Chapter Text
Ten years ago…
”They’re beautiful, Dokura San.” Yuki smiled as she helped dry off the young chameleon hatchlings, gently running a towel over their tender scales as they chirped in pleasure. The first hatchling was noticeably larger than his brother and a dark forest green color, the second one already working on his balance and bearing deep yellow scales. Of course they would learn to change their colors to blend into their surroundings, but it was a common belief among their kind that children were born with the hue that would represent their future. Green and yellow were often associated with liveliness and courage, both promising colors for their royal lineage. “Ketsu is slim but healthy, and Mugai looks like he will become a great ninja like his father.”
”Why has the third one not hatched yet?” Dokura demanded, her deep crimson scales brighting slightly in aggravation. “It’s been far too long.”
”Is something wrong with the egg, Yuki?” Kuroshi, the leader of their clan, demanded, and Yuki paled.
”N-no, San.” She stammered, glancing over at the egg in worry. She knew that tone. “I’m sure your final child will hatch soon. Perhaps I could offer some assistance…”
”No.” Kuroshi growled, and Yuki flinched. “If a hatchling is not strong enough to free itself from it’s egg then it is not strong enough to survive in the outside world. Especially not in our clan. You know this.”
”Yes but…” Yuki trailed off as she glanced over at the final egg, dread building within her. She had seen eggs be discarded far too often to be naive of what happened to the weak, but after watching over these three unhatched chameleons for so long she had grown attached. She sucked in a sharp breath and nodded. “Of course. I apologize.”
”Good. I will not have a weak child to dishonor our legacy.” Kuroshi glanced at the egg with distain. “Our children will grow and compete for leadership of the entire force. I will not be bothered with this one, as it has been far too long. You can take it away now—it is probably dead.”
Yuki’s stomach dropped to her feet as the dismissive tone. Take young Kaito’s egg? To the cliffside? Where, to ensure he wouldn’t later hatch and suffer, she must…
”Yuki. Now.” Kuroshi demanded, and Dokura nodded.
”It must be done. No use in prolonging the inevitable.” She added, and Yuki quickly scooped up the egg into her arms. Her tail tightened it’s coil in apprehension as she quickly bowed and hurried out, leaving the other two to imprint on their parents.
She hurried through their village, head down as the other chameleons habitually made way for her hasting figure. It was well known that the vibrant teal kunochi was the head servant to their clan leaders and was to be respected without question, and she wasn’t one to complain. They treated her like their own daughter although she knew she would never succeed them, and although she was well acquainted with the order of their clan she was never quite at ease with various customs.
Especially not the discarding of late hatchers.
She could understand the strict rules of never leaving the village without proper reason and never conversing with anyone outside the clan, since those were in place for their own protection. But other orders such as outcasting the weak and disposing of eggs? Yuki’s own mother was staying in a village nearby of elderly chameleons who were too sick to serve the clan any longer, and although she missed her terribly what was she supposed to do?
If there was one rule above all the others, that was to never leave the clan.
Never disobey the clan.
Never disrespect the clan leaders.
Weakness lead to banishment, but betrayal lead to death.
Yuki was brought back to the present when she felt the egg in her arms jolt slightly, her heart stopping in her chest. She hurriedly set the egg down and watched it intently, not daring to help it hatch but still hoping that the youngling inside would be strong enough. “Come on Kaito… please… you can do it…”
There! A small pip had appeared in the side of the egg where the child’s horn has pierced the shell, a few more cracks running along the side as the hatchling strove to escape. Yuki’s heart leaped in her chest as it’s horn rammed the side of the egg again, struggling hard to get it’s head out. “Yes… yes you are doing so well… be the warrior you are destined to become.”
Finally a small purple head broke through the ivory shell, the young chameleon’s eyes still tightly closed as he panted from exertion. Grimacing slightly he turned his head to the side, using his horn to break more of the already-fractured egg as his little legs kicked in the back to separate the two halves of the shell. The moment he was free Yuki scooped him up, hugging him close to her chest and trying to help him keep warm.
The small chameleon was one of the most precious things she had ever seen, with a bright yellow horn and slightly smaller than usual but that was nothing to be worried about as she was certain he would grow. She glanced over at the cliff she had been heading towards, stomach churning as she thought about how close this child had been to never even making it out of his egg. Now at least she could bring him back with her where he would be reunited with his parents and brothers, able to honestly tell them that he had hatched by himself before she could dispose of him.
With a soft smile she looked back at his beautiful purple scales, the color of nobility and wisdom. She believed it had to be a good omen for someone who had escaped the jaws of death and emerged into the world with a predestined purpose to rise to leadership of his clan. She gently drew him closer to herself as he shivered. “Welcome to the world, young Kaito.”