Wordcount: 304 words
Rating/Warnings: PG-13
Summary: What it says on the tin.
NOTE: This is the first draft of a story, so it will most likely contain plot holes, retcons, and other inconsistencies. I’ll come back and fix things once the story (or arc) is complete!
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The Clichéd Hatching is Upon Us!
The hatching was a spectator’s event; the humans were just there to watch. The foxhawks were there to celebrate. May’s parents were sitting higher up, but she was down minding her brother by the edges. The children had priority when it came down to the front rows and this would be the last year she qualified for the good seats.
Once the first egg started to rock, the whole nest came alive with movement. The hens called out to the sleepers in the shells to awaken and find their way to the light. Most of the hatchlings were already awake and waiting, having been soothed into patience by the hens as the time grew near. Now they burst into a frenzy of movement.
The largest egg rocked back and forth, then the first crack appeared. Hatchings were not instantaneous and the hen went from egg to egg, helping the chicks break their way free.
As soon as the first golden paw made it out of the shell, the whispers of shock ran through the audience. The foxhawks did not care what color they were, they gave no status based on that, but golden foxhawks always meant catastrophe to the humans so the omen was a very bad one.
The golden chick stumbled out towards the crowd, to join the other hatchlings who were now fluffy and personable. They looked like drowned rats when they first hatched, baby fluff weighed down with fluid, but under the preening attention of the hens, they were soon fluffed out with chicks down and kit fox fuzz.
Once all of the eggs had hatched, the humans were allowed to greet them, and the two sides nervously approached– the nerves only lasted a few seconds and then the irresistible chemistry between children and puppies won out, as it always did.
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