it was cold. it was cold, and thats all the life within the small, white chrysalis knew before the shattered with the wind.

only as she tumbled would the ermine realize that her chrysalis had formed too many feet above the ground, hanging by a ledge near the mountain. she fell and couldn't find her footing and then crashed directly into the hard, freezing snow beneath, scrapes littering her tiny form, slight patches of red mixing with the white of her fur.

she was scared, and tired, and confused. she was cold and in pain. she didn't know what to do, so she screamed.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" she squealed, ti sounding more like a shriek than anything, voice raspy. she could barely get enough oxygen, the air around her freezing and stung to inhale.

pray to ursa someone heard it, or saw her, or atleast heard the shatter carried across the wind...

Catalyst knew it was cold. Her life, since she devoted everything to her one, true family had been this. She'd left the safety of the nest to hunt. But it seemed every creature within a five mile radius was hiding. Her fault, mostly. She'd sneezed, a bit too loud, and the ensuing avalanche ensured she'd have no more luck hunting the rest of the day. Which made the sound of a tiny scream even stranger. She didn't often hear things in Ursa. Living things were even rarer. And a living thing, so overtly making noise? Most rare. She paused, her mix of carapace and skin shifting. Silently, she shifted course to investigate.

It took her a while to spot such a small child. But the spots of red on the young ermine were what gave her away. She wasn't a lesser, she looked like nothing Catalyst had seen in Ursa. Catalyst was instantly suspicious. A child, alone? Was this a trap? She glanced around, bird-like. Nothing caught her eye. Nostrils flared. Nor her nose.

This was no trap. This was a new family member. An injured family member. Mentally, she pinged Mother. 'A child! Her excited thoughts would say. 'A child!' Her muzzle curled over her teeth in a smile, and she trotted over to them. She made sure she was gentle, a soft purring noise emanating from her throat. "Poor creature. Poor creature. Must be cold." Catalyst's neck snaked back, and she took one of her musty furs from her back. " 'm Catalyst." She said, muffled by the hide.

Catalyst made to place the hide over the tiny, fluffy child. Cold and alone. What a perfect addition to the family. If Catalyst had caught anything, she'd have tried to stuff a bit of the fuzz into a sliver of meat. As it was, Catalyst was probably as cold and hungry as Littlebird right now. She tucked her muzzle beneath her arm, as if preening.

A tug, and a soft ripping noise. Her muzzle came back with a small clump of white fuzz. She crouched, offering it to the ermine. "It will help you feel better. Help you heal. You wont be scared anymore." This wasn't an offer. The child would be part of the family, one way or another. If she fled, if she fought, Catalyst would make her family by force. All for the greater good. All to protect her sibling.



spk
thk

@Littlebird @Morpho (?)

"A child," Mother echoed, floods of warmth and happiness rippling through Catalyst. "A new child! Bring them to us. They will join the family." It came with joy, excitement, anticipation.

This could only be a wonderful thing.

the ermine stopped screaming at the sound of someone coming closer, and against the instinct to hide from the predator, catalysts teeth and claws and big, bright eyes, it was quickly overpowered by the need to be safe.

she scurried forward, grasping desperately for warmth, even if none radiated from the raptor it didn't matter, as it was something other than the painful cold. she made a slight squeak of desperate joy as the pelt was placed atop her. warmth!! well, as close as she could get.

as catalyst handed her the small pelt of fuzz, with words promising safety and healing, although she could barely understand what the raptor was saying, she desperately wanted to feel safe. so she took it, nearly burying her face in it as she scurried to hold it as close to her as possible, breathing heavy and labored.

@Catalyst

Catalyst was relieved she did not need need to resort to violence. The child took to the fungus immediately. And she couldn't help but find the new child...cute. Her pale fur would hide the fuzz of Mother, as well. She was awash with joy. A new family member! What a perfect addition! Catalyst couldn't help but be drawn to the bright blotches of red on the ermine's fur. They itched at Catalyst's brain. They weren't symmetrical. She wanted to fix them somehow. She shook her head, trying her best to ignore the blotches.

"Safe now," she said gently. Catalyst leaned her head down, and if Littlebird did not scurry away, she would attempt to pick her up by the pelt. With the ermine in front, it would make it easier to ignore the blotches of red. Mother, she began mentally. Can you heal her? Or must I. Catalyst wasn't sure how, exactly, to heal the young ermine. Remembering the child, she said aloud, : "We are going home."

There was a smile in her tone. With the ermine either by her side, or in her careful jaws, Catalyst would begin to trot towards the Hive, a companionable silence blooming.


spk
thk

The fungus would not take root only by touch; in fact, it smelled a little rancid, a little rotten and foul, but perhaps a little carnivore would find this appealing. It would need to be consumed, but this was only a step away--even dipping into one of the wounds, a blanket over the little cut, would be enough.

And when this happened, the sensations of warmth and love would begin to trickle in.

As for Catalyst, Mother's voice urged and praised all at once. At the raptor's thought of pale fur hiding fungus, this praise ramped up powerfully, the flood of happy chemicals strong. "What a wonderful idea!" Mother exclaimed, in her mind. "What excellent thinking! Truly you have a keen mind, Catalyst. Well done!"

Then came the concern: injury. Mother considered. She could not mend, but: "Bring her to a safe place in the outer tunnels, and make her a home. I will send Bone to you. Bone can mend her," and with this came strong assurance: everything would be all right.

@Littlebird

Littlebird would not have to wait long for Mother's influence. she squeaked in discontent as the blanket of fungus was shoved roughly into one of her deeper wounds across her chest during her frantic attempts to get warm and feel safe. Littlebird didn't want to hurt anymore.

she did not have the mind to attempt to scratch the fungus away, but even in that instance, she wouldn't want to. she felt safe and loved. she wouldn't retreat from catalyst's claws, letting herself be picked up. home. she wanted to go home. was this home? she would not be upset if home was now within catalysts claws. they were safe and helpful. friendly. loving.

as warmth finally began to creep into her bones, the pelt allowing it to stay there if only a little, did much to calm her. she was still in pain, but she did not think she would be for longer. she would be okay.

all she could do, really, at this moment, was squeak.

"Home.."

@Catalyst

Catalyst practically beamed at the attention, the positive reinforcement. She'd made Mother happy. Mother herself was pleased with her! 'Of course, Mother.' Catalyst replied simply.

The small squeak of pain the Ermine let out had her worried. She needed to get to Bone, and fast. She adjusted her jaws to make sure the ermine was both secure and comfortable. "Yes, home," Catalyst repeated. Warmth blossomed in her as she thought of Mother. The hive. It truly was home. In the back of her mind she absently wondered in the ermine had a name. She took off, a trot at first, developing into a sort of half-run. Not too fast for fear of hurting the ermine more. She continued through the blinding white, seemingly having the location of the outer-tunnels ingrained in her head. Eventually they reached a tunnel in the ice and stone, deep blue and dark.

Catalyst traveled inwards, until the wind couldn't chill the newly hatched gembound, and she wouldn't have to fear of the enemy taking her. Catalyst dropped the ermine, taking care to be gentle. She removed her own pelt. The chill hit her once again. Catalyst was struck with the knowledge she'd have to go hunting for more materials again soon. She wanted to light a fire in here, it'd be a more sure way of keeping the ermine warm. But she didn't want to alert the enemy. Her claws clicked, unsure. She spoke, instead. "Here is home. Oh! Another sibling will come soon! She is...err...large but she is safe. Here."

Catalyst tapped her azurite talon on the ground. Without a sound, a banan dropped from thin air. It was a bit on the smaller size, but Catalyst doubted that'd be a problem. The banana landed in front of her talon. Catalyst ducked her head to the ground, arms tucked close, pushing the banana closer to Littlebird. "Hungry?" She asked gently.


speak think

At first, to Catalyst--and only after a moment's silence--came the wordless reassurance that Bone would arrive soon. It would take her several minutes' worth of flight, but she would find them, with Mother's benevolent guidance!

Ah, but here was a new child to welcome into the fold... It began, for Littlebird, with love, a warm trickle of reassurance and care. A sense that, somehow, no matter what, Littlebird would always be looked after; that everything would be okay. She would be healed, and fed. She would be comforted, guided, and taught. She was in good hands, now; everything was all right.

It would take a few minutes longer for Mother's voice to filter through, but for now the awareness of a new mind blossomed along the link: Catalyst would sense her presence more sharply, and Littlebird would sense Catalyst's, in turn. Their sensations, emotions, would begin to bleed along that link together.

How wondrous-! What a lovely day! And all was well, for both of them.

@Littlebird