Chapter Text
Pitaya Dragon Cookie grunted, gnawing on a jelly fruit. Hollyberry was seated next to them, drinking juice. Perhaps too much…
“Lizardddd…!~” Hollyberry exclaimed, voice slurred from alcohol. She hugged them from the side, clinging to them.
“Get off me..!” The dragon whispered harshly, trying to shove her off. The party was already loud, they didn’t need Hollyberry clinging to them as well.
Hollyberry just laughed. Cookies brushed past Pitaya, making their clothes wrinkle. They could feel all of it. This was bad— really bad. Anxiety loomed over them, threatening to make them lash out. No, Hollyberry had done absolutely nothing wrong—
Their cloak wrinkled and dragged across the floor. They didn’t want to be a cookie anymore— they didn’t want this body—
They pushed Hollyberry away, ending in her tumbling into a table. Plates crashed, clattering to the floor.
Cookies turned, eyes digging into the cloaked being. Pitaya stiffened, eyes darting around the room.
Too much— too loud— too much of EVERYTHING—
And they ran. Like a coward.
. . .
The streets were dark and cold, empty. Pitaya was curled up in an alleyway, sniffling. They scratched at their horns, the keratin flaking off. They sobbed, yanking at their hair.
Too much— Too much…!
They hated this. This would have left them stuck in a cave if they were in Dragon Valley. They panted, practically gasping for air as the darkness enveloped them.
“Maybe thisssss’ll fix you…”
“No….no…!” They whispered, begging. “I-I’ll be better…!”
Cold stone surrounded them for days on end— Alone.
Pitaya stood up on shaky legs, trying to wipe away the constant flow of tears. Stupid stupid stupid—
They couldn’t even think straight— they were far from Dragon Valley.
They walked through the barren streets, the party still audible. They hissed, leaving the city. They made their way to their cave, lighting a fire to keep the darkness at bay.
Pitaya curled up in their hoard of treasure, tail wound lightly around their abdomen. Like they weren’t alone. Like someone was holding them close. Like someone cared.
Pathetic.