Tail Of Tarsus

I woke to a slightly more familiar hive.  The dried out wall of my small sleeping space, were once again damp, dark and comfortable.  The worker-drones did a good job repairing the roof.  At least there is proof the hive still knows what it is doing.

Fang had given most of us on the new formed Guild of Changeling Actors the day off.  As part of a new decree allowing freedom of travel for changelings.  Fang had apparently gone to see one of these theatres we were to be making.  I was planning to take the opportunity to see Thorax again.

One would be amazed how confusing tunnels that do not rearrange can become when you are so accustomed to them shifting.  It took me at least three tried to find the throne room, the other two I ended up near the abandon  feeding chamber twice.  Finally, I did manage to find the Throne room, at least fifty changelings hovered in a semi-circle around the room, granted most them were probably guards.  I made my way in only having to bump into a few dozen other changelings.  Considering the commotion yesterday I had a surprisingly easy time entering the chamber.  In the center of the room a lone black changeling was incased in an emerald crystal.  Only his head remained above the lattice.

Shadd was there, but Thorax was no place to be seen.   "Fellow Changelings," he began. "We have been attacked."  He continued give a long winded speech about how he takes this 'very serious' and we should too.  In truth Shadd, the captain of the guard, should've had proper security before the attack.  However I must give him credit the speech was very well put together.

He then turned to the encased changeling, only to find his eyes shut.  Shadd gave him a good buck to the face, knocking the changeling and cocoon flat on to the floor.  Shadd turned to him and shouted "be awake as I sentence you."

The cocooned one started yelling all kinds of nonsense.  "See how the new administration is cruel" and "Long live Queen Chrysalis" and what not.  For a moment I could see the fire in green changelings eyes, but instead he motioned to other guards, which took the changeling away.

"Its is Thorax's wish that all changelings be given a chance." He further explained from now on all unreformed Changelings would be thrown into the dungeon, until they starve or agree to share love.  I was already starving I could feel my stomach nibbling at itself.

He eventually began talking about additional security measure he was putting in place.  This is when I knew how bad things were really going to get: curfews, zone controls and worst of all love sharing check points.  Started to back out of the crowd.  I was even considering fleeing from the hive.  Not that I would get the chance.  I became aware that everything became quiet.  The guards parted and even nudged me towards the center.

"Yes, please come down." Shadd hovered in the air he made a motion for me to step come closer.

I did not have a choice.  I flew out right in front of every-drone.

"You were there when they attacked isn't that correct?"

"Yes," I replied.

Shadd urged me to speak louder.  "I was horrible wasn't it"

I complacently agreed, "I was terrible"

"Now I shall demonstrate how check points will work." He turned to me. "now give me some love," he said making a funny face. Some of the crowd chuckled a bit.

I froze, mind whizzing.

"Well, come on, share the love already," Shadd requests.