Chapter 1157
Slowly and patiently Bear Hug extended part of themself towards the nearby ivy that had just torn off part of it. About ninety percent of the way to actually touching the vine, they stopped and waited. Anton watched Bear Hug hold the pose for several minutes. For a human non-cultivator, their arm might have gotten tired holding such a pose. Bear Hug had no skeletal structure, which meant all support had to be actively maintained by their own energy. It was about the same as constantly levitating material.
But Bear Hug waited, until slowly the ivy dared to cross the last bit of distance, wrapping around. The two twisting bits of greenery waggled up and down… and down and up. Left and right and in and out and eventually the ivy realized it was supposed to let go.
“You did good!” Bear Hug said, indicating their new friend. “We can also do that like this.” Bear Hug extended just a thin strand of energy, waiting. The ivy responded more quickly this time. Their energies touched, providing a level of feedback that their bodies likely didn’t possess. Yet Bear Hug still clearly preferred physical contact. “Good, you’re learning.” Bear Hug repeated the word good frequently, likely because Anton had done the same. As the only example of teaching language, that was only natural.
Over the next few days they came and went- there wasn’t anywhere comfortable for Bear Hug to rest within close proximity of the tree. Anton, being the odd member of the bunch, preferred to allow Bear Hug to interface with the new friend most directly. However, he also participated in energy conversation with Bear Hug for purposes of demonstration.
Slowly, the ivy came to understand the basics. It seemed they were shy more than unable to understand, but eventually the concept of names came up. Referencing people that were present was simple, but signs for names came about when people couldn’t be directly pointed out. Bear Hug was a particular folding and entangling of energy representing the action they were named after, while Anton went with a bow shaped with the warmth of the sun. The latter was a bit more complicated, but most cultivators would be able to make a vague approximation of the feeling even if they didn’t use fire. Ultimately, the bow would be sufficient unless other humans arrived or someone else picked up weaponry.
The ivy eventually ended up with a name that took a simplistic representative form, a curving line representing coiling around a tree. Helix. Anton thought it was a good name when translated into actual words, and a unique enough form to be recognizable. Eventually flourishes might be necessary once there were enough known individuals to have overlap in their name structures, but it was unlikely anyone would be taking the name ‘spring’ as in the mechanical object any time soon, so Helix was plenty distinct.
The concept of days was clear enough to every plant- heat and cold of the sun. Thus, they were eventually able to communicate that they would be going away for many days, but would return.
“We need to find other people to talk to,” Bear Hug explained. “I can’t be here and there and over there very well, so I have to go.”
Helix waved goodbye. They did not appear particularly sad nor happy at the parting. That was good enough, at least.