ORIGIN

Gliding was what I always seemed to do, attracted to the feeling of wind beneath my wings. It was as if the caves themselves were breathing silently upon my feathers. It felt sublime... almost perfect. How it was meant to be for an avian like me to be in the air. Yet, something was wrong. Something was awry. Grimacing in the air, I craned my head upwards to the ceiling. There was a special yearning for something beyond cold stone that weighed down the heart that beat in my chest... but what was there beyond?

Stone, more stone, perhaps a smaller cave, and yet more stone. Surely that damn cycle repeated itself constantly. Obviously there was no escape from these caves and to see what was beyond. Sometimes I would have vivid dreams of something blue... but they never lasted more than a few hours at most. What did it mean? Perhaps Giggle would know. She always seemed to help guide me, strangely enough. It's like she's seen more than I have? Those bones must really speak.

Back to the present. Yes, gliding. Every time I would spread my cloak of darkness and take to the atmosphere of Canis, something seemed to happen. Every single time. New Gembounds hatching, raptors, you name it, it happens. Today was a special day, one that celebrated the miracle of birth! Yes, I had witnessed that quite a bit... and by a bit, I mean a lot. Usually I tried to lend a helping hand to all who hatched in the bone room, but they usually just went away after a while.

Turning my head toward's the source of what would be a terrifying noise had I not been used to it. A chrysalis splitting. Throwing the weight of my body downwards, I made a spiraling dive iconic to me ( and other lammergeiers, if there were any. ) The sight I was greeted with was quite unholy. Shards of gems were scattered all about, a gorgeous teal in color. There was a little trail of liquid leading to a shivering mass of feathers... kind of like him when he first emerged. Was this finally another like him? Another bone-eating bird? Scurrying happily over with no regard for any manners, I watched the small chick with carmine eyes. Blinking and tilting my head, I smiled softly. "Hello..." Chirping quietly, I approached some more and continued, "My name is Azazel... what is yours?" Keeping the voice coming from my beak soft, I bowed down a little. I surely did not want to frighten the child!

The Ave inquired for a name, and he would watch as the eaglet take his careful time to analyze the sounds that reverberated through his crown. With thought, the young gembound finally peeped out his own sounds, but in questioning, as if he were unsure. Smiling softly at how simply adorable the hatchling was, Azazel murmured back, "Ambrus." With another peep, the eaglet repeated his name, more assured now.

Finally, the child would wonder... and The Bone King was glad to answer his questions. Flapping his wings and hopping backwards a few steps, the Ave found a bone lying on the cold and stony floor, with a decent-sized hunk of meat remaining on it. Lifting it with one foot, Azazel glided back towards the eaglet and dropped the bone before him. "Eat it, if you are hungry, Ambrus." he offered, then turned up to the 'sky.' "This is Canis... the Room of Bones, and home of The Bonebound, a group of other Gembound." Closing his eyes as if to be dramatic, he looked back down at the child. "It may be early to ask you this, but would you like to join us? We can get you food and keep you safe and warm until those little talons grow to be big and strong."