There was a loud crack that could barely be discerned over the sound of the waterfall. Its source was a smoky blue crystal jutting out from the ledge not far from the cascade. It, in fact, was not a stone but a krysalis and it was breaking open.

The beak was the first thing to appear. It was dark gray and covered with the slime of the egg. It squeaked loudly as it fought its way out. More cracks appeared in the shell as it writhed and struggled against its cage. Finally, the whole thing shattered and the juvenile bird went tumbling onto the wet stone, honking loudly. Her feathers were sticky and wet and were a dull gray and yellow. She sat there, shocked for a moment, her senses being set slight with this new world, before she shakily stood onto her new feet, which buckled underneath her. She tried again, slower this time, trying to keep herself steady. Once she had stabilized her position, she slid one webbed foot forward and pressed it, pushing off with the other. And then again. And again. Until, finally, she was walking, albeit rather slowly.

Pleased with herself, she gave another loud honk as she stepped along the rocks, waddling unsteadily, her webbed feet slapping against the ground.

His start in life had been confusing and bewildering, but thankfully, all attending parties had parted ways for now, leaving the newly named and hatched Carcino cub to ponder his new role in life. He'd returned to the ledge he'd been born on to collect himself and now the boy felt rested and vaguely reassured.

It was this positioning on the ledge by the falls that granted him the chance to hear the hatching of another. A honk followed the crack. The leopard cub rose to his paws and tip-toed to the edge of his high home.

Below, a bird had hatched, gathering its bearings and footing awkwardly below him. The cub blinked in astonishment at the new being coming into play then began a quick but steady decline down the rocks to greet them.

"Hello!" He mewled, high-pitched voice tentative about greeting another stranger, but hopeful knowing that this stranger was new, like him, and wouldn't remember the... old him.

@Blackberry

When Blackberry heard the voice, she whipped around, her eyes immediately catching the black cat that was making its way towards her. She ruffled her feathers and frowned, taking a step back. How dare this cub interrupt her first few minutes? How dare he try and shove himself into her life?

She glared as he came on the same level as her. Although he was obviously still a newhatched, he was still a lot bigger then her. However, she could easily get to his size. With all the strength in her little body, she stretched up her neck and stood tall, her beak opening and a strange hiss coming from her mouth. "What do you want," she snarled.

@Carcino

The cub flinched at the gosling's angry hissing. She wasn't so keen on company but little Carcino felt he had to insist. After all, they were both alone here now.

Maybe she was just scared of him. He was different, after all.

"A friend?" He warbled back, more timid than before; a fear of rejection mixed with hope for a miracle. He felt the hope flimsy but dared to wish the goose would soften its mixed plumage again, not bear those hidden teeth at him again. He kept his own fangs neatly hidden behind a weary smile.

"My name's... He paused, because it still didn't feel quite right. "Carcino." He didn't sound much keen on the name. "You can call me Carcie if it's easier though."

@Blackberry

Really? A friend? Did the gembound not catch her tone? Why would he persist, after all, if he knew that she didn't want him talking to her? If he did get it, then he was an idiot and Blackberry feared that this would be such an annoying world.

However, this also still happened to be a new world. Was that the life she was going to live? As an angry, sour, mean little goose? Would she spend her life chasing and attacking for no other reason then 'I wanted to' and making others feel like shit just because is amused her or because they had disturbed her? Honestly, that didn't seem like such a bad life. But she thought she'd play along for now and try out the nice before she gave up.

She lowered her neck, although she was internally rolling her eyes at the hesitancy in his voice. He can't even come up with a good name. Wait, no, come on, Blackberry, be nice. She let her feathers smooth and when she spoke, there were no teeth flashing. "Sorry, you just scared me is all. I'm Blackberry and I don't really care about your name."

It took her a moment to realize that what she had said would be easily perceived as rude. Cringing a little and annoyed at her mistake she waited and watched carefully for Carcino's reaction.


"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Carcino
notes:

The other gembound wasn't particularly friendly at first but Carcie was quickly seeming to win her over. The tip of his tail swung side to side against the floor in his well-mannered excitement at the thought. Bright eyes and perked ears took in the name and matched it to the creature, its scent, its voice- as loud as it could be. Committed to memory.

"That's okay. I don't care much for it either." He admitted as if not liking ones own name was entirely normal; and for the boy, found by seniors who would come to falsely recognize him as a phantom of the past, it was entirely normal- he hadn't picked it, after all. "Blackberry's a good name though." He offered back, sincerely, because he liked the way the word bounced on his tongue but knew nothing of what it meant.

"I'm sorry that I scared you." The boy hadn't missed the accusation and took responsibility for it entirely, unquestioningly. "My paws are really soft so it's honestly kind of hard to walk noisily." The cub's face curved into a sheepish grin, milk teeth white against black lips and fur.

@Blackberry

Why did I say that I was scared? Of course I wasn't scared! Who does this idiot think he's talking to! She yelled to herself in her head, wanting so badly to speak the words aloud. But this wasn't the time to be all mean again. Be nice. Just try. She sighed at her words, still struggling with trying to be pleasant with this cub when all she wanted was to be loud and angry at him for interrupting her moment of life.

That's okay. I guess I understand. I also think my name's pretty good." She looked around for the first time, now realizing that it was quite loud. There was a cascading fall of water nearby and she wondered why. "Where are we, anyways? What a weird place to be."


___________________________________________________________

Hear my honk.
Why are you listening to my thoughts? Get out of my head!

tags: @Carcino
notes: oops sorry i totally forgot about this thread