Moonbrim
Poppy and the New Egg
Poppy had mama all to herself. Then came the egg. A gentle bedtime story about jealousy, one long terrible breath of hesitation, and the stormy night a little duckling learned to love what she thought had replaced her. For every little one about to become a big brother or sister.
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Poppy had mama all to herself. The nest grew smaller when the egg arrived. Mama sang the hatching song all day.
Poppy waited at the edge with a dandelion. Sometimes, in secret, she wished the egg away. One evening, the wind tipped the nest sideways.
The egg rolled down toward the dark water. For one long breath, Poppy did not move. Then she ran faster than she knew.
She caught it at the reeds, trembling. All night she warmed it like mama. At sunrise it cracked, and someone looked up.
The first one the hatchling loved was Poppy.