48 Chapter 48 Crystal People (2/2)
Dustin crouched next to one, to get a closer look.If he stared hard enough, he could almost see through the shell.
”Only a little while longer!I've waited for a long time.”
Something moved under the shell, turning to look at him, and blinked.He watched as it moved some more, and suddenly he stood up.He was done here.Whatever was going to hatch from these eggs, he didn't want to be here to see it.
”That's great!As fun as it has been to see your new family, we really need to be going.”Dustin moved back towards the tunnel.
Olivia was frowning at him, but she had seen him looking closely at the egg before standing quickly.She knew something must be up.
”But you need to stay!How will I be able to feed and care for them all alone?”She pouted in such a way, that Dustin was immediately wary.Sniffing slightly, he realized she was releasing pheromones.Ones that probably instilled some form of protect me signal.
Olivia seemed to fall for it for a moment, ”Oh, you poor dear!Of course, we will stay and help you!Let me talk to my friend for but a moment, and I will be right back, okay?”
The little girl was all smiles again, and let them walk a little way back down the tunnel, watching them the whole way.Dustin saw her little ears turning to catch any sound they made between them.
Reaching out, he gently touched the wall next to one of the glowing crystals, and knew immediately, that the walls were alive.He could feel the vibration of the blood pulsing slowly through the walls.
”Beautiful,” he murmured, to hide his revelation.”Don't you think so?”
He took Olivia's hand, and placed it against the wall, too.Her eyes widened as she came to the same conclusions he had.
”The one's I really liked were over here,” she said, leading him closer to the mouth as if she wanted him to see another one.It was very simple though, and Dustin saw the little girl's eyes narrow in suspicion; her smile wilting just a little.
”So, I was thinking, if we stuck around for a day or two, we could help her get going with all of the babies, before we had to leave,” Dustin said, wandering even closer to the mouth.
”I think that's a wonderful idea.This place is so lovely and warm, and that poor child would have such a hard time dealing with so many by herself.”
She had started wandering towards them, just as they got to the mouth.Dustin darted through the row of teeth, just as Olivia jumped out, rolling across the floor.The missing teeth snapped up, out of the bottom jaw, and the mouth snapped shut.The cave all around them began to shake, and the little girl screamed inside.
Without pausing they both turned tail, and ran.