Chapter 1: The Dig

Through the dining room window, Scott watched Tober, a blur of dull green rainboots against the dry earth. The boots, ironically purchased for rainy days, seemed to stomp with an almost military precision.  Tober, his five-year-old intensity focused, was clearly on a mission.

Scott, hunched over his laptop, was struggling to make headway on next week's report. He’d positioned himself for a view of the backyard, a compromise between work and parental vigilance.  He was just outlining a crucial section when he noticed the shed door—a rusty, balky thing—swing open.  A moment later, a metallic *CLANG* echoed across the yard, followed by the unmistakable shudder of the shed.

Scott sprang up, his heart skipping a beat.  He hurried to the back door, his eyes scanning the yard.  Tober stood in the center of the lawn, a shovel far too large for his small hands planted firmly in the earth.

"Hey, buddy," Scott called, approaching cautiously. "Whatcha doing?"

Tober, grinning, didn't look up. "Digging!"

"I see that," Scott said, trying to keep his voice light.  "But why don't you dig over by the fence?  Mom said that's okay."

Tober shook his head, his brow furrowed in concentration. "No. It's here."

Scott peered at the spot.  Nothing unusual. "Are you sure? Maybe it's under those wood chips?"

"Nope.  It's *here*."

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Scott knelt, his curiosity piqued despite his apprehension. "Well, let's make a nice, neat hole, okay?" He carefully cut a circle in the grass, revealing the earth beneath.  Handing the shovel to Tober, he said, "Have at it, champ."

Scott returned to the kitchen, his unease growing. He cleaned his hands, the water feeling oddly cold against his skin. He returned to his chair, but the report was forgotten.  His eyes were glued to Tober, who was now digging with fierce determination.  Each shovelful of earth revealed more of the mystery below.

The work escalated.  The small shovel was replaced by a trowel, then a garden rake, and finally, alarmingly, a push broom.  Tober struggled, his small body straining, until he finally paused, panting, and headed toward the shed. Scott's breath hitched. What on earth was his son digging up?

Tober returned with an axe, its small head gleaming menacingly.  Scott felt a prickle of fear.

"What do you need that for?"

"I found it," Tober announced proudly. "But I need to get it *out*."

Scott approached the hole cautiously.  He peered into the deepening pit.  The earth was unusually solid beneath the surface.  His heart pounded. What was down there?

"Why don't you clear away the rest of the dirt first?" Scott suggested, his voice strained.

Tober nodded, his focus unwavering. He diligently removed the remaining soil.  Then, with a final sweep of the broom, the object was revealed.

It was enormous, oval, and almost luminous white beneath the clinging dirt.  A low thrumming emanated from within, a vibration that sent a shiver up Scott's spine.  The smooth, almost porcelain surface felt alien.

"It's an egg," Tober whispered, awe and wonder in his eyes.  He hefted the axe.  "It's a big egg. I gotta open it."

A dull *tap* came from the egg, then another. A crack spiderwebbed across the surface of the egg. A low thrum rumbled from within.

Scott scooped Tober into his arms, his body trembling.  He turned and ran.  Tober, his face a mixture of fear and excitement, yelled over Scott's shoulder: "Dad, I wanna see it hatch!"