Kaimana was very excited for the arrival of the hatchling. Her eager anticipation made it hard for her paws or her mind to take a break. What could it possibly require when it hatched, and then passed that, as it grew? What would she have wanted in her youth? Pets. Fish. Something to entertain herself with. Friends! Kaimana always wanted friends. She wanted to be good company to her own child, once it came. So that they would always have someone to talk to. But she also wanted them to be able to make their own friends, if that's what they wanted. Social skills... Kaimana couldn't collect social skills from this island, could she?

No, but she could collect some other fun things! It wouldn't make sense to hunt for the child yet; any fish she caught would likely go bad long before it hatched. But bones! Stones! Some interesting things to look at any play with! That she could collect. She could even CREATE!

Maybe, at some point, she'd travel out and ask Pride or anyone who seemed knowledgeable about stuff hatchlings needed. Shelter, safety, warmth, food, all that she could provide. But was there anything else she was missing? Forgetting? Oh, it was so easy to fret, but Kaimana knew staying calm would be more productive.

To distract herself, she would begin her search for something of interest along the shore of this vegetated island.

Mayfal practicing their hunting skills on Moon Island. They could feel the plants tickling their ankles, and could sometimes hear a mouse skittering around. Catching it was a rather frustrating ordeal, though, and so, being on the coast, they often retreated to the water. Submersing themself in the lukewarm liquid relaxed them. Enough so that they might have the energy to attempt hunting again.

After about the 4th or 5th bath, Mayfal was feeling energetic once again. They lifted their nose above the water and immediately smelled something...fishy. Mayfal decided to bring their ears above the water as well; there was a low rumbling sound coming from the shore, directly in front of her. This could mean danger, and wherever there's danger, there are heated paws.

@Kaimana

Fornax's depths were vast and mysterious — Greaters seldom bore witness to the many treasures and secrets they held, except for what happened to wash ashore following storms and high tides. Kaimana was an expert of discovery, at this point, looking in just the right place.

Water lapped at the pebbly shore ahead of her. Standing out against the dull grey stones was what appeared to be a piece of ruby. Upon closer inspection, it had eight faceted sides with worn-in impressions in them. For whatever odd reason, it seemed to prefer landing so that one specific side was facing up when thrown (or even dropped.)

@Kaimana

Indeed, the jaguar woman had walked these shores for cycles. She knew the promise of a glint in the sand or among the rocks, had sighted many oddities in the shapes of shorelines. Most were shells, or sand dollars, or curious bits of seaweed. This, this was very different.

Her eyes had very nearly passed over it, but once the chromatic gleam had been caught, Kaimana had been halted. She lowered herself and sniffed at it. Bapped it with a paw. Then, she picked it up in her jaws. This was hers now, this glittering stone, with its strangely specific cut and even stranger impressions. She immediately had ideas about what it could possibly be; another living one? Did it have magic in it? Where had it been? She was tempted, then and there, to go racing to Pride for a check up. She reminded herself that she really ought to get a container for these, somehow.

In her rush of excitement, she'd nearly forgotten why she was here. Life in a stone. She'd put life in a stone and she should keep looking for more items of interest, at least until she was satisfied. It was hard not to be satisfied already, however. Usually it took a bit more searching to find the cool stuff. Last time she remembered going searching for things on the shore, the ocean hadn't been so kind. Then it had given her the serandite. Was it still trying to pay her back for that? No, that couldn't be.

Maybe it was asking her to do something.

Kaimana looked at her surroundings, still paused in her walk with the ruby in her jaws. She wasn't yet aware of its tendency to fall on a particular side. She also wasn't yet aware of anyone else's presence. She was beginning to catch a scent in the air though. Something that wasn't just... water. "Hello?"

While she was waiting for a response, if there were to be any (which Kaimana doubted because it was rare that anyone came here), the jaguar would keep looking around on the shore.

It seemed that she would come up empty this time. Hm.

@mayfal
((+1 weighted ruby d8 to Inventory))

The water around Mayfal was ready to boil. Small bubbles found their way upward, making small pops. They heard pebbles shifting. This meant movement. They heard a voice, too. Their instincts were correct in that someone else was here. No one they knew though.

Mayfal decided to creep forward. They needed the upper hand in case things went south. Which, admittedly, they quite literally already were, but it could get MORE south if Mayfal wasn't careful.

They slowly moved their legs, paws making contact with pebbles beneath the water. They tried so very hard not to displace too many pebbles for fear of being discovered. They could NOT get discovered first.

@Kaimana

A moment more of stasis and then Kaimana would start looking around again. She was entirely unaware of whoever might've been around, already suspecting her nose to be deceiving her with false alarms. If there was someone there, they might not want to talk to her. That was fine -- a sad thought, but fine. Kaimana would just keep searching, clutching her recently found treasure in her jaws with all the gentleness of a mother with her cub.

And she would still find nothing, inanimate or animate. Certainly not anything deliberately trying to be sneak-iferous.

@mayfal

It had worked! The very nimble Mayfal hadn't been detected...yet. At least, it didn't sound like they had.

Now came the tricky part: how to attack. Being blind and all made fighting and attacking and such rather challenging. But the challenge was starting to become thrilling!

Mayfal kept their focused on the sound of moving pebbles. They started to become more distant. This was it! The chance to attack and get the upper hand! Maybe more! They had to act fast!

@Kaimana

Kaimana had not expected what was to happen next. Out of the blue, something came flying out of nowhere, straight towards Kaimana! She felt her whole body desperately trying to react; could she do it in time?

No, she absolutely could not.

Trying with all her might not to bite down too hard on her treasure, Kaimana felt the full impact of... whatever it was that had flung itself at her. "EEEEEEEH--!!!" Kaimana cried out, through an awkwardly half-open mouth. "WAH AH YO DO-EH?" The ruby was still in her jaws. Whatever it was that was attacking her seemed... hilariously smaller than she'd thought, now that she was finally seeing it up close and focusing on it.

Was this a child?

@mayfal

Mayfal pounced! They did it! They successfully attacked! But...This was strange. The creature wasn't attacking back. And instead making strange noises that could not be deciphered.

Was this...a victory? Mayfal didn't know wether to feel triumphant at their successful attack or feel disappointed that it was over so quickly. Either way, this creature was no longer a threat to Mayfal, and interrogation seemed in order.

"Who. Are. YOU?!"

The little child, this pouncing bean of a baby, seemed to be done with accosting Kaimana now. They asked who she was, and Kaimana couldn't help but chuckle as she introduced herself. "Ahm--" She decided to place her new gemstone between her paws before continuing. "I'm Kaimana!" She'd worry about rhymes later. "And who are you, little one?" Kaimana smiled, her voice trying to take on a soft and soothing tone. This child seemed feisty! Like Gizmo, perhaps, but a little more active instead of reactive. Kaimana wondered how long ago it had hatched.

She would pause in her searching for a while, devoting her attention to this newcomer. Maybe they would like to help her out. It would only be fair for scaring her, wouldn't it? She wasn't angry at all, no, not in the slightest. She thought this little one was cute as could be! Kaimana was just the type to always be looking for opportunities to trade, and to befriend.

@mayfal