2024-07-20 - neogene.005

The silent thief in the night was not as sneaky as they had hoped. No, many of the eggs had woken and were alert to their antics. Some, even bore mental hostilities and raged. Seth almost joined them, and came very close to striking out in that mental place that would have given others a headache.

And yet, they stilled themselves. They observed, listening as Rhuman went from egg to egg, cooing and touching the shells of their siblings. The want and desire was palpable, even as needling words whispered through the air to them – seeing objects rather than living, breathing creatures. A promise of power, together.

Where their siblings raged, Seth was curiously intrigued. Rhuman’s questing fingers did not touch their shell. No, they were not gold to this young woman – not like Mother was. But oh, that lust for purpose, for power, that was something Seth could understand. To be the best, to have all bared before their fang and claw… this was something they understood.

Certainly, Rhuman was a presumptuous little twit, but the anger flowing from the other eggs was nauseating in a fashion not wholly different from the initial vitriol they themselves felt at the intruder.

Perhaps if the quake had not happened Seth would be just as offended as the others. But a very real fear had settled in their heart, and even their own short memory could not quite erase the helplessness that encompassed that tragic event. No, Seth sought to be in charge of their own destiny.

’Come,’ they coaxed – honeyed, yes, but in a way meant to lure rather than comfort. ’Come this way, little thief, little night-sneak. Come preach your case to one who would listen...’

Rhuman, of course, would not be able to hear them. But they would know the lulling pull towards the large opalescent egg, a figurative hand reaching out in a gesture that might have been peace. Or it might have been a ruse for distraction until one might catch her – with Seth, one could never quite be certain.