Deep within The Groves, beneath their tangled roots that had lovingly wrapped around a spherical gem. Time passed as it always does, the roots had began to free their grasp on the gem as it swelled it magic. Its pale exterior growing more and more color with each passing day. It's blue flecks dancing around the red veins as if some violent storm raged, seemingly pulsating with what life grew within.

Inside he knew not what fate had planned for him not could he fathom such a care. He slept inside the ever iridescent and shimmering world that fate had provided. Warm and fed, filling up with strength he happily and ravenously accepted. Pictures flickering through his thoughts none of which he could make sense of, at least not yet. Soft humming and the gentle babble of what lived beyond was his music. Shockingly smooth and comforting walls gave soft kisses to his fragile form. He could not remember, had these walls always been so close?

Time was not a conceivable thought in his life, he knew not of life or even himself. He just knew that he was

All that mattered was his warmth, his comfort, his world. But soon it came to an abrupt halt. He could no remember a time when he had room in his life, he felt smothered now; suffocated even for he could no longer move. The loving warmth he tried to recollect grew hot with each passing second. His once shimming and iridescent walls were a blinding white. His breathe quickened, he was unsure, he was afraid, but he was excited. What where these feelings? Fate had provided him such a lovingly life hadn't it? It wouldn't cause him harm? After all he was just beginning his journey right? Could he even recollect the time before now?

Eyes shot open, it was too much he had to escape! Legs twitching with urgency, when did these get here? What ever was happening he wanted it to stop! There was so much he questioned now as he pressed against the closing walls. They would not stop, it was too bright he still couldn't see, he couldn't even breathe! Frantically he moved his body, kicking and shoving with all the power he didn't even knew he possessed. The white walls cracked, and they cracked again! Pieces began to crumble away as he fought! Until finally the bright white light was gone.

He took in the damp fresh air, shaking free the shards of his....home? What was this? The inner shell? Is that what it was? It no longer gave off that bright light? It was faded now? The outside of it was a complete surprise to his sense. It shimmered and glistened with what light bounced throughout the mist, it reminded him of a time before? Why was it so dark out here, where was he? Was this his world now? Would he outgrow this too!?

It wasn't as warm as what he knew, but it wasn't uncomfortable either. He pawed at what he had outgrown, smacking the glass-like structure. The sound it made when it shattered was very intriguing! It was fun even! He bounced around it, smacking the broken bits between and throughout the roots. Fumbling more than just a couple times on his wobbly legs. He did not care, he loved his new world!

He was so excited and blindly occupied with the sounds the shell remnants made beneath his paws. That he could not hear the soft rustle of grass beneath hooved feet. But the soft glow of light on the roots before him drove him to a curious and immediate halt. He excitedly pounced at them, trying to cover it up only to have it cover his paws?

After her story was finished, she had carefully made her way through Cetus, being careful to avoid the wet grass that easily gave way to deep murky water. She had been here often int he time she'd been awake, though she had never thought to count how many times it had actually been. It wasn't exactly comfortable here, per se, but she understood it, and respected it. The dancing lights she had beckoned into being for her story followed her around so she could walk without fear, and she had made herself glow with her magic to easily find her way back. She didn't trust the fog at all, and she wouldn't let it trick her. A crick, crack, caught her attention, and her ear flickered in the general direction. Was...was something hatching? She grew excited and hurried to the sound. The only other birthing she had seen was that beautiful stag she had given a gift to, but it had quickly disappeared in the caves, and she never knew if she'd ever see it again. A shame, she constantly thought. The little thing was a delight to behold. Using the semi-familiar stepping stones, she hurried to the grove of trees, and caught the last parts of the little creature escaping from its shell. Her breath caught in her throat - it was adorable! With little paws it jumped and played in the grass and the tree roots, its fur a patchwork of black and peach. Its pretty eyes were wide and beautiful bright white, as excited with life as it could be. Her dancing lights surrounded them both, and she saw the child eye them with glee as one passed near its tail. "Hello, dear heart!" She said softly, seeing the little things eyes snap to her. She smiled warmly in return, gracefully coming closer. "Welcome to Cetus." Leaning down, she kissed the child's forehead and nuzzled its cheek. "And welcome to the world." "This is how I speak."

The light across his paws grew brighter until finally, he spun around only to see what could be described as an ethereal being. She was so bright, so white and unlike anything he could think of existing! His white eyes wide with wonder and excitement! Who and what ever she was had brought dancing lights! He was positively thrilled!

But even with all this excitement he could not move! He was just so overwhelmed! Zealously watching the dancing specks of light float around and between the both of them. Only to wiggle on his toes when one passed near his tail! And then she spoke, 'Hello, dear heart!' hi eyes snapped to her in an instant. Her voice was so soft and kind he could not help but purr! Taking a moment to stop in surprise at this new sound and sensation he was making! How interesting and fun!!

'Welcome to Cetus.' she approached and with a tilt of his head he wondered. Cetus, is that what she called this world? C-tuss...C tuss he mouthed the word over and over just before she kissed his forehead. 'And welcome to the world' he practically jumped with glee! He was right! C-tuss IS this world! The vibrating hum from deep within his throat increased as he rubbed his face against her before she could take it away! His tail flicking back and forth with such ferocity as he wiggled from paw to paw in place!

He came to an abrupt halt, only to yell at the tall creature before him.

"HHH-HELLO!!" Hello...that is what she said? Right? He furrowed his little brows and thought about it, lip pouted out in concentration only to switch back to excited. "HH-Hello!! You, you are very pretpretty!!"

His H's were harsh and focused and everything else seemed to pour out of his mouth like water to a babbling brook. He seemed to know how to string word along pretty well, how much had he absorbed listening to the humming 'music' from inside his egg?

She could see the vibrancy and glee in the little kitten, so full of life and happiness. She didn't know anyone so far that was this exuberant and happy! she smiled and blushed when the child called her pretty and replied, "Oh, but so are you! You are adorable and wonderful, and I like you very much." She sat in front of him, nestled in the tree roots, the better she could see eye to eye with it, since she was so very tall. "I would like to call you by a name, sweet one, but I should know best that a name is hard to come by. You'll find it in time, I should think, but for now I'll call you...." She squinted at him, making a silly face in concentration. "I'll call you Pounce." She tilted her head and smiled at him sweetly. A few of the dancing motes of light floated on by. "Would you like to play a game, Pounce?" "This is how I speak."

'I like you very much.' OH he was so happy to hear! He loved this ethereal being too! She nestled down in the tree roots as he patted around excitedly waiting for her to be on an eye to eye level! Looking up can get a bit exhausting when one was as young and small as him at least!

While she made herself comfortable he chased around the dancing lights. Managing to pin one to the ground only to feel sorrow immediately after lifting his paw to see it broken. Did he play too rough? What had happened? But before any worry could set in for a lesson learned he watched it glow up and back into the air. He jumped excitedly after it again! Happy that he did not realky harm 'it'. Now he could play even more! But not for long, sliding to a halt before the pretty lady as she spoke up. Squinting he realized it wasn't her entire body that was glowing, but rather her eye! It was a gem!? Like his egg? How interesting he thought! He wondered absent minded if one of his eyes were like that, squinting and winking both eyes in rapid formation only to stop under the realization that she was talking.

'I'll call you Pounce.' He scrunched up his face, Pounce sounded funny. But if the pretty lady deemed it so then it must be true? She did say something about a name being so hard to come by. Does that mean his name was hiding around here? What about her name?

Opening his mouth, somewhat fumbling over his thoughts he was going to ask her what her very name was. Only for that thought to be nudged over for something much for exciting! 'Would you like to play a game, Pounce?'. A GAME!? A game like chasing dancing lights!? He thought eagerly, only being able to shut his eyes tightly and nod at such a rapid pace with teeth shown in such a smile! Showing off small colorful bumps on either side of his gums among his teeth.

Laughter bubbled out of her when she saw adorable little Pounce nod its head with some boundless enthusiasm. A feeling rose up in her, warm and nurturing. "Then we shall play a game!" She carefully got up from her seat and smiled at Pounce. "Lets see if I can make something for you..." She took a deep breath, and exhaled soft, cream-colored bubbles. The bubbles coalesced and formed hazy, glowing creatures - little squirrels, some rabbits, and tiny deer. Once they all formed, they all stood to attention to look at both her and Pounce with eyes unseeing. Their details were unclear in their creation, and were more like glowing white silhouettes than anything resembling life, but they were good enough. They stood out against the fog with their color and their light, and when they were 'caught', they would poof away into a shower of bubbles. She hoped little Pounce would enjoy that. "There we go! Now....try to catch as many as you can, sweetling!" She commanded them all to scatter around the base of the tree, and as quick as their life-counterparts, they all dashed away - some climbed a ways up the tree, some hid playfully in the nearby bushes, but they never went far into the fog where her dancing lights created a safe barrier. Cetus wasn't a very nice place for new hatchlings. "This is how I speak."

Bouncing around her long legs he couldn't wait any longer! What was she going to make? Could he help? That was he could think until she began to exhale these soft, cream-colored bubbles. He was in awe! They all formed other animals and stood before them. While some details of their forms were unclear, it was a guarantee that he wouldn't notice. Only excitement and sheer awe were in his wide white eyes.

Who where they! More friends? Will this be a game of chase maybe!? Chase was so far his most favorite game! Especially the end when he would win! How did she make them! Could he make them too? Strings of the forming questions cut short when she told him to catch as many as he can! And in an instant all his new friends ran! Their glowing bodies a beacon for his focus! There was so much excitement he was shaking!

And like a cannon he erupted from his stance and ran into the nearby bushes. Two soft cream rabbits danced out and away from his eager grasp. Running around after them and any other light that caught his attention, he was zipping all over the place! Laughter and the occasional 'oomph' of tripping over himself filled the air. Running after one particular rabbit he was right on its heels! Until it ran under and through the tall legs of his ethereal friend! He came to a halt only to rollover on himself in effort to save her from the impending collision.

"Z-Zey are fast!!" he flopped on the floor deep in thought. He tried sneaking around he AND ran as fast as he could, what else could he do!? A small cream squirrel wandered just feet before him! AH HA! He jumped to his feet, gaze locked onto the teasing critter before him!

"I-I'll get them! I'll do what you did!" He said with such certainty as he opened his mouth, waiting for the bubbles to come out! Nothing happened. Maybe she was blowing the bubbles? So he gave that a try only to stand there mouth wide, spit bubbling around his lips. Nothing happened still. He looked back at his tall ethereal friend for a moment before giving it ONE. LAST. TRY!

SUCCESS! Fur on edge and face scrunched up with concentration, he emitted a low pitch yowl of effort for anything to happen! But this was not what he would expect, as electricity shot from his bristled fur and into the squirrel before him! Watching it erupt into of those soft cream bubbles he was trying to hard to make himself!

"DID-DID-DID YOU SEE WHAT I DID!!" he was ecstatic! Running around popping each of the bubbles that were now falling around him! He may not have made his own bubbles! But he definitely made something else! With glee and new found energy he took off like a bolt! Tackling and roll into any other light friends he could find! This was so much fun!

She watched with pure delight as Pounce chased her little light sendlings all over the place. It was just so happy, its face so lit up by the gifts she had made. She had friends who told her of the different eating styles. She nibbled on whatever vegetation looked delicious to her, and she was never hungry, as she always stayed near Eridanus or Cetus, if she wasn't visiting Canis. She always saw the tiny little gems that habituated both green rooms, had tried to talk to them and failed as they simply ran away. They didn't mind her much when she was silent, so she kept to herself around them. She knew they were not....what was the word...imaginative? They were certainly not capable of speech, or intense thought. They ran into traps and hunters with the same errors over and over again, their dull minds a guarantee of death, or so she was told. The friends she'd made....including Saudade, who she missed terribly, ate such creatures. And when she saw little Pounce's teeth, she knew he was one of those that ate the mindless animals. She felt a tinge of regret, intentionally teaching it to hunt these little things, but...it was that or Pounce starved without knowing why. She was snapped out of her reverie when one of the rats ran between her legs, and she gasped surprise and skittered back when Pounce almost crashed into her! She laughed when it shook it off, and she took conscious control of one of the squirrel sendlings and teased it in front of the tired little Pounce. Her eyes widened when Pounce cast its magic for the very first time - she was so happy! "Oh, congratulations, Pounce!" She followed him lightly, teasing other animals in its path so it could easily practice and catch them. Pounce had an element a little like hers, a stronger version, and she was both happy at the thought and a tad unsettled. Pounce's was a painful light that hurt others, something it could use to defend with. It was the first she'd seen like hers, and she.... She was happy for it, she decided. Pounce was having fun, and so would she. After a while, when she noticed it getting tired, she walked over and kissed Pounce's ears. "Would you like to go and practice your magic, sweetling? Somewhere with more room to run around?" She paused thoughtfully. "And maybe we can catch you something to eat." "This is how I speak."

After pouncing and catching the last light critter his ethereal friend had made for this game he plopped his butt down on the ground. Breathing out, mouth open he was feeling a little bit odd? He wasn't sleepy, not like what he remember in his chrysalis. But he noticed a change in his energy. Either way he had no plan on stopping any time soon. And that was a guarantee, even so new to this world it was clear that he was one that would play till he could hardly move another inch!

Looking up to ethereal friend she had his full attention, asking if he would like to go somewhere else. Somewhere to practice magic and run around even more! He was all for that! But eat? He was unfamiliar with this word, he couldn't place it, but he trusted her judgement! So it must be good, it must be fun even!

Standing, he waddled closer and circled each one of her legs! Looking up he smiled widely, voice loud with excitement! "I would like th-that!"

Without fuss or much worry or care he waddled off beside her, awaiting his new adventure to begin!

(Exit Thread)

She smiled down at Pounce, its white eyes wide and bright and happy with the energy of youth. She wanted to keep this one safe from everything that might harm it, keep it close, keep it happy. It deserved that much for being such a beautiful soul. There was no fear or hatred in it, and she wished that state of being would last for a long time, and such concepts would remain so. Concepts. Words. Nothing more. She'd never tried being a guardian of a small one before, but she would try her best. She already loved Pounce from this brief encounter, and would do her best to keep it safe. But first, she would need to teach Pounce what it needed to know to keep itself happy, to protect and feed itself, and keep itself occupied when she was away. And give it some manners. Manners were important. "Let's go, hmm? Let's see what's in store for us." She said softly, leading the way with her dancing lights. - end thread - "This is how I speak."