It was some time after Charity's birth- a few hours, at least. And Envy was quickly starting to tire of the small, and damp-smelling room where they'd hidden Pride's stone. So, after a while of teaching the tiny creature to totter after them, they decided it was time to set off back towards the throne. Envy, with sinewy grace, glancing this way and that, darted out of the room and onto a rubble-strewn street. They looked around, and listened, and sniffed the air; and although they weren't sure why, they felt almost as anxious as they had been before she was born.

They realized after a while of scurrying on that they were alone, and panicked momentarily- until, from behind a pile of rubble the pale-green hybrid waddled out to greet them.

As Envy watched, full of trepidation, the little one kept stopping to look at things- from a speck of dust to an oddly shaped pebble- nothing was safe from her. "Charity! Hurry up," they twittered nervously, as they waited for the bright little creature to catch up.

Speech. Thought.

Charity was coming. Long body plump with baby fat, still velvety and soft- one stray fang peeking out from beneath her lips. She toddled after her mamma, and jingled, loudly- the gold necklace that Envy had given her hanging loosely about her neck.

Deer-like ears turned and twitched, purple eyes bright with curiosity. She didn't quite seem to understand that Envy was afraid or that they were waiting for her. Or, if she did- she kept on forgetting, and stopping to look at anything interesting that crossed her path. She veered off to look at glowing crystals and different coloured rocks- and spent, quite frankly, an unnecessary amount of time looking up at the glittering sky-crystals on the ceiling.

As Envy called her name, however, she waddled on towards them, with an eager bleat of "yes mamma!" as she approached.

@Aaliyah

Li couldn't stop thinking about Aeroth. She had traveled back to Orion after meeting the jaguarundi, and she had taken up all of her thoughts on the way there. They had come here to see if they could find Envy, and see how they were doing. But their mind kept wandering to what had happened before, and it was only after hearing the weasel's voice - followed by an unfamiliar voice - that she snapped to attention.

There was Envy, looking as good as ever. Or, at least, as far as she could tell. They looked nervous, she realized, as she observed them further. But turning slightly, that became the last of her thoughts. Now, all she could focus on was the little creature following them. It appeared to be a hybrid - between Envy and someone else, certainly - and was following after them. She blinked, trying to process this.

"E-envy?" she began, hesitatingly. "Who..who's that?"

Speech. Thought. @Envy

Envy flinched, backing up towards the hybrid as a large shape appeared in front of them- that is, until they recognized it. The weasel darted quickly forward again to meet Aaliyah, and sat up on their hind paws before her, tail twitching. It had been so long; too long. They'd been so busy since they'd last met. After all, they were the ruler of a kingdom now. "Ma- I mean- Li!" the little creature said- and although they tried to sound calm, the weasel couldn't help a twinge of glee sneaking into their tone.

As their mother noted the hybrid behind them, Envy swelled up with pride, quills twitching upright. They glanced back at Charity for a moment, gesturing with their head for her to come over. Then they turned back towards Li. "Li- this is Charity!" the weasel introduced, gesturing towards the little one. For a moment, they looked awkward. "She's my... daughter." The weasel struggled for a word for a moment, but that one felt right. Despite their twinge of embarrassment they swelled further, closing their eyes for a moment to bask in the feeling. They turned to Charity then.

"Charity; this is your Grandmamma. Say hello, Charity!"


Speech. Thought.

Charity had stopped for a moment to bat at a pebble when she heard her parent's voice piping up again. She looked up, saw the newcomer, and her face lit up in an expression of fascination. Without fear, she waddled forward, purple gaze fixated on Aaliyah's face, and her bejeweled brow. The golden necklace rattled around her forelegs, and as she drew near, she sat herself down next to Envy with a soft thump, tail flicking.

She tilted her head to one side, examining the cat closely. "Grandmamma?"

As the weasel ordered them to speak, the little one sat obediently to attention, tipping her head to one side. Deer-like ears twitched upright- she appeared to consider for a moment, before sucking in her breath and speaking. "Hello!" she said, exactly as instructed. Then she turned towards Envy to receive their praise.

@Aaliyah

Li was incredibly glad to see that Envy was alright, but it only seemed to confirm her fears that they didn't really need her. But she pushed that thought aside and focused on the hybrid, Charity. Envy's daughter. Which made her her...granddaughter. She flicked an ear at that, but smiled down at Charity.

As she spoke to her, the cat hybrid chuckled, though the sight of her turning to Envy, clearly looking for praise, made her feel a little sick. It only made her think of when she was young and would do anything to receive Imperia's praise. "Hello, she murmured softly.

Speech. Thought. @Envy

Envy huffed, pleased as Charity spoke. "Good!" they praised the newborn, feeling the thrill of pride shooting throughout their body. Then they looked to Aaliyah. "She only just hatched." They settled back on their haunches and watched as Li greeted her granddaughter, letting the two of them get along- but also waiting for their own mamma's answer- her praise- her moment to ask them who, and why. She didn't, though, and their stance deflated slightly. The weasel's ears flicked back.

They looked at her expectantly, paws grooming their chest awkwardly. "So..." they asked a moment later. "...What do you think?"

Speech. Thought.

Charity seemed taken aback as the adult gembound actually replied. Her ears shrank back slightly as she did so, and she smiled a little shyly, paws shuffling beneath her. "Hello, Grandmamma," she said again, ears pricking upright and she looked again to Envy. Clearly uncertain of how to continue the conversation, she looked around, instead.

A moment later, she turned to look back at Li. "Why are you my Grandmamma?" she asked curiously, hopping to her feet. "It's a funny thing to be called. Long."

@Aaliyah