At the edge of the murky swamp, sat a chrysalis. One that didn't exactly fit the rest of the darkness. Shining brilliant silver and gold in the little light that reached past the trees, it had sat in silent vigil for the past cycle.

Silent no longer, however. A steady tap, tap, tap, announced the awakening of the Gembound inside, as it butted its head against the walls. Though it would take quite some work to break free, in time the Pallasite starts to give away.

With one last ram, little Izote's head finally punches the rest of the way out of the chrysalis, and he starts to wriggle free through the opening. A breathy hiss escapes his jaws, as he breathes air for the first time.