Cerena’s Perspective

Cerena had always been a prompt on-time worker, but since the events of the elevator, she had gotten into the habit of coming in extra early. Her anticipation always built in that short window between when she arrived and when her master showed up. Then, she’d nonchalantly show up, greet him, and do her best to attract his attention.

It had been tough to endure these several months without so much of a playful touch from the human who had engraved himself into her body. The illicit dreams never helped either. It was like her thoughts had been consumed by him. Every time her mind wandered, it wandered to thoughts of her master. Everytime she smelled him, heard the baritone of his voice, or saw him her body ached with need. Perhaps today would be the day she could goad him into “training” her once more. This was the worst time for her as her monthly heat had begun. Should she just jump him again like in the elevator?

Her thoughts were interrupted.

This morning, there was something amiss as Cerena approached her master’s office. A smell that she recognized. She peeked around the corner in the hallway to see Kiri outside the door. Kiri had something pinched between her scythe-like arms, an envelope which she slid under the crack of Jim’s office. That was when she saw it.

After placing the package under the door, she watched as Kiri’s normally proper and upright posture began to shudder. A faint high-pitched giggle came from the mantis girl’s mouth. That flat expression she usually wore morphed into a grotesque smile. It was her true face.

It was common for most monster girls to have the features of the animals and beings they shared their names with. This usually amounted to minor things like ears, horns, tails, fur, scales, etc. Enough to display their species, but human enough to attract the human males they needed for procreation. Insect girls were a little different. The environment they came from was harsh and cruel, and many retained their more predatory features. Out of all the monster girls with self-awareness, insect girls were the most swayed by their animalistic natures.

It was part of the reason that it was so difficult to find them partners. Most humans of the new world weren’t ready to handle it. Cerena had never seen Kiri’s true face before, and she would be lying if she didn’t admit it was off-putting. The shock of it caused her to remain hiding and quiet as Kiri scurried off.

Cerena didn’t want to discriminate against the mantis girl, but that look worried her. Kiri had obviously garnered some sort of intentions toward Jim. If the rumors about mantis women were true, was he in danger? Cerena felt a strong urge to protect him.