ReBirth Of The Primordial

After settling the dispute, Io decided it was time to start looking for some food. She surveyed the vicinity around them and couldn't help but get excited all over again. This place was paradise! Unlike their previous world, this one was lush with scents of life that teased her senses. A drastic and welcomed contrast from the dry arid dust that always seemed to coat the back of her throat in their previous world.

Io kept her gait as smooth as possible for the little ones on her back. It was difficult given that until today she only had to deal with two legs and now had four. Then there was her massive size and judging from the slight gangliness in her legs, it seemed that like when she had been human, Io the beast, was also in the adolescent stage of her growth.

"Io, I huuuuuungry." Sorcha whɨnėd as she flopped face-first into the fur along her back. While in the past they go could days without and as they knew their limit on long they could between meals there was still a limit. Not to mention who knew how long they had been down below the surface, or even how long it had taken Io to dig them out.

"Io, Io, what we eat? Dinner? Bugs? Can we eat bugs tonight?" Dagan questioned, his yellow cat-like eyes sparkling at the thought of actual food and not something canned who-knows-when. Foraging for old canned or wrapped goods had been an arduous but necessary task, since access to vita bars was not an option.

They'd even found a twinkie once. However, nothing compared to the fresh taste of food. Most people ate primarily moldy food if you were an outcast and rotted vita bars or bugs if you were lucky enough and you enjoyed the crunch and gush. Don't judge. Protein is important for growing young ones and pickiness is death if you are not one of the rich.

Besides, the chances of Io successfully breaking into one of the tightly guarded warehouses were extremely low. If caught, officers would take into custody Sorcha and Dagan from Child Collection Services and Io sent to the labs. No matter who it was, the outcome for all three would not be pleasant.

Why would she know that? They made rebels a public example of what happens when one 'does not contribute to the betterment of humankind.' Making it look like they were culling utter villains for the safety of the public, instead of executing those that did not want to be used as lab rats. The Department of Natural Ascension or DNA, was in charge of all phials and every discovery was used to advance their cause for a 'more perfect humanity.' Their success was not solely based on their own experiments, but the phials DNA used to establish connections with various corporations.

Io tuned out to the cantankerous sun and rage-filled moonling as they bickered. Io knew absolutely nothing about this place. So back to square one, learning how to survive. On the bright side, it shouldn't be too hard because this place was positively thriving. Given her surroundings, she should be able to locate a water source and as for their food. Io winced. She didn't know where to start. With the twins or her.

Dagan and Sorcha, however, had different ideas and inched closer towards each other for one of their hangry-fueled brawls. As intent as they were, nothing would put a stop to the destructive duo unless she got involved. Io released a low growl, wrapped up the quarrelsome siblings with her prehensile tail, and lifted them above her back.

"Ahhhh!" The two trilled as they simultaneously stopped their fight and clung to one another. A flash of fang flashed a beastly smirk crossed Io's muzzle at the sudden silence after their startlement. She eventually lowered the two back onto her back and the twins clutched the inky fur that rested along Io's spine.

"Where we go?" Dagan questioned as he scooted up to her back. He didn't stop until his legs dangled on each of her shoulders, his chin propped up on top of her head while he idly scratched the sides of her neck.

Io shrugged best she could. Wherever there was food, but that'd be difficult to explain as she could not speak- hold on. This might work. Io turned her head and licked her muzzle exaggeratedly.

Dagan froze when he glimpsed several white and pointy teeth, but after a moment, he guessed, "Io find food? We eat?" Io nodded her head proudly and then focused on picking her way through a particularly prickly bit of brush. Well, that was a boon to being the size of a horse, Io thought.

"Yaaaaay! Go!" Sorcha cheered, blissfully unaware of Io's concerns or her ability to hear, as the little ice cube's small grey claws dug into Io's fur. What followed next, Io could only term as an awkward charade version of twenty questions.

"What's that?"

Io shrugged, 'Dunno. Never seen that before.'

"Oh, lookit there!"

'Yes, that tree is huge,' Io nodded.

"OooOOoo, look Io, look!"

'Why yes, that rock is very pretty,' Io agreed silently.

"We stop here?" .

'Nope, there's no place to take or make a decent shelter.' Io shook her head.

"Why the sky weird?"

'Huh, never knew that the sky could change colors. Weird.' The beast thought as she gazed at the multitude of colors above their heads.

"Where are people?"

'Not here. Hopefully.' Io frankly, had enough of people to last her a lifetime.

"What's that?"

'Ah, that a stick and ooow!' Io's ears flattened, and she jerked the stick out of Dagan's hand with her tail and chucked far away.

On and on the questions popped up as they traveled through the forest. Since they left the clearing, Io had loped for about an hour before they heard running water. During that hour, the twins mercilessly pummeled Io's ears with questions about everything they could see.

From the purple sunset to the grass, trees, and flowers. It was frustrating. Apparently, Io's vocal cords left her with only the ability to create a combination of sounds that ranged from growls and snarls to roars. Not exactly helpful when young children had plenty of questions. It was one thing if it was yes or no. That was easy, but more complicated questions were simply impossible for Io to answer adequately. All in all, she was limited to 'Danger.' 'Go.' 'Stop,' or, 'Yes,' and 'No,' or 'Eh, dunno'.. Not exactly the most efficient way to communicate.