The egg appeared out of thin air, rolling along the ground until stopped by a fern. Hidden within the foliage, with large leaves draped over its matching hues, the forming creature within was safe. Time went on and nothing changed outwardly. Inwardly tiny scales, toes, strands of fur, and feathers developed. Finally at long last the day came for the little one inside to break out of his shell. The egg wobbled about, a small crack forming. Within the tiny wolf's head budded his confinement until finally with a soft crack his head popped into the world. Light flooded in and he quickly ducked back into the safety of his egg. He had heard the sounds around him but had never seen the world's blinding beauty. Slowly this time he lifted the shell to peak out. His eyes attempted to adjust. The world was blurry for someone so young.
Reuniting with her brother had brought a bit of peace and normality to the large wolf's life. It had been several weeks since she had found herself planted somewhere within this new world, but slowly she was growing accustom to it. Though her brother was here with her, it didn't keep the aches and pains of leaving the rest of her family completely away. When she was alone and she was sure there were no others to judge her, Sage wept for herself. She wept because she missed her mother, and she missed her other siblings, and she missed the comforts of their home, and she missed her father's old workshop tools. She missed the laughter and the commotion and the business that was her entire family. But, it was only when she was sure she was alone that she let herself feel these emotions. When Wroth was around, or when she came across other strangers, Sage was the happy-go-lucky plush wolf that she strived to be. Polite. Caring. Considerate. A heart full of gold, and a mind full of selflessness.
It was this selflessness that caused Sage to leave the mountains and trek southward as she floated on air currents through the sky. With her wings outstretched, the sparkles within her membranes shined with the sun beating down. They shined like diamond specks, glinting here and there, and each slow flap made them shimmer and shift. Her long tail floated along out behind her and her rainbow colored mohawk ripped back and fourth as the wind currents caught hold and tussled her fur and hair. She had no way to know for sure that south meant warmer environment, but it made enough sense for her to at least try out the logic.
Luckily enough for Sage, her assumption had been correct. After several long breaks to rest her lungs, wings, and fill her stomach with food and water, she had made it from the mountains to a dense jungle. It was perfect. She was sure she could find what she was looking for if she just searched hard enough through the thick underbrush. What, one might ask, was she searching for? Flowers and berries. She wanted to acquire a set of dye for her current project: a secret for her brother. She scouted the jungle for a good spot to land and after circling for several spins, settled down in an opening where the canopy parted. Sage's gentle landing was followed up with a soft, satisfied hum of contentment. At a quick glance, she would easily find what she was looking for. In fact, she spotted some brightly colored flowers - purple and yellows - and approached them to gently pluck the delicate petals with her teeth to deposit them into a rough-crafted hide bag draped around her neck.
Just as she reached forward to pluck one of the larger flowers, she noticed a movement in the brush. Her eyes shifted from the flower to peer deeper into the underbrush, spotting something beneath. Was it a rock? It certainly looked to be a rock at first glance with it's shape. But then she could have sworn she saw movement. Maybe a lizard had skittered past her peripheral visions and her mind had played a funny game on her. The shell of the egg peeked upwards and she saw it this time - not a lizard or rock for sure - and a tiny little snout took a sniff at the world. What on earth had she just found? She wasn't sure, but somehow she sensed that it was akin to herself - canid in nature.
Afraid of scaring the little creature, Sage withdrew her head from the top of the bush and laid down on her stomach to shove her head back into the bush more at ground level. She rested her head on her large front paws, wiggling her way in, and yet still gave the tiny creature enough room to finish... hatching? "It's ok, little one. You can do this." she offered with a gentle and reassuring tone. It didn't matter who the creature was, or if they were alone or waiting for a family or what. To Sage, it was a life that needed a little bit more guidance. "The world is a bright and beautiful place to explore. Come on out, and you'll see." She just hoped that it's parents didn't find her and think her trying to harm it. That would certainly change her plans for the day, more than this already had.
Squinted pools of teal strained against the blinding lights, peering ahead at the assortment of colors directly in front of him. Suddenly they were shifting and moving. He couldn't determine what was happening but something big was coming closer to him. He shifted back deeper into the shell so only his eyes were visible through a crack. He blinked and a blobby shape formed before him and he did not know what it was. It made a soft sweet noise and he poked his nose out to sniff at it. Smelt good. More words came from the other wolf, but the baby couldn't make sense of them. To him, it was all gibberish spoken in an enticing tone that made him want to get closer to her. He hesitantly lifted the shell up to reveal his entire head. Tiny sticky feathers were caked to the side of his face.
The pup pushed his front paws into the egg, shoving them through the membrane and meeting the soft jungle floor. He wiggled his toes against the new texture. On unsteady limbs, he slowly rose up and broke free with a wobble. He tumbled forward and rolled out to the edge of Sage's paws. Covered in yolk and shell pieces the green boy looked up at her, sprawled out on his back, and let out a soft "awuuuu" He didn't know what she was, but he didn't even know what he was. He blinked a few times at her wondering what everything was. From her to the leaves and flowers that draped over them.
Sage's soft green eyes lit up and sparkled when the little creature - canid instincts reminded her - poked his head up from it's shell to reveal a crest with tiny feathers at it's cheeks. If it was possible, Sage would have melted at the sight of the small being. As it was, her long tail swayed faster behind her, the tip wiggling with incredible excitement. She watched with full attention as the small creature - canid - pushed his paws through the egg shell and hobbled towards her. As he lost his balance and tumbled towards her, Sage's head tilted with interest. Her nose sniffed gently towards the creature. It was a curious smell sending mixed emotions through her. On one paw, she smelt the delicious odor of egg - one of her favorite breakfast meals. On the other paw there was the odor of a living baby before her nose. She wasn't any sort of mother herself and in truth, was too young to consider becoming one in her own rights. Though she was an adult, she was young - just a year and a half. She was really still a child in an adult body. And yet, when the scent of newborn struck her, she was entranced. Immediately she felt a strong urge to protect the being, stop anything and everything from harming it. There was also mother nature to protect it from, and there was feeding it and ensuring it's survival. Her maternal instincts kicked in full swing like she never could have imagined.
Then it called out, and her heart melted.
As gently as she possibly could with a creature made of her bulk, Sage crept forward on her stomach to sneak further beneath the bush. Her large muzzle reached out and as gently as possible, she reached out to lick the little being clean of it's yolk. "That's it, you're doing great" she coo'd while she made an effort to help clean up the child. "I don't know where your parents are, but I'll protect you until they show up. Don't worry. You're safe with me."
Aspen didn't fuss or whine when she began to clean him. Instead, he leaned into her touch with a soft mewling sound before bumping her head gently. He sat up with a wobble while she cleaned him off. Watching her with bright inquisitive eyes and large dark pupils. He couldn't fathom the words spoken to him and even yet he clung to one, held on, and attempted to mimic her, "sssa". His attempt was brief and his tolerance to his bath was up, the clumsy newborn was up on his paws with shaking limbs as instincts drove him. He bumped into her side a few times, but couldn't find what he sought. He wasn't sure what he was seeking, but he knew it wasn't here. He looked up at Sage with a whimper. His little belly grumbled and groaned.
The little one seemed to enjoy the grooming as he made cute noises and bumped up against her. Already he was trying to speak, to mimic her, and Sage suddenly realized that she had no idea what she was doing. She was too young to be a mother! She didn't have brothers or sisters who had pups to raise. She didn't have much experience in the caretaker department really at all, despite knowing to just be polite and nice. She had no business trying to protect and guard this child. She didn't even know what to feed it! Or how. Or when.
And yet, all thoughts that had started to flood her mind with 'Leave it behind for it's real parents, you have no business stealing a child away. You don't know what you're doing.' ceased as she watched it escape her gentle grooming session to nose along her, bumping into and against her gigantic body. He was so small, and she so large, that she was afraid that by just shifting her weight, she might squish him. So, when she moved she did so with incredible delicacy, each inch approached with focus and caution. She heard his belly grumble and her folded ears flattened on her head. Hadn't she just thought to herself that she had no idea what to feed him?
"Uh... I uh..." She didn't have what he was looking for. That was the whole problem. If he had been her child, nature would have equipped her with the proper tools. "I don't have what you're looking for." she spoke gently to him, even as her pastel eyes glanced around to see if mommy wolf or daddy wolf might be returning. She listened for a moment and heard nothing. And yet still the pup bumped into her, working his way down her side. What could she do?
A thought suddenly struck her, strange but one that just might work. She'd eaten well on her journey from the mountains to the jungle. She made a point to never eat too well, because that's how one got sick from the altitude, but Sage was large. She had a healthy appetite. What if... what if she treated this pup like a bird would treat their young? Could it work? If it did for birds...
Sage's own belly started to make strange noises as she rocked her head back and forth, calling up the meal she'd eaten most recently. After a minute of effort, her jaws parted and in a steaming pile laced with saliva, there sat perfectly digested food for the child that nosed at her. Satisfied with herself at producing such a prize she ever so gently brought her head around to nudge the child back towards the feast he had waiting for him. "I know it's not what you want, but hopefully it will do."
