Awareness isn't something many think about, but as soon as Venti opened their eyes they knew things were different. They could move, could think, could see. Well, currently all they could see was the inside of their chrysalis but they could still see.

They moved experimentally. First a foot, then an ear twitch, then a tail wiggle. Getting used to this newness as best as they could. Their first conscious thought was How do I get out of this? They knew there had to be more beyond this confinement. They could feel it.

Carefully they put their paws on the chrysalis in front of their face and pushed gently, it didn't budge.

They pushed a little harder. It crackled softly but still didn't move. With one final push, throwing nearly all their weight against the chrysalis, it cracked open and they fell out.

They didn't land face first in the dirt but they came close. Their new legs gave out and barely kept them from landing hard and eating the soil in front of them. Their eyes took in everything, the green around them causing their mouth to go slack in awe.

The air held moisture and caused them to sneeze as new scents assaulted their nose all at once.

But what truly got them was the mushroom towering above them. A smile slowly spread upon their face. They knew this was important, it felt important at any rate, and they never wanted to leave its side.

They didn't think too look around them, for all they knew they were the only living and thinking being. But that didn't matter, what mattered was the towering fungus in front of them.

It'd been a good while since Forgraves had explored eridanus by himself. to be fair, he didn't even do that when he hatched, azrael carried him around everywhere.

he had only recently been given the all clear to explore, 'anywhere but hydra' azzy had said. forgraves didnt know where hydra was. so this worked.

as he padded through the tall ferns and near the giant mushroom again, they heard the familiar cracking of chrysalis walls and the 'thump' of a gembound falling out. he knew that noise anywhere, havig nearly faceplanted out of his own himself. he padded towards the source of the noise, ears back with caution as he approached , but cleared his throat to make himself known. "you new??" he asked, vaguely repeating the first words azzy ever said to him.

Oh, a new sound. Was their first thought, and Venti's ears swivel in the direction of the newcomer. Their eyes look the new one over carefully. Paws, a tail, ears, they smile in excitement as they realizes this new one looks a bit like them.

They approach the new fox carefully, they don't seem to be a threat, but now that Venti knows others beings like them are out there they worry for their safety.

Of course, maybe they shouldn't. Maybe this'll be fine! There's probably no dangers around here at all if this being is wandering around alone too.

The words they spoke finally register and they blink slowly, thinking how to respond. They open their mouth to reply and close it again, choosing to nod instead. They sit before the new fox in their presence, their back to the mushroom and head tilted curiously.

He smiled, tail wagging. they didnt know how to talk he did, or they just prefer not to, which are both okay! he looked up to the mushroom aswell. "mushroom big. climbed once" he yipped, looking back. "friend flew me up. lots of cloud" he chirped, remembering the time Azrael got attacked by mushroom spores and passed out.

Venti looked up at the mushroom. "Big." They repeated carefully. When they realized, yes they can, in fact, speak their eyes lit up and they leapt to their feet. There are names for things and I can speak too! They thought before a realization hit them.

They didn't know this other fox's name.

"Venti." They said excitedly, holding a paw to their chest.

"Mushroom." They pointed at the large towering mushroom behind them.

"You?" They gestured at him wildly, almost hitting their own face in the process.

He was happily surprised as the other fox said their first word, he cant remember what his was, but hes sure it was something he heard off azzy.

he paused as the other asked for his name. what did he decide it was again? oh, right- "Forgraves!" he chirped. "call graves though if too long" he added. he knew his name was kinda long, and for most didn't really roll off the tongue.

"nice meet you, venti!" he yipped, smiling

Forgraves. Interesting. He seems nice enough. Venti makes a mental note of this fox and his name.

"Nice meet you, Graves!" They smile at him, teeth baring in what could be perceived in a less than welcoming way, "Big place? Bigger than mushroom?" They cock their head to the side as they ask.

He nodded "cave big, more cave too, some even bigger!" he yipped, stretching out his arms for dramatic effect.

"friend live in canis, this eridanus, more cave too! havent seen others" he chirped, tail wagging. "lots of pretty things!"

Big. That's very interesting. Although, they thought, as they looked up at the mushroom again, I don't think I want to see it just yet.

But maybe...

"You live here?" They gesture at the surrounding area, "You live, Er-Eridanus?" They stutter a little over the word, it's by far the biggest they've said yet.

he shook his head "live canis! hatch here!" he yipped, smiling. "lots of tall plants here, very pretty! come here sometimes to explore, or practice magics" he chirped, flicking an ear.