This other child--though indeed a child--bore similarities to his parents. And, too, to those few Forge he'd seen. That was--fur, spines, wicked claws. His own claws were present, of course, if yet small and dull, but Onyx Two noted these differences in an absent, faintly worried sort of way. Why was he furless, soft, and unarmored-? It was strange--was he different..?

But that was a fleeting thought, for now. He mostly watched, rapt, as there was first a hatchling and then a sibling--and he, unlike The Sentinel, did reach for Onyx-Three in a way that might make his new sibling choose. It was a lean out, so that he might have fallen from the Sentinel's hip if his vigilant father had not caught him--and a hand, reached out, fingers splayed, for Onyx-Three.

"Three," he half-murmured, half-whispered. "Am Two."

@V-Onyx-Three

They turned to look towards Hunter, ears flopping to one side as his head turned to the side. Words- he blinked in a semi-understanding of what they meant. But although the syllables came together in noises that he was unable to draw meaning from, the tone was something they understood. It told him this was someone who could be trusted. And the gesture- invitation? They stared at the hand for a few moments before accepting the offer, instinctively knowing what it meant despite their less than a minute of experience of worldly, cavely?, mannerisms. The child reached out towards Hunter, wanting to feel touch, the embrace of a parent. "Mom?" the words slipped out, naturally, smoothly, without any effort at all. They came without his even knowing their meaning.

Then he looked towards The Sentinel as a hand extended to meet their face. Was this another they could trust? Yes, he decided. It was. But the large alien hound gave him a different aura than that of Hunter. They could not place a finger on what it was exactly, but something was there. Despite this, they trusted him just as much. It was strange how one could form such a deep connection in such a short amount of time. But that was love. Love that came from family. "V. Onyx. Three." they managed to get out, with emphasis on each word as if it were a sentence instead of a name. It felt weird to say. But names were not meant to be said by the bearer. He knew it was his name. Somehow. A slow nod at the idea of parents, the information processing in his head. "Good? V. Onyx. Three. Is. Good?"

His head turned to investigate the the smallest of the group, which was clearly different from the rest of them. In what way he couldn't quite figure out. The newly named V-Onyx-Three didn't want to leave their mother's embrace, instead stretching out with his head to try and touch the small fingers that reached out with the tip of a nose. "Two." now that thoughts were starting to form, he knew enough about numbers to know that three came after two. Was there a One then? "Like... Two." V-Onyx-Three attempted to lick the hand, a way of investigation through taste.

@Hunter

Note: Decided on he/they for pronouns, felt more fitting

The word mom drove straight into his heart, filling him with the largest case of warm and fuzzies he had ever felt. That was right. He was a mother now, something that made him tear up a little bit-- in a good way.

"That's right," Hunter spoke softly, "I'm your mom. My name's Hunter. The Sentinel and the Chaos Forge going to take good care of you." He didn't know a lot about the Forge, but he didn't have to. He knew the Sentinel's convictions and the strength behind them; the Sentinel would not let harm come to his baby.

Besides, they had a brother. They wouldn't be lonely, either. Hunter was sure of it.

"I live far away, but I'll visit. When you're older, I'll show you my home, too. But today," he nodded to the other two. "We can spend the whole day together, what do you say?"

@The Sentinel

The Sentinel straightened, some, studying Hunter as he spoke, and then the children in turn. "The Master must see them," he mused, realizing that Vargas would wish to look over the new hatches. "But this need not be immediate." They could, perhaps, spend an hour or two getting to know one another, first--he saw no harm in that, though for the first time the tiniest pinprick of guilt struck him. Was he putting these desires before the Forge-?

He pondered this, and seemed to come to a decision, adding--"It must not be too long."

With luck they'd understand his meaning. But he knew that the introduction to Vargas would be quick--and then they'd be free to take the children to Pegasus, or whatever else, for their first real meal. "It may be best... to do this first. And then the cave of meadows is open to them."

Tiny face squinted up in--was that horror? Confusion? Amused disgust? Either way his features twisted, hand recoiling as his sibling licked it like a puppy. He made an incoherent sound, sort of a "Bargle," maybe of protest.

Silver eyes picked out Hunter, and he listened to the relatively long sentences--words that were new to him, yet somehow half-remembered. He could make some meaning of it. Not entire, not complete, but enough that he understood the gist: they were family and would be together.

He looked down. His hand was still wet. With another grimace he shook his baby-fat arm determinedly, trying to get rid of the icky puppy-licked feeling. "Now?" he asked softly, at last, eyes cutting back up to first one parent, then the other. "Go now?"

@V-Onyx-Three