A new day dawns on a slightly different world. A critical wiring glitch in the Capillata, caused an emergency export of norns into stasis while repairs could be completed. All is well now, however! And the the little batch of norns were re-imported without difficulty. Each was returned to exactly where they were before the malfunction occurred and life continues.
Nabu and Padmavati remain inseparable and Harmonia has joined Atlanta on the upper level. Nechtan remains in self-imposed isolation after the death of Durga and Padmavati’s rejection, but he seems cheerful enough about the whole matter.
Perhaps a new life stage was all that was needed to perk up Nechtan and spurn him back to adventure. As an adolescent, Nechtan has suffered quite a growth spurt and made his way back to the main level. He’s quite the handsome norn now, his once-stubby wings now forming graceful arcs along his back that shade to white at the tips. His tail has likewise lengthened and stubby horns grace his brow. Tiny fangs are also just beginning to appear.
As Nechtan joined the frolicking Nabu and Padmavati, egg number 8 appeared, a black and white one that glowed warmly on the heating pad. Out of the burst a little norn with dense, soft brown fur and bright blue eyes. A male TWB bruin norn, he restored balance to the gender equation with his creamy white mane. I named him Eran, which means ‘watchful’ or ‘vigilant’ in Hebrew.
During the exciting hatching of the sixth norn of the population, Nechtan decided he was too old to play with popping pappuses anymore and that it was time for a much grander adventure! He made it all the way to the bridge before I knew what he was up to and seems quite pleased with himself.
Eran took his time making it up to the main level with Nabu and Padmavati. He was surprised to find a much larger norn than him here! Padmavati had joined Nechtan in adolesence. Her curly green hair was now curlier and greener. The green and brown streaks twisting through her pelt were clearer and more distinct. And she actually picked up a toy! Though this may have been a more desperate than curious act. Nearly all of her beloved popping pappuses had died off. I am trying to re-establish the little weeds on the main level (which I consider permissible, as the die-off was a result of the wiring glitch and not natural), but it’s a slow process with norns constantly plucking the seeds out of the air!
So many spots! Now Atlanta has grown into adolescence with her friend Harmonia by her side. Her golden locks and big blue eyes remain as charming as ever. Music, and the Musicollo, appears to be her great passion in life and she has shown no signs of wishing to explore beyond the upper level. At least she has Harmonia’s company!
The final norn for the base population is realized in the blue-green egg number 60. With this norn’s birth, the world will enter a new phase as dormant hormones come to the fore and these creatures start to taking more interest in one another. As the new life swirls beneath the shell, Nabu has moved to the upper level to join Harmonia and Atlanta. Maybe he decided that Padmavati, now older and wiser, didn’t need his constant companionship anymore. Or maybe he usurped by Eran.
The shell broke to reveal a truly mysterious and exotic creature. A female CFE deep norn. Her pale, blue-streaked skin glistened beneath the Capillata’s lights and a powerful swimming tail drooped behind her. Her lidless eyes took in the strange world she had been born to and webbed gill-like structures flared out around her head. If I were a deep norn… Well I’d probably prefer Devil’s Reef, but this world would have to do. I named her Danae, a name from Greek mythology.
With the birth of the final norn for the initial roster and norns slowly but steadily reaching the next phases of life, the world is primed for more adult adventures. Soon (hopefully!) the second generation would be upon up. Which norns will thrive and leave their legacy upon the world? Was Nabu’s shift to the upper level mere nornish whim or a strategy to secure his place among two females with no competition? Will Nechtan’s new adventurous drive leave him out of the breeding pool? Only time, and science, will tell!
For Nornish Science! 