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."

@Asimona

Asimona stepped back to give the weasel some space and frowned. She wondered why he was so bitter and proud. Did something happen that caused him to become so fearful of his weaknesses? Was he scared of something? Why did he reject her help? That's all she wanted to do. If she was hurt and somebody asked if she needed help, she wouldn't have hesitated.

But this creature was different. She was beginning to learn that. He was different from the lion and from herself. She would have to get used to all the colorful characters she was going to meet. She forced herself to give him an encouraging smile. "Yes, I'm sure you will be the strongest someday. Maybe when we've both gotten stronger we can climb the wall again. And whoever wins is the strongest!" Maybe that would give her all the encouragement she needed to keep going? To get stronger and to train herself? She looked back at the icy wall. She wasn't sure she wanted to.

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: notes here

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."

@Asimona

Asimona looked back and met his cold, determined gaze. This was different. This was a creature who's pride was everything. This was one that would never take any weakness, never accept any failure. She pitied him. She had failed in the beginning of her life, but that had only fueled her desire to break free. She had failed climbing the wall, but it had given her motivation to try again. She wondered if it was an external thing, or if it truly was at his core.

"My, my, she's thinking, isn't she?" Asimona froze and whipped her head around. Standing before her was a huge creature with shining red scales. His eyes were full of malice and every inch of his face was filled with joyful hate. "I've been waiting for you." He leaned in, a darkness in his vision that clouded into Asimona's thoughts. Her head spun and she stumbled back, staring at him with fear. But when she blinked, he was gone. Confused, she looked back at Envy and then at the walls. She felt him, he was there. His claws were brushing her back. His breath against her neck.

Asimona was frozen in place. She looked back at Envy, a wild fear in her eyes. She knew he wanted to leave, but...how could she be here alone. "No," she whispered, hoarsly, her voice completely changed, "Don't go. He's still here."

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: notes here

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."

@Asimona

Asimona stared at Envy, confused. How had he not seen him? He was huge! A huge dragon, bigger then her, with scales the color of fire. And he was still here, somewhere out of sight, his presence filling the cave. She could feel him still there, his eyes on her back. She shivered and cowered beneath his gaze. "You didn't see him?" She whispered, her voice full of terror. She had never felt this way before. He mind was cloudy and confused, her heart racing and her breath coming in short gasps.

As if it would protect her, her body released more energy, cooling the air around her just a little bit more. Maybe if it was cold he would go away. His body was warm and hers was cold, perhaps if she made the air cold, it would repel him. But why couldn't Envy see him?

She turned around and jumped back so that she was standing next to Envy. There he was again, just at the wall where they had tried to climb. He was grinning at her, his tail lashing with excitement. She glared and crouched, her claws digging into the stone despite the fear that was running through her. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: notes here

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."

@Asimona

The red dragon wasn't responding, but stared at her, his eyes mocking. How did Envy not see him? Rage sparked in her chest at the weasel's stupidity. "If you have eyes, then use them!" She growled, her voice low and angry. He was there! Right there!

Wait...what if envy can't see him? What if only I can see him? But how would that make sense? No, Envy must be joking or tricking her to make himself seem better. She needed to make him see him too so he could see the danger. "Look, right there," she nodded towards the place where the dragon stood maliciously. "Can you not see him? He's big, with red scales and evil eyes."

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: notes here

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."

@asimona

Envy's words sparked a fury in Asimona that she had never experienced in her short life. The dragon had started laughing at Envy's remark and the combination of the weasel's mocking words, the dragon's malicious laughter, and the fear that had been building up within her caused her to completely lose control.

With a roar of anger, she leaped at the dragon, sharp claws extended and ready to rip into its flame-red scales. However, just as she reached him, he leaped away, his wings almost buffeting her in the face. She whirled around, ready to fly after him, but he was gone.

She widened her eyes and swiveled around, trying to find a flash of red color. She had to find him! She had to show Envy the truth! But he was gone and his presence had disappeared as well. The cloud of fear that had been building up was dissipating rapidly. Her breathing was starting to calm and she realized how terrified she had been.

She turned back to Envy, her eyes still wide, and disbelief and suspicion running through her like fire. "You really didn't see him? Are you sure? You didn't see him just fly away just now?"

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Envy
notes: notes here