Deep within Cetus lay a peculiar ruby. Small in size and dull in color it was rather new to the world. Covered in mud it would be quick to overlook it. It seemed as if the small gem was pushed up through the earth to the surface. It was of no importance how it came into being. Only that it grew, in a few weeks it had swollen in size. Laying nestled between two roots it was roughly the size of a football, maybe a little larger. Oblong in shape it was very similar to that of a giant egg. Somewhere along the way it began to shimmer, glowing a vibrant red, pulsating with life from within.

They had been growing for awhile now, belly fat and their body rather round. Wielding two small little legs they would watched wiggle with curiosity from time to time within their scarlet utopia. They didn't exactly know where or who they were, nor what the meaning of all this was. But they were eager to be along for the ride. They would catch themselves fading in and out of consciousness. Their body having grown seemingly before each time they woke. Its not like they particularly hated this fleeting consciousness. Even wiggling their six toes was extremely taxing on their energy.

It wasn't until they woke up, leg pressed to the very walls of red that they were truly concerned. Perhaps it was time to leave? Should they break down the very walls of their protection? It seemed like the right thing to do, well I guess you only live once! With a quick jab against the scarlet walls they managed to crack a small hole up top. A window to the new world! Well more of a sky light...Regardless of that their purpose now was to definitely get out of here!

@czernobog

Czernobog ambled through the waters of his swampy home, the slime and muck reaching his hocks but not his chest. The days had melted together when he'd been land bound, unable to stand, paralyzed by the cat's electricity and sheer exhaustion. Cayenne had helped as much as anyone could, but even the lemur couldn't overcome nature itself. The pig still looked a few steps from a rotting corpse, but he didn't much care - if he could stand he could walk, and if he could walk he could run, and if he could run he had to protect.

It was his Duty, after all.

Now, snout raised high to breathe in the morning mist, it was out of sheer luck that his gaze wandered to the ruby. It's surface glinted in what little sunlight Cetus maintained, and the massive hog let out a curious grunt, wading towards it, hauling himself up onto the bank with a massive shake, like an overgrown dog. He trotted forward slowly, came to a halt next to the egg, and carefully lay down, body curled around it, a high wall of black-brown, living guardian.

A hum started up from the center of his chest, and without another thought, he laid his massive head over the unbroken half of the egg, let the sound travel into it. A welcome, in a mirror of his own birth. He huffed a bit in pride, kept the strip of stiff fur that ran down his back high and alert in warning to any predators. Egg sense. Knew I had it.

With a gorgeous sky light above the shimmering ruby walls they could barely see out. Pushing their eye to the edge of the shell, watching for anything. Just when the coast was clear, something large had begun approaching. Recoiling as far as they could to the bottom of their chrysalis, they waited. Until a calming and deep hum radiated through the gem, eyes wide they felt at peace. Perhaps this wasn't a perilous event! No, it was a welcoming committee!

The large stranger's loving vibrations gave them the encouragement to peck through the walls once more! Another quick jab at the scarlet shell they were greet with a sweet crackling sound of success. With a rush of excitment they managed to push their head through a portion of the egg. Staring out, eyes wide as they couldn't quite make out what this large dark figure was. Though, they only could turn their head so far, it was the only part of them that was free.

@czernobog

Ears flicking lazily, tail wagging from side to side, Czernobog kept up his hum until another crack! split the air, and a strange, wide-eyed head emerged from the egg. One of the boar's tiny, pitch-black eyes blinked at the newborn, the hum tapering off until his rattling breath replaced it. Snuffling, his head, bigger than the newborn's entire body, pivoted, until his snout bumped up against the babe's beak in greeting.

He didn't speak - from what Willow told him, his attempts at the tongue-speech were halting and loud at best, ear-piercing at worst. Babies were too young and delicate for that. Not for the first time, the pig found himself aching to speak with another properly, like the bond he and Willow shared - though the owl didn't quite know how to talk in his tongues. With no words to offer, the pig simply nudged the babe, grumbling happily, fur poofing out until he resembled a happy, fuzzy couch. An old, ratty couch, but happy nonetheless.

The hum halted, and a rattling breath replaced it. The large dark mass pivoted as its snout bumped up against their beak. A happy squeak escaped them. Attempting to mimic the happy grumbling that escaped the large welcoming snout. Without warning they retracted their head back into the chrysalis. They would break free now, they wanted to say hi after all! They couldn't do that how they were! Most of all they wanted to fully see who they were! Thank them even!

Building up the courage to bash through the shell they waited, small and low mumbling peeps drifting from the holes of the chrysalis. Pulling their legs closed to their body they push them out, a loud CRACK'CK shot through the air. In a flurry of motion the fat round bird fumbled out. Finally free! Colliding into the happy fuzzy beast that was before them. Mouth open and pink eyes wide they greeted this, hog? That seemed like the right word! Yes! This large precious hog! The only words that seem to come from the young cassowary was a happy 'ahhhhh'.

@Czernobog

Czernobog blinked in confusion when the tiny babe disappeared back into the egg, mistaking their squeal for fear. Snuffling, the pig curled even further around the chrysalis, peering into the shell curiously, head startling back when the bird popped back out, landing plastered over his snout. A low chuff of strange, stilted laughter escaped the massive beast, and he grinned, giving the babe his own version of a hug - a warm snuffle against its fluff.

It seemed happy enough now, not afraid, so Czernobog tilted his head under and up, scooping the hatchling up onto his nose, resting between his tusks, not daring to rise just yet, lest it panic and fall. "Chuuuuuuurnobog," he grumbled out, trying to remember what Willow had said about 'volume control.'

They were completely and utterly happy, tiny little wing nubs outstretched attempting to grab and pat the hog's snout with glee. It wasn't until a loud and low grumble escaped the hog. The small cassowary stopped, listening closely.

"Chuuuuuuurnobog"

Churn...ohbog...Was that who they were? A few moments past before the newly hatched bird attempted to repeat. They could speak couldn't they? It shouldn't be so hard? Opening their mouth as wide as they possibly could, which was rather awkward in retrospect. They let out a tiny voice, a small peep, changing into a low rumble."Ch...bog..bog.." It ended up sounding more as sound effects than words, until they focused. A small tiny voice emerged, crackling as if there was interference over a radio. "Bog! Bog!"

@Czernobog

His name given, the beast's eyelids had drooped to half-mast, and Czernobog simply watched the child, snuffling at its happy wiggling. It looked a bit like a Hat, but not quite - too long in the legs, and its little wings were nubbins. Maybe that's what baby Hats looked like? Shaking the thought off, the boar refocused, tail wagging as the newborn tried to speak. Bog! Bog! A grin split his maw, and Czernobog let out an ecstatic chuff, snout moving to tickle at the bird's stomach. "Baaaaaaaby," he rumbled, content and relaxed, looking more like a mellow housecat then a warrior.

He almost wanted to stake a claim on the not-a-Hat. He'd found it first, hadn't he? But he was a guardian, not a father. It felt too... impersonal, to simply name himself the child's parent. No. He would Watch, and Guard, and be Good. He would Protect. Nodding to himself, the hog settled the babe onto his snout, and slowly began to rise, until finally he was on all fours, breath humming through his open chest, gaze steady on the unnamed, parentless child.

He waited there, for what he couldn't say. A sign, or something close to it. He wasn't much good at the whole living-outside-of-orders thing.

@Peanuts

The young cassowary practically leapt onto Czernobog's snout when he moved to tickle their stomach. The deep rumble of "Baaaaaaaby," was full of content and the young bird could only mimic that emotion. Happy, fat and relaxed. Truth be told while they knew this giant boar's name, they could not return the favor. They held no name, and for now would be unknown. Except maybe 'baby' would hold as a fine placeholder. It seemed to be full of love, yet not quite right for a long term label.

Regardless the young cassowary noticed they had been settled on top of the hog's snout. Slowly rising up and off the ground below. And they waited, for what well that was unknown. Until the child's stomach began to rumble. Hunger? Huh, didn't know that was a thing...Turning their view they stared into one of Czernobog's eyes, as if looking for answers. Perhaps even a way to solve this hunger.

@Czernobog

The rumble of the newborn's stomach kicked Czernobog into motion, and slowly, gently, he began to trot off towards his hunting grounds. The cave was nearby, but it seemed to take three times as long to get there - probably because he was attempting to balance a delicate baby bird on his nose. Still, it eventually came into view: a deep, dark pit of a thing, just off the coast of one of Cetus' rivers, only lit by the glare of spider eyes. Hesitantly, the boar slowed at the mouth of the formation, stopping just outside of the darkness. Beady black eyes moved to stare at the peanut on his snout, intently. "Baaaaaby. Staaaaaay." That said, he walked into the dark.

Unfortunately, every spider in the near vicinity promptly fled.

A disgruntled snort left his nostrils, and with a flick of his tail, Czernobog shuffled in place, embarassed. "...Chuuuuuuuurn trieeeeees agaaaaaaain?"

@Peanuts