Time. That was what it was called. The onward marching of life and existence. Things happened. Then they end. And the caves move on.

The Silence had spent much of that time simply. Existing. Surviving. Maybe thriving even, as she was well fed and content. But she had not done much. She had a name, once. She doesn't exactly remember it. Not that she had much of a reason to use it. There wasn't really anyone for her to talk to.

She heaved herself onto the mudbank. Here, under the gnarled roots of a tree, she'd made a den for herself. Small gemstones and broken trinkets scattered her reed nest, collected fragments of other lives she was only distantly aware of. But they were all overshadowed by the chrysalis set at the edge of the nest, pinkish-red like her own gem.

Collected from Naskital cycles prior, she'd mainly taken it out of curiosity. And it did grow, attaching to the roots to develop whatever new life it held. But then it went quiet, the dark shape peacefully asleep and never emerging.

She wasn't sure how long chrysali take to hatch, but only in the past few dimmings of lights had it started to stirr. It definitely felt longer than it was supposed to be.

Not that it mattered much to her. She has plenty of patience.

So it is a welcome change when the chrysalis starts to crackle from strain.

@Sprocket

It started slow, first just spiderweb fractures slowly appearing. But they kept growing, and soon the shape cocooned within began to move.

It had groggily come to awareness, something finally rousing it from its too-long slumber. And like many Gembound before it, it wanted out. Flipper-paws pressed against the stone, pushing with all he could offer - but he was still new to everything. The gem cracked, allowing fluid to start draining away, but not much more.

Still, Sprocket tries, squeaking with effort as he throws himself against the walls of his chrysalis.

She blinks once. Twice. The gem is hatching. The gem is hatching! At once, the Silence is at the chrysalis, inspecting it. She watches the shape within struggle to break free. She smells the fluid pouring from the gap opened in the stone. She hears it calling out.

The sound rouses something in her instincts - it sounds like chirping, the calling of young. So she calls back, a low, deep rumble in her throat. Wordlessly saying I am here. Someone is here for you.

His claws slide uselessly against smooth crystal. His frustration is mounting, but then the rumble reaches his ears. The deep noise surrounds him, low and calming. And as he tries to wedge himself closer to the hole, he sees a shape hovering outside.

Something is there. For a moment, his head worries. Something dangerous? Something bad? But then it keeps thinking. No. Someone watching over him at his first moments? Likely family.

He works a flipper against the hole, trying to wedge it larger. And it works - the chrysalis starts to peel open with a long CRAAAAAAACK! Air rushes in, and he finds himself sputtering out fluid as he struggle for breath.

But then he's heaving himself out, out of his chrysalis and onto the mossy ground. Free. He calls out again, another squeaking sound. Where is my family?

She watches as the thing finally manages to break free. It's a strange thing - smooth with a few points, and looking like if someone took a mammal and bent it into a shape like her own. But that isn't what her mind focuses on.

The thing keeps chirping, and she's realizing that it is her responsibility. She isn't having any horror or grand introspection at that fact. Just a quiet acceptance. This child is mine. I must raise it.

It's cold. No good for babies. (She doesn't quite realize that Sprocket is already fully grown.) Some good warmth while she carries it to the water to clean it will help. Not that it happens, of course. That's what she gets, for sleeping so long.

No matter, she can still get started cleaning him. As he lies there, she gently nudges him with her snout, before trying to pick him up in her jaws. He's big, and a bit awkward to carry on land, but she starts to bring him the 15 feet to the water's edge. And she rumbles to him the whole time.