Chapter Text
After crawling through the pipe, I walk into the next room and look around as I scratch my head.
“Man, it really feels like I'm on some sort of vacation!” I say loudly to myself. Seeing no red in this area is amazing! And no red lizards or centipedes! This is truly a paradise!
I see the next pipe ahead that leads to the floor down but right before I start making my way towards the pipe…
…
…
…
‘Wha- what is that? Is that sobbing?’
I can hear something akin to someone sobbing in a somewhat high-pitched male voice. Immediately I slap my cheeks to make sure the sobbing quiets down.
‘Damn it! I thought I told myself no more crying! I have no reason to cry now that I'm not in that hellish world anymore! So why am I crying?!’
Slapping my cheeks makes a noise louder than I thought it would and it rings out across the room. At least the sobbing quieted down. Not quite sure why I started weeping to myself all of sudden.
I stand still to collect myself and start to wipe my face off where I expect to be some tears. I haven't cried in a while so I'm not sure why I did it now. After wiping my face a few times, I realize that my face is not wet with the tears I expected besides the somewhat slickness from my fur.
‘That's weird I could've sworn I was ju-’
“He-hello?” I hear a voice ring out quietly
‘... what the hell? I thought I was done hearing voices! I had to deal with that damn voice for so long and now when I'm finally rid of it I'm hearing a new voice?!’
“I- is anyone o-out there?” I hear the voice ring out again somewhat clearer this time.
I stand by myself in shock for a second processing what is going on. Is that an actual voice of someone else? It's been so long since I've last heard someone else speak words that I understood and I find myself stunned right on the spot.
Looking at the pipe that leads to the next room I suspect that's where the voice most likely came from… I cautiously approach the pipe. I must be going crazy again. Great, what's this voice going to tell me this time? Telling me to ascend myself again? That living isn't worth it? I'm so tired of this shit…
I stand before the pipe readying myself for disappointment as usual.
‘Don't get excited Enot you are 99.9999% hearing things and there is no one on the other side of this pipe… but what if there is? It wouldn't hurt to check… probably’
I crawl into the pipe and proceed to make my way heading down. After exiting the other end of the pipe, I grab the pole and slowly make my way down. But when I'm halfway down the pipe and start to get a good look of the ro-
...
...
...
‘Holy shit I must be going even more crazy than I thought. What I'm seeing can't be real right?’
Down on the surface of the room on the flat surface near the shelter I see something I thought I would never see in my life as a slugcat. It's a yellow slugcat laying on the surface curled up and looking up at me in what seems to be fear and some surprise.
‘Is… is that who I think it is? Am I seeing things?’
After staring at the yellow slugcat for a bit who also stares back I start to slowly go down the pipe again. Softly landing on the floor, I keep looking at the yellow slugcat in front of me.
“H-hello?” the yellow slugcat says directed towards me.
‘SHIT! What am I doing just standing and gawking at them?! I have to say something to the first slugcat I have ever met that could be a friend!’
“He-” I failed at my first attempt of communication going into a coughing fit somehow fumbling the first word.
After coughing for a bit, I look back at the slugcat who is still staring at me now on all 4’s backed away from me but seems… a little concerned right now? Ok c'mon Enot, try again and no coughing this time! I decide to also get on all 4's and lower myself as low as I can on the ground with paws up in the air to be the least threatening towards the finicky yellow slugcat. This seems to somewhat calm the yellow slugcat.
After finding the courage I finally open my mouth to say the next words. I have to be very precise in what I say to not scare off the slugcat. The yellow slugcat looks at me ready to hear the words to come out of my vocal cords.
“Hey there, i just wanted to say you are the most beautiful creature that i've ever had the pleasure of seeing in my sad pathetic life”
… Fuck
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Yellow Slugcat Pov
I'm pathetic, I'm truly pathetic. Here I am once again laying on this floor, too scared to go outside afraid of all the dangers that could kill me. Even though I will come back, death is still terrifying.
I Miss everyone, mom, dad, Sis, the colony and here I am sulking to myself and not doing anything. I'm truly pathetic.
I can't hold back anymore and start quietly crying to myself thinking of how much of a coward I am. I'm never going to see anyone again. Why can't I just disappear? Why do I always have to come back even when I don't want to? At this point I don't even have the will to go to the areas that I know are safe to get food that I've been going to for who knows how many cycles. Maybe if i just let myself slowly wither here i can finally di-
*SLAP*
… what was that noise? Am I hearing things? I try to look for the source of the noise wondering if it was just my imagination but see nothing around me in the room. Maybe it really was my imagination of course no one would be here. The lizards never come into these rooms anyways…
Even with that thought I still wonder if it was real. Maybe I should say something? Even if no one is there it wouldn't hurt to try. And even if it is a lizard at least this cycle would be short.
“He-hello?” I stutter the simple word coming out of my mouth. It's been so long since I've said anything that I almost fail at such a simple word.
I listen to my surroundings for a second to hear any sort of response back but hear nothing in return. Maybe I should try again. They probably didn't hear me the first time if anyone was there.
“I-is anyone o-out there?” this time i'm able to get out a small sentence still stuttering on some words. I'm a little nervous at this point since it's so quiet with only the sound of my voice ringing across the room. After waiting what feels like an eternity for any response I hear nothing in return. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up like that. Like anyone would be here.. Maybe i'm starting to go insan-
Snapping me out of my thoughts I hear the sound of something traveling through the pipe where the pole in front of me leads to. I quickly back away from where the pole is and curl up looking up at the pipe. I can't believe someone was there?! Maybe I shouldn't have said anything??? What if it really is a lizard?!
Whatever it was, it finally came out of the other end of the pipe at the top of the pole. I can't see the top of the pole due to shuffling to the back of the room. I wait with still breath for whatever comes down the pole.
It… it's a slugcat! An actual slugcat! It's been so long since I've seen another one of my kind! The slugcat can also see me and is… staring at me? Are they as surprised to find me here as well? I can't muster the courage to say anything at this moment. The more I look at this slugcat I notice it has different shades of dark blue fur and their eyes look… unnatural? Where the eyes are supposed to be, I only see white circles with a strange red cross in them?
After staring at me for a bit the other slugcat finally comes down the pole and lands on the floor and proceeds to start staring at me again. Getting a closer look this is the strangest slugcat ive ever seen. The slugcats at the colony usually only have one shade of color and black dots for eyes while this slugcat is much more… different.
Maybe they don't understand me? I should try speaking to them again. I finally muster the courage to say something to the strange slugcat.
“H-hello?” i say with more ease this time but still somewhat stuttering the word. This seems to get a response from the strange slugcat since their eyes go wider than they already are. I think they do understand me! I wait for the other slugcat to respond back. After a moment it looks like they are finally going to say something to me!
“He-” the other slugcat tries to say something but starts to go into a coughing fit all of a sudden. Are they ok? Why did they start coughing all of a sudden? Should I try to help them?
I decide to back away a bit on all 4’s. I can't trust some random slugcat that I just met. From the small bit that they did talk I now know they are a male slugcat. After the slugcat recovers from their coughing fit they look back at me. After looking back at me they proceed to go down on all 4’s and seem to push themselves against the ground with their paws in the air. This calms me down a bit since they seem to be showing friendly signs. I wait for them to try to say something again. I wonder what they're going to say? I hear the slugcat clear their throat and seem ready to say something again.
“Hey there, i just wanted to say you are the most beautiful creature that i've ever had the pleasure of seeing in my sad pathetic life”
…what? Did… did he just call me beautiful?! WHAT?! Did I hear him right?! I can't help but be a little flustered at this sudden compliment. I don't think I was ever told anything like this even at the colony and suddenly being told by some random slugcat i have never met before tell me this is something i would've never expected. Maybe I heard him wrong. Wait, did he just say sad pathetic life?
I look at the other slugcat across the room who also seems surprised by what they said.
“Ho-hold on, what i meant to say is that you are absolutely gorgeous-” the other slugcat right after proceeds to realize what they just said and shove their paws into their face.
WHAT?! GORGEOUS??? ME?! I can't help at this point but be extremely flustered by the sudden compliments. They really are complimenting me?! I look at the other slugcat who also seems as embarrassed by what they just said. I… I should say something back. Mom always said I should take compliments in stride even if these ones are so… sudden.
“Th-thank you?” I say while embarrassed. This seems to get the other slugcat to look back at me putting their paws away from their face. After a second they proceed to stand back up and look like they will say something again.
“I- sorry about that, i didn't mean to make you uncomfortable just now” the other slugcat says. They finally seem to be able to say a normal sentence. Thankfully it looks like I can converse with this slugcat.
“It's ok, I just wasn't expecting… sudden compliments like that from the first slugcat i come across in a while” i say back finally not stuttering my words for once. This seems to make the other slugcat a little happy that I didn't take offense to what they just said.
“Thanks! It just came out of nowhere honestly… it's been… actually i dont think ive ever talked to another slugcat in my life! So when I saw you my mind sorta just shut down?” the slugcat said.
That's a little sad, they've never seen another slugcat in their life? How would that even be possible without parents taking care of you? I push this thought to the back of my head.
“Like i said it's ok, i'm just happy to see another slugcat after so long!” I say happily to the other slugcat who in turn smiles back at me.
As if to ruin the good mood that I found myself in after so long, me and the other slugcat feel the ground shake a bit.
“We should head into the shelter and continue this convo” the other slugcat says, whom i agree with. But then i remember that i haven't eaten anything this cycle… it's fine i can starve a little if it means i get to speak to someone else after such a long time. The other slugcat takes the lead and starts to climb into the shelter in the room and I follow right behind.
Me and the other slugcat enter the shelter and I hear the gears of the shelter locking us inside. Thankfully there is a decent amount of space in here for both of us to sleep inside. Even though the thought of sleep doesn't sound exciting due to meeting another slugcat I can converse with and also the fact I haven't eaten enough food to sleep comfortably for the next cycle.
Me and the other slugcat sit somewhat opposite to each other in the shelter. Should I say something to start the conversation? While thinking this I see the other slugcat look like they're ready to continue the conversation before being interrupted by the rain.
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Enot Pov
As I'm crawling into the shelter, I can't help but be excited with the current situation! I can't remember the last time I've ever been able to speak to someone else!
…
Wait I never have talked to anyone else before… besides that damned voice…
…
Enough of that thinking! We have a yellow slugcat to talk to!
Me and the yellow slugcat sit opposite of each other in the shelter. Ok Enot it's time to properly introduce yourself this time and not mess it up by saying something embarrassing!
“Hello there my name is Enot!” I hold my paw up for a handshake or I guess what would be a pawshake at this point.
The yellow slugcat seems confused with my raised paw towards them. Wait, do other slugcats not know what a handshake is? SHIT I didn't think of that! Quick, I have to think of something!
“Where I uh come from usually shaking each other's paws is seen as a friendly gesture while introducing themselves” phew nice save, wouldn't have thought up anything better.
“Oh! S-sorry I wasn't sure what you were doing with your paw stretched out” the yellow slugcat stretches out their paw and grasps my paw in theirs.
“My name is Monk” they say with a small smile on their face. Even though I knew their name it's nice to finally hear it from them. Wow, their paw is really soft- NO! Get your head straight Enot! With my quick thinking I decide to end the handshake. I let go of their paw and pull it back while they do the same. For some reason I feel a little regret- NO! WHAT DID I JUST TELL YOU ENOT!... ok Enot say something before things get awkward again
“So Monk, what are you doing out in these parts of the outskirts?”
“The Outskirts? Is that what this place is called?” Monk said. I can't help but be a little surprised by what they said. Does he not know the name of the area? Wait a second… Why would he? Actually, would most of the characters even know what the regions are called? I never thought of that before until now.
“Yup that's the name of the region were in right now”
“Region?” Monk says back in confusion. Oh boy am I actually going to explain this to him? Ok lets just give him a short run down.
“Yeah a region is basically a local area you would be in, you'll be able to tell when you go to a different region since each region is separated by a karma gate”
“Karma gate?”
Oh boy, I have a lot of teachin to do, don't I?
“Don't worry about karma gates for now we’ll cross that bridge when we get there”
“O-ok” Monk says quietly. I decided to go back to the original question I asked before.
“So Monk, what are you doing in this region? Not exactly the most safe place to be y'know” I ask Monk who in turn seems a little down from the question.
“I'm loss” Monk droops their head down even lower before they continue.
“I forgot how long ago but my parents, my sis and I were traveling through an area with many pipes when suddenly the rain started. While my parents were trying to get us to safety the rain knocked my sister down into a whirl pool of water. I'm not sure why but I decided to jump in after her… after hitting the water everything went black. When I woke up I found myself close somewhere near this room and uh that's how I got to this point” Monk tells me the story I already know but nonetheless it's nice to get confirmation on the story I remember. Wait, have they stuck around this area the entire time?
“Have you been here the entire time ever since then?”
“I-I've tried traveling further but… the lizards always run after me an-and…” Monk isn't able to finish what they wanted to say but I can understand what they were trying to convey. Monk Lowers their head to the ground and puts their paws on top of their head, slightly shaking now.
Oh no. Enot you fool! Look what you did! The little banana is about to start crying and it's your fault! I have to think fast before this gets any worse!
“Do-don't worry monk, I completely understand, dying is not a fun experience. If anything you're quite smart finding an area that is completely safe from any lizards " I say towards Monk who lifts their head up in response.
“Y-you don't think I'm a coward?”
“Of course not! Death is not fun I tell ya, I would’ve given anything if I could find an area that wasn't constantly trying to kill me from where I came from. I remember when I first woke up from the place I came from it was pouring down rain and I could barely see anything! I think I died like 50 times in that spot alone cause every time I tried to walk outside I would get chomped to death by a bunch of weird 2 legged bird things with metal beaks "I say back to the Monk. They look back up at me with a terrified expression.
“W-what!? 50!? I-I are you ok?!” Monk unexpectedly yells at me in what seems to be… concern? Did I say something wrong just now?... oh wait a second… maybe I shouldn't speak of death like that so nonchalantly. I imagine living in a world where even if you do die and come back it can still be sorta traumatizing.
“I'm fine, don't worry, that was a long time ago! I am a-ok!”
This seems to calm Monk a little, but they still have a face full of concern. Think Enot! Change the subject!
“Well Monk I am quite an expert around these parts so I know my way around. I could help you look for your sister if you want?” After saying this Monk seems to forget what I said previously and pushes themselves up and looks at me with a beaming smile.
“Really!? You would help me look for my sister?!” Monk says with excitement with a bit of confusion in their voice.
“Of course! We fellow slugcats gotta stick together! Also I'm sure you want to leave this place as well, right?”
“O-of course! I'm just surprised you'd be so willing to help me” Monk says in confusion. Quickly Enot! Assure them you want to help!
“Why of course I want to help, if it means I get to help a new friend then that makes this even better!” I say proudly
“F-friend?” Monk chirps back in surprise. Oh no! Did I jump the gun there too fast?! We just met and I'm already calling them a friend! I have to quickly fix my blunder!
“Sorry I didn't mean to say friend if that makes you uncomfortable, it's just nice to be talking to another slugcat. I jumped ahead a little quickly" I say rapidly hoping this doesn't make things awkward between us.
“No, it's fine! I-I would also like to be friends!” Monk says back towards me. Woah! They want to be friends with me!? This is great!
As I'm about to say the next thoughts in my head I hear a quiet noise in the silent shelter? What was that? It sounded like… a gurgling noise. The one my stomach would usually make when I couldn't find enough food in time before the rain would come down. I look back at Monk who in turn seems a little taken aback by the noise as well and their face seems a little… red? Are they not feeling well? I quickly think of the problem here until I quickly come to a conclusion.
“Monk, did you eat anything this cycle?” This seems to be correct due to their reaction towards my question.
“N-no but it's fine! I can always eat something when the shelter opens back up! Some starvation isn't going to kill me” Monk says back towards me. Of course this doesn't sit well with me cause while starving for one cycle won't kill you it really REALLY sucks. I would know because I've gone hungry a countless amount of times. Thankfully knowing how Monks diet works I have the perfect solution to this small problem.
I put my backpack down on the floor of the shelter and opened it, reaching in for some blue fruits which I gathered on my way down here. I was planning munching on these the next cycle but Monk's health is way more important than my convenience! I pull out three blue fruits and push them towards Monk.
“Here, I found these on my way here” I say pushing the fruits towards Monk who in turn seems surprised by the sudden appearance of food.
“I-I can't! These are yours!” Monk exclaims back towards me trying to weakly push the fruits back towards me.
“Monk, you're hungry, I can't let you go starving. Besides these fruits wouldn't really fill me up anyways, I can always find more food next cycle” I push the fruits back towards Monk who this time doesn't push the fruits back towards me.
“A-are you sure?”
“Absolutely! Now eat up I know your hungry”
“T-thank you” Monk says back weakly but with a smile on their face.
Good job Enot! This first encounter is going extremely well! Even though we fumbled a couple times we were able to get to this point!
I look at Monk who is happily munching on the blue fruits. I can't help but smile at this sight. He’s quite adorable when he eats… WAIT WHAT?! ENOT FOCUS!? GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF THE GUTTER THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR THOSE KINDS OF THOUGHTS!!!
Monk seems to have noticed my internal dilemma written over my face.
“A-are you ok?”
“Yes, yes I'm fine I was just thinking about things” Quick Enot! Steer the conversation before it gets weird again!
“I was thinking about where to start looking for your sister! But honestly, I have no good place to start” Monk looks a little sad towards this. Thankfully I already know what to say next.
“If you can tell me what the area around your colony looks like, I probably know where the area could be” Of course I already know the answer to this but I gotta make this seem natural. I know this is a little harsh but I can't just say I know exactly where their sibling possibly is.
With this thought I actually begin to wonder. If the current timeline is during Monk's campaign that would most likely mean Survivors part is over. I can only think of three scenarios of what happened to Survivor. 1 they decided to go ascend which would honestly be bad and kind of heart breaking to tell Monk so I should keep this hidden to myself. 2 They are currently at the colony tree at Outer Expanse which would be the best case scenario since I would be able to help Monk Reunite with their sister. Then the 3rd scenario which would also be sorta bad, they are still currently traveling through the regions. I know my way around these regions but trying to find a singular slugcat around these parts would basically be impossible.
“Well honestly, it's been a long time since I've last been to the colony, the only thing I can remember really is we all used to live around this very huge tree… I'm sorry I really can't remember anything else” Monk says sadly in a murmur. While it's not the best description one could ask for, I can still work with it since I already know the location.
“Hmmm I might actually know where the location of this huge tree is, I've seen many trees, but I do remember seeing this very huge tree in my travels” right after saying this Monk immediately jumps up to my words.
“Really!? You know where my colony lives!?” Monk says excitedly towards me. Of course, I can't tell them that their entire colony is most likely not there anymore, that would make them sad which I of course don't want to see!
“I'm not sure, i never bothered going towards the tree but I do still remember how amazing it looked, seeing something like that is really hard to scrub from my mind” I say towards Monk hoping this does not sadden them. Thankfully they seem more motivated than before.
“Well, it's a place to start!... but I'm not sure if my sister would be there…” Monk slumps back down, whom I've noticed has finished eating all the blue fruits. Good at least they won't starve this cycle. Good job Enot!
“Well, that's one of the areas we could head towards, or we could go the area I was heading towards, who knows we might possibly find your sister on the way as well?” This seems to get Monk's attention.
“Where are you going?” Monk asks me. Hmm how do I explain that I'm heading towards a metal like God to investigate how far their disease has spread throughout their system to determine how far along i am in the timeline? Of course I decided not to say anything similar to my thoughts unless I wanted to utterly confuse them.
“Have you ever seen the big metal box in the sky near us? I plan on climbing all the way to the top. I've heard there's a legend like being called an iterator up there. Maybe your sis is also wandering around up there as we speak!”
“I-i see I guess that would also be a good place to look as well. You seem way more knowledgeable than me so I trust your judgement, I just hope I won't be too much of a bother wherever we go…” Monk says. I can't help but be a little happy that they already trust me enough to help find their sister!
“Don't worry Monk! As long as you put your spirit into our journey, ill give you all the help you need!” I say proudly folding my arms and puffing my chest out.
“T-thank you so much… we just met and you're so willing to help me I can't help but wonder why you're being so nice to me…”
I can't help but also wonder why I'm so willing to help them for no reason at all. Maybe I'm just really lonely and I have nothing else better to do with my life… No Enot! No negative thoughts! I want to help Monk because they need help! Nothing else!
“Because I want to! There is no reason for me to not help you!” Yes! This is the kind of attitude I should have!
“Thank you, I truly mean it thank you, I have no idea how I could ever repay you for your help…”
“Just be yourself and be kind! That's all I ask for!” Monk seems taken aback by my quick response and their face gets a little red before they turn away. Did I say something wrong? I don't think I did. Maybe I'm imagining things?
I can't help but feel quite tired at this point and finally decide to call it a night.
“Alright Monk I'm going to head to sleep” I crawl towards one of the corners of the shelter and curl up into a ball.
“O-ok… goodnight Enot” I hear Monk say Quietly somewhere behind me.
“Goodnight Monk” I respond back. I'm a little cold but that's fine. I'm used to always sleeping in the cold and I quickly fall asleep. Excited about the future adventures to come with my new friend.