Hungry? She didn’t really get it, but followed the large wolf-crow. She had to hop about ten times as fast as him in order to keep up with the larger creature. Luckily, Oliver was patient and waited for her when she was falling behind. She listened as he explained about the water, the bugs and the lights. She still didn’t get what they were really doing, but decided to go along with it. She didn’t have the energy to argue or pester him with questions anyway. She felt oddly indolent and sluggish, and it was worsening gradually. Her eyes were half-lidded behind her crimson mask. “I’ll try a bug?” It sounded like a question, uncertainty shining through her tone. “What do I do?” "Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver peered over, then nodded toward the river.
"I'll show you. Give me a moment." He cast about along the shore until he found a suitably-sized pebble: tiny, small enough for the little bird to take with her later, if she wished. He then focused, gently laying one taloned paw over it, peering down with pricked-up ears.

When he removed his claws, though, he found that the thing wasn't glowing at all. He sighed. "It--doesn't always work," he explained, softly. "Be right back."

He turned and quickly moved off, deeper into Polaris. He'd spent days here, working with others to create lights everywhere when the generator had gone out. Now he had to search for only a moment to find one of the little rocks that one of them had worked on prior. It was glowing a soft gold-white in the shadow of a larger boulder, and he picked it up in his teeth and hop-ran back with it. This he set before Gypsy--the cave was hardly dark, but still, it might draw some insects in.

"Wait and see if some bugs come over. If they do you have to try and grab one and eat it. If it doesn't taste good we can try seeds somewhere else but this cave hasn't got lots of plants." His tone was gently apologetic at this last. "If we have to go to the jungle room, though, I can carry you there? It's probably too far for you to safely walk in because--well. You're really small," he added, again with apology in his voice.

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

@Gypsy

@Gypsy

Gypsy barely noticed what Oliver was doing. The little avian was already quite tired from her first day of excitement. While the dog-crow went to fetch something, she was yawning languidly. She blinked in confusion when her companion came back with a small rock that was glowing a gentle gold-white colour. She wondered what it was, but then was distracted when Oliver started to speak again. It was hard to focus, but she thought she got the gist of it. Well, maybe. “I’ll try.” It couldn’t be too hard, right? She simply had to reach out and grab something… whatever that was. She waited, almost on the verge of falling asleep. There was a buzzing noise that was growing louder though, and she forcefully opened her eyes to see what it was. Something was flying around the glowing stone. It was too fast for her to see it properly, but she realised this must have been what Oliver was talking about. Her wings flailing everywhere in a messy manner, she leaped to attack the insect, and catch it in her beak. Perhaps it was pure luck, or maybe she was a natural… The insect flew smack-bang into her mouth as if it wanted to go in. As soon as that happened, it was instinctive. She closed her beak and swallowed the thing whole. Her sleepy eyes flew open. “Whoah! Yuuuum!” It was not enough to completely satiate her, but she felt more vitalised. Besides, another problem was really starting to nag at her and she looked at the water longingly. Her throat felt dry and she suddenly had the urge to dip her face and beak in. “I think I’m…” She frowned, unable to find the word for it. She hopped closer to the water and pointed to it with a dainty wing. "Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver watched, smiling a little as the bird proved to be an insect-eater after all. He was pleased that she now likely would be able to feed herself--and then peered as she gestured to the water.

"...Hmm. Thirsty? Hold on." He reached his own far larger wing down, so the feathers brushed and dipped into the river, leaning over to reach the surface. Then, carefully, he pulled back--sliding a little on the stone and nearly going in face-first. He caught himself and turned, dribbling the water into a tiny puddle behind the glowing stone.

"Try drinking that? Like--put some in your mouth and then tilt your head back and don't breathe it in, just--swallow it. It might help. And you kinda look like you need sleep, too," he added, eyeing her over.

"Sleep's for when you feel tired. Like-... you can't keep your eyes open anymore and you keep yawning and just want to lay down? But do it somewhere safe and hidden 'cause when you're asleep you're just dreaming for awhile until you wake back up." He hesitated, then shrugged; he wasn't sure he was explaining it all that well, but he also wasn't sure how to do it any better.

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

@Gypsy

Following Oliver’s instructions, she folded her legs beneath her next to the tiny puddle he had kindly created. She dug her beak into the cool liquid and tried to do as Oliver instructed. Tilting her head, she attempted to swallow without breathing. The little avian was all tense, wanting to get it right. “Argh!” The tiny bird spluttered and choked on the water. She must have accidentally breathed some in. Reflexes kicked in and she coughed with eyes tightly scrunched shut, the forceful exhales ringing painfully from her little chest. "Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

Oliver leaned forward, immediately and deeply worried.

"Oh, oof--that always hurts--are you okay? Are you all right?" He hesitated; there wasn't much he could do for her but it worried him to see someone choking like that.

"Just-... Get it all out and--you'll be okay--it happens sometimes. Just breathe, okay? Take a few breaths, relax--... Try again when you're ready it--it takes some getting used to."

With this quiet encouragement given he settled down, waiting with furrowed brow to see if Gypsy would be all right.


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

@Gypsy

The tiny bird spluttered some more, as Oliver fussed over her worriedly. She tried to focus on his soothing voice and took a few breaths, relaxing as much as she could. Sure enough, with his quiet encouragement, she settled down and stopped choking. Her body fell back with wings spread, completely spent as exhaustion overtook her. “I’m tired,” she croaked out. Her eyes were barely open behind her ruby mask. “Wanna shleeep… Can I, here?” Even while asking, she appeared to be already falling asleep, lying there in the open. "Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

@Oliver

For a moment, Oliver feared that the tiny, possibly fragile, near-ethereal bird might be dying. She'd collapsed, after speaking, wings splayed.

He blinked at her question, relieved, and moved to gently nudge her wings back into place; he lay close, ensuring she had some measure of protection and warmth.

"Sure. When you wake up you could... head out on your own, or I can show you other places, if you want. I'll watch you tonight at least, though. So you don't get eaten or something," he added. His tone was kind, though he was oblivious to how his words might frighten a young one--then again, she hardly seemed to have the energy left to fear.

Oliver lay his long, narrow head onto his taloned paws, quiet, to give Gypsy peace enough to rest. She certainly seemed to need it.
{Table code credit to Madison, altered a bit!}

((ooc - Skar we can wrap it up and if you want to say Oliver takes her elsewhere, pop a thread & tag me, otherwise ty for the thread! //exit Oliver))

@Gypsy

His words were warm and soft, almost ethereal sounding in her tired mind. Their otherwise frightening meaning was lost on Gypsy’s exhausted state. “Mmhmm ok,” she mumbled. Her wings now snugly tucked, the tiny avian felt safe where she lay. She knew Oliver would be watching out for her. She was one lucky bird, to have met someone as patient and kind as the hybrid. The world was a sweet, sweet place. Two eyes behind the ruby mask finally gave way to slumber as Gypsy fell into a much needed, deep sleep. "Gypsy speaks" 'Gypsy thinks'

OOC: @Oliver sounds good! I’ll let you know about another possible Gypsy/ Oliver thread :D Thanks also for the fun!
//exit Gypsy