New Kind of Day

***New Kind of Day*** is the fifth chapter of the first volume of Star-Crossed.

## Summery

It opens within the Bajelous Jungle as Steven Universe travels through it with Alexander and the family (excluding Bravo). Steven observes the jungle for a while, though apologizing when he was called out by Raksha. She explains how most newcomers are usually awestruck by the Bajelous on their first visit, and Alexander advises them all to stick together. During the walk there, Tango and Sierra jump at Steven in form of playing a hunting game with him. Steven though gets up, claiming that they always play that game and that maybe they can try something else instead of that, the others excited to play a "Human game". Steven decides on a game which they have to make it to the creek without touching the ground, much to Alexander's confusion on the subject. Raksha though assures that this is just something humans play.

The group arrive at the creek shortly after that, much of the children fishing as Steven observes the creek itself along with a lungfish. Bhoot checks in on him during this and tries cheering him up, thinking that he just missed his fish. In reality, Steven reveals that everything's changed since he was last there, not seeing any dinosaurs nor animal tribes during his time there before leaving, lamenting on how he feels like he's in a completely different world. Another larger creature soon appears by the same creek, revealing a titan hollowhorn coming for a drink. The giant creature investigates Steven, Steven himself awestruck by the large animal and even getting to pet it. Soon, they hear other hollowhorns, getting the titan hollowhorn to leave the area. As it did, it picks up something off the ground, revealing it as Peridot's gemstone. Steven tries getting to the animal, but Raksha and Alexander stop him. Steven tells them that his friend is there, and he wants to get her back. Raksha points out the "hand gesture" he was doing, Steven calling it just a habit, and the wolves told him he had no reason for going after it in the first place. With some help of the pups, the adults reluctantly agree to let them all go.

Following the hollowhorn lead them to the Nesting Grounds, the titan hollowhorn in question placing the gemstone in the nest it was making. Alexander asks one last time if Steven wanted to go, which Steven immediately says he does. In the end, Steven went on out alone into the herd as the rest of the family waited along the edge of the jungle. When getting there, the titan hollowhorn gets up and threatens Steven, Steven telling it that he's only after the gemstone and not willing to destroy the nest. However, grabbing the stone was enough to make the titan hollowhorn shove him away, knocking him back. This got the attention of other members in the herd too.

Back with the wolf family, Raksha starts catching the scent of a potential predator, recognizing it as a werewolf. Alexander tells the children to catch up to Steven rather than stay, just before the werewolf rushes at them, knocking the adults out of the jungle and into the nesting grounds. Alexander and Raksha fight off the werewolf, but as the children rush to Steven, one of the hollowhorns stomps onto Bhoot, crushing his back legs. Raksha saves Bhoot from being completely crushed as Alexander fights the werewolf alone, Steven quickly blaming himself for everything going on. Determined to save everyone, he gives Peridot to Raksha and rushes to save Alexander, summoning a large gem bubble to block the werewolf attacking him. This scares it and members of the hollowhorn herd away. After that, Steven goes and uses his healing powers on Bhoot, immediately healing his backs legs and saving his life, much to the astonishment of everyone else.

As they all prepare to go, they find Dash, Fox, and the Crystal Gems had found them, Garnet carrying Kimba there. Both sides catch up with eachother over what happened to them, but while they want the Gems to settle a bit, Fox insists that they leave as they found Steven and have no reason to stay any longer. Garnet thanks Raksha for taking care of Steven for them, and after getting Peridot off the ground, the Crystal Gems start leaving from there. Steven confirms to Kimba he is part Gem, though Kimba assures him that as long as they're not causing trouble it doesn't matter to him what he is. Kimba also promises that he can visit any time if they were to come by this way.

The chapter ends on a shot at the edge of the jungle, Bagheera watching it all from a nearby tree.

## Features

### Characters

* Steven Universe
* Raksha
* Alexander
* Bhoot
* Grey
* Tango
* Sierra
* Peridot (gemstone only) (flashback)
* Lapis Lazuli (flashback)
* Dash
* Kimba
* Garnet
* Amethyst
* Fox
* Pearl
* Envy (non-speaking)
* Bagheera (unnamed) (non-speaking)

### Locations

* Earth (mentioned)
	+ Bajelous Jungle
		- the creek
	+ Savannah
		- Nesting Grounds
	+ The Barn (flashback) (only appearance)

## Trivia

* During production, numerous other animals were considered when deciding what will attack the wolf family. Some of these included: a *Dimetrodon,* a *Herrerasaurus*, a *Daeodon*, a juvenile *Tyrannosaurus*, and even Jurassic World: Alive's *Thylacotator.* Early production pages even showed a *Herrerasaurus*-like dinosaur following Steven and the wolves in place of Bagheera.