Valeria's chrysalis was so small one might mistake it for a large, red pebble. It was quite fortunate that Alnitak's followers did not find it. Its garnet walls cradled a fragile life, and disturbing it might have ended her, but now, she was ready to come out. The bubbling flow of Pisces sang a soothing lullaby to the gemling. It enticed her to stay, but as her body pressed against the walls, she found staying to be difficult.

Stretch your wings little one. It's time to live.

A crack erupted from the garnet chrysalis. Tendrils of slime clung to the fissured sides as a pale, webbed wing pushed through. It peeled way like the shell of an egg, and from the oozing afterbirth, a tiny, hairless form huddled. As she drew her first breath, her black eyes blinked open then cringed at the sudden onslaught of light. Blinded from the water's glare, she buried her head in her wings. Cold air penetrated her naked, wet body and the little gemling shivered. She retreated back within her chrysalis, the only place she knew was warm, but that was fading fast.

@Gabriel

Gabriel's paws clicked gently against the stony ground, the fur around its paws flicking droplets of moisture into the shallow puddles around them. A fine mist chilled its bare skin and soaked its wavy locks of fur until they clung to its neck. It'd had been wandering for quite some time, patrolling a route it'd walked a thousand times before to keep the paths etched firmly into its brain, and maybe even find a detail that they hadn't before, and study it.

Today was to be one of those days, it seemed; as its large and sensitive ears picked up a quiet crack from nearby, the dog paused, ears swiveling as they halted in its tracks. It quickly worked out the direction of the source, and didn't hesitate in seeking it out.

Gabriel soon found a tiny red chrysalis, newly cracked, a puddle of amniotic fluid at its opening. The dog knew it'd found what it had been looking for, and sat down at its opening, not quite close enough to loom at its entrance, but near enough to be seen.

"Hello, new one. Welcome to the caves," they called gently, in a voice so high and youthful that it was almost as though a child was speaking. Their tone was lightly encouraging, but otherwise monotonous.


_________________________________________________

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

tags: @Valeria
notes: here

She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to bury herself in her wings, but the cold kept coming. In between rapid shivers, and sharp hunger pangs, Valeria began to feel numb and she began to fight to stay conscious. In a way, she felt betrayed. Why did the voice in her head lie to her? It must have been a mistake, she did not feel ready, and now, she never will be.

So much for living.

It would have been her last thought, if a voice had not stirred her from darkness. Someone had greeted her and were standing outside. Willing herself to move, she untucked her wings.

Cautiously, Valeria poked her head out. Her eyes squinted at the pale figure before her. The bat's vision was blurry, but after blinking a few times, a defined shape emerged. She did not know what kind of creature, but she sensed warmth on its skin, and Valeria perked up. No! I want to live! Fighting her stiff muscles, she crawled to the stranger and began to desperately bury her shivering, naked body in its paw's fur. Almost immediately, she felt her body thaw. With trembling lips, Valeria tried to form words.

"Th-th-th-ank y-you.."

She began to sniffle as tears of joy welled up in her eyes.

@Gabriel

Gabriel was still as a little creature emerged from the broken remnants of the jewel sitting before them. A tiny bat, so small and fragile, hurried for their warmth, burying her small face and wings in the fur of their left paw.

Gabriel remained where it was, allowing the young one to revive themselves using their body warmth, however lackluster that warmth may be here. A lack of fur meant that this mist was especially biting, and they didn't usually stay in places like Pisces or Cetus for long. The little bat would be small enough to carry. Gabriel could easily take it somewhere warmer. But what was in it for Gabriel? what could the little bat provide them in return? Gabriel knew better than most that sometimes the smallest of the cave's inhabitants became the most skilled in magic.

The dog lowered their muzzle and sniffed the little bat. "No thanks are needed, child. Tell me, do you have a name?" True enough; although it had let the small one warm herself, Gabriel itself had done little more than sit still. Their tail wagged slowly, curling thoughtfully at its tip.



_________________________________________________

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

tags: @Valeria
notes: here

Valeria felt the creatures breath on her back. It was pleasantly warm, though its nose was cold like slime. She looked up the gembound who allowed her warmth and smiled meekly through her trembling. "V-V-Valeria"

The creatures body heat beckoned her towards the its back. Her snout told her more warmth was to be had. Without thinking to ask the hairless dog first, she began her acent up its leg, digging her claws in its skin, but not hard enough to cause discomfort. The further she climbed, the louder the roaring flowed under its skin. This made Valeria become increasingly aware of her hunger. Her stomach growled pitifully. Freshly hatched, and she already knew what could substain her. Valeria wanted to dig her teeth into the creatures soft skin and drink the salty-sweet, red blood that dripped out.

But how would they feel about that?

She did not even know their name. Valeria felt awful for thinking of doing such of thing. They just met after all, but she was so hungry...

At least ask first.

Valeria stopped when she came to the dog's tricep and pressed her body close to theirs, seeping up the warmth. Then she craned her head to see were its face had gone. "What's your name?" She asked it, her voice tiny and sweet.

@Gabriel

Gabriel bowed its head thoughtfully as the little bat spoke their name for presumably the first time. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Valeria," the hairless dog acknowledged politely. Its crimson gaze followed the small one’s progress up its foreleg, stock-still like the rest of its form.

It wondered, briefly, what it was that the little bat wanted from them; the small one seemed to move with purpose as they climbed, but Gabriel had passed no inkling of any plans to move. Perhaps they seeked more warmth, but Gabriel felt that its paws- or its furry, mostly-dry ankles- would be enough for that. Sustenance, perhaps? Gabriel remembered a recent encounter with another such Gembound who perceived it as a meal. But it was not offended, nor surprised. In the end, they were made of the same stuff as their prey. Presumably, only their brains set them apart- but they were all meat, after all.

Perhaps this one was too young to be influenced by the emotion-driven’s narrow-mindedness. A valuable and rare gift, indeed. What Gabriel wanted to know, if the tiny bat was to use them so, was what they could provide it in return. ”I am known as Gabriel," They answered, and then paused. "You seek nourishment, yes?"

_________________________________________________

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

tags: @Valeria
notes: here

As the creature bowed his head, Valeria blushed then shyly buried hers. Its politeness made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside, yet, somewhat embarrassed. These conflicting emotions tugged at her chest until she decided to snuff it with climbing. It announced itself as Gabriel, a name Valeria thought was elegant and matched its courteousness very well. When the bat finally pulled herself unto its back she replied with a squeak. "Nice to meet you Gabriel."

As if Gabriel had read her mind, it asked her if she was hungry. Valeria nodded eagerly, feeling the rumble in her tummy. "Oh yes, very much so!" Valeria looked up at the dog's ears. She could clearly see he veins under its pink skin and eyed them hungrily. "Gabriel," She asked. "May I have a drink?"


@Gabriel

Gabriel bowed its head mildly, ears twisting back towards the small creature which was now latched onto its back. The small dog felt her small warmth against it, and even though Gabriel itself was small, the little one's weight was almost unnoticeable. Gabriel smiled vaguely as its theory proved correct. "I thought as much," it murmured, quietly considering how it would pose its question. "Of course."

There was little way that Gabriel could refuse. Even if it turned her down, she was in a spot which Gabriel could not reach her, and there would be no use in lying down and rolling to get her off. Such an action would almost definitely crush her. "But, you will owe me a favour, after," Gabriel finally said. "It's been a long time since I've had another to aid me in my research. Will you do so? No harm will come to you."

This time, such was the truth. Gabriel did not intend to harm the little bat; they felt certain that this little one, if they remained together, could aid them in other ways; perhaps in their newest efforts towards understanding the field of magic.

_________________________________________________

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

tags: @Valeria
notes: here

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Valeria chirped. A sense of giddiness overcame her. How wonderful this Gabriel was, letting her drink, saving her life. She opened her watery mouth, revealing her fangs. It was time to feast! Valeria was just about to dig in, when Gabriel spoke up again. They offered her a proposal.

A favor for a favor.

If she drank its blood, then she would have to help them with their research. Valeria wondered what kind of research. Gabriel assured her no harm would befall her. Valeria almost did not want to think about it. She was so hungry that her head was beginning to ache. In the end, what choice did she have? Gabriel was the only blood-filled creature around, beside herself. A part of her felt forced to accept, but Gabriel had already given her so much, she figured she might as well give some back too. It was the least she could do to show her gratitude. Besides, I'm curious about their research, it could be fun.

The little, naked bat smiled and nodded her head enthusiastically. "Of course, Gabriel, of course!" She squeaked. Valeria didn't wait for Gabriel to answer. She crawled up the dog's neck and towards their ear. Using her teeth, she sliced a tiny hole in its soft flesh and began to lap up the glittering, red blood at seeped out. It tasted sweet with a lovely hint of saltiness, and warmed her belly the more she drank.

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Gabriel // OOC:

A smile came over Gabriel's hairless face as the bat accepted its proposal. They'd agreed now; Gabriel would hold that to them as a verbal contract.

"Wonderful. I look forward to seeing what we can do for the caves."

It held still as the bat clambered towards their ear, waiting patiently for the sting of tiny teeth. Where would she go? What, Gabriel wondered, would be her prime spot? Gabriel was also certain that the little bat only needed a few drops of its blood, at their size. After all, Gabriel didn't think there was a creature alive that ate hair, or skin; and they had plenty of that to harmlessly give.

The dog flinched slightly as the little bat's teeth drove in, piercing their sensitive ear easily. But after that initial sharp feeling, Gabriel quickly became used to the feeling and was still, the opposite ear slightly twitching. it worried that the motion of speech would cause the little bat to inadvertently bite deeper, or perhaps increase the bloodflow. Either way, they waited patiently as a statue for their new assistant to finish feeding.


_________________________________________________

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

tags: @Valeria
notes: here