can i sleep on your couch? i just need a place to stay for a while...

Chaos-Two looked back and swallowed, "... I think it might be. If you can hide, you should, I don't want you to get hurt or anything."

"And as for the leaf-fall... there was a period in my life where I couldn't see, so it was described to me later. But there was something called the 'Wild Hunt' that I participated in that caused it, and I think that was around the time of the Festival with all the booths and things. I really liked it," they said softly, "It was... nice. Everyone was having fun and there were so many booths with things people were making and sharing."

They flushed and scratched at their ear, sitting down and smiling gently, the expression oddly derpy for a creature meant to be terrifying.

"I-I don't mind," they said, "And I don't have to come if I'm not welcome, I understand if I'm not."

They did, they really did. It didn't mean it didn't hurt, though. Another reminder that no matter how hard they tried, they were still a monster.

The fox-dragon bristled a little at Chaos-Two's response—"... I think it might be."—but she dismissed the tension with a chirping laugh. If her ears perked up a little higher on her head, and she was glancing behind her new friend?, that was just for her to know (and... y'know, Chaos-Two, because they were looking right at her.)

Still yet, dandelion-yellow eyes widened just that little bit, and her tail lashed an uneven rhythm of excitement. "That must've been r-really quick then! The leaf-fall. Pegasus must've grown back so fast." If she could've propped herself up onto her elbows, kicking her hind legs out like she were on a bed in a teenaged girl's room, Meissa would've. "Wild Hunt? Sounds cool... will it happen again?"

Maybe this time she wouldn't miss it, and—"oh!! We could watch the leaf-fall together next time—"

Oh. Oh.

Meissa withered just a bit, the claws clutching at flowers loosening a bit. A bloom tumbled from the bouquet at large and settled in the plush grasses. "I-if my dad thinks it's okay for us to... u-um, hang out." Surely, it'd be fine. They'd met once before (even if the fox-dragon hadn't realized at first, because there'd been just so many new faces there and so many things to keep track of) and that counted for something, right?

"H-here!" she twittered softly, whiskers and wings fluttering, a toothy grin spared to Chaos-Two. "I-I'll take these to him right now and a-ask. But, u-um, if I don't come back out after telling him you have a something after you," (Read: I will probably be on lockdown for the rest of eternity.) "go down the wall, to your right. There's a secret little hole behind some big, puffy ferns." And, like she were a realtor listing off amenities, Meissa added. "Might be some bunnies!"

Just like that, the fox-dragon smiled lopsidedly, twisted, bounding back into the wall.

Chaos-Two smiled despite everything, their shoulders falling.

"I don't know if it will," they said, perking up, hope dawning in their chest at her suggestion--

And then she trailed off, her demeanor falling. They stared in confusion, shoulders rising up again, mouth downturned. Of course. If Meissa's father had any reason to keep her from meeting them, it was probably valid.

"... Okay," they said lamely, watching Meissa disappear, wishing they could too.

They doubted they'd ever be able to just leave. Who knew what awaited when they returned? Punishment? Death? They were nothing but a coward, after all, and they'd be lucky to live.

A hand tentatively reached out, shaky and unsure. For a moment they thought they'd go through to join her, but as their fingers touched hard stone, they knew it was not to be. A cold feeling spread down their spine and they yanked their hand away as if burned, heart clenching. Of course...

Before Meissa returned (if she did at all) they made their way to the hollow, ears falling against their head. They curled up within and hugged themselves, wishing things were different. In another life maybe they could have stepped through.