How long had it been since she'd last seen the stars? How long had it been since she introduced herself to that evil deer? How long? So long ago, it made her feel aged. The ruins were hidden beneath the shadows, making a landing a little difficult. Still, she managed it somewhat gracefully, panting herself atop one of the many crumbling structure. With a few blinks, the darkness became a little less blinding, her vision adjusting with the help of magicka. Slowly, she looked around, hoping someone was out there to fill her voided life, everything seemingly lost to this new abyss she'd awoken into. The cave was heavy on her heart, a mind wondering of old friends and their fates in all her time departed. And even deeper in her mind, she pondered, Is there any new life still coming into this bleak world? ---- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words Tag: @Hellebore

After her meetings with Zeno and Tuck fresh in her mind, she was curious. Both of them had brought light to her dark world and had shown her what she'd never even dreamed was possible. Curiosity towards her own gift burned within her, whispering a caveat of what might lay in store for her, and she needed to know.

So, placed in front of the young chick was a small pile of what she'd spent the day hours since she'd been awake gathering. It consisted of all sorts of things; seeds were among its primary amount, since she'd already had success with making them grow before. She'd also collected pebbles, some shells, and a tiny little scrap of metal that felt icy cold in her beak when she'd carried it back. Surely something would make her feel that tingling sensation again!

Helle closed her eyes tightly, reaching for that shivering, exciting feeling deep within her breast, and it answered her happily. From the pile shuddered a tendril of fresh growth that pushed other stones and seeds out of the way, curling, tiny leaves unfurling to the dark world. She called out happily, hopping around, making plentiful chirps and calls to anyone who might want to share her joy among many 'I did it!'s.

@gigatsuhali

At the sounds of the hatchling's voice, slitted yellow eyes awakened, pupils widening in the low light. The quiet sound of scales upon rock swayed back and forth as the predator gathered its sleep-languid coils to slither its way towards its perceived prey. A forked tongue darted out to smell the delicious new life it desired, and the serpent's leisurely, sedate pace towards it was rife with pleasant thoughts of how the young thing's hollow bones would feel in its throat, how wonderful it would feel to sink its fangs into that sweet flesh.

The snake bid its time, however. There was no rush. It would be as silent as the grave until it was time to strike.

It was amazing, even in such low light. The world around her never failed to be boring, although sometimes very depressing. Today, however, was sure to be full of glee, as after a couple of passes she spotted a small, young bird, seemingly hopping around a pile of things. A smile curved the corners of her beak, the soft skin pulling. What a pleasant surprised! She began to hum, gliding down from her perch to the ground with a soft, but still audible Thud! For a few moments longer, Gigatsuhali watched from afar, then began to walk along the ground, never failing to feel a bit weird covering such a distance without her wings. Yet, there was a time it was all she did. How the time passed and oh how the memories seemed for clear, yet to far away. Regardless, now was a time of the present, and the present had an adorable youngster just ahead. "Hello!" the vulture cooed, feather ruffling, "What is a little bird such as yourself doing here all by yourself?" Of course, nobody really had parents. Everyone was able to venture this unusual place from their hatching day. So, she knew exactly why this bird was out by her lonesome; still, Gigatsuhali felt her motherly instincts kick into overdrive, demanding that she take on her ever-protective role... Which included wondering why the hell someone so small was so alone. ---- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words Tag: @Hellebore

Even amidst Helle's cries of joy, she heard the soft ruffling sound of feet upon stone, and she looked in the dark to see a very tall, feathered silhouette towering up above her. She hopped towards them, grinning as wide as her beak could let her, normal pleasant eloquence forgotten in her happiness. "Hello! What is a little bird such as yourself doing here all by yourself?" They asked her, and she laughed happily.

"I made, I made a seed grow! I can do it, it's my gift! Gift!" She opened her tiny wings and flitted a tiny little bit off the ground. "What's yours? Can you make lights? Or wind? Or rumbling?" She looked up at the new acquaintance with bright, wondrous eyes, knowing that whatever they would reply with would surely astound her, as every meeting she'd experienced had given her without fail.



@Gigatsuhali

The serpent was slow, careful, and above all, patient. Its movements were almost sluggish with its sedate pace, but in return, its low crawl upon the cave floor made no noise. It curled around rubble, hid behind a nearby building, watching, waiting, slithering in the newcomer's blind spot. Its prey was the hatchling. If it could catch the older bird, it would welcome its bones to its den, but it wasn't on its list of priorities.

It crept up to the youngling's back, inching its head up above the floor.....

and struck.

In a lightning strike, it had its coils around the hatchling's body and its fangs into the chick's breast, releasing its venom into its flesh, and immediately moved to retreat with its prize, ready for retaliation from the bigger gem.

The elder bird nearly melted as her new little friend expressed pure joy and excitement at her accomplishment. She took the time to look over the little plant that had popped from it's seed, ooing and aahing over it in a genuine fashion. The many questions about what she could do made her smile hugely. Her gem charged, ready to show off with a little Host spell-casting, but something disastrous happened, changing the course of her magicka. In a flash, a snake that had snuck upon them struck the chick. Gigatsu immediately began to panic, flapping her wings, feathers lashing about into the air and squawking menacingly, throwing out the first spell that came to mind. Snaked might not be the kind of species to vomit, but it would surely find a deep lack of enjoyment in feeling a nausea most other animals experienced in their lifetime. A foot aimed for the middle of the serpent, trying to snag it while her beak went to pinch the snake's head. All the while, her mind was freaking out and acknowledging the exact danger of her tiny friend; venom was involved. As she struggled with the situation at hand, screeching at the scaled predator, she contemplated her next move: What was going to save this little darling's life? ---- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words Tag: @Hellebore

The serpent was awash with pleasure at successfully snaring its prey, and it knew the other gem would try to steal its meal back from it. What is wasn't prepared for was the sudden wave of sickness that crept all along its body, forcing it to making regurgitating motions until it vomited frail rat bones upon the cave floor.

Next came the foot upon its middle, and the thrust aimed at its head. With a fluid motion, it dodged the beak aimed straight for it, and in return for the mysterious ailment the enemy must have caused, it flashed its fangs and struck at the second avian creature as well, its normally agile movement cut somewhat short by the talons upon its middle.

The little bird was free from the reptile's jaws and that was all Gigatsuhali truly wanted to accomplish, however, she now had a very angry snake underfoot. One who lashed out and managed to snag a fang in her skin on her cheek. She shrieked and flailed her wings, removing her foot only when she was sure she could sweep the unconscious babe away from the snake with the other. She held her wings out, making herself look even bigger to the lesser creature. Her face was on fire and she could feel the venom begin to work. Panic over the child turned into panic over own wellbeing; were they going to die? With a hard swallow, Giga determined the chick would not die, even if she had to. With a couple of loud clicks of her beak, she summoned cauterize....to no avail. Caught off guard by her failure, she yanked her attempted-bite away. What was she to do now? A stole glance toward the baby and the next move was clear. Gigatsuhali ran and scooped the tiny body up with her large beak, taking it with her. Against her best judgement, she took off into flight... safe from the snake, but not the venom. Without hesitation, she dove to a new location, hitting the ground hard and dropping Hellebore, then looking her over. "Please, stay alive little one," she pleaded sweetly, trying to think quickly on what to do next to save this hatchling. ---- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words Tag: @Hellebore

The snake felt its fangs sink in, removing itself with a mixture of pleasure and pride. What the bird did afterwards was of utterly no consequence to the serpent - the freshly dying avian flailed and gathered the smaller prey, retreating in its knowledge of failure, and the serpent watched it leave in satisfaction.

It gathered itself and slid back into the shadows, following the trail the avian left in its flight. It would soon gain its prize again once its venom had run its course, and it would collect its prize once they both lay dead upon the ground. It would watch, and it would wait.

[exit]