[Voice]

[elongatedsmile]

[Xzana was finally convinced that the sudden and strange influx of humans was really done and began emerging from the bottom of the lake more and more. Between feeling less crowded and the heavy rain she is in a remarkably good mood.

She dances in the rain for a bit and climbs a few trees. Then finally checks out that strange book that is always following her around. She had been told it was magic, but being unable to read it's never been something she cared much about. That is until she realized it talks! Listen to all the different voices!

Huh, but then the voices pause. She gives the book a shake. Huh, how do you get this silly thing to work. She drops it on the ground and bats at it. Managing to turn the video function on by mistake. She bounces back and forth for the camera in the rain. Prodding the book now and then.]

Talk magic book! [She circles the book, waiting for it to respond.] Speak again! [She gives it a gentle shove before jumping back a bit and running from it a bit before coming back.] Are you tired, book?

[Today she is full of energy and wanting to play. She'll be in possibly the best mood if anyone feels like braving the heavy rain and spot her playing with the book near the lake.]

Comments

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

When I was younger I at times wished to not be so closely connected to the water. Now I know how foolish that was.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

It's a gift too, eh? So long as you use it like that.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

Yes, it is the gift of life.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

No sense in refusing it then, eh?

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

To refuse it, is to refuse life.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

Why did you wish to be more distant from it when you were younger?

If you don't mind my asking.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

I wanted to walk on land as did some of my brothers and sisters. I felt trapped in the little pool that I grew larger in. I was lucky that my body just had not grown yet.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

You've got siblings? Are they not like you, or was it it just that they're older?

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

We were from the same nest, but each mix blood is a bit different. Some are able to cope with the various ways our bodies form, other do not. My mother has laid new eggs with a good mate. Those will grow as they should and be more alike.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

Understood. My brothers are all different from me as well. I'm the only phoenix, and they're all usually a lot taller than me, but our differences help each other out, eh? Thatch and Vista are good at swords, Jozu's like a diamond boulder, and Atomos is like a charging bull.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

You are a half breed?

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

[Shakes his head.] I'm not any breed. My Pops, my father adopted me. I'm the only one of my kind. But that's okay, because my Pops was one of a kind too, eh?

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

Ah, I see. At times, breeding mothers in my clan who did not have a successful hatching will take in those orphaned.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

That sounds nice, at least. No one left alone.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

No, not while the clan is so weak in number.

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

Is that the only reason?

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

I suppose not. I have not before thought much of it. [Not being of breeding age she has never thought much of the raising of young. As sadly, for mixed breeds that is the only reason.]

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

Ah, don't worry about it then.

In my Pops' case, he just had a really big heart, eh. And his dream was to have a large family.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

Large families can be hard to care for. But if raised well it shows good for breeding. [She doesn't get it.]

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

[A small laugh.]

Sometimes it was hard, eh? But mostly it was just fun. And the bigger we got, the more everyone else helped each other out.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

All must learn to hunt quickly in such a large clan. [She understands perfectly what you're talking about! Or at least, she thinks she does.]

[Video]

[fierybluebird]

[He holds up a hand and wavers it back and forth.]

Each of us did something different, but we all helped out.

Re: [Video]

[elongatedsmile]

Of course. Large families will not make it with all their pups if they don't.

Re: [Video]

[fierybluebird]

[Amused grin.]

You think so? I would have thought it'd be more like rabbits. The more pups there are, the greater the chances that someone will survive even if the others don't.

[Video]

[elongatedsmile]

Some creatures are able to breed faster than others. Is your father like that?