Chrysalis

Beds are wonderful things, don't you think? Especially if you have a good one. My family had never shown me affection in any meaningful way, but I did have decent stuff. At least, I did until the collectors got hold of me. My bed had given me the welcome and comfort that was missing from everywhere else in my home. Warm, snug, safe. My head resting on a soft pillow, the reassuring weight of sheets and blankets. It had been my sanctuary. A vessel that could carry me out of my life, away from the rejection, harsh words and angry eyes. How bad can life be when you have a comfortable bed? Probably terrible, but hey, I have my own policy.

I had to wonder if Garralosh had felt the same way, in her past life. Gandalf, the System, said that all of us were a little odd, in our lives, which was why we were chosen. Perhaps this would be a common thread between us. Or at least, increase the thread count… heh.

As the increasingly irate crocodile prepared to attack once more, I hit her right in the face with all of my most fluffy bed time memories. Sinking into a mattress, drowsy with sleep, cool sheets covering me and my pyjamas. Pyjamas! Damn I miss Pyjamas. Why the hell didn't I wear them all the time? Superior to regular clothes in every respect!

Ah!

I let myself get distracted by my own mental attack! How's Garralosh responding? The giant crocodile has faltered once more and I take the opportunity for another cheeky Omen Chomp! The mountainous reptile is missing a few chunks from various places and ichor is steaming off her still burning scales. The hiss and bubble of it is a constant background noise in the battle at this point.

CHOMP!

Take that! In fact, she still isn't responding, I'll take a chance and go for a sneaky second chomp, inflict some of that deep damage.

CHOMP!

The hit to my stamina is massive but the outpouring of energy from the Vestibule replenishes me. The Will of the colony is becoming my strength! Already my health is near full again and the regeneration gland is nearly ready to go once more. This is insane!

of anguish slams into my mind, stunning me for a short moment. Awww

BACK!] she screamed and then promptly

power and heat burst from her in a calamitous wave of rolling fire that blew me backwards and gave me a thorough roasting at the same time. I felt pain erupt all over my frame

"Vibrant! Are you alright?"

"Fine-fine! I'm too fast!"

"HCK! Good for you…"

cloud of smoke is spat out of my mouth. I need healing! I activate my healing gland once more, the precious healing fluid that built up since my last use began to flood into my system once more. Only half of a full

vision is hazy as the wall of fire that rolled over me toasted my vision to a degree, but the mind bridge is painting a picture

of reptile lashing out with all her strength is a heck of thing to be close to. Her anger is cataclysmic. The ground shakes and the air is filled with the sound of her fury. She's like a natural disaster made manifest, a titan, something primordial from before the

me

So strong is she that her strikes into the ground are causing shockwaves that are collapsing the colony's tunnels beneath us. Long sections of ground fall

go so far as to say that she's really

…

I should keep going!

to churn out magic. The most powerful of them is maintaining and operating the mind magic construct on its own as the other two cooperate to weave together the sensations and illusions. It appears as

is destroyed, burnt and thrashed into a mess and she doesn't look like she's going to stop any time soon. With Vibrant behind me, keeping her speed aura covering me, I decide to go in once

with more memories from Earth. Cola. Fast food. Couches. Television. Sport. Anything I think she might