Hrimfaxi woke in...what could not be called a blaze of glory, nor a particularly dramatic hatching. They, in the depths of sleep, knocked their diamond stone into the wall. A sharp crack. A hiss of steam. Then, the shattering of diamond. Hrimfaxi was spat from their chrysalis in a lump of shards and amniotic fluid, and came tumbling onto the floor. They came out looking...somewhat like the average foal, all knobbly kneed and gawky, if a bit pale. Sickly looking. Bones, quite literally, showing. Hrimfaxi coughed, spitting some of the chrysalis fluid up(my fantasy horse can vomit). A soft wind snaked through the tunnel. Hrimfaxi felt...hot. The wind chilled their skin, somewhat ameliorating the situation, but still, Hrimfaxi felt too hot.

Then, as they lay there, steam began to wisp. It began as a barely visible mist, quickly intensifying into thick plumes. As it petered out, the newly crystalized body of Hrimfaxi was left sitting. Better. This felt much better. But a new sensation arose, spurred on by baby's first ice coating: hunger. It was a foreign feeling. Hrimfaxi didn't know what caused it, and wasn't sure how they were supposed to rectify the situation. But...there was something sitting in front of it. The diamond shards. Hrimfaxi blinked pale eyes. That'll work. Hrimfaxi leaned forward, creaks and cracks sounding as ice broke and reformed in flashes of smoke. Hrimfaxi took the diamond shard into their mouth. Flavorless, was their first thought. But putting something into their mouth sounded right. Hrimfaxi mouthed the rock slowly, confused, but with no brighter ideas.

He had been out exploring when something caught his eye. There was a newly hatched.... thing. He wasn't quite sure what it was. But it was small and awkward and would have been so easy to kill and get rid of. But no, he wasn't a warmonger. No, he wanted to investigate more, and just think of all the information he was gathering for Mother! Yes, yes, that's what he was doing.

With a nod to himself, now fully decided on what he was going to do, he walked over, pausing for a moment as they began to eat the rock. Well, either they were very stupid, or they could eat rocks? He shrugged and let put a warm smile on his face, fake but he hoped it would be enough to ease a child. Hey there, whatcha got there little one?

He flicked his tail behind him, keeping a respectable distance for now, waiting to see if the kid would bolt or be bold enough to talk to him.

@Hrimfaxi