Welcome to Gaia! ::

"It's not always humming. Sometimes you hear strange singing, or distant talking. If it's sunny, the birds chirp. The humming might not actually have been humming. There are great moths, and wasps whose enormous wings make a rhythmic noise as they fly around. I heard only the humming this time, and had only the strange sense of being followed, and in danger." He paused in his story, to grin as he recalled how close he'd come to being a snack.

"It was hard to tell what time it was, since it was cloudy and grey that day. I knew it must be close to the night, though, and I could think of nothing worse than being stuck in the swamp at dark. I turned to retrace my tracks, and that's when I caught a glimpse of the predator of the swamp; a pair of eerie eyes that blinked at me before disappearing under the murky water again."

He liked that she was curious, and excited. Maybe sometime the two of them could take a trip there, to explore the mysterious swampland together. It was dangerous and full of fun. Strange foods grew in the swamp. And maybe they'd see a Kimeti!

"You could call it a monster," he answered solemnly. "I think they're called caiman. They're large, scaley beasts with long mouths full of sharp teeth. They're hard to spot until they're right on you, and then you're in danger if you can't get away. Luckily," he joked, "I got away."

"I was scared, like any kin would be when they know they're being hunted. It had appeared and vanished so quickly, I wasn't sure if I'd even really seen it. It had been silent all day, if it had been following me that long. Or maybe I wandered into its den? I'm not sure, to be honest. I started, slowly, along my path again, with wary glances behind every once in a while."

"Thank you," he grinned at her, touched that she'd care. "I'm glad to have made it out alive as well." He watched for a few steps, basking in silence before continuing his narrative. "I did indeed see it again," Dusty commented.

"I must have been making a lot of noise as I trampled a path back through the swamp. It was suddenly very quiet, even the humming had stopped, and it was making me nervous. I galloped quicker, and misstepped into a deeper part of the dark water."

" As soon as I'd fallen, the beast reappeared! A large, long maw was snapping sharp teeth just next to my face! I flailed, and tried to keep away from the hungry brute! Covered in mud, I regained my bearings, and kicked as hard as I could at its ugly face! It recoiled, and prepared to strike again!"

"I kicked again, this time catching a hoof in its eye! I didn't wait to see if it was going to attempt to eat me again, I fled the swamp as quickly as my hooves would carry me. Haven't been back since."

He nodded his approval at her idea to come along. The swamp would be much less intimidating and foreboding when he had another brave Acha to travel with. Perhaps the two of them might even meet one of the fabled Kimeti! That would be an adventure, he thought. Definitely one to tell his brothers. Or his own eventual offspring.

"I'd love to go with you. Anytime you'd like to go." He took in the sight of the large den, her collection of shinies. A small stream trickled nearby. It was an ideal spot to live, with a perfect ratio of sun and shade. "How lovely!" He exclaimed. "This is quite a home."

"Sure," he responded. It had been a long time since his last excursion to the swamp, and he'd like to go back. He watched as she entered the den and gathered food, which she presented for him. It looked delicious, though it was a lot of food for just two Acha. "That looks wonderful," Dusty grinned. He'd eaten so very few meals that he hadn't had to catch himself. "Is it just you living here?"

"Thanks!" Dusty smiled at her. She was sweet, and nice, and friendly. Perhaps too friendly. He hoped that she didn't just invite all strangers to her den; she could end up in danger that way. "I'm sure I'll swing by from time to time, just to uh... say hi." He didn't mention that he'd also be checking to make sure she was safe, as she might take that the wrong way. "So do you collect all sorts of shiny things? Or just specific ones?"