I Was Born For This

Aside from stealing food, the slugcat discovered painting. They’d seen scavengers do it, they’d seen art, they’d seen so many murals of old. There long before their time. Ancient even. They discovered paint, and instead of paint on paper, there were three-digit hand prints all over the table, different colors like pink and teal, grabbing tubes and sniffing the paint only to make a face. Their white, slimy pelt was just speckled in random colors, it was a messy scene. Like a 2 year old at an arts n crafts faire.

Wind whispered through the tightly woven leaves of Cotes’ dense jungle. Kumatora felt needlessly lost. She could hear all sorts of things around her, but she still felt isolated as could be. She wouldn’t be as on edge about where she was if it weren’t for the fact that she literally had none of the few personal belongings she had, and with her current Phsique, she could tell that the place she was anywhere but home. “Lucas? Boney?? Duster??? You guys out there?” She called out, and not so much to her surprise as much as it was her disappointment, she was met by anything but the sounds of her friends voices. However, what did catch her attention, was the sound of something moving behind her, and she spun around to face it.

So when that voice called out so suddenly, the Traveler chirruped in surprise. Nearly tripping over themselves, they flared their cloak out along with the sleeves of their arms, the tassles along the edges of the fabric glowing slightly. They hobbled precariously on their feet, regaining their balance. And while they did that–new friend! New companion!

Wind whispered through the tightly woven leaves of Cotes’ dense jungle. Kumatora felt needlessly lost. She could hear all sorts of things around her, but she still felt isolated as could be. She wouldn’t be as on edge about where she was if it weren’t for the fact that she literally had none of the few personal belongings she had, and with her current Phsique, she could tell that the place she was anywhere but home. “Lucas? Boney?? Duster??? You guys out there?” She called out, and not so much to her surprise as much as it was her disappointment, she was met by anything but the sounds of her friends voices. However, what did catch her attention, was the sound of something moving behind her, and she spun around to face it.

So when that voice called out so suddenly, the Traveler chirruped in surprise. Nearly tripping over themselves, they flared their cloak out along with the sleeves of their arms, the tassles along the edges of the fabric glowing slightly. They hobbled precariously on their feet, regaining their balance. And while they did that--new friend! New companion!

“Traveler Happy. I’m Happy You Are No Hurt No Pain.” They glance at their weapon, eyeing the pointy tip. “If You Fight, Friend Companion, Don’t Get Hurt. Friend Companion Should Run. No Hurt Better Than Battle. Traveler Will Help. I Will Help!” They perk up proudly, poofing out their cloak.

Hollow tilts their head hearing this. They couldn’t promise that they wouldn’t get hurt in battle, it tends to come with when the action is committed. Thinking that they should keep the The Traveler towards the side so they at lest wouldn’t get roped into the fight.

The Traveler looks up at the sky appreciatively. “Same Sky For Companions? Together…” What he’d said sounded nice, and it made happiness flare within them; even if they weren’t with their other companions, they were still all together under a blanket of clouds and stars. Maybe even the ones gone with the wind.

They drop their head.

Oh, he’s doing the tilting thing again! They shuffle a little bit closer, bobbing up and down with him. They liked dancing like this! Was it a game? Their cloak glowed a little as the wind caught their scarf, blowing it near their friend. As he stopped the movement, the Traveler began wiggling from side to side, trying to continue the little game-dance. Yes yes yes fun fun fun.

They started wiggling even more excitedly at his words–friend companion friend companion!!!–and warbled loudly. “I Travel. I Seek! I am Traveler. The Other Companions Who Wander, Also Traveler. But Other Travelers Gone, So I Am Traveler. One Traveler.” Their eyes glow with excitement. “Friend Companion Called Dance Companion?”

Oh?  There was a naming convention!  Shadow wondered if it would be rude to use their naming conventions…Eh, it was worth a shot, “No, no.  I’m hardly a dancer.  Din did not bless me in that regard.”  It earned a laughed from the one clad in black, “You can call friend companion, Shadow companion!  Or Shadow for short.  It’s easier.”

(Unlike that other wicked light, this one will not fester and twist the minds of those in contact with it; this light offers kindness and warmth.)

“Pain Hurt Heal?” they chirp softly, their little symbol glowing in the center of their chest. Even if they couldn’t heal that deep wound, they hoped they could help any pain go away. They bounce on their feet a little, happy energy flowing through them.

They wait patiently for the other to heal, what ever that would mean. Hollow tries not to flinch as the scarf brushes against the cracks along their mask. Staying still for a few moments before a soft whistle leaves them as they start to feel the soothing heat. 

The Traveler realizes they bumped into someone new, and that makes them perk up excitedly. New friend! New buddy! They tended to bump into things when they weren’t paying attention.

(Having a mask doesn’t help with peripheral vision much, either.)

The stranger does a strange tilting motion, which the Traveler copies, though they aren’t quite sure what it means. They like it, though, and repeat the bobbing motion again, just for fun.

“Traveler Likes Dark Sky,” they chirp brightly, standing up straight again and looking at their friend. “Dark Sky Full Of Stars. Stars Glow Pretty. No Danger No Hurt!” They tilt their head. “Friend Companion Scared Of Dark Sky?”

“Quite the opposite actually.  It’s quite calming and brings me some solace in this purgatory.”  He gestured to the sky, “It’s quite lovely to think no matter what, the sky bounds us all together, we all see the same sky.”  Shadow grinned, noticing their bow was bouncy.  Clearly, they were just mimicking him, it was humorous.

He bowed again, cocking an eyebrow to see how they would react to him now copying them.  “You are quite peculiar in your vernacular.  It’s quite charming.”  Shadow stopped bobbing, it was making him a bit lightheaded.

They drop their head.

Oh, he's doing the tilting thing again! They shuffle a little bit closer, bobbing up and down with him. They liked dancing like this! Was it a game? Their cloak glowed a little as the wind caught their scarf, blowing it near their friend. As he stopped the movement, the Traveler began wiggling from side to side, trying to continue the little game-dance. Yes yes yes fun fun fun.

They started wiggling even more excitedly at his words--friend companion friend companion!!!--and warbled loudly. "I Travel. I Seek! I am Traveler. The Other Companions Who Wander, Also Traveler. But Other Travelers Gone, So I Am Traveler. One Traveler." Their eyes glow with excitement. "Friend Companion Called Dance Companion?"

The Traveler stared intently at Otus. He seemed scared, his tufts flattened and his hand protectively held against his chest. It made them feel nervous seeing their friend like this.

“No Hurt,” they warbled, and again the chirp distorted loudly. It peetered off with an electrical-sounding whine, accented with a dull pop. The Traveler shook their head roughly, as though trying to stop it. It was like they couldn’t control the pitch and volume of their chirps. Their voice sounded grating to their ears, and again they shook their entire body uncomfortably. Their eye hummed loudly with a contained power. It radiated a slight heat.

But Otus looked worried, and the Traveler ignored the weird feelings. Was their friend hurt? They unfolded their legs, shuffling closer to the owlboy. Did they hurt their friend?

“Companion Hurt?” Whirr. Pop. Their scarf loosely floated towards him, nudging Otus’ gauntlet. “Did Traveler Hurt You?” They felt a sudden rush of fear, and their eye brightened. Their chirp was even louder this time. “Won’t Dust Won’t Crumble? Hurt Hurt Hurt?”

Guh. Otus had a long way to go in understanding technology, if ever, but that dull pop sounded plain bad. At this point he finally processed the thought that the Traveler sounded and even looked like a machine, and that, judging by their constant shivers and shakes, they might’ve not even known that???

One side of his face twitched as the Traveler shuffled towards him. The owlboy felt awful at the fact that he wanted to put some distance between him and them, so a part of him was almost thankful that the log wasn’t letting him go anywhere. Hesitating, he clasped his hand around Traveler’s scarf for comfort, and held it while trying to understand their messages.

He managed to shake his head - he wasn’t sure which question of theirs that answered, but answering something was good enough for him. He forced himself forward, even if the light beaming from their face blinded his vision. Could he help? How would he help? Where was-

The mask!

Something still felt wrong.

As he scrambles away to look for something, they turn and watch intently. Is there something in the dirt? Maybe another firefly? Was something else scaring him, lurking out in the--

Smack.

"Wrbrrb?" The Traveler warbles in surprise as their mask is pressed firmly against their face, the electric sounds abruptly cutting off. That brightness fades to a soft glow, and the light returns to their eyes--white instead of harsh blue. And that...that feels a lot better!

They ruffle their cloak a bit, trying to adjust the mask into place better. Then they still a little, looking at Otus. Or rather his gauntlets. They're covering their eyes a bit, but it doesn't bother them, so they don't shake him off.

The Traveler wonders why he was so quick to cover their face up. Otus seemed to know it would help; that discomfort was gone, and the loud humming stopped buzzing in their head.