Ook.

>w<

I find it interesting that apes are commonly depicted as dumb when they are among the most intelligent animals.

It's the same with donkeys as well.

I didn't know that donkeys were particularly intelligent. But apes, that's near human level.

Maybe a translation to what he thinks he is saying would be good:

"I'm definitely not safe here. Why would Enedia, the "all powerful being" that she is do this to me several times. Wait... am I speaking the same? Why do I sound like a Neanderthal? Surely gorillas, like I am now, should be intelligent when they speak. I think, and I hope not to sound egotistical, that as a gorilla that I would be intelligent, and these new found muscles would help with any sort of strength test. I'm tired of sounding dumb, maybe some bananas would stop my hunger"

Quite so ^^

We've got a gorilla for sale, Enedia's gorilla for sale.

XD

Shellycoat... why name familiar? *I scratch my head with one finger.*

Shellycoat: *crosses his arms with a rattle* If we had met before, you would know. You came unspelled, and now you will leave with my name burned into your mind.

Why? Me was forced here. Enedia brought me here now me gorilla.

Shellycoat: I don't care who brought you or why. You are here without my invitation, and you will pay the price for it.

Blame Enedia. Not gorilla. I made mistake. I want fix.

Shellycoat: *he circles you, observing* You wish to make reparations for this insult? That is rare in mortals. What would you offer me?

*I scratch my head.* Company? *grunt* Carry things?

Shellycoat: *scratching his chin* Come to think of it, yes. I could use some muscle. Follow me. *he heads off alongside the river until he reaches a large rock which impedes the flow of water* This stone is causing me the worst backache. Remove it for me and perhaps we can reach some sort of arrangement.

*I look concerned.* Me lift rock? Me no strong enough to lift rock. Why need rock lift?

Shellycoat: Oh? How do you know? Look at those new muscles. *he gestures to the river* This river is me, and I am it. The rock is causing me pain.

*I scratch my head again.* You river? Rock bad. *I go and lift up the rock and gently move it aside.* How you river?

Shellycoat: *stretches his back with a relieved sigh* Oh, that is delightful. Thank you. I am this river's spirit.

Spirit? You nature ghost?

Shellycoat: In a sense, yes.

How become?

Shellycoat: When a flood created this river, I was born.

You flood? How you river and flood? Me confused.

Shellycoat: *rubs his forehead* How to simplify this... I was not the flood. The flood created me when it created the river. Does that make sense?

Maybe? What about animal in river? Do they hurt?

Shellycoat: Not always. If they are small I rarely feel them. If they are big and block the flow of my river, then yes, I get a little sore.

But not as sore as rock. *grunts* How long me gorilla?

Shellycoat: Until you leave the Greylands. It is really up to you.

Me stay. If you need help, me will help.

Shellycoat: *tilting his head curiously* Why would you want to do that?

Me help friend.

Shellycoat: Huh. I was not expecting a generous soul. Very well. If you want to help, you and I can harvest my tea leaves.

Me never harvest before. Could you show?

Shellycoat: *he leads the way into a clearing that is positively brimming with tea plants* It is very simple. Pluck the only first two leaves from the top of each plant and put them into this basket. *he picks a woven basket up from beneath a tree* We will dry them when we are done.

*I follow his orders as best I could.*

Shellycoat: *upon finishing harvesting, he nods approvingly and laughs* I have half a mind to keep you here to assist me.

Must help. In nature to help.

Shellycoat: *leans forward curiously* Why? From the mortal perspective, I have harmed you.

You made mistake. Me help in return.

Shellycoat: *smirk faltering* Ah, you misunderstand. I am lonely, yes, but I do not feel that I was out of line.

But me not harmed.

Shellycoat: *draws himself up, a bit confused* You do not think this form-shifting spell harms you? Even your speech and train of thought is affected. You are an interesting specimen.

This not new for me. Me change always because of Enedia.

Shellycoat: *his lips part slightly as a disturbed look crosses what you can see of his face* This woman, how often does she do this to you?

Me lost count.

Shellycoat: *he bends to pick up on of the harvested tea leaves and rubs it between his fingers thoughtfully* Then you will find sanctuary here, as long as you assist me with my work. *he rattles his coat furiously, nearly to the point of seizure, and the gorilla form gradually shrinks to your typical human shape. He waggles a warning finger* Betray me, and I shall have gorilla knuckle bones for my coat. Am I understood?

Me... I understand. Sorry about before.

Shellycoat: We will let bygones be bygones for the moment.

Exactly.

^w^