The chrysalis could not have found a better place to form. The atmosphere was warm and pleasant, the ground grassy and soft, and there was even a small stream nearby that branched off of the main river that passed through Pegasus. It was a shame the gembound inside couldn't enjoy the scenery. Well, perhaps it was time to change that.

Something inside the golden-brown chrysalis thumped. Once, twice, and then a crack formed on the outside of the gem. The thing inside pushed again and the crack widened. A pause, maybe the creature needed to regain its energy... Suddenly, with a mighty heave, the chrysalis exploded outward and chunks of raw tiger's eye scattered as a furry mass was deposited onto the grass in a heap. It was very fluffy, parts of its fur matted down and sticky with the juices from the chrysalis. A wet black nose appeared on a brown masked face and the mass got to its paws. It was a rather large puppy of some variety, and it shook itself vigorously to try and un-stick its fur. The liquid had seeped into its thick fur down to its skin, and the feeling of cold wet was a little uncomfortable.

Also, it had goop in its eyes. That would explain why it couldn't see. The pup shook again and whined softly in frustration. Its current tactic wasn't working, so it flopped back onto the ground and pawed at its face and eyes. That helped; it wasn't perfect, as it soon discovered its paws were large and clumsy, but it was something. Soon it blinked open its eyes, golden-brown and almond-shaped and only a little goopy. It pulled itself up into a sitting position and looked around, taking everything in. It didn't understand much yet, only that the air around it was warm and the ground beneath it was soft, and that it was now experiencing it all.

Pleasant scents hit its nose. The puppy soon figured out that sniffing things was good, that was a good thing to do. There were so many different smells! It pulled itself up again, a little unsteady on its newly working legs, and waddled to and fro with its nose to the ground. Some things smelled heavy, some things smelled light, other things smelled alive and with that came the understanding that some things were for eating, and it was hungry.

It also discovered that if it really focused and screwed up its nose and pricked its ears and squinted its eyes, it could make something happen, something exciting. It could somehow sense the alive smells, but not quite with its nose. Things were clearer, the alive things alive-r. It was a curious feeling, very conceptual, and one it needed to try more later. As the sense was fading, a couple of small creatures scurried underpaw--cave mice, although the dog didn't know that yet. The alive smells jumped out and the pup paused only a moment to register the creatures before it gave chase on its stubby puppy legs.

Wait! it wanted to say. It had an instinct to jump and pounce and it wanted one of those alive things in its mouth. Hungry... Sadly, it lost the mice in the tall grasses, even after sniffing around to try and find them again. With a huff, it plopped down on its rump, panting from the exertion, and waited for something else to happen. It had a sort of low feeling now, one it may later recognize as loneliness and confusion. It felt...like it was meant to be doing something, but it had no idea what that was.

tags: @Worm
notes: unleash the fluffy potato... although its a big soggy rn

These days since re-emerging had been harrowing for the young cat, to put it lightly. Perhaps that is why his paws led him back to the meadows, the one place in the world he'd rather not be. A place so seeped in awful memories that he could keep his heart racing through his own chest. Maybe he felt as if he deserved the punishment, or closure. He didn't know which.

It was a 'cra-ack' that brought Worm out from his miserable thoughts, his head and ears swivelling in tandem to locate the source of the noise. He knew this one; it was the sounds of a gemstone breaking. A chrysalis. Admittedly, he'd usually heard it from the inside, as the one emerging from it; usually muffled by the life-giving fluids that kept him suspended inside, but he was certain that must be what it was.

At first, his thoughts switched into high gear, it's something that's going to eat you! Gobble you up whole! It's eaten someone else, and now it's going to eat you! He had to shake his head to clear those thoughts; the gembound that came out was new or hurt -- he knew that from his own experiences.

On wobbling legs he padded towards the sound, yet as the stone appeared through the grass, it was already empty. He exhaled a shaking sigh, though not one of relief; his chest was still wound tighter than ever. Had the thing that had got him attacked another person as well? His head swam as a fresh flush of fear washed over him. How many victims did that bird have?

Against all fear, all instinct telling him to flee, he leaned close to the goopy trail leading through the grass. Then, followed in that direction, as quickly as trembling legs would take him. He wasn't big, and certainly not even close to being grown, so the taller grasses weren't easy to navigate. More so with the gangly length his legs had grown; teenage and awkward.

Worm strained his ears; though his own heartbeat drummed loudly, he swore he could hear panting somewhere. "Hello?" His voice was about as steady as a baby giraffe on ice. "Were you hurt?" He called out across the grass. He could see a few remains stuck on grass blades and pushed his way forward into the opening.

At first, he overlooked the brown, soggy shape, assuming it was just a rock. "I-I'm not mean, I promise" Words to comfort himself more than anyone else. Worm frowned before looking back at the brown shape once more. Why was that rock breathing?

@Maelgwn