ALL EDENFOLK ARE WELCOME!!!

Twitching. Twitching. Shaking. Struggling. Stilling.

The cycle repeated for over an hour, the cracks in the Alexandrite shell slowly growing bigger and bigger, spider webbing from the top to almost the bottom, but not giving just yet. A few more minutes, and the little life inside would arrive.

A soft squeak came from inside, and most of the shell toppled over, the baby within still stuck in the prison that was it's chrysalis. Only a small spring of hair poked out the bottom, attached to a lizard's tail, which was smooth with tiny bumps along it's surface. The tail wiggled as the tiny thing inside struggled again, but was slowly running out of energy, the surface of the shell moving up and down slightly with it's breathing.

Another soft squeak and it tried again, only for nothing to happen. It was too exhausted to keep going.

@Shengxiao

He ran to the little cave in a hurry, the sound of cracking filling his ears making him hope he wasn't too late, rushing towards the chrysalis, heart beating faster than it ever had. "oh, oh dont worry lil one, ya can do it, come on.." he cooed quietly, looking at the chrysalis with anxiety.

@Kimera (and anyone else in edenfolk who wishes to join!)

The hatchling within wiggled at the sound of a voice, strengthening as she tried to break free, straining against the walls of her confinement. She failed to break the egg, only really rolling on the ground and letting out a yelp as she rolled over her own tail, struggling harder before going limp, her tail sticking out the bottom.

A soft whimper broke free, and she wiggled a foot out with her tail, the hooved foot kicking weakly. She curled up, tail wrapping around the shell, sniffling softly as liquid trickled out the bottom. She could breathe, at least, but it looked like she might need some help... poor baby.

The child cried out, wailing out for someone to help, and though it was wordless, she was definitely crying out for daddy.

@Sheng-xiao

he made some sort of worried, anxious nose seeing his child struggle to break free from her chrysalis, moving closer. "hold on, hold on, im here, im here" he cooed gently, pulling down shards of the chrysalis that refused to break, knocking the top off and reaching in to grab her from her small crystal prison.

he held her tightly in his arms, cradling her as he tried to dry her off. "there we go, daddy's here, you're okay.." he shushed, lying down on the ground with her and wrapping his tail around the 2 of them in an attempt to keep her warm. "there we go... hi little one.." he muttered, smiling now.

@Kimera

The small child wiggled and squirmed unhappily, eyes squeezing shut at the sudden input. Light, noise, cold air- oh, it was warm. She pressed into Sheng's chest and latched on tightly with her tiny paws, her own tail curling up of it's own accord, curling between her hind legs and over her back.

Her breaths came in soft sniffles, unable to do much more than cry at the struggle of just trying to break out into the world. Her yellow eyes peeled open, staring into golden belly scales. Her eyes slowly moved up, and she peered into her father's black eyes, her sniffled quieting as she looked up at him.

Kimera cooed softly and wiped her nose with a pink paw, before shaking her head out and coughing weakly, fluid still coating the inside of her throat. She sneezed to the side and shook her head out, her baby fur like bird down, wispy and incredibly soft. Her scales and plates were small and still tender and soft, and her mane and the wisp at the tip of her tail was fuzzy and went every which way, giving her an oddly endearing appearance.

She looked up at Sheng with adoration, unable to look away, so enraptured by her father in that moment. She was fully and completely imprinted, and quickly pressed into his chest again, safe and secure in his arms. Everything would be okay...

@Shengxiao

He couldn't help but give a toothy grin, which on any other animal would've looked terrifying, but on sheng is just looked goofy, his eyes and smile full of total and complete adoration. "hi there lil one!" he said, voice still hush but playful. "you're so tiny... such a fuzzy little thing, arent you?" he hummed with a chuckle.

he was still helping get the gross chrysalis fluid off of her fur, looking back into her eyes aswell, laughing softly. "hi there!" he cooed. he wondered if he had something like this when he hatched. people asked him if he was a hybrid before, what creatures made him, and while he knew some gembound were just.. born without parents, he didn't know if he had them or not. he didnt remember. he hopes whoever was with him when HE hatched didn't miss him too much.

he moved slightly, his tail slightly moving out of the way, giving her room to explore and move around if she wanted, but staying close and not quite letting go until he was sure.

@Kimera

The child giggled softly, bunching up her hands before holding them up to gently cup Sheng's nose, burbling softly as she pressed her snout against him. He felt better and better the more clean she got, her eyes lighting up. She coughed again and rubbed her eyes before settling down and snuggling up in his chest, her font legs clinging to him.

Kimera started to purr gently, kneading her paws in the fur that she could reach, ears drooped back against her head.

She didn't want to leave yet. She was quite comfortable here, thank you.

@Shengxiao

He chuckled, petting her head gently. "fair," he honked at her display, "its warm. i wouldn't wanna leave either."

he looked around at the cave. it was small. he realized he wasn't going to miss them much. theyre cold, and lonely. he didn't want her to ever feel like that. lonely.

he looked down to her, humming. "we need to figure ya out a name, lass. i can't just call ye a hatchling for the rest of your life"

@Kimera

Kimera looked up and blinked gently, her yellow eyes big and wide. She got her tail under control and clumsily started to make her way up Sheng's shoulder, her little rat peets clutching at scales and fur until she was able to perch on it with her tail wrapped around his shoulder and her paws clutching at the coarse hairs on his back. She raised her head up and peered around, a bit wobbly and unsure of herself still.

She sneezed and mewed quietly, hiding her face in her father's fur, not very eager to explore the world just yet.

Her paws clutched Sheng's fur as she tried to find somewhere comfortable, and she managed to curl up on his shoulder with her front half draped over his chest instead, her tongue blepped out as she waved her paws around, reaching for a hand-hold to brace her chest on.

With another mew, she pulled herself back up and rested on his neck, already tuckered out from just a little bit of climbing.

@Shengxiao

he was mumbling to himself, considering things and prodding at his memory cautiously for any ideas on names or what to do, but he paused as she clumsily began climbing on him, laughing.

he stayed as still as possible, moving his shoulder slidely to give her more leverage, smiling warmly at her seeming lack of energy. she HAD just spent a bit inside a horrid chrysalis, so he couldn't blame her.

she rested on his neck and he laid it down a bit for a more comfortable angle, a bit tired himself. lots of emotions.

"aye, i guess we'll have time for names later, eh? give ya time to figure things out." he yawned. he kept an eye on her, not daring to close his eyes until she may or may not fall asleep. "might have to make ye something to play on, eh? dont think yer old man can handle bein' a rock wall forever" he chuckled with a hum, brainstorming as the words left his mouth.

@Kimera