As we left Vedna's office, I was completely startled by a sudden snoring in my ear. "For the love of- ... Argh! How long has she been asleep? I honestly forgot she was wrapped around me." I asked as Eve laughed so hard she snorted at my shock.
"Aww love, I know we joke about your bad memory, but you really forgot you were carrying your daughter?"
"Don't be like that, she carries herself for the most part and usually talking or dropping crumbs on me to remind me she's there."
"Astrael said she hadn't slept much, we should spend tomorrow with her, she was really worried for those two days."
"I know... Let's go to the clinic and check on things, then say goodbye to your dad, then..."
"Then I want to speak to Astrael... privately... I will talk to you about it when it's done but I'd rather know what I'm saying first."
"Ok... Then you can have a private chat with Astrael, then-"
"Then some alone time..."
"Really?..."
"Feeling it all day was uncomfortable, then after a while...."
"Clinic, Dinner, goodbye dad, girl talk with Astrael, "Alone time", clean-up, family time at the hot spring with movie memories and all you can eat snacks and drinks. I want to see how good her flying has gotten, she's always hurtling toward me so fast I never see her control or anything but speed and impact force."
The clinic was running so well, I felt like I was in the way, Fala was now a fully literate and incredible healer, with development that was insane, which is when it occurred to me. "Eve, I think I done something terrible. I don't think Fala is human anymore."
"Damn, we hoped you wouldn't notice. Adam, we all know, we realised after you changed me. She isn't anywhere near as far changed as me but no she isn't human anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"Fala, he figured it out. Do you want to come talk to him?"
"First, don't be sad, I get to help people and I'm happy. Second, when you were unconscious for a long time, you coughed up blood and it got in my mouth. I was sick the next few days but then I got better so, then you empowered me and I felt different but it was only after you changed Eve that we put the pieces together. Third, I won't ever change as much as Eve. She had reached the limits of human potential where as I barely counted as medio-"
"Don't You dare finish that Fala. You were extraordinary long before you met me, not recognising it doesn't make it false. Not many girls your age go looking for work just because their dad is injured, not many go gathering in dangerous woods just to make sure you both have food and he gets fresh bandages. Granted you could have asked his work friends for help, but that's why I strangled him."
"Adam, I'll stop feeling bad about myself if you stop feeling bad for me... I'm happy, besides, we think I'll be smarter, a bit more magical and maybe live longer, that's it. I don't heal like you two and I still get sick, that might change but we think it has to do with the amount of blood as well. So please just don't give me anymore, I like being human, I may only be one in part now, but it was worth the trade, living forever though could be bad at least you two have each other."
I understood what she meant, she wasn't interested in such things at the time, but was smart enough to know that in the future she would want love, having us forever would be nice, but not enough in the face of eternity. "Fine, it's a deal, but since I done this to you I will offer you this and say if you ever want to be completely human, I will give it my all to see it happen... Also, if you decide eternity seems fun, I will complete the change, your life is your choice and I won't deny you that out of guilt."
"Great... Now you know, can you talk to Quatal she keeps telling me how great it would be to be immortal, but refuses to listen about my point of view."
"Then just let Papa make you immortal already..." Quatal mumbled in her sleep, which told me they had had the chat a few times.
After giving Quatal a lecture we continued with our plan, of course it was still us so things didn't go entirely to plan and as we walked from the clinic to home Dusk appeared looking like he was up to no good.
"My guy, Dusk, seriously! where do you even live that we bumped into you here?"
"I live at the hall, but I do have friends you know."
"No." Quatal said in genuine disbelief that was almost soul-destroying.
"Ouch! you wound me once more and I thought you would be happy princess..."
"Oh no! Dude as your friend, don-"
"...Afterall last night, Mama and Papa we-" He never finished that sentence, the darkening sky filled with countless blades of light, each one projecting divine killing intent so their purpose and target were unmistakable... I did not miss the one that was aimed at me, simply opted for ignorance.
"Nope, I tried, your on your own." The man fell in a pitiable heap on the ground, begging mercy.
"Dusk..." Eve's tone was flat and hostile. "I am a mother, I have to hold my little girl. I'd rather not do so with blood on my hands.... Luckily, blades of light can mean I don't need to worry, unfortunately for you, that means I have no reason to not do this."
"I was one of your Adam's first comrades?"
"You weeeere, but he has many now, which makes you expendable where I'm concerned and the others know when to shut up..."
"Of course, very sorry my queen... Token of peace?" He spoke as he pulled out an egg from his rucksack. "Maybe you can hatch it as a friend for the little one."
"Eve... Dear, may I inspect the offering?"
"You may, but the trajectories won't change, so don't try to help your fullish friend escape."
After a brief hysterical laugh I simply said. "Ohhhh, like fuck, already tried." Then approached and inspected the egg... "Dusk you damn fool of a genius." I stated after inspecting it. "Have you got any idea what you have?"
"What is it? I don't like how excited you are." Eve said as I took the egg over to her.
"It's a damn monarclaw egg. No wonder we have never found sexual organs or young, they hatch as something else and metamorphose. Eve, he just saved a lot of people, I think a bit of mercy is in order."
"I'm not an idiot, monarclaw are feline, they don't lay eggs."
"Neither am I. look at this pattern of teeth marks. I have seen this scar enough at the clinic and heard the bearers' how I got it stories enough. Monarclaw eat everything, why else would it have it's jaw around an egg so carefully?"
"Maybe it realised the egg was poison to it, but... I suppose a natural deterrent would be just as valuable. If it is a monarclaw, what will you do?"
"I will teach Quatal the contracting glyph I used on her, then teach her how to train, it will be great bonding." My tone belied my motive and she cottoned on that I was trying to buy my poor stupid friend's life, but she couldn't deny it was a huge development and the studying would be good for Quatal.
"Fine... He can live.... Just don't ever make a remark like that again, creep."
"Hear that Dusk?... Free might be a strong word, but your sentencing has been deferred. I'd call that a win."
We left him rethinking life decisions and went home.
Eve could tell I was excited, so in the end she simply told me to go make a nest for whilst she got dinner started. "Take Quatal as well, you can start your bonding now, then we will have ours later."
"Honestly Papa, I thought Mama would kill you today.... You're really lucky."
"Sweetie, for most people surviving a spat with the Mrs. Isn't a matter of luck, but still, You're mother is undoubtedly worth every threat and promise of violence. Still, in ten thousand years or so, when you are allowed to date, try to be a bit less bloodthirsty with the object of your affections."
"That is both right and brave for you to say Adam." Eve shouted from above as we entered the stairway.
When we got to The Garden, I constructed a small out building to incubate the egg, of course it wasn't some rabbit hutch, it was more similar to the lab that would constantly scan and adapt to the eggs needs.
Quatal was speechless, which was a strange feeling, but I decided it was a good thing since it must have meant she was interested.
"It will be your job to look after this egg for the next week. You will sleep in here and be there when it hatches, even if you have to come back at nights when we are on our trip. You must be the first one the hatchling sees."
"Why does it have to see me first?"
"Creatures that hatch from eggs sometime imprint on the first thing they see. It will think of you as its caregiver and be more inclined to form the contract, now..." I went on to show her the glyph, writing the process and breakdown down for her so she could study it with Astrael.