The sound of hooves hitting the rocky ground echoed across the tunnels of the Hive, chasing a single Changeling through the winding corridors.

The Changeling in question, ran towards the familiar pathways of the Hive, she knew them better than any of the soldiers chasing after her, and she had an objective. Deep below ground, there was a chamber that held the newly hatched Changelings, each one being chosen for their own place in the greater Changeling Hive. Ranging from lowly Tunnelers to the Queen’s Guards, every class had their purpose.

Emphasis on had.

There was one specific class that had been hunted, seen as weak and useless to the Queen’s plans, the Artists, those that designed and crafted the Hive to the best and most effective means, that handled the careful disguises and portraits of their leaders. All now being tracked down.

As the Changeling ran into the open Chamber, the clusters of the small white Changelings sleeping soundly in their makeshift cribs, she ran towards one in particular. As she reached the cluster, she began to look over the twenty small white grubs to find the one she needed, finding it, she grabbed the opened chrysalis which acted as their beds, and put the pupa on her back.

As she let out a relived sigh at having found her target, the Pupation Chamber was stormed into by Soldiers. “Get her!”

The Changeling froze for only a second before rushing off towards the other exit, being careful not to disturb the small Pupa on her back as she quickly made her way through the tunnels.

The Pupation Chambers were separated into multiple layers, the Lowest classes such as Tunnelers and basic drones were held at the bottom, Soldiers held the largest Chamber in the middle, and the highest class, those that would become the Infiltrators and perhaps Queens one day, were kept separate from the rest.

She burst into the second Chamber, looking around desperately while the shouts of the soldiers behind her added to the tension. She quickly made up her mind and began to sprint towards the exit, leaving just as the Soldiers flew into the room, now on her tail. She kept running, never stopping, her heart pounded inside her carapace while her breathing became quick. She couldn’t slow down, she needed to get to it.

She eventually found her way towards the main living area, a large closed dome, where the Changelings lived in small hastily made houses, looking like slabs of black rock were thrown together to build a structure.

She kept running, the Soldiers slowly catching up to her, as she reached one of the houses, she flung the door open with her magic before slamming it closed, moving anything heavy to block them from entering.

When that was finished, she ran towards a room to the side, before placing the Pupa down and rummaging in the cabinets. “Where is it…” She mumbled to herself in panic. “I know it’s around here somewhere…”

She threw everything to the floor as she found the three objects she was looking for, she let out a relieved sigh as the door was blown open. “Find her now!”

The Changeling grabbed the objects and the Pupa, quickly running towards a back entrance, she began to fly, her small insect wings buzzing as she lifted herself to the top of the dome, followed by more of the soldiers.

She quickly scrabbled to get into the above tunnels, those few that led to the outside, to safety… “We’re almost there…” She said to the Pupa on her back. “I just need to…”

“Seal the Hive!”

“NO!” She shouted, buzzing her wings harder in an attempt to get there before the top of the main tunnel was closed by the Tunnelers, but she wasn’t fast enough. The Tunnel sealed off and she looked around desperately, trying to find some way to save both of them.

She sighed as the soldiers drew near, there was only one thing left she could do…

She flew towards a small tunnel, her smaller size easily fitting through it while the Soldiers needed more time to get through, when she came out, she was looking at the closest thing to a ‘house’ a Changeling could have. The Barracks… Where the best soldiers were trained, a General was always nearby… It was her last hope.

She landed in front of the building, placing the Pupa down on the ground in front of the door. She listened quickly to hear the sounds of the soldiers approaching, slowed down by their size.

The Changeling let out a small tear. “I’m sorry…” She said she pulled out the items she had retrieved from her house, a small needle, a green gem attached to a string, and a dark brown cloak.

She held the needle close to the gem in her magic, focusing on the two with all of her mind, pouring her love into it. When she saw the bright green flash, she placed the newly created Pendant around the Pupa’s neck, just as it began to open its blue eyes.

The Soldiers were getting closer now, any second they would burst through the tunnel. The Changeling looked down at the Pupa. “My little Spinnekop…” She said. “Be brave. I love you…” She kissed the young pupa on her forehead before knocking on the door and dashing off towards another tunnel, leaving the Pupa there.

Shortly after, the group of Soldiers burst through into the larger cavern, and began looking towards the other tunnels. “There she is!” One of them shouted and a group flew off to chase her, while a smaller group stayed to look at the Pupa.

“What should we do with it?” One of them asked.

“Exactly what the Queen ordered.” Another said.

The Pupa opened its eyes fully with a small yawn, looking up at the soldiers. It let out a small clicking sound and found the pendant around her neck, placing it in her small mouth as she began to suck on it.

“Captain.” Another Female voice said. “I expected better from you.”

The Changelings turned to look at the tall form of Queen Chrysalis, her tall form showing off the tremendous power, her horn had decay running through it, much like the rest of the Changeling’s legs and wings. “My Queen. She has not escaped yet, we will catch her.”

The Queen glared down at the Captain. “I do not want your pathetic ideas, I want results!” She said. “What are all of you gawking at?”

The Queen walked up to the door, seeing the small Pupa, the Pupa looked up at the Queen and let out a small chirping sound. “Spinnekop!” The Pupa said happily.

“My Queen, this is the last of them, we will proceed with the execution as you-”

“There is no need, Captain.” The Queen replied. “She may very well serve my purpose well enough, regardless of her birth, see to it she is placed with the Soldiers.”

“My Queen?” The Captain said unsure. “She has yet to…”

The Captain was lifted off the ground by a green aura around his neck. “Thank you for the opinion, Captain,” She hissed the Captain clutching near his throat. “Next time I require it, I will ask.” She let go of the Changeling, leaving him to gasp on the ground. “What I have planned requires more Soldiers than anything, regardless of how she was born, she will be brought up as a soldier. Understood?”

The Captain coughed. “Under… Understood… Your Majesty.”

“Good.” Chrysalis said. “Now… Bring me the head of that Artist. If she makes it out of the Hive, I will take yours instead.”

The Captain groped near his throat. “At once My Queen!” He hissed at the other Changelings and all of them began to chase after where the Changeling went.

Chrysalis walked over to the Pupa. “I have a very special task for you, hatchling.”

“Spinnekop!” The Pupa replied, grabbing onto the gem and suckling on it, her acid green spit covering the top half of the gem.

Chrysalis smiled. “Of course… Spinnekop, will be perfect for what I have planned.”