Spilling Ink (Open)

[synneva]

Visvaldis

Breathe in, breathe out. Eyes opened just a fragment of an inch. They shut once more. A murmur erupted from the body of the creature. He opened those golden eyes again. Blurred vision took in nothing that seemed to make sense. The effort was immense and he chose to close out the visual picture letting the darkness consume his world once more. He heaved a sigh and then he did something incredible. He felt strength in his limbs and he stretched them feeling his muscles extend and pull. His jaw parted and opened in a yawn his fleshy pink tongue lulling out for a moment. He could taste air and the freshness of something - natural? His eyes opened again and suddenly words fluttered into his mind and he looked up to see the blurry image of a tree above him. An interesting contraption was above him and he suddenly had the odd remembrance of having once lived in that. He shifted his head around letting it drag across the ground it felt rough and smooth at the same time.

With a huff he moved his ear muscles to take in the unfamiliar sounds of his surrounding. Where am I? What am I? he thought as he took an experimental shuffle of his front legs. He raised his heavy head and took in consideration that he had back legs that helped him when he went through the motion of sitting. Now his golden eyes took in more and he shook some of the cocoon's inner liquids off of his speckled fur. He opened and closed his mouth feeling tiny teeth click together every time he closed his maw. He shook through his front legs one after another and then he rose his bum off of the ground. His tail was short and curled up to hang over his back the tip being a nice clear white color. He inspected himself seeing his metallic blue colored fur sticking out on end as he looked at his back.

Again the young canine rose his head up too have a look at the tree curious but not eager to know the answer to his existence he looked around and wondered if he was the only one. He took a calculated step forward testing his weight on his paws. Then he took another and another until he had taken about four steps away from his birthing pod. Ears alert and attentive he looked around letting the last blur of his new developed eyes fade into clarity. He let his soft pink tongue lick across his black lips and then settle back into its home.

Let the story begin.

Word Count :: 440

[meixiaotian]

Curiosity had finally gotten the better of the reptile. Before they set out for lands even farther away, Dragonfly decided to visit the Orchard to see the newly hatched (did they hatch?) creatures. She noticed there weren't as many empty pods as when she herself came out of a tree. This observation brought her to wonder what happened to the empty shells once they were used up. They must have rotted away like leaves over winter. Or maybe something ate them... Yeah, no, she didn't think so.

Movement caught her eye. At first, she thought it was Kota, but then she realized the color was a blue-gray much like the grasses of the plains she'd recently crossed. There was no empty shell around him signaling recent birth. She trotted forward through the openly-spaced trees to the canine. She smiled as she approached him.

"Hello, are you new to the world?"

[synneva]

Visvaldis

The newborn canine heard the stranger approach. His ears were alert and already shifting in the direction where those steps were coming from. He tensed a little feeling his fur rise by the unexpected visit. He felt something akin to fear rise in his stomach as he thought of the possibilities. Once the creature came to view he relaxed a little though her speed was almost too fast for him he accepted the smile that seemed to be on her face. He tilted his head to one side and then the other. His amber eyes widened as he tried to make sense of what was standing in front of him. The creature was different from him he knew that by the sudden fact that it was walking on two legs instead of four like he was. Next was her coat. It did not look like his at all, his was a dappled blue color growing wild in all different direction whereas she -- he narrowed his eyes a little did they seem to reflect the light? He opened and closed his mouth as if wanting to ask that same question. A small frown creased over his lips causing him to probably appear unpleasant but he was still new to making facial expressions.

He wondered then if the stranger had come crawling out of a pod like he had. He looked around failing to find his old home perhaps he had taken more steps then intended? A voice reached his ears which were trained on his new acquaintance. She greeted him he knew that somehow but how to reply? He did not really feel like saying anything at all. He began with simply nodding his head. He was new right? Newly born, newly hatched. A furry little creature he was but she wasn't. "What... are you?"What am I and what are you? he wanted to ask as well but he kept himself satisfied with that simple question. His voice sounded strange in his ears but he would get used to it. Perhaps she would grace him with more information but he didn't want to over use his voice box. He lowered his back legs into a sitting posture as he examined the reptile. His amber eyes didn't loose sight of the stranger he was fully aware of her. His fur was still raised and he actually kept his shoulders tense worrying about a possible danger. He didn't know in what form or she was even the assailant but it was possible. Anything was possible in Vivi's mind.

"Vivi Speaking"
Word Count:: 425

[meixiaotian]

The canine nodded his head. So he had recently hatched, or whatever the proper term was. He seemed a bit confused about the world as he observed Dragonfly. At his question, she realized he hadn't been born with the knowledge of what species inhabited the world. Or perhaps he was so young he hadn't managed to find that information. Either way, she was glad to offer up her small knowledge to him.

"I am a reptile. There are also canines and felines, as far as I know. You're a canine. Felines are similar to you, but are smaller and more slender, with longer tails."

She realized a bit too late she was probably bombarding him with too much information. Still, she managed not to talk about how some seemed to be very large. Such as a huge canine she'd seen the year before or Lukasse. She barely stopped herself from, in her wondering, mentioning how these larger people/creatures had different proportions. She noticed some fruit hanging from the trees around them. If the newborn became hungry, which she was when she hatched, she'd mention them. The reptile personally preferred meat, but she knew fruit tasted just as good and was easier to get. Well, if it wasn't hanging from a high tree.

[synneva]

She spoke. The words that came sounded oddly familiar. He could comprehend what she was saying he frowned. He looked back and around at those trees. He hatched from one of those pods. Yes that seemed to be the answer. He looked back at the reptile "Yes. I know what you mean now." he thought not wanting to appear stupid. Perhaps she would cut him some slack since he was just recently born and all. His questions seized in his mind followed by a low rumble of his stomach. He felt the heat of embarrasment rise in his cheeks but he held his jaw firmly shut. No he wouldn't ask for the stranger to fetch him food. Instead he let his eyes swipe the ground and the trees around them. Food, food, food and water would be nice too he thought putting on a foolish grin to hide what he was thinking. If he'd smile she'll think he's fine right? His grin felt forced as it stretched his lips back. Yes he was fine. He turned his head making innocent 'oh' and 'ah' motions with his mouth as if he was fascinated by the trees. Perhaps he could live here. This seemed like a nice place to be and if others like him hatched here he would never be alone.

He saw some curious objects hanging from a bush. Fruit. he thought. He cleared his throat "Are you hungry? There are some fruit here. Er. Are you newly hatched too?" he asks feeling a stiff remark from his stomach as it rumbled again. He didn't want the stranger prying about him so he tried to turn the conversation on her. It was easier to talk about something other than himself anyway. She didn't seem newly hatched but then again how should he know? He had never had anything to eat in his life so of course this would be interesting. If she would take his offer he would naturally take one too out of politeness yes? Not because he was hungry. Perhaps these fruit were juicy enough to quench his thirst for the time being as well.

"Vivi Speaking"
Word Count :: 358
ooc: Sorry for the wait!

[meixiaotian]

Dragonfly easily heard the newborn's stomach. Yes, it seemed he was hungry. He was also acting a bit... Weird. Maybe it was just because he was young or didn't know how to deal with hunger. Maybe she'd teach him how to hunt. That would be fun. Though, on second thought, perhaps not too wise. She knew it was harder to focus when she needed food and so learning with nothing in his stomach might not be a good idea. He was interested in the some fruit, so she'd have to abstain for a while.

"Yes, I think I am hungry, but no, I'm not newly hatched." He seemed to think hatching was how they were born too, as far as words go. She walked over to the bush and grabbed a few berries in his hands, which she'd been practicing with recently. A few were plucked into her mouth and exploded inside as she applied pressure with her teeth. The reptile returned to the canine and placed her handfuls on the ground between them. "I left the Orchard a year ago with two of my friends."

A "year" was a new concept to her. It a bit like a day, but much longer. It was a cycle between the four seasons, but she had no idea how to precisely determine their end or beginning. It also seemed to be the time when the Orchard's pods began to drop, stopped dropping, and began dropping again.

[synneva]

She took his bait. Feeling oddly satisfied he waited for her to try the fruit which he was harvesting saliva for. He eagerly awaited the outcome and with a ferocious appetite took the fruit in his mouth. His tail automatically produced a few sweeps of his tail to show his gratitude. The fruit... were alright as he his young teeth gnawed on them. It was his first food in his life and he made due with it not knowing anything better. He wasn't a picky eater but the flourish of tastes in his mouth was a fascinating experiment. The young canine finished his meal and licked his lips leisurely as he listened to the reptile's words. Vivi found himself tilting his head in question. "You left? Where to?" he asks shortly, simply not wanting to exhaust his vocabulary. A year. That was another interesting thing for him. He wasn't quite sure what it meant, but it must mean a long time elapsed? There were otheres if she mentioned 'friends' were they also family? Or did no one have family?

He ruffled his static fur up as he took another fruit into his mouth. He had forgotten one but at least his stomach had seized its campaign and he was left to enjoying his last fruit. He didn't want to ask where her friends were though if they were 'away' who knows how big this place was. At first thought Vivi was content with assuming the orchard was everything. The world. His life. But now this lady brought a whole nother concept to mind. He didn't like the thought of loosing the safety of his home. If he could even consider the orchard his home since he had only just been born and knew next to nothing about it.

Vivi Speaks
Word Count :: 298

[meixiaotian]

Dragonfly smiled as he happily wagged his tail. She let him eat all of the berries in between them. She didn't need or want them as much as the newborn. She thought about where exactly it was. She hadn't come through in a straight path, which wasn't very intelligent in hindsight. After a very long moment, she gave up and flicked her tail to the direction of where she had entered the orchard. Going that way would lead to the river eventually, from what she'd learned from exploring.

"We left to a large grassland and then a wide river. It's very safe and there's plenty of food in the River Garden."

The name, like the Orchard, had occurred to her while she was wandering the area. It seemed as natural as any other word or name. Well, almost. She wasn't completely sure what a garden was, since she hadn't come across any other places where it was applicable. On the subject of names, she wondered if the newborn had learned its name yet. She had to come across a real dragonfly to realize what her name was.

"Do you know what your name is yet?"

[synneva]

His stomach filled and he stepped back satisfied with his meal. He licked his lips making sure he wasn't leaving any precious tidbits behind. He listened and the 'River Garden' sounded like a nice place to be at. He made an 'oh' out of his mouth and raised a brow as he listened to the reptile. The grey blue canine looked around and began to take some steps around keeping one ear trained on Dragonfly. The concept of rive seemed interesting to him but he didn't want to seem to eagerly interested "A river? Perhaps I'll go look at it too." he says with a small shrug of his shoulders.

The question about his name stumped him and he stopped to look at her. "My name? Well I... no. I'm not quite sure. How do I know what my name is?" he asks as he tries to 'remember' or get something like an epiphany. He shook his head nothing dawned on him that would be described as well his being. "Do I need one?" he asks almost stupidly wondering if it was so important but he already had the feeling that 'yes' it was important. Something that other's could call him or hear and picture him. He let out a puff as he tilted his head to think. "What is your's?" he asks perhaps that would give him a hint or an idea. Was he normal for not knowing his name or was everyone born with the immediate knowledge. He pondered and began brooding on the though. Though the name 'River Garden' was still persistent in his mind, perhaps, yes perhaps he'll stop by.

[meixiaotian]

Since the river had called to Dragonfly and her companions, she had no doubt it would attract the canine before her as well. It was so unique and fascinating, she doubted it could be passed over. Then again, they hadn't spent much time in the plains in between the Orchard and the River Garden. Maybe it wasn't varied enough to attract their young minds. She was sure that, with time, they'd find something interesting in there. Yet that time wasn't going to be soon, since they were progressing even farther on.

She smiled understandingly at his confusion about his name. That was fine, he didn't have to know right away. She thought for a moment on how to explain names. She herself wasn't exactly sure why it was. It was her, she was it, but how she couldn't describe. He seemed to have a vague idea of what it was too, at least.

"Well, from my experience, you naturally know it. It's pretty important, I think. My name is Dragonfly, for the insect." She thought some other examples would be helpful. "Not all names mean more than their owner. My friends are Kota and Lukasse, but I don't think their names mean more than... Them."