below the surface

a cold start

POV :asha

I lay with my eggs, sunning myself with the small beams of light that filtered through the holes in the cave ceiling, the cool moss and stone floor a welcome refreshment to the unfaltering heat outside. They would hatch soon, I knew. I just had to keep them safe until that point.

Suddenly, the pleasant summertime temperatures became not so pleasant. The air quickly became cold. My breath came out in front of me in short, puffy clouds. I saw a streak of ice criss crossing across the now frozen ground.

My stomach growled in hunger. It had been quite some time till I had eaten last. I was tempted to go out and find something for myself, but I knew better than to leave my eggs alone -anything could happen.

So, I lay back down, trying to block out the increasing hunger that wrenched my gut. Time passed until I couldn't stand it anymore. I decided to go outside. I had to, else I would starve here. I would only be away for a moment, nothing would happen to the eggs. Surely?

I slunk outside, breathing in the surprisingly warm air. I saw a creature up ahead, dead no doubt. It was a dear of sorts, strange, yet once pretty. I ate ravenously. 

While I was outside a rumble from below shook the island and I rushed back inside. One of my eggs had slid out over the side of the nest and connected with a jagged stone that sprung up from the cave floor like a tiny mountain. The shell cracked and blood begane to pool as I stared , frozen in place.The hashling inside dead in moments.

The entrance  of the cave has almost froze over, I've  already lost one and don't dare leave the nest for long. I've  notIced the runt  hasn't even responded to the cold, they seem to be able to produce heat from wIthIn  the egg. I’m still worried  that I wIll not be able to keep them warm enough  after hatchIng.

I have to make a choIce, take a risk and leave to eat or stay and make sure the cold doesn't creep in. ... I left ... When I returned,  luckIly they were fIne. CurlIng around my eggs, I slIp Into a deep sleep.

"Crack!"
Not the fIrst thIng I wanted to hear. I jerked up and quIckly checked the eggs.
The second smallest rocks and sways as another crack sounds out. PullIng them closer I keep them rIght agaInst me. Slowly they wiggled out, shIverIng already. I scoop them up and cuddle them close. In a desperate attempt to keep them warm. I needed to fInd a solutIon and fast.

As time passed the hatchling went everywhere wIth me, though they were doing better they stIll weren't  doIng well enough to be left alone for an extended amount of time. I could only go for so long. leaving them alone with the other two eggs i go for a short while. I went out to hunt , but unsuccessful I made my way back into the cave. Passing the frozen waterfall I hear crying, speeding up. I turn the corner and find  a sIte that broke my heart.Blood splattered across the stone. My oldest lay still , in paled by falling ice. Still as the body of my child I can feel the tears running down my face. Finally I slowly move forwards and cradle the egg. After a few minutes I looked up to see the smallest egg had hatched and was crying while the older hatchling was silently crying.

The next hunting trip was more successful, 4 frozen herb bunnIes and a few salmon that were swImmIng up a newly thawed rIver dId help though. As much as I didn't want to do anything after the death of one of my hatchlings I needed to feed my pups , I needed to hold on.