Aunril's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Aunril moved back toward the meteor creature's nest at first light. He needed to count how many days remained before those eggs hatched. If he knew the timing, he could plan around it. The creature lifted its fragmented head as he approached, yellow eyes tracking his path. But the crater nest stood empty. Three broken shells lay scattered across the stone bowl, still warm, their insides slick with something that glowed faintly in the dim light. The eggs had hatched early. Aunril spun, scanning the ground. Small tracks led away in multiple directions, pressed into the ash and sulfur deposits. The hatchlings were already loose. He ran toward the trail where the fungi grew thickest, where small creatures always tried to hide. The path showed clear signs of disturbance — flattened moss, scattered twigs, and tiny glowing prints that led deeper into the grounds. Aunril grabbed the wide-mesh net from his workspace, the one with cords that glowed at the edges. He could see the hatchlings ahead, three small shapes crackling with energy as they moved toward the old monolith. Toward his parents' eggs. Aunril threw the net wide, catching two of the hatchlings in one sweep. They sparked and thrashed against the mesh, but the cords held. The third hatchling slipped past him, faster than he expected. He chased it down the slope, his smaller legs burning with effort. When he finally cornered it against the fence, the meteor creature appeared above him on the rocks, watching. It did not attack. It simply waited as Aunril scooped the third hatchling into a fold of the net and carried all three back up the ridge. He placed them in the crater nest and backed away slowly. The creature descended to its young, fragments settling into a protective stance. Aunril had bought time, but now the creature knew he would interfere. The problem had changed from unknown threat to active conflict.