CW:

CRABS! getting picked up by crabs. Lil talks of abuse from Temple things.

We don’t even for a second think it means to hurt us. Can’t hear a single song from this big friend that’s anything but sleepy and… content? Except a little… something else. A soft buzzing of waiting for something?

Someones?

Not sure.

“Um… Ina? Aceso?” Rahdian whispers. “I think this is the same one that carried me through the storm from before.”

We don’t break what we hope is eye contact with this big friend to ask, “Really?”

“Unless they all look the same.” She clarifies. “Which… I don’t think they do? But I’ve only seen one before and only for a little bit and… um…”

She trails off, and we do glance over to see her a bit… worried.

Which… I mean if she can’t hear the big sleepy songs pouring off our big friend then that makes sense. I mumble to my fifth lover.

Aceso radiates agreement as inspiration bubbles. Then… let’s show her and all those behind us that, despite appearances, this one is nothing but gentle.

Huh? What are you…?

In answer, she gently tugs Rahdian forward to stand right in front of this big gemstone crab. Lays a hand on its shell and…

And asks if it needs anything. If those still within the Zeridii’s Dream that are considering hatching into our Waking World need help or encouragement or gifted inspirations. If… if any would find this all less scary from the shoulders of a friend brimming with warm Amwella?

“Hii help.” Her little friend Chimes along. “Hii!!!”

Rahdian leans down to pick up and clutch her little cutie close as I can’t help but melt a bit into her endless love dribbling from the song Aceso offers this big friend. How… how it feels to come from such a deep and easy part of her. I… I think this is both the girl she was when weaving the World Song to keep everyone safe, the goddess she tried to be to everyone she met afterwards, and… and the person she wants to be again.

Our big friend thrums a loud hum in reply. Song shifting from sleepy curiosity to alert motion and…

Oh.

Quicker than should be possible for a friend of this size, one of those big still snow covered claws is up and wrapping about us and Rahdian. Picking us up like she told us it did all those weeks ago and dropping us onto its back.

All before we finish a couple sharp breaths of surprise. Not scared but… really really taken off guard. Even Aceso.

“Help help help help help…” Rahdian’s little cutie gurgles from her arms.

“Fuck. Sorry.” I giggle and turn to them, working to make sure she’s steady as the claw pulls away to leave us standing. “We… She did not expect that. Are you okay?”

Rahdian nods through a couple deep breaths, hugs her little cutie close while whispering. “Y– yeah. Just… um… yeah. Just as scary as the first time.”

Aceso weaves a gentle song of thanks and questions to our big friend but… also a soft request for it to not snatch people up without their permission. A thrumming of considerations and thinking buzzes all through the shell of the crab beneath our feet, one of… agreement? Mayhaps an apology?

But then clarifications just as our eyes land upon…

OH!

Kneel down to find the source of this big friend's anticipation and sleepy waiting along the only good road left out of Arudia. Half buried in a mound of settled snow.

Eggs. Or… The closest thing the Zeridii makes? I ask as eyes roll over the glittering shapes. Not round though. More like…

“Shells?!?” Rahdian exclaims, all worry blossoming into excitement and awe.

“Hi hi hi hi hi HELP!” Giggles out her little cutie in reply.

“Yes.” Aceso whispers through our lips. “These… These are the first of a little new clutch. A brood that would adore the chance to explore this Waking World. But not alone. They’re waiting here for… for the Arudian males. If I’m understanding their songs well.”

Curse bites her so hard at that but… She refuses to lean into the hatred woven through it. Endures the buckling cracking ache that it would bring. Causes the Curse to grumble in annoyance while sinking fangs and talons into my fifth lover as she–

“Help hii help halp.” Rahdian’s little cutie whispers to her, and my lover shakes herself from the thought.

Letting the curse settle while turning thoughts away from the conflict.

“That’s… So like how you are with me?” She asks the one she hugs close.

It makes a sound somewhere between a gurgle and hiccup, wiggling about a little, then chirps. “Hii help hii hii hii!”

We chuckle at that and fading pain. “Yes, but also… No? Each will decide what it wants to be. Both to themselves and also the person they pick. Some may even decide the Waking World isn’t the place they want to grow in after a while.”

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** ** **

It takes us a bit to gather them all so we can explain this. But the heart of this is simple enough…

“The Zeridii wants to ask and offer you all something. They know you are about to face a new life, and never want you to feel alone. They... They understand that pain. Are growing into new shapes too. And would love your help.” We explain after we’ve gathered them to walk up the snowdrift that’s settled up against our big friend.

All others wait below though. Our lovers, the Azure Compact’s members, and plenty others trying to leave the Academy.

We kneel and sit next to the gathered egg growths beside Rahdian. And… already they seem more… something. Blossoming? Like a flower but still very shell shaped. I observe openly to my spirit lover.

They feel those they adore close and curious. Aceso whispers back. Are literally bubbling with excitement.

“So… Probably one at a time is best.” We turn our attention back to the group.

The first is… at least twice my age, I think. But about our size. Where so many other monsters wear looks of wonder and fear amidst their curiosity… he seems nothing but excited. In their hesitation he steps right up and kneels.

Don’t flinch. Ignore the Curse. Focus on... on the process. Not the people and monsters involved.

“So… Am I supposed to pick?” He asks.

“No. These… are just the shells.” We reply evenly, keeping eyes on the glimmering gemstones. “A spirit within the Zeridii has already decided to ask you for this, now it will shape itself and–”

A loud crack interrupts us, one of the more flower shaped gemstones starting to wiggle and shiver amidst the still garden of cold stone.

Before either of us can react it's already pulled itself from the snow and clutch. Even cracked itself free of what seems like roots to tumble forwards. The monster kind of jumps, but doesn’t recoil, and is even able to catch his new little friend.

Yup. Totally shaped like some really pretty but... kinda silly flower. I giggle to my Aceso. Legs a tangled mess it's gonna have to figure out.

“Hii!” Calls out Rahdian’s little cutie from her arms.

The flower shaped Zeridii wriggles and wobbles but… nuzzles close to this monster as he stares down in wonder.

“I don’t…” He stammers, then as it seems to tilt upways toward him. “Hey there, little one. I… My name is Fretrea.”

The newly hatched Zeridii doesn’t speak, but seems to ruffle petals and roots and everything so happily at the sound of this monster’s voice and name. And…

And that hurts to see. More than we’d ever admit to anyone.

“Take care of each other.” We whisper, tilting our head back the way this monster came.

He nods and rises, carefully and gently clutching this new friend close.

And… the next is similar in some ways but different in others. The male is younger, and tumbles backways when his cute friend cracks forth in fear and surprise. But… soon carefully crawls forward with a hand outstretched. Allowing what seems to be a tangle of snakes spilling from a shell curl about his fingers. Latching on and nuzzling close while buzzing a little melody.

A thing of apology and worry and… and request. Anxiety woven in glimmering shape and song pleading with this monster to not be afraid. To not hate it. To… to please not leave it behind.

And… somehow this monster understands the song, and with tears in his eyes pulls the little one close. Mumbling soft nothings of promise to this new friend.

After that the others gathered start to grow enthralled. Anticipate their turn with more and more excitement. Whisper to each other about the shapes and colors and forms their new friends will take.

About midway through a pair steps forward together. Nether are ones we recognize like some of the others, as each was from the third group that we never did more than verify our claims in the blurry hours after Emarial had left.

“Um… Sorry.” The taller one says when we raise an eyebrow in question. “Kinatii wanted me to stick close. If… Is that okay? Won’t confuse anything?”

We shake our head. “It shouldn’t.”

The little one, Kinatii, glances back at the taller one. Who nods and nudges him forward. “Go ahead. I’m right behind.”

He takes a deep breath, then releases the hand he’s been holding onto so tightly to step closer while kneeling.

Almost before he’s low enough to see, a shell snaps and shatters. Sputtering about into a dozen or more shards. For a second we all sit in stunned silence. Worried that… that something went wrong.

That this Kinatii was rejected.

But then all the little pieces twist and roll about. A harmony bouncing between the shards that now sprout little legs and skitter toward the Arudian male. We think he’d be tumbling back in surprise and fear but his expression is nothing but drowned in awe and delight. Doesn’t even flinch as the swarm reaches his boots and begins to climb up his pants.

Ends up reaching down to give them easier pathways into his arms. Falling back into his companions arms while giggling at all his new little friends.

The taller one laughs with him, hugs the little one close while whispering. “Oh they got you figured out already, don’t they Kinatii? A perfect match.”

Kinatii nods and hugs the little clutch of buzzing bug shaped companions closer.

Then looks past to us and the clutch of shells. Shifts so Kinatii can stand while this taller one kneels before the batch.

The one that adopts him is kinda shaped like Rahdian’s little cutie. A bundle of feathers and eyes and far too many legs. Song a bubbling thing of curiosity and desire to see…

Well, it feels like everything and everyone. All at once. All the time.

Then, after enthusiastic thanks, they step away. And we oversee the rest of the procession of monsters be claimed by newly hatched or awakened Zeridii. The final three basically all happen together, as the three males can’t decide who should do last. A trio of gemstone shapes splitting out to impatiently find their new friends.

And then it’s over. Any shards remaining are just… empty stone.

“Help help?” The only little cutie remaining with us whispers.

“Ina? Aceso?” Rahdian echoes its worry. “I… Are you okay?”

Curse perks up as my stupid head finds the same pain from the night we freed them.

Consider lying through the smile we give her, but… whisper quietly. “We just… This hurt. To do. And not just from the Curse that demands we always think of them as Monsters. That’s… that’s easy. Familiar. Something we can chip at like some frozen sweet treat.”

Our lover shifts to crawl closer and sit right in front of us. Takes up a cold hand in one of hers. “Um… so like… From Temple things?”

We wince, hate reminding her of… of what was done to us. And how easily we are to read. But… nod. Can’t help but feel a bit of relief. “I… Yeah. Temple things. Just… it's kinda hard to not to be all kinds of jealous of them. How… how much better they had and have it. Then being… um… monsters aside even. Because while it hurts to accept they are more like me than anyone in Lyttoral. Save you. But… we didn’t know.”

Rahdian nods, pursing her lips. “Yeah. Fuck. You’re… I’ve been kinda thinking the same thing. How much it hurt to have this… this desire clammed up inside. But we couldn’t even find the words to tell anyone. But these guys, they… they told their moms and got help. Sure their Temple was horrible, like ours, but at least they got to spend that time in a body that felt right.”

“Exactly. It’s so fucked up!” I exclaim. “And they each got a Keeper too? Someone assigned to be their best fucking friend and lover and help them deal with all the… the things?”

“Right? Like… We were just expected to find friends among the others.” She replies. “And honestly, most of them were kinda shitty.”

“Really shitty. Fuck.” I can’t help but giggle while glaring over at the shattered shells. “Just… had to find the least shitty and hope they got nicer.”

“They never did.” Rahdian chuckles and shakes her head.

“Nope!” We sigh. “Fuck. And just… I can’t help but wonder if I’d have told a Keeper about… well… me. That I was a girl. Even if it was to just get it out. If they would have just... called me stupid for it. Or told me it didn’t matter. Or maybe helped?”

“Yeah…” Rahdian nods and looks past me, eyes distant as she pictures that. “I… Don’t think it would have gone well.”

Zigdara’s story dances at the edge of our thoughts. Of a boy stolen from his freedom, life, and mother. Then of how he was abused till he couldn’t take it anymore.

How he ended his own life.

“Probably not in Lyttoral, No. But it also could have helped.” I reply while pulling us to stand. “Would have been better than being alone and unseen.”