Panya was having fun. She thoroughly enjoyed this, and while she did nearly drown- the rewards of hunting much outweighed that.. small drawback. The girl's head tilted at the word magic, but she was beginning to realize that whatever words she didn't know, she soon saw. A perfect example, Peach Scone suddenly pointed out a fish- seemingly with little effort.

Panya let out a roar, which was really more of a squeaky chuff, and tromped once again through the water. "I will also use Super Cool Magic!" She cried, swatting at the churning waters below as it began to deepen. She didn't realize it, but she was beginning to swim- although little doggy paddles. Or kitty, rather.

Her toes grazed the bottom of the river, and she quickly turned around, not ready to venture too far out, lest she get swept away. Still, she could see the glints of metallic scales swimming around and away from her.

Dunking her head, Panya replicated her previous move of chomp chomp chomp and came up yet again with a wriggling little aquatic clamped between her canines. This time, she bit down hard on the head and tossed the slightly bloody lump towards Peach Scone. "Very good! Go go go Peach!" She yowled, encouraging the other gemling to catch the rest. She wanted to hunt every single fish here, her excitement was thick- and a little bloody, now.

@Peach Scone

Peach Scone raised an eyebrow as Panya cheerfully announced her Super Cool Magic and proceeded to just. Jump in. Swim. And catch the fish.

A tad anticlimactic, but I can't knock it if it works, it thinks, recalling their disastrous first hunt and the frustration as their magic failed them over and over again. Panya, at least, had caught it first try.

They purr with delight as Panya tosses them the fish. They catch it in their trembling cerata and set it down. It's still barely alive, but Peach Scone doesn't bother to kill it as they split open its belly with one clean stroke of their teeth and search for the shiny. It doesn't take long to discover the shining red stone replacing a rib, and its only when she tugs it free from their body and absorbs the stone into their mass of tendrils that they can finally slake their hunger.

"Thank you, Panya," it chirps once it's finished.

@Panya

Panya just blinked. Then, a second later, she breathed out a little, uncharacteristically quiet, ”…What.”

After another moment spent composing herself, the cub’s expression wrinkled in a look of eeeww- and while she didn’t vocalize said thought, it was clear as day. Luckily, Panya hadn’t forgotten her manners! Not that she had many. ”You are.. welcome.. I think,” She replied, licking her chops uncomfortably. ”Why.. Erm. Why?” She added, gaze roving over the mangled corpse and the now devoured shiny gem. She was honestly a little offended that Peach didn’t eat the flesh, considering that’s all the girl was interested in.

She almost asked if it was yummy.. but she didn’t know the phrase yet. Instead, she gave the fish a halfhearted sniff and batted it off to the side. Depending on Peach Scone’s response, maybe she would eat the glittery rocks too.

@Peach Scone

“I collect the shiny shiny stones,” they chirped, cerata quivering with uncharacteristic excitement, oblivious to Panya’s disgust. “Did you know that once you’re all grown and strong you can use those to create an ARMY? Also, they just look pretty.”

They hesitantly nudge the fish with a tentacle. “Do you…want the rest? I don’t need to eat much, considering I’m like 90% [redacted] anyhow, so…”

@Panya

"What's an army?" Panya puzzled, attempting to inconspicuously swat the corpse of the fish off into the river without Peach noticing (if she could whistle, she would). "They are pretty.." She added, humming in agreement. Perhaps it wasn't so crazy.

Eyes lighting up, Panya gestured towards the gem residing where she assumed Peach Scone's eye would be. "Is that a shiny, too? If so.." She tried to peer up towards her own ears, where she felt two lumps. The light sometimes reflected off of them just enough to be annoying, and so their existence was- if only barely- acknowledged by the cub. She now wondered if this was something every creature had. Bacchus did, didn't he? Considering he was her only point of reference other than Peach, she'd have to assume yes.

@Peach Scone

"An ARMY," she declared, greatly pleased to be able to educate another gembound with all of her (basically nonexistent) worldly wisdoms, "is a buncha people who love you lots! And they'll beat up people for you, and help you hunt, and will be dedicated to you till they DIE." She paused for breath, not noticing Panya shoving the fish away.

I want an army," she whispered conspiratorially. "A Big One, in the water. We could eat all the fish and drag ANYONE we didn't like into the water till they drown. That'd be funny."

"Yes, that's a shiny, and you have one too!" she chirped. "Most creatures do, I've noticed. But not the foodprey--or at least not all of them."

@Panya

Panya was moved by the creature's words. She nodded sharply with its speech, tail lashing behind her. Armies sounded cool. But... she didn't know how she felt about water quite yet.

"Hmm... I hope you get your army, Peach! Yes.. a big one. Super big! But won't the shinies be angry with you?" Panya leaned closer to Peach Scone, eyes big with the suspense of their conversation.

Why wouldn't the shinies be angry? They ate them! The cub sniffed and tossed her head at the thought of walking, talking rocks- which is exactly what she pictured when she thought of this so called army. She spent a few moments scanning the river surface again for fish, ears swiveled and still listening to whatever Peach may add.

@Peach Scone