He was sleeping for quite a long while, it would be worrisome on whether he was going to wake up ever again from how long he has been out cold, but teensy eyes at last slowly fluttered open after all those hours. Things were so blurry as he woke up, but things got clear eventually, what he found in front, or well to his side with how his head is lying on one cheek here, was a wing of his, lying flat and spread out, like it was limp or something. His surroundings while indeed are the same place, but this spot, in general, didn't seem familiar enough for him to be aware of ensuring he won't get lost.

'Where... Where is this...? How'd I get here...?'

Stretching his wings as he presses them on solid ground, he tries to sit up a little on his flight-arms which was a bit tricky at first. His mind hasn't been fully collected to have enough awareness on how he has been sleeping on his stomach and not on his back, but he eventually got it and used his wings to lift himself a little. As he tried to get up there was some weight on his back and head and not in a sense how he's a bit dizzy. It's like some actual physical objects are on his back and head, which strangely made his head cold but seems to be soothing something like an easy-to-miss dull pain on his head, while for his back it's so warm and cosy, actually this warmness is on his other side which is still laying on the ground. With this, his eyes were checking what was beneath him to find, fur? Thick white for one? Many chunks of hair have been placed on the ground with him on top like a small hay pile, and as this tiny bat moved his wing around his back and touched something he carefully grabbed it and moved it to his face to find a stray white hair; they're resting on his back like a blanket too?

Now it is warm and soft to rest on so confused as he is, he possibly can't complain much, but surely what is on his head is not fur too? Cold for one and has more weight to it, so this tiny bat as he waited for when he was less dizzy placed a wing on top his head and made contact with something cold.

A... leaf it or something? It feels like a leaf from this texture, but shaped into some ball or something, with something like, a block of ice got placed inside it? How does something like it even work? No way this is a natural thing without outside help.

'Guhhhh... What is happening...? Who is are they- wait, their name he can recall it...!'

Well maybe anyway, though it seems to be all he has any recollection about right now, everything else is a blur. No memories how he woke up in a dark cave, honestly only other memory his senses can catch is how much pain his whole entire body was in. And what happened to him earlier before he went to 'sleep' again after waking up his first time in a dark cave with so many plants which her wings and all kept catching no matter where he flew.

He was about to put two and two together more but he with a start didn't quite have a chance as his ears caught a loud yawn, sounding like it was coming from his other side, so close to him.

'Oh no oh no... nonono...'

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Zeke went to extra lengths to help treat this kid here when this pebble he carried to douse in cold water initially got stuck to his tongue cuz it weirdly enough turned into something like ice, he dunno how it happened. It worked in Zeke's favour as ice will make these wounds easier to tend to; still, it got stuck on his tongue, and eventually, he practically had to rip it off with a claw. Now it's teensy, so to Zeke, it was more like he pulled a lousy splinter out; still, he risked such pain so he can help them out here, it kinda is his fault this happened to the poor kid.

He had to grab other things before finding a place where both Zeke and his bud here can safely rest. For one he now needed a leaf to wrap round this now tiny pebble coated in ice, seems like a bad idea to not have a layer or something between a wound and ice when treating it, end up making it worse maybes.

It took some time, but he also had to find some fruit, which was a lil tricky as for one this place does not have near as many trees, not to add it had to be one he didn't need to leap up on to reach. While his buddy is tucked safely on his back with his wings sheltering them to avoid them falling off or something. Still, an idea like this fainted teensy Gembound rolling bout cuz he's only on his hind legs doesn't sound like a pleasant experience for them even if they are unconscious; nope, not gonna do such a thing.

So with all this when Zeke eventually got a few for them, which he tested a lil in case there were some things bout them which made them a bad choice to gift to them and found a sweet lil spot. Underneath a small cliff thing kinda which is next to a pool of cold water which he can use in case this ice melts as Zeke still has no darn clue how it became coated in ice so best keep this cold water ready for use.

So when Zeke did all this and gently placed this kid on solid ground, he was getting utterly worried sick for them now, so much time has passed, and they are still out cold. He's gotta tend to these wounds right away!

Zeke didn't waste time; first, he kinda kneaded at his mane's fur with a claw, he doesn't shed much but what hair which did shed was more than enough for this kid here with how small they are. Zeke placed some fur as a pile on solid ground next to his bud here and gently nudged their lil body with his snout to carefully push them onto it and in his hopes to maybes stir them awake. Zeke's first plan on getting them on this nest he made for them worked out, but they didn't stir at all, so Zeke went to place what fur remains on their back to help them stay warm. The dragon had wrapped this leaf round the ice beforehand, so Zeke as with much caution as the dragon could delicately place this cold compress on their head wound, Zeke'll need to move it on their nose sometimes too. Fruit is right by Zeke's side for when they wake it; he even took some time to peel it kinda with his claws.

Time went on, and they still showed no signs to waking which seriously got Zeke worried, so he kept a close eye on them, but he was tired from all those errands he did so next thing Zeke ended up falling asleep himself right beside them.

And Zeke musta really been worried as here he was unusually a light sleeper here, his bud here and their lil shuffling was enough to stir Zeke awake, letting out a very loud yawn as he woke up, rubbing his half-asleep eye with a claw.

"You finally awake lil buddy? Thank goodness... Was starting to get worried bout ya buddy heh..." Zeke glanced beside himself where his lil bud is and surely wide awake, his expression soft as he removed his claw from his face and carefully went to move it gently towards them, he needs to check if their wounds have healed fine or are in the process of healing.

"How is your head and nose there buddy...? Got quite the whack there from your faceplant earlier," his claws moved to check their head first which is where his lil compress thing is since he took his nap he didn't have a chance to shift his leaf-wrapped-round-ice onto their nose too. He hopes their head is OK...

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

'Oh no no no no oh no oh no oh no...! They're still here around...!'

This tiny bat or well, Pippy; did bring some relief how she can recall what her name is, but it did nothing to help ease this bubbling dread, Pippy was sure this enormous guy would be gone by now when she woke up...!

'Was wondering a little bit why it seemed a little dark, it's their shadow...!'

Pippy didn't dare move except for how much she is trembling under all this fur, her expression filled with so much fear she probably appeared so pitiful right now. In Pippy's mind, she probably does, but she can't help it, after what happened she is uncertain if she genuinely is safe when this huge Gembound is around her.

As she snapped her head to her side, craning it up so fast her head essentially shot up to find this giant Gembound sitting up. They spoke to Pippy as they got a little closer to her, their shadow looming over her more as they did, creeping up as if it was a physical metaphor to her rising terror. They seem to have only woken up now if their yawn wasn't indication enough yet Pippy is dubious on whether they were asleep at all, they woke up now and while she can sleep in a weird way it is suspicious for them to have supposedly been sleeping while sitting and not laying down.

When their claw got so close to her face, albeit strangely enough was approaching her slowly, which to her made her dread creep up more than ever, to Pippy it was like something like a horrifying zombie slowing closing in on her. With all this, tears were building up around her eyes, threatening to spill at any moment, Pippy couldn't perceive what they were saying to her as all her panic has made all senses pay attention to this claw approaching her head where this strange ice thing is on her is.

'No please go away... Come on move, please... Got to get away...'

Pippy couldn't watch and huddled her whole tiny form with her wings into something like a fetal position, using them also to hide her face as she covered it with them. Not wanting to have her eyes open for what is going to happen to her, Pippy moved so quickly as best as she could, so much so this ice thing fell off her head. Letting out small whimpers as she continues to shake like a leaf, waiting now, for any harm which may soon come to her though oddly it's taking a while, nothing made physical contact whatsoever, definitely not an enormous claw or anything like it.

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

It does kinda make sense for such an assumption such as believing Zeke was faking to be asleep to garner trust, but he indeed was sleeping. Zeke had no intention to sleep earlier as he wanted to keep an eye on them to ensure nothing attacks them. But this lazy dragon as usual tires easily so much so this dragon went to sleep while sitting down since his bud here was out cold for so long, and this dragon seems to have a talent for sleeping anywhere so sleeping while sitting wasn't uncomfortable for him. Probs also why he woke up so easily well, well sides on how antsy he was on whether they were gonna to be OK, to Zeke it kinda seemed like a whole day for them to wake up. Now it probs wasn't and was most likely only something like five hours or so but to Zeke with his concern if they were ever gonna wake up again, so those hours seemed like many days to him kinda.

Zeke's approaching claw paused in its movements and froze up as this kid here curled up on themselves with their wings, utterly terrified still. It sounds like they were bout to cry, making Zeke feel like he's an absolute worst jerk for scaring them again even though he should've been aware how they're iffy bout his claws by now. It was tempting still to try his best to help calm them down by gently petting their lil head with his claw and tell them things are OK right now, but Zeke acknowledges it probs won't work his paw touching them may overwhelm them again.

'OK big guy, as worried and relieved you are on bout how your lil bud being okay, move your claws away, your bud here as made it clear earlier they would rather not be touched right now.'

Zeke slowly retracts his claws away, bringing them back to their original position besides Zeke as he quickly glanced at this pond behind them, before it was back with his eyes on his new buddy with saddened eyes. Though he has taken note this pond is pretty abyssal for one, deep enough for Zeke to easily hide his whole large form under if he desired so.

"Awww bud... I'm not that scary am I buddy?"

Kinda obvious he is to them, he can't blame them sorta, outta all Zeke has met he has never found anyone as small as them, or better to say probs has a record for being the tiniest ever really. Darn though, he sometimes forgets so he got kinda compelled to ask them gently; still, he needs to make an effort here, so Zeke goes to stand up. A plan in mind which may help a lil in making them feel a bit safer here, carefully turning round as Zeke padded his way to this earlier analysed pond behind him, to its shoreline.

"I uh know I'm pretty big to you lil buddy, but I don't wish to bring you any harm of the sorts, I'm so sorry what happened earlier kid... I really am..." Zeke slowly moved his front legs as he dipped both into this deep basin here his back to them as he tried to reassure and apologise to them. Water is a lil cold which caused Zeke to shudder a lil from an initial shock, but afterwards, it was kinda soothing, similar to how a cold, gentle breeze is relaxing. Especially with how Zeke scales lately have hardened so much it was like thick armour now, let's not forget his fluffy fur too, was kinda neat to be cooled down for once actually. As he suspected its not shallow or anything, in fact, maybes it's a lil too deep he may hafta spread these wings out or use his tail like a fin to stay a lil afloat, but it won't be too concerning, in fact, it works in Zeke's favour for what he has in mind here.

Zeke slowly slipped his whole body under this water like a snake, when he quietly resurfaced underwater, only Zeke's head and neck reappeared. Cold water clinging to his coat, trails and drips down off his fur like growing tendrils, utterly drenched now, trying his best to breathe through his nostrils quietly as water sprayed off from each breath like a whale's blowhole, slowly he turned round so his back was no longer to them and it was his front now.

"Maybes we should start over, if that's OK with ya...?" he won't begrudge them if they prefer if he left or something, may stay round to ensure they're OK but it's their choice here if they genuinely don't want to interact with him after what happened. They kinda witnessed his dark side in a way even if it wasn't in anyway directed at them so he kinda gets it why they would be scared without his size.

"Is this maybes better for ya little buddy...?" Zeke moved to lower his head back down till only a lil bit of his head is poking outta this water, like how a swimming alligator would with its head floating above the water. Could help though, he has lowered his large size so much he's probs at their level now, this now distance between them helps too. Zeke's head bobs in this water as he tries his best to keep it afloat to keep breathing, his wings spread out and slowly swinging his tail left to right as a lazy attempt at swimming.

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Pippy still didn't dare move to check what is happening in case her face will be met with some sharp claws which probably dwarf her, however with how nothing happened to her still, Pippy's curled up position got a little less tense from how confused she is. Instead a familiar deep voice came again, asking her if 'Zeke', if she has recalled their name correctly, is truly this scary to her, though their tone doesn't sound malicious or upset or anything more a little surprised, guilty also maybe from how it sounds a little comforting in a way, or maybe even sheepish. Still might have been a rhetorical question and more to Zeke himself like they have got hit with the truth on how scary Zeke does seem to Pippy, so she doesn't answer if so; but maybe they're alright if they seem to have this much guilt about it?

Still, Pippy tensed up again when the solid ground under her was trembling a little and her ears caught on how something heavy is moving about now, and rhythmic clicks against some hard rock during each quake. Dreading how they're maybe standing up to get closer to her, though oddly these quakes and sounds were getting further away from what it seems, not closer, while it is subtle and not getting too far away it was far better than them getting seemingly closer to her. Wait, water? Why is lapping water also something her ears caught onto right now?

Water and Zeke's voice once again is what these ears catch, said voice has somehow managed to sound even softer than earlier if it was even possible as they gave Pippy some assuring words which do seem integral. It got Pippy questioning more if they genuinely mean their intention isn't to harm her, even apologised to her for what happened earlier with the scary flying thing he scared off.

When these splashing sounds got louder is when the tiny bat risked to try and move her wings away from her eyes, though as she does they progressively trembled more as she goes to pull them back, so much so Pippy had to forcibly wrench them away from her eyes as they basically froze up when she got a glimpse. Something like an oversized blue eye with something like lights for pupils watching her from afar, but while it was one eye its expression appeared something like a soft one, not a kind which would indicate malicious intentions or anything, it's a neutral sort.

When Zeke asked if they could try all this again and start over, is when Pippy managed to fully get her wings away as she unfolds them, blinking up at Zeke owlishly as they asked her this. What Pippy's eyes did find when she got her wings out their way was, well, something she didn't expect at all. Still nervous about Zeke but this here unexpected thing they have done here, has left her dumbfounded, bemused and even a little amused and her confusion does show on her face as she continued to blink at Zeke.

'They actually went in the water...?'

OK, it indeed was not what Pippy was expecting at all, she couldn't believe they went as far as to go head deep into some cold water, all to make Pippy feel safer around him, even though honestly laying down and some distance between Pippy and Zeke would have been enough for her. Still as confused as she is this about all this, she was touched how much they are trying to ensure Pippy isn't uncomfortable with him around, in fact she couldn't help but let out a small breathy giggle at all this, she might not have been expecting them to do this but she appreciates it strongly anyway.

Maybe they aren't so bad if they'd do this much, still best to play it a little safe but perhaps she misjudged him here.


"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Zeke gave a lil quick amused grin at this kid's blinking up at him dazedly filled with so much surprise over how he chose to have a lil swim outta nowhere to help make things less tense here. Zeke's said grin seemed to grow wider as he paused for a sec, his ears managing to catch something like a squeak from a lil huffy laugh, and Zeke's pupils appear to brighten a lil with his here glee on how he seems to be getting somewhere here.

"Ohhhhhh~? That a laugh there pal? Gotchya to laugh there did I? And heheh, yup I'm in the water alright, nothing wrong with ya eyes buddy, tryna stay standing is tiring so here's a lil compromise, dunno if that how it works though," Zeke let out a hearty chuckle at his last words as he continued to tease them there lightly. Pretty proud he managed to get them to laugh; mission accomplished~. Now to keep at it, he hopes he can try to befriend them here, he might be on the right track here.

"Sooooo maybes we should find something to talk about, get to know each other maybes?" Zeke's mind now deep in thought, his thoughtful expression appeared so silly right now, it's hard to take this face seriously when he is head deep in water while his head is bobbing up and down like some bird. Zeke doesn't seem to mind how it probs is such a case as his eyes glance up at the ceiling from how spaced out he is from tryna think as to what he and his lil bud here could chat bout. Most unknown to this kid as well on how his chin is resting on top offa his claws, rubbing it in deep consideration.

'Ah, but first...'

"Welp maybes we can think bout it later, in the meantime I brought ya some fruit here if ya interested in having some right now," Zeke gave a lil gesture directed at where he has laid out said peeled fruit with his snout. All this fruit he is offering, to his lil bud here probs appear to them like some giant buffet got gifted to them. Though Zeke may hafta move this said buffet a lil, it's right now closer to Zeke than it is to his lil bud here, which could be an issue for them. Zeke had to ensure it had some distance earlier as all this fruit's sweet aroma coulda attracted something which maybes would attack his lil bud here if they found them too when lured by this fruit; nope wasn't happening there. Still, maybes since Zeke is well in water they won't mind getting a lil closer to try this fruit here? After all, while it will mean this kid will hafta to move closer to where Zeke is, this fruit right now is outta Zeke's reach even if he were to bring his claws out from this cold water they still probs couldn't reach this fruit. Now Zeke won't force them to have this fruit if they genuinely don't want it. Though if it's clear this kid here does want it, but is reluctant to get close to trying it out he'll try some gentle prodding to encourage them to have a lil treat if they do want some, he's giving it to them after all.

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Pippy got a little shy there at their mentioning how they have caught her laughing there a little. There is definitely a bright blush there on her face from their question as she turns her head away a little while rubbing her nose to hide her face, though stops doing so quickly as it was still a little sore, not overly painful, about enough to make her conclude it's best not to touch it for a bit. She would've laughed again from them trying to justify and confirm how and why he is in deep water right now, but her shyness seems to have taken over, for now, well at least for both how it's shyness and not genuine fear.

Huh...? Talk, about something? But, Pippy uh has no clue what topic they both could talk about, not small talk anyway, and she isn't sure if she is in a particularly chatty mood right now either, less so than usual with this awkwardness she has from getting caught out on laughing earlier. Now Pippy is aware they were only playing around when they commented on it and was more trying to encourage her to do it more, they weren't shaming her or anything for laughing, despite being aware of this though, it doesn't make Pippy less shy about all it. Pippy gave Zeke here a flat side-glance when they seem to be profoundly thinking, her blank expression breaking a little as it was so tempting to laugh a little again, unable to take them seriously as she watched them dance up and down in this water while having such a deep-in-thought face there.

Oh! Did they say fruit there? Where?? Where is this fruit? Pippy's attention quickly snapped to where Zeke made an attempt to point at, excited to find this fruit, but what she found rendered her into utter stunned silence as her eyes widened with amazement. Pippy's jaw drops like it got unhinged from her skull at all this, baulking at all this fruit they are giving her; there is so much there, to her it was like a mountain pile. Pippy was curious why something smelt so good! How in the world did she not take note on such a massive offering till now? Can she even eat all this? They also went as far as to peel and sliced it, making sure they're perfect for her size, even been laid out nicely for her. Right now, Pippy is drooling a little from the sight of it all, and a slight rumbling sound came from her belly too. And yet, despite all this Pippy is reluctant to go over and try all this fruit.

Uncertainty rises in Pippy on whether she wants to risk it, it's dubious Zeke will be able to get her from where this fruit is if they intend to harm her while her guard is down, even if this fruit is much closer to them than where she is right now. Yet there is some dread rising in her too, ebbing every time she even considers wanting this fruit, like it's yanking her chain and scolding her afterwards for forgetting something important; her mind seems to be igniting something like previous bad dreams long forgotten but have resurfaced now as seems to be asking if it has poison. Wait, what if it has poison? ... Could be possible based on what her mind is telling her, despite this Pippy is sceptical as for once it's not her instincts causing this growing dread, it's her mind in a way which is warning how this fruit could be hazardous. The tiny bat's nerves right now besides on how well there's an enormous living thing in her presence nearby, are not alarmed at all by this fruit, it's sweet aroma is subtle for one, and nothing in its scent indicates poison.

Still with this Pippy remains put despite her hunger, unsure whether to try some.


"Speaking" 'Thinking'

Oh heh whoops, maybes Zeke shouldn't have playfully teased them so much on him managing to get them to laugh. Zeke supposes he acted like so, is cuz he was so excited and proud at how the dragon did manage to pull it off in getting them to laugh there he kinda expressed it in such a giddy way. Though thankfully they don't seem too offended, darn though, he should heh maybe apologise for it a lil, pondering this with a nod to himself as he had such a beaming, soft smile directed at them, OK he likes this kid here~.

"Heh, hey now no need to be so shy there kid~. Ah, sorry lil bud, nothing wrong with laughing, opposite reallys, laugh to your heart's content~," Zeke had a slight drawl as he tried to encourage them to laugh more. Yup, yup sound advice he gave them there, laughter is a great thing, best not to lose such a thing, same here for this kid here. Despite his kinda teasing here too he does have a lil guilt bout on how they got a lil insecure with laughing from him mentioning it.

'Heh, no lil bud, don't stop, keep on giggling, ignore his silly remarks.'

Heheheh wow, their face there, speechless there, maybes he did go overboard with it all, curious if it's how much there is has gotten them so stunned at this or everything else like how he peeled and sliced them too. Actually now with him considering it, with regarding how he sliced this fruit here, it was kinda a good thing for Zeke also on how he went in this water. Sides on how it helps his bud here feel a lil more safe even with him round them, for his claws had been so gosh dang sticky from all those juices clinging to them afterwards when he peeled and sliced all this fruit with all his claws here.

Zeke's ears perked a lil when both caught a rumbling sound, and he tilted his head and gave them a lil amused smirk at all this with a raised brow. Zeke kinda waited it out as their initial shock seemed to fade away, though over time they didn't attempt to move and if anything their expression had shifted from astonishment to something like reluctance, despite how obvious how badly they want it. Welp, he kinda suspected this, he already planned to try and prod at them again in hopes to make them go over and try some if he needed to. Zeke'll hafta only use his voice as he can't say nudge them or anything, one, not the best idea, and two he can't reach them from here, even if he tried with his tail, they'd be outta his reach.

"Go on kid.~ It won't bite ya or anything like that~. If this here fruit did it would be bad news for all of us, heh," Zeke's smiling expression here was so gentle as he gently attempted to prod them to eat some fruit, it was such a kind face he was giving them it clearly showed here how he has got nary a single bad bone in him. They're not gonna go hungry without any food on his watch here, nope not happening.

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Oh! Uh, well Pippy will keep their advice on laughter in mind here, he suspected on how this was so, on how they had nothing against Pippy laughing a little or making fun for it anything negative like those. Perhaps it was on how Pippy didn't believe on how himself laughing is, well, special is maybe what Pippy assumes could be best to describe? Though with how giddy Zeke has gotten when they found him laughing, and their smile they have now, which got more blissful as time goes on, seems they view otherwise. It's honestly so sweet on how overjoyed Zeke appears to be on how he got Pippy to laugh, and how they are acting, with all this Pippy couldn't keep out another giggle which helped to shake off his shyness a little more as he seemed to have his eyes on Zeke with a bright smile. A bright smile it is, but still has his usual sheepish kind though, but it's Pippy's default smile no matter who it is it seems if anything a sheepish grin appears to also be for when Pippy is giving someone a fond smile.

Still, although it is correct on how Zeke didn't physically nudge Pippy on his back or anything, but how he reacted to when they told the tiny bat to go ahead on eating some this fruit here seemed similar to how a jumpy small thing like Pippy would respond to such a thing as his nervousness came back here. Flinching a little by quickly leaning forward like his back or shoulder really was gently nudged there, turning his head a little there so his eyes this time were now making full eye contact with Zeke. Teensy wings quickly moving close to his self a little defensively like with how he shuffled them well close to his Gem at his chest. Fidgeting with his flight limbs a little like he was ready from some reflex to make a run for it there again but managed to stop himself as he paid attention to what Zeke told him there with some nervousness there.

Pippy managed to ease only a little, bringing his wings away from his chest and placed them back to his sides, muscles not as tense now as he does. Pippy listens to what Zeke tells him, though as he does the tiny bat relaxed a little more again as he stared at Zeke whose expression at him seemed so kind and welcoming it wouldn't be crazy to comment it made this big guy appear a little adorable honestly. Such a friendly smile this big guy was giving him had such compassion in it, it tugged his heartstrings, making Pippy reconsider earlier thoughts to some extent if this is how they indeed are it wouldn't surprise him if they are so big is to make room for their big heart really. These positive thoughts remained at his back as while his instincts have nothing against this fruit, they're still taking over on to not trust this huge Gembound in a slightest. Pippy's nerves are in quite a battle with these thoughts here so outwardly Pippy remained put as he hummed a little to himself nervously to himself and a way to respond to Zeke as they told him this fruit won't bite him or anything. It might be OK to do so, PIppy concluded as he tentatively got up and slowly hobbled over to where this fruit is, pausing and staying completely still when he was now wings reach to grabbing some fruit here, which appeared much bigger now he was right next to it. Picking up a small piece even for Pippy with his wings he shifts his position a little, so he was in something like a sitting position, sniffing this fruit a little before concluding it to be fine despite his mind telling him no and finally took a few nibbles at this sweet treat here.


"Speaking." 'Thinking.'

Zeke would never well mock someone for letting out genuine, wholesome laughter, if anything he encourages it completely, same applies for this lil bud here, so it most definitely was special for how he managed to get his pal to laugh here. Another reason why he pointed it out so much, is, well, this kid is not much a talker honestly, he doesn't believe his ears have perceived anything like words from them, all except for their laughter. But with how they react to his words and how expressive they do seem in response to his actions beyond well their fear such as well how shy they got when the dragon mentioned bout how this kid let out a laugh there, they do appear to understand every syllable this big guy has uttered to them. Not to add in regards to expression, this kid's growing smile they had on their face now when Zeke successfully managed to prod them out their shell again, and he was sure his ears caught another small laugh beforehand there, confirms things more they definitely have awareness bout all his words and actions here.

They really are a friendly kid here, Zeke hopes he can work a lil more in getting them to trust him more, as he for sure is getting somewhere with all this. Zeke dunno if they can talk, but if they can, he hopes he can manage to get them to speak from their own volition, maybes some indirect prodding on getting them to speak. Zeke won't force them to talk though, how the dragon will try to get them to talk to him will be similar to how Zeke got them to laugh from their own will from his many lil jokes. If he attempts to try and prod them to communicate with words, Zeke'll go bout it in a similar way to how he got them to laugh, maybes some questions or something like it.

Oh, uh, he didn't expect them to react like he had tapped them on their shoulder anyways when he was tryna encourage them here how this here fruit is all their's if they do want even a lil, was kinda obvious they did want to eat some fruit here after all when he showed it all to them. C'mon please lil bud, take it easy, hmmm he might hafta go slower than he thought he initially had to, to help them open up without risking a possibility on their budding trust getting crushed here, which Zeke would prefer not to happen now with how well things are going here.

Still, he patiently lets them take their time, before they chose what to do, though he was glad when they seem to give it a shot at trying this fruit. Still, Zeke remains patient even as they moved on over to where this fruit is, Zeke appeared happy either way as he observed them during their whole journey to walking to all this fruit he has gifted them. Zeke gave a small, fond chuckle as he watched them take possibly the tiniest piece there was from all this fruit, but he soon finally took his eyes off them after they seem to approve this fruit's taste, choosing to let them eat alone in peace. Big or small, friend or stranger; anyone would be uncomfortable if someone is staring, unblinkingly watching as they are only tryna eat some food.

"Heh, those treats good then lil buddy?" seems it, but Zeke here wanna give it a try at asking some questions here, maybes they'll answer in some way to get them to talk to him without getting forced.

"So uh, don't believe I have caught ya name yet lil bud, I don't mind calling you 'lil bud' or 'kid' or anything like it, but uh ya know, I kinda wanna know what to call you instead of what you are? But you uhhh, haven't been that much of a talker really, lil guys like you can talk right...?" dang it, Zeke fears he's getting so pushy again here, but he kinda really needs to confirm if talking is something they're capable of doing. There's no automatic guarantee they can talk, even if they have the knowledge to pick-up as to what all his words mean, after all another bud, Gal who while could speak and all, their vision is kinda non-existent despite how they can talk. Maybes such a thing will apply to them too he can't automatically assume how cuz they have enough sentience to pick up on every meaning from each word he tells them here, that they can talk too.

"Speaking." 'Thinking.'