The arrangement had gone quite smoothly. At the beginning, the others had a problem with Crack taking back control sometimes but once it showed them that it was trustworthy, they relinquished their hate and the days began to slip by peacefully. Crack could still sometimes feel that stirringi n them to sow chaos, the want to see destruction. It was as natural as breathing to it and it was out of breath. But it found that it could stop itself. That it could live normally as the others did. Although it was a little messier then the others when it ate.

Now it hung inside their cave, not really asleep, just relaxing as it swung gently. When it stopped, Crack only had to push itself a little and it would be swinging again for a little longer. It was oddly relaxing and Crack found itself enjoying the experience. Although it very much wished to do other things. Like attack helpless critters, bite random strangers, and infect everyone it saw with some disease. But a deal was a deal. As long as it got the control it wanted, then it would have to stay calm for a while.

Crack sighed and swung itself again. Time was passing so fast that it was like time wasn't passing at all. It frowned and closed its eyes, trying to focus on other things besides images of blood and death and war. Maybe if it relaxed enough, it would be able to sleep.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

The sound of cracking jerked Crack out of any sleep that was coming. It looked behind itself and was amazed to find a little creature, just having hatched from its shell, sprawled out on the ground. It was so random and so impossible that Crack at first didn't know how to react.

It flexed its claws nervously, forgetting that it was attatched to the cieling, but as soon as it began to fall, it threw out its wings to stop its decent. It landed in front of the hatchling, still speechless. "Caliante," it whispered. "you need to see this."

It stepped forward, unsure how to deal with this situation. It opened its mouth as if to say something, but then closed it. What were the odds that one of the gems here held life in it? It hadn't noticed when they were carrying it up. They had been a bit distracted, though.

"Uh, where did you come from?" Was all Crack could really say. It could feel Caliante rousing from the back but for a second it held her off. Something about it looked funny. The color of its fur. The stretch of webbing on its legs and tail. Wings. It couldn't be...

Crack realized it just then. "We did this..." Its eyes widened with disbelief. Umbra was a parent.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

Crack watched the little hybrid with its jaw hanging open in complete disbelief. How had they done this? How was it even possible that they had done magic like this without noticing at all? It's complete shock and confusion caught the attention of the others and they curiously poked at its consciousness. Crack, what's wrong? What's going on? What do I need to see?

Crack closed its eyes and the image of the newhatched was passed to the others. Their reactions were ones of confusion, both because of its existence and because of its significance. Caliante, however, was the first to catch on. It was like a jolt through Crack's head as she caught the meaning. No...

"Yeah..."

He realized a moment later that it had been standing without saying almost anything to the kid. It cleared its throat and its smooth voice finally turned to its child. "Hi. I'm Crack and I'm....uh...your parent."

Voices of outrage came bursting from the back of Crack's mind and it felt the others, especially Rusty and Tarragon, throwing themselves at the controls. What the fuck are you talking about? I ain't no parent! There was a hiss as Tarragon chimed in, her words slurring in her anger. Yesssss, me too, I refussse to take care of any baby!

Crack shook its head as if to clear them away. "Like it or not," it hissed out loud, "this is Umbra's kid! Right, Caliante?"

There was silence for a moment before a shaky voice echoed, R-right. Even if we're mistaken, it hatched in our den. We have to do something.

Crack nodded but actually had no idea how to deal with this whole situation. It gazed at the hybrid with utter confusion, wondering exactly what it needed to do to even be a proper parent.

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."

The others continued to yell and scream, and by others it was really Rusty and Tarragon voicing their outrage at suddenly having to become parents and their refusal to take that position. Crack couldn't help but smirk. They always seemed to be at each others' throats but this seemed to be one thing they could agree on.

But this wasn't the time for that. The smile was gone as quickly as it came as Crack observed the creatures. It often forget, as did the others, that when they were in control and speaking to the ones inside, there were more that could hear. "I am Umbra. Or, at least, that is what my skin is called. The body. The centerpiece of our little world. Caliante is another that lives in Umbra's skin. There are six of us...I am Crack, the darkest. And there is Salvation, the cat, Rusty the lizard, Tarragon the snake, and Ripple the fish." I...I am not a fish...

This all made perfect sense to Crack and it couldn't really understand how it couldn't make sense. That was just an unknown concept to them, really. It wanted to do something. Anything, but Crack was not well versed in parenting. Or socializing for that matter. What did they do when there were friends over?

Well, it'd know if Umbra had any friends.

So what would they need to know first? How to live. How to eat. How to find water. Survival skills. But then it felt the brush of Salvation's consciousness, who had been quite quiet since the revelation. They need a name.

Crack cleared its throat, realizing that it hadn't asked. "Oh, do you have a name? Something we can call you? Or should we name you? As your parents."

"Caliante." "Salvation." "Rusty." "Crack." "Tarragon." "Ripple."