Odd Love

Chapter 15; An Oddity

It had only been about a quarter of an hour into the ridiculous show the two were watching when Edd noticed something quiver in his peripherals. He turned his head to the side where the egg and Ringo lay. Assuming the movement was the tabby, Edd turned back to the T.V.

Barely even five minutes had passed before Edd noticed it again, and this time he knew for sure it was the cat because he was stretching out on top of the sofa now. He reached up and pet the cat, smiling softly. Suddenly, something loud occurred on the T.V. show and made Edd jolt, startling Ringo and causing him to jump down onto the floor and scurry away. No doubt to go lay on Edd's bed instead. The brunet just shrugged and turned back to the T.V. where Tord had changed it to a horror show.

Edd laughed at how cheesy the show was with Tord, enjoying this time where they could both be relaxed and happy. He still couldn't help wishing the others could be here and get along with Tord as well.

It had been about an hour since Matt and Tom left to go shopping, and Edd was starting to wonder when they'd be getting back. However, something quickly drew away his attention.

The egg was quivering!

"Shit, Tord it's moving and they're not here." Edd exclaimed aloud, hoping that the movement didn't mean it was going to hatch right away. Its parents needed to be here for that!

"What do you expect me to do?" He nervously called out. In response, Edd just yelled 'I don't know' and shrugged as he picked up the egg.

"Uhhh... Tord go get some towels from the bathroom. I'll make a nest or something like Tom had in his room." Edd really had no idea what he was doing, but he felt like it was better than doing nothing. Quickly, the Norwegian came back with an armful of towels, dumping them next to Edd.

"Thanks! Uhh.. Let's see here." He used one hand to hold the egg on his leg and the other to build the base of a circular... pile. It could hardly be called a nest, but it would serve the purpose well enough.

He sat back and watched the egg quiver and shake, waiting for it to stop. Luckily, it did stop eventually. Edd sighed in relief and relaxed against the back of the couch, noticing Tord get up to go and get some food. Relieved that the egg was still again, he decided it would be safe enough for him to go to the bathroom.

Left in the room was the egg, resting in the towel-nest, all alone. There was a quiet cracking sound and that of claws scratching on a hard surface. A chunk of the shell was pushed out and fell onto the couch. Out of the small hole flicked a lavender snake-like tongue. The egg wobbled onto its side as more bits of the shell broke up to make way for a set of hooked claws to emerge and grip the edge.

After a bit more shell-breaking, the small monster began to crunch at the remainder of its shell to consume the nutrients it contained. Most of its body was covered in a pale violet skin that was covered with freckles and a few sets of ginger stripes. Protruding from its forehead was a pair of tiny forward-facing horns, on its cheeks, too, were tiny horns. It had a long lion-like tail with several thin pieces of fur growing from the tip of it. Around its neck, too, was a group of thin fur.

Like many creatures, the hatchling's skin would toughen up and its fur would thicken as it got older and its horns would become longer and sharper. Eyes still shut, the creature let out a small, tired kitten-like noise and curled up in the towels before falling asleep.