...but undeniably curious, inched closer. One brave soul, the iridescent scaled creature from before, peeked at Alex with its head tilted. The melody that resonated in Alex's mind wasn't accusatory, but a light, playful flute solo once more. It carried a message of understanding, of shared experience, and a touch of amusement.
The scaled creature chirped tentatively, hesitantly joining the melody with a series of high-pitched trills. It was off-key, awkward, yet undeniably charming. One by one, the other creatures chimed in, their voices a cacophony that gradually transformed into a playful, albeit discordant, harmony.
Echo, watching with a smile that hadn't graced his face in a long time, chuckled. "Maybe cute wasn't exactly the right word, but definitely… intriguing."
