Pepper was stood outside her cave at the moment, arguing with her own mind and her only friend. That friend was the strange voice that whispered her name, and Pepper did not understand it was her own. The small bilby had her own little discussions among herself and at this point in life not many things were happening to her. She'd fallen in the lake one or twice but it was the small adventure Pepper longed for that drove her on. She wanted a family, and she'd really do anything to get one.

Tuck had been attempting to stay away from Eridanus for the last few days. Ever since he’d accidentally sparked a connection between himself and one very pissy kyte, he’d felt the pressure of the creature’s mind on his own. He had thought that getting physically away from the wyvern-like Gembound would lessen the connection, but no such thing had occurred, much to both of their disappointment. Since Tuck really had no idea how he’d somehow mentally connected to a Lesser Gembound, he did not know that he could use the same spell to disconnect. So they were both seemingly trapped in this situation. And sometimes when Tuck fell asleep, he would have dreams that allowed him to see and hear and smell and feel and taste whatever Garmer was currently experiencing. He would awaken dazed and confused, and it was changing his own personality. Tuck was now quicker to anger, less compassionate than he had been before, and he hated it. So he had decided to get away, to escape to some other part of the Cave for a while… to maybe pretend like his life was normal again.

And here was another, in Polaris, one who was small like he was. He smiled at her, some of his own personality coming back to him. “Hello,” he said tiredly, having not slept well the last few dimlights (nights). “What are you doing out here by yourself?”

Words: 237 @Pepper

Pepper looked up. Could this be?!....
Yes, looking at the figure, she was sure this was no joke. Stood before her was another being, small like she was but they seemed confident. Of course, Pepper had a very inexperienced social life and she was hardly ever in control of her voice. But this once it seemed to be nice to her.
'I can hardly even speak. My name is Pepper, and I want a friend. Are you real?' she grinned at the stranger and hoped they'd understand how she was trying her best to explain herself.
Perhaps, in a few moments, she might make a friend.

@Tukluk

Tuck was very amused when the little creature asked if he was real and let out a laugh. “Of course I’m real!” he replied. “What else would I be? And for someone who can hardly speak, you speak pretty well!” Hm. Perhaps his mood wasn’t as dark as he originally thought it was. Maybe all he’d needed was to talk to someone else for a while. And even though he was still rather a child himself, being around Gemlings always made him feel good. They were precious — this he knew even then at two cycles old, and they were to be protected. “Pepper,” he said, repeating her name. “I’m Tuck. And I’ll be your friend if you want!”

Words: 100+ @Pepper

Pepper gave the friend one of her rare smiles and gave a grin.
'I really better get going. I will perhaps see you again.' And she have another big smile and turned away. 'I hope I will see you again....' she said with a growl of happiness. Her first ever friend. This was unreal.
She was thinking generally of how hard friendship was and it was devastating to leave behind a friend. 'You can come with me?'
@TukLuk

Well, it seemed that meeting had been rather short-lived. It was odd to Tuck that she was already saying goodbye. But then she mentioned that he could come with her… He couldn’t tell if she was asking, ‘Will you come with me?’ or if she was just telling him that he could come with her if he wanted to. Either way… he decided against it. He didn’t know why, but he just… There was something about this Gemling that, while endearing, was a little bit odd, and off-putting for Tuck. “Not this time,” he told her, trying to sound cheerful. “I, uh… there’s something I have to do.”

He turned to leave, sent her a quick, reassuring smile, and then hopped away, feeling a little bad, but relieved all the same.

[Exit Tuck]

Words: 133