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// CH3: Second First Contact 
// Story: Nature and Nurture 
// by questionmark 
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Once more, several days spent unconscious came to pass. The fullness I felt after feeding began to dwindle a rather substantial amount, pulled out of me perhaps more quickly than it ought to for a creature who was doing nothing but sleeping thus remaining completely stationary and inert, not that I could analyze this disparity during my slumber. I again found myself waking when events began to unfold around me, my head snapping up at attention once I heard a sort of crinkling, tearing sound.

In my little burrow on the ground, I stared up at the canopy above me, noticing immediately that what I had originally assumed were little green berries had grown while I slept, each at least as large as the soles of my new feet (hooves? Was it called a frog?) and paler, almost milky in coloration. One, however, had grown to about the size of my head, and had apparently fallen from the tree, splitting open on the ground. Only now did I realize that the orbs were not food, but instead eggs, hopefully of my species.

Whatever depression I had been feeling from my recent horrific crime was extinguished as my human mind overpowered the rest of me, mingling with my natural instincts of protection to my own kind. Humans were social creatures, and I was really not sure how much longer I could have lasted without any positive interactions with anyone I could relate to, being totally alone in the world, isolated and likely in danger from a survivalist point of view. I leap to my feet, eager to see the newly born creature, still working its way through its encasement. It was similar to my own rebirth, though I didn’t recall the cocoon I had squirmed out of being as small or light as this egg, nor did I remember being so damn small.

The creature crawling out of its egg reinforced my belief that I was an insectoid; it’s huge head was similar to an equines though with a more curvaceous snout, its pale back half was grub-like, largely pale but spotted in near black like its face. Its wide eyes were a delightful teal color, and after blinking at me, it turned to its egg and began consuming the remains greedily, just as I had once done with my cocoon. There was very little slime residue, leaving it to tear through and gulp down the husk of its egg; I could taste in the air that delicious “feeling” permeating through the papery shell, though it was rather light and vague. I might have desired a taste for myself, feeling the emptiness in my stomach, but I could only assume this consumption was a necessary or helpful part of the hatching process given my instinct to do about the same. Anyways, the taste had been so pure fresh from the source of a living creature, and this in comparison was stale.

Watching the little bugs first moments, both divided parts of me were endeared heavily; this was another creature of my species, a newborn I must protect, and finally some company for me in this new and strange world. I folded my legs under me to lay beside it, my core warmth with happiness and my mind running wild with thoughts. What had made us different in our creations, had I gone through this and just forgotten? Was this a human being as well, or could it be in the future? If it retained no human memories, might it know more about how we were supposed to act than I did? I wasn’t sure what to hope for, given the situation. In the end, at the current moment, you don't care what its true form is- all you see is a young one in need of protection and care, just like you are.  

Once it had left no scraps of its emergence, it turned to me, curious eyes twinkling as it edged closer. I nodded my head to my side, communicating silently that it could come and cuddle up next to me. It curled up beside me, letting out little chirping sounds, apparently comfortable against my chitin and under my transparent wing. I honestly could not recall what gender I had been before this very moment and lacked the knowledge to accurately sex my new form, but I could only assume this was what maternal instinct felt like, looking down at this little plump beast, strange as it was, especially compared to any human child I had ever seen. I felt the impulse to interact, and though I was nervous and my mouth felt unfamiliar to my human mind, I could only experiment with speaking now.

“Hello,” I said waveringly, surprising myself with how my voice reverberated and quivered. The bug cooed and trilled in response, apparently primitive enough that it could not speak as I could just yet.

Realistically, this was a gross, weird alien bug, but I could feel nothing but joy towards it. Ambiently, I could smell traces of that delicious “feeling”, originating from where we both laid. It was curious but not unwelcome; I felt my stomach ever so slowly filling as the newborn murred against me, and I moved my front leg to lay atop the creature, pulling it ever closer, snuggled up against me. I spent a good few moments, eyes closed, allowing myself peaceful rest, sharing this calm moment with my new friend, or perhaps family member. Still, I could not do nothing but lay around all day. I had to pull myself out of this warmth eventually, letting my mind wander to new concerns.

Before, I was acutely aware that my survival was not ensured in this strange new land with me being so unfamiliar with the world and what could be safe or dangerous to me. Now I had to ensure the health of both myself and a newborn critter; regardless of how worth it it would certainly be, it would still be work and something I had to be aware of. I wondered how I would keep this little thing fed- it seemed whatever I had yanked out of that living creature kept me full, and I was unsure how I could share such a feast with the child now under my care. There was also the concern of shelter; at the current moment the weather was inoffensive, but if this new world had analogous seasons to Earth then that might readily change, not to mention there might be creatures I’d only been lucky to miss being hunted by.

As the sun once more began to set, I stood up suddenly, confusing the little creature beside me, moving towards where I had dug a small trench into the dirt. I set myself to digging deeper, figuring this was the best home I could craft on the spot. I had no conscious human experience in digging holes that would not collapse under me, but the large tree I had born off of seemed to stabilize the ground enough that I was not concerned for cave-ins, at least not quite yet. The grub curiously watched as I dug hooffuls of dirt out from under me, spraying debris behind me. I was reminded sourly of digging a grave just a few days ago, but tried to keep my mind off of that, and how I might need to do the same again if only to keep the new life that was my responsibility fed.

In moments my little divet in the ground had evolved into a burrow, a little room only large enough for me to stand in comfortably. I beckoned the grub to get comfortable in the hole with me once more, laying on my side now. It made itself comfortable against my belly, curled up and eyes closed, ready to sleep. I, too, had to let myself slumber, mostly to give myself a break from the swirling thoughts of happiness and concern that assaulted me. These could be problems for me in the future; for now, I was tired, and far too afraid and unsure to make any decisions quite yet.