"Aww, hey you..."



The changeling mother flittered down from the darkness of the caves, skittering against the pebbled ground as she landed inches from the hatched egg. The newborn nymph, coated in slime and egg shell, squinted its solid blue eyes up at the mare, the gears in its newly active brain turning, recognizing its maternal link to the grown-up changeling.



"You weren't supposed to hatch 'till tomorrow. Oh well, don't worry, momma's here to care of you."



She gingerly magically lifted the squirming, screeching nymph out of the shell and into her hooves. A soft rag and a tub of warm appeared and she started gently bathing her offspring, dabbing the slime and wiping away bits of shell. The nymph continued to whine and wriggling about at first, splashing some of the water, until it started to calm down and coo in the warmth of the bath and its mothers tender touch.



"You're a pretty heavy little girl; that's good." She cocked a brow in wonder and brought her nymph out of the water to look it over. "Hmm, are you are filly or a colt?"