Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Don't Cry Baby
The tawny bobcat found herself sitting on top her isolated den off in the crags of Cetus. The fog wasn’t as bad today with less of a mist than usual. If she squinted, she could almost make out the Divine crowning the rest of the swampy forest. Almost. Instead she watched a lizard scamper across the far side of the rock she rested on. It would have been easy enough to catch. For a moment Selena contemplated it. “Ehhh,” she thought, watching the creature stop and them scamper away. It would have been too much work for such little gain. Instead she stretched and gave a yawn before turning onto her other side lazily. Emerald eyes lazily blinked, shrinking to half-closed moons. Most would wonder why she would choose to have her catnap on top of the tilted rock instead of the den made underneath the stone where it rested against some trees that kept it from falling. It was cozy enough, with its floor of moss and shelter against the elements. But it was also a bit small and she often enjoyed stretching out on top of the cool stone. Also, though she didn’t want to admit it, she could more readily tell if others were approaching her home. For now, though, all seemed well. And it was great weather to simply snooze for a bit. She even tried to summon one of those strange yellow fruit things, but soon found the effort to be too much for her currently. Perhaps another time then. Speech Thoughts Tags: Notes:

High above upon one of the many spires in the area a small bat landed, unremarkable in appearance but possessing a spark of sentience behind its dark brown eyes. Zeno had been to this place before, had seen this creature before. Like him she was a solitary one, but the similarities between them appeared to end there. With an appearance unlike any lesser gembound and a stone upon her neck declaring her worth to the world she should have been by all accounts a part of the society that had formed between the speaking ones of the caves.

But still she continued to hide away. Still she kept herself carefully hidden from the others. Like the black dog this was an individual that broke the assumptions Zeno had formed about the world. The bat had taken for himself the role of an observer, a gembound to fade away into the background as life rushed by. That decision had been partially informed by his failures, however. Was it the same for this reclusive greater?

Perhaps the idea was idiotic, but the small bat had to know. He would receive no insight from his rock pretending to be as any other bat. His presence would not be welcomed, he could guess that much, but curiosity's pull was too strong for reason to overcome.

"Dweller of the fog," he projected, his core warm as the power within reached out with invisible hands, "I seek your counsel."

His mental voice was as soft and respectful as he could manage, carrying with it a reverberation as though coming from all directions in the fog at once though it never passed the ears.

"May I approach?"

Of course the answer is going to be no. Zeno chided himself mentally, immediately regretting his impulsive decision. Who was he to intrude? Still, what was done was done. He would have to follow through lest his actions cause undue anxiety. Perhaps some good would come from this yet.

---

'Know yourself'
"Before you try to influence others"
Tags: @Selena

Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Don't Cry Baby
Selena mused to herself quietly. She had left her den at one point the last cycle and met a strange creature. It wasn’t like her or the lesser gembounds, but it wasn’t dangerous either. To be fair, it was only a hatchling. Who knows how he would be once he was grown. But all in all, the encounter had been … pleasant? Was that the correct term for it? Though it also made her a bit anxious too which was definitely not fun. There were definite benefits to being by herself like this. It was safe. It was comfortable. She could simply do as she pleased. But talking to another …. The bobcat started to turn again when a strange voice sounded in her head. Immediately Selena sprung up onto her paws with a speed and elegance only a feline could achieve, fur bristling and teeth slightly bared. She swung her head along trying to pin point the direction of the voice. Ears flicked but then folded back against her skull as she found it impossible to tell where the sound had originated from. How had something sneaked up on her? Was she not being aware? Had her guard gone sloppy? She was, after all, musing without much concern. She chided herself mentally for her lack of judgement. But that was an issue for another time. For now, the concern was about this new danger. It asked if it could approach. It asked for counsel. But could it be trusted? Who was this “it” anyways. Again, emerald eyes spun the room but found nothing out of the ordinary. Her fur began to tickle as the familiar sparks of electricity formed on her back, a clear sign that she was on edge and nervous. “Who are you? Where are you? Show yourself!” the feline yowled out to the fog surrounding her. Her small bob of a tail flicked, claws clicking against the stony roof of her den. And then she waited for the first hint of a response. Speech Thoughts Tags: @Zeno Notes:

Zeno instinctively held his body close to the rocky surface of the spike as the cat below him reacted with surprise and fear. He should have known, he should have stayed quiet. He had let his self-centered musings interrupt the tranquility of another. She had looked so calm before, successfully casting aside contact with the others. Even if he had just been passing by there had been no need for him to break the moment.

"I am here." he spoke softly out loud before his fear and embarrassment could convince him to disappear into the fog once more and leave the situation behind.

His eyes scanned her pelt, noting the arcing ripples of electricity rolling through her fur. Between her size and power he would have little recourse if she decided to attack. The spire he rested on was tall but no so tall that she wouldn't be able to see him or climb to the top where his unassuming form lay.


"I am sorry." his words rose again, slightly louder than they had been before. "I am no one of any importance, just a passerby."

As those words left his mouth a sharp twinge arose in the back of his head. This was wrong, something was wrong. He spoke pure truth but something in the structure and tone of those words felt deeply off. He had meant no malice and felt no ill, but for every iteration of rolling the spoken words through his head he felt a similar emotion to witnessing the plague horse's wheezing victims.

Why?

---

'Know yourself'
"Before you try to influence others"
Tags: @Selena

Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Don't Cry Baby
More words appeared before the skiddish feline. This time, they were words she could triangulate to their source. Her head snapped up to face her foe and saw … a bat? A small one at that. It was even tinier than some of the pixie bats she had seen on a rare occasion. Emotions begin to shift from fear to perplexation. While the first voice was also soft, it was also stronger than this second one which seemed almost hesitant? Timid? This made the feline all the more confused as to it’s intentions. The sparks of electricity slowed as her fur resumed its more relaxed position. The snarl disappeared on her face though her ears still flicked back slightly as she cocked her head at the tiny mammal. Who was this creature? More importantly, why did it seek her out? What business would it have with her? Was this some form of distraction? Were there others meaning to pounce at her? Maybe someone larger hidden in the shadows waiting to attack while she was focused on the smaller one? No, she would have smelled them. Other smaller bats, maybe? A swarm of them hoping to attack her, go at her eyes or ears or … or …. She clenched her eyes shut, shaking her head. No, she must not think that way. That kind of thinking is what caused the mess she had found herself in in the first place. But it has also kept her safe these past cycles. Would she be so fortunate if she hadn’t been so weary of others? She’s heard it said that some of the talking creatures disappear, either eaten or roaming for eternity. She had no plans of being like them. But Selena knew she had to change that. These old habits had to shift. After all, was this life of hers really worth living the way she was? … The bobcat turned her head upwards once again to look over the bat. “What do you want with me?” She cried out to it. If her tail had been more than a tiny nugget, it would be shifting with her nervous energy. Instead, it gave the occasional flick. Speech Thoughts Tags: @Zeno Notes:

The small bat relaxed a bit as the countenance gembound before him shifted. He still felt embarrassed, that part hadn't changed at all, but at least it looked like there wasn't going to be a fight. Now came the difficult part; how could he articulate what had prompted him to break his silence?

"I have seen you before, many times." he finally replied after mulling it over for a few seconds, "Every time you are alone, and most of the time you are hidden in the fog."

A few more seconds of silence passed as the words just refused to come. Zeno himself stayed perfectly still as he thought, his dull brown eyes starting at a patch of ground a few feet in front of the feline. "Why is it that you avoid the others? You are large, you are strong in magic, and you have a gem to declare your worth to the world."

Zeno's gaze drifted even further away from the target of his speech, a maneuver he mentally justified as filing away the surroundings for refreshing his own knowledge of the save's layout. "There is nothing wrong with being on your own, of course." he added on quickly, "But most others I see who cloister themselves away do so for a definite reason, such as to pursue a mastery of some kind or to process something that had been troubling them. Those who don't tend to get bored eventually and just..."

Actually it was probably best not to go into those details. Even now he had a vast mental map of the hidden crags and crevices throughout the cave which contained the gems of hibernating greater ones.

---

'Know yourself'
"Before you try to influence others"
Tags:

Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Don't Cry Baby
Selena listened to the small bat’s words with caution. Initially she was on guard as he spoke. He was small, yes, but that did not mean he was not still dangerous. She was on edge, wondering what the catch was. Where was the trick? When would he reveal his real intention? After all, Selena believe that most people were dangerous in some way or fashion. That was just how the world worked … wasn’t it? But the creature continued talking. The bobcat’s ears slowly drooped and her eyes lowered. His words weren’t much different than her thoughts had been the past two cycles. But hearing it from an outside source was somehow much different and more hurtful. She too had realized that others often gathered. Did they not fear the dangers that others could bring? Was there something missing? Something she didn’t understand….? A pause lingered in the air once the bat’s words had finished. What could she reply to it? How could she reply to it? In such a short time he had made himself known and made a niche at an already cracking and shattering thread in her mind. Anxiety and depression also made her doubt his words. She was not particularly big, being small even for a bobcat. She had a gem, sure, but didn’t think anything of it. And magic? She did not know anything about that to be honest. The feline never had a mentor or friend to explain the innerworkings of magic in this realm. No one to teach her the importance of a gemstone or that her sparking fur was unusual. She just simply was. She turned from him, lying back down on the stone rather abruptly. It somehow hurt to look up at him. Somehow, she was right in that he came to bring pain but it was of a form she had not anticipated. A heavy sigh escaped her maw in response, finally breaking the awkward silence. “I don’t know. I don’t understand why the others who talk and such like I find each other. It seems so strange to me…. Do they not understand how dangerous this place can be? A world filled with predators and monsters? Don’t they fear it as well?” Her words began to rush out, intensifying as she rambled on. Her lips pulled back in a defensive snarl, a warning to the emotions swarming in her mind. In an instant she was up on her feet and once more staring at the bat. “Don’t you fear me? I could attempt to hunt you, to eat you in a single bit! Why do you approach me? Why?” she cried out with a yowl that resounded deep into the foggy cavern to be swallowed by the mists. Speech Thoughts Tags: @Zeno Notes: Looks like another part of Selena is shattering. For better or worse, we shall see.

Zeno's head tilted ever so slightly as the gemmed one spoke. Predators? Monsters? Could she not be considered one of those herself being a carnivore who hid in the mists? Most greater ones were passive though, most cared only to have a life of peace or fun or friends. There had been a group arise recently that sought that through battle, but even they could be avoided with some effort.

"You are a greater one." the small bat spoke plainly as the figure below bore her teeth at him once more. "It is a rare gemmed one who would fall to cannibalism."

Assuming, of course, that she acknowledged him as a greater one as well. He was small, he was gemless, he was invading her territory. Zeno began to back off behind the spire as some of this realization hit him.

"I mean no insult." he continued on, deep primal fear attempting to grip at his measured words. "You are everything that I cannot be. It simply seems strange that one would choose to live as I do when they are capable of so much more."

---

'Know yourself'
"Before you try to influence others"
Tags: @Selena

Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Electric Storm, Don't Cry Baby
Slowly the bobcat relaxed. Muscles untensed and snarl drifted away. Logically she knew it was not the small bat that Selena felt threatened by. It was his words. Words are a powerful weapon and this small bat was wielding it ruthlessly and carelessly. It appeared he was slowly realizing the damage he was causing and yet his words continued. And the poor bobcat, who had spent cycles upon cycles in hope of defending herself from any possible attack, laid defenseless against his onslaught. The feline sat down on the rocks. It was becoming clear that she couldn’t just ignore his words. Nor could she simply frighten them away with blind rage. It would appear that this was a storm she had to simply weather through. Her tuffed ears clung back, a clear sign of her discomfort in the situation. But she no longer appeared as threatening to the smaller creature. “You speak so highly of me without knowing me.” She spoke softly with a shake of her head. “I am nobody.” Speaking the words she had thought for so long stung deep down. It was a strange pain, both familiar and yet sudden. She bit her lips for a moment in pause before continuing. “I choose this path for sake of avoiding danger, avoiding pain. Since the day I hatched, I understood that I was small for what I was. I understood that there are always bigger creatures, stronger creatures, and pain that often follows. By avoiding others, I avoid those risks.” She turned away from the bath as thoughts swirled around in her brain. “I know very little of this world. I met a creature once when I first hatched, a great many times my size. I then met another creature who taught me a simple spell to ease the burden of my- … my decision,” Selena paused, not wanting to voice the words that had formed in her head. “I know of this cavern here and a small bit of the cave filled with lights and stone structures. I know little beyond that. And with that, I know little of the possible dangers that exist.” It was hard to tell if the bobcat was talking to the bat or to her own desires. A conversation had again and again in her head was giving auditory words. “How am I to believe that the world is as safe as you claim?” she asked, turning once more to the small mammal. “How am I to know that such gentle coaxing is not simply a trap of ignorance? You yourself avoid others as well, do you not?” Speech Thoughts Tags: @Zeno Notes:

Zeno fell fully silent as the bobcat before him replied, hanging on to every detail he could of her tone and posture. She was completely serious, she fully believed that her worth and stature were so little that avoiding others was the only option. That left him with only one rational conclusion- he was the one that was wrong.

The fact that he was gemless, the fact that he was small, by the example of the brave gemless dog and the timid gemmed cat these had no impact on worth or ability. He had suspected as much for a long time, even supported the idea in his surface thoughts to some extent, but this was the first concrete proof to counter the idea that had set itself so deep in his psyche.

The question was turned back on him, and for once he did not have an immediate answer. Silence fell between them as the small bat looked again over the feline. She was alone, but this too had been a life she had chosen, and a role that she played well. "You are correct that there are dangers, but except for the rare occasion those dangers can be talked to and reasoned with. I have seen greater gembound band together and overcome impossible odds, defeat colossal foes, and have experienced a time where a gembound restored splendor to the caves after one hundred lifetimes of hopeless darkness. I tried every single day to lift that misery, to restore the light, but in the end there was only failure. The only result the realization that it was above my station. Therefore I watch, I wander, I learn, and I carve out a silent path that one day I might be of some use to someone."

Zeno's chest hurt, emotions within banging against the mental barriers he had set up. Yes... that was the origin of his vigil. Trial and error had taught him to be as he was, and he had only assigned logic to it after the fact. There had to be more factors at play, but how could he discover them?

---

'Know yourself'
"Before you try to influence others"
Tags: @Selena