In a particularly desolate corner of the already empty tunnel K was a small orb made out of clear crystal. Within that crystal was a plainly visible... something. Unlike most gembound, it wasn't curled up in a fetal position. It simply filled up space, floating in the liquid that buffered it from touching the crystalline shell that entrapped it. It drifted slowly in the cramped space it was allotted, until a stray bit of a rock formation on the ceiling crumbled and cracked the orb's surface.

That little crack was all that was needed.

All it needed was enough space to shove it's own shard of Calcite through- which it had. It oozed out like blood from a wound, pouring out onto the cold stone floor. It took a moment to accumulate to it's surroundings. Cold. Dark. Still. Something about the air of the place unnerved it in it's questionable amount of sentience. But more importantly was the lack of anything but stone. No plants, no animals. No organic matter of any kind. This was bad.

It was hungry.

So, like a weird little slug, it slithered out in search of... anything, really.

This tunnel is... so barren, Tourmaline thinks to herself, moving on through it. She'd spent a short while in Naskital's company in Orion, and later left to stash her new box and trinket in a corner of Polaris. It wasn't her final choice of home, but it would do for now.

After she had finished that, she'd decided to head the other direction from Orion. Exploring dry caves she'd never been to before, Tourmaline hopes whatever room awaits her at the end of Tunnel K isn't as barren as it.

Well, seems it's her lucky day, as the sound of a cracking crystal announces that she's probably not alone. She feels out with her magic, feeling for any Gembound presence, as she calls out with her loud but not harsh voice, "Hello?"

@You

It was indeed a gembound- although it's stone was hidden deep within it's amorphous body. Pawsteps scent slight tremors into it's jellied form, and the louder voice brought this full force. It was aware of two things, now: that it was not alone, and that whatever it was, it was too big to be food. For a brief moment, it spread out it's matter so it was a flat, hidden smear across the floor. But then it was aware of how close its Nucleus and gem was to the outside air. Then it extruded upward, into a skinny cylindrical tower nearly a foot and a half tall. This, too, felt unsafe. It wobbled uncertainly, before settling into a squat dome-shaped lump.

But it wasn't done. This whole time it was sort of a dull off-white color speckled with tiny dark dots. It didn't really have a concept of color, not having eyes and all that, but it had an instinctual understand of how and when to change color. It couldn't simply hide- not when it was already found- but there was another useful type of coloration.

Aposematism.

It's surface was consumed with starbursts of yellow, followed by orange and red. Many, many of these- like blooming flowers or mini explosions. It's body vibrated intensely as it did this, like a stormy ocean. Maybe this would simply confuse or intrigue Tourmaline. Maybe it would scare her as intended. Who can ever predict cats?

@Tourmaline

There wasn't much use trying to hide from Tourmaline - she'd already used her magic to sense You's presence. Carefully stepping closer, she stops when the blob forms a tower. That had showed up out of nowhere. But then it flops back down, a rounded blob.

Well, might as well find out what it is. Another few steps closer, and Tourmaline looks down at the... thing. "What-" she starts, but stops when it starts flashing all sorts of colors.

She's startled, but she doesn't jump or run like You probably hoped. She just kinda, stares, trying to figure it out. "...are you?"

@You

It shuddered back at each pawstep, conveying fear- or atleast wariness- despite it's alien appearance. It did not have such a complex and fine-tuned structure as an ear- all it had was it's own body, really. All sound was muffled and incomprehensible. But it did sense.. a non-deadliness from whatever was confronting it.

It stilled slightly- although not completely. With a sort of cautious curiosity it reached out a pseudopod towards the loud, living something. If Tourmaline allowed it to touch her, it's pseudopod would feel squishy and cold, slimy but not sticky. Odd rippling colors of intrigue striped along this appendage, fading where it connected to it's main body.

@Tourmaline

On Tourmaline's side, it just seemed like... a little blob. She feels bad when it trembles - maybe she got to close? But it's not like she's stopping it from running.

She watches as the little not-quite-an-arm reaches out. She pulls back a little at first, before relenting at reaching a paw back to it. Touching You is an odd sensation, to say the least. So... wiggly.

She raises her voice again, not quite aware it can't understand her. "You okay there little guy? Did you just hatch or something?"

@You

It 'tastes' sweat and fur and dead skin cells. It's limb lingers for a moment, presses closer, and then retracts suddenly, taking with it some shed fur that stuck to it's slick surface. This scrap of matter was really just a morsel, but it was satisfying nonetheless.

The sound- the voice- continues, and it senses a pattern in the vibrations. Meaning is still evading it, but it has a clue- a pattern. It can do patterns.

Like ripples on a pond, gentle stripes of grey and peach and cream. Calm and curious and friendly.

@Tourmaline

You know what, this thing is kinda cute, she decides, watching it slowly pull back from her. She's not exactly sure what her next plan is to proceed, but maybe the little thing wants some company? It is awfully barren in here.

Tourmaline smiles as You shifts colors. It seems friendly enough. "Are you trying to say hello? Well, hey. I'm Tourmaline."

@You

It feels a different kind of hunger, now. It wants to understand. It wants to know what the sounds means. It knows that there is a gap, a substantial difference between it and the creature it's talking to. And it wants to Close the gap.

It only knows the literal way to do that.

If Tourmaline allows it, it will slink forward and slither up her arm, settling onto her back. It's kind of like having a large, living water balloon attached to your back. If rejected, it will sit in a dejected puddle, pulsing green and blue.

@Tourmaline

They both stand there for a moment, Tourmaline trying to figure out her next course of action. She feels bad leaving the little guy alone in this tunnel.

At least You seems to have an idea. She pulls away, startled for a moment by it grabbing on, but she relents and lets You climb onto her back. "You want to come with me? I don't mind."

She takes a few steps down the tunnel, making sure the little blob is secure.

@You