The centaur paced the room, occasionally huffing lightly as his dexterous fingers grazed lightly across the wall. A few minutes ago his curiosity and paranoia had ganged up to finally take his mental restraint down, and he'd used the last of his stolen magic to engrave one last divination rune in the bunker, consequently reverting back to his weak, natural form. What he'd found through it wasn't surprising at all. They're still searching for us. Those ponies are resilient, I'll give them that.
Tirek halted his pacing and took his hand off the rune, gazing at the still-sleeping changeling and lump of salmon pink still firmly attached to it. It's been a whole day by now, and it looks like it'll be at least another few hours before she's up again. The centaur laid down, tiredly placing his head in his hands. Just how far did she push herself, trying to save what loyal subjects she had left?
Tirek began rubbing at his closed eyes, purposefully avoiding the tiny horns on his head or his weak, feeble jawline so as not to be reminded of his current pathetic state. She must have known we had no chance of fighting back, especially not after that traitor turned so many of them. He nearly smashed his fist into the wall at the mere thought of the name, and likely would have if he had power to spare, but decided not to, instead opening his bloodshot eyes and gazing once more at his companions.
"You're too good, Chrysalis." He stated, a sad smile adorning his mouth. "Too good for this world. Too good for me." He sighed heavily, bringing his pathetic hands up to look at. "Too good to last, with those Tartarus-forsaken ponies around." Tirek saw Cozy shift in her sleep ever-so-slightly, and ceased his talking so as not to wake her, instead shifting to lean his upper body against the wall, falling into an uneasy slumber.
"Here you go, Cozy." The filly gratefully took the last sandwich they had from Tirek's hand, and the centaur turned to examine what little food they had left. It's not much, maybe enough for two more days at most, between me and Cozy. Tirek sighed, the action feeling very familiar at this point. I wish we didn't need food, like the Changelings. He gazed at Chrysalis, who had woken up shortly before, sitting still while studying the floor with her head bowed and posture slumped.
Cozy trotted back to her mom, sandwich in mouth, and nuzzled up against her leg in a distinctively feline manner. She always did remind me of a cat. Far more so than those equines. Tirek had long ago become comfortable with the idea of a pony in their midst, as had the entire changeling kingdom. It was made significantly easier due to the fact that Cozy acted so unlike any pony they'd seen or heard about. Just in observing the filly give a pleased chirp as she was lifted up and cradled caringly in Chrysalis' chest fur, he knew that she could never commit the atrocities her species was known for.
Tirek closed the cabinet and strode across the artificial cave, sitting next to the mourning changeling and placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, knowing that she always enjoyed the gesture.
"They're gone, Tirek." Chrysalis stated hollowly as she ran a tan hoof through Cozy's baby blue mane, largely absent from the world at large and deeply within her mental space. The centaur lightly gripped her shoulder and tugged her towards him, unable to completely pull the two together in his weak natural state. Luckily, the changeling didn't object, and obediently leaned to the side and against the slightly shorter form of her friend, closing her eyes to revel in the side-hug. Changelings sure crave physical affection. Well, the natural ones, at least.
Time passed swiftly by as the three sat there, Tirek rubbing his friend's shoulder and Cozy nuzzling her mother for all she was worth, likely unable to enjoy her lovingly-crafted sandwich with such a distraught family member in her midst.
Chrysalis didn't weep, for her tears had run dry, and nearly all feeling in her had similarly fled.
"They're still searching. Vigorously, by the looks of it. I doubt they'll stop anytime soon." The vision of scouting parties and patrolling unicorns sifting through rubble faded from Tirek's mind as Chrysalis cut the flow of power from her horn.
"We'll have to leave soon, then. I'm sure they'll eventually be able to track the magical signatures." The changeling began pacing as Tirek stepped away from the rune-inscribed wall. Cozy was nervously watching the two, her pink eyes flitting between them as they discussed the situation. "How much food do you have left? Is it enough to last much longer?" The centaur shook his head, absently scratching at his white beard.
"No, we'll need more by tomorrow night, otherwise our magic could shut down as we go into withdrawal." Tirek locked eyes with his former queen, steadily staring into the pale-blue pits. "We need to leave. Either today or tomorrow. There's no other options." Chrysalis nodded and lit her horn, opening a drawer and bringing a stack of maps over with her telekinesis.
"Tomorrow it is, then. I'll plan our route. It'll be dangerous, but I think we can make it to the Bronze Belt."
"Tirek? Are we going to be okay?" He started out of his reverie, bringing his gaze from where it had stared distantly at the wall to rest it on the fidgeting filly.
"Of course, Cozy. We'll be fine as long as we stick together." She looked up at him from where she sat on the floor with worried eyes, and Tirek swore to himself that he would do anything to protect the innocence present within them for as long as he could.
"I don't want to lose you. Or Chrysalis. Can you promise that I won't, not ever?" He didn't know if he honestly could, but he did anyway, just to alleviate the stress from her form. She's the last person who should be worrying about this.
"Come on, Cozy, let's go to sleep, it's late." And he was more than exhausted from the drain that was that day, but the filly had one more request.
"Can you tell me a story? Just like you used to?" The centaur grinned and fond memories of time spent romping throughout a glorious castle, playing pranks on the staff, and trying out the most outrageous foods danced across his mind.
"Of course, squirt. Just like I used to."