"Of course, I'll try," Jinyi agreed. Now that he'd had practice casting it several times, the spell came easily. He thought back with amusement to the first time he'd tried it, deep in the Dontas Factory experimenting with enchantment, and showed the memory to Yellow, who made a face.

'Don't remind me of those chips again,' they said with an exaggerated shudder.

They felt the quiet sense of support seeping into their magic and smiled. They tugged away another tuft of fungus from their own fur, lifted their hand, and let it fall through the air like a bunch of dandelion fluff. Before they could hit the ground, a warm wind picked up and carried them up, up, and away.

It's pretty, they told Jinyi.

Also, I want a nap.

He wordlessly agreed with Yellow, and lifted his own hand. Fungus seemed to materialize from thin air and it too raced away on the wind. You could put that on a painting. Like the carvings along the tunnels but better. When are we going to get an artist Drone? It's a shame that all of the art in these caves are from the other side.

Glancing down at the sleepy sifaka, Jinyi couldn't resist. He reached out and pet their head, chitinous fingers running lightly through the soft yellow fur. Go nap then. I'll see you again sometime soon. And I'll bring more chips.

Big Brother or whatever, he added wryly.

They leaned into the Drone's touch, amber eyes closing slightly, but they snapped open again at the familiar title. It was enough to even briefly chase the sleep from their limbs. "Dear Mother, that's so weird," they laughed. "I didn't expect you to actually call me that. BUT KEEP DOING IT." They lifted a threatening finger at the Drone who was six or seven times their height. "ANYWAY BYE!"

With one last burst of energy, they clambered up the nearest tree to take a well-deserved nap, cradled by the humid warmth of the jungle.

exit

They didn't? Jinyi was left with chromatophores flickering in his own surprise. Somehow he must've missed that hint through the Hivemind link. Oh well, whatever! He was full of surprises or something.

He watched as the sifaka ascended, then lowered his gaze to the fallen tree. He touched his hand to the bark, pushing one last wave of magic to try to accelerate Order's reclamation of it. The rough surface turned glassy white, and he wandered off satisfied.

exit