Hatchery

Viscous liquid oozes, an unknown substance gurgles, flesh glides slimy and the heavy thump of a heartbeat reverberates through the grand chamber of the living fortress as the One and subject 37 tread upon a bridge of tendons, leading towards a dim and murky chamber. Illumination is sparse, emanating from peculiar alien lights resembling hatching cocoons. These sources emit an ethereal glow, while intermittent twitches and movements hint at the transformations taking place within. Some forms are fragmented, yet a discerning eye may still recognize remnants of what once was or perhaps what is yet to be. Advancing slowly, the One whispers cryptic words to the deer's ear, their meaning elusive. Eventually, they halt. Before them stands a colossal wall of lean muscle intermingled with veins and tendons of various sizes, mimicking a structural composition. Nestled within is an empty, translucent sac. Guiding their new companion, the One urges it to enter through a thin, wrinkled membrane, resulting in a squelching sound. The abomination stirs to life, as veins commence pumping diverse fluids and the sac gradually fills with an illuminating blend of viscous substances, emitting a reddish hue on the periphery that transitions to a vibrant yellow at its core. The deer succumbs to a state of suspended animation, the final remnants of air escaping its lungs. A fluid motion ensues around its form, as the sac thickens, rendering it increasingly opaque and concealing the newly forming cocoon. "Rest well. When you awaken, no harm shall befall you," the One murmurs in an enigmatic tone.