Arquia watched as Carja's paw reached up, but she only felt a small feeling of fear, which had been mostly quelled by the dragon's nice actions. She watched her slice the peach with a talon, and place it back on her head. The small dragon approached the peach again, but seeing it was still a bit too big, she tried using her own claws to cut it herself. Her tiny talons making barely a scratch on the peach, she scrabbled at it with full force, only to find she had made a shallow dent. "Can't cut." Arquia had never felt more useless in her life, even though she had been born recently. She couldn't even eat a peach, or cut it either! She briefly reconsidered Carja's offer of going to see her family, but pushed it away again.

@Carja

"That's okay!", Carja reassured, "Try again. Or if you can't, you could ask for help! I'm happy to assist."

She smiled up at Arquia and flicked her tail happily, watching a rabbit skitter across the game trail she'd been following, humming softly. She was still a bit hungry, but that was okay, she'd live until Arquia was safe.

"You can do it," Carja said softly, crossing one paw over the other as she waited for the dragon to cave and ask for help, or to do it herself.

Somehow she knew that one or the other would determine the young dragon's way of going about things. Both were good in their own ways, but she herself much preferred a balance. Asking for help when you needed it, but doing things yourself when you could. Independence was as important as trust.

@Arquia

Arquia knew that it was not good to ask for help, she needed to learn how to do this by herself! Even though Carja would be happy to, independence was something she had to learn. And so, the small dragon set her claws back to work at the peach.

Little by little, her sharp talons chipped away at the peach until it was cut all the way through. It was a jagged line of course, but at least it had worked. She took a big chomp, and swallowed it. Huh, it was pretty sweet! And not poisonous, too, since she had picked it herself. Once she finished eating the small pieces, she found that she was full. Even though it was only half a peach, she was a tiny dragon.

Arquia considered saving the half for later, but decided against it. She tapped her on the nose. "Half for you!" The half could probably be eaten in one bite for the huge dragon, but it was the offer that mattered.

@Carja

Carja perked up and cooed happily, opening her mouth and flicking her tongue out to grab the peach, letting the taste spread across her tongue before she swallowed it.

"Thank you!", she said, tail wagging happily, "Oh that was so kind of you! I haven't had fruit other than melons in a while!"

She yawned and purred away happily, eyes scrunching up, "Are you still hungry, or are you done?"

Arquia might be tiny, but Lass managed to chomp down more than Carja had when they were smaller, so she wouldn't underestimate this child's appetite. So she stood up and walked forward slowly, idly searching for any melons or things that she herself could eat and feel full on too.

@Arquia

A quick swipe of her tongue and the peach was gone. Arquia nodded at Carja's thanks, and laid down on her head. "Full." Just thinking about eating more made her dizzy, that peach was awfully filling! The small dragon would never have dared to admit it, but for a moment she felt safe.

Perhaps... the no did not come as easily this time, but it was still there. Perhaps later, when she was more sure that it would be the right thing to do. Noticing that Carja was searching around for something, she looked around too. Maybe she was still hungry! That peach was probably barely anything for her.

Arquia's eyes picked out yet something else from among the trees. She was good at this fruit finding! It was because her eyes were made for it of course, her being a forest dragon after all, and a herbivore at that. "Red! Red!" she exclaimed, tugging at Carja's horn with her tail in the direction of some red fruits.

@Carja

Carja's head went up again and she hummed, craning her head and very delicately picking the red fruits, popping them in her mouth and humming in delight, "Oh these are good too- so good!!"

She nearly hit her braincase on the branch above, wheezing as she ducked her head down, her enthusiasm getting the best of her, "Sorry!! I love fruit- I'm so glad there are this many or I'd never get full!"

She ate until her stomach was fat, and she toddled off to find a place to nap, purring up a storm.

"Y'know what dragons do after they eat a bunch?", she said, finding a nice rock in the sun, "They nap! We can rest and our bodies recharge while we're asleep, so you wake up feeling rested!"

Carja laid down and curled up, setting her head on the ground and sighing happily, "I love food..."

@Arquia

Arquia was tempted to try one of the red berries too, Carja seemed to enjoy them very much! But she was full, and didn't want to eat anymore. The dragon's head started to move towards the branch above them, and she flattened herself on the dragon's head as much as she could. They were going to crash! But luckily the dragon caught herself in time, and ducked down.

Nodding at Carja's words, she stayed on the dragon's head until she lowered it to the ground, laying on the rock. Some of that sleep sounded nice, but Arquia didn't think it would be a good idea to be so vulnerable around her, even though she had already learned that Carja wasn't going to hurt her. Take no chances.

Hopping lightly off the dragon's neck, she landed on the rock. "Where I find you?" Just in case she would need help later on. She was leaving.

@Carja

Carja hummed, "Well... Cetus, it's a swampy room, or Monoceros, where my family is. It has a giant tornado in it!"

She clapped her hands together excitedly before pausing, "Wait, you're leaving? Already?"

She craned her head and frowned, "Could you stay? At least for a little bit? I don't want you getting eaten out there. Not that you would... but..."

She tapped her claws together and looked away, sagging a bit. She always liked kids, and it was sad that this one seemed so eager to leave. Maybe she was too enthusiastic.

@Arquia

Arquia added those names and descriptions to her mental list, both didn't sound pleasant at all. She would only go visit if needed, if she ever will. "Yes." the dragon's tone changed... was that sadness?

"I-- I be okay. You no worry. I go." With a small dip of her head, she charged full speed into the trees. A small part of her said that she would miss Carja, but going away was the right thing to do for now. Perhaps she could visit her later, perhaps. But she paused behind a tree, watching from behind it to see what Carja would do. Did she really care if she left?

@Carja

Carja stared in the direction that Arquia left, sagging gently.

"... Bye," she mumbled, setting her head down and curling up.

She stopped purred, saddened and worried for the little creature, barely an hour old and already off on her own. though she had been too. Off on her own, fending for herself... but everyone ought to have a family, right?

Her eyes closed and she curled up tighter, sighing. She thought so, at least.

Exit Carja to sleep.
@Arquia