In the beauty of Pisces and all its glory and wonder something was about to happen. Water could be found in most places of this area, and dangerous ledges. The air was thick and heavy with moisture, and the climate was almost chilly. Things seemed to be peaceful as the only sound that could be heard was the crashing waterfall descending from above. Yet new life was about to emerge anew, and add to the population of gembounds. A light blue stone chrysalis lay near the ponds in Pisces completely still. After a couple of long moments, the chrysalis began to crack slowly. Soon, the chrysalis broke completely, and from it emerged a young tigress, with a light blue aquamarine stone on the middle of her chest. Her eyes slowly opened as she took in her environment, looking around to see where she was. She was unaware of where she was, but found the place mesmerizing. She walked a couple steps before stopping, turning her head to see if there was anyone else nearby. She knew her name, and she could talk very well despite having just came into the world. At least she had decent communication. She opened her mouth to say her name, even though she didn't know how she knew it. "Apzohra Swiftwater, my name." She listened to the sound of her voice for a moment, taking it in. She looked at her body, and she could see she had black stripes and claws. What was she? She noticed these weird things between her paws, which as she got older, would realize that she had webbed paws. Now, she had no clue what they were. She realized she wasn't small, but not all that big either. She noticed small ponds around her, with weird things swimming about in them. For some reason she knew she couldn't stay here, but the brave tigress wanted to find out what she was. And where she was.

The stag entered the cavern silently, pensively, his great head held high as he regarded the waterfall. True to the rumors he had heard, a stench wafted off of the lagoon's surface, somehow preserved - like an oily film - derivative of somebody's meddlesome magic. He had a vague idea he knew who was responsible for it. His lips tugged down into a tight frown as he approached the water.

Then, there was a crack - a sound innately familiar to him in all his long years wandering this cave. The stag turned his head, scrutinizing the room until he fixed on the glimmering blue chrysalis that slowly punctured and buckled itself to life. He held still, watching with mild amusement. Often he had observed hatchings from afar, or missed them entirely - so this, the emergence of a Gembound before his very eyes, was a rare treat.

He kept his distance, admiring the power with which the animal broke free of its chrysalis. Orange fur like fire in the soft, mist-laden light, stripes like cutting claws. It would grow to be a powerful creature, no doubt. Watching the feline alone, he felt a surge of pride.

Once it straightened and spoke its name, the stag took it as his cue to approach. He strode with gentle, tempered steps toward the cub, the magnificent rack upon his head flush with fungi tipping down to her. "Welcome, child," he greeted, "to Origin Cave."

@Apzohra

The Origin Cave? She was in a cave? Apparently now she knew where she was and what this place was called. She had a good feeling in her gut that this was only part of the Origin Cave. Pushing that thought aside she looked at the hoofed creature that stood before her. She gathered up the courage to speak to this creature. She had plenty of questions, and because she was young they all came out at once. "What is Origin Cave? Are there more places other than this in the cave? What am I? Am I the only one of my kind? Are there more of me? How do I live in Origin Cave? Am I special? Can I explore? What do I do now?" These were the questions that flowed from the cub's mouth that she wanted answered. Of course she was eager to find out more of this cave, but first she wanted her questions answered. She was a cub after all, so of course she was going to be curious. She waited with her head tilted, then noticed something on her chest. It was light blue and shiny. "What is this?" She said in awe on what was on her chest. She stared at it, then looked back at the creature she was talking to.

The stag was silent with pride for just a moment, peering down at the tiger cub as visions of her ambitious, victorious life flashed before his eyes. Was he always so confident in these Gembounds? Perhaps, given recent events, his felt himself concerned - if only slightly. There was no doubt. It was more like... caution. He needed the gentle insistence that everything would be alright. The reassurance that these children he had been tasked with protecting - these children that he would foster, raise, create something magnificent out of - would survive until fate took them back. He had become the one to convince himself in the absence of the greater force.

Without warning, she threw a volley of questions at him. Astraea received them with interested nods, logging each one of them away, though he didn't know if he would be able to answer each one. He parted his lips to begin devising his answer before she spoke again, seemingly interested in the gemstone implanted in her chest.

Astraea appraised the gemstone with a smile.

"That is fate's gift to you," he replied. "It is full of power that has been bequeathed to you. You are life," he said softly, "and you are death," he said softer still.

"You are everything in between. That is what makes you so sublime, dear child."

Truly, she was a beautiful creature - built for strength and constructed of an insatiable appetite.

"And you are not alone. There are others in this cave much like you," he added. "Would you like to meet them?"

@Apzohra

She looked at her special gem that was full of power. "Woah!" She looked at the hoofed creature in wonder. This power belonged to her, so that made her important. So if she was this important, she should carry herself as such. This power was hers, and she was meant to be something great. Apzohra took in the creature's words, mesmerized of what he told her. It was like he was magic himself. What really got to her is that she wasn't the only one, and there were more like her. "Would I?!" She spoke with excitement, she wanted to meet the others. She remembered the deer tell her how great she was and the power she held. Quickly gathering herself, she changed her approach. Apzohra changed her posture into a noble posture, and stood firm with nobility. Her tail was held straight, and paws planted firmly on the ground. If she was meant to be great, she should act like it! "I would be happy to meet them, may we go?" She wanted to make a good first impression when meeting the others, so she carried herself with the most confidence she could muster. Apzhora waited for the hoofed creature to lead them to the others as she held a small smile. Excitement bubbled in her chest in the thought of meeting the others, but she tried her best to keep calm, collected, and noble. It didn't work much.

Astraea's smile only widened as the cub marveled at her gem. It was a lovely thing, wasn't it? Sometimes, he felt wistful of observing his own gem, the ruby planted in his forehead; but he could always see it in the still water reflection of ponds, in the running currents of rivers. And when he couldn't see it, he could feel it. It was a part of him, as much as his own hooves and antlers were. He hadn't always been this way. But such sins as greed, envy, covetous longing - he would not allow them to taint his heart. In the wake of everything else that was tainted, it was he who had remained pure for so long.

He regarded the enthusiasm with which she accepted the invitation to meet others. His head tilted slightly, watching as she straightened herself up, her tail long and paws firm. She was a respectable creature, indeed. Yes, he knew exactly who he had to introduce her to.

"Of course, dear child," said Astraea, nearly allowing a laugh to tumble from his lips. The sound existed, deep in his chest; but the gesture itself was lacking. He began to turn his body away from the reeking waters and toward the rolling hills that spread through the room, green and abound with life. There, in the Warrens, was someone he had not paid a visit to in a long time.

"Do you have any more questions for me? I would be happy to tell you more of this place while we walk," he offered. While he doubted a lull would persist between them, if at all, he was keen to get to know the Gembound more.

@Apzohra

"What is your name? She looked at him with curiosity in her eyes as they walked, but first she had a more important question to ask. She needed him to clarify what she was called. "You said that I had power and there were more like me, but is there a name for what I'm called, for what the rest are called?" She thought up one last question to ask the kind hoofed creature as they walked to their destination. Also, can you tell me of the different places in Origin Cave and all about it? I want to know about it's past, and all its secrets." She had a strong feeling that a place like this definitely had secrets. She wanted to know. She walked with confidence as she waited for the kind male to answer her questions. Apzohra was highly intelligent for her age, but she still had a lot to learn. Why not start with learning about awesome stuff about Origin Cave?

Naturally, the child asked for his name. His ear flicked as he remembered her speaking her own, how it seemed to come so naturally to her. How these young Gembounds were so clever even in their youth, freshly emerged from a chrysalis like creatures built of their own self-realization. How bitter-sweet it was. He tilted his head down toward her again. "My name is Astraea," he replied.

Then he nodded at her next question. "Yes. You and everyone else in this cave are call the Gembound. But you, specifically - I believe your contemporaries would call you a tiger," he said, regarding her curiously. "And myself, a stag."

And finally, she asked to know all the secrets of the cave. This time, the stag really did utter a laugh and turned his gentle eyes to the Warrens ahead. It wouldn't be long now before they reached his friend's den. "There are many secrets about Origin Cave that even I do not know, dear child. But I can tell you one."

Astraea paused and turned to face her, lowering his head, as though to share the secret between just the two of them. "The cave favors those with curiosity like yours," he said, smiling softly. "This cave - it belongs to you, as you do to it. This cave is home. Anyone who should try to take that from you... you must fight with tooth and claw. Because one day, there may be Gembounds who seek to do just that."

Though his voice was gentle, there was a touch of gravity to his warning. The stag lingered for a moment, then leaned forward in an attempt to affectionately nudge the tiger's forehead. He withdrew and straightened back up, resuming his pace toward the Warrens.

@Apzohra

Astraea, what a nice name. She listened to everything Astraea said, and took it all in. She now knew that her kind was called gembounds, but she was specifically a tiger. She was a tiger. She repeated the words gembound and tiger in her head, getting used to the words and what they sounded like. She was proud to be a tiger, but more importantly, she was proud to be a gembound. She liked Astraea, he was someone she could look up to, and most importantly, someone she cared for. Yet the last part the stag spoke, she listened intently to. This cave belonged to her, it was home, and she was proud of her home. She also learned that her curiosity, was a good thing, and that the cave favored her curiosity. She looked at him with intent as she spoke, but held respect for him as well. "You've taught me a lot about myself. It's nice to hear that this cave is my home, and I strongly believe it is. It's like me and the cave are connected in a way, but I don't know how." She straightened herself, looking at the stag with a strong determined emotion as she spoke her next sentence. "If anyone does try to take my home when that day comes, I will fight tooth and claw. Not just for my home, but for all gembounds who call this place their home. All gembounds are special, and we should all live in peace in our home. I won't be afraid to fight for Origin Cave." Already at such a young age, this cub was showing the promise of a warrior. She didn't know why, but when she first emerged she felt a connection with this cave, and now she knew why. Origin Cave was her home. She continued to walk with Astraea to where they where going, as she swelled with pride of who she was, and her home.

Ahh, she was getting it. He felt his chest swell with pride as she recited her innate connection to the cave back to him. Each time, he nodded, and even looked fondly at her as she promised to fight for the cave. This place needed bold, courageous Gembounds like her to defend it. She would do well, he knew. He just hoped that he wouldn't be making a mistake by introducing her to the cat in the Warrens. It was Astraea's opinion that the cat needed a new hobby, anyway. Being stuck inside his cave with his rocks and his darkness and his sad, dour memories couldn't be conducive to his research.

"That's incredibly brave of you," Astraea lauded her. "Remember this when you face strife and adversity."

In a perfect world, he would have hoped she wouldn't have to deal with that. But he knew the world's imperfections. He knew them all too well.

The Warrens ascended gradually around them; grassy hillocks, muddy slopes, the scent of dander and dust and flowers lifting up off the ground. Astraea directed them toward one such cavern dug into a hillside, its entrance littered with loose dirt and hanging roots. He paused a few paces away and gestured wordlessly to Apzohra to wait, then stepped forward, lowering his head to peer into the darkness. He half expected his caliginous guardian to manifest in the entrance and ward him off, but it seemed for the moment, he was unprotected.

"Bartos? Are you here? It is me, Astraea. I have brought you a visitor."