Oh geez, oh geez, oh geez Pippy has so much to do! She needs to find ways to make her new den comfier by finding materials such as dirt to grow plants so her shelter can have a little garden, she needs to find where she can find water here, maybe see Zeno as a surprise to them! But Pippy doesn't want to leave either, her den is her own personal, safe giant Gembound-free haven and doesn't need to feel scared when in it and wants to settle in it before the tiny bat does anything. Even if she has encountered ones that were just so sweet to a one small Gembound such as herself like Zeno and Equinox but with that glowing-flying-thing shows that there are some Gembound that aren't nice and wouldn't hesitate to harm her just because she just happened to be there. But Pippy just can't settle in and get comfy here when awake, it's still too dark in her new den, and it's scaring her! The dark is way too scary; it makes her want to cry again even if she knows she's not in complete nothingness now.

Pippy decides everything else can wait till later; right now she really needs to get light of some sort for this den right now and she'll brave the outside even with giant Gembound to get it. Managing to make herself get out of huddling up in the corner of her shelter, she picks herself up trying act as that previous paranoia and fear had never been there before as she looked out the exit of her den with a sparkle in her eyes alongside utterly firm resolution pushing her forth. With each slow, delicate step of her wings from some fears that is there despite her determination to do this, that fear wishes to stall this outing as much as it can, but soon Pippy was out as the tiny bat left her den that was on the side of one of Orion's walls. She did it, she did it, and look nothing happened, no glowing-flying-thing or anything! Overjoyed and relieved, some of the fear started to pass as Pippy confidence goes up a bit with some of Orion's ceiling quartz shining a little bit of light on her. Time to find something like all those quartz that'll make her den not pitch black anymore!

Her trek around took quite a bit of time with her diminutive size also means her strides when crawling are very small too so a regular stroll for a larger Gembound may as well be an expedition for Pippy, and as it should be this should be like an adventure to find some light she can take back!

It took some time, it almost like the shiny gems on the floor was snatched away if there were any, well Pippy would believe there is. After all, there are some crystals she passed by on the ground which she inspected her reflection on, moving her face back and forth as her mirror morphed and distorted, making some high pitched humming sound in childlike playfulness and excitement. It's really pretty and fun this crystal Pippy inwardly thought as she with great cheer giggled to herself, she wishes she could take it home, but it was too big for her to carry nevermind trying to make it fit inside her den.

She soon took off further until she found some crystals, some actually small enough to carry and fit inside her den! Yes! She was so excited that she dashed over to the pile of gems, not realising some other Gembound may want these shiny crystals.

@Oliver

Oliver was indeed seeking out stones--but not simply to collect them, not this time. A short distance away, a light began to move through the darkness--small, but bright, golden-white.

The lights were out, and he knew some had trouble maneuvering, like this; as a result he'd decided to help as best he could. He could make light, after all--what better way to help the cave's inhabitants than to restore light to Origin?

He hop-walked forward, his own smaller glow-rock held in one hand to light his way, making his way quite accidentally toward the dark safety of Pippy's den.

Another shiny, glassy crystal was lifted--this one larger, clinking over the ground. He sat back on his haunches, placing his own stone down and lifting this large crystal. After some focus, it flickered up and began emitting the same soft, warm glow as the others, and this he placed down to light the area.

He was unaware that anyone was nearby--and that that 'anyone' might also be looking for shinies... or for light.

When I speak.
{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Pippy

Pippy started to pick one crystal up that he could, in fact, carry himself to his little den as his comforting source of light, help make him feel a lot safer in his shelter with it which will help Pippy to settle in. During his trek back he saw even more light, that made Pippy's surroundings more bright looking, the golden look of it almost gave Pippy more of a sense of safety despite being out in the open as he moved towards it with fascinated right eyes. So pretty! He chooses to follow the lovely light's direction he needs to see what it is! Even though he is excited, his steps were cautious, as the golden shine was like a glow of sorts and while the glowing-flying-thing glowed more green instead of a lovely gold he was still wary in case it is another one of them.

Careful in his steps, but at the same time wondering what that light is over there, though to his surprise and a slight bit of terror the glow was very close to his new den. W-What or w-who is that? W-Why is it by his hole? D-Do they know he lives there? W-What will happen to his burrow or what will happen to him if whatever it notices him? So many questions in his head and many answers in his head that were less than favourable for Pippy, he chose to let go of the crystal and quickened his pace a little while trying his best to remain silent.

This is bad! Very Bad!

Peeking his head shakily when Pippy started to see some massive form around his den, they were very mysterious looking, maybe more perplexing looking than how Equinox looked, for Pippy has never really seen a bird or dog before nevermind one as a hybrid of both. But that didn't matter for one thing Pippy does know about them. Big! Huge! While Pippy might merely be the size of one of their talons, which is terrifying at the thought of it, he may as well be like an insect to them. He was about to leave and wait for them to move from his den, and Pippy will return later on, however, whoever they have also had something done something so unusual; they just made that crystal light up! The bright light looked so warm and cosy looking to be close to that it coaxed Pippy out of hiding and slowly came closer to it and them, almost like feeling scared of them didn't matter now. However it still did as he carefully approached that beautiful light with a wide-eyed sparkle, he occasionally stopped and jumped back and paused whenever it looked like they have noticed him. M-Maybe they're n-nice, maybe...

@Oliver

Oliver might have noticed the bat, were she not the size of a bumblebee. Alas, he did not; he paused, sniffing over the light-rocks. Most of them were three or four times the size of the bat, at least--many a great deal larger; he was trying to provide light to the caves, and tiny rocks were not really good for that.

He moved on a few paces, sniffing here and there, lifting his own glow-stone to light his way once more.

That one will do! He was oblivious, as he made his way to a small boulder, to the teensy bat hobbling along behind him, and he hummed a single note to himself, very briefly, in thought as he circled this rock.

It was a big one. Could he even bauble this one?

He settled himself carefully by the boulder, taking a breath and focusing again.

Bring them light; bring them all light, so they can see--

The boulder flared up brightly, its warm golden-white glow immediate and intense, lighting an area for some distance around it. Oliver grinned, as best a dog-crow could, mouth open wide and the corners of his mouth upturned.

"Yes!" he said excitedly. He'd done it! This was GREAT light! It'd surely help lots of people!

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Pippy

O-Oh they still haven't been seen Pippy yet, unsure whether she should bother them and so just silently watched as they inspected more rocks that were way too big to fit inside her den, and they were like boulders to her she would quickly get squashed underneath it if she tried to carry it back. The image of possibly getting crushed by one of those rocks made Pippy shudder and give a small whimper for a brief moment until she managed to shake that image out of her head. Besides if it can't fit in her den, it won't help to try and carry it back and while she could just leave it outside of her shelter beside the entrance however that hole is a little like a secret hideout too in Pippy's imagination, and the rock may attract attention.

When this massive Gembound moved on deciding not to light these rocks, she slowly follows from behind, keeping a fair bit of distance as she tails them but not enough to possibly lose them until coming to a stop when reaching a huge rock that it was almost intimidating. Was the big one really going to light it up? Looks to be the case as they inspected the whole entirety of it whilst having a quick cheerful sounding hum, which Pippy couldn't help to hum along with them even if it was perhaps only for a second.

Pippy silently paid full attention to that rock they chose with such curiosity, eyes fully alert and watchful as they seem to decide on this big rock. She needs to see this; she needs to see this Gembound make that rock light up it was so pretty earlier, she must see it.

Pippy quietly gasped with such immense awe when the massive boulder started to radiate a bright golden colour by this Gembound just like it might be a sun, with this more light the scary darkness began to vanish more, and the other Gembound form came more visible.

It looked so warm... S-She needs to touch the rock. Slowly she started hobbling towards the boulder that has such an alluring light she needed to feel it; it was like she was a fish getting lured by the light of an anglerfish. Eventually, she was right by the shining boulder and most likely in plain sight of the other Gembound as she reached to touch the rock for a few seconds. With that, she soon realised that she's hidden from them no more, as the tiny bat very reluctantly and slowly moved her head to look up and see the other Gembound who was towering over her diminutive form even though it might have seen her earlier and she never realised. She jumped back with a yelp and covered her head and face with her wings whilst whimpering and shaking the light of the boulder no longer giving her such a warm-fuzzy feeling. P-Please doesn't hurt her...


@Oliver

Oliver, at first, still didn't notice the little one. She was simply too small, and even in the light of his Bauble-stones, the room was still dark. He turned, and only when she was crawling through the light did he see--and even then, at first he thought she must be a little mouse, incapable of speech.

Luckily, he wasn't hungry just then; and when he wasn't hungry he did hate eating other animals in the caves. He instead peered down, feather-tufted ears pricking up, and leaned down quite far so as to sniff at the thing. It was tiny, and seemed to be--cowering? Why wasn't it running away?

Oliver spoke, gently, though he knew full well that the little mice of the caves couldn't understand, nor speak back.

"It's okay, I'm not going to eat you," he said softly.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Pippy

Pippy tensed up entirely over being spotted, oh no, he should flee he really should, why wasn't he escaping? His fear won't let him; it has paralysed him, why does his fear do this to him make him panicky about his safety then won't let him flee the moment he may be in a perilous situation?

He could hear them sniffing at him; he could feel their warm breath on his coat which made him tense and curls up into a cocoon of faux safety, he refuses to look up. If he does look up, Pippy'll most likely see their large face right up his tiny face and will give him a reminder just how puny he is in comparison to other Gembound.

He initially attempted to block his hearing out when he heard them speak, not wanting to listen to what they're going to say that may indicate what they may plan to do with him. However from how soft and gentle it sounded he unblocked his hearing and heard what they said. R-Really they're not? M-Maybe they're another kind and good Gembound? But still, even if they don't wish to eat him there are other things he scared they may try to do to him.

"Y-You're n-not? N-Not g-going to c-catch or s-squish m-me either...?" He managed to squeak meekly still not looking up. He had to ask to be sure, after all, there are many ways a larger Gembound could hurt him.

@Oliver

Oliver blinked in utter surprise as the tiny creature actually spoke. In his startlement, he blurted what might, to Pippy, seem a silly thought:

"You can speak?!" Then, horrified at the idea that he might kill and eat a sentient creature, he hastened to reassure what he still thought was a mouse. "No! No, of course I won't eat you! Or--that other stuff!"

He leaned down close, careful to give the tiny creature some distance so as not to terrify them. Still, in the light of his boulder, he took a minute to inspect them, blinking curiously.

"You have wings, too? I didn't know mice could have wings! What's your name? Can you fly?"

He sniffed at Pippy a little, but again without drawing too close. He knew instinctively that if he were that tiny, he'd be terrified of something so large as him!

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Pippy

It was a silly question to be asked of sorts although, from how sudden and loud that question made Pippy flinch with a whimper, ow, that hurt her ears. Although regarding her being able to speak Pippy herself doesn't talk much so perhaps it wasn't a silly question after all. Still, it made her finally stop hiding her whole head with her wings and open one of her eyes to a slit, not entirely ready to look at them thoroughly although she did looked puzzled.

"Y-Yes?" She strained her little voice a bit there to let the other hear her; maybe they couldn't listen to her the first time. Pippy flinched again from how loud they were for her, making her ears hurt once again still she heard what they said, and she felt so relieved from their reassurance that they don't wish to bring her any harm of any sorts. So she opened her eyes fully, still not fully trusting them though, so she has a mixture of pleading and unease in her eyes.

She was surprised that they weren't as close up to her as Pippy herself believed, believing all she would see in front of her would be a nose the moment she opened her eyes. They have a fair bit of distance to her, but she couldn't make eye contact with them as they stared down at her appearing to be examining her which made her squirm a little.

She was glad the silence was eventually gone as they asked so many questions to her, some that confused her. The problem whether she could fly made her eyes downcast shyly from how she has yet to genuinely fly herself. A few seconds she tries to look at them and answer everything she can but first.

"W-What's a 'mice'? I-I'm a b-bat," she asked with a quizzical tilt, she is right? A bat? She believes so anyway. "I-I'm Pippy and no... I don't know if I can fly yet." She has never really tried to fly yet. With them sniffing at her again, she took the risk to perhaps sniffing them too that'd be OK with them, right?


@Oliver

Oliver didn't mind being sniffed in return; he smelled of dog, and feathers, and he pricked his tufted ears again as he peered down at the tiny thing.

"Oh!" he said, softly. "I thought you were a mouse, I'm sorry. A--mice are what you call many mouse. Mouses. Mice. Err. One mouse, many mice, is --how to say it," he explained, stumbling over his own words. "They are small, like you, and they run around in the caves, but they don't have wings, I think. So a mouse with--wings, is a bat?"

He sat back, lifting one hind leg up under his wing-arm to scratch, doglike, behind one ear. He then peered back down.

"Did you--need something? I didn't even see you at first, I didn't hurt you somehow, did I?"

The bat had not answered--not that Oliver noticed, at least--what its name was. He wasn't sure what to call it, but maybe "bat" was right? He hoped he hadn't hurt it.

{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

@Pippy