New places & New Faces

Paws weave around fallen stones and towering pillars as the two pups walk. Ricin is in the lead, plotting the path as Chade follows in his normal spot behind the lighter brother, covering Ricin’s blind spots. Lighter blue head sweeps from side to side, trying to assess their surroundings. The eternal twilight that bathes the world mares Ricin’s already spotty vision, causing his blind spots to be even greater. He is grateful for his brother, not only the company the darker pup offers but the security he gives. A familiar twinge of guilt makes itself known as Ricin thinks of all Chade has scarified for the lighter pup.

A slight shake of his head dispels the dark mood that threatens to take root, instead turning his focuse on the stones and their peculiar shapes. Ears flick backward as Chade speaks and Ricin slows his pace, eventually stopping near a downed pillar. Ricin allows his mind to grab hold of the puzzle, mulling over what kind of creature could have constructed these, let alone knock them over. Crimson eyes roam the strange thing as Ricin rumbles a noise that is non-committal. After a few moments, the lighter-hued brother shakes his skull, turning to face Chade.

Heaving a sigh, Ricin attempts to sound aloof, as if he hasn’t been trying to solve the mystery since he first laid eyes on this place, as he says, “I don’t know Ny. But there are other questions that bother me as well. Like, who made this place?” Ricin gestures around them, encompassing the whole space as the lighter brother continues, “What kind of creature could carve stones like these? Have you noticed how some have rounded corners?” Ricin beckons Chade to follow as he moves to point at a flatter, rounded stone.

The denser fur on his neck that spikes up over his forehead gives the lighter pup an almost comical appearance as he lowers his head and squints at the slab. Ricin’s voice has a hint of admiration to it as she says, “I have never seen edges knocked off rocks so cleanly.” He runs a paw gently over the semi-buried stone, humming in amazement before stepping away. Casting his gaze toward Chade, the light pup’s eyebrows arch in question as he asks, “So whatever knocked over these stones had to stronger and smarter than the builders… right?”

Silence falls as Ricin ponders the possibility of smart giant bears that can knock over the huge structures around them.

"Speech"