Source: Permafreeze on dA | Date: 3.29.25
Cali and the Nyx had become fast friends, She had run out of food offerings quite early in the visit with the Nyx in their new and temporary home, but she soon realized that they were anxious to make new friends and didn’t like the loneliness away from their matron.
They had set out on their walk back to the main hall and Cali quickly learned she had to slow her pace down for the little creatures. They followed her willingly enough but they still shied away at every noise or sudden moment. They really did have a hard time adjusting to the chaos happening in their home. They would stop periodically and mentally regroup, she had run out of snacks but the Nyx seemed to content to just relax and snuggle up for a bit. A majority of the little group seemed quite fond of Cali already, with only a couple of hold outs that didn’t seem to care for her presence.
As they approach the last small tunnel to the Matriarchs chamber she stopped and gave them a bit of a pep talk about how they new comers were their to help their lady and they wouldn’t be invading their home forever.
She padded back into the main room and a few brave Nyx followed her closely, while a larger portion of the group stayed just out of site behind some rocks. A few of the caretakers rushed up to Cali, The Nyx recognized the caretakers so they didn’t instantly run from them but they did duck behind Cali’s legs.
“You found them!” One of the caretakers exclaimed, then quickly lowered her voice when she say they were scared. “What happened little ones? I am so sorry that we frightened you.”
Cali smiled are her new spiny friends. “I was thinking maybe since our little friends here are so frightened by the daytime activities we could find a quiet place for them to rest during the daytime when everyone is busy throwing chunks of crystal around.” She gave a gentle pat to the Nyx closest to her, careful to avoid the spikes, The Nyx gave a gentle purr.
The remaining Nyxthorn that stayed behind must have gotten an inspiration of courage from seeing their matron, alot of them broke from their cover and ran over to her head. The caretakers looked on with a gentle smile, the Matriarch leaned her giant head into the nearest one and let out a colossal sigh. You could tell she missed them greatly, they all had left Cali and the caretakers and were tending to the Matriarch in any way that they could. Some were up by her head purring loudly and rubbing their spines against her scales, other were inspecting the wounds on her paws and forearms peeping worriedly to each other by seemingly satisfied with the healers work, they didn’t dwell on it. A couple curled up against her neck and closed their eyes, Cali imagined that the little ones didn’t get much rest away from their home and their matron.
“Thank you Cali,” one caretaker started, watching the Nyx crowd around the Matriarch, “Some of us used to get irritated with their presence, the constant worry of catching a spike randomly when working around them was annoying… but seeing them now, and how happy they make her.” She turned to Cali. “I wouldn’t trade the spiny little gremlins for anything else.”
She smiled back at the caretakers. “Ive grown quite fond of these little guys on our trip back, they truly are amazing animals.”
The rest of the night the workers were instructed to go a little bit easier on the noise, they didn’t want to scare the pets away as soon as they had gotten back, the caretakers had an idea that ramping up the process slowly could get the Nyx more used to the activity. The Nyx were already settling into the routine though, seeing their Matriarch being freed, it must have sunk in that the others were here to help her. They Nyx examined the newcomers with curiosity and a timid appreciation
The next couple days were a learning process for everyone, the menders and workers had to learn how to work around the Nyx without getting spined in the rump and the Nyxthorn developed a schedule for avoiding the worst of the noise. The Matriarch was so close to being free, the entire project had seemed so impossible when Cali first arrived here, but now seeing her almost entire body out of the crystal and the Nyxthorn running and playing happily in the chamber it truly seemed that not only was this possible.. they were actually going to be able to do this. Cali wondered what the future would hold for the great Matriarch, what would she do with her new found freedom.
CP Counter
Group Event + 3 (Event Proof) 808 words + 8 Total = 11