He hated the ice-tunnel. His coat was nowhere near thick enough to protect him from the blistering winds or the icy-cold water dripping from the ceiling and onto his back. There was no relief from it, even after he trotted out of the tunnel and into this next room.

He slowed down into a relaxed walk, though it didn't help his limbs (which were beginning to feel stiff). He was suprised at first, by the amounts of flowing water. Perhaps this room was the reason why Canis was suffering from so much water-loss, but this thought was quickly shoved out of his head.

He didn't waste much time in moving to sit down, huddled between two boulders for warmth. Carefully and quietly, he began licking his mottled coat clean.




________________

for the murders of those i court

i bless the hour that holds your fall, i will kill you all

I was cold, the atmosphere frigid as it caressed my multihued fibers. It's chilly tendrils running through each strand stroked ashen carapace, causing chills to cascade down every sinewy limbs and aspect. Lavender lenses were instantly drawn to the massive waterfall, observing it as I was careful to avoid falling into that deathly water. Besides my cautious state around the water, my step was rather confident and peppy. Playful, almost, as I then caught the scent of another. Who was here with me? I needed to sniff them out, prove to everyone that I have a wonderful sense of smell. Because, well, weren't they arguing that I didn't? Whatever. Working nostrils stuck toward the rock-like ground, following the aroma until I was directed to the source. I stood in front of it, the multicolored thing with massive ears. I peered at it with curiosity, grimacing to the point that my countenance was contorted in all sorts of ways. Ears fell limply, as my tail gave a flick.

"what are you?"

I asked blatantly, sincerely wondering what I was looking at. And although rather eye catching, Strange as ever.

"spoken words"

;; xender

template by eliza @ tb & adoxography

The pup jerked, eyes wide and ears perked. He'd been asked who he was before, or how he was, but never... what. He wasn't sure what he even was, when he thought about it.

"I'm bones?" the pup didn't even sound that sure himself. He shifted uncomfortably, quickly licking his forelegs. "Who are you?"


________________

for the murders of those i court

i bless the hour that holds your fall, i will kill you all

he seemed utterly confused when i asked him what he was. he didn't know? i watched him curiously as he then replied with his name. i giggled, silly bones! i didn't ask his name!

"silly pup! i asked what you were, not what your name is!"

i couldn't help but continue to giggle a bit, but then realized that it may be rude to laugh at the poor pup. he was, however, as new as i was. maybe older, maybe younger? i wasn't sure.

"like, i'm a wolf. and my name is xender."

i said proudly, chin elevating slightly as i looked from floor to bones. the giggle dissipated though the grin remained.

"you don't know what you are?"

i asked, truly saddened the boy might not know what he is. all gembounds should know what they are. but perhaps not all of them were as lucky as i was to be rescued by leon and makyna. i could be like them, i could help bones. they'd like that.

"spoken words"

;; xender

template by eliza @ tb & adoxography

Bones stared at Xender, stupidly wide-eyed. He was obviously older - he had already grown gangly long legs, and his round ears were stupidly oversized. He was sure he'd grow into those, however.

He knew he wasn't a hyena like his mother. Too many white blotches were scattered across his coat. He wasn't a wolf like Xender, or Miller, because his ears were too big and his body was too scrawny. He wasn't a bird like Bevy for the obvious reasons and he was too pathetic to be a lion like Usui.

So, what was he?

"I don't know," whimpered the puppy, ears dropping to flatten against the sides of his head. "I'm Bones."



________________

for the murders of those i court

i bless the hour that holds your fall, i will kill you all

truly, it was depressing he hadn't a clue as to what he was. and i wished i could help him more with it, but i simply couldn't. he seemed different, and he wasn't a wolf, bear, or lion. i eyed him, scrutinizing him without mercy unintentionally as i came forward a bit, still scoping him out. i refrained from touching him, though, unwilling to create bad energy between us. you know, in case he was one of those personal space worshipers. in any case, i felt bad for bones. i forced a smile, and let pale lavender lenses glide up to him.

"well bones, it's nice to meet you!"

i then took it upon myself to look at my paws, then back at his. hm, they were similar, save for the hue of course. our ears were different, i could remember from my reflection that mine were not as large as bones's. our legs were similar, but he was much taller already. his legs like stilts, mine a bit stockier but not by much. his coat pattern was peculiar, rather eye catching. maybe he'd feel better knowing i thought he was pretty?

"well, you certainly are pretty!"

my tail wagged, sweeping across the rock flooring, occasionally veering up wards to create a 'whack!' noise which echoed in small ricochets.

"spoken words"

;; xender

template by eliza @ tb & adoxography

@Bones

Despite the compliment, the pup didn't look any less distressed, though it did rather briefly distract him from having a mental breakdown over what species of dog he was. He hadn't been called pretty before, but he's only talked to exactly four people before. He shifted somewhat, licking his muzzle.

"Th-thank you," he stammered. "I think you're pretty, too?"

He was unsure, obviously, but Xender was the first female he'd ever met without something toxic stuck in her coat. At least, he hoped there was nothing posionious in her coat. Maybe all girls had poison coats?

An ear twitched as he quickly dismissed this train of thought, looking around Pisces.



________________

for the murders of those i court

i bless the hour that holds your fall, i will kill you all

he seemed uncertain about everything, as if he was bored of me already. i grimaced, watched him intently with pale lavender eyes as i was unsure what he was so preoccupied with. was i that boring? such a thing could guarantee for this conversation to end quickly, and i wasn't so sure it would be by my doing. my shoulders sank in disappointment, frowning slightly. i could leave the boy alone, if he so wished. he looked back towards pisces, and i wondered if that's maybe where he lived as well. if not, i'd leave this rather merry boy to himself while i could explore more.

"do you live in pisces?"

i asked him, contralto tones laced in sheer curiosity. did he know makyna and leon too? maybe they'd taken him in, and was my secret step brother. and maybe not, which would be okay too.

"spoken words"

;; xender

template by eliza @ tb & adoxography

@Bones

"Pisces?" asked the dog. It must be what this place was, like how Canis was called Canis. The painted dog licked his nose before he continued. "I live in Canis. I'm exploring everywhere in case we run out of water."

Canis was a long way, now. It was on the other side of the caves (though he couldn't guarantee that, for sure). There was a slight pause before the pup shifted and asked, "Where do you come from?"


________________

for the murders of those i court

i bless the hour that holds your fall, i will kill you all

oh no, run out of water? could such a thing happen? i wasn't fond of the thing myself, it was actually quite scary, dangerous in fact. but as leon and makyna had said, it was essential to all life. brows knitted in sheer concern for bones and his family, as i'd only assumed due to the fact he'd said 'we'. i wasn't too foolish though, it didn't guarantee that he did have a family. i hoped he did, everyone deserves a family. friends.

"canis? where's that? i live in pisces, yeah."

i did in fact wonder where canis was. what was canis? another area, for sure. but how big was this cave? how many rooms, places, and how many families? were we all just one big family? i had so many questions but i didn't want to pressure the adolescent with such things, for he didn't look much older than i was, but i couldn't guarantee that, either. i gave a soft huff before softly asking,

"run out of water? that sounds terrible. pisces has lots of water, i should know."

i said semi-angrily, grimacing at the mere memory of my awakening.

"spoken words"

;; xender

template by eliza @ tb & adoxography

@Bones