Caer Lazarus

Et In Arkadia Ego

It had been Lazarus' intention to hatch with very little fanfare, but-- in the way of intentions everywhere-- it had not been met with success. Awareness had been sudden: one minute, asleep, barely conscious, paying only a sort of sub-attention to the noises coming from outside his hard shell. The next, suddenly, he was awake, preternaturally aware of the world outside the shell, and very very cramped. He wanted to be out of here.

Which, theoretically, should've been simple. He knew this instinctively-- a kick here, a swat there, and the shell should've split right open, spilling him onto the ground so that he could begin this grand and inevitably frustrating adventure that was Life.

Only.. it didn't work. He aimed the kick, and the swat, and then more kicks and swats, which became a frantic little drum of a rhythm that could be heard even outside his little prison. But the shell was hard, nearly impossible to break; he couldn't get out.

The first emotion he'd ever known was a frustrated kind of impatience. The second was fear, and each failed kick only made that fear grow, as he frantically tried to break his way free.

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Wings moved silently through the air. Carrying the large raptor through a place he had not been since the day he had hatched. Piercing purple eyes studied the ground below, watched for anything that could possibly draw his attention. His thoughts were lost on him. Whispering of names said long ago. His hatchmate. The leather-winged brother he had not seen in so long. A sense of loneliness picked away at him constantly. Even back in Canis he merely kept to himself. Though not a thing would show upon the avian's features. Never would he utter words of discontentment. No. Instead of wallowing in his own loneliness he had set out to see if he could find where his brother was. Surely Tal'at would be happy to see him should RaikZik manage to find him.

It wasn't until his ears caught the particular sound of something drumming down below. He twisted his gaze around and searched out the sound, curious to see just what was causing the noise. When he saw nothing but rock and crystals down below Zi's feather's ruffled a bit. Surely the thing making all that noise could not go unseen. Slowly he circled down towards the ground, heading for the sound, and as his talon's meet the cold rock of Polaris' flooring he found his gaze settled upon a gem. Not just any gem, but a Chrysalis. Thoughtfully he clicked his beak to himself as he hopped closer to the labradorite and listened again to the panicked beating of paws against the inner walls of the little gembound's prison.

The tyke was ready to be free, but it didn't seem as though the creature was making any progress. So...with that in thought, RaikZik began to strike at the Chrysali himself. His sharp beak making loud clinking noises as it worked away at the gem in an attempt to help get the thing to crack so that the gemling could free itself from it's confines.


"Speech"
Words:Words
Tags: @Lazarus
OoC: here have a birb post XD

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Caer Lazarus

Et In Arkadia Ego

Fear was not a very pleasant second thing to feel. Soft kitten-paws could find no purchase against the shell of her chrysalis; Lazarus began to shake, though this movement wasn't perceptible from the outside, cushioned as it was by the fluid in which Lazarus had been developing.

Then the Tapping started.

For a second, Lazarus stopped, totally, paralyzed by fear. What was causing that? Was it big? It sounded big. But it also sounded on the outside, and that spark of thought was all that mattered to her in this moment. Cheeping inaudibly, after a few moments of frozen fear, listening to the tapping, Lazarus began to move again-- perhaps, if she struck out the same place that the tapping was coming from, perhaps that would work!

Only-- it didn't. Soft kitten paws remained too soft to make much of an impression against the shell. She bleated more in fear, now; was she going to die here? If some stranger used hindsight against this chrysalis, would it only ever contain the sharp taste of fear, the dying sorrow of a gemborn who'd been too weak to escape her prison even with the help of whatever was big and tapping on the other side?

Likely inaudible though the fluid and the crisp edges of the chrysalis shell, Lazarus nevertheless tried to shout out, her small voice reedy: "Can you hear me?" and again, "Don't go away!"

@Raikzik

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Feather's ruffled as he continued to peck away at the chrysali. It certainly did not want to give way to his insistant beating against it's hard shell. He could feel the annoyance rise within him, flustering him a moment before his emotions once again drained away and he froze in his spot. The creature inside had fallen still. No movement was heard within and for a moment RaikZik wondered with dread. Was the gemling gone? His wings spread for a moment as if contemplating what he should do. And then he heard it. The dull, barely noticeable sound of something moving inside once again. A voice rose from inside, muffled by the Chrysali that encased the gemling. Having no idea what the jumbled sounding words were saying RaikZik shook his thoughts.

Without hesitation the raptor began striking at the gem again. Hitting against the same spot with his sharp beak as hard as he could. It wasn't a pleasant feeling against his beak and face, but he would not give in. He would continue going until this gemling was free of it's confines. He would not sit back and allow this creature to remain inside forever when it was so obviously ready to be free. If he had to he would fly up high and dive down quickly and perhaps with the inertia from his fall his talons may have a better chance at cracking the egg. If this did not work this time then he would try that next.


"Speech"
Words:Words
Tags: @Lazarus
OoC:

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Caer Lazarus

Et In Arkadia Ego

The third thing Lazarus ever felt was excitement, and the faintest glimmer of something warm and wobbly that might be called hope.

After a period of silence, the furious tapping had resumed again, and again Lazarus aimed a kick at the same position, and this, finally, seemed to do something. Realistically, it was the helpful stranger what had done it: opened a crack in the shell, but a crack was a crack, and suddenly there was a little bit of light and a shifting if pressure and movement that meant Lazarus might finally be getting somewhere. Lazarus moved within the shell, aiming solid kicks with both of their back legs at the newly-discovered weak point.

And it worked! Under the combined efforts of eagle and cat, inside and out, even this stiff shell couldn't stand it's own-- spiderweb cracks formed along the faultline Raikzik had created, and crumbled under the insistent blows by little kittenpaws. The shell crumbled completely along that side, causing a little scrawny black damp thing to go sprawling across the floor of Polaris, blinking up at the blue light that invaded everything and the face of their savior: a big eagle.

My, what big sharp beak you have.

But Lazarus wasn't inclined to be upset by a big sharp beak-- they weren't inclined to be much of anything, but momentarily stunned and exhausted. So the little scrawny thing, all big ears and big eyes and big paws and round belly and adorableness, lay where they were, staring up and panting nad getting used to this whole being alive and outside the shell thing. That had taken a lot of effort, and now that it was done, the fourth thing Lazarus felt was tired. And maybe sort of curious, as an afterthought.

"Thanks." They offered to the eagle, "That was really hard."


Was the rest of life going to be this hard? Lazarus wasn't looking forward to it, if it was.

@Raikzik

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Much to his relief, his insistent beating of his beak against the gem's shell finally began to work. A crack formed in his efforts and he knew it was only a matter of time now. The gemling would soon be free and he would find himself content with being able to help someone in need. He watched as cracks began to web out from the crack he managed to put in it and so he took a fet hobbly steps back. His wings once again fluttered open as the gem soon shattered and out spilled a feline creature. He twisted his head to get a better look at the creature before he slowly folded his wings back against his side. He side stepped around the feline, checking it over to make sure it had not been injured in the process of getting out.

When all seemed to be well with the little kitten, Raikzik stepped back just a bit more so that the kitten didn't feel too crowded by his size. She was probably as big as one of his feet. Their words reached his ears and his clicked his beak at her for a moment, wondering why she had yet to rise up to her feet. It would soon dawn on him that perhaps she had just been tired from the struggle of breaking out. He could only vaguely remember what it was like to take his first few steps so he could not remember if he had been tired or not. "You're...welcome" He spoke in his normal eased way. His voice deep and almost scratchy from not using it as much as he probably should. Speaking had never been something RaikZik bothered himself with. Not unless it was absolutely needed. Otherwise he was as quiet as the stones all around them.

"Are...you okay?" His voice rose again as he watched them with unwavering eyes. He studied, for a moment, the gem on the center of her forehead. It held intriguing colors which ultimately drew Zi's attention right to it. He shook his attention and focused back on the kitten, waiting to see if she would reply.


"Speech"
Words:Words
Tags: @Lazarus
OoC:

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Caer Lazarus

Et In Arkadia Ego

Lazarus continued to lay on xys back, staring up at the ceiling and the gigantic looming bird that obscured some of it from xys pale-blue vision. Xe was unaware of how the labradorite caught the light, reflected back the blue of Polaris in a cool-washed riot of blue-green-yellowish tones. Xe was unaware of anything, other then how exhausted xys limbs felt and how curious xe was about the world, and how frustrating it was that xe needed to catch xys breath some before clambering right back on xys exhausted little paws to investigate this weird world around xyrself.

Nevertheless, the fact that someone was concerned about xyr was a warm and fuzzy feeling.

"I think so." Laz answered, after a moment's sharp assessment of all of xys limbs. "Just tired. Is it always so hard, doing that?"

Thankfully, hopefully, that would be the only time xe would be breaking out of a crispy rock shell. Lazarus craned xys strangely-shaped head up to get a full look of RaikZik, swishing xys tail curiously. This was either the strangest looking cat xe ever saw, or-- more likely-- it wasn't a cat at all. "What are you?" xe asked, and flopped xys front paws experimentally. They didn't look or move like RaikZik's wings, which Laz found faintly dissatisfying. "Why are your front paws not there?"

@Raikzik
((Sorry if anyone gets tagged twice-- i realized i'd been using the tagging system wrong, so i went through all my threads and redid the tag so it would notify people if it hadn't the first time.))

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Raikzik silenetly stared at the kitten as they spoke. His head tilted to the side for a moment before he ruffled his feathers as he pondered over their inquiry. "It depends...I suppose," He began as she tried to recall his emergence. He had to delve into his memories for a moment before it finally came to him and he soon nodded to his previously stated words. "Yes, depends. It was easy for myself, but harder for my brother," He explained for a moment as he once again stretched his wings out half way before settling them back to his sides. "Only have to do it once though," His deep voice hummed emotionlessly before he once again stared at the feline when she spoke her inquiries.

If he was a man of emotions he would have probably laughed at her questions in delight, but it seemed the only reaction he had given was a soft click of his beak. "I am Avian. A bird. I am a Harpy Eagle," He explained as he stretched out his wings for her to observe. "I only have two feet. My wings are what carry me," He nodded with his explanation of what he was. He really never had to explain to anyone what he was before, so that was really all he knew to say. He had no idea why he had no 'front paws', but he never really felt like he needed them. His taloned feet and his wings was all he would ever need. "And you are....feline," He observed as he looked her over once again. "I have seen feline's before...just not your size," He clicked his beak in what could have been a thoughtful gesture, but still nothing displayed across his features to show just what exactly the avian was feeling.


"Speech"
Words:Words
Tags: @lazarus
OoC: lord he could probably carry her on his back XD

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN

Caer Lazarus

Et In Arkadia Ego

((LOL that would be amusing. I can imagine grumpy laz being 'onward, steed!'))

Lazarus pondered the eagle's words, frowing slightly as she craned her neck over her shoulders to stare at the shards of egg shrapnel. It was her luck, of course, that she'd get one of the hard ones, the shells that were near-impossible to break. She sniffed, and proceeded to begin that automatic thing all cats did in times of.. anything, and began to groom herself. The sooner she got the proof of hatching off her, the better.

"Well, that's good." she answered, matter-of-factly, "I'm not keen to try that again; it was hard enough the first time."

The difference between bird and cat was new information, and she found it curious. Lazarus looked between herself and the bird, belatedly noting the differences the bird had pointed out. She'd noticed them too, of course, in that automatic way one noticed the walls at first glance in a room-- saw that they were there, but nothing more pressing than that. Now that her attention had been drawn to the differences, she found herself looking at her own front legs in dissatisfaction. They were better than not having front legs, as the eagle lacked, but wings would be useful nevertheless. Why couldn't she have both? Why had she to be so limited by the wayward whims of biology?

"Feline. Are they normally smaller than me?" she repeated slowly; already she was dissatisfied at her own lack of wings-- that would be okay, though, so long as she wasn't the smallest cat on the field.

@Raikzik

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Once the raptor felt he had done enough showing off his avian anatomy RaikZik settled his wings along his side and preened at his feather's for a moment, making sure they were settled and rested as they should. Mirth seemed to bubble up inside Zi at the felines words, yet not a sign of it displayed over his features. He had to admit he would not want to have to attempt breaking his way from his chrysalis again. Upon the feline's next words, Zi lifted his head and turned his piercing violet eyes to them. "I am sure...they were at some point. Perhaps when they were as young as you. Alas, I have only seen felines far bigger than you," He answered honestly as he clicked his beak in his typical thoughtful way.

"I...haven't met a lot of gembounds though. So there probably is," He stated matter-of-factly before he mentally shrugged off the topic. "My name is RaikZik, by the way," He finally introduced himself as he peered down at the smaller kitten. She truly was the smallest gembound he had ever laid his eyes upon.


"Speech"
Words:Words
Tags: @Lazarus
OoC: That's good Zi, just smash their hopes and dreams of not being the smallest feline you have ever seen xD sorry it's a short post lul

table and code © chelsea of ORIGIN