to say forgraves had been having trouble was an understatement.
after becoming more familiar with his new potential group and friends, he realized his previous dream to heal instead of hurt could definitely be of use here, since it occurred to him people get hurt alot in these caves.

however, when trying to figure out how to on his own, most he was able to gather was water disinfects and moss absorbs blood, mostly due to the fact on his way here he fell, tripped and badly cut up his ankle, which, despite having treated it before, was still sore, red and unbearable to walk on. he was getting kinda tired of not really knowing anything. of being helpless.

however, during his travels, which were getting more frequent the more restless he became, he heard of a mysterious creature, some said who granted wishes to gembound who did good deeds, some said who made deals in return for great prices and questionable rewards, some said he was a nice guy, he wasn't sure what to believe but given his previous experience in the cave, he guessed it was likely the middle option. all he had to do was call him out by name.


"H-HELLO? COLLECTOR??" he called out, voice uneasy and nervous, but determined.

Another of them..?

"Mmm... Here... Yes?" came the crooning voice, a thoughtful sound, as though he'd just awoken. He hadn't; and here he was, leaning around the next corner, long black cloak a swathe of deeper darkness in the shadows beneath a rocky ledge.

Two crimson pinprick eyes regarded Forgraves with empty, presumably polite attentiveness; and he waited to see what this one wanted, next.

By the caves, there were a lot of them, lately...

@Forgraves

he flinched as the collector stepped into view, sighing in relief. for a moment he thought he was here for no reason, like he'd been tricked, but it seems he wasnt.

he smiled weakly, "a-ah! h-hello- s-sorry if i woke you, just-" he began. "i heard you made deals with gembound, for things..? thats- very vague i know sorry" he sighed. "i just- need some help. if you're too busy you don;t have to, of course-" he stammered, trying to be polite. you'd think hanging around azzy and banshy would get you used to tall looming figures. didn't, apparently.

"i-i recently found a group of gembound who were starting a group, a small.. town, i think, and i wanted to learn how to heal people, b-but.. i d-dont know much in regards to resources, and i.. dont use magic." he explained. "i was h-hoping you could give me something to help me out...? so i can h-help people, and stuff.."

"No, no, not at all," he crooned, softly; "My, you are a polite one. That is refreshing," he added, a smile in his voice.

And it was selfless.

"You are correct in that I do, indeed, make... exchanges; but perhaps you can give me a little more detail on what you'd like, hmm? There are many magics that can mend wounds, to some extent... and many objects that can help with this magic. I can offer one of those, perhaps..?"

@Forgraves

he smiled, he did his best to be polite, glad he made a good impression. he wondered if others weren't as nice, why wouldn't they be if he was willing to help? didn't make sense to him.

he nodded. "uhm.. w-well- i guess i was more seeking a source of knowledge, than anything." he admitted. "ive seen other gembound do things with plants and herbs to help heal themselves or others before, b-but i have to admit i don't have the best memory, and i d-don't like disturbing the lessers if i dont have to, so many forms of testing are off the table incase i accidentally ruin a food source for someone else.." he chirped.

"i-i'm not entirely sure how else to explain it, sincerest apologies" he peeped in apologies.

Well, this thing was... indecisive; but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It left the Collector rather open to several distinctly attractive possibilities.

The Collector pushed off from the bones, gesturing gently to Forgraves as he cleared his throat to speak. "Well, there is no shortcut to knowledge. Wisdom must be gained through experience," he told the fox in his most Ancient Philosopher sort of tone. "But though this walk must be taken alone, and certainly the hard way, there are two ways to ease such a journey. ...I realize you may not grasp these metaphors, but, the first is a map: a diagram, a thing that shows you where you are, and where to go. And the second is a cane, or good shoes, or... hm, anything that will keep you from stumbling, and support you on your journey."

The Collector thought, for a moment, studying Forgraves. "That is, I can offer something to offer you theoretical guidance in your own search for knowledge... or to provide a more... tangible response. -Do either of those sound interesting to you?"

@Forgraves

Forgraves walked a little closer. he listened intently, nodding along, pretending he understood a word of that.

he listened, thinking, expression confused. it was quite obvious he was having trouble quite understanding the collector, he didn't know what most of those items.. were. but the collectors tone put him to ease, surely this tall, dark stranger knew best, right?

he weighed the options in his head. he could find his way pretty okay usually. it'd be nice to remember exactly where certain things were but surely that'd get easier over time. but still... maybe that would be useful in other ways too.

that second one... he didn't get at first. infact it sounded odd. he didnt know what a cane or pair of shoes was, and while he was in no means graceful, its possible it was more metaphorical?


maybe not. guidance.. and something more direct... he threw them back in forth in his head. he landed on
the map. possibly by a want to prove himself in a way he CAN do it, even if he needs a little guidance. because who doesnt, right?

"the map...? t-that sounds... nice. u-useful! c-caves are big, yknow?" he chuckled. "t-that one?"

The Collector stared, for a moment.

Then he swept into a gesture, a sort of arm indication toward nothing in particular--"Purely so we do not misunderstand one another; the map is a metaphor, you see. Not literal, but it will help you. Now... the question comes down to... price. Not that you are not pleasant company, of course; and not that I do not adore well-behaved friends... Tell me, Forgraves; what do you have to offer me?"

And then he waited, red-dot eyes unblinkingly fixed upon the fox.

@Forgraves

he chuckled nervously, nodding in understanding. "o-of course, s-sorry" he chirped.

he thought for a moment. well he didn't think about that did he? he assumed it was tasks, but maybe it ranges depending on the person, what they want.

"w-well... um.." he contemplated. "im okay at hunting, i'd like to think? um- i like travelling, if you need me to take something somewhere or to someone, or if you need me to find something, im good at tracking things down, if i know what it looks like, maybe- and.." he thought. he paused. he thought back to when he hatched, the small dandelion azzy had given him. the one that, after pressing and fretting over, hoping he did it right, placed between his ear and his fur, where he kept it safe like a token of family and trust. he pulled it out, looking at it with hesitancy, but holding it up to the collector. "and this? i-its not alot, but.. i got it when i hatched from my dad, when i was still new to everything... guess its value is more sentimental, metaphorical, if anything.." he chirped.

The Collector listened, taking note. Hunting. 'Tracking things down.' That one almost made him laugh; if that were true, the fox wouldn't need him, would it? -Though, in fairness, Algol had to admit that he was the best... well, source of just about anything. So perhaps Forgraves had a point.

It then offered him a dead flower.

He stared at it for a long moment, the dried, pressed thing thing--watched as the fox somehow pulled it from behind one ear, holding it up in his jaws.

"...I wouldn't dare," he said, after a moment, no tone in his voice. "I am certain we can find something less... sentimental, hmm?"

He considered, for a moment, eyes flashing with a malicious thought. He could-... But no, that went over the line-... But then, everything had been so boring, lately... And it wasn't like Aquarian would ever actually come out of his stupid hole.

The Collector leaned forward, his voice dropping into a conspiratorial near-whisper. "Since you aren't asking much, I suppose I can give you an easy task--but do not tell anyone else, hm? They wouldn't think it fair, and I don't want to hurt any feelings." He paused, and smiled. His hand delved into his robes. "Take this," he told Forgraves, drawing a glass vial of some strange, dark green liquid, "and--no questions asked--bring it to Cetus. -Do you know where that is? It is a swamp, quite far from here. I will give you directions, if you need it. But if you follow the water's edge--the shore around the deeper lake, that is; the whole swamp is water--you will find a towering pile of meat. Pour this over it, and return to me, and I will grant you what you seek."

A pause.

A smile, the glint of white teeth beneath the hood, and they were sharp.

The vial, offered out in one clawed hand.

"Do we have a deal..?"

@Forgraves