Drake snapped his head towards the Fossa-thing and narrowed his eyes. Even though he wasn't speaking to him, the way that he was speaking to the buffalo-thing insulted him. Calling him child as if he were some baby to keep safe. Of course, they were, in fact, babies but this was a thought that he kept in his head. It didn't matter if they were children. They still deserved respect! Especially after that display the buffalo had made. It had been very impressive.

And that blue thing, the gryphon, it was even worse! Speaking to them like they needed protection! Just because they were newly hatched didn't mean they had no sense! He clacked his beak irritably. He wished that he was bigger and older. Then he'd show them that he was more then a newhatched chick. He bet he could take one of them on right now!

But, although he was hungry for a fight, Drake at least was sane. He knew that he would stand no chance against, at least, the gryphon. The fossa he might have a chance and the buffalo? Since they were both so young, he guessed that they might be even.

A little insulted that nobody had asked what his name was, he raised his head so that it stuck out from his body, the fluffy white feathers along his neck bristling. "And I'm a vulture!" Satisfied that he had, once again, made sure that they would remember he was there, he lowered himself down again.

He looked back towards the gryphon, his eyes glittering with anger. Despite trying to convince himself that they were only acting like this because he was young, he still couldn't shake the hatred at being addressed like he was an imbecile. "Don't try to flatter me," he hissed lowly. "I don't care that you didn't notice me! There's no need to speak softly to me because I won't speak softly to you!" He turned his head around, feeling his stomach heat with passion at this announcement. "And that goes for everyone here. I won't be ignored!"

@Mongo

The Fossa held its head high, observing the calf. Yes, this one would live. It was strong and proud, brave as any Gemling could be. This one would be worth watching.

The calf asked if all Fossa looked like him, and Mongo shook his head, the skull rattling. "No. I wear this because I was burned in a fight several cycles ago. The air hurts my face, so I wear this to protect it."

And then the calf said that he was a 'cape buffalo', and Mongo inclined his head. "I have never met a Cape Buffalo before. Well met. Do you know your name?"

And the bird, too, was worth watching. It was brave and loud, brash and angry. "Well met, Vulture. Do you know your name?"

@Yodox

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

Yodox settled his gaze on Amras as he spoke. A gryphon. The calf found himself mildly disappointed by the fact that Amras was rare. A gryphon seemed to be a very powerful creature. Shouldn't powerful creatures be more abundant? Perhaps this gryphon had destroyed his rivals. Yet he bore no significant scarring, just a thing that wrapped around his body. What was that for? Amras was becoming more and more interesting to the calf. However, the fact that he may be the only one bothered him. Was Yodox the only of his kind?

The Fossa with a mask spoke, explaining the reasoning behind it. The calf couldn't help but be in awe. To sustain such a wound in a battle but still find a way to survive impressed the calf. Only a short time out of the chrysalis, but he knew that life comes with hardships. It was ingrained into his mind. So many hardships, and yet this creature lived on. Yodox could only hope to survive as well.

"Yodox." The name came to him as easily as the wind roared over head. He could not tell one why that name rang out in his mind, but it felt good on the tongue when he spoke it. Strong and memorable perhaps.

The calf had just gotten his name out when the other gembound voiced his own species loudly. A vulture. Would a vulture remain small and fluffy? It did not seem practical or intimidating. But, the little thing seemed to be making up for his small size with a ferocious attitude. He found himself admiring this little thing as well, even if it was small and almost cute. Yodox wondered vaguely if the others felt the same about him. Fresh out of the chrysalis, did he make the same impression as this brash and fiery vulture?

@Amras

Sorry for the late reply gang!

The gryphon's eyes narrowed even as his brows rose in a smile. The bovine seemed strong but calculated even at such a young age, having already grasped the fundamentals of their own personal magic. This vulture, on the other hand, had shown nothing but pomp as a sign of strength. They were obviously still young, but they weren't the first youth he had seen to use boasting to cover up insecurities.

"I speak softly because it is in my nature." he replied, his tone a bit firmer than it had been before. He was certainly not chiding the child, but it could be troublesome in the long run if they grew up with such a self-focused attitude. "You do not need to demand attention to be heard; as greater gembound we can all heed each other's words."

Or ignore them as the case might be. Perhaps eventually the youth would see that demands were counterproductive to their intended goal. On the other hand perhaps they would see the success of "king" Envy and try to create yet another throne...

---

Pouch 1: Baubled talc rods x12	Pouch 2: Charcoal dust (50 in3)	Pouch 3: Dried Mothers Tear mushrooms (25 in3)	Pouch 4: Charcoal chunks x7 (medium)
Back bag: Empty

Take hold of the power within
"And shape the fabric of reality around you"
tags: @Drake
notes: Why are you stirring up trouble, Amras?

The vulture whipped around, glaring at all the creatures gathered. He had no idea why he had become to angry but the rush that came with the emotion was thrilling to say the least. He didn't know why he liked it so much but he did. He simply did. The fossa-thing, at least, was being okay. But a name? How was he supposed to pick a name? He shrugged with frustration. "How should I know? I just hatched!"

He decided, however, that he didn't like the gryphon. What a know-it-all. Why should he care about what he had to say?

In his anger, he turned and kicked a rock, which went clattering across the ground in front of him. He felt a bruise forming on his young foot where it had connected but he ignored it. He was too furious right now - intentionally furious, of course, as he felt a lot happier when he was angry. It was a very strange feeling but he didn't mind.

"Whatever," he scoffed at the gryphon. "Who needs to talk anyways. Why are we all just standing around here when we could be doing something?" He turned to Yodox, his eyes narrowing. "You just hatched too - don't you want to get out there and, I don't know, do whatever? I'm sick of standing and talking!"

@Yodox @Amras @Mongo

The Gemling seemed rather fascinated with Amras, and Mongo couldn't blame him. The Gryphon's bright blue feathers were rather eye-catching, and he had never seen such a greature before.

"Yodox," he tested the name, liking how it rattled inside of his skull, bouncing around, "That's a good, strong name." he praised.

He sat, the horns of his skull wrapping comfortably around his shoulder blades, emphasizing them. His attention was drawn to the vulture, and he laughed, the sound made raspy by the bones.

"That's good, then, Vulture. Some are born knowing their names. Others learn them some time later. Still others make names for themselves through their actions."

He narrowed his eye as the rock went flying, and the moment it hit the ground it went flying again - straight at himself. It flew through the hole he breathed through, pelting him in his sensitive nose. He squawked, and began to sneeze violently, shaking his head, the rock rattling loudly as he attempted to shake it free.

Finally, he yanked the skull off, blinking at the sudden brightness, fur bristling as the harsh winds of Monoceros stung at the ugly burn scars on his face.

@Drake @Amras @Yodox

Speech. Thought.