Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Companion

The egg started to hatch the next day.

Regina had just come back from her last trip to the river. At first, she thought she’d imagined the crack. It was a very faint sound, almost lost to the birdsong and rustle of the forest. But she hurried over to the egg to check on it anyway.

The egg was now big enough that she thought a human child could probably fit comfortably inside, if they were curled up tightly. She stared at it for a few moments, but didn’t hear anything else. Then it started to tremble faintly and the small crack she’d missed started to expand until it wrapped itself around most of the egg’s upper part.

She took a step forward, starting to go and help, before she hesitated. Regina lowered her arms and simply watched, tense, as the egg cracked further. Her fingers found the sharp stone she’d tucked into the makeshift belt around her waist and she clenched it tightly.

The first bit of the shell started to fly off. She took a step back, narrowing her eyes. She smelled someone else, a strong scent that she couldn’t quite place, but felt as if it should be familiar. It was a different kind than anything she’d gotten from the forest. Then the being inside the egg seemingly gave it a push and it started to shatter in earnest, allowing the hatchling to climb out.

Just then, a blue box popped up in Regina’s vision.

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