A purple gem lay, incubating the one who rested inside. They moved around slightly, beginning to feel the confines of their prison. Slowly, the small chrysalis began to crack, giving way shard by shard. Finally, with one large crack, it fell. A small fennec fox tumbled out.

He quickly scrambled up and began to look around. The area here was absolutely gorgeous, although he couldnt see much of it. His long ears picked up many sounds. The sound of bubbling water, of other animals around. He wondered if there were any that were close. He began to pick himself up from the floor, having fallen when he got out of the chrysalis. He began to walk, looking around with wide, purple eyes.

He had taken a few steps when he noticed something. Something around his neck. He pressed a paw there and felt something...hard. It wrapped all around his neck and then grew bigger at his chest. He looked down and saw a purple gem there. His eyes widened at the sight. It was absolutely beautiful! Surely anyone would love to see this. Did anyone have a gem as wonderful as his? He'd have to find someone and ask them...Or just show it off.

There was something about Polaris that drew Tuck in, which is why he kept returning over and over again. There was an Energy here that he loved, that filled him to the brim, and made him feel Powerful, like he could accomplish anything with his Magic, as long as he could think it up. He’d been rather lazy the past few days, hanging around Eridanus and not exploring much, so today he’d decided to get out of his comfort zone again. After all, he was older now. He needed to see all there was to see and gain even more experience with his Magic.

Oh, and look! A baby! I mean, it was bigger than he was, sorta kinda, but Tuck could tell by the way its eyes took in everything around it, and in the way it touched its gem, that it was seeing the world for the first time. Or, you know, he could be totally wrong, too. Only one way to find out! Tuck ran-hopped clumsily over to the fennec fox, and then stared rudely at it, trying to figure out what it was, since it had such large ears. Then he shook himself out of his trance and said, “Hey. Can you understand me? Some Gemlings can’t. It’s okay. It gets easier with time.”

Words: 219 @Nkosana -- hope you don't mind if I join, I really need to get back to posting and stuff. >.<

Nkosana continued looking around until he saw someone very small approach. Then again, he himself was rather small as well. The other stared at his ears for a moment before speaking. He realized that he could understand. But...could he speak as well? That he wasn't sure of. Only one way to find out.

"Hello." That was a start, he supposed. He wasn't sure what else to say though. He thought for a moment before opening his mouth again. "Who are you?" Should he say something else? He wasn't sure. This was all new to him. Maybe...he should say who he is? He wasn't even sure who he was, though. Hesitating, he spoke again, letting the first word that came to mind come out. "Nkosana. I'm...My name is Nkosana."

@Tukluk

Tuck listened patiently while the weird fox with the giant ears started speaking. He was surprised at how quickly language came to the boy, though when he thought back to his own birth, he vaguely remembered becoming good at speaking within the first few days or so. So maybe immediate understanding of speech was normal. “Nkosana…” Tuck replied, testing the strange name on his tongue. He rather liked it, actually. It had a kind of… different sound than he was used to in terms of names. “I like that name,” he told the fox, and smiled. “I’m Tuck.” It had been so long since he’d introduced himself by his full name that half the time he forgot that his real name was Tukluk. Tuck was plain and easier to say and it was short and simple, which he liked. Maybe that was why he was so attracted to this much longer name Nkosana. He said the name aloud again, and grinned to himself.

“So,” he began, looking at the fox, “can you do any Magic? It’s easy — well, sometimes. Sometimes it can be hard, but other times it’ll do what you want it to. Just focus on your gem, that purple thing around your neck and chest, and ask it to do Magic for you in your head. If it doesn’t work the first time, try again until it does. Eventually it’ll do something. And everyone’s Magic is different, which makes it fun and interesting!”

Okay, he thought to himself, that’s enough ranting to a Gemling now. I’ve probably confused the hell out of him.

Words: 265 @Nkosana

When the little monkey said Nkosana's name, he found himself giving a small smile. When he said he own name, he nodded. "Tuck," he murmured, trying out the name for his own. It was...definitely different from his own. It was a lot more simple. Just one syllable. Seemed to come easily and natural.

When Tuck spoke some more, he blinked. Magic? He had magic? He looked down at his gem when he mentioned it before looking back at the other. He said to just focus on the gem, and then ask for the magic. It seemed weird, but there was no harm in trying, right? He closed his eyes and did as he was told, trying to draw out the magic.

At first not much happened, but then he could somehow feel a presence, something that told him there was a gembound nearby. Which, of course, he knew, as there was one right in front of him. But he could also feel others, mostly farther away. "I feel...You. And others, in this room."

@Tukluk

Shadara had secluded herself after her encounter with the python after she hatched. She had retreated to the river, but the sound of stone shattering had piqued her interest. Slinking out from between some rocks, she turned to she two small furry creatures-the first had a purple jewel collar and large ears, and the second with longer fur and a longer tail.

She approached cautiously, because if there was anything that her past experience taught her, it is that others don't give second chances. Her quiet voice chirped, "Hello? Who are you?" She shivered, anxious.

@nkosana
@tukluk

Tuck was pleased when Nkosana’s Magic worked for him, thinking back to Talion the owl, who had become very angry at him when his Magic failed, as if it had been the marmoset’s fault. Which it hadn’t It was just that Magic was very fickle and sometimes it didn’t want to work no matter how much you needed or wanted it to. Tuck had learned that very early on, especially when he’d spent those two days making the bag that was currently strapped to his back. That whole process had been an exercise in patience, and he thought he had become much more patient in general afterwards.

All pleasant thoughts went flying out his head in a few moments, though, because he saw an approaching Gembound from over by the river. His fur puffed up in alarm, making his tiny form look a bit bigger, and he wished he had a tree to climb. This creature looked very frightening. Tuck had never seen a crocodile before, and its teeth were bigger than his entire body, it looked like. Not quite as big as Baratheon’s, but then again, he’d never seen any Gembound bigger than that massive dragon. Hmm. Well, Baratheon had been humongous, but also very friendly, so maybe Tuck should give this reptile a chance to prove herself…

She spoke, and her voice was quiet. Tuck’s orange eyes flicked over to glance at the fennec fox, and then returned to the crocodile. “Uhh… I’m Tuck. Who’re you?”

Words: 248 @Nkosana @Shadara

Shadara looked at the long-furred creature. This, Tuck, seemed to be nervous. She looked down, before returning her gaze to Tuck. "My name is Shadara," she chirped, her eyes dull. She stepped back, her mouth barely open.

"There is no need to be afraid. It is I who needs to be more careful. The serpent with the black stone on his head taught me that," she said, deflated, and looked down.

This is hopeless, she thought, Who would want to be friends with such a wimp like me?

@tukluk @nkosana

Nkosana seemed proud of the fact that his spell had worked. The moment was short lasting though, as soon someone else came up. He looked at her with his head tilted. "I'm Nkosana." He didn't bother asking her what her name was, as Tuck had beaten him to it. When she responded, he gave a slgiht nod. As she continued speaking, however, he frowned. "You shouldn't have to be afraid. Why should someone like you be afraid?" he asked.

He glanced over at Tuck. He seemed rather scared of the other. She was much bigger than he, that was for sure. So why was she also scared? What had this serpent done?

@Shadara @Tukluk

"The reason I am afraid," Shadara stated, "is that I know you both hold magick. If you wished to put an end to my pitiful existence, it would allow you to quickly wipe me out." She looked away, a glimmer of orange dancing in her eyes before it dimmed out.

"I made a mistake, a complete accident, and I was not given another chance. I assume you will do the same to me," she continued, looking back at Nkosana's feet.

@tukluk @nkosana