The Forgotten Zodiac

"Neither did I," Verolen shrugged. "When I heard Bershee was the only one left, I assumed it was final. But I guess she was carrying eggs...I wonder how long she's been holding onto them for." He stopped at the edge of the water. "You go on ahead. I don't have a breathing pearl. I'll just go tell Bershee where you are."

Bermuda smiled slightly at Verolen, then slipped into the water. He took a moment to get accustomed to the chill before diving under to go look at the eggs.

The water at the bottom was a bit warmer, and decorated with seaweed, sand, and pearl thread. The eggs had been moved to the center of the floor; they were much larger now, big enough to hold the growing babies within. The lumpy blue-grey shells were neatly sat in a row, each almost identical to the next. And one, at the very end, slightly smaller than the others, had a thick, ugly crack at the top.

Bermuda saw the cracked one, and, concerned, swam over to it. Very carefully, he lifted the smallest egg, floating a few feet from the bottom of the pool and cradling it in his arms. He frowned at it for a moment, then softly began singing a quiet galdr. 

"Min släkt är full av hjältar,

Decennier av slit,

Brustna hjärtan, trötta leder,

Deras stolthet bar mig hit,

Nu är dom gömda bakom stjärnor,

Vid vintergatans kant,

Dom är glömda men dom talar,

Och dom bar mig ända hit,

Jag ska besvara elden,

Om jag kan ta dig dit,

Jag ska bevara elden,

i en sång för vår elit."

It was not a healing galdr, but rather more like a lullaby, meant to soothe and bring peace to the listener. Bermuda wasn't entirely sure why he was singing, underwater no less, where his words were somewhat garbled (though more understandable than most people talking underwater), to a group of little ones that probably couldn't hear him, but it seemed the thing to do.

Bermuda was able to feel a slight stir from inside the egg, and then a sharper one before it fell still again. So the young inside was still alive. Perhaps it had broken the shell itself, but it was sure having trouble with the rest of it. It kicked again, and the crack widened a bit, but the baby inside was obviously worn out already.

"You can do it," Bermuda murmured quietly, sitting the egg back down on the sand and resting on the bottom beside the little one.

Bershee sank to the bottom a few minutes later. "I see you found Olbe." She smiled gently. "He's one of three males. The other two are girls. I'm quite fortunate to have them, but I'm a bit concerned about Olbe...he's smaller than the others. But I named him after his father...hopefully he'll have some of his luck." She said softly.

Bermuda glanced up, looking slightly startled as Bershee's voice drifted to his ears. He smiled slightly and looked at te eggs again. "I'm sure they'll all be fine," he said reassuringly. "I'll bet you're excited."

"I am. But also worried. I've already voiced my concerns to L'arc...if I am unable to teach these children properly, if I err in any way, these errs will be prevailent in the Octi race generation after generation. My kind are very stubborn in our ways; how we were raised plays a huge part in how we act as adults. I...am no wise elder, or all-knowing magician. I've never raised young of my own before, and here I am with five...five lives to mold and help grow, and...it scares me, the idea of raising them wrong..."

"Well, you won't have to do it alone," Bermuda said, looking at Bershee seriously. "I mean, you've got Eltanin, right? And I'll certainly help in any way you need..." he said.

Bershee smiled softly. "Yes, I do not think I'm alone. I...fear for my young's safety in Rasalhogue, though. Would the Selkies take their troubles out on my young? I am assured it will not happen, but I'm afraid that at the first sign of danger, I may have to leave Eltanin for safety..."

"I think Eltie will be able to keep control," Bermuda said. "Though you have every right to worry..."

"Verolen said the same. I am merely...unsure of how to proceed." Bershee murmured, settling on the bottom of the pool and watching the eggs. A few of them were stirring, indeed. It was so very close to hatching day.

"Octi eggs spend an average of three years in the laying stage, held back from the world and safe within their mothers.. They're held back most often because mothers wish for everything to be perfect when their babies arrive. Octi young are...delicate. Miss a single feeding by merely an hour in their first stages, and they could all too easily die. Because of this, special preparations have to be made. So the babies are held back. Not a big deal. But...I've spent far too much time waiting around for signs of peace, and too little time preparing. My own mother had a pile bigger than her, all of it food so that she could make the milk we needed." Bershee pointed to a small heap of seaweed, pickled fish, and other various foods. It was hardly a pile her size, much less enough for more than a couple meals. "That's all I have. Do you think it would affect anything if I were to eat the fruits and foods available here? And...three years on average. Three! I've been holding mine for almost twelve, I think...do you think that affected them? What do I do if it has, and they come out...wrong? I--" She stopped herself, blushing. "I...I'm sorry, Bermuda. I shouldn't be burdening you with my thoughts. You have enough troubles on your own, after all."

"I could always stand a few more," Bermuda said, smiling in what he hoped was a reassuring way. He looked at the eggs for a moment, then back to Bershee. "If you want, I could use my magic to take a closer look at them, and see what's going on with them," he offered.

Bershee blinked in surprise. "Would you? Would you examine Olbe? I'm worried about him, he's small and two days early for the crack..." She lifted the cracked egg, placing it in Bermuda's hands eagerly. "I-I mean, if it's not a bother."

"Of course, no trouble at all," Bermuda said, smiling reassuringly as he took the egg gently into his hand. He closed his eyes and focused a small amount of magic in his hands, using it to look into the egg.

Olbe was doing fine. He was a couple days early, and a bit small, but his heart, lungs, and brain all seemed ready for it. He was resting now, but would soon be throwing more kicks in order to get out of his shell.

When Bershee heard the news, she relaxed visibly. "Thank you," She smiled, taking the egg back. "I'll keep an eye on him, just in case. But you've put a great deal of my worries to rest."

"No problem," Bermuda said, smiling slightly. He looked at the eggs. "Which one is L'arc supposed to name?" he asked, wondering if the druid ever got back to Bershee on that.

"This one," Bershee picked up a smoother looking egg. "It's a girl. L'arc hasn't given me a name yet, but I'm sure he'll come up with a good one." She set it back down, and ran her fingers over yet another. "This one is a boy. His name will be Elton." She smiled wistfully, then named the fourth and fifth, which were male and female, respectively. "Johan and Xala. The happy Greywater family."

((Olbe, -insert name here-, Elton, Johan, and Xala. I'm never going to remember all this. xDD))

Bermuda nodded and smiled at the names. "I sure do hope L'arc picks a good one. Wouldn't do for the others to pick on her," he said.