Ch. 7
>Anon finishes the last of the non-toxic fruits and mushrooms brought to him by the former Queen of the Changelings.
>Licking a bit of berry juice from his fingers, he smiles.
>Chrysalis stares at him, unblinking eyes focused on his every movement.
>Anon ignores her, and looks up towards the sky.
>A soft breeze caresses his cheek.
>He closes his eyes, and sighs.
>Chrysalis leans forward in anticipation.
>Anon slowly looks back down at her.
>”She looks so different than when I first saw her,” he thinks to himself. “Or maybe…”
>He looks past her to the treeline.
A: “Maybe I’m the one who’s different.”
>Chrysalis cocks her head slightly, unsure what Anon is talking about.
>She shifts her posture slightly, as he simply stares off into space for an uncomfortable length of time.
C: “Anon?”
>He snaps back from his thoughts.
A: “Yeah?”
>His flat response almost makes Chrysalis wince, but she suppresses it.
C: “You enjoyed the feast I brought you, yes?”
A: “Oh, yeah. I was really hungry after tussling with this guy,”
>Anon pats the timberwolf behind him.
A: “Thank you.”
>He stands, looking away from her again towards the trees.
>He starts to take a step, but Chrysalis grabs his hand with her magic, gently pulling on him.
C: “That’s it?”
>She looks at him with wide eyes, attempting to conceal the disappointment in her voice.
>Anon looks down at her with a confused expression.
C: “Well?”
A: “What?”
>Exasperated, she stands up and stomps her hoof.
C: “What do you mean ‘what’!? I brought you food! Aren’t you feeling… Love?”
>Chrysalis slowly lowers her voice as Anon’s blank expression confuses her.
>He looks her up and down, squinting his eyes as he seems to ponder something.
>Growing irritated by his silence, she yells.
C: “Well!?”
>Anon smirks.
A: “You know, you’re actually really cute when you’re upset.”
>Taken aback, Chrysalis blushes and scrunches her face.
>Anon kneels down and brushes a lock of her hair from her face, and her expression softens, while her blush deepens.
>He leans in and gently kisses her.
>Her back arches as she tries to lean into his kiss, to draw more love out of him.
>But Anon, instead, pulls away.
>He stands again, and looks away from her, eyes on the horizon.
C: “A-Anon?”
>More confused than before, she tries to read his expression.
>His eyes are full of vigor, his slight smile eluding to thoughts beyond her reach.
C: “I… I want more…”
>She tries to push closer to him, but Anon place a hand on her head, stopping her.
A: “Not now. I want out of this damn forest.”
C: “Wha-? Don’t defy me! Give me your love!”
>Rather than sounding angry, or demanding, her voice sounds hurt. Pleading.
>Anon doesn’t respond.
>Instead, with one quick motion he picks her up and throws her over his shoulder.
C: “W-what are you-?”
>Anon walks over to the timberwolf, and it stands up, as if responding to some silent command.
>Without a word anon slings Chrysalis onto its back, and then hops on himself.
A: “Let’s go.”
>The timberwolf shivers, and then takes off at a full sprint.
>As the blur of green and brown passes them by, and the sound of creaking wood and snapping twigs echoes around them, Chrysalis cannot help but look up at Anon.
>He looks forward, paying the Changeling little mind as they speed through the trees.
>His visage is one of determination, of clear intent.
>Chrysalis jostles about as the timberwolf leaps across a stream, and is suddenly made aware of the embarrassing position she’s been put in, strewn across the beast’s back like a sack.
>She opens her mouth, ready to protest her predicament, but seeing Anon’s face drives the thought from her mind.
>Instead, she simply smiles.
>”Soon.” She thinks to herself. “Very soon…”
~