Chapter 3: Hachling

Luma stirred from slumber, Their side remarkably improved. Eager to seize the day, They bounded around in search of sustenance, gorging Themselves on nature's bounty. Once They'd eaten Their fill, They took to the skies, seeking a safer haven to rest.

It didn't take long to find an unclaimed tree, a secure sanctuary amidst the wilderness. With luma's newfound refuge established, They embarked on a quest to locate Their lost nest, an epic scavenger hunt among the vast expanse of the forest. Their determined wings carried Them high and low, tirelessly scanning the forest canopy.

As twilight painted the sky with hues of purple and gold, Luma decided that Their quest for the past was a waste of time. Undeterred, They decided to create a new home from scratch. The memory of the materials required for Their nest was stored in Their mind: hard and pokey.

They gazed around the forest, curiosity leading the way. Various materials piqued Their interest, and soon, They recognized the hard and pokey components as twigs. But the challenge lay in getting these twigs to coalesce into a stable structure.

After a fruitless venture, they returned to Their trusted pastime, the pursuit of nourishment. High in the skies, a glimmering substance caught Their eye. As They drew near, the shimmering material vanished, leaving Them bewildered. Driven by Their curiosity, They ventured precisely where the shimmer had faded, inadvertently coming into contact with the sticky spiderweb that clung to Them.

Perplexed by the strange material, They flew Their way back to Their "nest" which was really just a pile of twigs, landing on it and rolling about, attempting to rid Themselves of the spiderweb. After Their efforts, They believed the sticky residue was gone, but the nest shimmered with the material, Luma liking the look decided that They needed to cover the entire nest with the material. Continuing Their quest They realized that the twigs adhered when the peculiar material was present.

With newfound insights, They set out to transform Their makeshift home. They restructured it with care and finesse, making it reminiscent of the cozy refuge They once knew. Satisfied with Their renovation, They took time to satiate Their hunger then fell into peaceful slumber.

Over the course of ten days, They found Themselves leveling up once, but a more significant change was on the horizon. They laid two eggs, Their innate parental instincts kicking in as They nestled atop the precious orbs. After an hour's incubation, They departed to forage for sustenance nearby.

Upon Their return, They resumed Their vigilant watch, tending to Their eggs until the break of dawn. The following day mirrored the one before, and thus, twelve days unfurled. Suddenly, the silence was shattered as one of the eggs began to crack. Luma's initially worried They broke the egg, but that worry soon transformed into delight as a tiny creature emerged, its cries filling the air with distinct "chip" sounds. To comfort Their newborn, They chewed up some bugs and, with Their long beak, carefully fed the tiny one.

After this first meal, the newborn settled into slumber, and Luma stretched Their wings to return to Their duties, resting atop the remaining egg. Half an hour passed, and once again, They scoured the surroundings for insects to nourish Their infant and partook in sips of nectar for Themselves.

When Luma returned, the baby was still asleep. Relieved by this sight, They settled down, the weight of Their responsibility lifting as Their feathery form cradled the egg. Yet the peace was fleeting, interrupted by the familiar "chip" sounds as the baby woke, craving nourishment.

Luma diligently attended to Their fledgling, and with each daybreak, They repeated the routine. Awake in the early morning, They ventured forth to secure Their sustenance, a parental determination driving Their actions. The familiar "chip" sounds rang out, signaling Their return to the nest to feed the hungry hatchling.

However, one day was unlike the rest, as They heard a distinctive *crack* emanating from the other egg. A momentous event was unfolding before Their eyes, promising the emergence of another new life.