The egg kept moving, and moving and moving. Each time it wiggled and writhed Letha was pulled further into the trance. Her ocean eyes were wide, swimming with curiosity and an unmatchable focus. Something about this writhing thing called to her; it tugged and pulled on her heart and she could feel the tendrils of something wondrous happening within her, lacing around her very spirit. In her state of mind she did not feel the approaching stranger--s--and she most certainly did not hear them. It was only when a thick black knee moved in the corner of her eye did Letha notice them.

The girl jumped again, another startled bleat leaving her young maw. Panic surged through her core and instead of jumping away from the egg like she had before, she jumped toward it. Her long, spindly legs spread to cover the egg and her small, downy-covered wings lowered as far down as they could. Something within her screamed--with all its might--for the girl of oblivion to protect this tiny, moving, cracking thing. Ocean eyes, still wide with a mix of wonder and panic, flicked between the newcomers. She did not recognize them, but none of them seemed to want to pose any harm to her or this tiny egg beneath her.

The thing called to her spirit again, and she lowered her head between her front knees. She looked at the egg upside down, now laden and laced with cracks. Light seemed to poor outward from the cracks, the calling ebbing and flowing back and forth between her spirit and the egg. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the egg shattered in one mighty flash of light and broken eggshell. Letha gasped, but instantly her ocean eyes met warm jade.

The tiny panther cub lay on the ground, looking up at Letha. It mewed and purred, its tiny nose twitching as it took in her scent. Letha's heart swelled and warmed, and her entire body was overcome with the bonding, so much so that she forgot the strangers around her.

After the bonding was complete, the tiny panther moved and Letha lifted her head some, but her eyes never left the tiny black creature. Her brows knit together as emotions and desires began to fill her mind--emotions and desires that were not her own. Panic surged through her again and she suddenly shot her head up, looking between Sacre and Alysanne (because they had tiny creatures following them around too, and they were grown-ups), as the feeling of intense hunger ripped through her new, shared mind.