"Well, it feels warm underneath those wings, I'm not going to lie." Though he was partially worried about what the cooler weather would do to his little friend. Though it wasn't so little, he couldn't imagine it had much fat stored and the idea of Echo being cold made him shiver. Just like he had a feeling he'd likely be cold during the cooler months now that he was out of his cave. That was something else he'd have to get used to. Maybe even to the point of agreeing to go back inside another cave.

"The sky.." Finite tipped his head up again, sightless gaze to what he knew was up there though he couldn't really see it but he could tell himself it was there and he could imagine what the sky was like and its stars too. After all, he had come out in search of stars and stars had found him, so that was one thing on his list!

He shook his head a little, a low laugh as he felt Echo chatter a second and resettle, "I don't think I can be picky for food, though I think fish could be nice. It's been some time but I can eat whatever there is." And he would, too. No point in being a picky butt.

It was easy to tag along and with the pair on either side of him, he felt comfortably warm, he wasn't going to lie. He really wasn't used to presences so close to him and he actually startled a little when he realized he'd been asked a question. He offered a sheepish smile, "I don't mind a tour with both of you."

"Does it?" "Doesn't look like it would be, but that's a good thing. Though maybe not comfortable on a hotter day." "Well Finite told me he lived in a cave. So it might be cool all the time." "Oh, point made."

"Mmm the sky is up there. It's a paler color of your bat there." "Much paler, really, but it's a good comparison color wise."

Swallow was wandering towards a particular area then, the fish being kept in one area, in some water to keep them mostly alive. "Fiiiish it is. We'll get fish and Ease can grab some berries and bring them over too, isn't that right?" "Berries it is!" "Now, do you want to try catching one yourself? I don't know how easy it'll be but, the pool of water is small, and the choice plentiful so I don't think you'd really miss anyhow. Might just sort of stumble and land in on them but, you wouldn't be the first." Ease chuckled as he walked away to get berries. "Swallow just fell in a few days ago in fact." "Got a fish in my hair and everything."

It didn't take Ease long to come back with several branches full of berries between his teeth and lay them down where the three of them could settle to eat, only to peer over and see how the 'fishing' was going. Truly it was as easy as stomping a hoof in and 'smashing' a fish beneath and grabbing it with teeth. There was little fear of missing there was so many. "Good, we'll give you a tour after we all eat then!"

"It does to me... but then again, it was cold out here last night." To him, it had been. "Compared to the cave. So many of us out there, it was always much warmer than here." There was no point in not being honest about that. These two, so far, had been very honest with him, so it made sense to be honest in turn.

He hummed a soft note of content at the idea that the sky was not unlike Echo, if a much paler shade. he wasn't sure what paler or darker was, though he figured that the dark that surrounded him constantly was that, dark, and that paler was the burst of lights he could just barely discern while he'd been out in the cave. It felt like a good way of looking at things as far as he could tell.

He tagged along easily, content to walk with them and to feel his starry companion not really budge from his back at that point. "I don't remember when I last ate berries." and somehow, he had a feeling that the berries from up here were different from the rare ones brought back by Echo. He tipped his head however, shifting his weight a little, "I can try catching it!" Well, he had to try.

So he did move to where he was directed, using his ears, and his nose, to really place himself just so. Once he was sure of where he was meant to move, he did just so, a quick stomp into that pool of water and the feel of something beneath his hoof was enough to let him know that he'd likely gotten what he wanted. Feeling triumphant, he reached down, teeth snagging onto his mock-prey that he pulled out with a now-hidden almost triumphant grin. Not bad for a first time!

"I can understand that. I know when we come out of the cave it feels cooler, and fresher out here when it's late season like this." "Mmm yeah not so much when it's summer. Hotter out here than the cave." the twins nodded their heads in understanding. "I'll make sure you stay warmer tonight. Just have to smush you between me and Swallow."

"Lots of different types, if you don't like this one, I'll get something else." easy enough really! He was watching with interest as Finite fished, and he grinned. "Great job!" "I'm impressed, even those of us with the ability to see clearly have a difficult time sometimes." indeed a few others had struggled daily trying to catch the fish to bring back, or even eat. Swallow stepped up and took her turn, it taking a couple of tries before she had one pinned and in her teeth, flipping back her wet hair fish between her teeth. "Looks like its my turn now, then we'll go find a sunny patch to settle and eat." and there he went, it taking him one try as well before he straightened. "O'er here." he gently nudged against Finite's flank to turn him in the right direction so they could indeed settle in the sun, and bask a little to eat, before they began their exploring.

"I guess I'll just have to discover that for myself. All these potential different temperatures." He wasn't sure if he was looking forward to that idea or not. There was no going back, however. Finite had no desire whatsoever to go back to the caves he'd left behind. He just didn't. This world had so many different smells to it already, he wanted to discover them all!

The idea of sleeping smushed should have bothered him, since he'd tried as best as he could to avoid that while in the cave but for some reason, it didn't bother him as much now. Maybe it was the fact of the open air and the point that the smushing was going to technically be necessary for him to keep warm. Warm was important, after all.

Finited doubted he would mind the taste of the berries. There was a whole world out there for him to discover and this was just one of so many steps. That was how he was going to go about things now. With an open mind. He'd used his ears to try and pinpoint just where his potential meal was in the water, perhaps that was why he'd managed it on the first try. Maybe it was something else altogether but he did feel triumphant as he'd moved back towards the pair and had paused, teeth secure about his catch.

He waited, the idea of the fish just making his stomach rumble all the more and he turned somewhat in the direction he was directed to, tagging along easily. It wouldn't be hard for him to settle down and chomp happily down onto that fish and it likely would be one of the tastier he'd had in some time, most likely because it was a different type than what he'd had before. Just like the berries.

"It's probably the best way, really, and we'll help you if temperatures get to be too much, to either cool down or warm up." "At least if you're around us for any length of time and season change we can help. After all Ease, he might not want to stick around long." "Oh, true." there was honest disappointment to his tone as his twin reminded him the other might just be passing through and all. He'd let his excitement get the better of him, and he felt disheartened slightly now at the idea of Finite leaving any time soon, let alone at all. He was interested in getting to know the other buck better after all!

The twins were quiet save for the sounds of eating once they all settled into a spot that was partially sunny, partially shaded so anyone could shift as they might want for either. The berries were settled in the middle of their little trio so they could eat them as they wanted, and Swallow even excused herself and came back after a few moments with a different type and laid them down as well. "I found your favorites, those tart ones, when I got up. Figured since you didn't bring them you hadn't seen them." "Oh!" there was a pleased note from Ease. "Didn't see them no, but-" "You find mine, thank you." the sweeter blueberries were a nice mix with it all really. "Ready for a bit of exploring Finite? Or would you like more food?"

"I don't know where I'm going, to be honest." His words were soft and low, at least once he'd taken a first bite out of his fish to make sure it stopped squirming around so much. That way, he wasn't as worried about it trying to get away from him. "I left the caves in search of the stars I'd heard so much about but Ease said they weren't out every night, so I have to stay for that at least, after that... I don't want to be a bother." He was used to being alone, after all. It was by his own doing and he didn't always like it but still. Maybe it was time to change that a little.

He was content to be settled to eat, he still felt a little worn from the wandering he'd done to get to this spot and he still wasn't even sure just how long he'd walked to get there. He felt a little sore as the terrain had certainly been different but it had been worth it for meeting these two so far, they were just so nice.

One of his ear twitched a little as Swallow excused herself and he paused, listening, trying to pinpoint her location until she came back. These two seemed to get along so well, it was nice. Not that they didn't get along back in the caves, they did, but there was something different here. He finished his fish, even snagging a berry of each, just for the sake of trying them, before he was giving a nod, a bright look on his face. "I think exploring would be nice, please!"

"Well with winter coming you don't want to be wandering too long without a secure shelter, food, warmth..." his voice trailed off as he took a bite of his fish, carefully spitting out the bones to the side instead of swallowing them. "He's right. Winter will be here soon and with it bitter cold. It might be safer for you to stay with us until spring, when it's warmer, and life returns anew to the swamp." Ease was glad Swallow suggested Finite stay with them, it eased the knot of concern in his chest for the other buck. "Far from a bother! We love visitors, and people staying with us. There's plenty of room in the caves just...we'll have to take you in the noisier route past the dragons." "True, swimming with limited vision would be harder, but we could manage. It depends on how cold it is when we return home. I don't want to be in the water when it's too cold."

Once the trio finished eating, Ease cleaned up the fish bones and took them over to a pile their group had of them, another kin used them to fashion things with, so it made sense to save them. That done he rejoined the others. "Well, lets go exploring then! We can explain about the area, what you're smelling, etc." "At least to the best of our abilities."

"I guess I could stay, yes... I don't know how cold or not this winter thing is going to be but I don't know that I'm ready to deal with it." No point in lying about it. He didn't know what 'winter' was going to be like but the idea of bitter cold didn't sit well with him. Though he did scrunch up his nose a little at the idea of swimming. He'd had to swim before, though it hadn't exactly been swimming, and it had been more soaking in the hot waters of the sulphur-scented pools. Still, he had a feeling they would get to that when they would and that was fine.

He straightened and waited on Ease to join them again once he was told they were ready to go exploring. He was looking forward to the idea of exploring and he went with.

Finite listened carefully to all he was told, asking quiet questions about things he could smell and things he could hear. He wasn't sure how much time passed before he noticed a scent he hadn't yet and it made him pause as he scented the air a moment longer. 

"Is that a hot water pool?" he sounded hopeful as he asked, a shiver running through him, no matter that he still had Echo sprawled all over his back. Somehow, he doubted that the large bat would remain once he settled in the water, if that was what it was, but he didn't mind. The idea of soaking in hot water sounded heavenly, and Finite truly hoped that his nose was not deceiving him. It would soothe his aches and it would warm his bones a little.

Maybe staying around for a little while with the pair would do him good. There just was so much to discover. Maybe, just maybe he could call this place home.

"That would be great, honestly!" it pleased Ease to know Finite would stay.

The twins answered his questions as best as they could, in ways he could understand given his limited vision. His good sense of smell made the doe smile though. "It looks like it yes. Why don't we soak for a bit?" "Sounds like a good idea, Finite is shivering." and he was carefully nudging the zikwa in the direction of the pool with a chuckle. This was a fine way to spend some time. He knew they only had a short time left out here, before the group would head back to the home cave. With one (well two if he counted the bat) new addition. This pleased him immensely.


688 words Swallow
3,735 words  Ease
5,724 words  Finite