ORIGIN

pisces, a cave that while beautiful, did not have much to offer in terms of possible adventure and interest.

there were ponds of muddy water lining the floor, towering walls and ledges, slick with moisture, and the warrens were mossy and green, not unlike fornax or eridanus. the cave is a dull grey aside from the little vegetation, and the lagoon, filled with the crashing waters from the massive waterfall above, was an endless and beautiful bottomless pit. but, aside from all that, the cave was usually quiet, save for the roaring waterfall.

however, today, it would be a little less so.

in the cracks of the ceiling, wedged tightly in between, was a zircon chrysalis no bigger than an adult fox. it shone brilliantly, the lights reflection on the water dancing to create quite the light show on the floor and lagoon beneath. unfortunately, the chrysalis also lay above that exact lagoon. directly in the middle, in fact.

the life within stirred as the loud crashing of water filled their new ears and they blinked for the first time, letting out a muffled whimper and shying away from the sight, the light dancing on their chrysalis harsh on their eyes, like walking into light after being in the dark for so long. instinctually, the creature began pressing hard against the walls of the chrysalis. however, the tight walls of the ceiling cracks it lay wedged between proved too sturdy to break to the child's weak push.

their lungs begged for air, the creature opening their eyes once more to stare into the blinding light dancing into their chrysalis to push against the bottom. they needed out.

the bottom broke with a great shatter, the noise akin to breaking glass, the sound amplified as it echoed along the walls. the poor harpy inside fell, with a great shriek, directly into the water below with a pathetic splash.

the hatchling did not know how to walk, let alone swim, limbs flailing as they tried to stay above the angry waters near the falls, gasping for air, crying out in terrible fear. "help, help!"


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the harpy child let out another shriek to comet to signal where they were, though it could've been obvious by the flailing and splashing.

however, of course things only had to get worse. one horrible error with their wings, shooting under the water to propel them upward, only to come up and rocket them back deep beneath the water. they choked on their cries as water filled their mouth, moving to hold their breath too late. they tried to fix it, they really did, trying to rocket themselves back up, but in their panic only succeeded in making it worse, the rushing water not doing anything to help.

@Comet

the harpy child was only able to calm down enough to register comet had come to their rescue. they shrieked under the water, coughing as they tried to flap over in the water but not getting nearly close enough. you'd think they'd be atleast a little better at swimming, wouldn't you?

they felt light headed, shaking, the constant flailing and panic draining their energy quickly.


@Comet

the baby harpy stopped flailing as they were grabbed, a different panic running through them for a split second, the fear of being caught in another gembound's jaws, instinctual fear telling them to run away.

they didn't have the capacity to fully comprehend they werent being eaten in the moment, panic still fresh in their veins. they finally managed to do something right, their wings catching the water just right, moving them both to the surface and into the calmer waters of the lagoon, the motion following the small waves and aiding their movement.

their head broke the surface, coughing small spurts of water from their lungs as they gasped for air with a high pitched and shrill shriek,, moving their weak arms in an attempt to get them to land faster.

@Comet

as they finally reached the surface the harpy struggled free from comet's jaws, feathers up like a cats fur in fear as they scrambled with choked gasps a foot away, before beginning to hack up the water that had previously filled their lungs, a horrible scream-like noise emerging from their mouth, but only horrible in the sense it just sounded like they were in pain. what a way to hatch, right?

when the harpy was finished it wobbled to its feet, gasping air into their cleared lungs as they turned to comet, backing up and then falling over in fear, protecting themselves with a soaked wing, teeth bared. in their eyes was nothing but fear. but you can't blame them. really.


@Comet