"Io, Io, name. What-their name?" Sorcha asked excitedly.
"Yes, they needs a name." Dagan agreed, his face reverting back to its normal blank state, the gentleness that had been there since the rock egg had hatched not to be seen. Io could feel her brow quirk though. While none of his anxiety appeared on Dagan's face, his delicately clawed hand tightened ever so lightly around their new family member's golden hands.
Right name. Io's brows furrowed as she thought it over. Dagan meant, "Of the earth," and had some connotations to volcanos. Enduring and fierce was the core of the young boy, hence the name Dagan. Sorcha got her name because she was and is like a radiant light, giving not just Dagan, but Io as well a beacon to always find their way home.
Now this one.... hmmm...
Where Dagan was like a living flame and Sorcha, was like a glacier with fathomless depths amidst the ocean, this little one was like the earth adorned in gemstones with their rich rich earthy skin, long black hair, and golden scales and ruby-colored eyes. Something that fit their looks and from how Dagan and Sorcha had fire and ice, this one she guessed would be something... Earthy.
Dust? Sol? Gravel? Rocky? Canyon? That was too literal, even for her. The personification of earth... Dagan and Sorcha's forms reflected their temperament. No, no. Io shook her head. There was no way to determine what gender the little gemstone was and quite frankly she would rather not anyway. All right, so we will stick with strictly gender-neutral names. So if this was the case, then perhaps this would do. The little monsters watched carefully as Io slowly wrote the little gemstone's name in the dirt.
"Eeeee-den!" Dagan slowly sounded out. Limited by how she could communicate, Io settled on a name that would be easily readable for the twins. Furthermore, the name was a good balance between delicate for a girl and peaceful for a boy and a perfect representation of the paradise that this place was.
Sorcha had a thoughtful look on her face and Io had to wonder if she was remembering their previous world, a desolate and dying planet. During a particularly nasty storm, acid had literally rained down. After they ensconced themselves in one of the inner rooms, they had run across some books that had pages as thin as spider silk. Many of the pages in these books had gone missing or were so fragile that they'd fall apart if you tried picking them up.
With nothing to do to wile away a storm, they had scrounged around the delicate books for something new to learn. It took them some time, but eventually, they found a few in good enough condition to read. In that first book, they read that "Eden" meant the land of plenty or paradise.
Whenever they were in the library, Io read to Dagan and Sorcha. Not that she couldn't teach them what she had been taught, but her education stopped abruptly when she fled the facility. While they could not stay in the library full time in order to divert or avoid unwanted attention, they made it their winter home at the very least. Sometimes they stayed through the spring, but anytime they were at the library, Io had to patrol at least twice a day. It was necessary for her to make sure no one was nearing or if they were, then Io would either dispose of them or grab the kids and disappear.
Nevertheless, the library was home base for them and anytime they were there, Io always tried to read as many books as she could to Dagan and Sorcha. Io might have been educated in the facility, but she was only taught what relevant concepts to present-day society. As far as she was concerned, that kind of society with its skin-deep culture and need for perfection was nothing more than trash.
She never realized how broken they were until the administrators reclassified Io as a Phial. Pretty hypocritical, right? It took her over a month to process all the implications of what that meant and what she had done to get out of S.E.L.F or the Standard Elite Learning Facility.
Eventually, it would not be until Io read the philosophical rambles to Sorcha and Dagan that she realized just how broken their society had become. Philosophy was a hard one for her to understand. Many of the principles dated centuries, if not thousands, of years back. Honestly, so much of the text was so far out of context compared to how modern society functioned that she was unable to completely comprehend it all.
Not to mention there was no place for such deep philosophical ramblings about how outcasts lived. It was do or die. You or me, and for a teenage girl with two toddlers, there was just not enough time, energy, or even trust in speaking to other outcasts to start a revolutionary way of thinking. If she could put aside all of her murderous impulses and speak to another, it would be more likely that whoever she spoke to would turn them in for a year's worth of physiological-tailored Vita Bars. That was just the world they lived in.
Enough of dwelling in the past, though. Eden was a perfect name for this little monster, for they would be the love and protection of a family from day one in a world that had not been ravaged like a deadly plague. To live freely and not their path in life written out for them like a code in a machine? Wasn't that the definition of paradise? That is what she wanted for this one.
Io watched Sorcha laugh while she danced in circles merrily, calling out to Eden to come to play, while Dagan encouraged their newest family member to speak. Io relaxed fully as she soaked in her siblings' joy. When Sorcha danced close enough, though Io swooped the youngling off her feet with her tail. Sorcha cackled as Io brought her in for some nuzzles for a moment. Once done, she looked over at Dagan. The little flame moved closer, making sure to not let go of Eden's hands. When he got close enough, Dagan rested his forehead against Io's, their version of a hug.
Then it was Eden's turn. Eden looked at Io uncertainly and Io could feel a tenderness welling up. It was like Sorcha all over again. Io slowly wrapped a paw around the little gemstone's waist and pulled them in closer. Dagan, ever the protector, moved closer as well, offering reassurance that everything was ok in his own way by not letting go of Eden. Honestly, he was so cute! Io sighed on the inside. Once Eden was in range, Io put her paw on the ground and like she had done with Dagan, Io gently rested her forehead against Eden's she pulled back. It wasn't a long time and while Eden had allowed her to move them closer; she did not want to pressure them either. Besides quality cuddles or moments of affection for her were like the sun burning away the leftover emotional grime from a nightmare. Absolutely blissful.
BOOOOOM!
Birds flew out of the trees nearby and animals they had never seen started running through their little piece of heaven. Luckily, they were on the other side of the rock, which served as a stopgap between the stampeding animals and them. Io whipped her head towards the sound as she got up waiting for a hint of what her next move would be as she hadn't run across this phenomenon in the books from their library. Just to be on the safe side though, Io wrapped her tail around the trio and deposited them onto her back.
Sorcha climbed around Eden and sat in front of them to give the little gemstone something to cling to while Dagan sat right behind them, offering support should they fall. Sorcha sunk her grey claws into Io's inky fur signaling her readiness. Behind Eden Dagan reached over the little gemstone's legs and gripped onto Io's fur. While uncomfortable for Dagan, he acted as a catch-all for Eden, effectively creating a tight brace for the newly hatched gemstone. Eden got the hint and clung to Sorcha and once Dagan gave a sharp pull, letting her know she was ready.
BOOM. BOOM.
The ground vibrated, causing Io's paws to tingle. It sounded like whatever the hell that was, was headed their way. Io let out a snarl of displeasure as she sprang into action. It was at this moment that Io was truly grateful for every centimeter of her large form and the strength that lived within her monstrous form. It was because of this that she easily carried all three members of her family away, and don't make light of their young age. She was probably carrying at least 73 kg on her back.
Io nipped at any beast that was in her way, causing them to veer out of her path. After all, not many creatures were going to stop fighting amid running away from what Io guessed to be an unfriendly colossus. She needed to find out what this mystery beast was any way to determine its threat level and whether she could get them away from it, or if she needed to find somewhere easily defensible.
She ran until she found the side of the mountain from earlier and searched the area. Where is it? She dashed up the side of the mountain casting for that wet earth sent that she had passed after rescuing the twins earlier. The only reason, that she hadn't brought them back to the area was that she had needed the wide bandage-like plant, for the twins' wounds.
Ah! There it is! Io turned sharply and winced at the gasps of surprise from the trio clinging to her back. Io's body bunched as she lept across some of the larger rocks. The area she was getting was difficult to get to but the kids could manage if they had to, well, Sorcha and Dagan, but they'd teach Eden, so that laid that worry to rest. Io slid to a halt and wrapped the trio back up in her tail and carried them into the small den-like space.
There, Io set them down and went back to the entrance. Io was close enough to the opening to have a 180-degree view, but she was mindful enough to stay within the shadows because of the setting suns. It was a risk. The colossus may have spotted her as she went into the cave, but it was a risk that she willing take as this location gave her the best advantage.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
In the distance she could the trees shaking, some falling as the colossus made its way through the forest. The kids warbled some as they overlooked my shoulder but Io snarled at them, baring a fang for them to remain silent so as not to give us away. Io felt bad for a moment but there was no time for coddling. This was an unknown threat and she needed for Dagan and Sorcha to stay strong. Who knows how Eden would react. She could handle one child panicking but three? Unless she wrapped them all up in her tail, was very little in the way of decent coaxing while she kept vigilante over the threat.
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
The colossus was now within sight and the closer it came, the more Io could see steam rising from around her. Must be some sort of reaction to a threat Io observed, be she focused back on the situation at hand. Io pushed gently pushed each of her little monsters further into the cave.
The colossus had changed direction the moment her scales had done that weird breathing. Tiny little fires twinkled amongst her scales and from under her fur. Amidst all the wisps of steam emanating from her shadowy form, Io could feel her inside cool as she prepped for what was to come. She had probably about fifteen minutes. Io turned away from the entrance and strode towards Dagan, Sorcha, and Eden. She stared at them hard for a moment. Eden let out a soft whimper and Dagan stepped closer, clasping their little golden claws within his own. As Dagan comforted the little gemstone, though, both he and Sorcha stared at Io solemnly.
Io let out a deep breath and scooped a pawful of damp earth and chuffed again. Sorcha stepped up and Io smeared one, two, eight pawfuls of damp earth onto the little ice cube, taking care to cover her beautiful opalescent scales, milky skin, and cyan-colored hair. Once Io was done, she looked at Dagan. While taking care of Sorcha, Dagan had covered Eden in the dark soil, and while there was hardly between their skin color and the earth, their golden scales had completely disappeared. Dagan stepped forward and Io covered her brave little flame in the muck, his radiant orange scales and red hair now camouflaged against the darkened interior of the cave.
Once she was satisfied, Io pushed them even deeper into the cave until they were huddled against the wall at the back of the cave where the light barely reached. She rumbled softly to get their attention. Once she had it, Io drew a line between her and the little monsters and then growled threateningly. Once their cat-like eyes were sufficiently wide enough, Io chuffed at the trio and padded quickly back to the entrance.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The destruction that the colossus had wrought was astounding. The colossus was like some super-sized crocodile. It stood on two legs, with powerful forearms, and a long crocodilian-like muzzle. Full-grown trees reached barely reached the beast's knees as the monster waded agilely through the forest, and while Io had been making sure that her siblings were appropriately hidden it had gone from being a speck on the horizon to being there probably within the next ten minutes.
Io looked back into the cave.
"Io?" Dagan asked.
"Io, white or black?" Sorcha added.
Io chuffed softly before she faced the oncoming colossus. It had always been this way for her. Dagan, Sorcha, and now Eden were hers to keep safe. Safe they would be. She knew that, but that first step was the hardest step she had ever taken. In her previous world, she knew exactly what she was dealing with. Here? As much of a monster as she was, the odds for their survival were not in their favor. Not now that she knew beasts such as this existed. She took one step forward, then two.
"I...I... I-o. Io." Eden called out, alarmed at his siblings' behavior. Io almost chuffed again at the sound of their sweet voice, that their first word. Io shook her head. Now more than ever, she needed to focus and keep an eye out for any weaknesses.
Io took another step forward, and her siblings cried again.
"Io no go. Stay." Sorcha pleaded. Io could almost hear the tears in her voice.
"Io, no. Io could die. Stay here. Hidden. Safe" Dagan begged, his voice wobbling towards the end.
Io wanted nothing more than to turn back around and stay with her siblings, but that thing was coming. There was no way that she could have outrun it, and if had followed her or her little monsters, then it was a threat that needed to be dealt with immediately. However, with all their crying and the fact that Io wasn't so sure if the colossus was after her or her siblings, and the fear that it maybe her siblings had her turning and growling threateningly at the little monsters. Once they quieted down, Io left the den the same way she had entered.
While Dagan and Sorcha stayed, she could hear their screams for Io to come back. Io's ears twitched back, and she released a hellish baleful howl, full of challenge loud enough to cover the sound of the twins screaming. The tiny flares between her scales flickered in darkness as she made her way down the mountain. She choose the sparsest route to the colossus in hopes the small flickering fires would keep its attention as continuously roared her challenge of its dominance.
They may not understand why she left, but that doesn't mean that she did not love them any less. It was her love for them that was her reason to challenge the impossible. It would be the love that she had for them that would shine as the beacon in her mind and heart for why she had to survive and come to back them. To not give in, no matter what. For them, she had regained her sanity and for them, she would overcome the inconceivable.