Daniel Book Four- Zebrica

"Welcome back to the world of the living. Now before you say anything, I know you can't see a thing, and no, you're not blind." CC said.

"I can see just fine. Though it is rather dark." Daniel replied.

"Well, that's convenient, look, we got separated, and now, we are no longer safe. We have no magic, and no torches. The bats won't be a problem, but without light, we maybe running into... other dangers." She said the word other in a way that sent chills down Daniel's spine. "Well, nothing to do now, but keep on going. Might as well chat toward off fear and sadness. So, what's it like in Ponyville?"

"Uh, well, it's great. lots of friendly people, and always some fun to be had." Daniel said, following after the already walking CC. "What about you, what's it like where you come from?"

"Well, unlike many hives, my hive is actually a wonderful place. And I'm living proof that they always assign their foals correct assignments." CC said happily.

"So, what exactly are Changlings hives like? How are your kind treated?" Daniel asked. CC was silent for a moment.

"Changlings are not 'born' in the sense of the term, instead, the hive's queen lays eggs in the hatching caves within the hive, and later, these eggs hatch. Different hives treat their young in different ways, for instance, my hive actually celebrates every time a new set of eggs is hatched, and assigns each of us the job that we are meant to do. My hive is a happy place, even if it is dark and dank. But one hive, who's queen is known as Chrysalis, treats their hatchlings with little care, or respect, they are born and bred for killing, only ten out of every hundred eggs is allowed to survive, all the others must be devoured alive by their own kindred. I, as an ambassador and trainer, have seen this for myself. It's horrible, the newly hatched changlings eating each other, all because they need to live. I remember a long time ago, when I first visited there, I was told of one who had eaten every single one of his brethren." She said darkly. Daniel was quiet while he processed this.

He spoke after several minutes of walking. "By the tone of your voice, it sounds as if you did more than hear of it, something tells me that I do not want to be visiting that place anytime soon. How about you tell me more about your own hive. You seemed cheerful enough about that," Daniel was obviously trying to lighten the sour mood that the cave radiated.

"It was a great place, I learned most of everything I know there, or at least the basics. I wasn't aloud outside of the hive like others though, not until I was twenty."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a princess." CC replied, just as a rumbling sounded, and the ground beneath them both gave way, causing them to drop into the depths of the earth.

*   *   *

On the other side of the original cave in, was a different story, one that no transition could be thought of for it...

"Alright, so with this collapse here, and no compass, we might be stuck." Ditzy said calmly. They had gathered the torches and had put them in their saddle bags.

"Lucky for you, I actually carry a compass on me. Here," Gilda stated, pulling said compass out of her pocket. Yes Griffins have pockets, don't ask me why, cause frankly, I don't know.

"Uh, thanks, I guess," Ditzy said, placing the compass on the map. She studied it for a few minutes, and finally pointed to a direction. "That should be the quickest way out, now come on, I don't like to linger in uncomfortable places."

"If you say so," Gilda suddenly felt a deep chill, that went down to her core, as she pulled out a match to light the torch. When the torch was lit, it cast unfriendly shadows across the walls of the cave. "Cave is pretty creepy," She said, her voice seeming to go on forever, and at the same time, stop immediately.

"Doesn't smell too nice either," Ditzy said with a forced chuckle. Gilda tried to laugh as well. "So, what was your home like back in the Griffin Empire?"

"Oh, uh, it was, nice, I'm personally glad to be away from that giant jungle surrounded city myself. I mean, it's way better hanging out with my nes-- er, my friends," Gilda replied.

"You almost said nest!" Ditzy said with a laugh, then stopped laughing when she saw the look on Gilda's face. "Oh, you almost said nest," her voice was very quiet now.

"Look, it doesn't mean anything, let's keep going." She said softly, but Ditzy shook her head and sat down.

"Gilda, do you want to join my herd?" Ditzy asked.

"I, well, I--" Gilda was cut off by a rumbling, just as the ground swallowed them both.