Anna
Aphot took Mr Bones' words into deep consideration. "Yes," He replied eventually. What exactly they *Were*, well, even he had yet to fully decide. To Aphot, they were little more than fun projects, whose value was entirely based on how enlightening their results were. To consider their worth beyond that was indeed a new perspective to ponder.

"It does seem a peculiar sentiment to me, I admit. Not that I *Encourage* Mortal detriment, necessarily, however..." He couldn't truthfully say he'd be too terribly concerned if his own mortals perished, though he understood it would not exactly be the most beneficial of events. He recognized the importance of their faith, of course, but... There was a disconnection somewhere, some missing link preventing him from forming that emotional connection.

*Emotional connection.* Perhaps therein lay the issue: Aphot was not a god of significant emotion. Maybe he had some laying around somewhere within the unexplored crevices of his divine soul, but if so, it had not come to light yet. "I find it interesting to watch their natural progress," He began to explain as the answers came to him in an instant. "I feel that their survival is something they themselves must own. How they go about it and whether they succeed or fail in that endeavor are only variables that collectively contribute to the greater equation as a whole. An advantage freely given unnecessarily tampers with the value of a natural result, and thus tainting what knowledge can be gleaned from it."

He tilted his head inquisitively, the unmitigated curiosity that was in place of a conscience flaring in earnest. "Do you cherish your mortals, then, as the others do? What is it you do with them, if not to observe how they uniquely conduct themselves?"
Christa
"Hmm, I suppose that I do cherish my mortals to a certain extent. While I will not guide all of their development nor will I guard them from their own mistakes, I will still attempt to ensure that any of my sentients' failings are their own. Not due to another god wanting to wipe out thousands of skeletons at once. My purpose with my sentients is to merely guard them. The dead have had to deal with enough already, the afterlife does not need to be cruel. As gods we need to look after this world. It would be improper to destroy such a wonderful new place, don't you agree?"
Anna
Mr Bones spoke sense. To stand by in complete indifference to their fates *Would* Be rather counterintuitive- and surely, Gaia did not birth all that was simply to have it waste away. Aphot nodded once more in agreement. "Yes, you are right. It would be quite an undue injustice."

What a stimulating insight. He had learned much in this short venture of mingling with his kin; perhaps an endeavor worthy of repeat? Nonetheless, he supposed the purpose of this exchange was nearing its end. "So many new and enlightening happenings, with more on the way. I am eager to see what they bring."

A lower hand swept outward to pluck a brilliant pink honeysuckle from its stem, delicately twirling it between tapered claws as he idly inspected it. "I suppose I should let you resume your foraging, unless their dream-ritual has piqued your interest. In which case, I would recommend an expedient haste, as I do believe they intend to began it very soon."
Christa
Mr Bones dismissively waved his hand. "I'm not going to worry about it much. In time, I will deal with it one way or another. It shouldn't be a problem for a while anyway. Thank you for your help friend. I hope we meet each other again soon."
The skeleton god turned his back to the bird god as he continued to pick through flowers and bushes. He could sense that some of the flowers would have an adverse effect on sentients. Likely, even a little bit of exposure would turn any mortal insane by merely being in its presence. Maybe he could create a similar plant that had a similar effect but only on sentients that needed to breath. He plucked a few flowers and took a couple branches, before turning and falling in the void back towards the desert.