The walls of the Gorge rose up above the chrysalis as if to shelter it, but really this was happenstance. The wind did not carve its way through Monoceros for the sake of the creatures within the walls. It did what it had done forever - or at the very least, for as long as any Gembound could remember. And since the Gembounds were just waking, that meant forever. The central twister remained fixed, while vicious air currents sliced and diced at the stone surrounding it; this was how the chrysalis was unearthed. This was how a shard of stone came ripping free, to slam in to the curved zirconium surface like a knife trying to jimmy open a bottle of beer, or something. The first hit did nothing. The second, with a larger shard, seemed to cause a dent in the arching shell. As if truly alive, the wind began to pick up, and with a great howl the chrysalis was broken free of the dirt and stone holding it firmly in one place. In the next moment, the object was lifted free of the earth entirely, and went flying haphazardly against a wall.

This seemed to be the only way to open the chrysalis. As the object slammed against the adjacent wall with the full force of the angry winds, the creature inside was thrown in reverse; the same physics being applied to it, as would be applied to a brain within a skull. The creature, whatever and whoever it had yet to become, was experiencing pain even before it could wake and take its first breath. And then, as the winds died down, the chrysalis slid from where it was pinned against the high wall of the Gorge and down to the floor, where it slammed and fell over. This, apparently, was enough to split the zircon casing open - and free the creature inside, who tumbled out with in a heap of fluff.

Perhaps it hadn't survived?

Shoulder rubbed against the rugged sides of the cave. Her legs took her in any direction that deemed fit. When she came to the edge of a tunnel’s side she would turn so she would not subject herself to running into a large block of rock. The cub found herself into a room that had her eyes squinting from the harsh winds that rustled her short fur. She tucked her head in between her shoulders as she set her pace at a quick walk. The spotted being wobbled from side to side as she walked further into the room. Ears pinned themselves to the top of her head as she looked around at what was around her that her vision had painted in black monochromatic colors. Her muzzle was tilted upwards slightly as she placed her foot forward. Her foot came in contact with nothing but air. The child’s lavender eyes widened as her mouth opened as if to scream. A noise never left her lips since before she knew it her body was teetering over the edge for a second before gravity took over. Her legs instinctively curled inward to her stomach as she fell down into a narrow hole. She landed on her stomach with an audible thud. The babe took a shuttering breath while she opened her eyes that had closed at some point during the fall. She took notice of the winds that were not as potent as it was above. The rosetted cub shifted her weight until she was standing on all of her limbs. She glanced around to see that it was even darker in this space, if possible. Her eyes scanned the area near her to see if she could make out some movement in the darkness.

(Post-roll edit:)
The gem on her forehead flickered bright for a brief second then the light disappeared. A hiss left the child's throat as her head began to pound from the use her magic. Her body swayed to one side before she plopped her bum to the ground. A huff left her mouth with an exhale of carbons while she raised her left front paw to place it on the side of her cheek.

“ ”

The creature from within the zircon was still.. At least part-ways, inside the chrysalis. Shards of broken gem had splintered away from the rest, forming stacks of clear diamond which littered the dark floor of the valley, and the creature's fluffy torso was a lump that bridged the inside of the chrysalis with the sand and grit outside. The creature did not appear to be breathing yet, or moving at all. But in the dark this would have been difficult for even the most mindful of Gembounds to notice. The stranger which approached the chrysalis was not a mindful creature - but no newborn Gembound was likely to know how to navigate in the dark, especially in the Monoceros room. It was by no fault of their's that the leopard failed in her journey, and came slipping down to the same level as the broken chrysalis.

The winds whipped at the walls, howling and whistling in such a manner that the sounds could have woken the dead; and yet, the creature within the chrysalis still had not roused. The tipping point came after the leopard attempted their magic - and in the failed attempt, with her yowling and crying out, there came a tremble to the previously limp newborn's limbs. It was one foot, then the other, twitching at first, and then springing up as if pulled by marionette strings. The babe was physically developed, but after such a drastic birth from the chrysalis, it would be surprising indeed if the Gembound was mentally complete.

She staggered to her paws, slipping free of the chrysalis with a few hurried side-steps. And for a moment, the new creature looked as if they would lose their balance, perhaps do a barrel roll in to the dirt. She compensated, and wheeled about in another direction; resembling a colt trying to steady their long legs, or a drunken spider, or something. But this Gembound was neither of these things. As she came careening to a halt (narrowly missing the adjacent wall), the fluffy dog tripped over the settled body of Nephthys with her clumsy steps, and hit the ground in the next second.

With a yelp, a spark of light seemed to shoot out of her mouth - like a pale breath of cold air, forced out by the fall - and embedded itself in to a piece of the chrysalis' shattered zircon.

"Silly dog."

He observed. Looking at what occurred as it occurred, the foxish wolf grinned a little. His eyes were acclimated to this dark world he lived within, but he did not use his eyes as much as he used his massive ears and keen nose. He was adjusting to living in darkness quickly... unlike some that still struggled and floundered.

But they would adjust, too. While uncertain he felt as if this was a world in which one became 'adjusted' and lived or did not and died. Death came. There were bones that proved it. Blood came out of living creatures and tasty food did, too. He had yet to learn the nuances of what was edible... but the little hairy dog didn't quite look as tasty as the large yellow haunch of Beau had.

But the dog - the creature before him was no wolf. He was learning what being a wolf meant and the fluffy butt was not it ata all - the dog was like him, he realized. THe more he stared at the thing the more it dawned on him their similarities. Particularly when a little piece of light was made and the evidence laid there for all to see. It was very familiar... it was like the thing he had made for his dear (deer) friend.

That was enough to spur Saudade to do more than just stand by and look and stare. He became a participant when he saw the dog could wish as he could wish. He came closer on his long, spindly legs, his snout lowered and his ears forward. He stared intently, moving quietly, before he settled onto his haunches before the... noisy, fluffy thing.

“You.” He said, fully expecting to have the dog's attention. “Who are you?” It was what everyone asked when they met someone knew... and it seemed the most appropriate beginning to... whatever this was.

(OOC: I'm continuing this thread as if Nepthys went and hid in the dark, so if she returns she can reply whenever.)

For a few moments all that Deus felt was pain, but that wouldn't last. Nothing ever seemed to last for this newborn, and nothing ever would. In one moment she was on the ground, winded and surprised by the sensation of falling and landing, and the next moment she was dragging herself up again. Whatever she had tripped over must have vanished, or at the very least slunk off to hide after that spontaneous event. Deus couldn't see anything in the dark. Even the pale glow from the chrysalis shard was hardly visible to the fluffy creature - she had no idea her eyes were hidden behind a mop of ragged fur.

With a, "Hufffmph!" and a shake of her head, the dog's flyaway coat floated away from her vision. She caught a glimpse of something moving in the dark, and being too young and too addled to be afraid of it, she sought it out. Deus waddled at first since she didn't know where to place her paws. And then when the thing in the dark spoke to her, she bounded closer.

"Who are you?" The voice asked, and Deus, blinking as if to clear away the dark, put on her biggest smile.

"Hoo yoo!" She mimicked, poorly, and then again, "Hoo, hoo? Yoo hoo!" My, this was fun! How many sounds could she make with her mouth-parts?! "Hoo arrr! Yoo arrr! Arrr. Rrrr. Rooo!" This monologue was interrupted as she canted back her head, overtaken by the instinct to howl. For a few seconds Deus' irregular voice rivaled the tenacity of the storm above, changing in pitch and volume only when she ran out of air, and had to gulp a new breath.

Ever since he was born he occupied every waking and sleeping moment with learning various things, both about himself and the world. Today (could it be named 'today'? Was it 'today' or 'tonight'? Was it better to just name it 'tonow'?) he learned something very important about himself. He learned that he disliked children. Or dogs. Maybe children and dogs.

The irony that he was still a child himself, but he refused to see himself as similar to this loud, yappy thing. The mop of fur smelled alright, but it moved too quickly and was much too noisy. He eyed it as it began to talk but when it started to screech (howling, please) he visually winced. The dog was hitting notes that could crack glass.

"Shh! Be quiet! Shhh! If you don't shush something awful will happen." He told her, pulling back his black lips and showing his pink gums. His teeth didn't look all that dangerous yet, but if he cold chew up tasty food he was sure he could chomp on whatever was making all that damned racket.