There was a small spire of pinkish stone jutting out from the floor of Polaris. The only sound was the distant crackle of the Spire, and there was no movement except within, where a tiny creature rested inside. The Gembound stirred, straining against his chrysalis. Over a cycle, he had grown inside the comfort of his chrysalis, and now the hollow insides of his chrysalis were far too small for him.

The Gembound lashed out, pecking at the side of his chrysalis. The light outside was intense, blinding to one who had lived in darkness for all of his life- but it was better than the inside.

The chrysalis cracked. He pecked harder- once, twice, and the chrysalis gave, crumbling and cracking outwards, dropping the small peachick onto the ground. Immediately, he cried out. The light was horrible and harsh- it burned him, and he scrambled back to the ruins of his chrysalis, trying to return to its cool, sheltering embrace. But the stone was shattered now, and no amount of fleeing from the light could restore the small Gembound’s shelter again.

Tears welled up in his eyes- the pain was almost blinding, especially to one who had only known the sweet embrace of his chrysalis. He wanted it gone!

Slowly, suddenly, there was a sense of cool relief- not completely, not fully, but just enough to regain his sense- as he was shrouded in shade. Cautiously, he emerged from the ruins of his chrysalis, looking around at the burning world and allowing himself a moment of thought. Did he do that? Did he protect himself?

He wouldn’t find out now- just as suddenly as the shade came, it was gone, and he was burning again. Another cry of pain tore free from his throat as he looked around desperately. He could feel his skin burning and blistering, clouding his mind with pain and panic. He tried to do the thing again, tried to hide himself from the light once more.

This time, it was better. He knew what he wanted to do this time, knew that he wanted to hide away from the light- and so, he did. A shroud of shadow surrounded him, and the pain disappeared, leaving him with only burning remnants inflicted by the firey world.

With his body free of pain for the moment, his mind was free to think. The shade would wear out soon. He needed to find shelter. He looked around, searching for some sort of natural shadow. Was that even a thing?

Indeed, it was- he found it in pockets of shadow beneath overhangs and in little round holes in the wall- but none of the patches of shade were big enough to hide him from the firey light.

He turned, desperately trying to search for another, bigger source of shade, fear welling up inside him. If he couldn’t find a safe space, would he eventually run out of shadow? What would happen without his shield from the light? He didn't want to find out.

Luckily, he didn’t have to. The Gembound spotted a hollow in the wall, more than big enough to hold him inside. He dashed towards it, unsteady on his feet as he ran towards what was one of his only hopes to escape the burning world. The shade failed halfway through his sprint, causing him to trip and fall from the sudden pain.

Tears welled in his eyes for a moment, before he set them on his goal and stood back up, continuing the run. He made it to the alcove just a few moments after, relief flooding through his mind as cool shadow once again protected him from the world outside.

He turned around, then, trying to get his first good look at the outside world. It was bright and colorful, filled with things he had no words for- but most of all, it was burning. Light was everywhere, filling every inch of the visible world. In the distance was a firey spire, crackling with, presumably, how much light it gave off. He shivered, backing away even though he was in a safe area.

Another realization came to his mind- there were no other creatures like him. Had they all been burned away in the fire, and he was the only one who had made it to shelter? Or were there others, but they were hiding like him? He wasn’t sure.

Soon, other things overtook his mind. He was tired, so tired. The awakening, the fear, the pain, all of it had sapped his energy and exhausted him. He tottered on his feet, before leaning against the cool wall of his little alcove and falling asleep.

--End Thread--