Continuing to follow the alligator, she watched as he submerged himself in the water. However, the cub preferred to stay dry on the land. She patiently waited, until his head came back up, telling her that there were edible things in the water. Layla nodded as she watched the gator go under again, waiting for his return.

Just as Layla was about to leave, Dragon came back, this time with a tasty smelling fish. It was pale and slimy, and easily seen by the cub's eyes.

"I will try to catch one of my own." The cub said after spitting out her light. She walked to the water's edge, and moved further out into the water. Her paws became unable to touch the bottom without her head going under, and the young girl's instincts kicked in. She kicked her back paws and paddled with the front until she felt comfortable.

Swimming out into deeper waters, Layla felt something brush under her paw. It felt slick. Taking a big gulp of air, the cub put her head underwater, but she could not see in the darkness. Going by feel, she stayed in one place, waiting for another fish to swim by.

And another fish came by, this one closer to the surface, swimming under her belly, getting closer to her jaws. Layla waiting half a second before putting her maw under the water, grabbing a fish, and bringing her head back above the surface. The fish thrashed, and almost slipped from her jaws, but she clamped her teeth down, impaling the fish.

The cub swam back to shore, which wasn't far away. Going to her light, Layla found Dragon again and proudly dropped her fish by her light. Two things accomplished, both shortly after hatching. Layla felt prouder of herself than she probably ever would in her entire life.

@Dragon

Dragon watched and waited as the cub trundled off into the cold waters. It occurred to him that she was young, inexperienced, and likely would never catch a fish her first time--

Oh, he thought, as Layla dropped another fish near her light. He was surprised--but pleasantly so; the faint fatherly pride he felt when "his" hatchlings made a kill flickered within him.

So did his fire, although this was for far more practical reasons.

"Move, and I will try to burn the slime away, and make them good to eat," he rumbled. He inhaled deeply, the air of the swamp filling his lungs and swelling his sides, then pouring into his guttering inner flame, feeding it, growing it. Glowing coal-light was visible in his gullet, flaring bright and brighter.

Pain, pain, agonizing pain--

Dragon pushed the agony aside as he let forth a belching torrent of fire, one which engulfed both white fish, burning away the slime and roasting them to a delightfully juicy crisp. He then stepped forward to plunge his pained maw into the swamp water, as he always did after casting flame. He'd built up a tolerance to the damage, of course, but it still had a cost.

He then took each fish, one at a time, briefly dipping them into the water to cool them, before tossing one down before the cub.

"Eat!" he urged. "Now the slime is gone, and it will not be terrible."

He watched her, curious, and spoke further as he watched her. "There are many in these caves, and they hunt, and eat, and mate, and survive. But the caves have many questions, too, and the many do not often seek answers. That, is a more important hunt," he told the little cub, wondering if she was old enough to understand.

She is wise, far beyond her cycles. I think this, "Layla," will understand this knowledge I give her.

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@Layla

Layla watched as Dragon burnt away the slime with his fire, watched as he cooled his own mouth, and their fish. Her mouth watered as she waited for her fish, but as soon as she could, Layala dug into her first meal. The meat was tender and slightly sweet, she loved the way the flesh tasted and the way the bones cracked under her teeth. The cub quickly finished her meal and decided to answer Dragon.

"Most don't seek the answers to the questions they have? They do not venture out into the world we live in, and demand answers from the caves?" Layla responded. That was preposterous! The cub sat on her pale haunches, looking down at her light, wondering why people did nothing.

"That makes no sense..."

PRIDE swelled within the alligator at the cub's words, as if she were his own child; and joy, joy that at last here was another who simply thought it ludicrous and unbelievable that others did not seek their answers.

He settled himself in the shallows of the black waters, to speak, and left her the second fish.

"Long ago," he began in his rumbling voice, "many of us began to awaken. Children of the stones: those of fur, or scale, and feather. Together we fought our enemies. And together, we secured our home."

His mind ran back, like old and rusted wheels, over thoughts and images he had not considered in many cycles. His sons--the bat, the shaggy boar; his daughter, the black crow; the hybrids they had together created, and those--like the tall cassowary, and the lizard not unlike himself--who had joined them. "We did not know who made these caves. Our father Aquarian, who lives in the deeps, told us that to discover why the Betrayer betrayed; to uncover who made us, and what threatens us... we must live a very long time. And so together, we chose to live forever."

The alligator let out a rumbling exhale.

"I sent them to ask the others in the cave. To find out why we are here; what the strange ones are who try to twist our fates. But they faded, or left; or they forgot their tasks. They wish to mate, and to eat, and then they die. They do not live forever; they do not seek the knowledge that might save us. I urge you, little one--hunt not only your food, but answers, for we rely as strongly upon these to ensure our survival."

His demeanor was very sombre, and his throat hurt--not only from the burning; this was a longer speech than he had made in many cycles.

He only hope that it left an impact on the little one.

But what does she care about? Food, and family; or answers? Will she value knowledge, and try to uncover the puzzles of the caves... Or will she be as the rest, and forget?

He watched her, and wondered, and awaited the little cub's response.

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@Layla

Layla watched as he settled into the water, leaving her more food. Layla ate quickly, not savoring this fish as she had the previous. Then the cub sat back, listening to the old gator's tale, intrigued, wanting to know more. Wanting to help the old creature know why the Betrayer betrayed, how to live long, how they were made. She wanted to know for herself, too.

"I want to know! I want to know why I exist, why you exist, why this mysterious Betrayer betrayed, I want to know it all! I want to help other Gembounds with the knowledge that I want to discover! I will find it, Dragon. I will not forget, I will not go and live like the others." Layla replied, her voice powerful and fiery. Her thirst for knowledge had been born through this mighty, ancient creature, who himself yearned for knowledge so much that he inspired her to find answers.

The cub stood and shook her coat, licked her maw. "I vow to never stop searching for the answers, to never stop helping, to always remain true to my mission."

Dragon drew himself up as he listened, and then bobbed his head in a single reptilian nod of approval.

"Good!" he bellowed. "Go, and seek, and hunt! Go, and learn. Remember: our father Aquarian is our protector... and the small creature, of wings and buzzing light, she is Nemean the Betrayer. Do not trust her! And the great dragon, he of wings and flames, he is the Destroyer, who would kill us all."

Dragon considered. What other advice could he offer the creature?

"Hunt well, and do not die, little one. Should you desire protection, you may remain with me. But I swim a great deal," he added thoughtfully. This creature did not seem the swimming type--but then again, he could always remain near shore, if she wished company.

"Otherwise, follow your fire and your light and you will not be lost!"

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@Layla

Layla listened. And she sat and thought. Should she stay, or should she go? If she stayed, she'd have protection and a mentor. If she left, however, she'd be alone. She knew how to catch fish. She knew how to walk, how to talk. She knew what to do to survive. But was she ready?

"I will go now. Thank you, Dragon, for saving me. I will return." Layla said as she stood.

The cub turned and bounded off into the darkness, excited to start her own adventure!

[exit]

Dragon slowly pushed himself back into the water, sinking as the cub bounded off, blowing bubbles absently through the marsh water.

Perhaps it would find answers, elsewhere.

Perhaps it would bring some back to him.

The important thing was, it was hatched, and it was safe. But, still... He wondered.

Perhaps I have lit another fire, tonight, more than those that cast light.

Hopefully, he had ignited the spark of curiosity in the cub--a spark that might lead her to seek true answers within the caves. Answers that, thus far, had eluded the best and the eldest among them. He could but hope.

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Exit Dragon