Pollux awoke once again in the dense ferns that rested between the ribs of a mighty monster. Well, a mighty monster to some, but to her it was home. The skin on her young body found it easy to blend into leafy green surroundings. Her skin seemed to have a mind of it's own for the pup couldn't control it quite yet. As of now her skin mimicked the dense green moss that was abundant in the trench, texture and all.

At this moment, Pollux was happily plodding around the trench. In her wake a trail of drool dotted the ground. Her grey nose was low to the ground, on the hunt for something to eat. Maintaining her camouflage took a lot of energy and bugs seem to do the trick. They were also much easier for her to eat seeing she only has a few teeth.

Pollux continued to snort around, oblivious to the sound of someone or something approaching.

@zeke

Zeke was growing fast in a short span of time, what seemed a lil like a few feathers on his sides initially are now more taking a form reminiscent to small wings, small pink horns between his ears have grown too. As if it wasn't possible enough his coat got thicker also as he got older, same for his scales in a sense they are hardening a little now. But most prominent since he is 'growing' means his general size has enlarged, he was now approximate to one and a half metres in height, not even a cycle has passed, and Zeke is already growing at a fast rate, strongly foreshadowing how huge he'll be in all due time.

Zeke has caught on quickly from how further away from land is from his head is how much bigger he is getting. This slacker, with having lotsa time on his claws so he has been able to observe a new change in himself, and he kinda wanted to test things out by making some effort to walk around. This change is a lil disorientating and kinda messes up with his balance a bit so maybes he should try and get used to this even if he does not exercise much.

While he was walking about his nose sorta caught a scent which smelt kinda neato, a petrichor smell, a scent which can help relax his mind from how soothing it is. Next thing Zeke follows wherever this smell is during his practice which besides some hiccups he has managed to maintain graceful movements on his way, even if it was so tiring, especially since this scent is making him drowsy and all.

What Zeke was expecting to find was a small object or something causing this sweet scent, what he discovered as he went on was this new place different from every other room. Kinda makes Zeke question things, how does this place's climate even work? One Tunnel not too far from here covered in snow while another has a buncha crumpling buildings. All utterly different, like different worlds yet, they are all so close to each other and, yet so isolated from each other too with their differences, yet their properties don't invade and spread around other rooms, they remain right in their confined spaces, never interacting with the others.

Ah whatevs, this will work out nicely, this place is a sweet spot for naps if this smell is always here. But first maybes take a lil inspection before snoozing, as with how arbitrarily different this place is despite these confusing things have got Zeke curious, he wants to check it out, and this large fissure ahead is a sweet place, to go to first.

He took things slow in case something terrible happens if he goes fast, such as a hiccup with his balance again which will not be fun to deal with. Still with now much bigger he his and pudginess means each step is causing some slight bit of a shockwave to the ground, minor it'll only be detected if one wasn't overly preoccupied or alert maybes. Delicately Zeke checked this trench out, which was covered in more greens, he dunno why but he had a different idea what was gonna be in this trench, something which may explain why this room was so distinct from everything else, but aside from how different it is in comparison to everything else things seem pretty standard really.

Still, with all those ferns there this trench looks like it would be a very cosy spot to nap in either way but he'll nap later. Contentedly he sat down for a bit, flaring his nostrils to take in this nice scent as he watched these ferns waved around; was nice and relaxing here maybes he'll observe these ferns for a bit and check other spots out.

Heyyyy wait, there's something else there. Zeke squints his eyes and puts a paw a bit above his eyes to see better, and for sure there was someone there, blended in pretty well but with now it's moving about it was like a lump of moving moss or a mole which was tunnelling underground.

Were they OK maybes? Are they trapped? Do they need a lil help?

"Heyaa I see you, you kay down there? Are ya stuck or something?" he called out to them, he hopes they're OK if not he'll help them outta there, no questions about it.


@Pollux

The little winged ball of moss was now preoccupied with a rock. One bird-like foot propped up the rock while her nose turned up the dirt underneath in hopes that some creepy crawlies would come out. With her sniffer stuck in the dirt and her ears filled with the sound of her rumbling belly, she failed to detect the visitor by scent or sound. It wasn't until the ground seemed to rumble gently under her feet that her head shot up.

Pollux slowly turned around to see what could have caused such a commotion. What she saw struck fear into her very core. Not too far away sat an absolutely gigantic beast. Being merely the size of a wolf pup, this thing was the biggest of the big. Her blue eyes widened and her dirt covered nostrils flared. This... this... monster was terrifying!!

Atop it's head sat two large horns and they were pink. Surely they were stained that color by the blood of it's enemies. It's fur was blue and thick. Oh my, surely meant for smothering it's prey. And it's claws, oh it's claws! They were so long and sharp looking. No doubt they were used for ripping apart innocent little creatures!

Pollux started to hyperventilate. This is it. She thought frantically, No more than a few days into this life and soon I shall be no more! But wait! Maybe this creature had not yet spotted her! Maybe she could still get away! It seemed to be looking in the other-

A low and rumbling voice filled the pups ears, freezing her in her tracks. The words that came from it's mouth were muted by the size of it's teeth. The skin on her body flashed with an array of vivid colors as an instinctual defense mechanism. Of course, while her skin did its thing, Pollux did her thing.

The small gemling attempted to take off, at first running in place before taking off. Of course, this frantic action ended up running her right into the rock she had just flipped over moments before. A plume of feathers burst into the air as Pollux toppled sideways then rolled on to her back, her legs peddling in the air as she attempted to right herself. When she finally did, she found herself too exhausted to move.

It turns out that while her skin wanted to flash pretty colors, it also sucked away her energy. Her skin slowly turned back to a mossy texture and color as she hunkered down to the ground. Please don't eat me, please don't eat me, please don't eat me The thought played over and over in her head as she began to realize how great it would be to actually have a voice.

@Zeke

...Whoops, he might've startled them there seeing from how they're staring up at him maybes he should apologise for sneaking up on them by accident even if it was cuz he was worried on whether they are safe or not down this trench.

But still when they were now breathing heavily after seeing Zeke like they were sick or something did make his eyes widen with surprise and even more concern for them than before. Are they OK?

For a moment Zeke was unsure what was wrong, besides possibly about being stuck, but it quickly dawned they were terrified, terrified of Zeke himself. They're utterly scared because of him, and Zeke couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, his eyes softened a lil with a tinge of sadness from how guilty he is as he gave them a gentle smile, not a toothy grin though, well, except for his two snaggleteeth; wish he could do something about those. He felt compelled to approach a bit more but he dunno if it'll be the best course of action.

"Hey, hey, hey wait...! Hold up buddy...!" by reflex he kinda tried to reach out to them with a paw when they booked it to run. Zeke was about to try and get them to calm down with talking from afar, but the poor kid ended up crashing into something which made Zeke flinch by closing his eyes shut tight briefly before slowly opening them again with his ears slowly drooping as he looked on with concern. Worried if they were severely hurt causes his body to shoot up, standing, and carefully he got closer to them to check and see if they weren't injured, he does question why they are flashing so many colours though.

"Hey hey... You OK little buddy? Do you need any help...?" he quietly whispered as he looked down from where they lay, face brimming with concern and worry. When Zeke got close enough, that he's above them, he lowered himself down to lay down at a closer height to this small Gembound, so the massive beast wasn't towering over them as much, he also shifted a lil bit back, so their vision wasn't covered with his whole face unexpectedly above them.




@Pollux

Pollux still had her face pressed to the dirt, her blue eyes peering out from her mossy skin. Her nostrils contracted and expanded rapidly and her eyes moved quickly, following each movement the monster made. They were getting closer now, much closer. She scooted backwards until her butt hit one of the ribs that was pressed into the dirt wall. Her long tail curled around it where it could, holding her firmly in place. They kept getting closer and closer until they were right in front of the pup. A breathy whine escaped from her closed mouth and she squeezed her eyes shut. He was going to eat her.

It was only when her eyes were closed that her ears focused on the words that came from them. The monster sounded... nice? It had been lowered to a whisper. Pollux opened one pale blue eye. Her heart still threatened to beat out of her chest, but what she saw started to change that. This big creature was now on her level, his eyes seemed... inviting? She opened the other eye and lifted her head just a little.

Is this a trick? Surely if he wanted to he would have eaten her already. Do I need help? As if on queue the pups stomach rumbled. The sound made her jump a little. Pollux blinked, glancing down then back up the creature. She still didn't trust him, but he hadn't eaten her yet so that was a good sign. The pup fluffed her wings and slowly moved into sitting position. An quiet groan escaped her. All that fear really did take so much out of her, but the little bit of fear still in her body maintained her camouflage.

If this... thing wanted to truly help her, maybe he would help her find food. Pollux stared at him intensely, than opened and closed her mouth, mimicking a chewing a motion. The action sent quite a bit of drool flying. Hungry, I'm hungry. She willed the thought to be translated.

@zeke

"Hey, hey, easy there... it's okay bud... there's no need for you to scoot back so much... or cry or anything like that. No one is gonna hurt you k...?" he made sure to keep his voice quiet, will help to make his tone as soft and gentle as it can as Zeke tried his best to console them. Zeke was tempted to reach out and pat them, hold them, something comforting like those but he'd prefer not push his limits nor overwhelm them by accident again.

They were so terrified of him; it made Zeke feel so terrible on how much distress he is causing them and caused them to hurt themselves indirectly. Zeke lowers himself even more in shame and trying to make himself look as small as he possibly could to appear less intimidating to them, so much, so his belly was pressing against the ground more than physically possible.

When they seem to calm down only a lil, Zeke while still feeling bad, gave them a such a genuinely warm smile at them while closing his eyes, he risked to move a lil bit closer, if they don't like this, Zeke has no problem to shift back where he was before.

He allowed some silence to go on, though he didn't stare down at them, massive or not someone quietly staring down at another, sounds kinda off-putting and overwhelming. Zeke for sure wouldn't like it, so he kinda lowered his head to get his level as low as he possibly can now, with how they seem kinda OK with him being a lil bit close so it may help. Not wanting to make his neck sore though he folds his front legs in a comfortable position keeping his warm smile up, making sure there is still a lil bit distance so this action doesn't startle them and leans his head against his folded legs, was kinda comfy. Zeke was only patiently waiting for an answer; he won't ask again right away, they'll need to collect their thoughts, so he got deep in thinking for a sec. Though a small grumbling sound soon caused him to snap back into reality, Zeke's eyes quickly fixating on this little fellow before giving an amused look with a tilt.

Now he won't go off to find food right away, after all, they may need help with something else too before going off to locate some, so he'll check what they want before he wanders off anywhere.

When they made motions with their mouth Zeke was initially puzzled by this; not much of a talker are they? They can talk right...? Huh, maybes not, well, either way, he believes seeing how from the sound he is very much aware they are hungry, so this must mean they do want help with finding some food.

"Ya want some food do ya? K sit tight bud I'll be back to grab you some, just uh maybe yell out or something if there's uh trouble, won't be long though. Is that cool with you buddy?" Zeke hasn't left quite yet, not wanting to move away from their side till they showed signs indicating they understood and agreed with this plan here.

"I'll be right back K buddy?" he repeated this, so they understand how Zeke is waiting for their approval to go off and find food first.



@Pollux

After her vague chewing motion, Pollux sat still. It seemed to take the big gembound a moment to understand what she meant. She chomped one more time, a little rush of air escaped her. It looked more like she was trying to bark silently than take a bite out of her imaginary food. As if she wasn't drooling enough, the thought of biting into some food made her drool even more.

Plop... plop... plop

It had started to make a little puddle by the time they seemed to understand. Oh yes please! I am so hungry! She nodded quickly, her over sized ears flapping twice against the top of her head. This monster seemed less and less like a monster now. The pup was still unsure if she could trust them, but so far so good. This monster had a very good plan, although... Well... I can't yell so hopefully there is no trouble...

Maybe if this fluffy gembound was genuinely concerned if she would run in to trouble, he couldn't really be that bad. Maybe his horns were just pink and his fur was just... fluffy. Pollux thought on it some more. It would make sense! She was hatched without any fur so hatching with a bunch of fur was very very possible. Still... would it be smart to trust him?

Oh well. Pollux was quite good at hiding. Surely if there was trouble she could just hide. She scrunched her nose up and gave another bark. Well, a silent bark. Really she just blew air in his general direction. A signal that she would be fine.

@zeke

"Heh OK bud I get ya, it's some food ya want," their mouth drooling like so kinda came as an additional sign to Zeke it is what they want. Though he's gotta admit it's kinda worrying how they seem to be sorta weak physically, which gets Zeke desperate to go off and get food for them right now to maybes help them get some strength in their body. He was kinda scared to touch them with his claws even if he tried to be as gentle as possible, they seem so fragile right now, like ancient parchment who could disintegrate into many tiny fragments if Zeke dared to touch them, even if he did so as delicately as possible, their matchstick legs especially so.

Still, Zeke despite his immense concern gave them a fond smile as he chuckled a lil when he watched them nod at him excitedly. Heh, seems like he got a correct answer there; neato~.

Zeke is hoping no trouble will come, most likely none will happen while he is gone off to find food as Zeke believes it'll only be for a few mins so not long at all. Still, things may not get pretty if he does return to find trouble did come to them while he was away if it's a getting attacked problem thing anyway.

Yeah though, nothing to afraid about here with Zeke, this smaller Gembound may find this fluffy fur for one is great if you a hug from this big guy, or to use as a bed. The only thing they may have to be worried about is if Zeke hugs a lil too tight, but even this concern might be unneeded with how scared he is to even touch them from how frail they seem to appear to this dragon.

Zeke watched them with attentive eyes to scout their answer on whether they want him to do this or would prefer if he didn't leave their side, at first it seemed like they were maybes gonna utter some words or something; what came was some delicate air breathed out which gingerly blew at his fur a lil.

Well they tried, it's good enough, he's kinda already figured they might not be able to speak.

At their little okay how they were fine with him leaving them for a few minutes, Zeke soon gives them a nod. "Hmm alright buddy, I'll see what I can getcha," he spoke as he went to go carefully stand up, groaning a lil as he does from picking his heavy body up from laying down, trying not to scare them. Going off to climb out this trench to find some trees which kept many edible fruits, while as massive as this dragon is, Zeke has no experience at all in being a hunter nor does to plan to, seems like unneeded effort when there were other options for him. Fruits are his go-to option usually since he can have those fine, maybes they can have some too if he finds a right one they'd be able to try them even with those fangs they have. Zeke is hoping he'll find something for this kid which would help them as he goes a lil further into Eridanus, by now outside this little's fellow vision.


@Pollux

Pollux remained in her sitting position as the big fluffy gembound stood up. A low grumbling nose came from him, but it didn't seem to be an aggressive sound so the pup didn't try to scamper again. Even if she wanted to she probably didn't have the energy. All that fear had distracted her from the pain in her belly. She had found it hard to find much food on her own. Bugs, while plentiful, are also hard to catch sometimes. Especially when the chewy ones were the best.

As the other gembound meandered out of her sight, Pollux was able to relax enough to lie back down. The plush mosses underneath her made a great bed. At first, she rested on her belly, settling her head on to her front legs with a sigh. I wonder what he will bring back? With that thought she began to day dream. Maybe a giant caterpillar? Or some of those berries that she could just barely reach on the bushes? Maybe there were different kinds of food she had not even tasted before. That seemed pretty likely seeing that she had only be alive for about a day or so.

The thoughts made her stomach rumble again. A little groan escaped her and she flopped on her side, stretching out her front and back legs to their full extent. I hope he hurries. It was an impatient thought from a patient creature. Hunger does silly things. She went from fearing him, to willing him to come back quickly.

But, as her mind continued to wander, she found herself dozing off. As her eyes started to close, her skin used up the last of its energy before turning back to its regular fleshy pink. The pups head was propped up ever so slightly on a small rock, allowing the drool to run freely from the side of her mouth, down into the dirt instead of back down her throat. Soon enough, she begun to snore. Dreams of fruit and bugs danced around her mind.

@Zeke

Although they didn't seem scared nor uneasy about anything when Zeke went to stand up gave them a lil apologetic expression anyways, and he was quick in taking off as to not tower over them for too long and to ensure he returns to them momentarily with food. Often checking back when they could still be in his sight if he does, relieving for him how each time he checks they are still where they are, perfectly fine and safe. Confident how all is well Zeke went to step further in and head for any canopy he can find, 'course with this sheer dense foliage it wasn't hard to spot a large tree community. The only thing which made it even a lil hard with everything clothed in green about everywhere in here; it was like being submerged in a green ocean with very subtle differences in each green.

Deeper he went in, things got so warm now as went to dig around this forest's ground and trees to find any fruit maybes, like a sauna, except this warm air is laden with moisture and humidity. Kinda bothersome how sultry it is getting, especially with Zeke's thick coat, while he was fine with the room where he hatched in though weirdly enough, though maybes it was cuz Zeke expected it to be warm there with steam and hot water everywhere. Kinda did not expect this place to be so hot, didn't bother him too much, only kinda surprised on how hot it is, is all, it can be up to par with where he hatched.

Still, a joyful frisson crept up on Zeke as while this sweet scent which was everywhere in here and was endlessly going right to his brain he caught another scent which was sickly sweet, kinda intoxicating too with how it has managed not to be drowned out by this petrichor aroma. It smelled like it was from above and whaddya know as he glanced his eyes at these tree's great arms and to his luck, there was this one tree which appeared different from every other tree in this canopy and in its limbs are these large round, objects hanging from those branches. While these fruits do seem sturdy, they had a kinda fleshy texture to them so weird as they may be they must be some kinda fruit.

Carefully he stepped closer to this tree and went to take something like a leap although it was a sluggish one as he was kinda reluctant to put this much effort as he hooked his foreclaws round this trunk's sides like Zeke was making a failed attempt to climb up. Would be fitting for him, if he were going to climb this tree, it would take a while for him to bother with climbing up next. But climbing up isn't what Zeke has in mind as he cranes his neck up to get close to one branch with quite a few fruits on it. Zeke tried to reach for one fruit with his mouth as he clenched his jaw round one from its middle, with it being as far as he can reach it, tugging at it till it plucked off this branch and is now his. Zeke weirdly enough now got a tugging sensation from one of his horns, like it caught something during this, initially he was worried if he got it stuck between some branch but when the dragon swung his head down he could move fine, which was good but still it does seem like something got caught by his horn.

Carefully he moved his head, so his eyes were on his foreclaws and slowly went to unhook them, like how someone will carefully release their loose, but a sturdy grip on the string of a bow and arrow. When Zeke got his claw's grip off this bark, thankfully he did so without them getting stuck he kinda hopped to his side with there not being enough room only to let his front legs drop from his front. Landing caused a thud on the ground under him and even he was sure there was a shockwave from it as he sunk all his weight back onto this leafy ground. He would go now but first things first, he snaked his long tail 'round his head to where his horns are and attempted to get a feel as to what is stuck on his horn.

Uhhh seems round-like? And a kinda fleshy texture to it? When Zeke pondered these an amused smile crept up when it caught up to him what this thing stuck on his horn was; another fruit, musta gotten caught by his horn when he was tryna getting the other one with his jaws, he wasn't paying attention to anything else after all.

Welp this works out quite well; actually, this means he has two which is maybes more than enough for his new lil bud from how much smaller they are in comparison to him.

He wasted no time in getting back to where they were; now he hasn't got any alerts indicating trouble is brewing right now but best not to keep them waiting and all. Wasn't hard to find his way back, as Zeke took note on how he left footprints behind while he was searching for food; so he followed them on his way back to the trench, where his new buddy is who his can eyes catch is still there, waiting for him.

Heh, was he gone too long? He would've gotten worried how they seem to be unconscious, but it does appear like they are sleeping peacefully with how their little chest is rising and falling. He had such an amused expression on his face as he carefully went over closer to them and went back to laying down before their slumbering form, placing this round fruit he was holding in his mouth onto this mossy ground next to them giving it a small nudge for it to be a lil closer. Zeke was about to maybes wake them, though Zeke paused himself in thought; maybes they can nap for a lil bit longer, sides he needs to get this other fruit off his horn, he contemplated in amusement. Running a foreclaw over his horn a few times to pull it off till it dropped down from his horn and on this mossy ground near his buddy, its sweet juice dripping from his horn which he tried his best to clean off by wiping his horn with his foreclaw again and giving his head a shake.

Kay, all done here, and they're still napping so Zeke lowers his head down to this ground and kinda shifts his fluffy neck till a bit of his fur was kinda pressing against his new buddy's back like a fluffy pillow, he'll let them sleep for a lil longer, maybes he'll join them and nap too.


@Pollux