"Leaf! Leaf, leaf, leaf! Leaf!" One of the chimeras ran towards Dehaka with marvellous speed and co-ordination for something three days old. Even if the mind might take a shirt while to develop, the body was a living wonder.

Thus was Leaf named. Twenty one done, twelve to go, as Dehaka knelt and let one of his sons bump into his chest, where the zerg eagerly dropped a single maple leaf onto the snow and looked up hopefully.

"It is, a leaf." Confirmed Dehaka, betraying little emotion, although what was there was warm. "Can, help survival... can be, eaten."

At the first mention of the syllable 'eat', the leaf was gone. Leaf looked at the floor with wide eyes, and ran off again, chanting 'Leaf!'. He still had much to learn. All that noise would attract danger, and taking that path didn't conceal him well, and going alone was risky too... but he would learn those lessons naturally, as he followed Dehaka. So the pack leader just watched him begin to learn how to survive...


Brightwing flew, trailed by a dozen of the chimeras. Flying around was always fun, doubly so now that she had a ton of candidates to play tag with. The only time they all moved faster than in a game of chase was when they were called on to fight. They had the brainpower for one command right now- attack. It tended to end in pieces for the target.

They were also showing signs of magic.

"Brightwing!"

She looked around, searching for the source of the thick russian accent. "Friend?"

"Get your brood under control, they're polymorphing everything. Again." Stukov sounded incredibly unamused, although Brightwing wanted to burst out laughing as she noticed Stukov's normal hat was currently a huge pirate captain's hat, complete with a big red feather and a skull and crossbones.

"They do not know what that looks like, friend~" She giggled. "Did you ask for it?"

"I am trying to train Romanov's abilities for the sake of military information! This was not intended." Stukov countered. "I also have six men turned into varying animals, and a set of intel reports to compile by noon, so hurry."

"Okay, friend..." Brightwing flew down, pursued by her squad of children. "Watch this, little friends... You can do this!" She spun in the air, pulsing a wave of cleansing magic.

Stukov was pleased to have his hat restored, although mildly grumpy at being buffeted with another five or six pulses of gusty magic and a dozen low-flying sets of wings.


Hana wondered when Lucio would get back. He'd rushed out on an urgent mission in Ravencourt's chaos, as the rest of the Overwatch team helped people evacuate the areas threatened by the Dark Nexus, maintaining the safer towns against the spreading miasma.

They'd all stopped here, as Ana went to great lengths to work out the correct next move. Leaving Dva sitting by her MEKA, looking up at the purple sky, wishing that people who actually needed help would do something to let her know, after she'd just spent hours going around and fixing damaged buildings.

Her phone buzzed. Oh, a message from the group chat!

ViceAdmiral sent a picture to the groupchat, 'ZergPuppy'. Open?

Without hesitation, she hit yes. It would either be horrifying or adorable, and she was down for both. As it turned out, it was the single best thing she could have hoped for. A picture of some kind of adorable flying zerg biting the leg off Stukov's desk. Seriously, zerg were NOT meant to be cute, let alone that cute.

Dva: Aww! :3

ViceAdmiral: This absolute cretin has been trying to eat everything all day.

ViceAdmiral: Including but not limited to furniture, walls, guns, and important documents.

ViceAdmiral: It took all my spare time just to train him not to go around biting my troops.

ViceAdmiral: I can't even use proper disciplinary training or the parents will be enraged.

Dva: It's so CUTE

Dva: New strain?

ViceAdmiral: Classified. But yes.

HonorAndArrows: Ah yes, classified information, posted to another organization's group chat.

ViceAdmiral: I planned to show you, this was to gauge reactions.

Dva: What are it's stats?

ViceAdmiral: Biological, 250 health, flying, idiot.

Dva: Wait wow you actually learned Starcraft stats?

ViceAdmiral: It wasn't hard. Although I'm also guessing the health.

ViceAdmiral: I think I may use them as guards for diplomatic missions.

Dva: If you do you'll have to deal with me finding you and petting them.

ViceAdmiral: I warn you, it's as vicious as any other zerg.

Dva: Who needs hands anyway?

Weeb: Does he have a name?

ViceAdmiral: Romanov

Dva: Tell Romanov we love him

Dva: When can I join the swarm to meet him?

HonorAndArrows: DO NOT BETRAY THE TEAM

Weeb: She's exaggerating, brother.

ViceAdmiral: If you want to see one so badly, we can always conquer the Nexus?

Dva: Bring it on!

Dva: Honestly though, it's nice to see you cheerful.

Dva: You were always so gloomy after what happened in the past.

ViceAdmiral: You're treading dangerous ground, girl.

Dva: Sorry, sorry.

Dva: But when can I meet him?

Dva: You could send him to us with Dehaka!

ViceAdmiral: Once I trust the little shit not to bite strangers on sight.

ViceAdmiral: Two days, if he develops as expected.

Dva: Don't insult him I'm sure he's a good boi.

ViceAdmiral: I've only known him for three days

ViceAdmiral: But make no mistake, I would quite happily kill a man for him.

ViceAdmiral: If only because that's a rather easy target.


Dehaka counted out the chimeras as they entered the burrow. A few still missing names, and many more likely to choose new ones once they were smart enough. Most of the problems he'd encountered by choosing to actually raise and somewhat protect them were easily adapted to. He'd feared they would grow reliant, but they had so far been just as self-sufficient as him, and he was sure not to overprotect. He'd worried they would be hesitant to change. Yet they embraced it.

He wondered if they would leave the pack. It was oddly difficult to begrudge them for it. The lesser strains were cannon fodder. And while they still obeyed the fact Dehaka could have easily killed the disobedient... Dehaka felt he couldn't do that. It was entirely different when you were facing something so special. He might be able to hurt one if it stopped them from doing something that would get them killed, but... He somehow knew he couldn't strike one down unless it was truly necessary.

Dehaka realised that he had found another few beings that he would willingly risk his life for.

That terrified him, but at the same time it filled him with determination and drive.

"Rest, now. Brightwing will return, with, others, soon."

Yes, she was helping Stukov. It was difficult to place so much trust in anyone but her, but it did seem that Romanov held Stukov in the highest regard. Which counted for a small something, at least. Romanov was making incredible progress in his speech compared to the others, too. He could already tell a soldier to get into formation like a little flying sheepdog, and was reaching the point where he was smart enough to ask questions.

Not bad for someone five days old.


Brightwing closed her eyes. A little downtime was something she rarely felt she NEEDED, but it had been a long, busy week. Even today had been a little crazy. First Furback had picked a fight with the area's queen and needed to be stopped before he was killed, then Heidi had dug into the creep and gotten stuck when it grew over her, and then Ribeater had tried to hunt one of Stukov's soldiers, and then Blinker had earned his name by getting poison in his eyes and needing healing...

Romanov learned how to swear in Russian...

Byleistr, Dag, Sharna, and Leaf caused a wild magic surge and turned everything blue.

Lucio Two started learning how to mimic birdsong in order to lure them over.

Pyotr had learned how to read, somehow.

And that was just the last six hours. At the very least, she didn't need to cook or hunt for them. They were all reasonably accomplished hunters, and most of them were cautious enough to pick their battles.

And lying down besides Dehaka as the sun melted away any soreness in her muscles, she knew she wouldn't trade them for the world.

"Hummm... mate, is blood a sauce or a drink? It is already in meat..."

Dehaka looked down at the semi-sleeping dragon in moderate confusion. "...Do not, know definitions." He paused, watching one of the unnamed ones tackle Leaf from behind, the two falling into a wrestling match. Good practice for the real thing, although they were getting perhaps a little bloody. Maybe they needed to be seperated..? No, they'd heal just fine.

He noticed one of the other ones looking at him. A challenge? Or did they have something to say?

"Speak."

"I... look!" She hopped forwards a bit, falling on it's hands and scrambling back up. And with a bit of hand-waving and focus, a few little blue sparks went flying about, vanishing in the air. "I am... a... um... Mage!" She looked at at Dehaka with big eyes, stumbling a bit more.

"Your magic, can be, stronger. Always, improve. Be, skilled, and survive." His words were plain and simple, and he focused deeply. The magic he'd learned from Brightwing was still unimpressive, but he was at least learning how to manipulate it. With great effort, Dehaka managed to make a small glowing focal point at the end of a claw, before flicking the little ball upwards and causing it to explode into a puff of chalky smoke. "...Try, new things. Never, stop growing."

Mage tried again to use some magic, only making another few blue sparks. Dehaka wondered if she would have survived on Zerus. The new force called 'magic' would have made her highly attractive prey, and she was taking so long to grow... Yet she was smart. All of them were smart. While some would certainly have fallen victim to inexperience and simple bad luck... Dehaka thought they might just have been able to carve out a life there, amidst the carnage and packs. And in the Nexus, where the threats were fewer and often lesser?

They would survive.


Stukov dodged the bite with a speed few had seen, grabbed Romanov and choke-slammed him to the floor. Romanov struggled for a few seconds, and relented.

Eleven days old. Grown enough to finally be taught proper discipline. Also grown enough to try and show Stukov that he was stronger, and thus could try to order him around. In his dreams. The fight had been short and rather humiliating, to say the least.

"Give up. You are no match for me, even with your magic I do not need my psionics." Stukov glared down his arm, at the pinned zerg.

"...Okay. I give up." Romanov had developed something of a russian accent as he grew.

Stukov took his hand off, and Romanov got to his feet. As tall as Stukov, if not slightly taller. And strong, too- made of almost pure muscle, head to toes. But while he was intelligent, and starting to understand a great many things, he was nowhere near smart enough to stand a ghost of a chance against Stukov. Stukov knew all this, and had studiously gathered data on just what his new unit type was capable of. To him, Romanov was a military project first, and a (very intelligent) pet second.

Stukov fixed his jacket and stood straight. "Your request to fight me was properly made from a military point of view, but your judgement of my abilities was inaccurate. Such a failure in the field will kill you, without a second chance. And you should well know that taking my command within MY order will require besting my intellect, not my strength." Stukov listed easily and sternly. Romanov hung onto every word. "You are scheduled for more tests shortly. And then there will be drills, and several hunting excersises. If you want to speak with anyone, do so immediately."

Romanov nodded and backed out of the area. How could some terran, someone who shouldn't possibly have been able to beat him, defeat him so utterly? If he kept going like this, he'd be dead the moment he had to fight.

Scrambling out of the area to refocus and try and work out what went wrong and what to do next, he saw his siblings. Those to be played with, those who might one day be his greatest allies or worst enemies. He always longed to be around them, but never felt comfortable, always aware that the only thing keeping them all united was the fact that Dehaka could literally kill any of them in a second. But... no, that wasn't quite right. Was it? It was so difficult to think about...

"Brother. Bro. Bro-ther."

Romanov looked to the side, inwardly cursing. How could he not have detected her arrival? Another thing he had to improve, before it killed him. "Sister. Hello sister."

"You fought Stukov." One of his sisters ran over to him. "...But you are still alive."

"It was a... Not a death fight." Romanov struggled to put his message to words, but at least that skill wouldn't kill him if left unsharpened. He looked up and down this one of his sisters, carefully reading the differences... all of his siblings were becoming distinct from each other now, slowly adapting and evolving to their experiences. This one was... sneaky. Good at concealing herself, to avoid fights that she didn't need, and let her prey come to her... she'd even taken on a flower smell to make sure that the orc wolves couldn't smell her... so this was... "Anastasia? Stukov... are you, angry, I fought with Stukov?"

She closed her eyes and reached forward, touching Romanov's shoulder. He flinched, and calmed. "No. Stukov only named me... and some others. Are you not hurt?"

"Not hurt." Romanov confirmed. "Sister..." He whispered, looking out over the snows. "Everything is confusing, and scary."

"...But you are surviving. I like that. You like that too."

"Yes." Romanov sat down for a moment. Anastasia did too.

"And if you are in lots of trouble, our mum will save you. She is nice."

"...She is very nice." Romanov nodded. "Makes me feel mean."

"Meanie."

Romanov grumbled. "I am not that mean..."

Anastasia giggled and poked his shoulder. "Meanie mean mean." She took one of his hands and poked the pads. "Mean beans."

"..." Romanov huffed. "...Pew!" And poked Anastasia right in the neck, just how he was taught to stun people. She yelped and froze up for a second, falling over before they both started a small war of pokes.

Brightwing looked on from the clouds like a happy guardian angel, her troupe of flyers behind her.


Dehaka held another unnamed in his arms. They were fighting moments ago, and had escaped with their life only by his direct intervention. Yes, this was a raiding party to make sure the base wasn't discovered, and his pack and spawn were here to fight. No, that didn't mean you could pick a fight with an elite Alliance cavalry unit solo.

Broken ribs, broken wing, almost broken leg, almost a cracked skull. Those cavalry hammers hit hard.

But this chimera was alive, and would be healed to perfect health soon. It was much simpler to mend a bone than to outright replace it. And almost all of the chimeras had instinctively started to learn healing magic.

So he wondered if there was a temporary name to draw from this. But for now...

"Are you, recovered?" Dehaka asked, looking down at the chimera.

It blinked a few times and nodded. "I did bad..."

"You, must learn, to use pack. Strength of two, can overcome, more than strength of one. That enemy, would have killed you. If I, did not offer protection... you, would not have, survived." Dehaka's words were firm. Not angry, but deep-cutting nonetheless.

The chimera deflated, looking baleful. "I... should not be alive?"

"Does not, matter. You are, alive. Should, make sure, you stay alive. Yes?"

"Yes." It drew close to Dehaka and attempted to hide next to him. Dehaka was inclined to push them away, to make sure he could move as much as he needed should danger emerge, but...

Something he'd adapted somewhere- something that definitely wasn't from Zerus- told him to comfort this shaken child. And so, as the raiding pack went back to the burrow, they walked together, Dehaka keeping an arm around the lucky chimera, giving it a little extra attention. The action felt so strange to him, so foreign... but it sent a certain warmth through his hearts. Maybe Brightwing could explain that.