slowly, and flip a fish out from beneath. Or throw in insects, that they may come to feed on them, and catch them that way. I will show you what I do."

Dragon focused for a moment, summoning up the roiling fire within him--then fired a glance at Tyler. "Do not touch the water," he added, in a tone of warning. It would not do to boil the cat alive, after all.

He inhaled deeply, embers sparking and flaring up in his nostrils and deep within his throat, reflecting off of the water. However, he was not aiming to blow fire itself over the water--merely to superheat the air, and thus the water beneath. To slow and injure and kill the fish. It would be a quick, free meal--for the both of them. Provided, that was, that he succeeded.

Shimmering-hot air blasted forward, like a furnace opened wide. The water hissed and bubbled, the surface blowing in small waves away from the onslaught; a few of the fish leapt or darted away, others caught in the abrupt heat. There was a sizzle, and a gurgle of bubbling, and then three pale fish bobbed to the surface, flicking their tails weakly.

Dragon waited for a moment--long enough for the waters to cool to a safe level--and spoke.

"That will slow them," he declared, satisfied. "Now--try again."

The wriggling, half-dead fish bobbing at the surface, he thought, should be easy enough prey for even a young kitten to catch.

He hoped.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Tyler

Tyler watched Dragon intently. The alligator had just informed him to avoid the water, but why? Was he going to use magic? The kitten sat, waiting for the answer that was about to show itself. A sudden warmth struck the air, and he gasped. He stared at the fish that had floated to the top, only able to imagine how the water must feel. The heat eventually faded, and he sighed as his body took in the cool air around him once again.

The cat looked at the fish once again. Certainly it couldn't be too hard to just simply grab it out of the water. He reached out slowly and pulled one to land, ending its life quickly so as not to torture it. He looked back at Dragon, eyes glowing with pride. He had caught a fish!

The alligator watched idly. He snapped up a couple of the fish that the cat had not touched, and then lifted his head to watch.

"Eat, if you wish, though they are best eaten after burning. And when you are done with that, perhaps you can test your stone. Your--magic."

Dragon let out a quiet stream of bubbles, watching Tyler with idle but fading interest. He wondered how long such a small creature could possibly survive in the swamp. Tal'at had done well, for being so small--or, as Czernobog called him, "Haaaat;" so had Eve, and Willow, though they were now gone... but this cat likely could not fly. Perhaps his camouflage would serve him well, but if it failed...?

Dragon hoped, for Tyler's sakes, that the cat's magic was something powerful indeed.

{ art by dark } ~ { table by aura . edited by banshee and dark }

@Tyler

Tyler took a small bite of the fish he had caught. It was warm from the water, but a layer of slime still covered it. His face scrunched in disgust at the strange texture as he continued to eat. He forced the chunks of food down his throat, knowing that the quicker he finished, the sooner he would get to try using his magic. As he swallowed the last morsel of meat on the bones in front of him, he stood up quickly in excitement.