ORIGIN - [Hatching] Four Horsemen (Horses Not Required)

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The first to hatch among the set of four chrysalises, not siblings by magic but meant to hatch together all the same, was a Green Iguana.

Said lizard hatchling was at first wet with chrysalis fluid, but the harsh light of the cave beated down upon the lizard and soon they would be dry, in all likelihood.

Instinctively, they already knew their name was Death, but they did not voice it. Who would they have voiced it to? They were alone more than they were Death, because a name required another entity to be.

Their senses reached out, searching for something. At the edges of their senses, deep below, there was a feeling of something, but they could not reach it. There was nothing here.

Nothing besides the three other chrysalises. So the Green Iguana decided to stay and wait for them to hatch as well, not quite realizing that chrysalises could take time. Luckily for Death, these chrysalises would not keep them waiting long.

It was only a few moments after the first hatched that another stirred. Perhaps awakened by its companion's hatching, it quivered, cracked, and shattered, leaving behind a small fluffy shape slowly pushing itself up, shards of deep blue crystal sliding off its body. It was currently stained slightly blue from the fluids of its royal chrysalis, but patches of its pure, snow-white wool was beginning to show through as it reached back to pull off bits of shards without really thinking about it.

He then paused as his mind seemed to turn on with a click. He stared at his own back and then turned back, taking in the space around him. Sand and stone and hot, with nothing hospitable in sight. His eyes narrowed, blinked, and then flicked down at movement. Not far from him was someone else - a lizard? Staring up at him expectantly. He was confused. What did he expect?

It was then that he noticed the other two chrysalis, and that the lizard was surrounded by shards of its own. He hummed softly, understanding coming in just a moment. They had hatched together and it was very possible these last two would as well.

His eyes slid shut and he nodded, sitting down. "Hello," he spoke, voice deeper then one would expect for such a youthful looking creature. "It is good to not be alone."

The lapis lazuli chrysalis was the next to hatch, a fluffy form covered in chrysalis fluid.

Death let the other being look around as he wished, before his gaze fell upon Death and something passed through his eyes. He sat down, and then he spoke to them, and this was finally when Death reacted.

"Hello," the lizard responded in kind, voice light in an airy sort of way.

"It is," they agreed. They did not like the idea of being alone.

Yet again, they reached for magic, as if to seek out like before, but it shifted in a different way this time.

Mushrooms sprouted out of the barren sands, somehow. "You can have some of these, if you like."

Death had created them, so Death could give them away. Especially to the beings that hatched alongside them.

@Conquest

The moss agate stirred next, a tell-tale tapping revealing the presence of life inside. The creature inside craved freedom, and so fought against the stony prison. A beak punches through, the bald head and neck follows behind. Soon the young condor pulls itself free, the milky stone falling away into the dirt and sand.

Green eyes blink open, clearing fluid from her vision. And she realizes she is not alone. Two others melt into view, discussing something. A third, still entombed in their chrysalis, sits a little further away.

They open their mouth, attempting to speak, but not much more comes out than a breathy hiss. Their voice would take getting used to. She tries again, this time a struggled croak.

She'd find her voice in time.

@Death @Conquest

A small chrysalis, so small it was barely visible, lay tucked within the sands of Hydra. It was made of bloodstone, which was not as bloody as one may think it may be, mostly dark green with specks of scarlet red. But stirring within was a BIRD! And not just any bird, it was a HUMMINGBIRD! Which was the best kind of bird, but War wasn't quite old enough to tell others about this grand opinion of his yet. Cuz he wasn't yet hatched.

But the commotion outside of his chrysalis was enough for him to awaken, jabbing the top with his beak until it cracked underneath the force of his strikes. He headbutted the top and the bloodstone broke away around him to reveal, well, him.

"WARRRRR!" he yelled, a declaration of his name though he did not know the meaning of it. He yelled it out in a high-pitched voice of a new hatchling who was much too young to sound scary just yet.

@Famine
@Conquest
@Death

The lamb had his eyes shut for the moment, waiting, enjoying (for now) the dry heat of the air around. It was nice, slowly drying the fluid that clung to the fuzzy bits of wool he was sporting. He was sure it would become unpleasant, in time, but with his first few moments filled with warmth, he felt good.

He blinked open his eyes at the offer and turned to look down at the lizard again, and then further towards the mushrooms sprouting from the ground. He leaned down to carefully smell them, his nose immediately crinkling with displeasure. They did not smell very good at all and initially he thought to refuse them. But...no, he trusted this being. Why would it wait for him to hatch to kill him, and why choose this way? Besides, he had manners.

"Thank you," he rumbled before gently tasting one. They did not taste as bad as they smelled, but internally, he thought he wouldn't choose them over a patch of green grass. With that not present, however, this was probably the next best thing.

The cracking interrupted (thankfully) his eating and he looked up, just in time to see both the birds emerging from their stones. He looked them over and nodded with approval - yes, at the tiny bird too.

"Friends," he greeted them, a twinkle in his eye and a smile in his expression. "Welcome. Why we have hatched together, I do not know, but I think it's a sign that we are meant to be as one. We will survive and grow together, if you all desire."

@Death

Death placidly considered the gratitude for a moment, considering their response. "You are welcome," they decided, the child eloquent and yet straightforward in equal measure. They did not notice the other's distaste, still new to other's expressions.

Next one bird hatched, one that struggled to find her voice, but Death could be patient. Patience came naturally to Death, but especially so for these three other gembounds that had hatched along with it, for the third hatched next as well, a squeaky high-pitched proclamation that Death thought might be both a name and a warcry all at once.

Then the sheep spoke once more, even more eloquent than Death's words, naturally charismatic. A leader, they decided. Death preferred to follow, in any case.

"I agree," Death spoke, voice that drifting distant sound like a soft, gentle wind that wore at stone. "We hatched together... that makes us... Siblings, does it not? A special bond," they told the others.

"Do we all have names? I am Death," they introduced themself for the first time, placid and yet... content, for all that they were off deep in a random harsh desert of a cave.

They turned towards the condor, the larger bird, the one who still might be trying to find her voice. "No need to speak it yet, if you cannot. You are still welcome here, sister," they said, feeling the term that felt right.

Yes, Death was patient and calm, and they loved their siblings, would gladly embrace them all as such.

@Famine

The littlest chrysalis hatches quickly enough. That one is loud, she notes, more or less just an observation than any thought of annoyance. Four of them. They were together now, and she resolved they would not go apart.

She bobs her head in acknowledgement of their elder siblings' voices. It seems we are all in agreement, she thinks, still uneasy with attempting to speak again. But Death does not mind. Surely the others will not, either.

And her name? They know their name. They are The Famine. She will tell them in time.

@War

War's tiny beady little eyes scanned over their companions, a lamb, an iguana, and a bird. He listens to them all speak, thinking that they sure were kinda quiet. And the other bird didn't speak at all. He knew that this group needed energy! So after taking in what was said, he tried his best to summarize it all into a few motivating words. "Together! Become ARMY! STRONG!" War announced, beating his little flightless wings.

The question of names made his eyes shine just a bit more as he repeated his words, whether they wanted to hear them or not. Did they not hear the first time? But if they did, there was no harm at all in proclaiming once more, "WARRR!" And then he took a few steps out of the chrysalis and onto the sand. Sat down. It was soft. He did not like that it was soft.

But beyond all this yelling, War did not have a good idea of what to do. The sheep seemed to have a much better idea of where this was all going so he was content to follow them.

@Conquest

The lamb listened to each as they spoke (save for the condor, but that was alright) and nodded to both the lizard and the little bird, smiling at his spirit. Pride, he felt quickly and fiercely, and for all of them. He took a step towards the hummingbird and stood tall. "An army? To fight and conquer? That I could get behind! Yes, you can call me Conquest! But for now, we will survive and grow!" Rational thinking. Careful planning. That is what was going through his head right now. He was already observing the landscape around them, thinking and plotting.

The heat was already growing intense. They would have to find shade, shelter. They would need water, he could already feel a dryness in his throat. And food as well. Where there was water there would surely be food - proper food. And there would be dangers, he was sure of it. He would need to protect them, if they came across anything threatening.

He hummed thoughtfully and turned to the condor, who had not spoken just yet. "My winged sister. We will need to find safety. Any water, perhaps some shade as well. We will think about food once we have a place of safety in mind." She would be best for this task - being able to survey the landscape would be a great advantage.

He next turned to War. "And you, War! Once we get moving, you will do best looking out for danger! I cannot fly, and Death cannot either. Survey our immediate surroundings and shout if you see anything coming for us." He could expend that bombastic energy positively and use his voice as an alarm system. Hopefully, he would take to being given orders, although Conquest did his best to not phrase them as such - suggestions, so that they could all help together.

He looked towards Death. "You may ride on me, when we make for safety. If we cannot find food, those mushrooms of your will be most helpful." However foul they had tasted, he would rather eat them then starve. How Death could most helpfully contribute was something he was still working on - they would all have their roles to play here, but right now it was find safety. Shelter, water, and shade first.

@Death @Famine @War

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