The little cub found, rather unexpectedly, that he was choking. He'd inhaled sharply and the fluid in his chrysalis, now that he was open to the air, was killing him rather than sustaining him. His next cry was cut off by gagging and rattling gasps, and it was only because of Vazi's further damage to the stone (and he could hear him, hear his joyful voice, muffled but welcoming him to the world) that the lion cub was actually able to at last break free.
Out he tumbled in a wet ball of white fur, half-rolling out and over the rock, the shattered remnants of his moonstone strewn around him. He kept his head bowed for a moment, retching out liquid and gasping in air, all the while leaning up on Vazi's foreleg, which was the first thing he'd bumped into upon falling free.
Then, blinking away the fluid, he looked around--and up--for the first time.
There was stone, and light--so much brighter, outside of the stone--and there, above him, a great brown figure. Was this his savior? His own thoughts were so primitive, childlike, but the surge of joy and love that rushed through him had no need for complex words. The lion knew little, but he knew that this creature was his family, and that he loved family.
Instead he immediately tried to wrap forepaws gently around Vazi's leg, mewling quietly in happy greeting.
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