As she came to be aware, all she could think about was the pressure on the sides of her body, pushing in on her and making her uncomfortable. The young creature squirmed, and then as she seemed to wake even more, squirmed even harder. There was a cracking sound, and something pushed the young cub to try to move even more, the sound continuing until finally there was release from the pressure. It was blissful, at least for the split second it took the young hyena to fall right onto the cold ground, the new world around her flooding her senses. Blurry eyes cracked open, tiny ears picking up the sounds of dripping water nearby, though she didn’t yet know what any of it meant. Everything around her just seemed like so much, a small whimper escaping the small girl’s throat as she backed up towards the shattered husk she’d come out of. Her tiny, round ears pinned back, yelping instinctively for someone or something that was near, feeling awfully small and alone in that brief moment.

@Nakhti

Sprouting near the water’s edge a cluster of blue crystal held a small form within. One that had been slowly become aware of the things that went on around him. Bright eyes cracked open to peer through the haze of the crystalline prison. The place he had been in for so long was beginning to put an uncomfortable pressure against the sides of his body. A pressure that he wished to escape. Light squeaks left the young crocodile as he began to squirm and press his claws to the gem surrounding him.

It wasn’t until an audible crack sounded through the air that the youngster picked up his efforts. Freedom had to be close even if he truly didn’t know it yet. The crackling patterns stretching over his gem only grew larger as he moved and soon enough the small crocodile spilled out onto the ground, everything flooding to him at once as his senses began to pick up on the outside world. He didn’t know where he was or what there even was to do on his own.

Though one thought crossed his mind. And that was to keep making noise. Maybe someone would hear it? Small chirps escaped the young crocodile as his feet clawed at the ground, fighting to push his body forward. While he didn’t know where he could go there was a determination to get somewhere. But as a strange series of sounds reached the scaled boy his attentions quickly moved elsewhere. There was something else here, but what he wasn’t sure.

A few more squeaks left Nakhti’s mouth as he moved toward the whimpers. Though all of his own sounds stopped as he came across a bundle of fur huddled against a shattered gem. Despite the presence of that gem though the young croc didn’t piece it together that she was like him and instead the hatchling wiggled forward to try to bite at the hyena. Maybe that furry thing was food.

@Lux

The world around Lux flooded her senses, unaware of the creature that was creeping up to her side until he was right there. Her yipping cut off, gazing at him for a second before he moved forward. A sharp, tooth-filled mouth snapped shut right next to her as he tried to bite her and she jumped up. While she was aware, somehow, that this crocodile wasn’t the same kind of creature as her… she also thought maybe he wanted to play! Letting out a small warning yip, the hyena lunged forward, aiming to get the other gembound creature to wrestle with her. She landed on top of him, but didn’t manage to actually knock him over or anything. Standing with her front paws firmly on the small creature, she paused, blinking down at him. Now what?

@Nakhti

As he scurried forward he hardly registered that the very creature he was aiming for was quite a bit further away than he had anticipated. Snapping his jaws shut the gem was rather disappointed that his attempts were only met with a mouthful of air. But that possible snack wasn’t going to get away from him that easily. With a few more steps closer the small reptilian gem tried to judge his next actions as best he could. There were strange noises leaving that girl and before he could figure out what was going on she jumped forward.

Short protesting squeaks left the hatchling as he tried to back away from the beast. His voice calling out for something to come assist him in these caves. Instead all he got was this gem’s paws squishing down on top of his body. Small feet slapped at the ground as the youngster attempted to wiggle free from the hyena’s grasp. Try as he might though he wasn’t very successful in completely freeing himself. So he turned back to trying to bite her, despite having failed just moments before.

Thrashing in her hold Nakhti managed to pull himself forward bit by bit and once he felt he was far enough forward his head swung to the side, teeth clamping onto the hyena. While he wasn’t sure what he had gotten the feeling of that fur and skin pinched between his jaws was good enough for him. Attempting to keep his hold the hatchling jerked his head back and forth to tug at the skin he had barely managed to get hold of. Maybe he could at least get some of that fur off her. She had more than enough!

@Lux