ORIGIN

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The newborn couldn't see Pride and Envy; much less did it know that this was the first time it would meet its parents. But it was aware of the warm feeling of their tongues grooming it, and the cold gradually subsiding as they took away the moisture. Gradually, the frantic crying eased, and it settled, ears lying back, legs softly kicking. It cuddled close to the warmth of Pride's belly, and seemed to fall into a dreamlike state, calm.

They let out a squeak as Envy clambered over them in an effort to provide their own warmth- but quickly settled down- and soon the warmth was coming in from all sides. The little one yawned widely, exhausted from their endeavours, even though they'd only been awake mere moments.

@Pride

Pride watched in silence.

He was a little worried. He'd never seen one hatch with its eyes closed, before--though he'd not seen all that many hatchings; was it blind..? Like that owl from the shadow-battle?

Was it injured, sick in some way? It seemed loud enough, in its cry, yet it was already appearing weak, lying there with racing heartbeat. He gave it a little nudge, and spoke quietly. "Welcome to the world, little one; can you hear me?"

His tone was gentle, and warm. He was glad that Envy seemed to be assuming a parental role--perhaps it would help them in their own emotional development? But that wasn't his main concern, at the moment. He was just hoping that the child was all right.

@Envy

Envy had few of the fears that Pride did; perhaps they remembered their own birth, and the darkness in the immediate aftermath- the blurred shapes and their mother's soft tongue. They were certain that their child would be the same. Or perhaps it was simply instinct alleviating the fear. For all they knew, Pride was the same.

They glanced up at him as he spoke, eyes half-closing, but otherwise gave no sign that they'd heard. The weasel felt suddenly exhausted, and he decided to just let Pride do his thing. The weasel was, for once, still. They looked almost serene as they lay beside their newborn.

Speech. Thought.

The young one started, twitching seemingly awake, with little ears perking as the deer spoke, to them. But to their surprise, the words... stirred something. A flicker of understanding sparked in their breast, and they concentrated on it, struggling to pull it to the surface. Can... you... hear... me? It clicked. The little one raised their tiny head, eyes still closed.

"Y...yes," she said, the word coming naturally, but putting itself together in her mind as she spoke. It made sense. Somehow, she was certain the mysterious entity- the mysterious warmth- would understand. She tried to speak once again, but a struggling garble of noise emerged, this time. "a-wh... Who a... are..."

She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "You're... the warm?"

@Pride

Pride dipped his head. He spoke softly, gently, careful not to move too much.

"My name is Pride," he offered. "Once, someone brought a stone to life with magic, and made me. My stone has made you. Envy, here, gave the stone life. We are your parents."

He looked to Envy, quizzically, with a sudden realization. Some Gembound, he'd noticed, chose to be "he," or "she," others "they," or something altogether different. He'd picked "he" purely for convenience, but Envy, to his knowledge, had never chosen. They had called themselves King--but did that mean they wished to be called Father, or Mother?

He felt that it wouldn't do to show such confusion in front of the newborn--it might embarrass Envy, too--and so he sent a message, mind-to-mind, to the weasel. He was careful not to open the link so wide as to intrude upon Envy's thoughts--he simply deposited a message, nothing more.

I do not know if you would wish to be called their father, or their mother, or something other? I am satisfied merely with 'Pride.'

He looked back to the newly-hatched, and continued, gently. "We will look after you--you are safe, here. You may rest if you wish, or ask us things. You will have much to learn--but we will teach you." He followed this with a gentle nuzzle.

@Envy

Envy listened to Pride's words, ears twitching, and raised their head as they were mentioned. They looked up at Pride and nodded before adding their own voice. "He --- He means me," they said anxiously, looking down at the little newcomer lying beside them. And then, fearing that they hadn't contributed enough and that Pride was outshining them, the weasel twitched their tail and added; "hello!"

Parents... the word brought warmth to the weasel's small and jealous heart. They smiled, but hid it as they dropped their head to nudge at the side newborn's neck.

At pride's question, they raised their head again slightly. But, as hard as they thought, they couldn't really come to a solid answer. They thought back to their own mother for a second; and their own words echoed in their head, along with a thrill of warmth and a resulting pang of embarrassment. But their name for her stuck. Pride was content with just Pride- and somehow, that made Envy feel like he was less of an authority over her. Like King, mother or father was a title of respect.

I'm gonna be her Mamma.

Speech. Thought.

@Pride

"Pride? En-vy?" the little voice repeated the names of her parents, turning towards the new voice that chimed in- higher, and right in her ear. She folded her ears back and shook her head. Names... she found herself mystified by the concept, but the more she thought, the more it made sense as the details clicked together; just like everything else. Even though her eyes weren't yet open, she began to understand. "Do... I have a name?"

Pride continued speaking, and he welcomed questions, as well as allowing her the opportunity to rest. At that, she yawned once again, and dropped her head onto the ground by her paws. She didn't know if she had any questions, right now. She had barely any idea of where they were, and why. Pride and Envy were, for now, her whole world.

Beyond them, nothing else mattered.

@Pride

Pride was beginning to become seriously worried about the little one's eyes. Why were they closed..? Was it blind? His heart dropped, and he glanced worriedly to Envy.

"Oh, I--do not know if you have a name, yet. Some of us know them when we are hatched. Or perhaps Envy--your Mamma--can give you one." He shifted, a little, leaning to sniff at their eyes.

"Do you know if you can open your eyes?" he asked gently, giving them the softest brush of breath to indicate where they were. If the child was blind, it would need a lot of extra care. Perhaps there was magic that could be of aid, but it would mean that everyone around them would always need to be vigilant in looking after them.

He imagined a blind child, faintly resembling Envy, appearing near the Bloodberries--and shuddered. He hoped that he was wrong, and that they simply hadn't opened them yet, for whatever reason.

@Envy

Envy, content, appeared unaware of Pride's worry, but stirred as Pride referred to them. They hadn't thought about names, yet; they'd just assumed that she'd choose it herself as they had. And once again, the power fell to them. The weasel thought about it- and, after another glance at Pride, realized that the answer was on the tip of their tongue.

To Pride, she was no more than a little act of charity. But to them, well...

Time would tell.

"Charity. You'll be called Charity," they declared, a surge of pride flooding through them. Even so, they found themselves looking up at Pride to see if he reacted.

At the deer's other question, Envy turned back towards Charity. They remembered moments of darkness following their birth; and although it didn't last so long, something told them that it was nothing to be worried about. "Give her time, Pride."

Speech. Thought.

The newly-named Charity felt herself swelling with pride at her new name.

Yes, from now on, she was Charity. At Pride's question, though, she felt a spark of fear. could she? She didn't know. She didn't feel like anything was wrong. And Envy appeared to share that sentiment. She didn't, however, relax immediately. Instead, she strained hard and tried to do as Pride had said.

She struggled and strained for a moment- her eyelids aching- and then there was a cold and stinging sensation, a myraid of blurred shapes- pale, white and green- began to appear. One, pale purple eye had popped open, cat-like pupil twitching wildly in its socket. But the other remained closed. It was dark, so dark- she could hardly see a thing. But she felt herself drawn to look in the direction of Pride's voice- and stared at the white mass she could see there with her one open eye.

@Pride

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Charity

Pride

Livius

Charity

Pride

Livius

Charity

Pride

Livius

Charity