ORIGIN

Envy huffed out a breath, trying to look disappointed rather than relieved. They managed to look slightly disgruntled, but their long body sagged slightly. "Fine with me. It was no fun anyway," The weasel's gaze followed Asimona, and they curled themselves uncomfortably under her roving gaze. Envy puffed up, standing as tall and impressive as they could. At 6 inches, they were close to adulthood, but still tiny. Envy felt like they hadn't grown at all; it was as though their body was still the same as it had been when they'd collapsed out of their chrysalis in a pool of poisonous fluid, barely able to breathe, or walk, or...

Envy shook their head, feeling their cheeks and ears burning. They puffed up, looking as big as possible. Even crouched, Asimona still towered over them, and this fall seemed to have caused all of their old insecurities to resurface. what should they do? Should they run, ditch the situation and humiliation now before they felt any worse? This was always a bad idea. but for some reason, the weasel felt rooted to the spot, at loathe to leave. Their heart pounded as a low growl roaring in their ears.

They sucked in a breath, squeezing their eyes shut. "I'm fine! I'm always fine! And I never need any help! Ever! I'm strong! I'm gonna be the strongest in the caves, one day!" they yelled out, although their voice wavered, weighed down with insecurity. And then they clenched their teeth together and forced a grin.



"Speech."

Envy found themselves beginning to relax at Asimona's words, although they narrowed their eyes and combed every inch of the dragon's expression for some sort of sign that she was just being sympathetic, or trying to appeal to what she thought they'd want. Envy scoffed. Asimona thought they were weak now, surely. there was no hiding it from the dragon any more. The weasel's grin faded, grim determination creeping into their eyes.

"I will be," they said firmly. "no-one will be able to beat me. I'll be the strongest, no matter what." the weasel followed her gaze back towards the wall, and shuddered and bristled. They'd shown themselves up at the final hurdle, and they couldn't believe it. they didn't think they'd ever climb this wall again, not with anyone looking, at least. They turned their gaze back towards Asimona, and realized that doing so caused them to curl with discomfort at the thought that she'd bore witness to such weakness on their part. They tried to hide it, but an embarrassed look had come into their eye, and a sinking feeling in their gut. they had to get out of here, and soon.

The crafty weasel looked around for an escape route.

"Speech."

Envy's gaze flickered back towards Asimona as a sound told them that she'd moved. Envy flinched momentarily, until they realized that the dragon was just looking back at the wall. they used their paws to smooth their ruffled fur then, eyes narrowing, peering out there through her legs, but there was nothing there that Envy could see. The weasel snorted somewhat disdainfully, looking back at Asimona, and preparing to scamper off. They'd made it a couple of steps before she looked back at them, eyes filled with fear. Envy halted, body coiled in preparation to run.

The fear in Asimona's voice changed things. If nothing else, that made Asimona weaker, and made the edge of embarrassment a little bit duller in their mind. But they'd already resigned themselves to going, and her words confused them. Maybe they could make up for their own weakness? fix it before moving on? "Who's still there?" they asked doubtfully, finally turning back towards the dragon, leaning to peer around her side. But there was still no-one there. Envy raised themselves onto their hind paws, eyes narrowed, gaze flickering across the dragon's face as they tried to work out what she was talking about.

"Speech."

Envy shook their head, eyes narrowed. They gave Asimona a strange look, although they puffed themselves up tall before her cowering. "Of course not!" they said as though it was obvious, although they did crane their head around one last time to make sure they weren't missing anything. "There's no-one there!"

A cold wave from Asimona's hide caused them to shiver again, and the weasel shot the dragon an accusing glare. Did she really need to get that close? And there was still no-one there; they were facing an empty, ice-sheened wall.

Envy turned to stare at Asimona, watching the area that she examined closely and following her gaze, back to nothing. Envy bristled, beginning to grow annoyed. "Stop trying to trick me! I have eyes, stupid!" they yelled, in bitterness spurred on by uncertainty.



"Speech."

Envy seethed visibly at Asimona’s remark, a trembling twitch running through their form until they bounced up and down to expel the nervous energy. "I am using them, but all I see is a damn wall!" they snapped, taking one last pointed stare at the wall before returning their gaze to give Asimona a scathing look of disbelief.

Just what was she playing at? Envy thought bitterly how Asimona hadn’t seemed the type to try to manipulate or trick them. How long that had lasted. They lifted their upper lip to reveal short, sharp fangs. But as they listened to her protests, Envy didn’t hear any sign of a lie. Either she believed her own lies, for some reason, or she was an extremely good actor and Envy had to up their game. Envy snorted, shaking their head and looking bewildered.

What could they say? What should they say? What would redeem them at this point?

Envy finally spoke with sarcasm oozing from their voice in thick and heady layers. "Oh, there, you say?" They followed her gaze once again, voice rising into high-pitched mockery. "Oh! I see him now! Wait, he’s saying something... he’s saying that you’re making me look like a complete fool!" They shot onto their hind paws, seemingly satisfied with their performance, eyes once again narrowed to slits.



"Speech."