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Even though it was but something small, Cardice was glad that he was able to give the bulbasaur some semblance of hope amidst her grief. He was still fairly sure they'd be able to find what she was looking for, but in what time frame was little more than guesswork. Today, tomorrow, in a week...

It was perhaps the single most coincidental occurrence of the helioptile's young life that the jewelry Cardice had found a handful of minutes ago was the same one the distraught girl had been looking for. His eyes brightened as she confirmed that it was, indeed, what she had been searching for. <<Really!?>> he gaped, awestruck, <<Oh, I'm so glad!>> She was right, it had rolled quite a bit of distance from her, but whether she knew it fell in this specific spot or not would be the final determinant there. Regardless, what mattered was that she had finally found that precious thing that she was looking for and, by the most unlikely of circumstances, Cardice was the one to find it. He shuddered to think of how this event would have played out if one of the other bandits had located it. He inched slightly lower, but he still didn't want to dislodge himself from the bark of the tree, finding it easier to stay at eye-level this way. <<It wasn't too far... I found it just a bit ago, before I heard you over here,>> he elaborated some, remembering the bird that had scared him at the time and giving the surroundings another once-over in his anxiety.

His attention snapped back as Demeter thought that a trade was in order, to show her gratitude. He fidgeted some as she raised the broken chain of the necklace up to him, if only because it had never been something done before. <<A-Are you sure? It's still really pretty!>> he asked, though already he was testing out if he could reach it well enough from where he was at. He didn't want her to be sad again!

The swerve in the girl's demeanor as her misplaced object of sentimentality was retrieved was more of a relief than Cardice had really anticipated. It really was very special to her, wasn't it? <<It would have been easy to miss,>> he agreed, <<I only saw it because it was in the light.>> Metal was quite blinding, in certain lights, but it was better than admitting to the fact that he searched out things like this on a regular basis. Most people didn't consider it a very... good way of life.

As she stood, Cardice found himself coming within easy grasp of the offered broken chain, wrapping his stubby claws around one end of it. He could tell it wasn't so easy to tie as it first appeared, the material stiffer than a thin rope, and much more shiny. It was really pretty, and although he hadn't a use for it at the moment, he was sure to hold onto it tightly, just as Demeter seemed to be doing even now with her acquired ring. He could see now the importance of a gift from another, and realized how hurt losing it must have felt, multiplied perhaps ten fold considering it was from someone special to the bulbasaur. <<Oh, n-no, this is more than enough, thank you!>> he assured, wrapping the chain around his figure to keep from dropping it. He considered for a moment before offering an addendum <<Well... perhaps one more thing? My name's Cardice, what's yours?>> Having a name to go with this particular event seemed like it would stick out more in memory, after all!

The helioptile flinched as Dwyn flew back into view, though the reaction was considerably less violent than before with Cardice's extra height advantage. The hummingbird was even smaller than he was, why did he keep doing that!? It hadn't stayed in the area long, and as it remained around the girl before finally buzzing back home, Cardice was able to peer down and regarded him curiously. Demi's brighter disposition to the scenario made it easier for the small reptile to smile through his own hesitation, <<Yeah, I suppose not. I don't think he looked very hard!>> Glancing down, he continued his slow, backwards descent -- it wouldn't do to be stuck up in the tree, in plain sight like that!

Cardice tip-toed around mentioning his kleptomaniac-like tendencies, a sheepish smile on his face as he inched his way further down. As his tail caught the feeling of grass beneath him, he released his grip on the bark at the trunk of the tree and walked toward the girl a little. <<Yeah, I suppose it was a little easier for me on the ground,>> he considered, though he would have thought the height advantage would help. Then again, maybe at the angles the blades of grass were at made that more difficult... Maybe it was because it was so small, and therefore it seemed larger to him; he didn't honestly know!

He fiddled slightly with the chain wrapped a couple times around him, making sure it wouldn't trip him up as he moved. His frilled ears flicked a little at the name she gave, finding that it sounded rather unique, <<That's a pretty name, I don't think I've heard it before!>>

As the conversation between Demeter and Dwyn occurred, Cardice tilted his head slightly. Who was Wren? He didn't feel like prying any more than he had, though, and thought it a futile effort in the long run. However, as she continued to explain, the helioptile couldn't help but find curiosity in much of what she said. It sounded like she really had quite an interesting history; she was more of an enigma than he would have initially pinned! <<Oh it's your mom's? Ah! Well no wonder!>> he stated, slightly startled. Parents didn't like it when their stuff was lost by their kids... He was completely in the dark about the girl's particular predicament there, and thought it best she return it as soon as possible, so that she wasn't in any trouble for it, <<Ah, you should probably be getting back with that, then. I'm glad I could help! Really, it was no trouble at all, I'm just glad it worked out that way!>> She really was a sweet-hearted girl -- she seemed to be more worried about others, even those that many others might have overlooked!

It was strange, Cardice had been unaware how much brighter things could be under circumstances such as these. He had never been successful at helping others in the past, so he had no experience to draw from. It didn't help matters that he was quite withdrawn normally either, unless in a position he deemed safe. The one-eighty Demeter displayed was quite a marvel, and instigated the question whether or not this was a normal occurrence when one was feeling so down. Could it so easily be rectified? Regardless of the answer, it worked here and now, and that's all that really mattered currently. With a bright smile, he offered a sharp nod, <<Well then I'm glad I could help you out! Nobody should have to be that sad.>>

The helioptile hadn't considered that the bulbasaur's name might have a deeper meaning to it, but upon reflection he felt that that should have been obvious. Individuals weren't often named without regard to the one they belonged to, after all. Before he had the chance to consider a response, the girl imparted on him the reason the ring was so special to her. He jolted slightly at the news of her mother, surprised just as much as he was regretting he had assumed she was still around, regardless of the fact he couldn't have known that little detail. <<Ah, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-->> he hesitated for a second, knowing it wouldn't do any good to apologize. It was meant only to be a momentary pause, but turned permanent once she moved closer to caress a frilled ear. Despite Cardice's tendencies, he didn't flinch, for he felt no sense of danger. She really was quite nice, she shouldn't have to feel the overwhelming sadness she had been inflicted with earlier! <<I'd like that,>> he small reptile agreed, chipper, <<You take care, and I'll see you around!>>