So this creature's name was Kaimana. Mayfal wondered how true that was, and if they should be completely honest themself. The tone was rather sincere, but this only made Mayfal more cautious. What creature would be calm after just being attacked? "Kaimana" must be planning something more. So Mayfal had to plan ahead of her.

They paused and thought about how they'd answer the question. "...My name is Lutem," they lied. "And I demand to know your business here!"

@Kaimana

"Lutem?" Kaimana cocked her head slightly to the side, playfully. "Ah, that name will be a hard one to rhyme, but it certainly is very pretty! Don't worry, my name gets harder to rhyme anything with each time I try." Lutem sounded so pleasant. Kind of cool. Lutem 'demanded to know her business here'. Kaimana couldn't help but chuckle yet again. "My business! I was just collecting some things of interest. I need them for a creature I'm expecting the arrival of. Soon they will hatch, just as you and I did. Would you like to help me?" Kaimana phrased it like an option, but she was actually going to consider it 'payment'. Every interaction was a cycle, a trade, and Kaimana found it fun to keep that cycle spinning 'round and 'round.

Although, since she'd given Lutem a choice, Kaimana began to recognize the possibility of rejection. Lutem could indeed say no, and that wouldn't be a problem! It would just raise a question. "...unless there's something else you're busy with! What is someone so young doing here anyways?" This room was a rather stormy, unfriendly, and lonely one. You had to be very comfortable with things like being wet, a lot, if you wanted to live here. Others just visited, but it felt rare to the jaguar. She barely ever met any visitors, it seemed. So she couldn't help but wonder.

@mayfal

Mayfal was starting to get annoyed. And hungry. What would anyone be looking for anyway besides food? And what kind of creature could laugh so much?!

"I have been trying to hunt!" They said through a scrunched muzzle. They were trying to bear their teeth as much as possible to highlight their (few) strengths. "So yes, I am VERY busy with something else. You'll have to keep looking for...THINGS on your own. But don't bother me while you do it!"

Mayfal kept their chin raised, as a way of hiding their single most devastating vulnerability. Under their paws, though, there were massive vibrations and instinct compounded with fatigue drew their head downward.

@Kaimana

It seemed as though Lutem's tone was turning sour. Oh, had Kaimana done something wrong? She felt a little confused and a little dumb in that moment for not realizing what social cues she'd missed. Perhaps it was all her laughing? Oh no! Did the little one not feel respected? Kaimana's playful demeanor dropped down to one more serious, one that could be construed as more respectful hopefully. "Ah! Hunting, I see. That is very important. I'm sorry if I've been bothering you, Lutem. I will try to stay out of your way." With that, Kaimana would force herself to pick up her gemstone and turn away. It felt bad to know that she'd annoyed someone-- that she'd bothered or disrespected them. She should've been more aware of her surroundings!

She began to wonder if Lutem having attacked her had been an accident. If the little one had mistaken her for some prey and had been embarrassed, maybe tried to cover it up somehow. She felt guilty now. Oh well, you can't always win, right? She had what she came for. Lutem had made it clear that her presence was unwanted. She would simply do as was requested, go looking elsewhere. "I hope you have a good hunt," she would say before finally walking off to continue searching.

Alas, still nothing is all she would find. Drat. Maybe the ocean was trying to stave off her greed again.

@mayfal

Mayfal was having a hard time processing what had happened. Kaimana had...actually done what they asked? And without seeming offended either. No, Kaimana wasn't offended. It sounded more like she'd been...hurt.

Oh, no. A terrible twisting sensation started to build in Mayfal's gut. What had they done? They were always so quick to judge but as what cost? They needed to attempt another attack. This time, one of kindness!

Mayfal followed after the sound of shifting pebbles; larger creatures tended to move faster, quite frustrating. Mayfal's small legs couldn't make up the difference, but their voice could!

"KAIMANA! WAIT!"

@Kaimana

Kaimana was still coming up empty. That didn't make her feel any better. She'd only gotten one treasure, and it might not even be the kind the serandite could play with! Ah, well, if the ocean didn't want her around either at the moment, that was also fine...

'KAIMANA WAIT!'

The call was faint, but once Kaimana heard it her paws came to a full stop. She looked back. Oh, it was Lutem. They seemed to be... chasing after her? Kaimana would turn around to face Lutem again. "Y-Yes?" Confusion would be easy to detect on Kaimana's face. Had she done something else wrong? Gah, that would be terrible, just terrible if she had!

@mayfal

Mayfal's yelling had worked. The pebbles stopped shifting, which was good. But now they didn't know where to stop exactly. They estimated based on Kaimana's response where to slow down. Then they sat still and caught their breath. They could hear her breath, too. Good. This might be close enough.

"I-" No, they didn't want to sound pathetic. They had to be cautious, not completely vulnerable. There was still no telling what could happen.

"You said you need help finding...things." Mayfal made sure to make their voice unwavering. Maybe a little indignant, too. "Well, I need help with my hunting. Maybe we can help each other. As a sort of transaction or trade." Mayfal kept their head very still as well. They didn't wan't to give off the fact that they could not see. They were fine with being a little generous, but never without caution. Never to be taken advantage of.

@kaimana

Lutem stopped in front of her, and made, to her surprise, a deal. Ohohoho! Kaimana couldn't turn that down. She smiled; it was sincere, warm, not a lick of amusement in there. She smiled quietly, still unaware that the creature before her couldn't see it. Kaimana had never met someone who couldn't see before, she didn't know the physical signs.

"A trade?" she echoed, the interest obvious in her voice. "I would love to make a trade with you!" Trades were one of her favorite things! The cycle was back, flowing better than ever before! "How may I help you? And then, how are you willing to help me?" Honestly that last question had a bit of a double meaning. Kaimana wouldn't be too surprised if Lutem didn't catch it. She was still kind of... mystified by the fact that she had been so quickly forgiven for her disrespect, or failure to read social cues. Maybe her own guilt had made Lutem feel guilty. If that were the case, then it seemed they were at an empathy impasse there.

Maybe that impasse was exactly what the cycle needed to keep flowing. The balance! Kaimana would await Lutem's offer details, placid glee beginning to return to her heart like a spring of fresh water becoming unblocked by the act of breaking down a dam.

@mayfal

A trade was struck! Mayfal supposed as such. Kaimana certainly sounded approving, and a quickening heartbeat was very obvious, but she didn't seem to fully understand what they had meant. Perhaps more obvious terms were in order.

More slowly, Mayfal explained, "I'll help you look for some things, and you'll help me find my next meal. Do those terms sound agreeable?"

@Kaimana

More items for a meal? Kaimana would make sure it was the finest meal she could find. She gave an affirmative nod (although that was a useless gesture) and sealed it with a "They do indeed! We have a deal." One quick question though. "By the way, do you like fish?" It was important to know! While Kaimana could catch a plethora of meaty things, being the species that she was, but fish was her specialty.

@mayfal