Eggs - Chapter 1 -Alin

[Danna]

Birds chirped high in the soon darkening sky while tired feet hidden by leather slippers shuffled out of a small forest, hand-me-down robe having gained new holes from branches snagging on the worn out fabric. The girl's hair was a mess of light green, tied up into a raggedy braid that was well in need of some TLC.

Amara had finally been sent to learn the ways of the magi, sent to practice and properly harness her magic after she nearly set her home town on fire. She was nervous, that was for sure, not ready to leave home and pick her first creature and friend from the stream and begin to learn to her fullest potential.
As was the tradition in her home town, Amara made the trek to the Keep by herself.
She had been travelling for little over two days now and the night was creeping up on her, meaning she'd have to find shelter again, but for now she'd walk until she absolutely had to stop.
As she walked onward for nearly another two hours, it wasn't long before her stomach began to growl at her, begging for food. With a sigh, she'd enter a small clearing and set up camp, rolling out her sleeping pack and retrieving her cooking utensils from her carrying bag. Hunting around the bag for a moment longer, she pulled out several vegetables and a few fruits. She had scavenged the fruit from a nearby orchard and bought the vegetables with the remaining gold her parents had given to her. If she didn't make it to the Keep soon, she would more than likely run out of food.
After preparing a fire, she picked her cooking pot out of the utensils lineup and made her way to a nearby stream with the vegetables in tow, eyes heavy from sleep.
She had to do the menial chore of scrubbing the vegetables clean, else forbid she get sick from.. whoever else touched them before her.
Vegetables and all else out of the way, she'd dip her cooking pot into the stream, catching the water she would use to make her vegetable stew.
She thought back to when she'd been at home when her magic manifested while she was in a scroll store with her friend. All she had been doing was reaching for an instructions scroll on a high shelf when flames lept from her fingertips, scorching the entire shelf and then some.
Her parents had paid for the damages, but sent her on this journey to control the powers she was gifted with.

Suddenly she was snapped back from her memory when a soft clink noise sounded from her pot, causing her to look down in curiosity.
Unable to see exactly what it was in the dark, she'd make her way back to her campfire, carrying the pot and its contents carefully. Settling down, dropping the vegetables carelessly on a sheet of fabric to keep them from becoming dirty again, she'd lift what appeared to be an egg from the water in the pot, her eyes wide with wonderment.

The egg, pale green in color, had a small tuft of orange fur sticking out of it. Amara would run her fingers lightly against it, surprised at how soft it was for just having been floating in the stream. Settlign it in her lap, she'd hunt around her traveling bag, pulling forth plenty of fuzzy fabric that she'd set up close to the fire to warm the egg. She'd stare at it for a few moments, having sworn she saw it move.
Dismissing this as a trick of the eye due to her sleep deprivition, she'd begin the task of cutting up vegetables and throwing them into the boiling water.
Then a noise came from beside her where the egg lay, her eyebrows raising sharply. She'd stare in wonderment as the egg began to hatch, tiny chips falling from the shell.
She'd wait and watch, knowing if the creature was to grow strong, it would have to free itself.
Another five or ten minutes passed and primate-like creature with pale green fur and tufts of orange fur along its back and at the end of its tail crawled lazily from the egg. It'd yawn widely, large yellowish eyes staring at her curiously. She'd wait patiently for a few moments before hand slipped inside her travel bag and pulled a book listing the many sorts of creatures there were. Checking under stream born, fingers would flip through pages until she came upon the Tropical Tarsier. She'd read all the information it had listed then glanced back to the creature she had witnessed hatched.
"So... does this mean I'm your magi now..?" She'd ask softly, soft blue eyes watching the shy creature curiously.

It would look from her to the forest quickly, then back again. It was debating running but a moment later a vacant look passed over its face and it'd slowly creep towards Amara.
She'd hold out her hand to the tarsier, which it promptly began to sniff and touch with its small paws. Another moment later it was crawling and exploring her arm and shoulders, searching her hair and robes. With a soft laugh, she'd smile, "Guess that's a yes, huh? Are you hungry little guy?" She identified the tarsier as a male due to the orange fur, knowing the females didn't sport such a thing. Hand would find a pear and she'd hold it up to the small creature, smiling when it promptly but shyly took the fruit from her. Setting it in her lap, she'd gently stroke its fur, observing it nibble hungrily at the pear.

Not much later she'd begin ladeling stew into a bowl she'd bought from a town previous to this event, carefully sipping the hot broth and taking bites from the softened vegetables.
The tarsier, having finished his pear began to sniff at the vegetables curiously and Amara would pick a potatoe and some broth from the stew with her spoon, holding it for her new friend to try.
Like she expected, he devoured it without regret and she'd pull a second bowl from her bag, filling it with plenty of vegetables and some broth. Setting it down beside her for the tarsier to eat, it'd hop from her lap and begin to make quick work of it, a look of content settled on its sweet little face.
Amara would place a hand against her face, continuing to eat her food, "Well, I suppose this means we're partners now.. I think maybe I should give you a name.. How does that sound?"
Her companion would look up, bobbing its head up and down hurridly before continuing its devouring of potatoes and carrots.
Amara would purse her lips, running a hand through her hair in contemplation, "I should give you a good name.. Something with meaning.. but it has to be fitting,"
The tarsier nodded again,
"Hm.." Amara would stare down into the broth in her bowl, as if it held all the answers to the universe, "I think I'll name you.. Alin.."
The tarsier would look up curiously, a chittering sounding from it due to curiosity and Amara would laugh,
"Its from my heritage, it means 'to soothe'. Just being near you is soothing, I feel calmer. I doubt that's your magical gift and all, but I found it fitting.."
Alin would stare up at her, then into his own bowl, head tilting to the side. With another chitter, it'd crawl into her lap and up her chest so that it could lick diligently at her chin as she undid her hair from its tightly wound braid.
With an affectionate laugh, she'd lift it from her chest and laying down. "You're so sweet. But we really shouldn't stay up, I have to continue my trek in the morning, so let's get some shut eye."
Alin would curl up beside her, nestling just under her arm.
A few minutes later, the two drifted to sleep next to the fire.

When morning rolled around, Amara was awakened by Alin pressing his paws against her face and chattering in her ear noisily. Roused from her sleep, she'd sit up and glance around with heavy and confused eyes.
"What's wrong..? Alin?"
The tarsier would move away from its new magi and point into the distance, Amara's eyes following its directions. Surprise lit up her face and she'd hurry to her feet, using a simple spell to pack up all her belongings and put out the fire at once.
Lifting Alin to her shoulder and lifting her travel bag, she'd begin to run, tromping over the bridge that was placed over the stream she'd found Alin's egg at.
As they got closer, Alin would duck under Amara's hair, chittering nervously.
She found herself at a large gate, where she was greeted by many other magi and guards, all were smiling.
She had camped just minutes away from the Keep!
The knowledge of this somewhat annoyed her, but if she hadn't stopped, she'd have never met Alin.

A magi with deep red robes would step forward and he'd place his hand onto Amara's shoulder, "Welcome friend, have you come to learn?"
"Yes! I've traveled for three days to learn to control my magic and learn from the best! You can teach me, right?"
With a hearty laugh, the magi would grin, "Of course child, but first you should go adopt yourself an ally from the stream. I'll come with you and we'll-"
Amara would raise her hand slowly, a light blush passing over her cheeks, "Erm.. sir.. I already have one.. I found an egg last night and he hatched."
The magi would stare at her curiously, "You may call me Edolen, and might I see this.. creature..? Just to see if it hatched healthily mind you. Normally the eggs hatch with a magi that lives within the keep, but I've heard of other occurences.."

Amara would whisper gently, coaxing Alin from his hiding place with soft and kind words. The tarsier slowly crept from her mess of green hair, eyes wide and scared, "It's alright Alin, we're safe here.. This is where we need to be."
Alin would chitter gently and perch himself upon her shoulder, staring at Edolen with wary eyes.

Edolen only laughed in return, "Astounding, it seems to be in perfect health and quite friendly already! Strange considering the normal nature of Tropical Tarsiers, well, I hope you're in for a handfull. As the days go by, I imagine 'Alin' will become more frisky and playful. That will come later though, for now let's find you a room and get you all settled in. You're lessons will begin in two days."
Edolen disappeared into the keep, one of the guards holding out his hand to Amara with a wide smile, "I'm Denev, I can show you to your room if you'd like. We're never in short supply here!"

With a nervous smile, she'd nod her head, "That sounds good to me, I could use a tour."
Just as she was about to take Denev's hand, Alin scrambled down her arm and growled at the young guard, eyes wide and small teeth bared. For the most part the young tarsier was unthreatening, but Denev did as he was warned with a smile.
"You have a guard monkey, that's a new one to me."
"He's a sweet heart, don't let him fool you," Amara noted with a nervous chuckle.
As soon as he was sure Denev was well enough ahead of Amara, Alin would retreat back up onto her shoulder, chittering in content with having 'frightened' away someone he didn't want touching his companion.
Petting Alin affectionately, Amara would trail after Denev, curious as to what the Keep would hold in store for her.

~~~
First chapter made and up! The story of Amara and her tarsier Alin. There will be more chapters and I'll be uploading this to my Deviantart page as well (http://silver-bumblbee.deviantart.com) Please give me some feedback and let me know what you'd think! I'd love to hear from you guys!!

[freakazoid]

I really like it so far! Very descriptive, I love your style of writing.
Can't wait for more!

[Danna]

I really like it so far! Very descriptive, I love your style of writing.
Can't wait for more!

^^ Thank you!

[Orange]

Alin sounds adorable! Hope you post more soon, this is very good and descriptive so far ;3

[Danna]

Alin sounds adorable! Hope you post more soon, this is very good and descriptive so far ;3

Thanks ^^