ORIGIN - Of the Soul

Her world was darkness it had been from the beginning and it would always be so. Sound did not reach her only the dull roar of silence. It had a sound, it was that of pumping blood and rumblings of pressure from the liquid surrounding her being. This was all she knew and she was content, though the walls of her resting place seemed to be growing smaller. Angry colors danced across her closed eyelids as irritation filled her, kicking out to adjust her position she was met with a surprise. A resounding crack that made her freeze, unease was the word to describe what she felt at that moment. What could be outside her small domain? Her mind had never graced such thoughts it had never needed to, but now it was undeniable that there was something beyond, else why would her glassy cage give way?

At last curiosity grew stronger than the fear of the unknown and she kicked her legs out and her small body tumbled forth into the world. It only took a few moments to realize that she was dying her lungs expanded pulling in air that burned her throat. Her chest expanded and collapsed, she wished to cry out, but her small form was to weak to do anything but lie there and breath. Time passed and slowly the pain went away she wasn't dying, so that was good though she could have sworn that was the end. Eyes that had been squeezed shut slowly opened and what she saw was greater than her little mind could handle. Tall spikes jutted from the ground and everything was covered in green. This world was covered in life and all she could do was stare in awe pale eyes shifting slowly around. Her body trembled whatever liquid that had surrounded her now stuck to her coat and it left her chilled.

As her senses adjusted the little female commanded her body to move she had to know what to see what she'd come from. Standing on wobbly puppy legs she turned to look upon the broken cast of her her chrysalis. Its shell was a mix of vibrant blues and greens that shimmered. She was alone and the feeling was slowly settling in and it left an ache her chest. Who was her maker? Did she have such a thing? Soft whines exited from her maw as she cried out to those who would hear her.

"I'll warm your heart..."

Ooc:AW though I am hoping to wait for Gracie to make an appearance before I make my next reply

The surge of power that rushed through Delphine was now a regularity to the young mare who had encountered one too many times the birthing of a new Gembound. Although she did not rush as she used to, her heart jumped with anticipation and her steps did quicken as the sable beast ambled toward the source. It was only when a whine lifted the veil of silence in Eridanus did she deign to rush forth, halting gracefully when her eyes caught sight of the slick puppy, covered in the ichor of her womb.

Delphine instantly adopted a subdued stance, her ears pressing flat against her head that dropped level with that of the newborn. She nickered, soft and low, before a voice, thick as molasses hummed between them. "Hello, I am Delphine." Slowly she took a step forward wanting for nothing more than to clean the goo from the child and to care for her for her first few waking hours. It was a foremost inclination, a maternal instinct that was nurtured through her prior experiences with newborns though only two had chosen to remain by her side. She could not expect to care for them all nor did she aspire to take them beneath her wings but it did not mean she was not without the heart to tend to the weak when the occasion arose.

When there were no objections raised, she came closer and extended her nose so that it was but a mere feet away from the child's own muzzle — a distance that still allowed for personal space but gently inquire for permission to come closer.

Her cries brought forth a creature she'd had not expected, though any who arrived would be unexpected. The other was large and her size frightened the child and she found herself pulling closer to the ground tail tucking between her legs. The mare bowed her head low taking on a posture meant to calm. A pleasant sound reverberated from the horse's lips and the child's ears flicked back and forth in unsure curiosity. It was when words spilled out towards her that she was caught off guard as slow understanding washed over her. A greeting and a name, Delphine. This brought confusion she understood, but did not know how to put forth her own greetings and a name wasn't something she believed herself to have. She needed to put forth an answer at least she could only believe that thisy was what the other expected of her. So in the face of adversity she aspired to mimicry, she stumbled over the the syllables for they were foreign upon her tongue. "Hul... lo."

The word tumbled from her lips and she fell silent as Delphine moved, a silent request as she drew closer to the babe. She dipped her head in response to allow the female before her full reign to help. The shivers continued and it only brought a heavy wave of exhaustion. She wished to return to her warm place and the slumber that she had thought would be ever eternal. This world was strange and beautiful, it pulled at her thoughts like nothing ever had, but it seemed so overwhelming. A heavy despondent sigh fell from her as she waited for the kind creature before her to break the distance. She knew nothing of the touch of another, but she craved to have the distance broken, to fall into the soft kindness that was being offered. Instead she stayed steady and still, eyes falling shut as she waited.

"I'll warm your heart..."

@Delphine

Delphine's head cantered to the side, ears perking when the child spoke her soft greeting. The equine smiled, warmed by her permission to draw closer which she did in brevity. Her lips met first with the top of the pup's crown, nudging between her ears before slowly working to clean the ichor off with long licks against her pelt. The taste itself was hardly palatable but in the face of her maternal tendencies, such thoughts were cast to the wayside. She did not dawdle long when knowing the child must have been so very cold; instead, seeking to ameliorate the distance ever more by folding herself around the child and lowering to use her own body heat where it would prove helpful.

"Do you have a name, little one?" She paused to inquire softly, not soon after resuming her grooming and cleaning. At one point, she nudged her muzzle against the child's sides, urging her to unfold. "This is Eridanus, the place I myself call home." Delphine gestured to the wide expanse of the verdant jungles, never weary of the life that flitted about them in the small insects that flitted about to the birds that nested here; Eridanus was a place of wonders. Again halted mid-thought, her gaze rested on the newborn, "Are you still cold?"

In only a moment the distance between them was broken and the girl let out a content hum as Delphine made quick work to groom her. The soft touch that cleaned away the cold was graciously accepted. It wasn't until she felt herself bumped and prodded that she opened her eyes to see that the other female had settled down beside her. A soft smile danced onto her lips and she found herself leaning heavily into the massive mare. She breathed in deep as she pushed her face into the side of dark woman. Her scent was comforting a feminine musk mingled with earthy tones and at this moment it was the smell of home.

Soon enough the moment was broken as she was pressed for a name and her ears flicked back with concern. Was she supposed to know something such as that? It wasn't something she recalled, but it was unsettling to think that she did not know something that she should. Clearly uncertain she shook her head slowly, a frown taking place over what had been a smile. Thankfully her attention was shifted as her sides were nudged and she shifted unconsciously to roll onto her back. She watched curiously as the mare continued her work and it was in that moment she spied the stone set firmly on her stomach. It held the same colors as her protective shell, was it just a piece that had gotten stuck? Attempting to brush it away resulted in little effect other than a pulling at her skin confused she looked to the face of her savior. It was then that she focused in on the stone like horns, it couldn't be coincidence could it? She wished to question it, but knew not the words to speak to do such and Delphine was already opening her lips to speak once more.

She let the question slip away it was that important, no what was important was soaking in the words that were being given so freely to her. Delphine placed a name to where they were, did everything have a name? Who decided such things and why was it that she did not have one? This only made her purse her lips in further discontent. Perhaps in time she would come by one, perhaps even Delphine would bestow her with one or take her to the person who bestowed such things. With a little huff she pushed the troubling thoughts away focusing in on the next question sent her way. The shivering had passed so she was certain that the cold was gone too, though it did help that she was leaching more than her fare share of heat from the mare nestled beside her. So in response she replied with yet another shake of her head.

"I'll warm your heart..."

@Delphine

There were countless times now when Delphine had chanced upon the birthing of a new Gembound and of every instance to pass, only two to three ever followed in her trail. Meredith. Tillie. Nonna. To each of them she'd spawned a different affectation of the heart; the first, she would love with something more than familial tugs, inexplicable, undefinable; the second, she would feel the first tendrils of her maternal instincts burst forth only then to realize that she was far from capable of assuming such roles; the third, she thought most mirrored her emotions now as her gaze swept that of the newborn.

The equine felt an immense sense of satisfaction in knowing that the child was so receptive of her care, nickering fast and low when she saw the disappointment drawn along her tiny face. She had never intended to press the pup for more than she herself knew yet the damage was done and Delphine was left to flounder with how she could go about ameliorating the situation when a thought alighted within. "Well, how about this, little one..." Reaching forward, she playfully nipped the child's ear to wring a smile from her before her own lips curled fondly with affection. "If you'll allow it perhaps I could give you a name, something that'll fit you well... Hope?" She shook her head instantly when the name burst forth, entirely unbefitting her charge. "No... How about–" Halted mid-sentence, an epiphany settled core-deep and suddenly, her gaze swept to that of the newborn. "Rauslin." She decided then. "How about Rauslin?"

When the child turned to reveal her belly, Delphine's emerald eyes caught sight of her gem and she would have addressed then the question that unfurls within imploring eyes but her desire to clean the child otherwise tucks away the conversation for after, Rauslin answers her own. It is then that she speaks to address the gem that they are all born with. "That there is your gem, a very lovely one might I add. Mine is here on my head and yours is there, on your stomach. Our shells are made up of the same thing but a part of it will always stay with us. Every Gembound has one, it is our lifesource. See? That's why you can't pull it out." Without warning, she pushes her black nose into the child's navel where the gem is, wiggling and snorting to show that it was there to stay.

It seemed nothing got past the dark mare, not even her sour expressions. There came another pleasant sound from the female's lips it wasn't words just noise. She wasn't sure what flustered the other, but in a moment the question eased away as her ear was playfully tugged. She pulled away a giggle erupting from her as she lifted a paw to cover her face in a shy motion. Then came the offer that made her freeze, her paw slowly lowering. Delphine would be willing to be her name giver? The child's tail wagged fervently as joy spread over her little features. The mare spouted out a name only to reject moments later and then at last she settled on a fitting one. Rauslin, it wasn't something she would deny rather she would embrace it vehemently. Butting her head tenderly into the side of the mare she spoke in a tone that was soft. "A good name, my name."

With that settled it was then that the mare had taken the moment to push the child to its back. The cleaning was completed and then her questioning gaze was answered. Delphine spoke, she explained the strange stone that had made it's home on her stomach and put a name to what they were as well, gembound that meant that they were the same right? Despite their different features. Most importantly though she stated that the gem was a lifesource. She could only wonder what would happen if she were to lose it. Though the mare stated that it wouldn't go anywhere, how could she be so sure? In a moment she was given a clear demonstration as the dark female dipped her snout into her stomach. A squeal erupted from her followed by a barrage of laughter and squirming.

When the onslaught ended Rauslin's eyes peered down once more making sure that the mare had spoke the truth. Of course the stone still stood firmly in place at her naval and she could only smile in relief. Grin was lifted to shine at the horned female, what would she had done had she not come to find her? It was a scary thought, but more scary was the thought of the female leaving. Delphine was her name giver and she could only assume her creator as well for why else would she have come? Curling her body upwards she placed a tender lick to the females snout. "Don't go." the words were a soft plea a fear that she wished to smooth over.

"I'll warm your heart..."

@Delphine