Talas woke to the gnawing of the babies at the corners of his mind. It was dark outside. He stumbled towards the opening of the cave. Reaching down he rubbed the healing bone and wound. The med nanos are working. Almost mended. Two days I should be able to walk. Maybe visit that old city. Talas leaned up against the wall of the cave entrance and gazed out into the night. The blood red glow just about gone. Such a strange place. Where in the emperor’s beard am I? Where are you, Asha?

The fluttering of wings and scraping of talons gripping rock woke Asha from her deep slumber on ledge in the water. Nibiks. Slowly and quietly, Asha rolled off the shelf into the pool of water. Her armor was at the bottom. Silently she exhaled and forced herself to the bottom of the naturally formed pool. Where are you, not see well here. Straining her emitter eyes to focus and not scatter in the liquid she spotted the armor.

There you are, now to wiggle in but chest will not be closed for a night or two. She wiggled into the armor feeling each limb enter the appendage except the two bottom middle leg/arms. She had left them behind in the chitin armor. Wiggling slowly as to not disturb the surface of the water she felt the snick-pop of the ball and socket reconnecting. Ahh, there you go. Slowly flexing her appendages to ensure her chitin was fitted she could feel the cool water in and out as she breathed. Slowly moving each hand/foot she raised herself to the surface of the pool. Clearing her eyes she examined the roof of the cave. Spotting the upside-down hanging Nibiks. Asha quietly paddled on her back to the ledge she had slept on while watching the Nibiks to make sure they did not wake.

 Asha brought each limb out tentatively as she crawled out of the water hoping she would not wake any of the Nibiks. They can pierce my armor with their beaks. Tear into me and with my chest open I will not live. With that thought of her chest carapace still split a hairline completely down the front. Out of the water now, Asha crept with her chest to the ground to protect the hairline crack in her caprice. Must be quite, the wings, its ok, they just repositioning. Almost to the entrance. The night air was cool and coming into the cave Asha stopped for a moment, What was that? No they are asleep, Now! With that thought she bolted out the cave entrance. Running hard and fast Asha put as much distance as she could from the cave that had saved her that day but would be death in the night.

  As she ran silt was kicked up and worked its way into the hairline crack. Winching from the irritation Asha stopped for a minute and tried to relieve the itching. She knew she would have to leave her armor again to clean out the silt. On she ran in the dark night. This time no hunting, just home. Sorrow filled her and a sob escaped her mandible covered mouth My babies, some will die tonight. No food for two nights. Babies will eat dead babies, the will be ok. Talas, he be hungry. He no love me, why I worry about him. Kicking harder Asha ran and sobbed into the night towards her dying children waiting to be fed.

-d²