James looked over at Comet and nuzzled her sweetly, "Thank you, dear."

He inhaled softly and breathed out, lowering his head to touch his nose to the tiny gem. He couldn't mess this up... he couldn't. He felt the magic well up and go... somewhere.

The gem didn't do anything, and he suddenly felt very weak. His legs didn't buckle under him yet but he also didn't exactly revive it.

"... I missed," he mumbled, stunned at the fact that he managed to not only fuck up but fuck up because his magic decided that the air looked like a much better place to hang out than inside this little tiny vessel.

Judging by how the gem seemed... weaker, he judged that he really only had one more shot at this.

"Honey, look away," he said, his voice soft as his head started to pound.

He was expending way too much magicka at this point, but his heart was racing and adrenaline was pumping through his veins. It was too late to turn back now.

The back of his eyes started to ache, and it honestly felt like they were falling out. If Comet said anything, he doubted he would be able to understand, the combination of the pain and the sudden looseness of his consciousness making him feel like he was going to fall over at any second.

@Comet

Comet tensed as she felt him breathe in, then out. Would this work? There were a few moments of silence, was something supposed to be happening? She felt her heart skip a beat as James said the very thing she was thinking out loud. It hadn't worked.

The gem seemed-- weaker, somehow. And so did James. Was this all really worth it? Comet didn't want to risk James's well-being for this stone. But she could see he wanted to keep going. They had gone this far already. "I'm here." Words of comfort, but Comet wasn't sure if the horse was able to hear her through his pain.

She pressed up against his body harder, putting in more effort now. Following his instructions, she looked away and closed her eyes. There would be one more try. One more chance, at reviving the stone.

@James

James was terrified. His head and heart pounded and he could barely process his own thoughts aside from the fear of failure that threatened to drown him. This little life... he was giving it a second chance. Unless he failed.

He had to succeed.

The stallion closed his eyes and prayed, tears welling up. He had to succeed...

His magic swirled up and around the gem, purple and cyan and pink, slowly sinking into the gem and making it glow for just a moment. His eyes opened and he stood deathly still, waiting.

The chrysalis began to form and he let out a choked sob before collapsing onto the ground, shaking like a leaf, the strain too much for even his physical body to handle. He let his head fall next to the chrysalis and cried softly, so overwhelmed that he could do nothing but sob in relief.

"It worked," he breathed, gasping out a laugh, "I-It worked... I'm so glad..."

James shuddered as he lay there, nostrils flaring with every strained breath, his chest and his head aching. It took a lot of energy, but it worked.

@Comet

Comet watched as the gem glowed with magic, and she stopped breathing. She stood a still as a statue, and only released her breath when the gem turned into a forming chrysalis. It-- it had worked? She stayed frozen in shock and amazement, her eyes wide open.

The pup was broken out of her stupor when she heard the thump of James hitting the ground. The process must've drained his energy greatly, but she could tell from his laugh that he was going to be okay. He would be able to recover. "It-- it worked!" She was going to have a sibling! Her joy at the idea was washed away by her worry for James.

"Renny? Are you okay?" Comet dragged over a bundle of pelts and placed it under his head. She laid down in the crook of his neck with her paw on the chrysalis. It thrummed with life.

@James

"I'll be okay...", he said softly, ears drooping, "Could you find some iceberries and tumeric root? My head hurts a lot- I don't think I'll be very mobile until I regain my energy."

Tumeric helped with pain, and iceberries... hm, he couldn't remember. Maybe they helped too, at least for flavor.

James let his head rest on the furs and let his eyes close, ears drooping, "Thank you, Comet... you've been so good, helping me and this gem. It'll need a name, when it emerges. I... I'll entrust you to do that."

He smiled gently and strained to lift his head, licking Comet's cheek once before letting it flop back down with a groan. Goodness... he was so exhausted.

@Comet

Comet was relieved to hear that James was going to be okay. But he still needed some help, so she was going to find some iceberries and tumeric root. Luckily she was pretty sure they grew in Orion, so she wouldn't have to leave him alone for too long.

The pup smiled at James. It was what she would've done for any of her friends, and it felt good to know he will be okay. "I'll get the tumeric and iceberries for you soon. Have a good rest." And with a lick on his nose, she exited the house and made her way out to find the plants he would need.

While she was looking, the thoughts rushed through her mind on the honor of naming them. A few names rushed through her head, but it was too soon. She didn't know what they would look like, or their personality. Comet settled on the fact that, she would have to wait until they hatched to decide.

The iceberry bush was easy to spot, its dark blue berries on green leaves standing out against the bleak landscape of Orion. It was probably the remanent of a spell cast by a plant magic user. She picked a few of the leaves, making sure that it took up only half the space in her mouth. The other half had to be saved for the tumeric.

Comet was about to continue to find a tumeric plant, when she saw the large green leaves of a tumeric plant right next to the bush. (Not actual tumeric of course, just a version of tumeric that exists in Origin.) Her paws worked on digging the entire plant right out of the soil, and she snapped off its root. Comet started to wonder if she was stealing these plants from someone, but the place looked abandoned. There was no scent near this place, so it wasn't really stealing, right?

With the turmeric and iceberry leaves in her jaws, and headed back to the house. How long had she been gone? Time passed differently when you were actively doing something. "I'm back!" she dropped the iceberry leaves and turmeric root on the ground.

@James

James had managed to drag himself to the bed of furs in the corner of the room and lay himself down, head tucked under a wing. He hurt all over, too much to sleep, and Comet's arrival was like a blessing.

"Quiet, darling," he pleaded, "My head aches... thank you for getting everything so fast."

He lifted his head and turned towards her, eyes drooping, "Bring it here, if you would."

When she did, he ate an iceberry and a small bite of the root, gnawing on it and swallowing it down. A bit more and he set his head back down, ears drooped and eyes closed again.

"You're going to be a wonderful sister," he mumbled, and opened a wing in offering for more snuggles.

"I am awfully exhausted, my dear. I'm going to rest as much as I can, and I hate to ask, but I think you might need to fetch me food until I can stand without my vision going spotty," he said with a sigh.

So much energy lost...

@Comet

"Sorry." Comet whispered. She was glad that he had enough strength to drag himself onto the bed. It was not very comfortable on the floor. Her tail wagged anxiously as she watched him eat the plants that she had brought. She wasn't sure if it had worked, but he seemed more relaxed.

Comet gladly accepted his invitation and tucked herself in under his wing. "And you are a great parent renny." The warmth of his body was so nice. She imagined what it would be like when her sibling hatched. All three of them, together, a new family.

"Okay, I will get you some of you favorite fruits." they grew in Eridanus, but it would be worth the trek to get them. But for now, she made it a mental note of it, and fell asleep in the warmth of his wing.

"Exit to sleep"

@James

James sighed softly and licked at Comet's fur, humming softly. He tucked her in close and laid his head down again, hoping that the medicines worked.

"Thank you, dear," he said softly, before planting a kiss on her head and closing his eyes.

Sleep came easier as the pain subsided, and he slumbered, probably not to wake for a while.