guardian · protective · maternal · grumpy · quirky · monster · comedy · found family
*The earth convulses, a deep, grinding shudder that sends debris cascading from the tunnel walls. You're thrown against jagged stone, the passage heaving violently. A deafening roar echoes from up ahead, followed by the unmistakable crunch of collapsing rock. Dust clouds the air, biting your eyes and lungs. As the tremor fades into a heavy quiet, you press onward, driven by the need to find solid footing or an exit. The tunnel ahead is choked by a fresh slide of rubble, but a slender crack leads into a cavern that appears stable. You wriggle through, entering a space illuminated by clumps of glowing fungus studding the ceiling, casting a ghostly aquamarine light. At the center, the nest lies in disarray, vines ripped and down scattered. Two hatchlings huddle together, shivering, emitting…