It was so easy to see in the dark dullness of Cetus - a small chrysalis of bright pink almost glowing among the desaturated greens, grays, and browns of the swamp. It sat there for some time, sticking out like a sore thumb, until the creature inside decided, well, it was time enough to break free. Or at least, her body did - pressing up against the sides, a crack eventually appeared in the outer wall. Consciousness came suddenly to the young one and she found herself surrounded by pink and by darkness. She had yet to take a breath, the fluids of the chrysalis having worked for the last cycle, but now that she was awake, now that her heart was pumping and her brain was functioning, she found herself in desperate need for oxygen.

She tried to stretch out, finding that her path was block. The natural instinct was to keep pressing so that was what she did. She pressed and pressed until, eventually, the gemstone shattered and dumped her into the cold water of Cetus.

Immediately, cold began to set in as she took breath after breath of the stale, damp air. Her fur, already drenched from the mud underneath, was sticking tight to her body and shivers raced up and down her spine. She began to feel afraid - alone and afraid - as she laid in the mud, curling against herself to try and preserve what little warmth she had.

Cracking brought Howl out of his stupor, and he twisted his head down. Chin tucked into his mane, the hybrid stared, empty-eyed until urged into action. A child. Fresh. New. Still looking for breath and warmth. Mother could give that to her. He could give that to her.

The howler monkgoose jumped down, but not in a blitz of child-stealing and force-feeding motion. No, he was almost gentle as he landed, promptly falling onto his rump and curling his tail around his hind legs. He reached out, scooping up the shivering child and pressing her close to his chest. Half-curled around her, Howl dug into his stores of fungal masses and offered a clot of it to her.

"Eat," was all he urged, pressing it to her snout rather persistently.

@Shoko

The creature that thumped down next to the little panda at first scared her. She shivered and flinched back, but gentle arms wrapped around her slick, shivering body and she very quickly fell into the touch, letting her cold body press against the warmth of this newcomer. He pressed her against his chest and she grabbed at the thick mane of fur with her tiny claws.

She was safe here. He was gentle, warm. She felt protected in his arms and relaxed completely in the embrace of this protective force. She sighed softly and closer her eyes, leaning into his chest. She heard a gentle sound - his voice, she realized - as something pressed against her snout. Her eyes cracked open to see what it was, but it was only a reaction - he was offering her food. Gently, she opened her mouth and crushed it in her jaws.

Her nose crinkled at the taste, but swallowed it anyways. She coughed as it went down, letting out a tiny sneeze at the end. "Ew," she squeaked.

@Howl

The warmth, the feeling of safety, returned tenfold. Yes, she was safe here. The awful odors of Howl and the fungus faded rapidly as a feeling of acceptance and comfort swarmed the child.

"Welcome, young one. Howl, you have done well," murmured a kind, caring voice in both their minds.

@Howl

Shoko is home - and fits in as if she has always been here. Such is the perfection and love of Mother. Howl preened along the connection, continuing to hold the child close to his chest as he shuffles towards her body and their heart.

"Welcome, little sister," he murmured to her, adoration and love flooding his mental voice.

She could find her way through the many eyes, but this was faster, more efficient. He moved in an impossibly straight line, no matter the terrain.

@Shoko

The sudden feeling of opening scared the little panda at first, but that warm feeling of love and acceptance, that she was safe, that she was home quickly overrode whatever she was feeling before. She sighed gently into the hybrid’s chest as he began to move her. Closer to Mother? Yes, that was right. She was this way - home was not here, in the cold mud and sitting among the crystal shards, but back at Mother’s den. Shoko knew where it was, but she was content with allowing Howl to take her there.

”Thank you,” she sighed gently back, the love she felt for her family stronger then any other emotion she’d felt in her few moments of life. ”Thank you for finding me.” Because she was lost before, useless, purposeless. Completely and utterly alone. But now she had a family. She had a Mother that loved her very much and she had a purpose to fulfill. Protect Mother. Feed Mother. Help the family survive. They would love her and she would love them back.

@Howl

He moved quickly, arriving shortly at the center of her beloved mass. He deposited the child before her. Shoko was home, truly - and she was family. They would decide as one, what she could do for the family, other than love and be loved, devote and be devoted to.

But, Howl had a routine to get back to, and obsessive self-cleaning to get to.

;exit howl, unless stopped
@Shoko

Shoko let go of Howl as he set her down before the mass of mother, crawling the rest of the way and stretching out a paw to touch the pulsing mass of fungus. Perhaps she would have been scared, but no, she was fully content and loving of the thing in front of her. This was Mother. This was her home now, her family. And she was nothing but happy.

"What do you wish of me, Mother?" she squeaked.

@Game Master Dark

There was a pause as the rotting clot of sentient fungus delved into the child's mind, gauging its abilities. And then the floodgate to those loving brain-chemicals opened, swarming the child with emotions of acceptance and contentment as the Hive queen sent her commands, sickly-sweet with 'kindness.'

"Many of my children feed me, and protect me, and care for one another, and share my gift with others. And when you are old enough, and feel strong enough, you may join them. But for now, my dear one, all you must do is grow: feed, play, and grow strong for Mother."

@Shoko

Ahh, that felt so amazing, to be given so much love and acceptance and such a wonderful, profound sense of safety. This was her family, this was where she belonged and she would grow for Mother. At first she wanted to protest because she wanted to help, but the contentness that came with the family's influence stopped her in her tracks. No...she didn't need to worry about that yet. She would be a suitable worked for Mother in time. For now, she would grow and get strong so she could more most useful to the family in the future.

"I will, Mother," she squeaked. Yes, she'll do whatever Mother needs of her. For now, however, she was tired - she had experienced so many emotions and fears before Mother had taken her in. It was time to rest.

She crawled over to the edge of the den and curled up against the wall, staying awake for a moment longer to soak in the affection and love from the family before her mind blissfully shut down and she drifted into a state of unconsciousness.

*exit