G'Shirm watched his parents leave with curious eyes. Instinct told him that he should follow, but the inherent knowledge of custom that all Laidim children are born with demanded that he wait for them to call.

He waited, spindly gray arms still wet from the fluid inside his birthing case, but they never turned. They stopped once, just before exiting the great temple. Mye'Shirte looked to Dyem'Kaishin. G'Shirm leaned forwards, his long ears perked forwards to catch what was being said.

"Dyem'Kaishin Iraldi. This will be the last child that I will create with you. Our older son must have been a fluke."

"You are wise, Mye'Shirte, but what if this one is a fluke, and we have the ability to create another powerful child?"

"I am not willing to risk that." A softer look came over Mye'Shirte's features for a moment as it lifted one hand to stroke Dyem'Kaishin's ear. "I have feelings for you, Kai. I would stay with you. But I will not create another child with you."

G'Shirm did not hear Kai's response, for they turned away from him and exited the temple.

A flame licked its way in through the doors and danced its way to G'Shirm's feet. He could not control it. Slowly, the tips of the young Laidim's ears began to droop. His gangly gray arms hung limp by his sides as a battle between instinct and tradition raged inside his newborn mind. Obeying instinct, he shuffled forwards, ears rising in hope that his parents would hear him.

His right foot slipped on the green slime on the floor and he fell, hard, on his tailbone.

G'Shirm curled into a small gray ball on the floor. Naked and alone. He didn't understand what was happening to him, his knowledge of tradition told him that those two creatures were his parents, and they were supposed to welcome him into their house.

But they didn't.

G'Shirm's inherent knowledge did not inform him that the name for what he was feeling was called "shame."

He convulsed slightly, then let out a cry of both fear and anguish. It was a harsh, vague sound, the only noise he knew how to make.

The temple echoed.

A new feeling shook his barely-formed mind, something not unlike triumph. He lifted up his head and let loose a terrifying scream to the very top of the domed ceiling. His cries would be heard!

The scream sounded and resounded throughout the structure, magnifying itself a hundred times before dimming.

G'Shirm looked eagerly towards the entrance, rising onto all fours like a dog.

No one appeared.

He waited until his part of the world faced away from the sun.

The night was cold.
*Authors Note: The name "G'Shirm" means "Little Child" and is immensely derogatory. Understand that the way Mye'Shirte and Dyem'Kaishin have reacted towards their child's lack of power is EXTREMELY rare. The family Iraldi is known for their pride, and Mye and Kai are particularly proud, and this is considered a grave fault among their people. Don't go telling me the Laidim are dishonorable, now! BAH!