Amras Once more Amras found himself walking through the great ruins of Orion in utter darkness. Unlike his youth, however, now he walked upon two limbs with a orb of light held in his left talon to show the path forward. There was no telling how long the darkness would last this time, nor how long it had even lasted the first time. He'd grown up in the dark, knowing little of sight and less of other greater gembound that wandered the cave even now. Whether it be for a cycle or a dozen mattered not, he had enough light by his magic and enough knowledge of the cave as a whole to hunt for himself. In fact this time he might be able to use the darkness to his advantage to hone another craft he had stumbled upon long ago. To do that, however, he would need supplies. The great blue gryphon turned and ducked his head slightly as he entered one of the abandoned buildings. It was a familiar one to him, and the disused possessions of its former occupants had been there as a life line for the first soul he'd encountered on his first real journey away from home. Inside amongst the rubble were piles upon piles of leather scraps and scattered tools, most nearly destroyed by the lesser gembond that doubtlessly rustled through here in search of food or shelter. The last time he'd rummaged through here he'd found the four pouches that currently contained various baubles useful to him, and perhaps he'd find something else useful among the completed works buried under stone and dirt, but this time he was mostly after a few specific tools he vaguely remembered dumping out of the watertight box. Before starting his search Amras walked toward a desk of some kind and placed his right hand near a lantern of some kind. Its glass was mostly shattered and its oil drained, but even now it might still be able to fulfill its purpose. The spellwork was quick, almost instantaneous. Energy was gathered into the gryphon's stone, emitting a pure white light as he built the spell to its full desired intensity. The magic was then twisted and shaped until it had broken out of its default energy element and into the light element. The color shifted to light's default pale yellow, and then deeper into a fiery orange as Amras shaped the spell with aesthetics in mind. Finally the energy traveled from his stone and into the object his hand was hovering over, infusing it to shine forever with light as the spell flawlessly completed the manifestation phase. "Place is even more of a mess than I remembered it" he spoke aloud to himself, looking over the chaos inside. "Better get started looking if I'm ever going to find something to extract more talc without killing myself." Pouch 1: Black talc stones x7 (medium) Pouch 2: Charcoal dust 50 in3 Pouch 3: Quartz sphere x1 (large, soft glow) Pouch 4: Charcoal chunks x7 (medium) Take hold of the power within "And shape the fabric of reality around you" tags: @Envy notes: None

Envy
You sink your teeth into the people you depend on
Infecting everyone, you're quite the problem

Envy was curled up and sleeping restlessly in a small hole in a crumbled wall until they were udely jerked awake by the sound of claws on stone nearby. They were surprised that they seemed to be on their own except for the stranger; perhaps Aaliyah had gone off to hunt. Come to think of it, had their adopted mother been there before they had drifted off? Their memory was so clouded by sickness that they could barely remember anything, except that they'd lain awake, shuddering and whimpering, for so long. Eventually, it seemed, that they'd slept more out of sheer exhaustion than contentment. In addition, at some point whilst they slept the lights appeared to have gone out.

How long had they been gone?

They wouldn't be able to find anything like this; and without food and water, they were as good as dead. Two hours at most, and that'd be it. Envy found themselves repeating Aaliyah's optimistic words in their head, providing them some semblance of comfort. Mamma said I'd be alright. So I will be. I have to trust her. This won't last forever. Even if the others have it better, for now.

They could taste bitter bile to add to the list of discomforts, and their throat felt raw with dryness. Their stomach felt as though it might be eating itself.

With a shudder, they poked the tip of their whiskered nose out of their makeshift shelter, catching sight of a bright light bobbing by, casting back the dark and burning smudges into their sensitive eyes. Envy couldn't help but feel that familiar twinge of bitterness. It knew that when the strange, bobbing light was gone, it would be as good as blind, so on trembling legs it followed. The creature, however, was much larger than they were; one step of the stranger's was worth 20 frantic bounds of theirs, and that was before they keeled over, panting and rasping, watching hopelessly as the light bobbed off into the distance and disappeared into a building. Though the building would have been mere bounds for the likes of a wolf or large cat, barely worth the breath, Envy was small and sick, and they approached painfully slowly.

As they finally poked their head through the entryway, head drooping and tongue lolling, they saw the pleasant light inside. The small creature pushed its way through the door and contemplated how it'd get through the door. Then it heard a voice, and froze; the big creature that passed its shelter was here, and they were small and exposed.

Envy cleared out their tiny throat, puffing out their chest and trying to look big and fearless.

"H-hello, mister. Can I have that light?"

---

"Speech."
"Thoughts."


@Amras (Also @Aaliyah if you feel like it!)

Amras Amras had already begun his search as unbeknownst to him another approached. It would be simple enough to toss debris and tools around haphazardly until he found what he was looking for, but this time he wanted to take a bit more time to bring order to the chaos. It was entirely possible that one day there would be another tool he might need or reason for him to convert this dilapidated structure into an actual place to live. Brilliant blue feathers on the gryphon's wings ruffled as a small voice rang out from behind him. His movements stopped as head turned and silver eyes focused on the tiny figure that had entered the doorway. It should have bene little surprise, really. Here he was with one of the few sources of light in a newly darkened cave. He could probably be seen from halfway across the room! "Hello there young one." he replied in a soft voice as he folded his wings and dropped to a quadruped’s stance. Though he was still significantly larger than the emaciated youth at least this way he wouldn't tower as much over it like a mountain. "I would be happy to give you a light, but I don't think you can carry this one." Even in this stance his pouches were still reachable, allowing him to dig the large glowing quartz orb from the second one from his right. The sphere itself was probably about as big as the child, if not a bit bigger. As though to display his point the rolled it over toward his visitor, quick enough to reach him but not so quick as to pose an actual threat to the child. "Perhaps you can help me search for something I am looking for, and in return I will make any single item you want glow so you can have a light of your very own. How does that sound?" Pouch 1: Black talc stones x7 (medium) Pouch 2: Charcoal dust 50 in3 Pouch 3: Quartz sphere x1 (large, soft glow) Pouch 4: Charcoal chunks x7 (medium) Take hold of the power within "And shape the fabric of reality around you" tags: @Envy notes: None

Envy
You sink your teeth into the people you depend on
Infecting everyone, you're quite the problem


Envy was relieved that the gryphon seemed friendly enough, but the stranger still seemed huge. He towered over them, though they didn't know if he was larger than their adopted mother. As Envy listened to their words, they felt indigence arise in their chest. The orb the stranger carried fit neatly into one paw. One paw was small! Wasn't it?

The tiny weasel looked down at a tiny paw, filled with hope.

The stranger's paws would be a lot bigger.

The hope faded in an instant.

"B-but... I could-" they began to protest, but stopped mid-sentence and sighed. They felt close to tears but they still told themselves that they could carry the orb. "...I could roll it. I think. Y-you can carry it, can't you? Maybe I can, too. O-or maybe Mamma could help me..!"

The other's words were true, of course, but Envy would hate to leave without the light. They needed something to see in the dark. Needed it!

The little one watched as the large orb rolled their way, and nervously sidestepped to watch it roll past. They could see what the stranger meant, with the orb up close they knew that they'd never be able to carry it, or roll it anywhere that they'd need it... but instead of simply proving the gryphon's point, seeing the orb up close felt almost insulting to Envy, as though they'd just been punched in the gut. They'd never be able to roll the orb, and find food, and look for water all at once. Maybe they wouldn't even be able to roll it. they were too small and... weak. "...It's not fair," they whined instead, sinking down onto their belly with limbs splayed. "Why is everyone else so big and strong?"

They closed their eyes miserably, lower jaw trembling.

Envy opened their eyes to slits again when the stranger's soothing voice once more reached their rounded ears. At first, they perked up, raising their head, but soon let it droop again. The hunger gnawing at their belly and the burning in their throat drew all the strength from their limbs, and they imagined that they'd be no use even if they tried. "But... I'm not big and strong enough, and I'm too hungry and thirsty," they rested their chin on the ground, their eyes trembling in pent-up tears. "Do you have any food, mister?" There was a twinge of hope for a moment, which quickly faded. "...Not that it matters. It wouldn't stay down anyway!"

Envy's voice rose in pitch until it became a shrill wail.

---

"Speech."
"Thoughts."

@amras

Amras The gryphon's head tilted ever so slightly as the youth reacted not with childish excitement at the prospect of a scavenger hunt but rather with dismay. Amras hadn't dealt with young ones very frequently before, and in his inexperience he'd completely forgotten to take into account the possibility of invoking a negative reaction. Really he should have, especially after starting his last interaction with a young one by almost blowing it up in an energy explosion. He had been prepared to convince the child that it would be able to help even a large creature like him, point out that it would likely be able to explore nooks and crannies of the building he would never be able to fit into. He had been prepared to praise the child for its great help in what was really a small task and reward it with a bauble that it would be able to forever hold onto as a reminded that even it could contribute. Not now though, as much as he would have liked to have argued the point the skinny child was voicing very valid frustrations. It didn't need encouragement and praise, it needed much more basic things like food and water. Sadly he had no food, and had eaten recently enough that he hadn't even begun scouting out a new hunting spot yet. He wasn't sure what the child meant by not being able to keep it down though, did it have to do with its element? He'd heard rumor of gembound with elements pertaining to bile and disease, perhaps this child was attuned to such and was unable yet to control it? "I am afraid I do not have answers for you, young one" he replied with a great deal more solemnity. "I have no food with me, but perhaps we can do something about your thirst? You are not the first I have encountered in such a state in this area, and hopefully like the other I can provide assistance." The multi-pronged chisel tool could wait, this was a much more pressing matter. Amras scratched at the ground and made a small indention before grabbing one of the more intact-looking dried hides and placing it to line the hole. He knew they were near water, and if this failed he could always go outside and gather some manually, but something told him the kid wouldn't very much appreciate him running off. Just as before he began to build magic in his crystal, but this time rather than twisting it into light energy he let it catch hold of the unseen internal river the flowed through his limbs, through his core, and all through his body. As the magic followed the path his light turned a bright blue color, indicating that it had attained the water property. Unfortunately the spell was slightly more complicated than the light spell had been and halfway through shaping his intent the spell twisted out of his grip. Pure magical potential flowed through his veins, disrupting the natural cycle and leaving the gryphon momentarily bereft of ability to support even his own freakishly light weight. Amras stumbled for just a second before the magic dissipated on its own and his blood flow resumed its natural course. He was lightheaded but okay. "On second thought, perhaps it would be better to just walk to the stream nearby." Pouch 1: Black talc stones x7 (medium) Pouch 2: Charcoal dust 50 in3 Pouch 3: Quartz sphere x1 (large, soft glow) Pouch 4: Charcoal chunks x7 (medium) Take hold of the power within "And shape the fabric of reality around you" tags: @Envy notes: None

Envy
You sink your teeth into the people you depend on
Infecting everyone, you're quite the problem


No food? Envy felt themselves begin to tremble with disappointment as they once again bent their neck so that they were able to cover their face with their paws. Truth be told, if it was slightly less hungry and thirsty, the little one would have jumped at the opportunity to be useful, but they knew the exertion such an activity required would simply be too much for them. They'd have nothing left to find food, and so nothing left at all, and then...

They shuddered.

"You've met another? Who? Where?" the small one suddenly seemed filled with hope. Perhaps there was someone else? perhaps they had gotten over their struggles and now they were just as good as everyone else! Perhaps they could be Envy's... friend! the little weasel began to fight onto all four paws until they stood looking shakily up at the gryphon with their head craned back.

They watched, and stumbled closer, watching their actions closely in intent curiosity. What were they trying to do? were they trying to find worms? Worms would be better than nothing. But the strange scrap of leather said otherwise. They were gonna stop the worms getting out!

The little one watched and waited expectantly, creeping to the edge of the hollow and looking in.
As the stranger then spoke of a nearby stream, they felt exhaustion seeping in, their tiny limbs like lead. As terrible as they felt, they felt the pull of an instinct which found the prospect of dying simply repulsive. They were sure that death would be the more painful route. More walking? The little one lowered their gaze and sighed. "Is there an easier way?" they asked pathetically. "My legs are tired, and I think I barfed in that stream yesterday."

If they had to walk, they would. but there had to be an easier way, one that wouldn't waste precious time and energy.

---

"Speech."
"Thoughts."


@Amras ( @Aaliyah You're free to hop in now!)

Li had gone out hunting, hoping she wouldn't be gone long and could find food before Envy woke up. But once the lights turned off without a warning, she felt panic coursing through her veins. Immediately, her first thought went to Envy. Where were they? Were they where she left them? As she bounded back to that area, she could feel her heart hammering. "Please be there...Please."

When she approached the area, she sniffed around the area. "Envy? Are you there?" She didn't feel the bundle of fur, and while she could still smell the slightly toxic smell that seemed to follow the weasel, it was faint. She let out a distressed wail. How could she find it in the dark?

Looking around wildly, she soon noticed a light amongst the dark. Could it be there? It was worth a shot, at least. She quickly ran over, looking around frantically. As soon as she caught sight of the weasel, she let out a cry of joy and practically flung herself onto it, careful not to hurt them. "There you are! Don't run off like that! You should have stayed where I left you so I would know where you were," she scolded. She hasn't even had them for long, but already she felt as though it were her sole duty to protect him.

It wasn't until she looked up that she noticed the blue gryphon. "....Oh." She straightened herself, shifting her paws slightly. "Amras. I didn't...see you there." Which was, frankly, ridiculous. She managed to see someone as tiny as Envy before seeing the much larger and blue creature.

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

tags: @Amras @Envy `
notes: here

Amras It was true that the stream was quite a ways away, or at least it would have been for one in the small weasel's condition. For Amras it was only a few steps away, barely even enough distance to run and pick up enough speed to take flight. His large size, however, also meant that just as easily as he could carry his glowing orb he would be able to carry the child if they wished. Something had to be done though. He'd thought Xireidi had been a pitiable case, having unconsciously locked away his magic after it went out of control and plagued him with delusions of terror. The other dying individual he had spoken of had indicated a strong distaste for magic as well. How rare had it been that his own magic had not tortured him as a youth? If indeed this young one had a natural affinity for magic of disease and out of inexperience left it unchecked then it was no wonder it was too sickly to hold food down as it had described. It probably had a wicked bug churning in its stomach, brought into fruition by magic but allowed to run free by mismanagement of the spell. It would be like the times he had used the fire element and hadn't yet learned enough to protect himself from the heat. Lessons later, even if he offered he doubted the youth would be able to give it any solid thought. First they had to get food and water, even if it would likely only sate them for a little while. They were safe to touch, right? Even if their disease magic was out of control they were too young to summon anything too deadly, right? Amras took a step forward and held out a talon, an unspoken offering of transport should the child take it. "The first one I met in these caves was a cat, a big one. Though I'd had a lifetime of solitude at that point she had been made to endure indescribable hardship at the hands of another before breaking free into a better life. She called herself..." Before he could finish his sentence another figure came crashing through the door, tackling the child. In shock and horror the gryphon jerked his hand back and started to channel energy into his gem with such ferocity that the white light began to illuminate the entire room. That wasn't prey! That would barely be a snack for a cat of that size. That was... Recognition dawned on Amras in a second as words flew from the unexpected guest's mouth. The glow in his gem faded rapidly as he let this dispel attempt fade away before even shaping it into a proper blast shape. It was a good thing too; with the amount of energy he'd poured into it that might have caused some serious damage to the structure in addition to the would-be attacker. His expression softened as he lowered his talon to the ground again. "Li." he replied with a friendly regard, his face softening from its snap reaction as he spoke, "Taking care of a child I see? Certainly they are in good care." Of course Li would do everything in her power, he suspected, to make sure this child had better formative cycles than she had gone through. There could be no better match he imagined, though there was still the problem of the child's magic. Was she still as opposed to its use as she had been back then? What would happen if the child never learned to control their magic? This arrival was no indicator that his job was over. He still wanted to, really needed to, help out as best as he could. Pouch 1: Black talc stones x7 (medium) Pouch 2: Charcoal dust 50 in3 Pouch 3: Quartz sphere x1 (large, soft glow) Pouch 4: Charcoal chunks x7 (medium) Take hold of the power within "And shape the fabric of reality around you" tags: @Envy @ Aaliyah notes: None

Envy
You sink your teeth into the people you depend on
Infecting everyone, you're quite the problem

Envy was distracted from their focus on the large blue gryphon by the sound of a distant voice, and their head swung around as they caught a sense of familiarity. They rose up onto their haunches with paws trembling, a slight wobble even in that stance. The voice soon faded into obscurity though, and the weasel turned back towards Amras.

They saw the large one's extended paw and dropped back onto all four paws, approaching slowly, soothed by their voice. "A cat? Mamma is one-" they began to say, only to trail off and chirp loudly in shock as there were suddenly huge paws around them, Li's furry chest above them, and breath falling on their face.

They recognized the voice before they realized quite what was going on, and in the barely-lit room, their adopted mother seemed huge and terrifying. But on recognizing her voice, they began to protest almost before they realized what was going on, bitterness rising like bile in an instant.

"I didn't run!" Envy protested indignantly, a familiar bitterness rising in their chest as they once again wished that they were strong enough to fend for themselves as she was. Heck, even if they could keep pace, and follow along behind. But they couldn't. Their eyes prickled, welling up again. "I was hungry and thirsty, so I followed the light!" They showed signs of wanting to argue further, but they quickly forgot about it and instead their teary eyes lit up with hope. "Did you bring anything back, Mamma?"

They nudged and pawed at one of Aaliyah's ankles until they realized that her attention had moved onto something else. The weasel looked from one giant creature to another as it sat on reedy haunches and tried to figure out what was going on between them. They knew each other?

Again Envy felt a familiar twinge as they tugged at Aaliyah's fur, then looked back at the gryphon. "What about me?"

---

"Speech."
"Thoughts."


@Aaliyah @Amras

Li observed the gryphon, noting how much he had changed from a young, not even full grown creature to the large and strong one he was now. She herself hadn't changed much. Just more injuries. Old burns littered her back legs from the forest fire in Eridanus, and she had a few scratches that were mostly healed from her battle with Kallista soon after. She shifted her paws slightly before speaking. "You look like you're doing well."

She turned back to Envy, flicking an ear as they said they didn't run. Well, that was certainly true. They hadn't run because they couldn't run. She felt some guilt course through her. She hadn't brought anything back. She had been stalking a mouse when the lights went out, and didn't bother going after it in her rush to find the weasel.

"I can only hope they'll be in good care. I really have no idea what I'm doing. I've never...had to take care of someone before." A brief glance over herself, and she chuckled lightly. "I can barely take care of myself. I can't count how many times I've nearly died." She sighed at the end before turning to Envy as tugged at her fur. A small smile fell upon her face.

"Don't worry, I didn't forget you. It's just...been a while since I've seen Amras." She glanced at him briefly before turning back. "I'm guessing you're probably hungry. And thirsty."

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

tags: @Amras @Envy
notes: here