Goji and her mate had waited so long, yearning for the chance to finally welcome a child into their world. Through years of hardship and disappointment, they had kept hope alive, clinging to each other and the possibility of a future together as a family. And then, one miraculous day, it happened—an egg. Their egg. Goji was fiercely protective of it, cradling the egg in her massive, clawed hands, whispering promises of safety, strength, and undying love. He helped her guard it, watching over it with the same devotion. Both of them knew the dangers that lurked in the world—hungry predators, natural disasters, and even those who might hunt them out of fear. Together, they were a powerful force, their love forming an unbreakable bond that shielded their precious egg.

For days, they both took turns standing guard, only leaving the egg briefly to hunt and nourish themselves so they could keep it warm and strong. But one fateful day, feeling the strength and maturity of the shell, they thought it would be safe to leave it for just a little while. The hunt was challenging, testing their resilience and instincts. Every second away from the egg gnawed at their nerves, but the need to feed and grow stronger for their family pulled them onward. Finally, after catching prey and securing a feast, they both returned to their nest, eager to reunite with the delicate life growing inside.

But the sight that awaited them was one of utter devastation. The egg lay broken, shards of its shell scattered across the ground like pieces of shattered dreams. He felt his heart twist painfully as he rushed forward, frantically searching for any sign of life, any hope that something had survived. But there was nothing. Only emptiness. Goji's roar of anguish shook the air, a cry so raw it seemed to split the sky, trembling with grief and fury. She collapsed beside the remnants, her claws trembling as she reached out, touching the broken shell as though by some miracle it could be whole again. He knelt beside her, feeling helpless in the face of her grief, his own heart heavy with guilt and sorrow.

The sun cast long shadows over the vast, quiet ocean as Goji swam aimlessly through its depths. Her movements were slow, almost lethargic, as if each stroke of her powerful limbs weighed a thousand tons. Though the pain of losing their egg had dulled with time, it remained an aching wound deep within her heart. And no matter how many waves she traversed, how many creatures she encountered in the silent expanse of water, nothing could fill the emptiness left behind. He clung to her massive, scaled back, watching her from above as she swam onward. The silence had stretched between them for weeks now—a silence filled with heartache and memories of what might have been. He'd tried everything to reach her, to pull her back from the dark, swirling depths of grief. But nothing seemed to touch her.

After a while, he carefully climbed forward until he stood upon her head, staring down at her large, haunted eyes. She glanced up at him briefly, but her gaze quickly flicked away, full of guilt and shame, as though even meeting his eyes was too much to bear. For a long moment, she said nothing, her breaths low and shuddering, causing tiny waves to ripple outward from her position. She let out a sound—soft and broken, a faint whimper that barely broke the silence. Her shoulders slumped under the weight of her sorrow, and her head sank lower, as though she were trying to hide from him and the world itself. He could tell she wanted to speak, but the words were beyond her reach, tangled in grief and her limited understanding of his language.

Her voice, usually powerful and booming, felt weak and unfamiliar now, cracked by shame and sorrow. Her gaze met his then, a glimmer of vulnerability breaking through the wall she had built around herself. She lifted her head slightly, tilting it so he could see the pain in her eyes—an apology she couldn't fully express, an ache that had grown so heavy she feared it might drown her. She tried to speak, her voice catching as she struggled, her words broken, yet filled with meaning.

Goji: "S-sorry..." she managed, her deep voice cracking like the surface of a stormy sea.