Listen to this song while reading for maximum effect.

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This post contains potentially sensitive material:

Mild getting crushed/suffocated to death (dw he got better) + typically mother shenanigans

He'd hardly had time to even react. The thunderous rumble of snow and rubble had washed over him in an instant. Crunching he was sure was his own carapace. Limbs getting crushed like twigs under all that snow. His feeble, panicked cry towards mother, and the warmth she'd given him as response. Warmth almost enough to muffle the sensation of amber growing, growing, growing, consuming him.

Silence.

This had been a cycle before the 'assault' on mother, and it wouldn't been until a cycle after until he emerged. Maybe that was for the best- safely stowed away until it had all blown over. The problem was getting back out.

Maybe Mother had sent a savior- a sibling to help dig him out, to guide him home once he emerged. Maybe she did not, and he would have to dig out by himself, find home by himself. The idea of being alone was terrifying, something he never thought he'd have to endure again.

The amber shell was thick. Protective. Warm. Warmth was something that had become almost foreign. A constant fight against the topor, against that freezing, stagnating chill, no matter how many furs he wore. Still, he would go out and hunt, for mother, for his family. Most he'd crush until it went still, became nothing but fuel. But Mother was especially fond of birds. So he'd be careful, oh so careful, as he shoved the white fungus down their throat.

Mother, where are you? He'd think, calling out, as the amber shell began to crack and break. He'd brace himself for the chill, for the snow to crash down and crush him once again. Mother, I am free. I am back. What happened?

Look i sit and witness
Turning of the leaves

"I am here." Soothing. Warm.

She'd been aware of Morpho's sudden chrysalis--had felt it, known vaguely where he'd been, at the time. But to have Praetors or even Cleaners wandering the snowbanks, in the open--no; it was a dangerous time.

She had Bone sweep the area, and now that she had a general idea, she called upon her children to find Morpho. Catalyst was close; perhaps the raptor could help to dig her brother free..? This idea was prodded forward, gently. A kind command. A request in the imperative.

Catalyst loved Morpho. Morpho was family. Morpho must be dug free.

"Help is coming," came the reassurance, mind-to-mind.

@Morpho @Catalyst

"Morpho?" Came the cry of Catalyst. She'd not been sure where her brother had gone. But she knew simple facts. Like he was her brother, she must protect him, and she would follow Mother's every request. She was to assure his safety. Even if Mother had not implanted the idea, she would've looked for him. Working as a team was by far more effective, though.

She scoured the snowbank Bone and Mother had indicated. Puffs of heated air left her nose, the only sound the cold wind. "Morpho!" She repeated. She raised, neck stretched towards the sky. Scanning the snow with bird-like flicks of her head. And her eyes caught it. A glint of amber, a spot of warm gold in the pale snow.

"Morpho!" She cried again. Catalyst shot for the buried chrysalis. As soon as she touched the stone, she began to dig frantically at the snow, using her legs and arms in tandem. "I'm here, brother!" She said. Her fingers stung with cold. But Catalyst paid no regard to how cold her claws and feet had gotten. In her panicked state of mind, Catalyst only cared about getting Morpho free from the snow. About helping her sibling.

spk
thk

@Morpho