Thread:Platypusrocks/@comment-39184326-20190520205755/@comment-39184326-20190521155429

Chapter One – The Platypus Chronicles – Orocha Jr.’s P.O.V.

My hatching day was glorious. I remember being awakened from the wet darkness and seeing my mother. Of course I fell asleep—but who could expect more from a hatchling?

Ailanu’s was glorious as well. I remember seeing her hatch right after I awoke; her tiny shape was fierce and bold, and I knew she felt like she was the leader of her own paddle. I knew this wouldn’t work, though; being the only male in our paddle, I had dominance over the females.

But Unalia…she was the dented egg that hatched seven suns later. Mother had said she wouldn’t live; but we kept her anyway. After she hatched…I never saw Mother so sad, except when she was talking about my father, Orocha. I was named after him, you see.

Unalia was different…because she had no feet. Mother said the dent in her egg must’ve delayed her growth, so she didn’t have our webbed paws. And because of that…Unalia couldn’t swim.

A platypus has to have their paws to swim, because they’re needed to push ourselves forward. Without them, Unalia could only float. Unalia can’t do anything except lay with Mother in the den, who weeps all the time.

Of course, Ailanu and I are more resourceful. We hunted along the pond of our home, which Mother named Otter Cave. She told stories of a doctor otter who saved her when the aggressive platypus attacked her and killed father. Anyway, the pond holds the fish who Ailanu and Unalia were named after. They’re our good friends; we wouldn’t eat them. We usually eat pond insects, shrimp, whatever we can find.

On our first hunt of this moon, Ailanu and I found a couple dragonflies—one was huge—and a few crayfish—don’t worry, no relatives of the fish. Mother’s mood changed slightly, which is something good. I guess. She’s got to let go of the past and just accept Unalia is disabled. Slumping around in the den won’t magically make her able to swim.

So, I’m the oldest of our family, then Ailanu, then Unalia. I guess Unalia hatched later since of the dent. It’s been a few months since we were hatchlings, and we should’ve started our own paddles by now; but we need to stay and help Mother and Unalia.

I guess I’m frustrated with Mother, if not mad…and aggravated at the aggressive male who killed father and almost killed Unalia! If he hadn’t attacked, we would be in our own paddles right now!

Just think about it…watching my eggs hatch…imagining their little eyes blinking to adjust…

It makes you wonder how anyone can be so cruel.