Chrysalis

[Not going to hurt me, eh? That sounds like something someone planning to hurt me might say!]

Aha! I'm not going to fall for your games! This is most likely to be a sneak attack! Although my escort still hasn't moved away, standing around in me a rough circle facing inwards, I don't imagine that they'd be too interested in staying around in the event another monster came over and started to throw down. Perhaps they aren't lying?

[Um. I'm not going to attack you. The Shapers wanted me to talk to you!]

[Oh really? If they wanted to talk to me, why wouldn't they just do it themselves?!]

I still can't identify the origin of this mind bridge. I know it's somewhere either inside this circular combat space, or just outside it. I can see other entrances spaced around the outside edge, there's a possibility the individual communicating is beyond one of these. The fact they've been able to disguise their mind bridge indicates that they have a not inconsiderable amount of skill, something to be wary of.

[I think… they mentioned that they thought you would respond better if you spoke to someone like you…]

[Someone like me? An ant?! Are you a member of my colony come to rescue me and suffered capture as well?! Impossible! How could you know where I was?! Are you from a rival colony!? Come forth and I shall exterminate you!]

[Wow, you're an ant? They didn’t mention that. I wonder why? You aren't disgusting, are you?]

How offensive!

[I'm an ant! Of course I'm not disgusting! I'm the most noble and incredible arthropod of them all!]

[Okay! Settle down! You're really fiery. This isn't what I expected…]

[Well don't blame me for being a little tense. I get captured, locked up, told I have to fight in death matches and then marched out here without anyone saying a word. Then someone starts trash talking my species. I mean, how would you react?]

The distant voice seems to pause for a moment to consider before responding.

[You know what, I would be pretty mad. I'm sorry. I should have realised the Shapers would give you the silent treatment, they're often like that. I've been here for a long time, so I've kind of gotten used to it.]

here a long time? In

you exactly? You talk about the Shapers as if you aren't one, which makes me think you're a monster, but you also say you don't

be straight with you, I'm a monster, like you. More than that, I'm

[…]

know I was when I finally got a chance to talk

[…]

have anything to

of all, it's a little odd having this conversation when I can't see you. Second, I guess I'm a bit surprised. I really didn't think

met one!? But you're so young!

here for a while then? Yes, I met with

that happens to some of us. To be honest, all of the

seem to be

say I'm quite well adjusted. Garralosh was crazy in the coconut though, for

having this little

are a pack of filthy, filthy lies and I might have to fight them in the end. In my compound vision, I make sure to pay attention to my escort in order to witness any change in their behaviour. For

out, just

the gateways on the other side of this circular death arena jerks outward. Not a smooth glide, as would happen if people with hands were pushing it open, but a solid jump, as if an elephant had just battered it with its head.

first thing I see, obviously. Even though the shape and colouration are quite strange, it's

[You're a bear!]

up at my words, causing our gaze to

You really are an

rubbing my thorax

and amazing. Why the heck would you want to be a

massive bear monster shoulders through the door and ambles out into the open before starting to waddle over toward me. In terms of size, it's significantly larger than I am, bulging muscles ripple with each forward step of those large forelegs.

are better than ants.

ants are for the win, second,