Lights and colors and sounds and sensations continued to flood the mind of the still-growing child inside its shell in Canis. Truths about the world it would be going into, ideas and concepts and interesting little facts. Did you know that walruses were just like dogs except they were big and round and had tusks and looked nothing like dogs at all? Bremen knew that now! Oh, and now Bremen knew that he was a Bremen, and a wonderful Bremen at that!

The flood of dreams thinned and in a flash of insight the child became aware of the actual real physical world around it. Yellow! Yellow everywhere! Tap tap tap went the little hybrid on the edges of its world. Crack crack crack went the edges of its world to Bremen. Neat little lines started forming in the yellow and Bremen went tumbling down, out of the egg, out of its dreams, and onto a slippery slick surface.

Oh, but it wasn't alone! There was another yellow egg here too, and another creature that looked just like him. Well, maybe not just like him but they were the same size and both had a head and wings and feet and both were all slimy from the other world. A squeal of delight emerged from little Bremen's beak as he scrambled with clumsy slippery paws to greet his sibling.

After thoroughly looking the other over he squealed again and started to bounce away on quickly adapting legs, bowing down after a short distance as if to say "Come catch me!"

The chase went on for minutes and minutes of fun as they got to the edge of Canis, avoiding the scary looking white monkey that watched them with creepy eyes before shrugging and going about its business. They got through the spooky misty tunnel and arrived in a giant huge town of buildings and towers (or at least one tower) and stars. This place would be awesome to see and explore, but maybe there was even more.

They were about to go down a neat tunnel full of green glowy moss but there had been a big old boom from that direction after they got in the city-room and it seemed like a lot of grown ups were headed that direction. They didn't want to get caught before they had finished exploring.

So off into the icy tunnel they went! Slipping and sliding and sledding and skiing. They even discovered a secret passageway... or at least they pretended it was a secret passageway that led up and up and up until finally they got to a big giant huge room full of nice warm water, the perfect place to find after their icy adventure!

Squeaking once more to his sibling Bremen dashed forward and slid on the slippery stone shore into the mysterious underground ocean.

---

@Kesil

((Please don't kill us, Carni. If we're grown enough to be out of that big egg we're grown enough to go on an adventure!))

Living was a weird concept—no, really, it was. Birth was another strange concept; it feels as if you weren't living until you were born. For a while, they felt as if they were not living. They felt as if they were sleeping, warm and comfortable within their shell. But, as with any neonate, they grew entirely too large to stay inside. So, into eerie quiet, they emerged. Before they had even quite acquainted themselves with their shape, a flurry of blue flew at them, mouth opening and closing with a distant, quiet squeal. Newborn throat already raw, they warbled back and followed on unsteady and new legs. Eventually, they got practice and were eagerly bounding after the one just close enough to be considered kin.

Canis on its own was a vast domain in the eyes of the neonate. Exploration would prove that bones burnt and battered by time wasn't all the new world had to offer—already another sign of life (whose pernicious burning red eyes made them shudder uneasily) had made its appearance. The amalgam had chirped at it, yet it ignored them in favor of sifting through more of the rotten old bones for insects.

Boring.

Entertaining was the discovery of perpetual fog and a sparsile blue vault home to a civilization long-past. Darting between the ruined buildings proved to be a source of great fun alongside their kin. Letting the other hybrid choose their next destination, they filed away the climbing of the great tower for later plans. An resounding BOOM! reverberated through the tunnel as they made to head down it. A shared look was enough to decide on another path—one of slippery permafrost that made their toes ache and hurt.

They had nearly cracked open their jaw to elicit a whining squeal in the face of their surely frozen toes when a warm burst of air spurned them on. Pure instinct drove them to seek the source and the hot bath that resulted was absolutely worth it. Right after their kin, they scampered over to the shore. As with any newborn, however, they were unfamiliar with water. Unsure, their toe edged its way into the gentle flow of the waves across the shore. Finding only warmth—just like their chrysalis—they splashed deeper in the waters, relishing in the sauna-like temperature. It weighed heavily in their coat, but that didn't matter too much.

All that mattered was fun. Eager to cause a ruckus, they shrieked in delight and smacked their tail into the surface of the water, full-well intending to send a spray in their kin's direction.

@Bremen

Bremen took to the water like it was the most natural thing ever for him, diving under and squirming around in a inefficient but effective attempt at swimming. Who cared about efficiency though, he wasn't tired. He just woke up four areas ago, why should he be tired? A cackling noise of joy squeaked out from his throat, projecting itself even here under water.

Oh, but his sibling was back there, could they swim too? The child flapped his wings (which turned out to be not only easier but much faster) and shot upwards toward the surface to witness his noodlekin take to the shifting water themselves.

Webbed front paws clapped against the water's surface asynchronously as the silly mischievous other used its powerful tail to send a big wave of water his direction, hitting him in the face. He could do that? That was so cool! The asynchronous clapping against the water's surface hastened and Bremen flipped back and shot under, back legs flailing in the air for a split second as he did so. A quick trip below the surface, build up some speed, rush toward the top and just at the last seconds break with his wings.

Of course, the water at the top wasn't strong enough to stop him completely. He was too fast! Instead the extended wings skimmed the surface of the water and sent a big wave in his sibling's direction. Payback!

@Kesil

Almost as soon as they had sent the wave crashing towards their sibling, he had returned in kind and beyond. Ocean man, take me by the hand—they were knocked underwater. A curse of being light as a feather and rather big for a neonate. Furiously writhing, they finally came up to the air hacking up water through their beak-mouth and nasal cavity. Maybe even their eyes. Or maybe those were tears of pain because their nasal cavity and lungs were burning with water.

All the more reason to get that sweet, sweet retribution.

It was a little unfair that their sibling had far larger wings than them, but they wouldn't let that stop them. The underdog always comes out on top. They tapped into their deeply-rooted anaconda instincts and slunk under the water. Unintentionally calling upon their magic, they flicked their tail and wriggled fiercely to dart underwater at what they'd consider mach speed. Of course, speed was all about perception and theirs was way off. Flinging themselves up and out of the water, they landed sloppily next to their sibling.

@Bremen

Something was watching them from the deep.

At first, those opalescent eyes watched in disinterest. It had fed recently, and such small land-runners were not on the usual menu, even if they did look... interesting. Familiar, even.

One of the pair in particular caught the massive leviathan's eye, its rubbery, steely skin so aggravatingly familiar.

Then, alas, the pair wandered into His kingdom, a place with no room for the land-runners.

The hunt was on. Cerulean sank back below the surface where he'd been resting, still as stone, in the shadowy deep of Fornax. That frill of spines breached the surface as he turned to swim further below the surface, where the murky bottom would hide his paler markings. That dorsal 'sail' was the only warning they'd get, if either of the two even noticed it...

...moments later, with a surge of force and a thrust of his powerful tail, Cerulean came crashing out of the water with jaws agape, beaching in an attempt to snatch up the steely child, but clamping down only on air.

Damn shallows.

The leviathan rose back and hissed out in a language long forgotten to those living and found; TRESPASSERS! He hoisted himself further onto land, aiming to encircle them, block their escape.

^{@Kesil @Bremen Carni's too busy to deal with you kids atm. Have a scary experience to teach hard lessons instead.}

Bremen skimmed the surface looking all around as his sibling went underwater and didn't come back up immediately. Where'd the noodlekin go? Was he hiding? Just as he was about to go under as well to find his playmate though they popped into that air and belly flopped onto the water beside him.

What fun! A cackling series of laughing squeaks emerged from the young hybrid as the splash washed over him. He had to try it!

Without any prior indication of what he was about to do Bremen leaned back into the water and began to swim upside-down at an angle below the surface, approaching the weirdly close bottom with speeds that surprised even him. Only it turned out not to be the bottom of the ocean but something FROM the bottom of the ocean coming to greet them!

His body just missed the front of the cool looking toothy blue creature and he reached out a paw to grab hold of one of the spines that was rushing past.

Success! The little gembound was slammed against cerulean skin as he change speed and direction in an instant. That squealing underwater chirp resounded out in thrill and excitement as in what seemed like no time at all he was sent hurling toward the surface. And past it! Just near the highest arc of the breech Bremen lost hold of the spine and went hurling through the air on course to land on the hard rocky ground. But that wouldn't do would it?

Bremen knew! Air was like water but not as thick, right? The little amalgamation of creatures spread its wings out wide to try to catch himself before he fell all the way and got an ouchie. His wings at this point in life were not quite strong enough to allow free flight, but they certainly slowed his descent and altered his trajectory so he was veered toward an uneven wall over the water to the side of the room entrance.

Another chorus of laughing chirps echoed far and wide, adrenaline rushing through the thrilled youth as he safely landed on the jagged surface. Do it again! He wanted to go for another ride!

As they splashed rather embarassingly at their kin's side, they found that something was definitely stirring under them, and it wasn't the cave's current. Of course, children aren't usually concerned. Usually. The noodle was concerned as their kin was suddenly taken in stride by the mysterious thing and sent careening through the air on awkward wings. In their sibling's wake came a monstrous thing of cerulean with opalescent eyes. If they were rational and familiar with the fact that the world wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, they would've gotten out of the water immediately like Jaws was getting ready to have human cocktail. But the distant warbling cry of delight was plenty enough to give them the wrong idea.

So, with that idea in mind, they sank again beneath the surface, stone glowing unwittingly. Doing their very best swimming maneuver—aided by magicka—they quickly came up on the giant stranger and circled halfway around them. Little feet grabbed onto teal ridges. Squealing excitedly, they planted a sloppy kiss right on the thing's mouth. Smorched.

@Cerulean !!!

whoops. my hands slipped.

Just like many other Gembound, Iris had fallen into some sort of a stasis. Following her swift altercation with one of the other beasts lurking in the depths of Fornax, she had slipped away into the embrace of the caves's uneasy lull. Only to reawaken yet again cycles later. Alone, she had immediately noticed. Her best friend, Ghost, had mysteriously vanished—the hybrid had yet to find even a trace of him. A fickle hope had already settled within her, declaring that he had gone off to other rooms in the caves. The optimist in her refused to believe in the idea that he was truly gone. All she needed to do was go and find him. Yes.

But the first order of business was to find something to eat. So, with a long-empty belly, the mermaid took to the bath like a hot knife through butter, gathering fish in her maw and devouring them in one or two bites.

Satisfied with her little meal, she took to patrolling the cave, hoping to catch a glimpse of something sentient. Even if it was the savage leviathan—nowhere near as fierce as The Leviathan the gembound had gathered to defeat long ago—Iris would be happy. Because it would mean she wasn't quite as alone as expected.

Alert senses caught the distant sound of splashing, shrieking laughter, and whistling. Twisting in her course of exploration, Iris darted directly for the sound, finding quite a sight. Cerulean himself being smooched by a neonate and one in the distance shrieking in delight. "Kreool! Finally found some fun in you again?" Of course she had neglected to see the whole threatening display and see the context. Focusing on the positives, as always. Easing out of the water, she plodded up to the steely little neonate on the shore, trilling in delight as she lowered her head, "hi! I'm Iree!! Or Iris!"

He didn't seem to notice the difference between shrill screams of delight versus terror but when the less watery of the two suddenly grabbed hold of his face and made nose-to-nose contact, Cerulean realized quite quickly that these two half-pints weren't afraid of him. He figured them stupid. New, probably, by their words.

Oh, oh but then another appeared. Cerulean knew this one. Intimately.

< You! > He barked in the sea language. < It is always YOU. Why will you not leave me alone!? > The words in their tongue were like clicks and groans but from Cerulean's angry tone it sounded more like rolling thunder in his chest, echoing from his gills and jaws. < I am SICK OF YOU! > With that, the leviathan lunged at his new target...

...and if small children did not get out of the way, they'd be trampled by the blue beast whose jaws gaped and found immediately satisfying purchase upon the dragon-hybrid's throat, front limbs reaching up with savage claws in hopes of grabbing on and dragging the hybrid down with his weight- and teeth, of course.

After today, he'd never have to deal with this pestering dragon again.

CERULEAN vs IRIS
Round 1 of ?

Cerulean lunges head-on at Iris to bite down on her throat and grapple her to the ground.

No active defenses.

Smol children should probs attempt fleeing the battlefield lest the giants crush them. ;o

She wasn't above the surface for long until the leviathan she had oh-so-happily greeted began a gutteral cacophony. Always one with powerful proclivities for anger and hatred, it seemed. Her own throat gurgled, tail slapping the surface of the water. A warning signal. < I'd leave you alone if you would Gembound like us! > The moment warring words slipped from her mouth, Iris suddenly found an immense weight against her throat. Needle teeth hooked into her plated scales and hooked talons tore into her skin, blood running hot into the bath. < What is WRONG with you, Kreool?! > The hybrid shrieked uselessly, despite the fact that she knew very well that her foe wouldn't listen to reason. She had tried before.

So, with failure in her heart, she thrashed in the shallows, heavy body not quite boding well with the weight of air. If they were going to wage war yet again, they would in the depths of Fornax. At least then, the neonates would be safe. As expected, it was a difficult manuever, especially when she essentially carried the weight of two. She just barely splashed into deeper waters and twisted as to throw herself all the way in, sucking in a huge breath as she went with Cerulean in tow.

IRIS v CERULEAN
Round I of ???

No defenses or true attacks, only shifting the battlefield.

Chips in throat plating and scratches along the sides of her neck.

@Cerulean