Slug Life

Hatching is hard work

It was dark when he first opened his eyes. Inside a tiny egg, a little slug was preparing to make his entrance into the world. Full of excitement, he took a deep breath, it was almost time!

He gently nudged the walls of his small yellow shell with his tail. For months this little egg had been the only home he had ever known. A twinge of sadness struck him as he thought about leaving behind this warm, safe place. "Goodbye, and thank you" he whispered. With those words, the little slug rearranged himself and began to push on the walls of the egg. Carefully at first, using the tip of his tail, but with every unsucessful attempt, growing stronger and more forceful. Panic began to set in as an unsettling thought began to creep into his mind.

"What if I can't get out?"

What was once a safe haven to grow and to live was now a slowly shrinking prison, time was of the essence.

This was it, his last chance at life. Frantic for a way out he nipped, squirmed and banged his eye stalks against the unforgiving walls. The pain was excruciating as he fought to win what seemed to be his first and only battle.

"This can't end here!" He thought, forcing himself to keep fighting. Darkness began to cloud his vision as his last efforts for freedom once again failed in breaking the seemingly impenetrable walls. Desperation was all he could feel when suddenly something caught his eye, a tiny shimmer of light on the wall - no wait... through the wall!

The first breath of real air filled him with unbridled happiness as he burst out of the egg and into the world. Excitement rushed through his tiny, new, slimy body as his eyes adjusted to the new light. Trapped inside the egg all alone, he had spent countless hours imagining the outside world. In his dreams it had been immense, green, lush, beautiful and full of food. But most of all it had been filled with creatures that loved him - with family.

Carefully examining his new habitat, the tiny slugs heart filled with terror.

"Where am I?" he gasped.