[log] Eggs 101

[npcsofmana]

Who: Rachel and half a dozen other people
What: Hey, kid, want to see an egg? The Eggs 101 quest.
Where: The outskirts of Domina, past the residential area
When: Day 11
Other: Surprise parenthood

Domina, despite the magical way it appeared to the residents of the tree, is a very simple town. While there's bustling activity of all sorts near the market, a quieter atmosphere reigns in places like the church on top of the hill or near the residential area and its outskirts. This is something that is obvious to anyone who's explored a little around town at all and has a bit of observational skills.

Today, however...

A little past the array of houses, near what should be a quiet clearing, is a cacophony of chirping. Anyone who goes to investigate will find nine eggs there in the middle of the clearing. At least... They look sort of like eggs. They all share a general egg shape as the best: oval and white. However... One seems to have fins on the side of it. Another seems to have cracks in its shell that almost seem like jaws. Et cetera, et cetera. All of them are mobile, but they don't go very far. In fact, they stick pretty close together and only seem to wander a little ways off from the main group before stumbling back and inevitably colliding with one of their own.

Crouched down behind a decently sized bush is a young woman with quivering antennae and delicate bug-like wings, her blue hair held back out of her face. For anyone who's been particularly social or observant or both, they might recognize her: this is Rachel, the daughter of the general store couple.

Comments

[npcsofmana]

Having the other woman go along with the sudden grab and request, Rachel eased up noticeably and smiled. "I'm Rachel. It's nice to meet you." Her grip as she shook Irves hand was sure and steady, but didn't last long. She was a bit busy peeking over the edge of the bush again to make sure the eggs hadn't run off.

"Oh, no!" she whispered back, trying to muffle a quiet laugh behind one hand. "They're not. It's just, um, sometimes Chocobo or Rabites feel comfortable enough to put their eggs around here... I like to check sometimes, just to see." She bit her lip, brow furrowing.

"But... These eggs are different. We don't get these types around here. I'm a little worried, actually..."

[raeshiel]

Chocobos! The thought of the familiar birds sent a warm flutter through Irves' chest. But these weren't like any chocobo eggs the Au Ra woman had ever seen, and Rachel confirmed it. The dark haired woman cast her eyes over the mismatched clutch scuttling and rolling. The little scaled one seemed to be banging into its mates more frequently than others, its little scaley clawed feet just the cutest things.

"Worried? But they're so cute..." she trailed off thoughtfully. "Although... you have a point, I've never seen so many different kinds of eggs in one clutch. They can't all be related can they? What could possible lay that kind of variety?"

Irves contemplated a chimera so ridiculous she snorted. Not possible.

"Do you think we should take them somewhere safer? There have to be hawks or something just waiting for these little guys to hatch." Irves shaded her eyes and looked up at the blue, blue sky. The sun was right in the way of any birds that might be overhead, so she couldn't tell for sure. But if she was a scavenger these little ones would look mighty tasty.

[npcsofmana]

"Oh, well, they're probably not from the same parent!" Thoughtfully, Rachel pressed a finger to her cheek in thought. "More likely is that they were supposed to be a part of a delivery and got lost... Or a traveler dumped them here for some reason. Something like that."

A shrug, and another frown. "But the local creatures won't like them..." She shook her head.

"Anyway, I'd take them back to my home but... There's not enough room. Do you...?" Trailing off, she looked at Irves a little more. "Oh. Are you from that tree? Reverend Nouvelle mentioned people living there again."

[raeshiel]

"I am! Kind of..." Irves made a bit of a face. "I'm not from here from here... but I am currently living in the tree, yes!" That did not come out as straightforward and explanatory as it was in her head, but Irves pressed on.

She caught the unasked question, and the answer made her chest flutter like a chocobo hatchling. "I could... see if I can take care of one. There's lots of room in the barn, and a wide open space beside. I'm very good at caring for little ones... and big ones..." Hope made her voice higher than it normally was.

[npcsofmana]

Excitedly, Rachel's wings flutter at the agreement. "Thank you! I didn't want to impose on someone when I'd just met them, but this would be such a relief. I mean, with who knows what coming out of the eggs, it could cause people in town trouble if they weren't watched..."

Strange monsters, et cetera, et cetera. Rachel snaps her fingers together. "Oh, hold on..." From the bushes, she tugs out a small packpack. From out of it, she starts to pull out fruit and dried meat, leaving them to the side.

"At this stage, eggs like that can eat... They'll be easier to scoop up if they're full and sleepy, right?"