We started life uneventfully as the obsidian substance that made up our tomb began to crack away with every claw stroke down its side. Our wings were cramped and in order to reposition ourselves we required more space, thus we needed to be free. Thrusting forwards, our beak burst through and our breast hammered into the side soon after. There was minimal pain, irritation at the clumsiness of our movements more than anything and with great effort, we broke free. Only juvenile in age, our head had retained most of the fluffiness from our previous stage of aging. Our plumage had not yet adopted the dark grey colouration it one day would, instead replaced by a muted variation.

Raising our head, our first point of reference was the crystalline sky that illuminated the area in a dull blue. Rows of seats encircled us and we realized that we had been born in the middle of something important. The 'Forum' or what had remained of it was a great place to be birthed, there was no one here to disturb us and it appeared there hadn't been anyone for quite some time. Able to stretch our wings, they hadn't yet reached their full width but they would in time. Right now that didn't concern us more than testing out what equipment we did have. Extending our right leg forwards, we flexed the dangerous talons and once more noted how they weren't that sharp just yet. In fact, our entire foot was rather small and our permanently fixed brow bone appeared to draw in closer as we scowled.

Again no matter, we were only young and when we were able to grow we would become bigger. Unbeknownst to us was the plethora of life that inhabited these dark caves but we would come to know every inhabitant personally whether they were expecting it or not. Feathers ruffled, we looked to the discarded egg shell fragments and merely shook our head. Pity something so beautiful had had to face destruction in order to give birth to something like us. Not entirely sure where to begin in this new world, we outstretched our wings and in a few swift beats, we were airborne. Wobbly and definitely not as great as we could have been, we came down hard among the broken seats with a harsh cry. Frustrated that it would take some time to get used to this practice, we merely stopped briefly to rest and regain ourselves.

Alright so. We would figure this out before the day was over.

the search for cancer was far from over. he'd vanished. up and disappeared on me like a puff of smoke. i couldn't help but worry, even though i was sure he was alive and well. he had to be, right? i don't think i could bear that loss in the least. but that was rather selfish of me, wasn't it? because i'd gotten so attached to the father figure, i wanted him around for my own sake? was that it? surely not, surely that wasn't the entirety of my worry at his disappearance. perhaps he's down a ways, just to get a cool drink of water. i shrugged off the thought, happily mulling that image in my mind as i settled on that temporary fix. the motion caused the fresh scabs to break open again, gashes running the length of my neck, rib cage, and face allowed for little motion without pain and or blood gush. i instantly frowned, wanting to grumble at myself for being so careless in the maintenance of my wounds.

but it wasn't the fact that i'd never been to this part of orion before that caused for my eyes to widen in surprise, it was the hatching of a creature. a bird-like creature, if i'm not mistaken. it slipped out, right there on a stone structure, where it had then struggled to gain footing. i watched the critter for only a moment before i hurried to help the hatchling. hoping it hadn't hurt itself in the least, what with that fall. i quickened my speed, and summoned my magic so that i could get to the gembound faster. a gust of wind whooshed through me, picking my feet up as i ran toward it. it quickly dissipated as i then approached the bird, dull lenses observing the newly hatched gembound as i forced a soft grin, although the action caused for blood to slowly seep from the new gashes.
"hello little one,"
juvenile tones were soft, inviting, hoping to not startle the creature. i scanned it with my eyes, checking it over so as to spot any injuries which it may have sustained from the hatch and fall - but i didn't see anything. which was a relief.

@temere

Oh. So there was another and we watched as it made its way over to where we were. It was a big creature, very very big and we were very very small in comparison. Maybe not very, very small, but he had four limbs while we had two with wings. Different body structures, whatever that meant. Since we were on our belly, we maneuvered so we were once again on our feet and blinked a few times at the maned boy.

That comment didn't strike us as odd, but it did make us wonder if all we were was a little one. Surely, we wouldn't be full grown out of a chrysalis but we had hoped that we didn't appear so juvenile like we were. Without meaning too, the gem that lay itself within our breast begin to tingle and glow. The light over us drew in and we were plunged into a sort of darkness that made us, at least we felt it made us, a lot more menacing than we actually were. "Little one..." We pondered this name, it wasn't what we were called and it was obvious as we played the word over and over. "No. Not little one." Blinking at Niru, our head cocked sides, "Big one?" Maybe that is why he called us little one, because his name was big one. Still shrouded in shadow, we waited, this place was nice enough to stay for a conversation.

"Missing something?"

@Niru

the stinging burn of my fresh scars nagged at me, however i chose to ignore them while the new hatchling tried to comprehend everything around him. much like i'd done when i was new. when sweet wynry found me, whispered to me such loving beckonings, and i was too afraid, too ignorant to know much else. i should need to find him again, he'd be expecting me. i shook my head lightly which caused the fresh scabs over the neck gash to split and seep blood. i smiled softly more, trying not to aggravate the wound much.

"only bigger to you now, but you could grow much larger."

i spoke honestly, as i hadn't a clue as to what he really was. or how big i'd get. if at all any bigger. then, the gembound displayed his magic. something i haven't seen before, he became shrouded in the darkness, shadowy. my eyes widened with glee.

"wow! look at you. your magic is presenting itself, and without much practice! impressive, gem."

i then summoned my own magic, wondering if i could in fact display my own. soon small gusts of wind blew up around us, ruffling the furs and cooling my gashes gently. it was short lived however, and i looked upon the little bird again.

"that was a bit of my own magic."

i validated.

@temere