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Blood. Why did it have to be blood? Blood was never a good thing out of body, anybody...but this was ridiculous. Ankle deep in red ichor and she was really just not okay with that. Brambles within the wooden cavern tipped with claws of amber. Sounds bounded back and forth creating a staccato beat that played with her ears.

Beth, Anne, and Lee would hate it.

She had already regretted entering into the crevasse, of course she had...but she was the only one that fit. Scraping and sidling into the entrance was already difficult enough...shudders crept up her spine as she imagined the others following her in.

Though now the shudders seem a lot more justified. Her body turns and toils as she wades through darkened pools, her fingers mere shadows within the grotto. Arms are restless, buzzing with activity as she so desperately wants to leave but something won't let her. Iron musk and vapors cloud her rationale as she continues stumbling in the dark.

Part of her wants to just...leave, but her trek onwards is not halted. Not when her feet shuffle past shards of amber. Not when her eyes strain to catch the remains of a chipped and rusted blade.

Not when she trips face first into the pool.

She merely gets up and continues her crusade towards…. somewhere. She's not sure. Is...is this how Beth, Anne, and Lee feel when the pheromones affect them? This sense of surrender and defeat and sorrow? Her thoughts felt like they were boiling water, toiling and rumbling but they just...couldn't escape. A lid kept them taut.

Deeper and deeper she went, it felt like days. Ages. Centuries. When would her forced pilgrimage end? Would it be when her body keeled over from exhaustion and pain and agony? From the rumblings of her stomach chewing itself up in search of sustenance. From her feet rebelling. From her hive finally growing restless and consuming her flesh?

It had always been a possibility. She had always known that to be a possibility. It's one of the first things that they were taught by parents. Take care of your hive. She...didn't have a choice in the matter anymore though. She couldn't choose.

There was part of her that wished that it was a merciful death.

There's one more doorway...or was it an arch. It was there. She knew of it. She hoped that she would escape through it intact.

Her eyes shut in agony. It was as if the gods had thrown suns into a singular room. Her arms went up to shield her gaze from the blaring beams…. she could move again.

SHE COULD MOVE AGAIN.

Joints and limbs ached as she tried to turn around and vacate the room immediately…. but then it stopped. Her body refused to turn. Motions to move against were impossible. There was freedom...but only in the choice to move towards the light. Was that…. was that freedom at all though?

Thought for later...like a lot of the thoughts that were coming from this forced expedition. Chest up, chest down. She could only move forward.

So steps were made.

Squinting through the light, she made her way through towards...wherever she was going. Then she saw it.

A large chunk of amber, crystalline and bloodied from some substance. The surface was clear, with angular reflecting light and herself across different perspectives. A hand, her hand, goes up to examine the crystal closer. Her 3 chitin digits can't' even scratch it. Black eyes mirror in the reddish orange structure…. but she can see something. Peering closer into the looking glass is...a person. A small person. A red dress, some boots, and a fur coat. She's...small Too small. Barely a hatchling. Fingers reach out to touch the girl….and her hand pierced though. It rippled, liquid and solid around her digits. It was akin to the jellies made from honey; the Matron's special. Cool liquid swam around her as she reached further and further. She worried for the hive in her arm...yet it didn't go in. There was a coating, some form of coating around the hexagonal divots in her forearm.

Fur. Fingers curl around fur. Eyes claw open as fuzzy textile rubs against her hand.

She's pulling, she feels compelled but she's pulling. A leg pushes against the crystal….it's not going in. What is this thing? Thoughts unneeded brush away as she feels her digits enter the air once more. She's falling. She's falling but the girl is in her arms. Bracing…..

Air. She's not falling into the blood. The wind whistles around her as her hair flows upward. She's freefalling.

The light pierced the canopy that grew more distant with each heartbeat, the clouds swirling above uncaring for what lay below. Screams cut off by the air rushing around her. How has the girl in her arms not woken up yet? They're FREEFALLING!

As the bark of the great tree quickly enveloped the rest of her vision...she made peace in her soul. She was about to die. She was absolutely about to die and there was nothing she could do to change that.

Or well...that's what she thought at least.

Not the first time today that she felt her innards jump and swirl, but then again it would be somewhat disconcerting that it had already happened once, let alone thrice. The lights piercing through the canopy above became bright. Too bright.

She would cover her eyes, but there's a girl in them so all she can do is just shield them with her eye lids….

Darkness.

Noise?

"Ellie!

Wha..

"Ellie!"

Wisps of light float into view as her vision comes back to her. Their inside, ceilings with leafy light fixtures just below her range. More importantly though is the figure that's increasingly invading said vision. Antenna glowing brightly, soft sparks that speak to her. They say worry and concern and OH THANK GOD YOUR ALIVE.

"Hey Beth."

"We were so worried for you!"

Inching up from her prone position, she feels gentle hands on her torso and back. They're deftly avoiding the base of her wings, though the front is a very different story.

"Beth."

"Sorry, sorry…had to try right?"

There's a shy smile, like she's been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Though, the accurate term would honestly be a hand on the honey pot. Gently shaking, the bee looks over at one of the dedicated members of her small hive. Purple hair that covers their yellow neck. Long wings and purple accents. Blue eyes. Beth. Always reliable.

She's going to get punished for that.

"How long have I been out?"

"A couple of days, my queen."

"Fuck, well that explains why I'm sore."

Memories of what had happened. The feeling of goosebumps as she recalled her possession into the tree. Hexagonal holes in her skin tensed as she recalled the moment. Noticing Beth to her left, she realized that the girl was not all the way there. Her eyes glazed over as her hair started to waver, wings chittering in agitation.

Right.

More gas poured out. This time it took a more concerted effort. But it's enough to get the girl to calm down.

"Sorry about that. Got distracted. You good?"

"Y..yes my queen. A bit of a warning next time would be appreciated though?"

There's that smile again, though this time with more force. It's an attempted reassurance to discuss something. Her feelings. She's sure why it's happening. She's just not sure she likes it happening. Regardless, something is happening. Or rather something is off and as a result something is happening.

"Where are Ann and Lee? They should be here by now."

Bingo. Eyes shift. Tongue tied. Something's wrong. She can feel it.

"That girl. You had her in your arms when you get teleported?"

So that's what happened. Someone saved her as they saw her free falling. They saved both of them. The girl…shit.

"Where is she now?

Contrast to before. When Beth was the agitated one. Now she finds herself in that spot. Suddenly very aware of the lack of the girl's presence, it's small wonder she hadn't released pheromones again.

"…How'd you find her?"

"I went into that cove we had found." She looked over at Beth, her eyes wide as she recounted what had happened. "Felt…. compelled to walk and continue forward." Minced words to prevent some understandable reactions. "Found her in a large crystal."

"What about the blood on your pants? What about the falling from the tree? There's something else to this my queen, what-"

"Beth."

A queen's orders are absolute to their hive.

"I'm fine. The girl is hopefully alive. That's all that matters right now."

A pause. Arms that have been supporting her even till now help her shift out of the bed. Legs swing down and graze the phloem floor. Standing upright is enough to really feel what's wrong. Aches, dull and grey static that stiffen in musculature and creak her joints.

"My-"

"I'm alright, let's just go slow okay?" An intentionally dazzling smile is enough to persuade her follower. Her hive.

Metal rings scratch against the rod keeping the curtain aloft. Hallways painted softly in the setting sun remain the backdrop as they walk in silence. There are a few passersby this late into the day. Moments pass as she needs to pause every few steps. Joltik scutter across the wooden ceiling as cutiefly buzz to and fro.

"Here we are. Room 2806"

A hand draws back the curtains, folding fabric that hides the occupants in the room. Ann and Lee. Eyes draw towards her, their occupations bodies following suit. One set of ringed eyes, their owner clad in red chitin. Their eyebrows not bushy but a golden metallic V. The other who had sat up in attention was bigger. Bulkier, despite the large amount of space required for the first. He had blank eyes, a pale void that failed to express all that he had experienced. Shingled plates covered their main forearm, ending in two long claws. They had 2 other appendages, both ending in a similar claw. Hunched over, a similar pattern of shingled plates covered their back.

It was nice to see them alright.

"Ann, Lee. How are you?"

"Doing well my queen." Their voices chime in unison, one a high pitched twinkle almost like a crystal oscillating wildly, the other a dull growl emanating from the back of their throat.

They know well enough…or Ann was spying on them enough to know that the question of whether or not she was alright was worth asking.

"The girl is alive. The doctors looked at her. She's a medical marvel. Looking at her genes and her body they think she's from the before times. Course, some people can't look at her right. Which is ridiculous, the girl's a marvel! She's-"

"Ann, the queen." Lee interjected.

"Right, right sorry."

They both stand and curtsey, modified by their abnormal bodies. Ann's extended clavicles that supported the large dome that hosted her wings were somewhat at odds with the girls shorter, thinner stature. Her legs were bulky and armored, angular sharp chitin that looked more in place on a machine than a living creature. Her curtsey was quick, to the point.

He had too much bulk. Too much armor. A large upper torso that extended, angled towards the ground, shingled with teal plates. His upper arms crossed over and connected within spaces of his talons. His lower two sets followed similarly, hands clasping together as his upper body leaned over.

"You know Beth, you didn't actually do that when I woke up."

A smirk crosses her face as both Ann and Lee synchronously look in amusement at the balk in the firefly.

"Well I you see you just woke up and well ummm I request a pass?"

"Request denied."

"…mother."

"Oh you'll be calling me that and much more after we're done my light."

A low rumbling chuckled resonates through the room, all of the room's occupants sans the mystery girl turning towards the largest of the 5.

"I believe the proper term here is you're fucked."

Ann's cackle of laughter cut through, her top-heavy torso toppling over in glee.

"Keep that up and the both of you will be fucked as well."

Silence filled the room as cackles and rumblings were cut short, breath leaving them in an instant.

"Who's fucked now?"

"Beth."

"…sorry."

Ellie's gaze settled on all of them once more. From Beth's hair twirling to Ann's digits slowly coming together and separating to Lee's statuesque stillness.

"Let's get down to business, shall we? Ann, how's the girl."

It's a request, not a question. Something she needs to verify. After that experience, she needs to know just exactly what happened. Who this girl is? If she was alright.

"I peeked into her dreams a bit. Found this."

The shelled dome on her back unfolds in half, the two pieces of her carapace splitting in the middle. 6 dots, 3 on each side, glow a bright teal as her strobe. Tension. Pressure. It's always a peculiar feeling, something like an on coming headache yet localized into a gentle battering ram. A gentle but relentless force that she accepts into her minds eye.

Hazy winds fluttered through the villa's streets, carrying scents of the forest and mountains ranges of faraway lands. Streets filled with people waltzing a harmonious step kick, high pitched chirps oft' forgotten notes' join the winds journey. Ethereal petals float as men and women alike step and slide on cobblestone: a cacophony of horns and ivory tiles soft directors.

Flecks of dust and ashes join the polluted swill. Nicotine and sin entering his lungs. The brim of a soldier's cap hides his war-worn gaze. Shoulders slump as a cloud of vapor intermingles with intermittent notes. A disgruntled smirk refuses to acknowledge the chastising voices of not dressing properly. He's fine...even if his lackadaisical leg voices it's disapproval in the mix. A grunt is all he's willing to let go as the cheer and warmth permeates around him.

Steps on the cobble perk his ears. Well-worn leather straps patter into view. A hint of a grin threatens to plaster his face as he takes in what is likely going to be a hilarious sight indeed. There's a red fabric spooling around her ankles that clashes horribly with those gaudy boots. Fixing that crick in the neck allows him a look at the nervous child in front of him. There's fabric folded and bundled in her arms, though it's far too big for herself.

"That dress looks terrible on you kid."

There's little venom in his words as he regards his companion with fondness, shifting over on his perch to allow the girl to sit down. There's a moment of hesitation as she coddles the fur linens in her hands.

"C'mon kid, I ain't going to bite."

The words are enough to stir her out of indecision...or maybe it's precociousness. Gentle steps forward become a tumble, courtesy of a stumbling fool. His arms reach out to steady her before she collides with the ground, a snarl on his face contrasting a gentle touch.

"Hey asshole, watch your step!"

The fool swivels towards him, clumsy steps surrounded by the aroma of liquor. His mouth opens, words travel through but don't register. All he can hear is the snap of his hands, a cackling fire. Burley hands cascade into sand and gravel to meet his challenge.

He's chosen death it seems. A pity.

A tug on his pants distracts him. Tears and cat's eyes are almost enough to quell the flame in his palm.

Almost.

Like his cigarette before, he flicks it haphazardly at the buffoon. Screams make the kid cover and hold her ears tight. A crouch is enough to bring him closer, level enough to wipe away streaming drops and sway her rising fear.

"You're a softie aren't you kid."

The coat's been forgotten in a dirt pile...but no matter. It's still clean enough. Scarred digits drape the fur and fabric round her shoulders. It's too big, going past her haunches easily and reaching her knees.

"That coat fits good on ya kid, you should keep it."

The petals flow more and more in the air around them. She's half asleep, figures considering the time. Her mother must be in fits. She's hoisted onto his back, heavy head on broad shoulders.

"Alright kid, let's get you home. Sleep tight squirt."

Pinks and purples and blues and yellow swim past like a river as her eyes open and shine in the light. The ground underneath him sinks into the open air, rivers of light and flowers and heat flowing past him in a flurry. Her pupils dilate and sigils and swirls form. He doesn't even hear the chuckle in his own voice, everlasting warmth is all he can feel right now. Tiny digits reach out to the world, grasping for something to anchor onto.

He can't stop smiling.

"That's right kid, open your eyes."

Geysers of crystal and whirlwinds of flame clash in the distance as the world swirls and rewinds. Forces of nature great and small clash and embrace and sprout. He can feel light pierce through the fibers of his spirit as the clouds crash into his physical being.

"Open your eyes…"

"Open your eyes, Lisa."

The pressure stops. All the occupants looking over to the girl laying prone.

"What the hell kinda dream was that?" Beth said.

"I believe our compatriot here has more to her than meets the eye, yes?"

More than meets the eye indeed.

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