Egg: Part 4

by Leafmuncher

Leaf Muncher awoke bright and early the next morning, still in the hatchery. To her delight she still had the satchel around her neck.

“Morning sleepy head,” said Sandclaw.

“Morning Sandclaw. I must have dropped off to sleep, sorry. How’s the egg?”

“The egg is fine, very close to hatching. The hatchling inside keeps chirping but it won’t respond to our voices. Did you talk to it at all? Perhaps it’s clicked onto your voice.”

Leaf Muncher got up and walked towards the table. “Hmm, yes I was talking to it on the way home. Hello Troove,” she said, the last part was directed at the egg. The egg responded with loud chirps.

Sandclaw smiled, she loved it when moments like this occurred. The egg had been chirping away last night, but when Rosaline and herself talked to it it would immediately stop. Now here it was having it’s own little conversation with Leaf Muncher. “Hey, stop telling tales! We didn’t scare you with our voices that much!” said Sandclaw jokingly. As soon as she spoke the egg went silent though. They both laughed.

“Where’s Rosaline?” asked Leaf Muncher, the tiny chirps starting up again.

“She’s outside getting some breakfast. We sent Opo round your herd’s way on her way home. She told them where you were,” replied Sandclaw chuckling as the chirps fell silent.

“Thanks. The egg does look ready to hatch doesn’t it? It moves a little bit now and then.” The chirps started again.

“Yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if you had a hatchling by this afternoon. It’s very strange how it’s only responding to your voice. Most eggs respond to every noise, but more so to their mothers. Yours just seems to talk to you and only you.” The chirps had stopped.

Just them Rosaline’s head appeared through the doorway, she was carrying a basket full of blackberries. “Ah, so you’re awake! I bought some breakfast; well, a snack for you two, but breakfast for me. Has your egg been talking to you Leaf?”

“Yes it has, any ideas of what it might be? Thanks for the blackberries, but I better get back to my herd. I’ll come back later and wait with it till it hatches.” The chirps started again.

Rosaline stared at the now talkative egg and laughed silently. “Ok Leaf but, before you go, what’s in your satchel? It was plaguing our minds last night as to what was in there. Sandclaw and I have a guess as to what it might be in general, but we are not telling anyone,” said Rosaline with a grin.

“Oh, hang on,” said Leaf Muncher undoing the satchel’s top and pulling out the statue. She handed it to Rosaline then dropped back to all fours.

“That’s lovely Leaf, it looks just like you. Who made it?”

“A kind human named James and his saurian partner Parle made it for me. Good isn’t it?”

“It is, very,” added Sandclaw.

Rosaline handed it back to Leaf Muncher who put it back into the satchel. “It was very good. Now I suggest you get on your way Leaf, that egg doesn’t look like it’ll wait. Breathe deep, seek peace,” said Rosaline. Leaf Muncher said goodbye to her egg and told it to wait, delighted that it answered her. Then she bid farewell to Sandclaw and Rosaline, promising to come back quickly.

It wasn’t a far walk back to her herd, and she soon found herself among the familiar bodies of Iguanodons. Flat Tooth was there to greet her and so was Andrew. “Andrew, how did you get here?”

Flat Tooth answered, “Well, we heard how close the egg was to hatching, so we asked Redtail if he’d go to Andrew’s house and let him know.”

Leaf Muncher smiled at her friend; he was good like that, thinking ahead.

“Hiya Leaf!” said Andrew hugging her side. “What do you think the egg will be? What does it look like?” rushed Andrew.

She laughed and answered, “I have no idea what the egg will be, and it’s egg shaped!”

“Have you had anything to eat Leaf?” asked Flat Tooth.

“No, not really.”

“Well, while we quiz you on the egg, come find something to eat.”

So while she picked at some branches, Flat Tooth and Andrew drilled her with questions about the egg. She told them about how it talked to her, it’s color and how heavy it is, but in the end had to tell them to wait until they saw it for themselves. After she had eaten her fill, Flat Tooth, Andrew and herself headed off towards the nursery with the herd’s good tidings. Andrew rode on top of her back while Flat Tooth walked by her side. When they got to the nursery Tula was there with her new foster family. Tula was a young toddler who only just knew how to speak. She had made friends with Andrew and Leaf Muncher when she stayed at the nursery. Andrew leaped off Leaf Muncher’s back and hugged Tula. “Well, they are well away now,” laughed Flat Tooth.

Leaf Muncher spoke to Tula’s family, after receiving lots of hugs off Tula, asking them how she was settling in. Before long Opo and Tront arrived along with Opo’s little sister who wanted to witness an egg hatching. Her name was Tibula. Flat Tooth soon got into a deep conversation with Tront about his herd’s movements and so forth. Sandclaw arrived outside and looked at everyone who had shown up. she then looked down the road to see Andrew’s foster family arriving. “By the scales on my tail..,” she muttered then went back inside. Andrew’s family promised they would come today, but they let Andrew go sooner as he was so anxious. The small group was bubbling with excitement. Rosaline was outside now too, chattering on to the foster families discussing how the children were fitting in.

Sandclaw appeared a few minutes later carrying the small table outside with the egg in the middle. “Well there’s no hope that you lot will all fit into the nursery, and seeing as it’s a hot day I thought it would be fine if the egg hatched outside,” laughed Sandclaw.

The group formed a circle around the table, with Leaf Muncher slightly in the middle. They went silent and watched as Leaf Muncher talked to her egg. She told it of what the world looked like and how nice it was to feel the sun on your back. She told it of all the people waiting outside it’s egg waiting to see it and how happy they would be if it hatched. The egg gladly chirped in reply, happy to hear the familiar voice again.

The egg wobbled, the crowd was silent all except Leaf Muncher’s encouraging words. The egg seemed to go into a sudden spasm then stopped as a tiny crack appeared. Inside the egg could be heard faint scratching noises. The group’s breath was held with excitement and anticipation. The crack grew larger, and very slowly others started to appear, a tiny claw, appeared out the crack. The crowd’s aura changed to one of wonder as that small claw pulled away a bit more of the shell to reveal a small three fingered hand, on the end of each finger was a very sharp looking claw. Everyone except Sandclaw and Rosaline was surprised; it hadn’t occurred to them that the hatchling might have sharp little claws for preying upon meat. Leaf Muncher didn’t care though, she kept talking to it. The strong little hatchling, with one hand free, soon loosened the egg’s cracks some more, and a thick tail could be seen. Then came a back foot. This made some member’s of the crowd gasp; well mainly it was Tibula, who was shocked at the surprise of it. The foot was big and flat, with three big talons on it. Leaf Muncher kept talking. Eventually after a lot more frustrated chirps, the head almost exploded out the top of the egg. A large piece of shell was on top of the hatchling’s long head and looked like a hat, making Tula laugh, she was too young to realize what the baby was. The baby Giganotosaurus, for the first time, laid eyes upon the familiar voice, he imprinted almost immediately onto the big Iguanodon head before him.

Flat Tooth was speechless. A Giganotosaurus, the biggest meat-eating saurian on Dinotopia! And he was going to look after it!

The crowd was thinking along the same lines, they were shocked yet happy. Shocked at the fact this tiny hatchling would one day grow to be huge and threaten the lives of traveling caravans through the Rainy Basin, and yet they were happy, Leaf Muncher was obviously not deterred by the hatchling’s looks and still talked to it lovingly.

Rosaline came through the circle and joined Leaf Muncher in the middle. Carefully she picked off bits of shell, helping the hatchling out. At first Troove made some pretty indignant complaints at this new monster that had appeared, but Leaf Muncher calmed him with more soothing words.

Leaf Muncher licked the little body lovingly almost knocking Troove over. The little saurian, tired from his exertions laid down, content that he was finally free of the tight egg and was now with the familiar voice. It wasn’t long before he curled up into a small ball and fell asleep.

Rosaline turned and whispered to Leaf Muncher, “We thought it might be a therapod. The egg was very primitive, built to hide it from any passing predators in the Rainy Basin. The reason it probably survived was because of its thick shell and camouflage. We had no idea it would be a Giganotosaur though. I think you have just acquired a lot on your hands Leaf. Congratulations.”

Leaf Muncher smiled proudly. Everyone in turn came round quietly to look at the sleeping hatchling and to congratulate Leaf Muncher. Leaf Muncher thanked them all.

Eventually, after everyone had wished her luck in raising a Giganotosaurus they left. Andrew promised to come back and see her on the weekend; only Flat Tooth, Sandclaw, Rosaline and herself remained behind. “I wouldn’t have cared if Troove was a sauropod let alone a Giganotosaur, I’ll raise him to not eat us,” chuckled Leaf Muncher. “I’m glad she finds it funny,” said Flat Tooth, shaking his head in wonder at the tiny defenseless killer in front of him.

It was noon when Troove hatched. Flat Tooth, Sandclaw, Rosaline, Leaf Muncher and Troove were all sat, or rather laid, in the nursery’s main room. Troove had just woken up and was trying to stand on his two powerful little legs.

“What are we going to do with him?” asked Flat Tooth. “I don’t think the herd will let you raise him. It’s hatching time for us as well you know; the mother’s might see him as a threat.”

“Now, don’t worry so Flat Tooth. I don’t think he’ll become any sort of threat to an Iguanodon; he totally thinks Leaf is his mother,” said Sandclaw watching Troove stand up only to fall rather heavily down again with a squeak.

“Yes, I agree with Sandclaw. I think we should ask the herd before we assume they said no. Although I am sort of worried; I mean he’s a Rainy Basin carnivore. He’s got a lot of blood instinct packed into him. I know he’ll never hurt me or any of you, but what if he snaps at a compsognathus or something? I mean one snap from his jaws could prove fatal to small saurians,” added Leaf Muncher who was watching Troove also.

“Fearless little chap isn’t he?” said Rosaline. Troove had now moved into the middle of the floor and was looking at everyone, he didn’t seem the least bit deterred that he wasn’t in such close proximity to his foster mum. “Leaf, leave the room a second. I want to see what he does.” Rosaline said, watching to see what Troove’s reaction would be.

Leaf Muncher stood up. When Troove was looking at everyone he didn’t seemed particularly focused on what was going on around him, but as soon as Leaf Muncher moved he stumbled over to her and now stood beneath her legs chattering away in little chirps and squeaks.

“He’s bright too,” said Sandclaw thoughtfully. Leaf Muncher nudged him out the way as she went to lie down again. Troove celebrated her being back onto his eye level by rubbing his snout against her beak. They all laughed.

“I wonder if he misses any of us,” said Flat Tooth. He got up slowly and walked out of the room. Troove looked in the direction he’d gone and whimpered, but he did not leave so as Leaf Muncher would be out of his eyesight. They all laughed again.

“Come back in Flat Tooth you’re upsetting him!” laughed Leaf Muncher.

Flat Tooth came back in and lay down again. Troove went over to him and squeaked a welcome.

“He’s steady on his feet already. You know that because he’s from the Rainy Basin and built to survive. I think he’ll grow very fast, his colors might change too,” said Sandclaw.

Troove was dark green along his back, his tummy and underside however were a deep mustard yellow, and along his back were small dark brown stripes. If he ran along the forest floor you would have a job trying to find him.

“Yes, perhaps. I wonder how’ll big he will get,” said Leaf Muncher.

“Probably very big,” answered Flat Tooth.

“I wonder if he comes to his name, and if he’ll come to me. Troov-ey, come here, come on,” called Rosaline in a silly voice.

Troove looked at Leaf Muncher as if wanting permission to go over.

“Go on then,” said Leaf Muncher laughing.

Troove made a straight line towards Rosaline; he stood there looking at her expectantly. Rosaline carefully bought her hand down and patted his head, Troove responded with a throaty noise.

“Be careful, he’s growling,” said Sandclaw.

“Actually I don’t think he is,” said Rosaline who had once owned a pet cat. “He’s purring,” she laughed. The saurians looked at her puzzled. “You know, purring like the Sabertoothed cat’s do.”

“Oh, yes, I quite forgot. I wonder why carnivores only do that,” said Sandclaw.

Rosaline bought her other hand down and gently held him under his tiny fore arms; Troove looked a little puzzled and looked up at Rosaline expectantly. She gently lifted him up off the ground; Troove squeaked in surprise and turned to go back to Leaf Muncher. Leaf Muncher uttered a soothing noise, watching as Troove relaxed and allowed Rosaline to cuddle him in her arms.

“The more of that he gets, the friendlier he’ll be,” said Flat Tooth. Troove, suddenly tired from all his walking, fell back to sleep in Rosaline’s arms.

“What will I feed him?” asked Leaf Muncher.

“Hmm frogs will probably do while he is this small. I think he’ll catch small insects for himself,” replied Sandclaw.

“Frogs? I’m no hunter, let along a frog catcher. How am I going to manage that?” she laughed.

“She’s got a good point there. We couldn’t make a trap; frogs come after flies and if we can’t catch frogs we won’t be able to catch flies,” said Rosaline, just as hopeless a frog-catcher as the others.

“Rolo,” announced Flat Tooth.

“Sorry?” said Sandclaw a bit confused.

“Rolo is my good Parasaurolophus friend. He and his mate are always in the swamps eating swamp plants. I’m sure they’ll come across some frogs in their foraging. And if they don’t, then I’m sure they will know of a swamp saurian that will,” concluded Flat Tooth.

“Yes, that might work. What would we do without you Flatty?” joked Leaf Muncher.

“Well…” He started

“That’s all we need to hear!” laughed Rosaline.

“Well, we better get going. I need to ask the herd if it’s ok that Troove stays. Then we need to go find Rolo,” said Leaf Muncher. She still had the satchel around her neck and Rosaline soon transformed the top of it into a temporary nest bed for Troove.

“Breathe deep, seek peace. You and Troove are always welcome here Leaf,” said Rosaline.

“Thank you both for everything. Breathe deep, seek peace,” called Leaf Muncher and Flat Tooth as they left with Troove to go find their herd.

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