The wraith had not yet left the comforts of home, sticking close to the Divine because its shelter warmed her — figuratively, of course. Literally, she still drew away from all sources of warmth. It was a wonder that death had not claimed her small, fragile body, considering that she also avoided food at all costs. It was not that she thought she was fat. It was not that she felt the need to be skinny or perfect. It was only that the feel of things in her mouth disturbed her. The process of eating rather abhorred her. Water was a little better, perhaps because it was her natural element, or perhaps because water was not a solid object that forced her to chew. Water glided down her throat easily, and it was cold. Still, even that was difficult considering the state of the water in Cetus, being muddy and full of twigs and plants and little floating things.

She was glad she had found she could hold her water more efficiently — not in terms of urination, but the magic she could perform that made her body’s water usage more capable. If she had her fill of water and then performed the spell, she found she could go a day or two without needing a drink again. She wondered then if there were other spells that she could use to care for her hunger as well.

@Pippy

Pippy went out further than usual; she was almost considering moving to a different den in here, while the one she has now kept her safe, the fact that something so close to her home chased her into her small lair. It trapped her for quite an efficient time, trying tenaciously to catch her and do who knows what to her and each thought that crept into Pippy's mind was scarier than the last. While it may be safe to just stay in her den, she has to get water again sometime. Still, with how much further Pippy went into Cetus the more, she felt that it may be better for her to just stay in her current den or possibly move to a different part of the caves that's not foggy. The water here really doesn't seem or smell pleasant at all and it seemed a lot colder here than her already below lukewarm den is, not to add the roots around here look utterly terrifying. But she doesn't want to turn back yet, what if some other thing tried to chase her on her way back like before? Pippy continuously looked around frantically, her nerves bristling for even the slightest sign of another life that may attack her in the fog. She has been trying to learn how to fly and clicking her wings as Zeno did once to learn things better.

Taking a small break, although the roots freaked her out and saw them up close made her whimper in fear. Maybe she should just go back... There's no way she can use this part of the cave as her home far too terrifying. Choosing to look at the murky waters and mud instead she couldn't help but notice that something seems to be amongst it, and Pippy is sure it isn't a plant. She backed away slowly, shaking.

What is it?

@Alaska

The wraith was lost in thought when one of her white ears flicked. She’d heard a tiny noise without really noticing that she’d heard it, but now it had her attention. She turned her head slowly, seeking with dark eyes the source of the tiny sound. She missed it her first few sweeps, and then finally saw the minuscule Gembound backing away from her, looking at her with abject terror in its eyes. She watched it curiously, unsure if it was a lesser creature or someone who could think beyond instinct. She didn’t bother to get up and investigate. The tiny creature was doing nothing that interested her; therefore she would leave it be and continue to drift down the paths of her strange thoughts.

She studied the roots of the Divine, still oblivious to the fact that they looked like writhing bodies with screaming faces. All she saw were roots — the roots of a beautiful old Tree that deserved respect. In a way, the Divine felt like a mother, for it had made her feel safe and protected for the few days she had been alive. Behind her, the tiny bumblebee bat was still there, but she had already forgotten its existence.

@Pippy

The young bat tried to slowly back away observing the other Gembound with care eyes, hoping it won't see him nearby. However Pippy does look behind occasionally so he can see enough to avoid falling into the depths of the murky swamps, even a big puddle could become a problem for his diminutive size. But when Pippy looked back he saw that the other Gembound is staring right at him Pippy flinched and yelped a little loudly in reaction, and Pippy stood still in place and took every bit of forbearance to not flee right away in hopes it'll just ignore him. Seconds felt like agonising hours for Pippy as the bigger continued to watch him until it just turned away from Pippy, which makes him tilt his head in confusion. Will... Will it be safe to just move past them then? No attempts to attack him or be chased back to his den and be trapped there for a bit?

It... It seems like it'll be safe, although the way he got silently stared at with those eyes in the fog made him shiver with horror, it felt like a bad omen maybe to not approach. Still, before even thinking Pippy starts crawling forward again, planning to move past them while they were distracted by those scary roots. It took a bit of time for Pippy, but eventually, he was in proximity to the other Gembound being closer displayed how much bigger they were in comparison to Pippy it's a pretty scary perspective. But Pippy stilled for a second to glance at the other to see what they appear to be without the fog blanketing their form, and then at the tree, it seems to be enamouring to them. Pippy got too distracted himself by it, forgetting that he was planning to try just crawl past them without incident.


@Alaska

The tiny creature had come closer to the wraith, who was now becoming aware of its existence again. She turned her head to look at it again, and it still seemed just as harmless and uninteresting as before. Only, this time, it stayed near her, and seemed to also be looking up at the Great Tree. Perhaps it, too, could feel the Tree’s power, its protective, motherly nature. The wraith thought about speaking to the tiny Gembound, and then decided against it, turning from it again to stare up at the Tree. Better to enjoy the Tree in silence, letting the sounds of the swamp surround the two of them — the sounds of chirping insects and other marsh creatures. This was how the wraith’s life had been for the most part since hatching, spent in silence, listening to the sounds of nature around her, and watching the Tree.

Vague flickers of thoughts brushed past her mind, wondering if she should explore places outside the Tree’s domain, but she was not sure she was ready for such an adventure. For now, she would stay here, beneath its branches, nestled beside its roots. Perhaps her new friend would stay, too, entranced by the power of the Tree.

@Pippy

When they made eye contact again, this time being so close Pippy gulped a little in slight nervousness when she was stared down by them, don't move, don't run right away it'll guarantee being chased if you do... Only do so if they start to attack or chase beforehand. She almost wants to mutter some apologies, but it turned its head back to the Tree again which made Pippy sigh in relief. Crawling around them to look at this Tree herself, if anything this Tree would've made a great den if it wasn't for how disturbing those roots look, and she's not sure about an area where the swamps seem to be worse. Not to add it'll probably be more dangerous to find water here especially since it seems many around here don't seem safe to drink for her, while drinking twigs in water may just be unpleasant for a Gembound like this one, for her size a twig may cause her to choke.

But she relaxes and looks at the Tree too, but she only looks up at it, keeping her eyes off the roots if she can but Pippy gives a few occasional glances at this new potential companion she seems to have found. On closer look, they seemed pretty cold which was concerning for Pippy who instead liked to be warm, but maybe they wish to be cold?


@Alaska

The creature beside the wraith was so small and unassuming that it was difficult for her to remember that it was there. She kept seeing movement out of the corner of her eye and turning to see what it was, only to find the tiny Gembound. She would remember it, watch it for a moment, and then turn away again, forgetting once more. Like the wraith herself, her memory was sometimes… ephemeral. If what she witnessed did not catch her interest, it would disappear from her mind in an instant. She seemed to lack some basic part of intelligence or some emotion that others had which allowed them to keep others in their minds and attempt to maintain some kind of communication with them. She was… different. Others did not interest her, unless they too were winter-bound.

Only the Tree connected the two of them, the wraith remembering each time she turned that this tiny one was entranced by the Tree as she was. She did not look at her companion for some time again, and then suddenly seemed roused as if from sleep, blinking in quick succession a few times. “Hello…” she whispered, without looking at her companion. The word, while only whispered, bounced around in the fog eerily. Finally, it dissipated into nothingness, and the wraith felt she had done enough. She had acknowledged the other’s existence. Now she was free to ignore them and do as she wished.

Feeling tired, she lay her head down on the soggy ground, breathing deeply, the warmer air in her lungs releasing from her nose in white puffs.

@Pippy

Pippy was all too aware of the massive presence right beside him, mainly since he kept on looking from the corner of his eye. He occasionally turned his head entirely when he's sure they haven't noticed him staring, trying to make out what they are thinking and feeling right now in this absolute silence of looking at this tree were they happy, sad, angry, content?

He noticed that they too were looking at him, acknowledging his minute existence for a bit in occasional moments, it made him relax a bit they don't seem to mind his company or want to bring harm to him. He huddles his wings around himself to try and warm up, he was almost tempted to scoot over next to the other Gembound to share body warmth but... It may be his fear as usual, but a dreading thought crept on Pippy's mind that if he makes unwarranted physical contact, it may cause the other Gembound to be suddenly angered. That and he thinks he'll feel colder doing that; they seemed to be colder than him and yet it doesn't seem to bother them.

The silence continues the chilliness starting to bite at his nerves now. Pippy was a little startled when he heard a voice whisper yet almost seemed to echo somewhat ominously, worried at first that someone else was here. Very brief worry as Pippy realised it was the other Gembound speaking, it was kind of them to greet him, but their voice unnerved him a little, nonetheless, though he should say his greetings too. "H-Hi.", he didn't try to strain his voice this time so who knows if they could hear it.

Oh were they done? Looking as they seem to be beginning to rest, crawling a bit closer to their face but not too close where he'd be right up to it.

@Alaska

The wraith began to drift in and out of sleep and awake, and it was here, somewhere halfway dreaming, that she got an up-close look at the tiny Gembound who had been near her for some time. She had not heard their return greeting, and she was only partly aware that they were near her face now. Her dark eyes fluttered open and she halfway studied the small fuzzy creature. They were dark in color, with dark eyes like hers (though hers would lighten over time). They had a beautiful blue-and-gold stone on their chest, and the wraith woke up a bit more in curiosity. She kept her head down, but there was now a look of complete fascination on her face as she studied the gem.

She lifted her head then and looked down at her own chest, seeing the snowflake-shaped, glacial blue gem. Both of them had stones on their chests, both some shade of blue. Her gaze returned to the small Gembound, and she tilted her head to one side, as if asking, ’What are these gems upon our chests? Do they mean something?’

@Pippy -- sorry for kind of short post

Pippy was almost a little jealous of how this Gembound can rest safely out in the open here, not to add they don't seem to mind the cold temperature here at all. Pippy was cautious in her approach until she was in a proximity that she felt was satisfactory enough, had enough distance where Pippy wasn't getting up in their personal space. Seeing the other Gembound's eyes opening caught Pippy a little off guard, rearing away just a bit as the small bat quietly muttered some apologies to them briskly for seemingly disturbing their rest. But Pippy's worries were cut short when she noticed the other Gembound was gazing at her pip-shaped Gem with wonder.

Staring up at her new companion when they lifted their head up a bit and saw their Gem, which made Pippy herself look in wonder as the shape of theirs had a very peculiar pattern, it looked lovely actually. Pippy noticed that they are looking at Pippy with something like a quizzical tilt which made her do the same in return, unsure at first what they were asking until she realised they were curious about the Gems. Did they not know? Well... She could answer, she'll have to remember what Zeno told her and being this close Pippy probably won't have to strain her voice to let the other Gembound hear it. Thinking long and hard as she tries to remember some of the things Zeno said to her with her eyes shut to try and concentrate on her memories til she believes she remembers the gist of it.

"Gems huh? Well... Gems are something that contains Magick I-I think that... uh, they are what let you use tricks- ah no, use Spells I mean." Pippy tried her best to explain some of it, but she ended up messing it up a little, but she believes she managed to tell it OK, recollecting herself after that little slip up she remembers another thing Zeno said to her about the Gems.

"Some believe the Gem itself contains the 'very essence of our beings'." Pippy rephrased almost the same of what Zeno said to her, and while she understood what they meant when they said that to Pippy she didn't know how to paraphrase it, but hopefully her explanation was helpful and convincing enough anyway.

@Alaska -- It's alright : D.