As Animalians lay their eggs about halfway through their pregnancy terms, it's not to hard to estimate the day they're likely to hatch. There are things that could change the due date, like thermal regulation. But Sappho and Susan knew their eggs were due to hatch in the middle of winter. The pair of them were concerned how well the hatchlings would react to the coldness. While reptilian Animalians weren't as literally cold-blooded as mundane animals, they still felt the bite of chilliness more than others. But then, they were entirely unsure of when they'd lay their eggs in the first place. For all they knew, their whiptail wombs would have produced eggs with or without mating. Judy wasn't certain either. The only way to be sure is if they held back on mating during the next breeding season. Which will be a real test of fortitude. Would birth-control pills even work on them? But first, they had their first eggs to watch hatch.
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The eggs have given the occasional wiggle for the past week, but now they were constantly shaking. Sappho and Susan watched them as the eggs were undeniably hatching. Unlike bird eggs, reptile eggs have more leathery shells that are tougher and can take much more punishment. But they could see the infants inside pressing up against the shells now. Presently, their tiny hands pierced the shells and soon the eggs completely opened. The tiny lizards peeped as they saw the world for the first time.
Sappho and Susan picked up their respective daughters. A little marker was used to show which egg belonged to which lizard. Now they'll have to be a big more observant of which baby is which. Susan wasn't completely certain, but she thought she saw peach fuzz on her daughter's scalp. It may take some time for hair to properly grow, let alone if it was the same color as her mother's. But her 'sister' appeared to be as hairless as her respective mother.
“They’re so beautiful,” said Sappho happily, cuddling her daughter.
“I bet they’ll be even more beautiful when they get older,” said Susan.
“Now what to name them,” said Sappho as she opened her shirt, “It’s too bad so little of the original Sappho’s poetry survived.”
“I’ve heard that her poems were written to be sung with music,” said Susan as she opened her shirt.
“Hmm, maybe I can call her Lyra,” said Sappho as she let her daughter start nursing.
“Uh, miss. You might want to be careful there,” said the nurse.
Sappho looked to the nurse and said, “Don’t worry, we’ve had the Animalian vaccine. As much as we want to watch our daughters grow up, we don’t want to happen right YEEEEEEOWWWW!!!” Sappho jumped and almost dropped her daughter. She regained her composure and caught her, though now the hatchling was crying. And with its mouth no longer occupied, it was clear to see the small bloody bite mark around Sappho’s nipple.
“Yes, some animals, particularly reptiles, are born with a full set of teeth. And often those who aren’t mammalian don’t know how to instinctively nurse without, well, biting,” said the nurse.
“So I see,” said Sappho, a tear of pain in one eye and she tried to calm her crying daughter.
“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” said Susan, “I mean, you were an ordinary lizard before you were uplifted. You just weren’t born with the natural instinct to YEOUCH!” Susan didn’t drop her girl, but she quickly pulled her away from her now-bleeding nipple.
“And you were a man before you became an Animalian, so those instincts aren’t natural to you either," said Sappho.
“Duly noted,” said Susan with a wince, “I doubt the La Leche League covers this.”
“Actually, they’ve been assisting Animalia from the start,” said the nurse, “I guess you forgot that Anton and Marlysa were part of the original Outbreak.”
“Huh?” asked Sappho.
“The iguanas who had Animalia’s first big wedding,” said the nurse.
“Oh, right them,” said Susan, “I guess Marlysa had to deal with biting hatchlings too.”
“And she’s passed on what she’s learned. I can get you the number to call. For right now, you should probably stick to bottle feeding,” said the nurse.
“Since I’m not that keen about getting pierced nipples, I think I agree,” said Susan.