107- Mist

  Nexha held the egg with extreme care, as if it were a fragile treasure about to break. He still couldn’t believe that the seagull he had tamed was evolving so quickly just by eating those bitter fruits. His gaze was fixed on the egg as if it were an indecipherable puzzle, something that needed an urgent answer. Beside him, Lilay crossed his arms, watching the scene with genuine doubt.

  — So... what exactly are we doing here? — Lilay asked, raising an eyebrow.

  — We're hatching an egg. — Nexha responded with the utmost naturality, as if it were obvious.

  — NEXHA, WHEN DID YOU BECOME A FATHER?! — Lilay practically screamed, his voice filled with genuine despair. — YOU'RE TOO YOUNG FOR THIS! I'M NOT READY TO BE AN UNCLE! — He held his head in his hands, rolling from side to side as if his world were crumbling.

  — I AM NOT A FATHER! — Nexha shouted, feeling frustration rise like heat. — IT'S NEBLINA!

  — The mist turned into an egg?! — Lilay's eyes widened in shock. — That doesn’t even make sense!

  — NOTHING MAKES SENSE ANYMORE, LILAY! — Nexha retorted, wildly gesturing with the egg still in his hands, as if the whole situation was about to drive him insane.

  Lilay sighed, sitting down next to his brother and resting his face in his hands.

  — Alright, and what’s the plan, my genius brother?

  Nexha gently placed the egg on the nest. Then, he looked at Lilay with a determined glint in his eyes.

  — I think we need to warm it. — He declared.

  — Mermaid eggs don’t need that, why would this one?

  — Neblina isn’t a mermaid... and I also don’t think she’ll turn into one, even if she evolves.

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  — Evolve?

  — It’s like growing, but it makes you stronger than just normal growth.

  — That’s weird. So how do we warm it? Do we put it in the fire?

  — No! That would result in fried seagull, not in it hatching!

  Lilay started drooling a little just imagining it.

  — Neblina is not for eating!

  — But you said we were going to catch seagulls to eat...

  — Yeah... I did, but it depends on the seagull. If we only eat the troublemakers and take care of the ones that like us, over time, we’ll have much tamer seagulls that won’t run away from us.

  Lilay was silent for a moment, thoughtful. Then, he snapped his fingers.

  — I get it. But if we need to warm it without fire, what about another seagull? They’re warm, after all.

  — And how do you suggest we convince a seagull to do that? Pay them in fish? — Nexha scoffed.

  — Better than your idea of "staring intensely at the egg until it decides to hatch." — Lilay laughed, and Nexha huffed, but couldn’t hold back a smile.

  The two sat in silence for a moment, staring at the egg between them.

  — Alright, maybe we need a plan B. — He admitted, making Lilay laugh even more.

  And so, the two brothers spent the day trying absurd ways to hatch an egg, from wrapping it in warm feathers to building a tiny seaweed hut to protect it. No idea seemed good enough, but in the midst of so many failed attempts, they ended up laughing more than expected.

  They spent so much time taking care of that egg that, exhausted, they ended up falling asleep beside it. The night’s silence enveloped them like a peaceful cloak, interrupted only by the rhythm of their breathing. Until, in the darkness, a soft crack echoed, slicing through the calm like a muffled thunderclap. Nexha stirred slightly, his body reacting before his mind processed the sound. Lilay furrowed his brow in his sleep, as if something was about to wake them from a dream turning into reality.

  The cracking grew louder, resonating like an echo in the night’s silence.

  Nexha and Lilay felt their sleep fade in an instant and held their breath as a larger fracture formed in the shell. Then, with one final sharp crack, a small being emerged.

  Its body was covered in yellow down, but the top of its head was adorned with a tuft of gray feathers that stood out.

  Its big eyes blinked, newly adjusted to the world, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then, with a fragile chirp, the tiny creature wobbled out of the egg and, without hesitation, ran toward Nexha, rubbing against him with pure, instinctive affection.

  Nexha's eyes widened, feeling the warmth of the small body against him, and a lump of emotion formed in his throat. Lilay, beside him, watched the scene open-mouthed, a mix of fascination and disbelief on his face.

  — Nexha became a dad, and I became an uncle!

  — IT’S NOT MY CHILD!

  After that little outburst, the two burst into laughter as they gently poked the newborn, still fresh from the egg.