Nonna’s stone-like womb is a fragile thing. A tiny, white chrysalis hiding a delicate life inside its walls. Such a thin layer separated her from the harshness of the outside world. Smothered and pressed against the edges, she was fine with all; things didn't need to change, it was warm inside yet, and still cracks started formed upon her stone's white surface which each move she made; it was only a matter of time.

The first crack was small, barely the length of hair pin then like a coil suddenly relieved of tension, white fragments flew outwards until they lie still yet vicious in the ice and snow. The top half of the chrysalis blown away, revealing a little white form laying in white-colored goo. She laid there for a long time, whining and confused.

The vague remnants of a memory of her name came to her,"Nooooo--" She puddled around in the small pond of her gooey liquid as it cooled, testing out her new name, "Noo--no-nna." The little pup could feel the rest of her shell give way, she fell to the earth and landed in a flurry of snow. Nonna didn't even have words to describe temperature and weather in her vocabulary. She had never experienced either, she trembled and shook. She quickly climbing back in her broken shell, emitting several shrilling whines.

Evening

The crow stood in front of the enterence to Tunnel M. There was a strange feeling bubbling in the corvid's gut, a feeling that told her 'Why would you ever go through here again?' It was nothing Eve would deny if asked about it - she hated this particular tunnel with a burning passion. The cold was something she simply couldn't tolerate, she prefered feeling warm, curled up in her nest, with glowing shinies under her.
She considered, for a moment, going back to her nest; but she would rather go through Tunnel M than see the Sloth again.

Eve scowled at her own thoughts, shifting and concentrating on summoning an orb of light for her to fly with through the tunnels. It took her a while; much longer than she felt comfortable with, and the result was not a shimmering orb of light, but instead a shaking dimly lit sphere no bigger the size of the Magic Rock she once handed to Dragon. She scowled once more but it'd have to do.

She took to the air, watching the small orb. It seemed to always be in front of her- one step ahead at all times. As her wings beat their way through the frozen halls, something caught her attention. As she shifted her head towards it, the orb moved to hover over the broken chrysalis, and Eve blinked. She abruptly flew down to the ground, the orb just in the corner of her eyes, and gazed upon Nonna.

"What are you?" squawked the crow, almost accusingly.

Too many times now did Delphine come to know this surge of energy, as if the Origin cave itself were coming to life with power. More than it was an externalization of life source, it was internal, a pull that tugged at the horse's heart and willed her forth through the chilly tunnels. Calling upon her own magic came easily enough when it thrummed so readily all around her. Sheared from her first sight, Delphine watched as her world became scores of energy that funneled toward the newborn and another Gembound. Immediately, she quickened her steps with the cautionary fear that whosoever had approached the child first was one with motives she knew little of. Though to say that it was her duty to save every newborn Gembound born within their home would have been a stretch, she tried — when the opportunity presented itself — to be there as a safeguard.

And sure enough, as the physical forms of a bird and a white dog came to, she found herself slowing to a halt. 'Magdalena.' Her breath caught and for a moment, Delphine found herself unable to distinguish between the small babe and her dear friend. How alike they seemed yet all the same, the subtle differences bled through in the icy pair of eyes that blinked from within her broken shell and oh, how small she seemed. The horse stepped forward, hesitant still in her approach. "Hello little one." Then her gaze shifted to the crow to whom she dipped her head in greeting. "I am Delphine."

A small yip came from the newborn Gembound and with it, her affections soared. How easily swayed was the horse who'd only just lain eyes on the child. Slowly but surely, Delphine closed the gap so to better observe the puppy's needs. "Oh you must be so cold." Her neck extended, each movement punctuated by a practiced grace, and with a gentle prod, she pressed her muzzle to the small, slick form. Her touch was experimental, a feather's graze as if seeking permission to do more, to offer more but first, she aspired for the Gembound's trust.

( @Nonna )

The goo she sat in turned cold, it licked at her face and crept under her fur, spreading across her skin like a lacy tide on a frigid winter beach. Her trembling only shook away more of her stony womb as tiny paws tried to scrap them close to her side. Her little mind was slowly grasping the situation, yet the steadying beating sound above caused her to tilt her tiny head angled it to the side at the bright source in the sky, or what she believed was the sky with its glitters shards of icicles.

There was suggestion of movement from beyond the brightly thing, it was formless and indistinct, like a piece of shadow shifting. Nonna bundled her panic into her chest and breathed rapidly. Whining out more, she slouched over and felt herself become drenched. Her pores opened up, free flowing like condensation on a window pane. She got of glimpse of the beady eyes that spoke to her, the slick shiny 'fur' covering this new. "N-nonna..." She muttered hushed and quickly, barely a whisper.

The small pup, tucked her head down more and let the darkness wound over her head and veil her eyes. she wanted the bight thing to go away as it stung her sensitive eyes. The gentle tone of another voice, soothe her fear, the touch only seem to calm her. Like a scared, cry baby she pushed herself towards the warmth. "Mama. Scary." Nonna looked to the scrawny creature. "What you, and you."

( @Delphine & @Eve )

With each second that passed, she found herself warming still — if she could anymore than she already had — to the child. "Nonna." She whispered, tasting the child's name along her tongue and deeming it fitting of the newborn. "That's a lovely name." The adolescent cooed appraisingly before exhaling a plume of warm air along the puppies ear. It was meant to be an affectionate gesture paired with her smile and chime-like laughter. How sweet and tiny she was, certainly nothing like how Delphine must have seemed when she'd been born. A black, ambiguous blob slick with mucus and ichor that she'd also effectively wiped on the Gembounds who had found her that day. Her emerald gaze sought those of the baby-blue's belonging the child and again, she simpered.

It would have been a fair assessment, she thought, to say that she'd gone through a lot since her own conception but nothing could have prepared her for what came next. It hung in the space between them, heavy with implication yet Delphine did not shy away from the notion. If anything, she found herself fascinated by the one word she would not have thought twice on.

'Mama.'

Her heart thudded heavily against her chest and the adolescent found her eyes widening perceptibly. She was by no means an adult, if anything, the whole idea of motherhood had never once broached her mind but now that it was lain before her, she found herself baffled with speechlessness. What could she say in response? Surely the responsibility that came of caring for a child when she herself could still qualify as one would be too much but as she looked toward the small newborn, she found herself unable to turn away.

Delphine's ears flattened against her head and she gravitated closer to press a firm nuzzle against the child's side. "Don't be scared. There's nothing here to be afraid of." She reassured her. Her voice dropped an octave lower, natural in its soothing tones and inherent in its desire to protect. "I am Delphine, I am... I believe, a horse?" Though the answer had never been one explicitly stated, it was a kernel of knowledge that lay well and true between them. "That one there is a bird, there are many kinds all around us and you," She paused to nudge her affectionately. "You are a dog. I've met one not unlike you."

Her attention flickered to the pool of goo and her brows furrowed with concern. "Why don't you try coming out of there? It looks so very cold."

( it's been well over a week so i'm going to go ahead and skip april! )
@nonna