((ooc: anyone is welcome to join this 'practice yo' magic' thread!))

Beneath the low-set roof of the Canis room of Origin Cave, just where it nearly touched the floor, a solitary young hyena was picking her way through the bones.

She pored over them, eyeing them, touching them, seeming to discard one after the other as if none of them suited her needs.

I felt it. I KNOW I felt it. I just... need a live one. Or less--dead, anyway.
The hyena let out a soft "chuckle" of frustration, and spoke aloud, to herself--though her voice carried, past the bones and over the rock.

"Practice makes perfect. We need to be ready."
She giggled, again, though it wasn't quite a sound of amusement.

There! A bone, still clung with rotted red stringy flesh. She wasn't sure what this one was from, but it was surely far more fresh than the dry old skeletons littering the rest of this room. She sat, red-gold coat glowing dully in the light of the distant hanging orbs, and concentrated. Her eyes narrowed.

She knew that she held magic, of some kind; she wasn't quite sure what. She felt that she needed something... alive, something rotting.

Death. I can grow death.
She furrowed her brow; this made no sense to her. But she focused nonetheless, gently pinning the bone with one black paw as if to prevent it from skittering away across the floor of its own accord.

Tiny fangs bit down on Giggle's lower lip as she focused. She could feel it, swarming there, though she didn't have the skill to pinpoint it--but she did have a synergy with it. She could tap into it. Touch it.

Encourage it.

At first, it seemed only like the tiny amount of remaining rotten flesh clung closer to the bone, perhaps desiccating at a rapid rate. But as Giggle watched, with a feeling like squirming worms and screaming whispers gripping her heart, and with a strange tingle at the gem hidden in the fur of her forehead, something else began to happen.

A dark stain began to spread over the old meat, devouring it, rotting it. It began to putrefy--and Giggle widened her eyes, shocked.

Just like that, with her loss of concentration, it was gone--if it had ever been there to begin with...?

She leaned down, sniffed, and widened her eyes again, then let out a ringing whoop of success. It was barely present, but it was there. She didn't know the details, only that she had "grown death"--but what she had truly done was rapidly multiply the growth of the fungus already infesting the rotten flesh, increasing, even if only briefly, its rate of decay.

She sat back on her haunches, grinning and whooping again with loud triumph, preparing to try again.

________________

Roll the bones.

Bevy had come to see Azazel and even Krakarak-- it had been so long since she had spent any quality time with her fellow birds. As much as she enjoyed her room of waterfalls and fuzzy kitten friends at Maji Walezi, it just wasn't the same. Unfortunately, she hadn't counted on the room of bones to be so creepy. Maybe it was because she was older, but now she knew the bones meant death and even if Aza thought they were tasty, she still didn't like them much.

Unfortunately she met neither of the birds and instead ran into a strange, giggling creature. She slowed as she approached the canine, letting out a peep of "Hello?" as she landed beside the animal. It seemed like the gembound was playing with a bone... Or perhaps, using magic on it?

"What are you doing?" She asked aloud, eyes bright as she inspected the fungi-growing bone. Although she couldn't tell herself, she was sure that this creature had made something happen to the bone. Curious, she taped into one of her new senses, seeing if she could sense bacteria. Perhaps this hyena was just like her.

;; post roll

Not a single white-not dot came to her, however, as she stared at the bone and the gembound. Embarrassed that she couldn't work it out, the shy bird hopped back a step. "Oh, um. I'm Bevy, by the way. Are you friends of Azazel?" After all, if she lived here, surely she knew Aza somehow. She certainly seemed well acquainted with bones, at any rate.

Since the lights came on and a nice, comfortable warmth spread through the cave, she traveled a lot more. It was simple, and she grew more confident in the silences of the tunnels. And besides, she was bound to come across someone by this point; there as no way she'd be alone. It was a wonderful thought, and she wanted to meet more and more creatures for inspiration for more of her stories. In one of the many tunnels that she was growing more familiar with, she saw something flit in the air, instantly attracting her attention. She followed it with abandon, hardly watching the well-lit path in chase of the flying thing. What was it? Where was it going? What was its purpose? What was it called? she thought, with growing excitement. She just had to know! In the end, when it slowed its flight, it came to the room of bones, and she took a dead stop at the entrance of the room. Deep, bone deep shudders ran through her, reminding her of the story she had told not too long ago, but she shook her head and told herself that being afraid of what might've happened a long time ago was utter nonsense! Besides, there was the flying thing to question! But she wanted to make a good first impression, and what better way to do that than with her pretty light? Even the Bassa liked her light, even if the Bassa was quite rude about showing its appreciation. She called to the threads deep within, and decided to try breathing those threads outward, away from herself, flying gracefully through the air. Edit for spell Much like creating the little crystal beauty for the beautiful little Lucifer was difficult, so was this. It was like breathing, which normally would've been easy, but with a heavy weight on her chest, strained and holding more exertion than was comfortable. But with effort and concentration, what was in her mind sprang to life, albeit delicate and easy-shattered life. Light formed away from her, tiny little balls of light, like lazy fireflies, that formed themselves into her desire. Tiny, graceful, and lovely light versions of the Bevy(for she overheard the pretty thing's name) flew through the air ahead of her slow pace to say hello to the two. "I know an Aza," She said, distractedly, dreamily, paying a lot of attention to her little winged creations that flew around the little Bevy and the wolf-kin fascinated with that bone it held. "Hello." She was suddenly really, really tired. "This is how I speak."

Giggle started slightly as the small red-and-black-thing that was like Aza'zel, but not, lit beside her in a soft flurry of feathers. She stared, then tilted her head; the thing was not a vulture, as he was, not a harbinger of food, glorious food, but she had mentioned his name.

Perhaps she was friend, then--or, at least, ally?

Giggle grinned, many still-young fangs glinting, and spoke in a voice that was rather hoarse and husky, for a female.

"Yes. Bone-bird. Bone-bound. Giggle, tiny-bird. I am Giggle."

She gave the name the vulture had given her, and compared, in her mind, Aza'zel's carmine eyes to Bevy's. They were similar. Perhaps the bird was his child, or his mate? Giggle gave a mental shrug, eyeing Bevy over again before looking down at the ragged bone.

"I have magic. I grow death." She sounded proud. She sniffed over the bone again, over the slightly too-strong rancid rot, pride filling her. Her dark eyes flicked back to the bird, again. Her juvenile mind was both curious and friendly, still mischievously malicious but without the manipulative guile she would later develop.

"Do you like bones? Are you Aza'zel's friend? Do you do magic?" She stepped aside, seeming to almost nod to the bone on the floor, as if offering Bevy a chance with it. She was, of course, unaware that the tiny poisonbirb had already tried! "Show me?"

Before she could get too excited, though, something else caught her eye--the play of lights twisting through the air. Giggle blinked. Now that was magic...

She sniffed, but was unable to scent anything over the stench of bones and rot. What was that thing?! She waited, dark eyes wide, as tiny ghostly little-birds danced toward them through the rank air.

And what are -those- things?!

She even took a step back in awe as the pale creature, the likes of which she had never seen, came closer. Her nostrils flared again. Was it food? Friend? She was hungry--but then, she was always hungry. But then it was saying that it knew Aza'zel. There was no killing his friends, no. He was a friend, sort of.

Giggle continued to stare, looking between the strange tiny bird and the even stranger pale thing-with-sharp-feet.

"...And that--... Is magic? --What are you? Who are you? Show me more!" she breathed, eyes still wide. She had to see more. Learn more. Know more. She had to know everything!

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Roll the bones.

Azazel had recently gained his hearing back { thank the gods above, if there were any, for that! } and he was back on his wings and flying again! He'd managed to bust a few bones into smaller pieces, swallowing them whole for his stomach acids to digest them, as he was now big enough to get fist-sized chunks down and not choke on them. That hadn't gone well, once. He'd also learned that he could manipulate the air to mimic sounds, especially his own vocalizations. Surely that'd be a fun show!

And now was the perfect time to debut it!

The Bone King was soundlessly drifting along above, but at the sound of voices and cheeriness, the bird's rufous crown tilted downwards. On the terra firma, a small gathering of Gembound began. Giggle, Clover, and Bevy were all there amongst what looked like a million fireflies. There was a happy sound of a curious little hyena, begging for more magic and to observe. He hadn't showed the young girl that he had some, and that was perfect. Smirking, Azazel arced a wing to approach a pile of bones higher up in the room, away from the prying eyes of the trio down below. Landing with a small click of feet, the bird scurried to his bones. There had to be a skull in here... maybe a few femurs or thighs...

Nosing through them, the ave discovered a quite clean skull of some kind -- maybe a cat's? -- and a few smaller bones. Just right! Lifting a foot and putting the skull atop his head like a crown, he set himself atop what would be his 'drumsticks.' Flapping his wings with great strokes to carry the weight of about five pounds in his talons, the bird shifted toward a more visible spot and began to drum the bones on a rock, hollow beats echoing in the air. Now, to add to the sound. Calling upon his magicka, he gave a hearty laugh, "Ahahahahaha!" Hopefully his mimicry would allow that sound to be manipulated and mock that of Giggle's, simply to mess with her. Oh how fun that would be! Yet, much to his disappointment, it would not happen. It was just a regular old Bone Kingly laugh. Oh well!

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Bevy quickly learned the gembound's name was Giggle. Apparently she was practicing magic, and worse, death magic. How did one "grow" death? Honestly, the tiny bird didn't want to find out, but when the hyena asked for her to show her magic, she got an idea. Her magic was Life, wasn't it? Did that make them opposite? She almost spoke up when a soft, light voice reached her ears.

Her ebony feathered head turned towards the creamy doe, eyes lighting up as the small glints of glow around the deer turned into mirrors of her own form. Tiny, white glowing pitohui birds flitted around the doe. It was absolutely beautiful... "Oh, hello..!" She felt her feathers heat up in embarrassment-- Bevy hadn't met many deer, but they all had been absolutely wonderful. One had saved her life and this one was... Making little pretty things in her image? What was a tiny bird to do about that?

"Yeah, I want to see more! That's really pretty." She had almost forgotten about Azazel when... When she swore she heard him laugh. It was a weird noise... As she looked up she saw the giant vulture on his perch, with a weird bone on his head. She blinked and then hopped up into the air with a few wing beats.

"There you are, Azazel!" She chirped excitedly. "Are you going to join the magick session?" She offered, eyes bright. She had wanted to see him, and now she had-- though now she was left wondering where Krak was-- so now it would be fine enough to settle down and practice her magic. She couldn't do anything as cool as the fancy lights or the death growing, whatever it was, but she circled around Giggle and landed on the opposite side of her bone.

;; post roll

Gently, the bird poked her beak to the fungi-ridden bone and tried to flood it with her magic, her life. In an instant she felt connected to the white but invisible dots that surrounded them. The bacteria in her body and in the air and the ground swarmed all to the bone, and within moments the bone was picked clean, fresh and white. The air around the bone became full of healthy, good bacteria and with a gentle breath in she felt her own self rejuvenated and fresh.

"I bring life," she chirped softly, her eyes bright. Sure, that wasn't really what it was, but just as the hyena had associated her magic with death, so had Bevy associated hers with life.

She had made the Giggle very happy with her little birds, and successfully impressed the little Bevy, which made her incredibly pleased. Tired, but pleased. She laid down near them, near a body of water that populated the room of bones in spades. Aza's little performance was wonderful and incredibly silly, and it made her laugh. It seemed like everyone was practicing their magic? How exciting! She watched as the little Bevy picked the Giggle's bone completely dry without touching it, making it shine prettily, and wondered how she did that. What kind of magic was that? It was so different than hers and Wolf's. She didn't know how another attempt would go with her magic lights, but she would try, since she was asked so nicely. Edit for spell - it really figures She really wanted to please them, so she called on those threads again, even though she was incredibly tired. She called the thread that linked to her magic, and sighed to bring it out, but what came out was knotted and tangled. A snarling knotted ball of light came into being in front of her, then with a incredibly loud CLAP, exploded like a light bomb, blinding the entire area. She yelled and scrambled when it blew up, but couldn't avoid something so close to her. Afterwards, when it was settled, she blinked her eyes a great many times, but couldn't see anything at all. Everything was a blinding foggy white and her whole head felt disoriented. "Well, that w-went p-p-poorly." She said. "This is how I speak."

Giggle watched intently as Bevy worked her magic, leaning forward. Her eyes widened as the little bird's ability--and she could sense that it was similar to hers, but not quite the same--devoured the flesh entirely away. She looked up, awed.

"You grow, too." She stared, then (being still very young) struggled for the words to continue. "You grow, faster. You grow, death--" and she gestured to the bone with one dark-clawed paw--"faster. How?"

She turned away a moment later, eyeing over the other bones, pausing near one. She thought she had some inkling of how Bevy had directed her magic, how she'd forced the bacteria to grow and to devour the flesh. That's exactly what she had wanted to do, but the tiny bright thing that was neither a vulture nor food had done it better. Hyena brow furrowed into fuzzy lines, she peered down at a bone and tried again.

She went quite still, and she could again feel the gem at her forehead tingling warmly. This time, the blackening fungus sprouted quickly, appearing like a brief black-green fur over the stringy meat that clung half-dried to the bone she'd selected. It ate the meat away, and then faded itself, until most of the bone was orange-stained and dry, with flesh remaining only at the ends. Giggle let out a quiet, triumphant whoop--and then another cackle came from above.

She peered up--she didn't think the others had noticed her casting, as it'd been only brief, but maybe someone had? There--oh!

"...Food?" she asked softly, in a faintly confused voice. Aza'zel was up there, perched with a skull on his head. What...? She stared blankly, then broke into actual laughter. It looked so perfect on him--and so silly! Her giggles were interrupted, though, by a sudden explosion of light and sound, and she reeled, rocking forward and then turning to see what had happened.

The pale tall-creature was blinking. Speaking. When Giggle padded closer, she seemed not to see, and the young hyena felt faint concern.

"Are you... hurt?" She struggled to find the words, then leaned forward, sniffing over the deer--and tried to touch her nose to the doe's, frowning. Had the creature harmed herself, somehow? Or had the bird done it? Or maybe all those little light birds had gone back into the deer and burst?!

Giggle pricked up big round ears, staring with concern at the doe, waiting to see what would happen next.

________________

Roll the bones.

As soon as his presence was made known, the bird ceased his drumbeats, smirking beneath his pale mask. The Bone King tossed the bones aside, diving at a steep angle to approach the magic gathering. "Why not practice magic?" But as soon as he would, a huge clap echoed in the room, a shockwave sending him backwards a few feet in the air. Righting himself against a wall, the ave approached with a few wingbeats. Talons clicked against the floor as he touched down, tilting his head with concern. "Are you okay, Clover?"

Without further ado, the abe would seek to help out. Waddling toward the fawn, he'd first nose her side lightly to show that he was there, then stood at her side to help balance her wobbly frame. The magic must have drained her, if it exploded like that. "Hey, just lay down and rest for a minute. That big explosion must have drained you. I do that sometimes as well." As if he were teasing, he looked at Giggle. Because he'd yelled at her, he made himself go temporarily deaf.

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Bevy's feathers fluffed up as the hyena suggested she grew death. No, she grew life! Indignity crawled through her skin like fleas, but after a moment she calmed. She hadn't meant to offend her-- just one look told the bird that the canine was sincerely impressed.

"It's similar. Life and Death are two sides of the same rock," she peeped softly, nodding to herself. That made sense enough. They had quite similar magic, but hers was for good! Sure, death magic could be used to protect, but it couldn't be used to heal like hers, surely.

It was then that the doe tried another spell and the blinding light flashed in her vision. Real white dots spun in her vision, not like the bacteria when she used white sense, but natural after effects of the flash. She shook her head and as she got over the disorientation, she noticed that the others were already making sure the fawn was okay.

With a few flaps, the tiny bird made her way to Azazel's side and peered closely at the doe. If she had hurt herself, well, Bevy could fix it! "It'll be alright," she cooed, summoning her life magic to help. The bacteria seemed sluggish to respond, but with her urging, she managed to make a small cloud around the doe.

It was a bit tiring to use her magic so much, but she knew it was more important to fix up the creature who clearly was kind and sweet. Aza seemed to like her, too! That had to mean something. She hopped a little closer and gently touched her beak to the doe's cheek. "Deep breaths, just like he said. You're alright."