ReBirth Of The Primordial

"Io, Io, name. What-their name?" Sorcha asked excitedly.

"Yes, they needs a name." Dagan agreed, his face reverting back to its normal blank state, the gentleness that had been there since the rock egg had hatched not to be seen. Io could feel her brow quirk though, while none of his anxiety appeared on Dagan's face, his delicately clawed hand tightened ever so lightly around their new family member's golden hands.

Right name. Io's brows furrowed as she thought it over. Dagan meant of the earth and had some connotations to volcanos. Enduring and fierce was the core of the young boy, hence the name Dagan. Sorcha got her name because she was and is like a brilliant or radiant light giving not just Dagan, but Io as well a beacon to always find their way home, hence the name Sorcha.

Now this one.... hmmm...

Where Dagan was like a living flame and Sorcha, was like a glacier with fathomless depths amidst the ocean, this little one was like the earth adorned in gemstones with their rich rich earthy skin, long black hair, and golden scales and ruby-colored eyes. Something that fit their looks and from how Dagan and Sorcha had fire and ice, this one she guessed would be something... Earthy.

Dust? Sol? Gravel? Rocky? Canyon? That was too literal, even for her. For the personification of earth... Dagan and Sorcha's forms were a reflection of their temperament. No no. Io shook her head, there was no way to determine what gender the little gemstone was and quite frankly she would rather not anyways. Alrighty, so we will stick with strictly gender-neutral names. So if this was the case, then perhaps this would do. The little monsters watched carefully as Io slowly wrote the little gemstone's name in the dirt.

"Eeeee-den!" Dagan slowly sounded out. Limited by how she could communicate, Io settled on a name that would be easily readable for the twins. Furthermore, this name was a good balance between delicate for a girl and peaceful for a boy. Much like the paradise that this place was.

Sorcha had a thoughtful look on her face and Io had to wonder if she was remembering their previous world, a desolate and dying planet. During a particularly nasty storm, acid had literally rained down. After they ensconced themselves in one of the inner rooms, they had run across some books that had pages as thin as spider silk. Many of the pages in these books gone missing or were so fragile that they'd fall apart if you tried picking them up.

With nothing to do to wile away a storm, they had scrounged around the delicate books for something new to learn. It took them some time but eventually, there were able to find few in good enough condition to read. In that first book, they read that "Eden" meant land of plenty or paradise.

Whenever they were in the library, Io read to Dagan and Sorcha. It wasn't that she couldn't teach them what she had been taught, but her education had stopped abruptly when she had made her escape. While they could not stay in the library full time in order to divert or avoid unwanted attention, they did make it their winter home at the very least. Sometimes they managed to stay through the spring, but anytime they stayed at the library, Io had patrol at least twice a day. It was necessary for her to do so to make sure no one was nearing or if they were then Io would either dispose of them or grab the kids and disappear.

Nevertheless, the library was home base for them and anytime they were there, Io always tried to read as many books as she could to Dagan and Sorcha. Io may have been educated in the facility, but she was only taught what was relevant to present-day society. As far as she was concerned that kind of society with its skin-deep culture and need for perfection was nothing more than trash.

She had never realized how broken they were until she was reclassified from Io Skotos to Phial. Pretty hypocritical right? It was that first month where she not just had time to process what she had done get out of S.E.L.F or the Standard Elite Learning Facility, but also what she had to do to survive in The Tunnels. The murdering, coping with such a dirt-infested environment, and the pillaging. It had opened her eyes to how broken they were.

Eventually it would not be until Io read the philosophical rambles to Sorcha and Dagan that she realized just how broken their society had become. Philosophy was a hard one for her to understand. Many of the principles dated centuries if not thousands of years back. Honestly so much of the text was so far out of context in comparison to how modern society functioned that she was unable to fully comprehend.

Not to mention there was no place for such deep philosophical ramblings in how outcasts lived. It was do or die. You or me, and for a teenage girl with two toddlers, there just not enough time, energy, or even trust in speaking to other outcasts to start a revolutionary way of thinking. If she could put aside all of her murderous impulses and speak to another, it would be more likely that whoever she spoke to would turn them in for a year's worth of physiological-tailored Vita Bars. That was just the world they lived in.

Enough of dwelling in the past though. Eden was a perfect name for this little monster for they would the love and protection of a family from day one in a world that had not been ravaged like a deadly plague. To be able to live freely and not their path in life written out for them like a code in a machine? Wasn't that the definition of paradise? That is what she wanted for this one.

Io watched Sorcha laugh while she danced in circles merrily calling out to Eden to come play, while Dagan encouraged their newest family member to speak. Io relaxed fully as she soaked in her siblings' joy. When Sorcha danced close enough though Io swooped the youngling off her feet with her tail. Sorcha cackled as Io brought her in for some nuzzles for a moment. Once done, she looked over at Dagan. The little flame moved closer, making sure to not let go of Eden's hands. When he got close enough Dagan rested his forehead against Io's, their version of a hug.

Then it was Eden's turn. Eden looked at Io uncertainly and Io could feel a tenderness welling up. It was like Sorcha all over again. Io slowly wrapped a paw around the little gemstone's waist and pulled them in closer. Dagan ever the protector moved closer as well offering reassurance that everything was ok in his own way by not letting go of Eden. Honestly, he was so cute! Io sighed on the inside. Once Eden was in range Io put her paw on the ground and like she had done with Dagan, Io gently rested her forehead against Eden's she pulled back. It wasn't a long time and while Eden had allowed her to move them closer, she did not want to pressure them either. Besides quality cuddles or moments of affection for her were like the sun burning away the leftover emotional grime from a nightmare.. Absolutely blissful.