Peach hungers.

The hunger burns in it, roaring so hot that if they were not borne of helium they'd be up in flames by now. They're surrounded by crystal in the strange palace gardens, glittering and vibrant and so very captivating, but they do not smell of life. They do not satiate the hunder.

They wonder if other creatures have the same stones within them. Perhaps one of the birds that flutters about, their plumage so breathtaking they're a jewel in their own right?
They haven't figured out how to float any higher, though.

"Help," they say, small and tentative, not sure how to voice their request. Then louder. "Help!"

All is beautiful. This cave, the birds, and the entire world that they have seen so far. They miss their home cave where they twice emerged, but they are enjoying seeing beyond that place as well. As of yet, they haven't encountered any speaking creatures so far as they are aware.

So the distant cry for help catches Cadenza by surprise momentarily. They take flight, soaring over to where the sound came from. The deer-dragon hybrid looks around before their gaze falls on the far smaller creature looking up at birds. Most creatures are smaller than them, they are learning. So far, only their dad defeats their size.

"Hello," Cadenza spoke the greeting in their musical tone. "I am Cadenza- Are you the one that needs help? What do you need help with?" For all their size, Cadenza is a gentle giant. They glance around. "Are you trying to catch the birds? Are you hungry?" Their lyrical voice is clearly full of concern.

The birds flutter about just out of reach. The light catching their iridescent feathers. Taunting them. Strings of glistening drool drip from their jaws as their breath quickens.

With a jolt, it turns--she didn't expect anyone to answer. The stranger is huge, towering over them, and has such captivating antlers.

She takes a moment to speak.

"...Yes," she rasps, sounding out the word. "I am...hungry."

This smaller stranger certainly sounded desperately hungry. Cadenza felt their worries skyrocketing. So, even though the deer-dragon hybrid usually didn't prey upon living creatures after the discovery that they could eat plants, they did not hesitate.

Dragon jaws suddenly snapped towards the flock of rainbow birds they had previously admired, trying to catch a significant number of them in their sizeable mouth. Cadenza needed to make sure this stranger was not hungry. They were uncertain how much food a creature smaller than them would require, though.

Hence trying to catch a large amount.

But Cadenza only caught a few, barely successful as the birds scattered. Still, they deposited the captured bird corpses in front of the other speaking being. "Will this work?" They ask with concern.

Peach Scone's magic instinctively searches for things Like It once more. The vibrant scattered feathers are beaded with gore, and the bird carcasses are slightly smashed--and still their maw waters uncontrollably as they bend down and noisily snap up the prey, hoping to feel the hard clack of stone against their teeth. But they only meet marrow and bone shards.

It stops, swallows, and bows before the statuesque creature.

"Thank you for the birds, though I still hunger," she says. "What is your name?"

Oh! Introductions! Had they forgotten to do such? They thought they had, but then again, this being had been starving clearly. So, if their own name had been forgotten because of that, the deer-dragon hybrid truly didn't mind.

The bowing was a bit awkward though, and it visibly flustered the larger gembound. "You do not have to bow! I am Cadenza, child of Dread," They proudly added the latter bit to their lyrical introduction this time. "I am sorry I could not catch more of the birds... Oh! What is your name?"

Peach Scone snaps upright immediately. "Apologies, apologies!" she says hastily. "I only meant to show respect, somehow. Gratefulness for the gift."

Interacting with others is so very difficult, it thought ruefully, remembering their first string of disastrous interactions after hatching. But still, this powerful, noble creature--Cadenza, they reminded themself--would make a good ally, and it would do well to make a good first impression. Show respect, prove themself useful, and perhaps they'd help her get more shinies... A mutually beneficial relationship.

Speaking of proving herself useful.

The birds are still far too high. But the unstable magic that pulses within her heart might be able to use the tree they roost in against them.

They close their eyes for a moment, concentrating...

And nothing happens.

They open their eyes, biting down a screech of raw frustration. They must be calm, composed, dignified, if they wish to retain Cadenza's favor. (They think.)

"Cadenza," they say softly, "How does one use the...magic?"

@Cadenza

"There is no need for you to apologize," Cadenza tried to reassure in their naturally elegant and musical voice. "Gratitude is good. Respect is also good," They confirm. The deer-dragon had no idea that the littler creature had put them on a pedestal, or they would have felt quite embarrassed. They were equal to any other speaking being, regardless of their size or appearance.

The other being seemed to focus on something, though nothing happened when the being opened its eyes. It missed the question Cadenza had asked regarding its name, Cadenza thought. Unless... "Do you have a name yet?" They inquired politely.

It is a soft and polite being, they decide when it asked Cadenza about magic. "One must focus, and then pull the energy within you outwards, in my limited experience. But it does not always work, and this is okay. Practice helps."

Cadenza attempts to demonstrate magic with the goal of making the air slightly cooler. They focus on their breathing, and then the air around them. It cools.

"I cooled the air, you may have noticed. That is my magic, working with temperature. Visualizing your desired result also helps, I believe," Cadenza adds, trying to help.

Peach Scone's pelt/cerata/what the fuck fluffed up to protect them from the cold, and their dual-toned eyes glittered with awe. "That's quite fascinating," they said.

"I want to be...Good," they said at length. She almost dips her head again before catching herself. Damnit.

"My magic is...raw. Destructive, I think, the kind I need to catch those lovely birds..." their jaws begin to water once more. "But it also senses and feels and it's looking. Looking for things like it."

They train their gaze on two birds fluttering on a wiry tree branch. Do they carry the lovely, glittering shinies?

Focus. Pull outwards.

Nothing. Again.

Now they allow themself a snarl. "Didn't work," they sighed.

"You seem very good," Cadenza tried to reassure the smaller, younger being. They understood insecurities, and to them the hesitation combined with the wording made them think that this creature was like them in that way.

Whatever this being was trying to do, it was not succeeding. "Magic is hard. Even my dads, who are both much more experienced in magic than I, fail at times. I have seen it happen. But I believe in you. You can learn," The deer-dragon attempted to comfort.

Magic came relatively easy to Cadenza, but they thought about what advice might be helpful to this other being. "...Maybe try describing what you are attempting out loud in an attempt to further visualize and focus?" They suggested after a brief pause to think.