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"I have found," Kanim announces to the small princesses (although they are getting taller) at their next group lesson with him, "a cave that I think even Carinna will like. It has not the least bit of hazard or inconvenience anywhere in it. It's very small, we'll probably be able to see all of it this afternoon, and it doesn't have a name yet as far as I can see, so we can pick something to call it while we're there."
"What is in it? Caves always have hazards and inconveniences," says Carinna warily.
"Harmless plants and creatures," Kanim says, "two springs, attractive crystal formations, a small maze, things like that - I will leave the specifics to be discovered, it's more fun that way, don't you think?"
"I think so," agrees Kiawen. "As long as you're sure Carinna won't be bothered!"
"Quite sure," says Kanim, "and if she is bothered we can always nip her out of there, it doesn't distort space or anything tricky like that."
"Okay," says Carinna decisively, "then I guess we can go to it."
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pleasantsurprise
Whmmmm goes Carinna's poof.
guessguess
"We can hang out here all the time," says Kiawen. "Sometime we should bring Val and Ike!"
pleasantsurprise
"If Cricket promises to leave them alone, and your moms say you may, and we can figure out why none of these animals have left the cave and spread through the forest when they could just roll right out the exit if they so chose, then you can take critters home. Till then, just play with them here."
Another creature, similar to a poof, hops up to Carinna. This one has two small round feet underneath it, with tiny paw-pads, and visible features: two small round eyes set above a small nose and mouth that look something like a dog's or cat's but much flatter.
It meeps and bounces on its tiny toes.
It meeps and bounces on its tiny toes.
exactlyright
"How many kinds of creatures are there here?" asks Carinna, reaching down to inspect the fur texture of this unpoof.
pleasantsurprise
"I didn't count them," says Kanim, "mostly because I'm not sure how the different colors of poofs count towards their species membership."
The unpoof's fur is slightly shorter and denser than a poof's, but similarly soft and pettable. This one is bright blue. It whiffles when she pets it.
guessguess
"Piano bears, poofs, and - pawlings?" suggests Kiawen, approaching and inspecting the unpoof. "Because it has little paws."
forgefires
"That kind only has two little paws, though," says Tanalin. "I think I saw one with four a minute ago - I've lost it now."
forgefires
"Maybe blue or green," she says. "It was playing with some poofs and they were glowing on it."
There are two of them splashing in the spring around the corner. Their fur seems to shed water pretty well. One is sort of turquoise, the other orange-pink.
guessguess
Kiawen picks up the turquoise one. "Found it. So these could be pawlings - or - no, we might find ones with six legs or something - all the ones that are poofs with paws are pawlings and we should come up with names for the kinds with different numbers of paws."
The turquoise four-pawling whiffles and nibbles gently on her finger.
exactlyright
"Unless we think of something better, sure," says Carinna, picking up the two-pawling that investigated her and holding it close to her poof.
The two fluffy creatures cuddle up to each other, making their respective happy sounds. The poof glows; pawlings don't seem to do that.
guessguess
"I guess it's just as well we can't bring them home, how would we pick?" asks Kiawen, clearing a space of creatures and lying down and putting the ones she's picked up on her tummy.
The turquoise four-pawling meeps at the piano bear. The piano bear squeaks back. They bat at each other with their little paws; the piano bear has an advantage because its arms are longer. Then they cuddle.
forgefires
"I'm not sure," muses Tanalin. "Ooh, look, a new kind!"
A somewhat bigger fluffy creature, about the size of a smallish watermelon, comes padding out of the crystal maze. It has four big fluffy paws, a stubby little tail, and a head with two large triangular ears like a fox's or cat's. Its fur is rippled with brown-and-white stripes. It drinks from the blueberry spring and then flomps down beside it, tucks its paws under its little chin, and closes its big brown eyes.
A somewhat bigger fluffy creature, about the size of a smallish watermelon, comes padding out of the crystal maze. It has four big fluffy paws, a stubby little tail, and a head with two large triangular ears like a fox's or cat's. Its fur is rippled with brown-and-white stripes. It drinks from the blueberry spring and then flomps down beside it, tucks its paws under its little chin, and closes its big brown eyes.