Originally Posted by Bowler1  The urge to push against the barrier that held it tight was now all that consumed it. All of the things strength had been used on this task and it was beginning to tire. The creature had been pushing with all it had for as long as it could remember and still, the barrier held it; there was no escape. It rested for a while, recovering a little of its strength for yet another go against the barrier. The urge to keep going was strong.
This time it'd more success, as in no time a crack and light appeared. It had never seen light before. The light was uncomfortable and hurt its eyes.
‘Push little one, push a little more,’ reached its ears; for the first time someone communicated with it and those clicks and squeaks felt so comfortable, so natural. The language of the Many was already there, just waiting to be used by it.
This small amount of encouragement was enough for it to start pushing again and then suddenly, its head broke free and it could glimpse the outside world. Even though its eyes weren't fully developed, it saw muddled shapes in the multitude of colour rich shades. And although it had space to move its head, the tiny creature found that it no longer had much energy left. The small one hung its head, exhausted, feeling dismay and wonder at the same time.
‘Welcome little one, push a little more. You’re almost free.’
It squeaked.
‘You are welcome little one. I am Nurse 47/H4,’ said the voice. 'Now push with all your strength!'
Even though encouraged it stopped to rest, letting its head lying on top of the shell while rest of it body remained entrapped. The baby creature was completely exhausted. Sleep was already beginning to wash over the little one, with is task almost complete the urge to push was now fading.
‘Push a little more little one, your egg has finally broken and you’re almost free. Do not stop now.’
So it pushed again, one last time with the last of its strength. With encouragement and some help from Nurse 47/H4, it finally broke free from its egg and fell onto the warm hatching floor, newly born.
‘Welcome little one, time for you to rest. I will bring food to help you recover’ said Nurse 47/H4.
It could feel Nurse 47/H4 gently cleaning its skin. The tender and reassuring strokes of the nurse’s feelers were comforting to this new life. But for now all this newly born Many could do was recover. It had nothing left, all its strength gone.
Yet still there was a lot to process and take in. There were new sights and smells to get used to and it was all too much for this new life, lying exhausted on the warm hatchling floor. Slowly, ever so slowly it closed its eyes.
Nurse 47/H4 gently carried the new hatchling to a resting shelf where it would be warm and safe. The smell of the nurse was imprinting onto the sleeping baby, enabling it to take its place among the Many that worked and thrived all around, even while it slept. |