The tree
THE TREE
There he was, inside the raging plant, being created. The slooshing of the green liquid filled his new made ears as his insectoid brothern trashed about. His blue eyes held shut as his body began to transform. An equine body started to take shape as his body jerked about. The loud thumping was heard outside the tree as long hooved legs reached out for the sound. The black bent horn that jutted out of his head scrapped against the hard wood. The scratching grew more louder and the horn more eager to escape. It was chorus of thumping and heaving as the bark split. The crack burst as the creatures emerged from the tree. Chittering filled the air of the murky pond, all curious and unsure. Confusion spread through the group like a disease. What where they? How are they? What to do? The questions were asked throughout the creatures but the flapping of their fly-like wings, the stretching of their new legs, and the breath that each changeling drew in made them certain of one thing. That the were alive.
A jarred breath brought the old memory sailing, as the changeling eyes fluttered open. He heaved, reaching back for the memory but it was long gone. A sharp cry escaped his lips, the loud wail desperate and unsure. He lay back with holed hooves grasping for something lost but came down empty hooved. He made another hollow wail, one more scratchy and lacked of breath.
"Where am I?"
The question came struggled, as the changeling lay back to face the endless sky, "Where am I?" His question was unanswered. He turned back to the array of trees that surrounded him, "Where?" He asked again as his breathing struggled. His blue eyes wondered about but there was nothing to look at besides the vast trees. He cried as the harshness of his reality fell upon him. He was alone.
The tears that had formed came rushing down in a great waterfall of sadness. Words blundered from his mouth, hiding against sniffles and tears, "My Hive. My Queen!" The memory of his queen had brought upon a series of despair to him. His sobs grew louder as he was engulfed in the memory.
Another rumble from the tree silenced the changelings, halting their confusion. The green eyes that came from the lighter colored liquid, glowed, entrancing the creatures to behold the new being. It's fanged smile emerged with it, greeting the changeling with a cold laugh as it's black hoof drew near. The larger changeling crawled out, it's mouth still curled at the corners, "I am your Queen!" The creatures stared at their master, though before she had told them they all sensed it was true. Queen Chrysalis smiled again as the group bowed to her, "I am your leader." As they stood back up the creatures nodded, "We are to explore these caves and make it our home." The command was taken by the changelings as the headed out. The smallest changeling looked back at their leader, the first of the fly and equine combination, and beheld the beauty of the larger changeling. And he loved her as a foal would love a mother.
His crying ceased as the memory came to and end. His queen. His hive. He needed them. "My Queen! I'm coming!" The changeling rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself up, he winced and fell back down. He grunted, "For you Chrysalis!" as he brought himself up with whatever strength he had. Heaving, he trudged forward into the forest, "I'm coming for you!"
Looking around the small changeling could only find the presence of the gray rocks and the pond. He turned his head back to see that the rest of the changeling were greeted by the same finding. "What do we need to find?" another changeling asked.
The Queen stared at the crowd before her, "A place where we can settle down." The creatures nodded and went back onto their work, searching the cave.
The small changeling flapped his blue wings and flew around. He hovered over the pool, inspect the tree they had burst out of. He scratched the blacken wood, tracing the bumps along the magical tree. The changeling peered past the tree, watching the original changeling. He smiled as he saw her beauty and the majestic way she ruled.
What are you doing? the words asked calmly in his mind.
"AGH!" he screamed, falling backwards. The green water splashed as he fell into it's murky abyss. Legs thrashed, as he scrambled for air above him. Sinking down into the water he reached his hooves forward and grasped for the land only to be caught by another hoof. The larger changeling pulled him up as he gasped for air. Heaving the changeling looked up to the one who just saved him. The water dripped from his black exoskeleton as the Queen lowered him back on land. "Th-thank you," he sputtered, hyperventilating rapidly. Chrysalis stroked the small changeling's smooth head, "You are welcome, my subject. But may I ask what where you doing behind the tree?"
"I-I was lo-looking at the tr-tree," the tiny changeling muttered, stuttering over his words, "But may I ask, h-how did you ta-talk to m-me th-through my head?"
"Ah that's the hive mind, my dear. It's a collective thought. Another way to communicate between us," The Queen explained, walking towards the tree.
"But how can that be?