The fluffy end of Gallus’s tail had her attention as it flopped from side to side behind the sitting griffon who talked with Sandbar. Even though she knew it was just a tuft of fur, the need to pounce on it as if it was an unaware creature had become almost irresistible. She ran her tongue over her fangs in anticipation and she started to crouch down in preparation to spring.

“Gallus,” Sandbar said to the griffon, motioning forward with his head toward the stalking nymph.

Alerted to her intent, the target curled around the griffon’s haunches and thus was now protected by the aware Gallus. Sandbar, for his interference, received a scowl from her and the colt just rubbed the back of his neck with a front hoof while looking off to the side in response.

“Besides dealing with the little terror over here,” the griffon motioned to the nymph, “and the dye job, what else have they done to you?”

“Well, if I’m not playing with Pupa, they have me help clean up around the hive,” said Sandbar.

“Did they put you in a pod?” asked Silverstream in a whisper.

“Yeah, for a few days,” confirmed the colt. “Until Pupa let me out.”

“I ripped the pod open with my teeth,” the nymph added and bit into the air with her fangs as if to demonstrate, “and we played Checkers and then Stairs and Slides.”

“What’s it like?” asked Gallus, “I mean, being in the pod.”

“It’s like being surrounded in pudding,” explained Sandbar, “but like, without drowning? It’s oddly warm and you can’t help but fall asleep.”

“You haven’t been hurt have you?” the hippogriff asked and then quietly added; “Have they fed off you?”

“No, other than a little rough housing from Pupa, they haven’t really harmed me,” Sandbar said. “But yeah, I have been fed on, I think just by Pupa.”

“Sandbar’s love is good,” commented the nymph. “OH! Can I try yours?”

Silverstream blanched and leaned away.

“Are you scared of me?” the young changeling asked, her eyes growing large like an owl.

“Err, well, not really?” the hippogriff answered and fidgeted in place.

“Because I can feel you’re scared of something,” Pupa replied. “Gallus is too.”

“I’m not scared,” muttered the griffon, crossing his front legs over his chest and looking slightly annoyed. “But I’m not very thrilled to be here.”

“You don’t want to be here but you came here to take back Sandbar?” the nymph questioned with a tilt of her head.

“Yes, that’s right,” said Silverstream.

“Is it because he’s a pony and shouldn’t be around changelings?” Pupa asked suspiciously.

“What? No!” gasped the hippogriff, “one of our best friends is a changeling. Remember Ocellus?”

“Hey, what’s all that whispering?!” Tsetse called out while squinting skeptically at the youths.

“Nothing!” Silverstream croaked.

“So can I taste your love then?” the nymph asked again.

“I’m just not sure about the whole being fed on thing,” responded the hippogriff, rubbing her shoulder with one of her talons while looking off to the side with a face that clearly showed how uncomfortable she was.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Sandbar said, “if she only takes a little. For me it felt like being tired after going up a few flights of stairs.”

“I still think I’ll pass…” responded Silverstream, triggering a little pout from the nymph.

“So what happens next,” Gallus called out to the adult changelings. “You going to stick us in pods?”

“That’s up to the queen to decide,” Mosquito said. “For now you’re privileged with freedom and the company of her highness.

“Then we’re prisoners and babysitters.” Gallus deadpanned and looked over at Sandbar.

“No, you’re a captive intruder,” rasped Tsetse, “as is the hippogriff and your other two accomplices.”

“I’m more the babysitter,” said Sandbar.

“I think you’re more of a pet,” commented the scout.

“If we’re ‘captive intruders’ why are we allowed near Pupa?” Silverstream asked the trio of changeling mares who stood at the only exit of the room.

“Because her highness wishes to play with you,” answered Mosquito.

“And because we’re here to make sure nothing happens,” added Weevil with narrowing eyes. “I’m sure you can imagine what would be done to you if you hurt the queen’s daughter.”

“Could you at least tell us where our other two friends are?” asked the hippogriff.

“It can take a little while to free something from the type of trap they landed in,” explained Mosquito, “especially if they are being uncooperative.”

With everyone distracted, Pupa prowled around the hippogriff and quickly burrowed into Silverstream’s tail, submerging herself within the soft hairs. The hippogriff shot up with an ‘EEP’, and started to turn in a circle to see what had a hold of her. Pupa stubbornly remained firmly attached and went along for the ride until Silverstream realized it was her and calmed down again.

“Ah, Pupa?” the hippogriff said, shaking her tail. “Would you mind getting out of there?”

“It’s comfy,” the nymph chirped, peeking out at Silverstream with a mischievous smile.

Gallus rolled his eyes and the hippogriff just shrugged before dropping back down to her belly on the floor.

“Silverstream?” asked Pupa.

“Yes?” blinked the hippogriff.

“What trap did you get caught in?” questioned the nymph.

“Um, a net,” frowned the hippogriff who blushed slightly and tried to adjust her bound wings.

“Really?!” Pupa squeaked excitedly.

“Um…yes?” Silverstream reaffirmed. “Is that bad?”

“No because I made that one!” grinned the nymph, the statement causing Gallus to snicker.

“Don’t laugh griffon,” said a smirking Weevil. “You didn’t even make it to the traps before you were snatched through a crawl space.”

Scowling, Gallus placed his back against the cave wall as his tail once again started to curl actively from one side to the other. Sandbar gave the griffon a comforting pat on the shoulder and Silverstream showed him a reassuring smile. For some reason the interaction caused Gallus spirits to slightly rise and he chuckled softly.

Pupa, able to feel the love for his friends radiate off the griffon, remained sheltered within Silverstream’s tail and basked in the energy like a cat in the sun. Due to the conjunction between her soft comfortable surroundings and her lack of rest, Pupa drifted off into pleasant sleep.