This was, perhaps, the last thing Yoosung wanted to do.

He didn't want to help the Master Merchant--not at all. But the kitten was, and he refused to leave the kitten alone to help him (them? he wasn't quite sure). And he wasn't sure if they would allow him to enter the Trial with the Kitten if he didn't help, and so he found himself searching Polaris. Perhaps Canis would have been a better idea--after all, it was full of bones, dead Gembound that surely had a great number of Stones. But he hated Canis, the bones gave him chills, so he made his way to the familiar Polaris.

His Magic cast out, thankfully without pain, and he tilted his head, sensing something nearby. He followed it to a rock, and began to dig, finally unearthing a Gemstone. Taking it into his mouth, he trotted on.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

Casting out his Magic again, he couldn't help but to wince, a low throb in the back of his head. But something flickered at the corner of his Magic and, making sure to keep a grip on the Gemstone, careful not to dent it with his teeth, he began to follow his senses.

It was a bit more of a search, and he had to use his nose to unearth the stone, finding the top of it before carefully using his paws to dig it up, sending dirt flying. Finally, though, he managed to unearth it, and took it carefully in his teeth, holding it alongside the other.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

Fledgling:
Pupil: 1
master:

Backing away from where he had found the last stone, the dog sneezed, clearing his nose of the wet dirt. He braced his paws, and shook, before sitting back on his rump, setting the stones down and taking a moment to lick his paws clean. He wasn't the most fastidious of Gembound, but if he was going to be out here searching for Gemstones he hoped to keep himself clean. Besides, he did not want to present himself before the Masked Merchant filthy; they did not like him, and he felt that they would take any such thing as a slight.

But, finally, he felt that he was clean enough, and stood, picking up the stones again. Shaking himself off a final time, he attempted to cast his magic, but it flickered and died, head throbbing for a moment.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F: 1
P: 1
M:

The dog grunted in frustration, but shook his head--his Magic was temperamental on a good day, absolutely refused to work on a bad. But it had worked for two successive casts, and so he considered it a 'good day', and he dared to try again. His head throbbed, a dull pain that emanated out from his stone, but even still there was a weak flicker, a sense of Magic that called to him.

He turned, turning in ridiculous feeling circles until he felt that he was going in the right direction, and began to trot forward. It was rather like a game of hot and cold, if he knew of such a thing, and he had to adjust himself as he found himself feeling the Magic feeling weaker. But, eventually, he was stretching up to pluck the stone from a tree trunk.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F: 2
P: 1
M:

The first Fledgling (+1) gemstone found by Yoosung is a polished piece of Obsidian, shining and glassy black. It once belonged to a heavy-bodied Dugong.

The second Fledgling (+1) stone is a Moss Agate, smooth and bright, mottled with different shades of green and pale, near-white, as if indeed half-covered in patchy moss. This stone last belonged to a hybrid between an African Lion and a Common Mynah Bird.

The third stone is a dull, raw, coal-like chunk of Jet, once belonging to a Pupil (+2) level hybrid between a Dormouse and a Blue Crab.

@Yoosung

Yoosung's paws thudded to the ground, and he took a better grip on the Agate, having taken a moment to admire its coloration. He had always liked plants, and so the color of the Gemstone drew him in. But he needed to hurry back to Canis, before the Masked Merchant started without him--he wouldn't put it beyond them. So he turned, and cast out his Magic again, making an embarrassing squeaking sound at the sheer flash of Magic that flashed back at him.

It was more than easy for him to find the source of it, the stone sitting clear out on the ground. So he took it in his teeth, feeling rather ridiculous with four stones in his mouth.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F:
P:
M: 1

Yoosung continued to trot on, not wanting to spend too much time searching in one place. There were plenty of stones in the Caves, of course, but you could only find so many in one spot. He had never been one for lingering, beyond his den, of course, so he followed a deer-path.

Only to find himself attacked by a particularly angry bird whose nest he almost stepped on. The dog squealed a yelp around the gemstones, stumbling back and bolting. tail tucked, squealing as though he were being murdered.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F:
P:
M: 1

Finally, he felt that he was far enough from the bird to be safe, and slowed to a trot, then a walk. Shivering, he looked back over his shoulder, wide eyed. That had been a particularly scary bird, and he whined low in his throat.

But he could only sulk so long, and turned back in the direction of Canis. His pawsteps were more careful, making sure to not step on anything as he went for fear of scaring up another mama-bird. It was a while before he cast out his magic, pawing at the ground before taking the stone in his teeth.

Damn, his mouth was getting pretty cramped.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F:
P: 1
M: 1

The dog began to move on, teeth bared around his mouthful of Gemstones. A few more, he decided, and he would head back. He wasn't entirely sure how many more, but he would know when he was done.

He cast out his Magic again, a dull throb of pain in his temples. Following the resulting flare, he almost stepped on the Gemstone, the sense was so weak. Nudging it with his paw, he took it in his teeth.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F: 1
P: 1
M: 1

The dog hadn't yet realized how close he was to his den so, when he saw it, he was startled. After a moment, he stepped inside, stiffly digging a hole and depositing the Gemstones he had decided to keep. It was less of a strain on his jaw, and would make it easier on him. He had decided, then, to return to the Masked Merchant, although he would keep an eye out for Gemstones as he went.

The Gemstones safely put away, he began to trot towards the Tunnel that would take him to Canis.

I've been on a lonely tripdragging along a lonely shadow

F: 1
P: 1
M: 1