He burst into the world on his back, legs splayed dramatically as though something from above had surprised him. It was a surprise, in fact, to be conscious. Tiny chest heaving, he was suddenly battered with sense - the sound of wind rushing through the cave, the sight of stone walls on either side of him, the feeling of awe that came with life. It almost took away his newfound breath.

He never would be one to remain still, though. At an amusingly slow pace, the newly hatched Gembound rolled onto his side. Paused. Then onto his stomach, and up, to stand for the first time.

With little hesitation, he began to move. To where, if anywhere, he clearly didn’t know. He only wanted to see more.

"Oh, good, the first one." The voice was feminine, but disembodied, and sounded almost... impatient? Either that, or relieved, or maybe a combination of the two.

"AHEM."

A brilliant spotlight--blinding, really--flashed and flared around the new-hatched cub.

"CONGRATULATIONS!"

Confetti burst in the air above. It rained down around Joyful, settling with soft pats against the stone.

"YOU ARE THE FIRST-"

(-and here, quiet fireworks--flashes of brilliant color--began to illuminate the air all around and above him-)

"BORN IN THIS CYCLE! CYYYYYCLEEEE..."

A drumroll began, thudding and pulsing and, like the voice, disembodied.

"ONE HUNDREEEEED! CONGRATULATIONS on all of you staying alive and awake this long! -Here, have a martini. On me."

As the fireworks faded, a very alcoholic martini in a glass--complete with cherry--appeared before Joyful. It was probably not wise to drink it. It smelled... well, like strong alcohol. A faint surge of magicka passed through the cub, igniting, for a moment, their gemstone in brilliant power, before it faded--as did the fireworks, and the voice, and the light.

...How strange.

---

As the first Gembound born in Cycle 100, Joyful has been gifted a total of one hundred, rather than fifty, starting magicka. Others born in this cycle will likely receive the same gift.

@Joyful

Monoceros was far from Alek's preferred place to adventure. Even the air was dry here, after all. And it was not as if Alek could fly here and test the winds. He was landbound, with wings capable of swimming, not flight. But, Alek had figured he might as well venture here to work on his land stealth.

He heard a noise and moved towards it, trying to conceal his presence as best he could. And though he was a twenty foot long dragon, not including his fishy tail, he managed surprisingly well in his lurking. He was successful, if barely.

The dragon heard the dramatic words spoken, and he found them interesting to a point. Maybe it was something that he could tell his family about when he next visited Orion. But, the voice was clearly talking to something.

Alek finally stepped out of shadows to investigate what being was the first to hatch in this one hundredth cycle. It was odd looking, reminding Alek more of Pride than any of his other family members. Except for the fact that it looked nothing like Pride. It was simply that the being looked... simpler in concept than the hybrids Alek was more used to, he supposed. And that was like Pride.

It was so small, though. Alek blinked partially, some of the six eyes closing briefly before opening again to stare and consider the cub. "Hi there," He greeted, his voice musical in a more masculine sort of way than Cadenza.

Such a voice was oddly soothing compared to the intimidating looks of the dragon hybrid it came from.

@Joyful

It's no subtle way to enter the world. Sheer shock glues him to the cave floor, overwhelmed by the superfluous welcome. Words he has no reference to understand echo around him, and, confused, there's little for him to do but simply wait for the event to pass. At least all of it seems safe, safe enough that no instincts kick in to keep him moving away from the disembodied celebrator or her grand greeting. When the light disappears, and the only remnants of the chaos are the strange drink and the spilled confetti, his first word is spoken...

"Huh? It may be less a word and more a wheezy, uncertain expression of his well-earned confusion.

Somehow, the amalgamous, embodied creature that approaches him makes more sense. This Gembound seems to show signs of existing beyond words and magical gestures. Much like the non-existent one, and to his fortune, this one also seems friendly. The cub's face pulls into a toothy... grin? The corners of his mouth fail to lift upward much at all, but it's the effort that counts. "There!" he belts out cheerfully, deciding it's the two of the words spoken to him he prefers.

And, as though there was a word he spoke with intent and not one he'd chosen to echo from enjoying the way it sounded, he slowly began to walk again, around Alek and now towards one of the nearby walls. Was there any way up them for someone his size? It seemed that wasn't his question - once he reached the stone, he simply stared, his face absurdly close to the wall. Could something as new to the world as Joyful truly be looking for something in the wind-carved gorge?

Even he seemed to realize... no. Giving in to his own sense of being lost, he cast a look over his shoulder at the other Gembound, silently asking him, "What now?"