She didn't know how she could tell - she just could. She retreated to the depths of the caverns, to the room with crystal-embedded walls where she had found the egg in the first place, rolling the pearly gem along in front of her. Cracks had begun to appear in the smooth white shell, and it was shaking violently against the hard ground like a metronome. Despite her initial misgivings, Nyx was excited - soon she would have a companion to keep for the rest of her life, ensuring she would never again feel solitude, feel the cold grasp of loneliness. She had no idea what would come out of the egg, but she prayed it was something not too terrifying; she was tempted to reject anything with big teeth, but knew she would feel guilty for the rest of her days if she did.

She rolled the egg behind a large stalagmite, standing between it and the wall to create a sort of 'den'. Anticipation pulsed in her veins as the egg's shakes grew more violent, chunks beginning to break free from the pale shell. She put her nose close to it, desperately trying to see what was coming out of it - she saw an ivory paw punching through one of the holes, followed by a nose and a fluffy white face. Finally the egg rolled and out fell something bright white, furry and very cute - it was, unmistakably, a lion cub. Of all the things... "Since when do lions hatch from eggs?" she murmured in wonderment. The cub was small and as pale as newly-fallen snow, and its eyes - which were, for some reason, already open - were almost the exact same icy blue as Nyx's own. It was almost as though the little thing had absorbed pieces of the mare's genetic makeup during its time in its egg, and had used them to shape itself.

With a dip of her nose, the soldier sniffed at the cub, absorbing its fresh, baby-like scent. It squeaked and batted at her muzzle with its tiny paws, needle-like black claws sticking into her skin like pins. "Ow! You're lucky you're cute," she scolded. The cub was already wandering off, white tail arched in the air like it hadn't a care in the world, and like it was an experienced stalker rather than a newborn babe. Like an anxious mother hen Nyx followed it, watching as it bounded into the shadows and emerged a few moments later clutching a mouse in its jaws. She grimaced, about to turn away and let the lion eat in peace, when it began to play with its catch; releasing it, then bounding after it when it made to escape. After a few rounds of this cruel game, the mare stepped in, crunching her hoof down on the rodent's skull to put it out of its misery. She scrutinised the cub with one stern eye, drawing on all her motherly scolding skills. "There will be none of that - I do not tolerate bullies." The cub mewled, then began to eat the kill like it was starving - which, after months trapped in a tiny egg, it probably was. Soon its ivory fur was spattered in gore, and its miniscule belly grew fat and rounded. Content, it fawned around Nyx's fetlocks, pressing against her like a tame kitten. In one fluent movement, it lifted its furry head and its electric blue eyes met Nyx's own.

She felt something in her mind, like a single concentrated spear of thought jousting through her consciousness.

With a shrill whinny, she stepped away from the cub, ears pinning to her skull. She could feel it, in her head - it couldn't form words, but it was there, the tiniest seed of another sentient being. "Get out of my head!" she demanded, continuing to withdraw from the cub until her backside was pressed against the stone wall. The creature just stood there, tilting its head in a manner that would have been adorable if it hadn't been for the fear it had inflicted on its new bonded. Nobody had told her about this - they had hinted at some sort of mental bond, but she didn't truly believe it until now. Her mind was her last sanctum, her steel-clad final line of defence, and here this tiny, newborn creature was, infiltrating it. But, after the initial panic had subsided, she allowed her mind to rove over the strange parasite sharing its home; to her surprise, she found the lion's consciousness comforting, pleasant, and undeniably male. It was immature, and she could feel thoughts of sleep and food dominating it, yet it seemed to give off an aura of warmth inside the steel soldier's brain. Although it had been there for mere seconds, Nyx suddenly felt herself shudder at the idea of it being torn away.

The cub continued to eye her, then bounced up to her and began to clamber up her foreleg. His claws hooked into flesh and muscle as he climbed, and Nyx winced in pain as pinpricks of blood oozed down her limb, but soon the newborn was padding up and down her spine to try and find somewhere to lie down. He settled on the nook where the back of her neck joined her shoulders, and from his presence in her mind Nyx could feel contentment radiating from him. He curled up like a kitten and within seconds was fast asleep, light snores emenating from his furry body. The mare stood as still as possible, afraid of disturbing him - she rested alternate legs whilst her mind madly tried to work out what in the name of Cinnoru had just happened.