A quartz crystal egg lay, light shining in it from different directions, among a bed of moss. Inside, a small creature rested. They waited for the right moment, the moment they would come out. Was now that moment?

Experimentally, hind legs kicked out, slamming against the surface. It began to crack, tiny cracks that hardly made a difference. Another kick, this one stronger, more confident. Bigger cracks appeared. With one more kick, a whole side of the egg gave way, allowing the one inside to escape.

It tumbled out, head over heals, before landing in a heap of black fur. A pause, and then yellow eyes peeped out. A small squeak could be heard as the creature, a tiny black kitten, got up, looking around. Plants, rich and green were spread out as far as the eye could see. There was the faint sound of a stream nearby. Other than that, it was fairly quiet. Quiet and peaceful, just how the little black panther liked it.


(Ok so I have a little thing in mind. This doesn't necessarily have to happen in his first thread, but I would like for it to happen sometime in his first cycle. I want someone, preferably someone rude/mean to come up to him, and start teasing/making fun of him. W/e you have to do. This way, he gets the idea of the caves being a peaceful place for all to live in safely, so nobody has to go through what he went through.)

Zaire Alesius

He had to get used to let puppy legs he had, stumbling about was no good, it made the shadow pup look weak, and he couldn't have that. So he decided that he had needed to go for a walk, anywhere, everywhere, it didn't matter as long as he could walk with out tripping up. It had been to his advantage at the moment, legs acting like he wanted them too, although they were carrying him somewhere he did not know.

Keeping to the shadows, letting his stark black fur stay hidden amongst the edges, but it wasn't like where he hatched. There wasn't as much darkness, too light if you asked him, and too many plants. It was a beautiful sight, yes, but it wasn't what he was used to. It was too...green. Too bright, he couldn't hide as well and he could feel himself just getting caught in all the plants and tripping up. Why did he have to come here? The plants made for an interesting scent though, the shadow pup had his muzzle down to the ground, taking in the scents of everything around him (and trying to hold back sneezes).

Attempt: Sniff

The smell of something different caught his nose, it wasn't like what he had been sniffing out for the last few minutes, or however long he had been traveling through the tunnel, and he wanted to know what it was. Being the curious thing he was, unfortunately, he started to follow his nose, letting it lead him to this new scent.

Something was the on the floor, it looked like him slightly, black, a gift from the shadows. Zaire, his new name ever since Bones spoke about names, moved to the edges of the wall. Watching as the small thing, though probably larger than him, tumbled out of what had been his own home. A smirk crossed his features at that "Stupid thing" It was spoken in a low growl, his body moving to circle the now standing form. Fire eyes locked on the newly hatched creature.
"Speech"

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Nassir slowly got up, wobbling a bit before falling down. A quick shake of a head, and he tried again. This time, he was able to stand, albeit nearly falling again. He took a step forward, and then another.

Plop

He fell again.

With a huff of disapproval, the small cat tried once more. He took a step, another, then another. He didn't fall. With a grin, he continued walking around, sniffing at plants. Occasionally he would fall, but it was mostly from tripping on leaves that got in his way. After some time of walking, movement caught his eye. He looked up, and saw a black creature, slightly akin to himself, roughly the same size.

Upon hearing the words of the black wolf, Nassir tilted his head. Stupid thing? Was he talking about him? Why? He had just hatched! Was everything that just hatched a stupid thing?

"Hello!" He decided it couldn't hurt to give a proper greeting to this creature, even if they didn't really give a proper greeting to him. He was going to be nice, and kind, and not call anyone a stupid thing.

Or did even nice gembounds say that?

@Zaire

Zaire Alesius

The black furred thing couldn't even walk properly, he was truly correct with saying that it was stupid, wasn't he? Zaire could stand and walk without falling over much, actually he had only fallen over twice maybe, he wast still getting used to the weird leg things that made him higher and carried him everywhere to. Maybe this animal wasn't as much like his shadow form as he had thought. "You not strong." Another growl as he continued his steps around the new creature. Although once it started to walk, he slowly stopped his movements and moulded back into the shadows, leaving his red eyes the only evident thing about him. "Can't even walk" He finished his sentence with a hiss, these sounds that came from his throat he was beginning to love.

The thing, he hadn't quite worked out what it was yet, looked confused at his earlier words, the smirk had long since vanished, replaced by an emotionless line accompanying his dead eyes that seemed to dance like fire when the light caught them in the right way. Were all other gembounds like this, so ignorant and naïve, had the darkness truly gifted him or had he just started to learn quickly?

The pups ears reacted with the new sound of the thing's voice. Chirpy. 'Hello', so polite, so kind, hmm, so predictable he would say. "At least know to speak."His words were cold, heartless, and yes they weren't a full sentence, but what newly hatched thing could speak properly? At least he could walk better than this thing. The shadow pup kept his body against the wall, he had grown tired, lugging around puppy fat, and also he knew that if he took anymore steps then he would fall, and he couldn't let that happen.
"Speech"

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@Nassir
OOC: I'm sorry for his mocking/mean behaviour.

Nassir blinked. Not strong? He could barely walk, sure, but he was starting to get the hang of it! He's small, he knows that, but maybe one day he'll be big! For now though, he supposes he most certainly isn't very strong. He only hatched moments ago!

"Hello," he said again, briefly uncertain of what else to say, "I'm Nassir. Who're you?" His voice was high-pitched and squeaky, much to his annoyance. He didn't like them being quite so high, wanting it to be lowered. He then began walking around again, not sure of what to do. Maybe if he did a lot of walking, he'd become stronger! Maybe then this other creature wouldn't show such distaste for him.

@Zaire -ah, it's fine! encouraged, even. i want someone to be mean to him cx

Zaire Alesius

His eyes never strayed from the newly hatched gembound, he was not strong yet, but everything grows, at least he thought it did, and so Zaire would grow to be one large dark wolf and this thing would grow to probably be one large dark thing seeing as they were at a similar height and not having much of an age difference between them. Well, things did grow at the same pace right?

It repeated itself, that polite word leaving it's lips again. Then a name came, but Zaire hadn't asked for a name, he didn't want to know it. Knowing names meant that you knew a bit about them, knowing a bit about them meant that you were starting to form something with them. Whether it be a friendship or enemies. Zaire didn't want to form anything with anyone, so far he was contempt with being alone. He had been on his own travels with out Bones, although he had followed the other Canine, but he didn't need his company and they weren't friends.

"Don't want name. Don't like" Zaire didn't move even as the feline - Nassir - did, he had already been trying to perfect his walking and now his legs were tired. Ready to collapse under his weight if he tried anymore in such a short time. But he wouldn't let this creature see him weak and so he just stood still. He didn't like the way Nassir spoke, high pitched, his voice to yet ready to be spoken Zaire would say. He couldn't walk and his talking was off..."You not fit world" He wasn't ready to come into this world yet, anything that couldn't do what Zaire had done when he had only just hatched wasn't strong enough, wasn't ready to join everyone else in the world.
"Speech"

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@Nassir Ah, Zaire is almost perfect for that role then :)

Nassir stopped walking and looked over at the other, a confused look on his face. Okay. The other didn't want to know his name. Maybe next time he should ask if they cared? That seemed like a good idea. At the wolf's next words, the little cub froze. He doesn't fit in the world? He had just hatched, surely everyone who just hatched fits? Right? What if not everyone who hatched fit? Did they need to do something? Did he need to become stronger? He'd train, he'd train if he had to! He'd walk every day. He'd do whatever he had to to be strong, to fit in the world!

For now, Nassir didn't really want to do anything in front of the other. They would just be rude to him! Was everyone like that? Or was he a special case, the other, or him? Was everyone treated this way? Did he need to start being mean too? He didn't like that idea. He wanted to feel safe, and protected! Wouldn't everyone? Maybe the other didn't feel safe, or protected. Was that why they were like this? He thought about asking, but soon decided against it. He didn't want to hear more rude words in their direction.

So he continued walking. After some time, he began to try running. That ought to be even better, right? Maybe he'd get stronger faster that way! Maybe he'd even be able to impress the other. With that thought in mind, he crouched, and then leaped. He began to go as fast as his legs could carry him, running around in a circle a few times before he tripped over a trailing vine and fell, a huff of breath escaping him.

@Zaire

Zaire Alesius

The feline didn't understand anything, whenever he spoke the cub seemed to look confused. He understood English, he thought, although maybe not because he just kept saying hello. Maybe he could speak it but not understand it, but how does that work? Ah, everything was to complicated, these feelings, the voice in his mind, other animals. Was anything simple or was everything always going to be like this?

The cub did nothing but walk until the shadow pup was surprised by his attempt at a run, this would not show in his hidden features however. This was not something the pup would want to witness, he would not be able to do, he could not even walk properly let alone run. Did he think that he was smart enough to go for something like that? Zaire liked the way he just tried it though, not stopping not hesitating but just straight away running after a little walking. He was better, but Zaire still did not like the young cub. The shadow pup would have been impressed, not only did he run but then he leaped, however the feeling that had wriggled it's way up dissipated quickly as he watched the cub trip and fall.

"Patheic" The word did not sound right, he had probably said it wrong but it was the best he could do. Moving now, watching the cub, he had forgotten about the sudden uneasiness in his legs after walking so long. He had taken two steps before his own body crashed to thr ground, legs splayed out around him and chin against the floor. The pup would scramble up quickly, thankful for the shadows and leaves however he would not doubt that the thing could hear.

Staying where he was now, a low growl was let out, directed at the cub, as his eyes narrowed at the thing as if telling him to shut up or he would regret it. Whether the pup was able to get the message across he would not know yet.
"Speech"

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@Nassir

Nassir gave a huff as he sat up, shaking some leaves from his head. Ok, that had failed. But he had still ran! That had to count for something, right? He looked over at the other just as he said something. Patheic? What was that? It sounded weird, as if it was pronounced wrong. But then again, what did the little black panther know? He looked away again and heard a thump. He turned around and saw the other get up. He could barely see him out of the shadows and leaves though.

Had...he just fallen? Nassir thought about saying something, or laughing maybe, but a sound stopped him. It came from where the other was, and sounded rather threatening. Perhaps it'd be best to not say anything. So he didn't say anything, just started to try and run again. If he did it enough, then maybe he'd be really good! It was worth a try, at least. Maybe the other would like him if he was good at something.

@Zaire