Calypso was always the punctual sort, even with events that involve ultra-violence. She had been uneasy about this entire “partnership” with Gale for the entire day, expecting it to implode throughout this cold night, bracing for inevitable failure.

And nothing punctuated that imminent demise more than the fact the two never agreed on a meeting place, before making this deal.

As she hopped over roots and brambles, Calypso didn’t blame Gale—as she didn’t think of that either in the moment—but the girl knows when there’s a bad sign, especially now. Stopping in her tracks once she’s found an open area, glancing about for the young woman, her visible breath floating in her line of sight at points.

The silly girl figured that maybe being exact wasn’t the solution, here. Maybe she has to be what she assumed of Gale, aimlessly walking while deep in thought. Create enough noise—either attracting her, or at the very least a weaker Subsumed—transform—and create enough noise to draw the girl to her.

Calypso cursed at herself, rubbing her arms that were dotted with goosebumps, her left feeling the leather of her summoned glove. She wore the last of the basic clothing she had, and there was a que of shredded material she had to fashion back into shirts, skirts and socks.

This new life truly takes its toll. Calypso was struggling with the lighter costs, she gulped at the thought of facing the truly devastating prices she had to pay one day. Ruminating that said “one day” could come tomorrow, or could be that very day now.

“CALLY! CALLY, HEY~!”

Calypso snapped her head towards that sound, towards the person that dared to say that name. She didn’t have to see it for herself, Calypso felt her face transform into a fierce stare. She even snarled softly.

All for Gale to freeze in her tracks, still wearing what she had before. Her arm that was relaxed, was waving, it stiffened in the air as she trembled. Her eyes widened, staring about the area but Calypso right now as sweat formed her tense face.

Calypso immediately shook her head, “No—sorry, sorry, sorry, I am so sorry. I-I just—”

“I-if that name hits a n-nerve, then like, the fault’s mine—” Gale clasped her hands together near her waist. “I’ll—I’ll keep it in mind—”

Calypso slid her hand down her face, as she sighed.

“As you’ll soon find out tonight, I am simply a cocktail of severe issues and complexes… I snapped. I’m the one that’s sorry, here. But just to keep things civil, yeah, avoid… T-that name…”

“Hey, we’re here now and it’s all fine~” Gale smiled with her eyes closed. It being undercut by her slight trembling soon after.

Calypso was going to look away, mumble about how much she sucked until Gale continued on.

“Yeah, sorry about not coming up with a meeting place?” Gale rubbed her neck, laughing after. “It took, like, two hours before I realized—also y’know, not exchanging numbers—”

“I don’t have a phone anyways,” Calypso assured her by lightly waving her hands. “And giving my folk’s house number would make things suspicious…”

“…You don’t have a pho--?” Gale cut herself off, sucking her lips before chuckling nervously. “No, right, ‘cocktail of issues’…”

“‘Cocktail of issues,’” Calypso rubbed at her arm, glumly.

The sound of Calypso drumming her fingers against her pale, cold flesh. Gale shifting causing the leaves to crunch on the forest floor. Chattering creatures from afar in the dark, which only echo the uncomfortable silence.

“So uh—” Gale looked forward. “Should we, like, do this now or--?”

“… That only just occurred to me—” Calypso’s eyes encapsulated her embarrassment.

“Yeah, because we only did it by ourselves, that’s why—” Gale laughed a bit. “I mean, I’m fine but—”

“I would rather we not—” Calypso mopped her forehead with a hand. “—We literally just met, and—”

“It’d be weird, yeah—”

“And it’s a matter of comfort, yes--?”

“Which I value, I value your comfort--!”

“Thank you and—and—I am too, likewise!” Calypso looked off the side. Desperately trying to get away from this subject. “—With yours, to be exact—I value your comfort!”

“Totally…!”

A second that felt like hundreds of years passed.

“Let’s find a bathroom out here so we can change—” Gale cut through with her strained tone.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

“Yes, lead the way—” Calypso nodded, eager for this to end.

The duo walked across the forest, looking out for a trail that led them towards their destination. While Calypso helped on occasion, she kept her eyes out for the Subsumed that are definitely lurking.

She had to. She couldn’t be a burden again.

That triggered more than memories of that day. It hit the various, torqued nerves that barely laid under her surface. The feelings of betrayal that stewed within her, knowing that her late friend would begrudgingly wish her the best with her “replacement”. Hell, the fact that she’s trying to get close to people outside of her ecosystem in general, more people to let down.

Calypso had to steel her thoughts, focus. She only agreed to help, show the ropes. Nothing more than that.

They arrived at a ramshackle restroom area by following a dirt path. Despite being made of brick, it somehow looked brittle, to the point of Calypso thinking it won’t hold the girls’ respective transformations.

“Ah well,” Calypso shrugged. “Beggars can’t be choosers, I suppose.”

“I wonder how that phrase, like, came about…” Gale stroked her chin. “Did… Beggars back then make crazy demands that pissed everyone off, or—”

She then crumbled over, groaning in pain as she held her exposed midriff. Calypso motioned her arm out of instinct, only to realize what that meant.

“—Yeah, maybe we can save this for later—” Gale struggled to make into words. “The bad time again, the clock’s struck it and stuff—”

Calypso watched Gale run into the women’s side of the restroom building. She wondered if the transformations were still “raw” for the girl, before that very same feeling rocked her own body. While Calypso has a handle, it was only by so much.

Rushing in, stumbling into a vacant stall, Calypso saw that the one next to her was locked. The various sounds confirmed that it was indeed Gale in there.

“Ju—aaaaagh!” Calypso tried to desperately form words against the pain. “The gemstone—just having it isn’t enough…! Don’t—gah—fight it, make the change yours…!”

Calypso felt her spine emerge violently from her back, causing her to hunch over as she press her changing hand onto the wall. Her fingers morphing into the eggshell white claws that dug into the material.

As her height slowly, and painfully, adjusted itself—Calypso looked up at something that caught beyond her darkening eye.

Gale’s hand slammed on top of the stall wall that Calypso was leaning against. The girl had a honey-skinned complexion to her, so watching the hue of her fingers transform into a cyan color was a lot more crazy than Calypso thought.

The fingers writhed, trying to hold on for dear life. Only for… small vines grow and embed themselves into her skin, as Gale whimpered.

And Calypso thought she was seeing things, but she can’t discount it… But she saw the top of what looked to be a mushroom of sorts? It bobbed into her line of sight, as Gale continued to scream out in shouts.

“I… It doesn’t get better…” Calypso shuddered out, as bones shot out and converged into armor. “But the after…? Moving your arms, taking the first breath… It makes it all so worth it. Focus on that...! Reclaim everything!”

She balled her claws, thus digging through the wall of the stall, causing Gale to yelp out in surprise. But Calypso rode out the final touches of her changes, seeing her wild magenta locks stop growing, feeling her skull crown settle, her ribcage locking in place.

Taking that glorious inhale, letting that ache radiate across the body, as steam exits her toothy maw.

Letting go of the wall, Calypso fell on her hands and knees, letting her head hang low. Before taking more deep breathes, she took a frontal stretch as various things through her body popped and rang out.

“Trust me…” Calypso was in a wonderful daze, flicking her red, long tongue out of her maw briefly. “You’ll never want to get used to it…”

“It’s… Definitely a good work out… I’ll give it that,” Gale followed up with her own laughter.

Calypso grinned, getting onto her barbed feet. “I’m just glad that my curiosity’s finally going to be sated once I open this door…”

“Are you kidding? All I saw were those claws!” Gale responded. “I have to see what you look like now~!”

“Then let’s not wait any longer!”

Calypso nearly took the door off its hinges, but she managed to get out. Her armor clipped at the sides, but the spikes simply bore through.

“…Oh my god,” Gale sounded awestruck, if not a bit horrified.

Calypso turned with a smug expression, only for that to fall.

It was so weird, yet… Captivating. It fit Gale to a T.

Her cyan skin had smaller vines and roots across everywhere that it was exposed. And her skin had a shimmer to it… A gooey texture. As if she’s made of exotic mud now. She “wore” a green leaf-based dress with an impossible V neck that damn near reached her midriff—a forked, thick midrib creating a design on the front. Backless, with an opening that showed her left leg, with the barest hint of petioles that keeps the ensemble together. Tying the insanity together was mossy green hair, that had a giant mushroom crossed with a stink flower, massive “pedals” that were just a red cap divided into segments with a yellow underside. Softly raining down small, soft white spores that coated her body.

But her dark, yet violet, glowing eyes were still wide. Trying to take Calypso in, and struggling to do so.

Calypso felt sheepish, which was super weird for this side of her. It wasn’t natural, that was a “Day Calypso” trait.

“It is a change, Gale…”

Gale snapped out of it, waving her hands in a frenzy. “No-no-no—It’s just…! Like. Man.”

Calypso’s head quickly snapped at the cyan sludge being flung about. It was so surreal seeing something so digesting yet so cute.

“You’re so… You, I guess—when you’re a human… All unassuming and nice and… Not this,” Gale tried explain in her own way. “It’s a total 180… You’re super scary now!”

“I’ll… Take the compliment and diss, I guess~” Calypso flashed her fangs at her, if not teasingly, into a grin. “Meanwhile… It’s odd that this fits you so well? When I thought ‘swamp monster’, I expected a total devolution. This is more you in a wacky costume.”

Gale lit up, rushing over to Calypso, “Thank you so much man—I legit thought it was that for the loooongest time!”

“…Did you not use a mirror? At all?”

“…I was scared to look in one, so I never knew—”

Calypso simply stared at the plant lady, before softly patting her wet shoulder with a claw.

“My skin is Floam now, Cal,” Gale pouted. “Sure—overreacted, but you get why, y’know?”

“It is concerning…” Calypso looked at her claw, covered in muck. “No offense but… I don’t think you can take a good hit or two.”

Gale answered with a confident, fang-filled smirk before vocalizing it, “You’d think that~ You’re gonna be so surprised the moment we walk out~!”

Calypso smirked in turn. “Heh… Well then. Let’s go, Gale Pratchett. The night is ours.”

***