Hmmm, Pippy has been planning to try and decorate her home here, it's her home after all so she should try and make it pleasant to live in for herself but she has found it hard to carry whatever she discovers back to her home. Often Pippy has had to drop and leave behind anything she has brought with her when her senses report to her brain about somebody closeby and she books it back to her den or nearest hiding spot and holding onto what she found slows herself down, it was not worth risking getting it back afterwards. Pippy is going to need to attain or even if push comes to shove, make herself something which can hold objects she finds while not requiring her limbs in a sense to carry this container herself. Something which can get carried without them, such as maybe being able to transfer it on her back without holding herself back from flying or crawling, nor worry about it falling off her back either. Something which has all benefits and as little hindrances for travelling to it as possible.

Pippy was outside her den while she is deep in thought as to what she could do about this, pacing about as the tiny bat does so, and Pippy without any idea was walking further away from her den each second, and Pippy is so deep in thought she doesn't take note until much later.

Oh darn, Pippy frantically glanced around, puzzled as to where she is, and it dawned on her how far she walked, the wall where her den is quite a bit away for her tiny body. Face-palming with her wing, Pippy internally reprimands herself for letting this happen, and defeatedly sighs, she goes to crawl back over to where her den is; it may be far, but she's determined to get back right now no matter how small the wall to her grotto appears right now to her eyes due to distance.

Time went on, and the wall to her den still appeared quite far even now so when Pippy came across some fruit lying around she didn't hesitate to take a break right now as it seems this walk back will take a while. Quickly analysing her surroundings until concluding everything is all clear Pippy took a few nibbles here and there, savouring its sweet, juicy taste which made her take some extra bites from this fruit, she stopped briefly when she got a nauseous feeling for a second but it was gone quickly, and she'll get back to it very soon.

Pippy with her small size, only wanting a quick break and to wish to make as little a mess as possible with this fruit, tore mouthfuls of this sweet treat from it, root, stem, skin and all. Pippy did not have any idea how to get them off, so she chewed even those even if they weren't as pleasant as everything else on this fruit. She didn't want to waste any energy here nor too much time although this is so delicious, her mind already filled with as to how she's going to have some object which will help her carry things she'll borrow from the ground without hindering her travelling at all. Right now Pippy does not need her mind to be filled with questions as to what a small Gembound such as herself can do to remove roots and such from a fruit.

No time for such worries this small head here can only handle one right now! Pippy continued to relish more delicious tastes, but after a few more bites her gut cramped in such a painful way, it felt like someone had stabbed her abdomen with a knife and twisted it. Pippy's pain made the tiny bat drop down to the ground, clenching her small form with her wings in hopes to ease her pain but it got worse as nausea hit her stomach and throat like a crashing tide of ice-cold water which makes her let out some whimpers and was so tempted to cry; it was agonising. Her tiny form was shaking as things felt hot, when she tried to crane her head things appeared fuzzy it was hard to tell though as Pippy quickly dropped her head back down on the ground when a surge of pain hit her for daring to move any muscle. Pippy curled in on herself, wings and shoulders so tense as she formed herself into a ball from her pure agony, hoping this would ease her pain even a little. She's so scared right now, she's in such suffering and is right outside where something can find her, so her mind won't even let her relax to help her ease this pain.

She wants to go home and sleep...


@Aries

we burn the brightest

in the dark

Aries was no stranger to pain. He would preservere, push foward, and reach the light at then of the tunnel, like he had always done, but this time, he struggled to see the light. Day by day, the pain in his broken leg did not go away, and day by day, it chipped away at his hope, until he stood nothing but a frail, crumbling foundation. Aries began to doubt if the fight was even worth it anymore.

He s limped along a steady path on his way to a nearby pool. Valeria told him not to put weight on it. He couldn't bare if it he tried. His unlucky plunge down a jagged cliff left his front leg utterly useless. Slowly, he hobbled his way down, each step was a battle, but his throat was so parched.

Ir wasn't long before Aries spied a tiny, huddled mass up ahead. At first, he thought it was scrap of fur left over from someone's meal, until he got closer. It was a tiny bat. She looked to be in great pain. His ears perked forward.

"Hey, are you alright?" He prodded, giving her a concerned sniff.

For a moment, he forgot about his his own plight. He was no healer, but it looked like this poor bat was suffering.

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Pippy // OOC:

No no no no no... Why must this happen to her now; where she is out in the open? Someone could find her here and she can't get away! Not good, she needs help, but she doesn't want to burden anyone here nor is she sure she can trust anyone right now for aid what with this seeping dread her instincts are bringing to her mind from being in such a vulnerable state. No, she doesn't believe it'll be best to ask for help nor is it reasonable to stay out here, she needs to get back home right now.

Pippy defiantly tried her best to ignore her body's protests about moving any muscle as she shifted her tense shoulders up and slowly tried her best to crawl back. Pippy's agony made her sluggish in her movements like she had a limp, with each forced step Pippy's breath hitched as she tried her best not to sob, gradually failing to do so as the tiny bat got further along. Well Pippy doubts she was even making any progress at all to getting home anyways, and her breath was already short, gasping ones by now.

Wait... There's someone close! Pippy was much aware as to what small shockwave under her and something clicking solid ground in a rhythm behind her which gets louder each second means, and whoever it is they must be huge... Oh no no no.

Pippy let herself wearily fall back down, her fight and energy already befuddled as her eyes stung from her pain, she hopes whatever it is won't detect her if she stays still, ah but Pippy is not lucky is she?

Some warm air blow over her as something sniffed her, but their tone seemed, nice maybe she doesn't have to worry much?

Still...

"...I-I... don't...know...what happened...! I-I was just eating that f-fruit a-and... all of a sudden... w-while I-I w-was e-everything started to h-hurt I-I m-might b-be s-sick... Don't hurt me..." It was a challenge even to talk now even her vocal chords protested getting utilised as each made her pain worse. Pippy added on to ask them not to hurt her as while they seem nice she is merely making sure as she is aware how vulnerable she appears right now and has no idea if they will attempt to take advantage of her current state, it's a habit at this point.


@Aries

we burn the brightest

in the dark

Aries' brow furrowed with pity. This gembound was clearly in great pain and very scared. She needed help. "Hey, shhhh, shhhh," He said gently, trying to comfort her. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The little bat mentioned that she ate some bad fruit. Perhaps, it was poisonous and tearing up her insides. She could be dying. Aries did not like that thought. He did not like being so helpless, but he knew someone who could. "You're sick right? I know someone who could help, she's a bat like you!" If there was anyone who could help her, it was Valeria. If she could bring him back from the brink of death, then surely, she can flush the poison from this little bat's stomach.

Aries urgently scanned his surroundings, looking for the vampire bat. He felt worry rise in chest when he could not spot her. She must have flown far. "VALERIA!!" Aries cried out into Orion, stepping away from the little bat. "VALERIA I NEED YOU!!" His voice was carried far by the echoes, but there was no sign of Valeria.

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Pippy // OOC:

"You're...not?" this Gembound's attempts to comfort Pippy are helping her, feeling a little safe in their presence now. As much as Pippy wished to distrust every word breathed out by this larger Gembound who is towering behind her weak form some aspect to her was compelled to listen.

Poison could be one reason why this is affecting her so much, in truth most unknown to Pippy is her body is naturally not one who can eat plants. Pippy merely survived so far, with ingesting fruit because every time she did, her Magick went into auto-pilot mode and cast a Spell which helped her eat plants safely. This time it failed to work, truthfully it entirely worked against her and possibly made things turn out worse than not casting at all. Pippy is, of course, has no clue about such matters, she doesn't even have a clue she has such a Spell in her Gem's arsenal.

"Mhm..." Pippy is confident she is sick, so she answers as best as the tiny bat can without overexerting herself, even more, it's the only explanation, after all, nothing attacked her she was all by her lonesome until now. Pippy is initially reluctant to accept help from another though, which she responds to them by shaking her head a little. Even if they are possibly a bat as small as Pippy is, which was surprising how another like her may exist. Still, if this bat is perhaps a friend to this Gembound here, it does make Pippy a little more compelled to trust them if they are a trusted friend to one like Pippy herself.

She tried as best as she could to collect herself a little better to tell them perhaps how this extra help is unneeded, she does not wish to be too much of a burden right now. These thoughts died down, and her dread is creeping back up again, she risks to shift her wings and cover her ears from how loud they were, despite a surge of pain which shot through her and cause her to whimper again from both pains on her ears and her whole body. Still, a dreaded thought and recognition crept into Pippy; they are so frantic right now, calling out for this friend they are acquainted with, and got more panicked as it appeared when nobody came despite their call travelling throughout Orion. Is, this illness worse than she believed it was? What is it they have knowledge about which she lacks about her condition? All desires to reject help from this other Gembound died out as Pippy perceives this is not a time to be stubborn, if anything she's more scared now, about this illness here.

"I-I'm... G-Gonna b-be O-Ok... r-r-right...?" she had to ask them some confirmation, and hopefully some assurance as she is uncertain now.


@Aries

we burn the brightest

in the dark

"VALERIAAA!!." Aries cried out one more time, but the cavern only answered with silence. He felt his heart drop. Her very a presence was a matter of life and death. Without her, he was almost certain this tiny gembound would die. Valeria, where are you?...

The bat's stuttering words drew him back to her. Aries felt his chest tightened when he asked her if she was going to be okay. Honestly, he did not know, but she looked so scared, and Aries did not know if the truth would make it worse.

Should I lie to her?

What? Don't lie to her! What kind of hero are you?

Then what should I tell her?? Certainly not that she's possibly going to die if Valeria doesn't show up!

Aries shook the thoughts from his head. His mind brought him back when he was trapped under those tree roots, and the crazed, bloodthirsty eyes of that monster who almost tore him apart. It remembered how helpless he felt, he had never been that terrified in his life.

If you could, what would you tell little Aries?

Aries smiled warmly and limped back to the bat. He had an answer. "It's going to be alright." He told her. Aries lowered his head down her level. "I don't know if Val heard me, but, I promise, no matter what happens, it's going to be alright." He tried to hide his guilt and helplessness from her. He tried to remain calm for her sake. Aries did not know if she would live, nor did he know how to save help her. All he could do was try to provide comfort and pray Valeria would come in time. "I'm Aries, by the way." He said. She should at least know his name. "Is there anything I can do for you, anything at all?."

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Pippy // OOC:

This large Gembound kept on calling for their friend in desperation and nothing, but only an echo answered back; this silence was crushing for Pippy, hitting her as a massive metaphorical boulder dropped onto her shoulders, tensing again. Nobody answered, nobody came; right now, is there anything Pippy can do herself, to stop what supposed thing which is setting this massive Gembound into a panic?

Pippy was glad when he returned to her despite things; she does not wish to be alone right now if things are genuinely bad right now for her. Careful in avoiding more pain, Pippy tilted her head up to get a better view and gave this Gembound a sheepish smile; despite how terrified she is inward. The truth may or may not be the best idea, as much as Pippy is trying her best to be brave, such a possible devastating outcome said to her would possibly make her go into a frenzy, and do everything the tiny bat can to fight it in any way. She'll fight it most likely if uttered to her.

"I-It... i-is...?" her eyes brightened at this, alongside a hopeful smile, despite her pain still ravaging at her whole body. With reflex, she tried to shift herself a little when they went to lower themselves to her level, whether it was out some way to allow them some space or being unsure about getting so close; either way her agony didn't let her as she relented and stayed still again. While letting out another pained whine, she did crane her head back to its original position as she no longer needed to glance up now for eye contact.

"Mhm... O-OK t-then t-t-thank y-you... s-so m-much..." she needed those words, whether if they are right or not. It was nice for her ears to report to Pippy precisely what this Gembound told her, in a soothing voice too, which allowed some panic to ebb away; although some part in her mind is saying now was time to freak out, something isn't quite right. Still, a calming presence was nice to have around even if all these anxieties are threatening to bubble to the surface.

"Oh! H-Hi Aries! I-I'm Pippy!" she introduced herself to Aries in such a tone filled with a cheer, they have such a lovely name!

"M-Maybe... H-Help m-me... G-Get b-back... t-to... my home...? My d-den... is a small hole... i-in t-t-that h-huge wall... o-o-over there," she tried her best to gesture where it is, if Aries checks what's behind them, it'll be easy to find, well the wall where her den is anyway, it will be easy to find.

"W-Who k-knows... M-Maybe w-we'll f-find... y-your f-friend... o-on the way...?" she tried her best to brighten things up herself, and it gave herself some hope on matters turning out OK.

"Could you maybe do... t-that p-please?" she knows they asked if they could help somehow, but even now, she feels a little demanding to ask such a thing; though she also requested, with a 'please'. But it will be some big help if they could do this for her.


@Aries

we burn the brightest

in the dark

Aries looked behind to where he thought Pippy gestured too. There was a wall some walking distance away. her den must have been around there somewhere.

He turned back to the bat and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll help you get back, shouldn't be a problem." Slowly, Aries carefully shifted his weight as he laid down, wincing at the pain in his injured foreleg. "Can you climb on my muzzle?" He asked as he laid his head down next to her. "I can carry you."

"Listen to me."
Thoughts...

TAG: @Pippy // OOC: oof sorry about the shortness

Will he be able to do it? Quite a walkover, after all, Pippy stared expectantly but tried his best not to give Aries something like a puppy dog eyes. Pippy's aware this might be asking for too much no need to make Aries have something like a required obligation to do this, it's understandable if he wishes to reject this even if he did offer it to them.

So Pippy was pleasantly surprised when he accepted this request, well maybe more plead, without any hesitation so her eyes did widen a little with this but she did smile gratefully at him.

"T-Thank you...!" she does not have an idea if things will work out but Pippy prefers not to be outside and utterly vulnerable right now, the first problem to deal with and will make Pippy get some sense similar to being safe, secure and nothing terrible can reach nor hurt her.

Although she was hurting significantly, Pippy briefly gave Aries a concerned expression when he seemed to be in pain, trying her best to shift herself a little bit closer to him to check on whether he was OK. Agonising but it didn't stop her from trying to reach out to him to check whether he is alright or not.

"Y-You O-OK-K t-there A-Aries...?!" he doesn't seem wounded so she doesn't have a clue as to how she can help ease their pain. But this concern is the littlest bit briefly forgotten when asked whether or not she can climb up their muzzle safely without trouble, while it may hurt in doing so, Pippy believes she can manage it. Pippy dips her head only a little as her way to nod, as she mentally prepares herself and took to climbing; she dragged her body up Aries' head, her small size meant there was enough space for her to hold onto his head securely without much worry about falling. It was tempting to wrap her wings around tightly, but she believes this spot will be fine and it'll hurt far too much if she were to hold on tight this whole walk over to her home.

"O-OK I-I'm o-on, t-thank yo-you a-again!" off they go now?



@Aries

OOC: It's fine! : D