The Changeling Who Thought He Was A Wolf
By UniqueSKD
AKA - The Best Brony Ever! My Mommy said so!
XD
Chapter One
Celestia's golden sun shone it's rays of warmth and light upon the land that day, and an excellent opportunity for two drone workers to quietly slip away from the Changeling hive and venture into the forest nearby. The thought of their absence being reported by some other low-ranking drone to one of the higher-ups didn't cross their minds as they trotted through the grass towards the mass of trees ahead. There were so many Changelings living in that hive that they were very sure that no one would notice two measly workers weren't there, anyway.
Well, that, and the fact that they weren't really that popular with the rest of the colony to begin with kind of reassured them that none of the other Changelings would be that bothered. The two escapee's chuckled to themselves as they approached the entrance into the woods, the thought of everyling cautiously watching their behinds to make sure they weren't being targeted for another prank being rather amusing to them.
One of the two Changelings turned her head to look to her companion. As would usually be expected of a Changeling, her body was a hard black chitinous skin, her sleek and feminine legs riddled with holes, her delicate gossamer wings displaying a few little shreds and tears. However, there was one thing that was different about her, one thing that made her stand out amidst other Changelings, and that was the silky wave of hair that made up her mane and tail, a contrast to the blackish coloring of a normal Changeling's mane and tail.
"I cannot believe we are really doing this, Tricky," she said to her accomplice, her voice a gravely tone. "If anyling knew we weren't working in the new tunnel, the Queen would probably have us thrown into the detention chambers." She paused. "Again," she added.
The other Changeling looked to his partner and smirked. He was, too, very much similar in appearance to any other Changeling, except that he had a bit of a bulge on his stomach, and his left eye, which for reasons no Changeling had been able to explain, least of all himself, was a darker shade of blue than his right eye, a characteristic he had carried since birth. "There are dozens of drones working in that tunnel, Silver Mane. I doubt anyling is going to know we're missing. Besides, you were the one who wanted to get out of the hive for a while, remember? I've always wanted to come and explore this forest. It's better having you coming along too." He leaned closer to Silver Mane, his face expressing a mock seductive look. "Just the two of us, alone together, about to go into a big scary forest," he said with a cheeky smile, his sharp front fangs revealed, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Silver Mane rolled her eyes. "Sorry, Tricky, but you are not my type," she replied flatly, with a small smile. Tricky often tried to cover up his flirting attempts by passing them off as a joke, but after all the time she and Tricky had spent together in the hive, pulling pranks and tricks on all the other workers, she had learned how to read the trickster as though he were a book. A comical book, at that.
Tricky frowned and pulled away from her. He turned his muzzle up in to the air, his eyes closed. "Well, be that way then. It's your loss."
"I'll get over it, I'm sure," Silver Mane giggled. "Now, are we going into the forest or not? We're burning precious daylight just standing here."
Tricky nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Come on, let's go.". Silver Mane took a few steps into the foliage when Tricky held his foreleg out in front of her, stopping her from going any further. She looked at him with a quizzing expression. "What are you doing, Tricky?"
He walked in front of Silver Mane, and she noticed that he was grinning. "I seem to recall that coming here today was my idea, so I think I should take point, Silver."
Silver Mane rolled her eyes. "Fine, you want to lead the way? Then go ahead," she replied, gesturing for the Changeling to go first.
Tricky's grin widened, and he trotted in front of Silver Mane. "It's for your safety as well, you know," he called out over his shoulder as he went further into the forest. "After all, there could be big and scary monsters lurking in these woods." He stopped to turn to the slender Changeling, and brought his holed hoof to his head for over-exaggerated dramatic effect. "Why, they'd jump out of the bushes and gobble you up without hesitation."
Silver Mane followed after him. "Then it's a good thing I have a big, strong, brave Changeling like you escorting me," she cooed.
"I appreciate the compliments, true as they are," replied Tricky, turning back around and continuing on his way.
"Who said I was complimenting you? A big, strong and brave Changeling like yourself makes for a better meal than someling like me." She caught up to the side of him, and poked his stomach with her hoof. "See? There's enough on you to keep a hungry Manticore satisfied while I made my great and daring escape," she said, giggling at her own joke.
Tricky frowned. He didn't like it when someling brought up his chubbiness. He'd been meaning to cut back on the hive jelly, but when something tasted as good as that stuff, how could anyling not want more of it? "Ha ha. Not funny," he replied sarcastically, the thought of actually leaving her with a hungry Manticore crossing his mind for the briefest of moments.
Though he didn't find it funny, to Silver Mane at least, it was amusing, and her taunting smirk mocked him as they carried on along their way.
