Finally, the little one had left cetus; she had wriggled free of the choking mud and haunting mist and finally was on dry land. She'd decided that she liked it better here. Although the thick and boggy waters were her birthplace, it wasn't fun navigating with no legs and plump body. Not even her slime had wanted to stay afloat! Slime which, as of right now, formed a protective layer beneath her 'foot' and had protected her from the cold cave floor.

Behind her, a pitch-black trail lead back through the tunnel and into the swamp in Cetus, and it was freezing solid just behind her.

The little thing's breaths steamed around her beaked maw which, every so often, would open up for a good look around. But she might as well have just kept it closed, as every glance seemed the same as the last. Jagged rocks, glistening with frost and jagged icicles, and a rocky ceiling that glistened with moisture. It was cold here, too; although she was too young and innocent to know, she was at the serious risk of freezing solid in her track if she wasn't careful.

She did know, however, that she didn't like the cold, so she kept wriggling on, with a similar kind of bound to a caterpillar or maggot. Hopefully it would go away soon...

Xin walked through the tunnel, having come from Polaris. He didn't really know where to go, so he was just wandering. He walked with his head low, his paws dragging across the ground. It was chilly in here. He was almost tempted to use his spell, see if he could make it a bit warmer. But he didn't bother trying. Soon he would be out of here, and into a cave that would likely be warmer.

As he walked, he noticed a trail of black. He didn't know what it was. Slowly, carefully, he poked it with a paw. It was solid. He should have known, as it was very cold. He began to follow the trail, not sure why or if he was even going in the right direction. After a very brief moment of time, he saw a small creature moving. It appeared as though that was what was making the trail.

Xin looked at the creature. What was that? It looked...absolutely horrid. He watched it. It moved along so slowly. It was dripping with a black substance, which must be where the black trail came from. It disgusted the marten, though he tried his best not to show any sign of it. He watched it for a moment longer.

Perhaps it was cold? He didn't even know if it was someone who could think or talk. He couldn't see a gem anywhere. Then again, he knew that a gem could rest inside someone. But where would it be in this...thing? He sighed. He may as well try to warm up the area with his spell. He was cold too, after all.

After some time, he noticed the area was slightly warmer. It wasn't a whole lot, and if he hadn't known that he had been trying to do that, then he probably wouldn't have even noticed. But maybe the other was more sensitive than he was?

@Equinox

Equinox kept on wriggling onwards until after some time, she finally realized that she wasn't alone. Curiosity and excitement piquing, she swung around to face them, and as she did so the chilling cold grew marginally more bearable. Being slimy, cold, and naked of fur, the little slug was indeed quite sensitive to temperature.

A small squeak emerged as she opened her beaked maw in order to stare at the newcomer, and she loved the look of the furry creature she found looking back, albeit from some distance away.

With an excited little clacking purr audible, the little one revealed itself oblivious to the disgust of those around her as she began to make her wriggling way towards the marten she faced. Vestigal claws twitching in excitement as though she were trying to reach out and give them a hug, she slid closer and closer on her slimy way. The eye hidden in the back of her throat widened, glee showing in her alien features.

@Xin

Xin narrowed his eyes at the small squeak as the creature looked at him. As she began to make his way toward him, they widened. Was she...going to touch him? He really did not want to be touched by that...thing. He shuddered at the thought. He watched with disgust that he tried to keep hidden, but was having trouble doing so, as the claws on her side began to twitch as she slowly moved closer.

He briefly wondered what the creature would feel like but soon got rid of the thought. He didn't want to know! If only he could tell the other that he didn't want...it...touching him. He didn't like the way her throat was open, showing what looked like to be an eye. He wasn't sure. She looked happy, so he figured his spell must have had a bigger effect on her than him-but he still didn't want her touching him.

@Equinox

Coming closer and closer, it was doubtless that the little slug didn't quite understand 'disgust' yet. as she squirmed and squashed her way forward, little claws wiggling, she finally got close enough to them, and reached out to snuggle the marten, little chirps forming in her throat. Slime was dripping from her chin and down the ridges on her neck and belly, and she shivered with happiness, but also with a little cold.

But she could feel warmth radiating off of this newcomer, a pleasant feeling that she couldn't help but want more of. as a result the little slug tried to press herself as close as she could to the other, squeaking excitedly. Now that she was close- uncomfortably close in fact- the young one turned her head to face them and opened her mouth to examine them with a brightly bejeweled eye. Curiosity was plainly written on her features.

@Xin

As she began to move slowly but steadily closer, Xin tried to back away. But before he really could, she had already gotten up to him. When she began to reach out, he instinctively tried to yelp. But no sound came out. As was to be expected, of course. As she finally touched him, he shuddered. The slimy texture was rather unpleasant, but she seemed...happy. Of course she did, he was probably really warm. He sighed. He thought about moving, but that seemed...rude. Then again, why did he care if he was rude? He didn't care.

Xin blinked as she looked at him with her eye. It was...very creepy, her having to open her mouth to look at him. That must be very inconvenient, too. Slowly, he began to edge a bit farther away. He didn't want to upset her, but he did need some space. Especially with that slime. He wished, not the first time, that he could speak. But he knew he couldn't. He sighed.

@Equinox

Still, the stranger said nothing, and her gaze flitting, the little slug investigated them, trying to work out what they were trying to say with no sound escaping. A tiny, questioning cheep emerged from her throat, and soon after she made a little clacking sound before finally beginning to squirm away as she felt him starting to inch the other way as well. The little one seemed to have sensed that something was... off. Although she kept on staring at them with confusion in her big eye, she was trying to work out what they were trying to say.

As she managed to put a little distance between herself and the other creature, the slimy bonds that had formed between them snapping one by one, she stopped and once again looked at them, tilting her head to one side. Reaching out, her neck seemed to stretch as she reached forward, and that seemed likely- it was unlikely the creature had many bones, if any- and gave the other one a little nudge to their nose. Her tail flicked excitedly from side to side.

Did the little slug want to play?

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Xin
notes: here

As the creature slowly began to back away, Xin relaxed. Some of the slime had still stuck to him, but at least the creature wasn't still touching him. As her neck began to stretch out, however, he tensed again. It looked so...weird! Did she have any bones? When she nudged his nose, he gave a little snort. That was a weird feeling.

He watched as what appeared to be her tail flick from side to side. He blinked before tilting his head. What was she trying to say? Did...She want him to play? Ha, right. He's done with playing. Cycles ago, he would have loved to. But now? He didn't. Of course he didn't, why would he? He absolutely doesn't want to play.

...Tail stop that. No. You don't want to play. Ignore the urges. Ignore them.

Oh goddammit.

Xin's tail had begun to flick as well, and he slowly lowered himself down. He was tired of suppressing the urges to play! He hadn't played with someone in so long. Was there anything here to play with? How would the creature play? Slowly, he nudged her. He wasn't sure what else to do. His mouth slowly opened in a grin.

@Equinox

Equinox's hide trembled like jelly, and a little croak escaped her as she saw them beginning to respond to her actions. In response, the little one bobbed and dipped her head, claws wiggling as little points seemed to ride their way down her spine in an odd texture change that she might learn to control as she grew. But for the moment, she didn't even seem to notice. She gave a high pitched little squeak that might have been akin to a baby's laugh as they nudged her, and she excitedly began to turn around and squiggle away as fast as her single foot and lack of appendages would carry her.

Tag! She wanted to play tag!

She didn't seem to have any concept of speed. Xin could have caught up within moments if he'd wanted to. But the little slug kept on squirming, so hopeful and happy to have a friend.

"Speech looks like this."
"Thoughts looks like this."

tags: @Xin
notes: here