Gemini's ceiling was heavy with clouds, though only time would tell if they would clear or not. Not that this particular life, still inside a Tanzanite chrysalis, was aware of any of this. The life squirmed, awake before truly meant to be. And the squirming became struggles, as while the chrysalis was warm, it was all wrong.

There should be something else, the life thought. But what, the life did not know. Still, the struggles persisted, and eventually, they bore fruit.

But perhaps it might have been better if they had not... For the child that fell out of the chrysalis was a kitten that looked the age of a three day old Earth kitten. The kitten's ears were open, but the eyes remained shut. And while Gemini wasn't as full of predators as some, the kitten would be easy prey.

Raiden, for that was the kitten's name, though he knew not how to voice he gave a pitiful mewl and then another, a kitten crying for a parent, though he did not know the word... And this child had no parent, regardless. He might soon attract a predator, with his cries.

Or, perhaps, if he was lucky, the underdeveloped creature would find a savior instead.

@Yanyue

Another child was in Gemini, as it so happened, having left the Mysterious Rift and been on the way back to Leo. But, their ears flicked a bit as the sound of sad cries reached them. Yanyue hesitated barely at all, before turning from the path of Leo a bit to get towards the source of the cries, instead.

The sight that met them was unexpected. A fresh gembound, newly hatched... But his eyes were closed, and he did not seem capable of opening them. Nor did he seem capable of much at all, at this life stage. And Yanyue came closer, tentatively.

What was wrong with him, they wondered, then promptly felt horrible for thinking such, even though they themself were but a rather new child still. They crept even closer, the more the child cried, and they worried for him.

"Can you... understand me? Are you hurt...?" Yanyue asked, concerned, voice breaking through the sound of the crying mewls.

@Raiden

Suddenly, there was a voice, and the kitten's mewls grew silent. It was hard to hear, his ears just barely open as they were, but he heard. He gave a squeak, not sure how to make words like the voice had done.

Weakly, he dragged himself towards the voice, which had been close, he thought. As he reached them, he almost recoiled at the touch of scales mixed with fur, but then he heard it. The heartbeat sound he had been longing for within his chrysalis, that had caused his early escape, though he had not know what it was then.

Carefully, the kitten pressed closer and a weak purr began to sputter from him. His paws idly kneaded at the voice's body, though he could not feel it. It was warm here, compared to the cold from coming out of his chrysalis. And the heartbeat continued, soothing him.

@Yanyue

The fresh gembound did his best to make his way towards them, and then settled at Yanyue's side, much to their startlement. Perhaps, they thought, this other child was not hurt at all. Not conventionally, at least. Perhaps, instead, this child was lonely.

"It's okay... You're not alone now," Yanyue's voice spoke to comfort without him even thinking about it. If they were older, they might have thought on how children were a big commitment, but they were not even yet two cycles themself.

"I am Yanyue..." they trailed off, and the rain suddenly began to fall, quickly followed by the rumbles of thunder. Automatically, they moved to stand over the child to protect him from the elements, because small though they were, this child was infinitely smaller.

Excitement struck Yanyue suddenly. Perhaps this was not a bad thing at all. "Name's Yanyue, and I'm going to be your big sibling, okay?" they half-asked, half-exclaimed, but they did not necessarily expect a reply. They did not mind the water soaking their fur and then rolling off their scales.

How could they, when they now had a little brother? "I'll take care of you, promise!" Yanyue eagerly added.

@Raiden

The soothing words were just what Raiden wished to hear, even somewhat muffled as sound was. Then the voice introduced themself, twice, as Yanyue. Then added that they would his big sibling. Raiden purred louder.

A big sibling... Was that the same as a protector? Raiden had come into the world alone and scared, but now he was neither. The vow of care soothed him and confirmed his question without him having to figure out how to ask it.

Thunder rumbled overhead, but this kitten was safe. He knew it, too. So long as Yanyue was here, he would be safe.

Gently, Raiden's stuttering purr became quieter as they easily fell asleep, the events of the day, brief though they had been, had exhausted the little life.

[Exit Raiden]

They were worried for a moment when the child fell quiet, then they realized he had fallen asleep.

Ever so carefully, Yanyue moved to grab the sleeping kitten beneath their body in their jaw. They were not sure how else to carry the child. They could put him in their drawstring bag, but this felt safer and more natural.

It was time to head back to Leo, they decided. And despite their joy of storms, they wished to keep this little brother of theirs safe and warm even more than anything else.

Yanyue cautiously began to bound off, bag hanging around their neck, and newly claimed little brother carefully held in jaw.

[Exit Yanyue]