Felix had told the witch he was pure of heart. He couldn’t be swayed from his quest by riches or power. She could turn him into a beast and he would still do no harm to the innocent.
Perhaps that was the trouble.
Before he could land a blow, she whispered her magic and he screamed and convulsed as she twisted his body into something new. His skin burned as hundred of thousands of feathers cut through his skin. Felix stumbled as his legs grew thin and fell out of his boots and the weight of his body shifted with its new form. Something also changed and churned within him. He felt as if he would burst.
Felix screamed as he strained. His stomach gurgled and groaned. One giant purple egg oozed out. He knew there were more. The witch laughed as he labored.
Five purple eggs. Felix panted for a moment. He grabbed his sword to chase the witch away, but she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The knight returned to his eggs. Some instinct made him worry that they would grow cold. He sat on them. They needed a proper nest. Felix gathered his armor and his clothing to protect them.
No, this was a fool’s errand! They might not even be fertile.
Felix began to walk into the forest, but then he began to wonder, what if there was life in those eggs. If they were to grow, it would be best if he kept them under his watch. Felix didn’t know what monstrous progeny would emerge. But if they were monsters, perhaps it would be best to leave the eggs to cool. But what if the witch knew he’d think that and put innocent beings into the eggs instead? Felix wondered if that was within her skills.
He returned.
Felix had trained himself to avoid the witch taking advantage of his desires, but he had never thought she would take advantage of his better nature.
He huffed and tended to his brood.