ORIGIN - sleight of hand

Darkness. It had enveloped the creature. He'd known it for quite some time, perhaps far longer than any others in this gem. Faint memories flickered within the conscious that had developed within the chrysalis, but they were faded blurs. Curled up tightly, the creature clutched its knees close to its chest, petite fingers grasping at sopping wet fibers of fur. Previously shut eyes slowly opened, golden gaze looking about. Slowly opening the other eye, he found that he could see better. Senses began to fill him. Howl could breathe. Breath hitching within the chrysalis, the creature found that the gem shell that encased it rattled and shook.

The shell had shifted... moved. That could only mean that there was more out beyond. Unfurling his thick tail from around him and standing, the small primate reached out with a hand, palm facing the gem. Quickly touching the wall, he found it was warm and sticky like the rest of it. Jerking it back, he squealed in surprise at the sensation. So much felt new... but also so very familiar. Reaching out again, he scraped at the wall, finding that it easily peeled away at his weak touch.

Howl continued this process, tearing at the gemstone shell until he had created a hole he thought was adequate enough to wriggle through. Blinking once, he stood on unsteady hind legs and thrust his right arm through. A chill ran up from his hand to his spine, causing him to shudder. For a moment, he was apprehensive. There was warmth in the place he currently was in, but there was more. Jutting out his bottom lip, the primate wriggled his arm around experimentally. He couldn't feel anything near his tiny little arm. He'd have to get a good look at it with his own eyes. Pushing at the shell, Howl forced his head through and blinked as he took in the sites. It was magnificent! Great rocks higher than he could even see. A twister of winds whistling through the ravine! He could sit here all day, though he was quite uncomfortable due to the fact that his arm and head were the only two body parts out of the chrysalis, and the rest of him was in a rather odd position.

@Diamondfang

It had only been a day, since her encounter with the pair of lovebirds at Eridanus. After the fight had been over she retreated back to her home and didn't even bother with tucking herself into her tiny hole-in-the-wall burrow. The mongoose had simply climbed atop her the stone chrysalis and slept there. Her paw still throbbed with pain as well as her entire body where many cuts had scabbed over. They wouldn't leave any permanent marks, not like the one on her left paw, but they still hurt. Even in her sleep she felt the pain.. or the pain of something... Her entire body felt like it was washed over with boiling lava, the pain of her cuts intensified by eleven. In her ears she could hear the yowling of Dovefeather and the howling insults of Basil. The mongoose hissed at them and tried to find them, to put them in their graves once and for all but no matter how hard she looked she could not find them. Even as she tried to search her body collapsed, weighted down by the pain and when she tried to rise she couldn't. The queen curled into a terrified ball, hissing and snarling in fear and pain as she tried to escape the nightmare.

In the waking world her body had curled into a fetal position as she lay on top of the stone. It was only the sound of cracking and the feel of something moving beneath her that ripped her graciously from the nightmare. Her body was coated with sweat and she hardly felt like she'd slept at all. The mongoose reached up to touch the necklace, feeling the two fangs from the gems she'd beaten. Nightmares... They could do nothing to her. She was fine... She was perfectly fine. Except... What had woken her? The mongoose rolled over and saw a curious sight below her. The creature that she had helped give life to had hatched! It was looking around at everything and it was gorgeous! It had dexterous little paws, a beautiful fur color and his eye! Oh that eye! It was the mark of royalty! One beautiful pink one that showed that he was truly the son of the Queen... He was the Prince.

Diamondfang gave a sharp gasp as a feeling overtook her. It was a strange, queer feeling in her heart. It was like when she was with Fisher but stronger and different. What was this? This feeling that made her want to wrap her arms around her... her son... That made her want to protect him... To teach him and love him. She remembered Fleur and how she'd taken the skunk under her wing but she'd never loved her. She remembered watching Nemesis hatch but even then nothing stirred in her heart. If anything happened to the trino she would only be upset because she'd have to find a new bodyguard... But this feeling. Oh... If she lost this precious one.

She would truly feel devastated... It was like her whole world have shifted because of him.

The mongoose reached out with a paw to touch her son's soft fur.

"Hello," Her voice choked in her throat as she finally managed to choke out. "My son..."

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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

543
@Howl
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8/10

WHEN I F E L T YOU NEAR ...
... I HOPED THAT YOU WOULD WAKE ME

Air filled his lungs, and the small primate inhaled greatly, just as a gust of wind was thrown in his direction. Gasping in surprise, the child wriggled in a futile attempt to go back into his shell. The hole was too small to go back into. If only he'd been more patient and labored some more on the exit. Howl felt a plaintive cry leave him as he used his (somewhat, due to the fact it was so awkwardly positioned) free arm to scrape at the rock, poking out more holes in the thin shell.

Regardless if the creature above him (which he was still yet unaware of) aided him in his quest for freedom, the small hybrid thrust his other arm through the hole, and wriggled some more, sopping wet body dangling halfway out the shell. Now, just one more push! Positioning his hind legs, the critter vibrated as he pushed against the chrysalis, but he didn't budge an inch. He was completely and utterly stuck. Whining in defeat, the boy glanced up and saw a creature staring down at him in bewilderment, but with a soft glint in her gaze.

He found something familiar in those eyes. He found beauty in the yellow mongoose, like he were his mother. This was the one who gave him life after all those cycles. Howl stuck out his pink little tongue and gave a hoot of urgency, wiggling some more. Hopefully the sanguine-stained critter would help him out! Just one big pull and he'd be free!

@Diamondfang

Fang's paw drew back as she saw the little one begin to wiggle and move some more. The little creature was trying to escape and she watched fascinated at this process. The little sounds he made were just adorable! The tiny queen smiled and leaned further over, until her child began to rock the chrysalis in his attempt to escape. The queen let out a sharp gasp as she had to cling hard to the gem to keep herself from being thrown off. When the creature finally stopped moving and sat there in defeat Diamondfang hopped off of the gem, onto the ground in front of the newborn babe.

His hoots of urgency were well understood by the mother. It was like an innate thing, she knew he needed assistance and she was here to get it. "Don't worry, Mama'll help ya. Come on!" With that the little queen grabbed the young one's arms and began to pull. Hopefully with his combined efforts it would be enough to get him free.

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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

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@Howl
sorry sorry x.x short crappy post
5/10

I AM AWAKENED

The small hybrid wriggled something fierce as he felt a pull on his arms. His feet pressed against the back of his chrysalis once more and he pushed with all his might, hoping that it would free him from his shell and he'd be happy and free with Mama! She was Mama, right? Definitely Mama! Now, was the Howler Mongoose free or not? He pushed as hard as he could...

With a comical little POP! and WHUMP!, the little creature was free and now lay on the floor in a wet little heap. He shuddered in the cold, sitting on his little bum with his long tail curled around him. Oh, he had a tail? Reaching tentatively, he grasped it and held it up to his eyes, inspecting it. The neonate's miscolored gaze then shifted to Mama. She had a tail too! Scampering over clumsily, the little thief prodded at Mama's tail and hooted in happiness. Seeing the little ears atop her head, he raised his own hand and prodded at his head. Indeed, he has two little ears on top of his head.

Without really thinking about it and acting of his primate instincts, the hybrid scrambled up onto his Mama's back and slung his long arms around her neck, holding her tight, just like a baby chimp clings to her Mama's back or chest. "Mama." His first word. How cute.

@Diamondfang

The little one came free in an instant with a bit of force. It threw the mongoose onto her back but she was unharmed. After a moment she sat up and landed her silver gaze on the primate in a moment of awe. He was absolutely perfect. The perfect child and the best thing to ever happen to her. The mongoose sat up, continuing to stare with utmost devotion in her eyes. Never before had she felt this way over someone. Fisher came close, making her heart skip beats whenever he was around but this sensation was pure love.

Her son came over to her and poked at her tail, making excited hooting sounds which made her give a laugh. "We're the same, you an' I. I'm the Queen an' you're the lil' Prince." The little creature hopped onto her back and temporarily off-balanced her but she quickly regained her footing. "That's right, I'm Mama." Quickly she took a look around, making sure that no one was nearby to here her next words. "An' I'll always love ya." One paw was thrown over her back to pat the babe on the head fondly.

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"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

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@Howl
pffftttttt
4/10