They had left the forested region behind, after the encounter with Reyali, and decided to head towards the pains. There was very little cover in this area, which had Vulcan and Nyxa (as well as the two Egyptans) constantly on the alert. They decided to settle for the night at the base of small, stunted tree, surrounded by tall grass. Lucina looked hesitantly at Vulcan.
*I think I heard a noise Vulc* she said quietly.
"You're just hearing things Luci. Don't worry about it,"he replied, completely unconcerned.
*No, I know I heard something. It was a rustling in the grass over there,* she said, directing her muzzle towards a taller patch of grass a few feet from their tree. Vulcan continued to ignore her. He had other things on his mind. Tyri tried to comfort the unnerved Lucina.
*There's nothing there. Come rest beside me. You need your sleep. Look, we can curl up with the cocoons* he picked one of the cocoons up gently in his muzzle and laid down with it, gently nudging it under an extended wing. Lucina joined him with the other cocoon. But she was not content for long. She heard the grass rustle again and jumped to her paws. Tyri sighed in exasperation.
*Tyri, I know I heard something! See, look, the grass is moving!* she said, clearly alarmed.
*It's called wind Luci. Nothing more* he replied tiredly. She didn't believe him. Placing the cocoon next to Tyri, she stalked over towards the high grass. Crouching low, she waited for the rustling noise. When it came again suddenly, she pounced. Whatever she landed on gave an alarmed shriek.
*Look Tyri! I caught something! Vulcan, Nyxa come look!* she called triumphantly, pinning her prize to the ground. Vulcan and Nyxa trudged over, half expecting a small animal of some kind to be pinned underneath Luci, but what the found instead surprised them. It was a boy, a bit younger than themselves, covered in mud and pieces of grass from hiding in the brush. Luci had him pinned, all four paws splayed across his chest, grinning her little canine like grin.
"Well what do we have here?" asked Nyxa, hands on her hips trying her best to look stern.
"Seems to me Nyx that we have an eavesdropper," replied Vulcan, doing a much better job of remaining serious.
"Please," said the boy "I don't mean anyone here any harm. I've been following you since you left Comeltum. I wanted to see Egyptans." He made as if to get up, but was instantly pushed back down when Luci cuffed him lightly and applied more pressure to his chest.
"Hmm.... how do I know that you weren't our to kill them, or capture me or Nyxa?" said Vulcan.
"Do you really expect that a boy as young as me would be sent to capture two teenagers, while fending off two Egyptan? You've got to be kidding!"he retorted.
"I suppose," replied Nyxa. "What's your name?"
"Most people call me Beven," he replied. "All I wanted to do was travel with you, but I wasn't sure how to ask you. I didn't think that you would let me."
"More's the merrier," said Vulcan, offering Beven a hand up. The boy brushed himself down and extended his hand to Vulcan.
"Good to meet you. And these are Tyri and Luci I suppose," he said ruffling each of their coats in turn.
"How did you know?" asked Nyxa suspiciously.
"You forget," he replied, "I've been following you for weeks now, remember?" Nyxa grinned sheepishly.
Over the next couple of days, the three of them got along famously. One night around the campfire, Vulcan promised Beven that when the first cocoon hatched, it could be his, and he could help them establish new colonies of Egyptans around the world. Beven was excited. He never would have imagined having an Egyptan of his very own, let alone being able to help out in such a worthwhile cause! As they were eating, Tyri-Anu suddenly sat bolt upright.
"What is it Tyri?" asked Nyxa.
*The cocoon. It's hatching!* he replied urgently. He picked up the cocoon and gently placed it into Beven's lap. *He should have it when it's born. It is, after all his Egyptan." Beven looked expectantly down at the cocoon that was shaking furiously in his lap. The hatching began much the same as Tyri's and Luci's, however this cub was much more vocal about it. Each falling filament was puntuated by a grunt or growl, and instead of waiting for the strands to fall, the cub was forcing parts of his body through the silken openings. At one point, he almost seemed to be stuck, so Beven helped him along, peeling away carefully at the silky shell. When the cub emmerged, everyone was astounded. It was beautiful! Luci pushed her head impatiently through the circle of humans.
*Is it male? Is it female? Can I teach it? Let me see it!* Vulcan, Nyxa and Beven just laughed, and parted for Luci. She nuzzled the cub affectionately. *I'll teach him all that he needs to know, but I understand that he will one day leave. He is, after all, Beven's cub.*
Beven hugged the cub tightly to his chest. It was a dream come true.
Miasmic
*page one (cocoon)*
*page three (teen)*
*page four (adult)*
Tribe: Unknown
Gender: male
Stage: cub
Bondmate: Beven
Mate: none
Parents: wild/unknown
*custom by Tigeress Rikku*
