This little mustelid has such a dynamic character, and Shafaer protrays him so well as who he is. Fisher's a Gembound who doesn't turn away from a challenge and charges head-on into problems. During the month of May, he's dueled several gembound and challenged a special magically-infused spire in the Core to many fights -- not that they had good results. Good job, Fisher!

A lion and a bear, who'd thought of it? This couple is one that's captured the hearts of us all at Origin, and they are just adorable. Whether they are practicing their magic, play-fighting, exploring, or even just relaxing... the cute feels are just too much to handle. Congratulations to Briar and Madison for such a perfect and amazing couple!

fishing for firepower
What started as an innocent little climbing match up The Spire between a bear and a fisher escalated very quickly into mayhem. For the first time, the magical rocks shook to life and zapped the poor duo of Gembounds, attracting a fox as well! All we know is that this thread was packed with laughs, drama, and adventure. Congrats, guys!

Banshee
Azazel, Midas
Not only is Banshee an active and integral part of our community, but she has also proven to be incredibly helpful and overflowing with exciting plot ideas! Banshee has more than earned the title of Member of the Month for May 2015; we are absolutely honored to have her here on Origin with her unique characters and amazing writing skill! Congratulations Banshee! You're the best.

From Pisces to Polaris, the King of Maji Walezi has made quite a name for himself! Born in Pisces, Cancer forged a group of Gembounds to protect his home and was rather content to stay there. However, he would soon undergo a life changing journey, venturing out to the rest of the caves to map them and in the process, accidentally severing ties to his groupmate and his girlfriend. For having lived through only 2 cycles, Cancer has led a rough life - but this character is more than durable, he stubbornly persists even through all of life's dilemmas and comes out even stronger at the end. We can't wait to see what kind of character Cancer will grow into when everything is all said and done, so be sure to keep an eye on him this month!

Arkrael the wolf seems notorious for befriending deer, and such is the case with Vazi. However, what began as a nervous and shy friendship has blossomed into so much more. These two have endured danger and excitement together, fending off the golems from Svarog and playing in a game of Truth or Dare that resulted in them sharing a sweet little kiss. Though they live different lives with their closer friends, their paths consistently converge, bringing together a wolf and a deer that loyally remain side by side when times get tough. It's adorable, as long as you don't pry around for what's supposed to happen next...

Quest: The Strangeness of Cetus P3
Quest threads are always brimming with excitement, and this one is no different. As the third part to The Strangeness of Cetus quest, this thread brings the Gembounds back to Cetus after following the buzzing noise to Tunnel M and blocking the hole that nearly flooded the cavern. As they enter Cetus, they find that the buzzing has increased in volume and is nearly intolerable. Silver the heron makes the hasty decision to dive into the water to find the source of the buzzing, only for a gargantuan beast to emerge, swallowing him hole! The rest of the Gembounds try to fight off the massive water snake Aquarian, who ultimately stops the fight when he realizes things are not as they seem. Aquarian laments that he has been betrayed by somebody named Nemean and retreats into the marsh, promising aid to the Gembounds should they provide sacrifices to him. This leaves the Gembounds confused and exhausted, with the lingering question: who is Nemean?

Briar
Makyna, Krakarak, Vazi, Diamondfang, Eeya, Baratheon
If ever there's a person who was around Origin nearly 24/7, ready to have a thread or make up some plots, or even just there to make some really cute art, it's Briar. Briar has graced us with her presence from the beginning, as one of Origin's first members she has remained loyal to our site and is consistently active with 6 characters, each of them coming with a unique plot or twist of their own. Her characters light up the roleplay with their distinct personalities, and her writing is simply a delight to partake in, easy to read and beautiful all the same. Anybody that shares a thread with Briar is certain to have a great time, as she turns roleplaying into a wonderful experience rather than just... you know, writing! Thanks for being around Briar, we love you!

This month we'd like to shine an important and especially bright spotlight on the self proclaimed child of Aquarian, the fire element alligator we all know and love, Dragon. Dragon has made his home in Cetus and appears to be the authority on all affairs within the swampy room, ranging from any misgivings between the Divine and unsuspecting Gembounds to all aspects of Aquarian's melodrama. But not only is Dragon so attuned to everything that happens in Cetus, he also seems to have adopted a position of leadership among all the Gembounds that live there. Maybe it's due in part to Dragon's sharp mind or his habit of courageously plunging into potential danger in the pursuit of knowledge. He is also known to be a fairly adept treasure hunter, which has served him well thus far - let's hope that there isn't anything out there looking to stop Dragon in his endeavors, because he's certainly making a name for himself!

Also casually referred to as "Buddy Cops", Baratheon and Booker are a sweet pair of unlikely friends. Booker is a partially blind numbat that hatched in Polaris and, right off the hop, was found by the large white dragon Baratheon. Despite their size difference, they have been virtually inseparable since finding one another and have shared quite a few close moments so far. It seems that these two will be long friends even through thick and thin, as proven after Baratheon admits his fatal flaw - his bloodlust - and Booker simply accepts him as he is. If you're ever in the mood for a feel good thread, anything where these two are present is sure to be an enjoyable read!

Of Friends and Foes
If ever there was a thread that exceeded expectations, it would be this one. Anticipated for 3 months, this thread is the penultimate clash between rivals Cancer and Leon. While it started as being just a rivalry for the affections of Makyna, this rivalry began to mount over the affections of the rest of Maji Walezi, for the feeling of belonging and purpose. Weeks of pent up anger is finally unleashed as Leon returns to Maji Walezi in time to witness the break up between Cancer and Makyna. Leon chases Cancer to Monoceros where the two duke it out, fueled by rage and fear they nearly manage to kill one another before a chasm opens beneath Cancer and swallows him whole. While Leon is given a chance to escape, Cancer must now deal with a new problem: he has been taken to the pit that is home to the once sleeping lamb and dragon. After waking the lamb, she heals him against his wishes. This causes the dragon to wake, and everything goes downhill from there. Amaria arrives in the nick of time to help Cancer, but even escaping the pit isn't the end of their troubles. Following this epic duel, both Leon and Cancer must atone for their crimes before a judge and jury. All in all, this thread marked the beginning of a great change in Maji Walezi - only time will tell if it's for better or worse.

Quixfox
Quix, Usui, Rafael
Quixfox came to us in the second month since Origin's opening and since then she has been a consistent, active and helpful part of our community. There is no shortage of characters in the cave that are written by Quix, and if you're in the market for a spree then Quix is your gal! Not only is she a reliable writing partner, she certainly knows how to spice up a thread and keep it going without losing any flare or interest. Quix has a penchant for creating characters that leave a lasting impression - her self-titled fennec fox is an adorable addition to Maji Walezi caught in the crossfire between Makyna and Cancer, and her peryton Rafael is an insidious force with a powerful influence that affects even Deer Dad. And don't get me started on Usui - I never thought I'd find myself crushin' on a fictional blacksmithing lion, but here we are. Thanks for sharing your amazing characters and interesting writing with us, Quixfox!

While still relatively young and only recently hatched, Delphine was quick to win the hearts of those she encountered, both in character and the people that have found the opportunity to write with her. Jester, Delphine's player, pours an incredible amount of emotion that feels relatable, almost tangible in its execution, in her writing of Delphine that absolutely brings her to life in the best and most heartbreaking ways possible. Even during her short life we see development occur as Delphine hatches in the midst of Polaris, surrounded by friends, to quickly find herself abandoned in Eridanus where she is attacked by Baratheon. She is thrust into the harsh realities of the world far too soon, and as a result we see Delphine grow from an innocent babe into naive, envious, forgiving and humble adolescent struggling to find her place in the caves. Keep doing what you do Delphine, we're all rooting for you!

Our absolute favorite couple is Nemesis and Magdalena, two members of The Merrymen! You'd think this would be an odd couple, a White Rhino and a Borzoi dog, but they go together like a pair of gloves, peas in a pod, etc. When Nemesis was busy reforming, Magdalena about tore our hearts in two trying to find her love. As soon as they came back together, it was like nothing happened. That's why Nutmeg has become out September Pair of the Month!

Fox Face Meets Smoll Man
Do you want a thread that will tear your heart in two pieces and put it through a shredder? Come and read this ( Be warned, it's rated M for swearing! ) Booker is living happily in Eridanus, but Louie the fox has other plans. He captures the numbat, and finds a new weapon to use in the war between The Merrymen and The Bonebound. It is full of drama, plots, and excellent writing from all of the characters. And that is why this thread has taken September's Thread of the Month! Congrats guys!

White Timber/Kalli
Niru, Xender, Ambrus, Gwazi
White Timber has been a very active player on Origin and an absolute delight to chat with in the cbox, almost always around to share a conversation with! All of her characters are excellent, and she has been extremely fun to have here. Her characters feature Niru, a male lion who has been taken in by Cancer; Xender, a grey wolf with a unique personality; Ambrus, a bald eagle who is cute now, but will become a malevolent force to be reckoned with; and, Gwazi, our favorite little kudu that lives with the Merrymen. All of us recommend you grab a thread with her right now! Congratulations, WT!

In what can only be described as a landslide victory, our favorite creepy fortune teller has swooped into the CotM for October! It's only fitting that one of the spookiest characters should win for the spookiest month, and if you haven't checked out Giggle in any of her threads yet, we recommend you do so now! The hyena can often be found making cryptic readings for her fellow Gembounds through the bones that are scattered throughout her home of Canis, and uses her fungal magic to tap into the realm of the unknown to see what others cannot. Not only is she an immensely interesting character on her own, but the way she is written by Dark only makes her that much weirder - but one thing's for sure is that this ghastly hyena is a fan favorite, and sure to stay that way for a long time to come!

Hey, have you seen the adorable little deer Clover and her equally adorable (and big) son Vicktor? No? Well why don't you go check them out, I mean it's not like you really needed that heart for anything other than MAD FEELS right? Clover and Vicktor have stolen this month's PotM award as the cutest little mother-son duo to ever walk the caves, and what only makes them even more interesting is the knowledge that their happy little life is going to take a turn for the worst. Ever since the little black jaguar emerged from his chrysalis, Clover was by his side to teach him all about the world and illuminate his life (quite literally)! However, with mom now preoccupied with the evil Hasira, we have a feeling that Vicktor's life is about to get a little bit darker... We recommend keeping a close eye on these two this month for all the exciting drama in store!

Quest: The Fiery Pit P4
Is it really so surprising that the longest thread on Origin thus far has won TotM? That's right - the epic battle between Raheerah and the brave Gembounds fighting to defend their home will be immortalized as October's TotM, which means that if you haven't read it already, you really should get on that! Not only does this thread feature gratuitous violence and Gembounds uselessly flinging themselves at a large dragon, but it also culminates in the ultimate revelation of the creature that had left Origin Cave's head spinning for months. If you ever found yourself wondering just who is Nemean?, you'll find all your questions answered near the end of this thread, but we suggest reading the whole thing in order to soak in Nemean's grand entrance in all its bright, loud and unnecessary glory.

Matt
Booker, Moana, Czernobog, Adeyemi, Eosphoros, Fleur
If ever anybody needed an example of someone who is so wholly immersed in Origin to the point of going from 1 character to 6 in a month, I think we'd all point our fingers at Matt. Not that it's a bad thing - in fact, its a really wonderful thing to see Matt's posts fill up the recent threads list and to see his name in the cbox, because he simply lights up the community when he's around! There's no shortage of laughter, intense plotting, and silly faces when Matt is around and the community simply wouldn't be its same cheery self without him. Not to mention Matt's primary character, Booker, seems to cook up drama where ever he goes, from making best friends with a giant dragon to adopting an adorable monkey child with his dragon-brother, only to be seduced by an evil fox and shatter the mental bond with his dragon-brother and forget his identity, making all of us yell "ITS OKAY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO CRY TODAY BUT IT HAPPENED ANYWAYS AND THATS FINE" at our computer screens. Thanks, Matt. You did that.

Mischievous, mysterious, marvelous Macawi! Watch out Nemean, Origin Cave has a new prankster on its hands! Macawi doesn't seem to have any ill-intent, thankfully, but more serious Gembounds may wanna keep an eye on her in case they don't want to get involved in her crazy shenanigans. True enough, Macawi hasn't been with us for long but she's already proven to be a handful to those that have met her. She's eager to go on an adventured no matter where it leads her, and happy to make friends along the way! We love spying on her threads and seeing what she's getting into, because lets be honest here, its always something different. There's no way you can't fall in love with Macawi thanks to her unique, spritely personality and the dynamic style Fira uses to write her!

They have only had one thread together, but its easy to tell that this pair is going to be especially interesting considering Basil's propensity for falling in love with ladies on the spot, and Dovefeather's weird cultiness. Like, do you ever get the feeling that somebody's gonna try to sacrifice you on the spot? That's the vibe I'm getting from this pair, but who knows? Maybe you should read their thread for yourself. At the end of the day, they do end up being kinda cute, but one can't help but feel a little suspicious of either one's motives.

your hand in mine
The Makeon wedding. Need I say more? Well, probably. If you're ready for tears (which you probably aren't), head on over to this thread. It's still in progress at the moment, but that doesn't mean it won't get the waterworks flowing. Nearly the entire cave comes together to celebrate the union of Makyna and Leon, and its gonna be glorious.

Arkrael
Arkrael, Amaria, Erebus, Zorrak, Mawra, RaikZik, Arete, Damian
Arkrael has consistently stuck with Origin through thick and thin, so its only appropriate that she be recognized as November's Member of the Month. We are so so happy and thankful to have Arkrael with us, as she is a constant presence and always someone to talk to, whether she's at work or at home she always finds a chance to pop in - and not to mention post! With her self-titled character, Arkrael has paved the way for many plots over Origin's short history, most notably the herbivore/carnivore war between Arkrael and Vazi, which we are all still very eager to see play out. And don't forget her hot scary werewolf Damian, and fan favorite Amaria, who recently emerged after having been mortally wounded by Raheerah. Arkrael is highly active and and a great, fun roleplaying partner who will never leave you hanging - and that's why we love her so much!

Hasira, Hasira, Hasira. You might know this big, handsome stag as Vazi, but as of late this once lady's man has turned into a horrible, cruel creature. Hasira has literally kidnapped children and broken not only his old lover Arkrael's heart, but now Clover is a causality too. It seems like everything this buck touches turns as dark and cold as his own heart, and with the life of children in his hooves, all of Origin Cave is rallying for his head on a spike. If you're looking for the perfect villain, Briar has got the antagonist for you!

Remember the good times, when sweet, tiny Booker was best friends with a big fluffy dragon? What ever happened to those days? Well, Louie happened to them. After Louie poisoned Booker and held him hostage, these two have become quite the interesting pair... It seems that Stockholm Syndrome has taken hold of these two, and now the most problematic of relationships has formed. Kids, don't let this happen to you! But in the meantime, enjoy the horrifying, hate-love gush between these two mangled, smelly sick-in-the-head gembounds.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
If we ever doubted that a yellow mongoose could take on a full-grown aardwolf and cat, we're wrong. Diamondfang, the Queen of Thieves, has managed to do just that! Once she is victorious, she takes her prizes and flees the scene. This leaves Blackfeather, Arkrael, and Cayenne with little time to save Dovefeather from the Queen's dangerous poison. Overall, this thread is a great read and is full of drama and action. Kudos to everyone in this thread!

Shafaer
Fisher, Bevy, Nemesis, Talat, Kerberos, Dovefeather, Ashtoreth
Who has a diverse cast of fun and interesting characters? We probably turn our heads towards Shafaer. This woman's been with us since the beginning, and she's brought a whole selection of memorable characters and plots to Origin. In her free time, Shafaer's always around gracing Origin with her awesome posts and plots, or just spreading laughter and joy around the cbox. We're so happy to see her around, and that's why she's been named the Member of the Month for December 2015!

Belladonna is on the rise, and Origin Cave is not prepared for the terror that she will unleash. Once known as Clover, a darkness has clouded her heart and her vision, dragging her into shadows after a failed Sensorial Link with Hasira drained her of her emotion and imparted on her those belonging to the evil stag. Belladonna is a poisonous, murderous devil intent on rampaging through the caves and casting depravity upon everyone she encounters. She has already destroyed her son Vicktor, Hasira himself, as well as Carrie, whose child shares a parent with Belladonna's own, and is now preparing to wipe out the inhabitants of the cave alongside the white raven Diánysma. It seems that nobody can stop this evil, hollow shell of the once beloved Clover, leaving everyone hoping that there is someone out there capable of bringing light to chase away her darkness.

Let's not forget what Belladonna used to be, however; the light, charming, and beautiful Clover, a flawless doe who could bring happiness and warmth to everyone she met with her well spun and imaginative stories. Before her descent into darkness, Clover had met Bartos, a lonely cat who lived among Orion's cliffs. He brought her to his den to show her all the rocks he had collected, and there, the two of them settled down for a story and a light show, eventually drifting off into slumber. They awoke again, realizing the feelings that had spawned for one another. The two accompanied each other at the wedding of Makyna and Leon, and then met again, forming a Sensorial Link and giving life to two shards of Clover's citrine before they were torn apart by Hasira. Now, Bartos is left with the growing chrysali and is trying to reach out to Clover, whose heart has darkened. Will he succeed in bringing her back into the light, or will Belladonna consume Clover for good?

MW: Election Time!
As per Maji Walezi's traditions, every four cycles the group holds an election for their new leader. The meeting goes off without a hitch as all of Maji Walezi arrives at Bevy's call, including its founder, Cancer, and his family. Those nominated for leadership are Leon and Cancer, and the vote is close before Quintus breaks the tie with a vote for Leon, casting the fire bear as Maji Walezi's new leader. The meeting is dismissed, but Cancer, Amaria and their children linger, only for Bevy's mind to suddenly flip like a switch into Murder Mode. She attempts to destroy Remedy, only for Kerberos to leap in, resulting in the bird's murder. The rest of Maji Walezi chases Kerberos away and is left to mourn Bevy, her unexpected death a benchmark of change for the drastically transformed Maji Walezi.

This One
Fallah, Gertrude, Farrah
This One, or TO as she is affectionately called, has swooped in and secured January's MotM to the surprise of absolutely no one - with all that she has done for us these past couple months, it is with great honor that we designate TO as our first Member of the Month for this year! She has recently taken on the role of Party Master, creating several fun and exciting events both IC and OOC for members to participate in, including the Secret Santa, Dirty Santa, and the Turkey Time event in November. Let's not forget all the exciting in character accomplishments her characters have made, either. Fallah, after having retreated to her chrysalis, emerges as a female and forms a close bond with Fisher and Black, making the trio inseparable. Gertrude is a fiesty pigeon who seems intent on beating everyone, starting with the entire group of the Bonebound! And lastly, we have Farrah who brings a new dynamic into the cave: the excitement of romance and sexual exploration. We're not lying when we say TO keeps us on our TOes (haha!) with all the intriguing twists and events she has in store for us! Thank you TO!

Having been with us since close to the beginning, Kerberos is a well known character throughout Origin Cave. If somebody were to ask you "who's the big three-headed white dog that looks like a polar bear", you're probably gonna answer Kerberos. Heck, even just "three-headed dog" is enough to point you in the direction of this big, lovable canine. Kerberos has been through a lot - his story began with the Bonebound and ever since he has been a devoted member of the Canis group, holding up the motto of Listen, Learn, and Speak, thanks to Giggle. He's gone through a lot with them, from befriending the Maji Walezi to killing their leader and seeking respite among his own groupmates, recovering with the aid of his friend Götterdämmerung. Every thread with Kerberos is an exciting one, especially seeing how his three heads interact with one another and different Gembounds. For all that he has endured this past month, it seems fitting that Kerberos should take Character of the Month for January! Congrats Kerb!

"Tainted love" might be the perfect words to describe this pair. Gadanai, a sadistic toddler with a penchant for collecting treasures - be they sentient or not - found lonely Jasmine in Orion, and formed an almost instant bond of trust... with a heaping scoop of co-dependence and a dash of hidden motives. A run-in with Jasmine's former best friend Troy has made their connection even stronger, with hints of childhood ideas of romance filling the air, and now it seems the two are set to stay together for as long they can. Given Gadanai's tendency to violence, that time may be filled with quite a bit of destruction - but it will certainly be a riveting ride!

CARNIVORE!
With the Herbivore/Carnivore war plot finally catching up, we were able to get CARNIVORE! rolling - and you know what that means! It's time to beat the crap out of Hasira! Yes, if you're looking for a satisfying read, why not give CARNIVORE! a look through? Some of the cave's most prominant members come together to give Hasira the beating he's deserved for so long, and we have to admit that it is incredibly pleasing to see our favorite villain crushed into the dirt. Unfortunately, this isn't the end of Hasira... it just seems to have exacerbated his hatred for the carnivores.

Kenkou
Vicktor, Diot, Lavonia, Sabor, Peanuts, Aartappal, Dea, Hestia
Kenkou is one of the perpetrators behind the horrifically heart wrenching plot behind Clover's descent into madness, due in part to her exemplary writing of Vicktor, Clover's sweet little adopted child. Kenkou has a way of describing Vicktor in complete contrasts between what he is and what he used to be, providing us with a narrative of Vicktor's own development of paranoia and deep seeded hatred for the rest of the caves. If there is one person here on Origin who has done an astounding job of writing character development, its Kenkou - but lets not forget her other characters! Innocent little Diot has been roped into Booker's own delusions, and Peanuts is the gangly newcomer to the Children of Rot, taken under Czernobog's wing. We're all waiting with baited breath to see where Kenkou takes her characters, so it's safe to say that this Member of the Month is somebody to keep an eye on!

Alright. Let's admit that we all saw this coming. Todd is a silver fox played by Moonlit Dream, but nobody expected that he would become so goshdarn cute that everyone just wants to hug the poor child. He is such an innocent and pure creature that always asks "Why?" to find out all he can about the world. When he got beat up by Kingsfoil and his cronies, you can bet that all of our hearts broke in two. We all can agree that Todd is such a well-written and adorable character, and that is why he has taken the title of March's Character of the Month.

A hybrid and a monochromatic maned wolf named Odyssey and Othello met once, and they really clicked together. It is probably thanks to the possessive and overly protective nature of Odyssey paired with the passionate and non-aggressive nature of Othello that allowed this pair to come into being. You could probably say that Othello will definitely give Odyssey their very own hoard of shinies and treasures to return the love. Or maybe the possessive natures of both of these Gembound will tear them apart in the future. Anyways, they're a cute little couple now, and they've taken the crown of Pair of the Month!

Wharrgarbl P2
When Totum was discovered in Tunnel M after cycles of absence, nobody thought that they'd be in for the adventure of a lifetime by fighting against what seems like tidal waves to the Gembound of Origin Caves. After they braved the waters, Totum led them to a mysterious door that had not ever been noticed before due to that section of Tunnel M being mysteriously closed off. The conjoined beasts then ask the Gembound of the caves to help them open the door... which leads to what appears to be a whole new world. Usually, quest threads are fun and full of action, and this is no exception!

Azooka
Louie, Illiad, Jack, Pietro
Azooka is someone that's been around on Origin since the beginning, and though she's had a few spurts of inactivity, she continues to be present whenever she can. We're all definitely in agreement that she has an interesting cast of characters that she has brought to Origin: the infamous Louie the fox and leader of Merrymen, Illiad the mole/fox hybrid and child of Louie, Jack the dingo and adventurer, and Pietro the puffin messenger of the Children of Rot. Azooka is a great influence, and armed with her roster of unique characters, she makes excellent plots. These are the reasons why she takes the cake as March's Member of the Month.

Cure and Remedy!

When Giants Clash

Moonlit Dream
Todd, Eira, Romeo, Destiny, Kallista

This year's first character of the month is none other than the cave's Magical Champion, Kin-Kin! Kin-Kin has been an inhabitant of Origin Cave for many cycles, during which she spends her time demonstrating her magical prowess to younger Gembounds, teaching and flaunting her lightshows to everyone she encounters. Though arrogant, Kin-Kin hasn't failed to prove to us that she is intelligent and talented, and an interesting character to follow. We can't wait to see what new adventures are in store for Kin-Kin!

An unlikely pair, Lituus the bat and Ghanyarah the komodo dragon have won the hearts of the people of Origin with their quick and unexpected bonding. They came upon each other by complete accident as Ghanyarah stumbled on the hatching chrysalis of the tiny bat. Unsure of whether or not to care for the babe or eat her, Ghanyarah ultimately decided to take her home. After she learns to speak, Lituus quickly aligns herself with her new companion, vowing to chase away his loneliness for good. In the future, we may see these two getting into shenanigans through the cave - do you think she'll inherit his sense of humor? Haha, we hope not!

Tuck's Holiday Party
As is customary for the holidays, we all love a good party. Tukluk the marmoset sets up shop in Polaris, where he begins to grow flowers. A group of Gembounds slowly fills the small meeting area and begin to help decorate, arranging rocks and ice sculptures and creating snow to form the perfect setting for a holiday party. Nobody really knows what they're celebrating, but that's okay - all that matters is that everyone's there to have a great time.

Moonlit Dream
Kin-Kin, Equinox, Chou, Gabriel
Moonlit Dream is a truly dedicated member of Origin, and it feels only right that we kick off 2017 celebrating all of his contributions to the site. Moonlit Dream recently took on the role of moderator and now helps maintain the site, but in his spare time, he fills Origin with beautiful artwork and entertains us with his myriad of lovely, interesting characters. Kin-Kin and Equinox are some of his most well known, but we're very excited to see what he'll do with his pestilence dog Gabriel and the adorable, love struck Chou. Thank you so much for everything you've done for us Moon!

February’s character of the month is a sweet pup by the name of Kyorai! This pooch started off as an inquisitive young fellow intent on adventure but don’t let that sweet face fool you! He has a tongue as sharp as his cuteness! Kyorai has met many gembounds since his emergence and, not only that, but after retreating to his chrysalis due to an eye issue he reemerged and began his quest for adventure anew! He’s still learning all he can from his elders such as the secrets of the caves, hunting, fighting, and a plethora of other things. In following Kyorai there will never be a shortage of “awws”, laughs, and surprises!

A self-proclaimed god and demigod of light, who would have thought that the madness could have spread? In their thread, “You’re Welcome”, Mosi and Kin-Kin meet and it is quickly discovered that the Nassain’yo sees a bit of his sister in the Magickal Champion of the Caves! He is quick to tell her about fate and about how she’s a mortal with godly powers to which Kin-Kin is all too happy to accept. There’s no doubt that with these two the caves should watch out because who knows what sort of trouble the pair could get into?

I can't wait here silent, gotta make a change and make some noise
It was only a matter of time before it happened and in “I can't wait here silent, gotta make a change and make some noise” it finally did! Aaliyah, the gembound that Imperia brought back from a puma that she killed, finally broke away from Imperia’s hold and decided to go off on her own. However, she didn’t just quietly walk away. After refusing to harm the quiet Kallista she turned on Imperia and fought to earn her freedom which in the end she does! Go give this thread a read! It’s bound to have you cheering for her victory.

Zevruu
Zevruu, Kallista, Xin, Splashy, Imperia, Nassir, Joy, Aaliyah, Nkosana, Vianne, Toevij
If there’s one person who’s around the site most of the time it is Zevruu! Whether he’s lurking on the cbox and ready to give a kind greeting or plotting out and threading great scenes between his characters he’s usually around to help spice things up. Zevruu’s one of the most active and dedicated members of the site and has been that way for over a year. A few of his more well-known characters are Aaliyah, Imperia, Kallista, Nassir, and Xin but that’s not all of them and you should go give them all a good read as they are all very interesting! We appreciate your kindness, your activity, and everything you bring to Origin Zevruu!

January’s character of the month is a small, angry creature known as a least weasel—and known to the cave as Envy. Crippled at birth by a toxic gem that prevents them eating or drinking, Envy quickly came to harbor a vendetta against anyone bigger or more powerful than they are. Possessive, needy, spiteful, but also extremely clever, this egotistical teen has the potential to become one of the caves' tiniest troublemakers as they rapidly learn about magic and how to utilize it. But will they stop there?!

Aaliyah & Envy
When feline hybrid Aaliyah stumbled on the hatching of a tiny weasel on the brink of death, she knew that there was no way it could possibly survive on its own. So, despite all of her reservations, she took it in and became Envy’s beloved Mamma. And although she tries her very best, Li’s hard-pressed keeping the little one out of trouble! But, with Envy growing rapidly and setting out to forge their own path, they sadly parted ways on less-than-ideal terms spurred on by the reappearance of Li’s long-deserted parent. Will the bond between mother and child remain strong, or will Envy’s troublemaking tendencies cause a rift that can’t be bridged? We can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the coming cycles!

[QUEST] Three Kings of Orion: P2
Because when three mysterious god-like galaxy birds ask you to collect stones for them, you do it, right? Of course! In this quest thread, three new NPCs tasked the Gembounds with a stone-collecting challenge to see which of the three brothers would be the winner. Whichever brother received the most stones—yes, the stones that the Gembounds were collecting for them—would be the lead personality when they eventually would later fuse together. The three Kings of Orion are: Alnilam, the kind brother; Mintaka, the neutral brother; and Alnitak, the ambitious brother. Mintaka ended up the victor of this challenge, chosen by the Gembounds. The real quest, however, was to search for a lost stone. Unforunately, it did not turn up in the incredible 80 stones retrieved by the Gembounds. Revealed to be the stone of an architect, the Kings are very interested in finding this stone, and have tasked the Gembounds with finding Astraea—who likely has this stone in his possession.

Pluto & SilverWinter
Septiezal, Riffi, Aries, Dezba, Aztec, Equus Mortis, Valeria & Winter, Blackberry, Rift, Reseda, Alan, Asimona, Umbra (Caliante, Salvation, Rusty, and Crack)
For the first time in Origin history, we have a tie for Member of the Month! Pluto and Silverwinter both equally deserve this spot, being highly active members of our community both IC, and out!

Pluto has been with us for well over a year now, sticking with us through thick and thin. In addition to playing their whole host of wonderful characters, Pluto also spends their time filling the caves with wonderful artwork, helping our newcomers and bringing positivity to any situation. This month they also won our Mutation slot raffle, and we're all super excited to see what comes of that! Though their oldest characters are Septiezal, Riffi, and Aries, we can't wait to see what they do with their newest kids, including death-horse Mortis, light-jaguar Aztec, little bloodsucker Valeria, and extremely angry wolf cub, Dezba!

SilverWinter is one of our new kids on the block, and they've certainly made a splash since joining us us in mid-December. Not only do they contribute to the caves with a range of colourful characters, but play a big part in our community as well, always happy to converse and make friends. Their characters include arcane cobra Winter, cold komodo dragon Reseda, newly hatched dragon Asimona, and many more! Whilst these characters are still young, each and every one of them have a huge amount of potential and heaps of personality, and we can't wait to see how they develop and grow over their life in the caves!

Congratulations to both Pluto and SilverWinter, and we all hope your characters will continue to bring excitement to the caves for many cycles to come!

Whilst Khloros’ demeanor may seem aloof and distant at times, there’s no denying that this diseased horse has lived through much and seen far more. In a long-forgotten past, Khloros has been called many things. Bringer of Disease, the Horse who Carries Death, and even God. He was among the first to awaken in the early days of the Cave and since, has spread death and disease to the caves’ furthest reaches. Khloros’ primary motive is to end the suffering of cave-dwellers and lesser gembounds in need. A noble goal, it would seem; until you realize that the relief he brings takes the form of the Black Death. Currently, Khloros is seeking to end the cycles by spreading plague among the Caves’ rats in the hope that the Gembounds of the cave will finally find peace in nothingness. It’s time for the caves’ inhabitants to act! Will they find a cure, or choose to confront Khloros directly? Most importantly, could this be the end of cave life as we know it?!

Grab the popcorn, ready your magick and keep the rats at arms length, as we’re in for one hell of a ride! A round of applause goes to Khloros, for keeping us on the edge of our seats!

Kielo & Winter
I guess it’s true what they say... love is blind. Fittingly for the valentines festivities, the odd yet touching relationship between blind hybrid Kielo and monocled cobra Winter proves that. When Kielo and Winter first met at her birth, tensions ran high as the baby snake struggled to escape her chrysalis. But with Kielo’s warm welcome and kind heart, the pair became fast friends. Cycles later, they met again. This time, Winter was badly wounded after a fight with Blackberry. Working together, with Winter as Kielo’s eyes, they worked through the pain and took steps towards helping Winter heal. Now, the two are bonded by the magic of two valentines flowers, capable of feeling one another’s thoughts and emotions over long distances. How will this effect their relationship? Will their love extend into eternity? Or will young love take its course? For now, the pair are nearly inseparable, and an adorable couple akin to a fairytale. We can’t wait to see how their love blossoms in the coming cycles!

Healing
Kielo and Winter awake together after the long hours spent tending to Winter’s wounds. Kielo continues trying to look after her whilst she heals, finding her moss, and trying to feed her... mushrooms? On failing to eat it, Kielo tries to hunt for her, and for the first time in their life, successfully ends the life of a cave mouse. Overcome by emotion and guilt spurred on by their innate gentleness, the two confessed their love for one another in floods of tears. A thread which had even the stoniest hearts among us weeping, it’s so sweet it might give you a toothache... and of course, introduced us to our inevitable pair of the month.

Dark & Blackbird
Black, Giggle, Dragon, Khloros, Oliver, Vincenzo, Imp, Dread & Sebastian, Wild Splotch, Sizzle, Skeena, Malachai, Llamrei, Hera, Mongo, Bahamut, Pelt, Huny, Arba, Artume, Cassiopia
Another tie?! Preposterous! But there’s no denying that our members of this month both deserve it equally! As with last month, our MOTM titles are held by one of our old, and one of our new, giving us the best of both worlds!

Our first MOTM, Dark, is one of the oldest members of Origin, having joined all the way back in the site’s opening cycles. In addition to just being a wonderfully helpful and friendly member of our community, Dark also plays a whole host of wonderfully in-depth and engaging characters. They also spend their time filling the caves with wondrous art and building complex stories for our community to take part in. It’s Dark who’s currently running the sitewide Epidemic! plotline, so if you guys want an interesting and exciting new plotline to take part in, definitely check that out!

Blackbird on the other hand, is another of our newest members! She has an insane roster of 14 characters and counting, but her oldest characters include Sebastian, Splotch and Sizzle. Blackbird has become known among the community not only for her characters, but for her wonderful personality and friendliness. We all love hearing about the exciting and sometimes crazy things that Blackbird gets up to in her day-to-day life, from fursuit conventions to waltzing, and we can’t wait to see what she gets up to next! We hope this makes your grandma proud, Blackbird! (But we're sure she's always proud of you!) ♥

What could be better than a cute little bird? A fabulous one with dreams of greatness? A little diva with an eye for the beautiful and the heart of an artisan? All of the above describe Gypsy, our adorable little character of the month. Gypsy has so far proven to be an adorable little thing, enthusiastic and eager to make the caves a better place by filling them with beautiful lights! In the future Gypsy hopes to become a performer and a crafter, and although she is young, she already has the makings of a complex and unique character. we can't wait to see what Gypsy gets up to in the future!

Blackberry & Blueberry
Blackberry and Blueberry- childhood sweethearts and neighborhood murder buddies. This unsavoury pair met at a young age, with the gentle moose Blueberry taking on the role of a nurse to the rogueish and intense goose- Blackberry. Time passed, and the pair grew up together- fought together, and even killed together. Childhood innocence gave way to a ferocious thirst for combat and the two forged a deep connection steeped in the blood of their enemies. Now, with a brood of little berries on the way, the caves should probably be prepared for an uprising as intense as their burning passion!

From Hell I Emerge, Victorious
Coming!

Willow
Faelan, Talion, Kitaka
Coming!

Reseda can be described by one word: complex. If one were to add a second, it would likely be "cold." Beyond these two, the hefty komodo dragon is proving to be calculating, manipulative, and as per her new role of "Greed," very hungry to gain mastery over magic and Gembound alike. She holds a strong desire to gather others to her cause, despite her utter lack of understanding or care for how or what they truly feel. Alongside this there is a deep-seated ambition to garner the respect and fear of all. This combination of coldhearted reptile and insatiable dictator could lead to a strong and logical leader--or a vicious tyrant. As she collects and manipulates followers, we cannot help but wonder: where will she lead them? What is it that she truly wants to hoard? Is it power, fear, respect, magic--all of the above? And will she manage to find, and achieve it? We'll find out soon, for better or for worse!

Dragon & Ghanyarah
Our pair of the month hail, for the most part, from the swamps of Cetus: the battlescarred, fiery alligator Dragon, and his "brother," the finned komodo dragon Ghanyarah. The two came together long ago for the initial formation of the group Children of Rot, and formed a strong bond that has truly withstood the test of time. After long absences, both have found one another again, and quickly reestablished that bond: the lone gator has found great relief in being able to confide in his brother, as well as in finding him alive. Ghanyarah, for his part, long believing himself left alone, seems overwhelmed to once again be in the company of brother, and friends. As the Children of Rot reform, the pair begin their journey to uncover Origin's secrets side-by-side, with new allies at their backs. How far will this journey take them? It doesn't matter, so long as they make it together.

The Children of Rot
Tying in with the pair of the month, the re-founding of the Children of Rot has been a major change to Origin Cave. Once again, with old members and new, a group of Gembound gathers in Cetus's swamps--under the dubious supervision of the screeching Aquarian--to begin their quest of seeking the knowledge of the caves. Believing that gathering knowledge to avoid the past mistakes of their unknown forebears is paramount to survival, the group is poised to scour the caves with cunning and magic to uncover all they need to know. After a vow to aid one another in this goal, the Children have now split away to pursue various tasks toward this end. The thread leaves us wondering--will they succeed? Will the mysterious Masters of Origin Cave uncover their quest, and stop them?

NightWolf
Selena, Enka
Our MotM is Nightwolf--congratulations! With only two characters, Nightwolf is at the lower end of the "insane character list" roster, but these two characters are vibrant, memorable, and well-written. Selena, the little bobcat, roams the caves as a terrified, shy and lonely cat, afraid of other Gembound as monsters that might harm her. Yet even still she craves company, and in tragic form, she creates familiars to hold back her loneliness. At the opposite end of the heartstring-tugging spectrum is Enka, the bouncy--and bouncing!--Springbok, whose friendly and open demeanor is warm and, quite frankly, adorable. With the ability to write both of these vastly different characters to a fantastic degree, we can't wait to see what more Nightwolf has to bring us!

Pride — coming!

Pride & Aster
coming!

[B5 Bazaar] 1 - Now Open For Business
coming!

Alice Enigma
Albeon, Pippy
coming!

Lust — coming!

Lust & Envy
coming!

Drunk on Jealousy
coming!

Silverwinter
Blackberry, Rift, Reseda, Asimona, Glory, Aegir Njordr, Huckleberry, Amazon
coming!

Flit — coming!

Rift & Flit
coming!

what's going on, where did you go
coming!

Blackbird
Sebastian, Sizzle, Skeena, Llamrei, Hera, Mongo, Bahamut, Artume, Gea, Calyspo, Jayberry, Catalyst, Reign, Galactic, Max, Styx, Luster, Joie, Siobhan, Pavonia, Yewberry
coming!

Huckleberry
If there's one word that could be used to describe Huckleberry, it would be chaotic. Huckleberry's moods, thoughts and even gender are ever-shifting; their mind unpredictable even to them. But despite all of it, this hybrid still manages to retain a kind heart, and feels constantly torn between dangerously unconditional love for their family, the Bloodberries, and the desire to do what's morally right. As they grow into themselves and broaden their horizons, Huckleberry has found themselves drifting further and further away from their family. Could they eventually become the downfall of the dreaded Bloodberries?

Pride & Envy
Pride and Envy are fundamentally complete opposites, and yet these two- the tiny, jealous weasel and the beautiful, graceful deer who could be their most loyal subject- have somehow found themselves growing close. Envy and Pride have met before- and the deer fostered a healthy respect for how the weasel managed to turn their life around after such a rocky start. Envy, on the other hand, revelled in Pride's approval despite their awe and bitterness for the deer's beauty and grace. Soon, the pair had fostered a firm friendship and then, in exchange for a daring mission to reclaim a tuft of lost fur, Pride pledged allegience to the weasel in what would eventually become the Sinful Seven. Even now, though, Envy and Pride remain close- even after Envy's presumed death and subsequent rebirth, Pride is rarely seen without his tiny king on top of his head. Between such opposite sins- could it possibly last?

Jealousy's Riches
Envy, once so small and weak, has managed to accomplish much in their short lifetime- and this thread is the culmination of everything they have worked for, as their rebirth draws Gembounds from far and wide to pledge their allegiance to this newborn King. Pride, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed and, of course, Envy- the weasel encourages their new subjects to embrace their flaws and turn those into their strengths- and so the Sinful Seven is born. It's a kingdom of all shapes and sizes, and they make quite the spectacle as they march for the old Throne in Orion in a royal parade. If nothing else- this thread is a reminder that anyone can accomplish great things, no matter how small.

Cicada
Pelt, Paige, Scorch, Crescendo, Dewberry, Yellow, Aspen, Mosaic, Cocytus
coming!

Pollux
This strange young Gembound is a cute, drooling combination of several creatures that are not all apparent at first: a mix of dog, bird, monkey, octopus, and goat! When startled, the papillae along her skin will automatically camouflage to her surroundings—but not every part of her body can do what her skin can, so this camouflage isn't perfect! Oh and, uh, her bodily fluids glow! Cool.. right? Pollux is a dreamer and an empath, and loves to listen and observe others as she cannot speak herself; will the caves prove to be a place she can find peace in all things?

Pollux & Zeke
Having not traveled too far from where she hatched, Pollux encounters a scary monster! But this fluffy stranger turns out to be a great new buddy named Zeke that fetches some soft fruits for her! Zeke is still growing himself, but is much bigger than Pollux already as a big fluffy dragon! As a gentle giant, Zeke is quick to make sure Pollux is not in any danger and determines she needs food from her chomping motions when he asks if she needs anything. After Pollux enjoys her fruits, the pair cozy up for a nice nap, with Pollux taking advantage of Zeke's fluffy fur to keep her warm. Having a drooling new buddy curl up on your back and knead on you is totally heartmelting!

Dragon and the Dragon
Dragon meets another resident dragon of Cetus, Nox, and they discuss what it is to be a dragon!! As well as some other things, including other dragons they might know (or have seen) and The Children of Rot—and other bigger dragons, like Raheerah and Aquarian! And of course, the betrayer, Nemean! They share some memories about their long-lived cycles but Nox explains that she rarely leaves Cetus and does not enjoy crowds. Dragon offers her a place as an ally of The Children of Rot, or even a part of it, with the mention that they do not gather merely to gather, but to ensure their mutual survival. Dragon believes Nox is a mud dragon but... black (flammable) slime? Isn't that strange? We've seen this before, right?

Trickle
Rast, Baffin (Snowberry), Humphrey, Pollux, Yodox, Hiccup, Ren
Despite being one of our newer members, Trickle has quickly captivated us with their creativity and good vibes! With interesting writing, characters, and ideas, beautiful artwork, and cute pets like Noodles, Smudge, Castor and Pollux, we always know we're in for good content! We'll be excited to see you spend many more cycles with us, Trickle, and we're happy you've joined us! Thanks for spreading your creativity around and being such a fun and active part of our community!

Thothaga
For a giant spider, Thothaga is surprisingly reasonable. Despite her massive size and highly-venomous, painful bite, she spends little of her time arguing or hunting, and more of her time seeking answers to all the myriad puzzles the caves have to offer. As she progresses from a little maiden spider to a motherly seven-foot arachnid, to the eleven-foot crone she will eventually become, the spider weaves together lore and magic, mystery and knowledge, in an attempt to see the truth beyond what mere eyes perceive.

Pippy & Zeke
Another surprisingly gentle giant, Zeke--a big, fluffy, multicolored dragon--looks out for the little guy. And in this case, he's looking out for the littlest of them all: Pippy, the bumblebee bat, quite possibly the smallest Greater Gembound in the caves. After accidentally eating a pomegranate with a horrifically-failed Digest cast, the bat found herself rescued by the ram Aries and laid to rest in her chrysalis. After her reemergence, the giant Zeke found her, and a very unlikely friendship is now forming. Who knows where it will go?

I'm the only one playing hide and seek
Long ago, Azazel--beloved leader of the Canis-based group Bonebound--was slain by his own emotionally-tormented son Eythan. Azazel's friend and advisor, the hyena Giggle, has mourned his death ever since. Only recently, however, has she uncovered the culprit--and after a short, brief battle, she's ordered him back to Canis for a more emotional confrontation. A discussion of fate, of truth, magic, and bones; of family and fatherhood, responsibility and the consequences of acting in fear and pain--and a tentative reconciliation--follows. This thread is heavy, harsh, and bittersweet, and certainly deserving of Thread of the Month.

Oscenavis
Mercurius, Iridescent, Eythan, Nassir, Vinea, Auré, Phlegethon
Here with us from the start, Oscenavis has always played a variety of fascinating and believable characters with a number of motives--and boy, are they memorable. From widely-beloved Azazel--leader of the Bonebound--to the (hilariously) rude Howl, to gentle giant Iris and many beyond, the unique characters and their well-written stories enthrall us. On an out-of-character level, Oscenavis is always-helpful, outgoing, and knowledgeable--a friend to many, and always willing to lend a hand. Congratulations on a well-earned Member of the Month!

Eythan
Coming soon!

Pride & Mercurius
Coming soon!

New Life to Grow and Sow
Coming soon!

Dark
Black, Giggle, Dragon, Khloros, Oliver, Vincenzo, Imp, Dread, Pride, Shango, Cloudberry, Sergei, Arsu, Doctor
Coming soon!

Squick
Coming soon!

Pride & Squick
Coming soon!

[Quest Side-Thread] Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Coming soon!

Pluto
Septiezal, Riffi, Aries, Dezba, Aztec, Equus Mortis, Valeria
Coming soon!