It was raining. The downpour soaked everything, dripping into the tiniest of crevices, and the most hidden of alcoves. The river levels rose, and quickly swallowed their rocky banks. Steam rose from the ground in some parts, creating a thick fog that muffled all sound and rendered anyone's sense of direction blind.
The trees' leaves dipped from the accumulated rain water on its branches. The various beasts and monsters were taking shelter from the seasonal downpour. Even the most powerful of the beasts were in hiding. The Hungering Woods was known for its temperamental weather, among other things.
As the ground was soaked, the dirt became mud, and as the mud increased, the faint outlines of a soft, beige coloured shell was uncovered. The shell was like a membrane, its exterior leathery to the touch, instead of the hard, smooth texture that was expected from eggs.
Because all the predators and scavengers were in hiding, the egg that would usually be consumed immediately by ravenous beasts was spared.
As the downpour continued, soaking the ground further, a faint pulse reverberated from within the shell. The egg seemed to suck in any and all water from its surroundings to no limit nor end. The mud that had formed around it was quickly dried and sucked of any moisture. The rain continued, and the pulse within the egg only grew more robust with every beat.
The beige colour of the egg darkened, until it was a dark mahogany brown with undertones of light russet.
The shell of the egg stretched and lengthened in some places, but shrank in others. Slowly, instead of an egg, something akin to a sack had formed, spreading tendrils of mahogany brown into the dried mud.
As the storm continued, lightning began raining down upon the trees, the resulting fire quickly put out by the rain. Thunder rumbled ominously everywhere. The cloud had darkened the sky that from dusk till dawn, from day to night, everything bathed in dark grey light.
The sack continued growing, turning more transparent by the day. Gradually, a four-limbed shadow could be made out from the shell. The shadow grew and stretched, and a head was easily visible, the shadow's snout growing closer to the shell.
When the thunder and lightning had eased, the snout of the shape had pierced through the shell, and breathed in its first taste of air. Its limbs developed further, a tail growing last.
Then, prompted by an archaic instinct, it kicked out, waved its arms around, and struggled. It wanted out from the shell.
Stretched to its limits the shell had been, it easily ripped, and the creature from within spilled out, golden eyes opening for the first time. Its small body was covered with deep, dark brown fur that looked pitch black in most lightings.
It crawled up, and stretched its forelegs slowly, staring in wonderment at its own limbs. On its forelegs were small paws, the pads still soft and pink. And attached to the paws were vicious and curved claws.
It swept its furry tail back and forth, before growing tired. It laid down to rest, unaware of the dangers it was surrounded by.
Unnoticed by it, the rain seemed to curve away from it, and the droplets that did land on it slid down easily, like it had been covered in oil.
Further away, dark yellow eyes on a face covered in scales and old scars stared intently at the newborn beast.