#mr tail

Huohuo is cold when she wakes up. That's her first realization.

The second realization is she's in some sort of forest, with tall and looming trees that make her feel twice as small as she is. The ground is covered in dead leaves, most with small pieces of bark and the rare blade of grass poking through the leaves that little the ground.

She's still in her Ten-Lords Commission uniform, from the hat to the shoes, and- much to her relief- Mr. Tail is still sealed to her body.

But he clearly isn't conscious. Meaning, for now, she is alone in this dark and cold forest.

So she gets up. No use moping around and waiting for something to come eat her, right? Maybe if she roams around, she can find someone who can help her.

Or just run into something that will eat her...

...let's not dwell on that!

Thankfully, she's easily able to summon her banner into her hands, meaning her blessing as a Pathstrider of the Hunt remains firmly in place.

She holds her banner close to her chest, the flag fluttering faintly in the soft breeze that fills her ears with quiet whistles. Shadows seem darker here, trees seem more twisted and gnarled, and every crack of sticks and crunch of leaves makes her flinch.

But it doesn't stir Mr. Tail. Huohuo doesn't know whether to be scared because she's alone without him awake, or relieved as he can't belittle and bicker with her.

She does trust Mr. Tail, especially since she knows he cares for her in his own heliobus-esc way, but she certainly knows he is not the best person to rely on for comfort. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Neither understand eachother, as opposite as they are, yet they exist together every day, comfortable in eachother's presence and knowing both care.

"..." Huohuo is quiet for a long time, before she quietly croaks out a, "Hello," with the hopes someone who's willing to help may here.

However, no one shows up. So she keeps wandering, stepping over stones and branches, crunching leaves underfoot, feeling the breeze kiss her cheeks...

It would be peaceful, if this forest was not ominous. Not threatening. Not making her feel so small and weak.

It is not a feeling she enjoys, even if she's used to feelings such as these.

"Hello?" She quietly calls out again, feeling totally alone now. She could wake Tail, yes, but...

...he wouldn't help right now. She believes that wholeheartedly.

Then another rustling is heard. Out of instinct, she dives behind a tree, hiding in the underbrush even if the flames of Tail make her far more visible than she'd like to be, especially within the shadows.

"Seriously? She somehow woke up before we could bring her into the tower?" An annoyed voice asks, clear as water itself as she sees three people walk into view...

Wait, one of them doesn't resemble a human. They look more like a borsin, with thick brown fur that has some leaves and burrs, glittering red eyes, curved red horns, and... a weirdly cupcake-like body.

...that's queer. Why does it look like some wolf-cupcake hybrid?

Also, why does it have a giant hammer? One made out of some sort of purple ropes.

"Well, we just gotta find 'er!" This cupcake-borsin declares with a grin, showing off yellowed teeth. "It can't be that hard, yeah?"

"Would she like shroomies?" The smallest person there, who has a hat of sorts that resembles a slightly damaged purple mushroom cap.

"Well, if she's half as loving as the rumors say, she probably would." The final person says, the first one who spoke, says. They wear some sort of dark purple cloak, although it's coated in patches of different colored fabric that's been sewn on with big and half-hazard stitches that make the entire cloak seem like a mess. "But first, we need to find her before Pomegranate Cookie finds out we lost her and rips us a new one."

"...a new what?" The little mushroom person asks, and you see their purple eyes with darker purple pupils that are... much bigger than a normal person's pupils.

"...Nothing, nothing." The one in the purple cloak says dismissively, and you realize they're carrying a giant scythe made of... cracked bones...

"We shoulda brought a Cake Hound." The borsin-looking one suddenly comments, causing the cloaked one to reel around and wave the scythe.

"Hey, you're Choco Werehound Brute! You're literally part Cake Hound! You sniff her out!"

"I dunno how she smells!" The... 'Choco Werehound Brute' says, frowning, "How would I sniff 'er out then?"

The cloaked one stumbles over their words, before scoffing. "Seriously, Brute, let's just find her already."

Huohuo shivers a bit, hoping they're not talking about her... She'd much rather not have weird people and a borsin trying to find her in this... weird and unfamilar place.

How'd she even get here? This isn't the Xianzhou Luofu, as the Luofu has no forests. It was probably thanks to that... weird and terrifying person, but how could they just... knock her out with a touch and teleport her away?

What are they? And what Path do they stride on? And... what was with them thinking Huohuo was this 'Cresstrella'? There's so many questions in her head, but no answers.

The borsin and cloaked person starts to walk away, but the mushroom one remains in place, meandering around this little clearing before looking over and noticing the weird cyan glow in the underbrush.

They tilt their head, and approach. Huohuo squeaks and moves back, panicking. Honestly, she's surprised that they took so long to notice her, but she'd rather if they didn't notice her at all.

"Why are you hiding?" The mushroom-person slurs out, and Huohuo realizes they aren't human. They're... too thin, with their skin not looking like skin. They have no nose or ears, as well as no fingers. Their eyes look more like circular candies, purple in color, and they just look... so human but inhuman, and it's terrifying.

"..?" They blink, staring at Huohuo as shakes like a wet leaf.

"...you look scared..." They mumble, reaching out to pull Huohuo out of the underbrush.

She reacts by screeching and sprinting out of the underbrush, the twigs dragging across her flesh and snagging on her jacket.

The mushroom creature blinks, standing still for a moment before waddling towards Huohuo. "Aw, friend... are you scared..?"

"I- I-" She backs up futher, before screaming and running away.

"Eh?!" The cloaked being yelps out as they and the borsin-creature immediately return, and Mr. Tail snorts awake. "He- hey! Who are you?!"

"Whaz happemin'..?" He mumbles, his flames flickering slightly as Huohuo tears through the forest.

"SOMEBODY, HELP ME!" Huohuo screams, legs shaking as she runs, making her feel like any moment she'll fall over. And she doesn't dare look back, her ears making the sounds of those... things... chasing after her painfully clear. "HELP ME!!"

"Wait, we're-" The borsin one starts, but Huohuo's quick enough to weave through the woods and lose them.

She gasps, collapsing onto the ground as Mr. Tail fully wakes up.

"What- Huohuo?" He detaches from her, his eyes wide, "What's going on?!"

"I- I-" She shakes, tears stinging her eyes as she looks at her hands, small scratches marring her palms and making them sting in the cool air. "I don't know! I just woke up, and- and-"

"...you woke up before me? How long have you been awake?" Tail's ears pinning back.

"..." Huohuo looks away, "I dunno..."

"Huohuo... how long have you been awake?" Tail repeats, voice more stern.

"...like twenty minutes?" She mumbles, flinching as Tail flares up noticeably.

"What!?" He snarls out, the glow of his eyes brightening as he's furious, "YOU'VE BEEN AWAKE TWENTY MINUTES AND DIDN'T BOTHER TO MAKE ME UP?!"

She squeaks, cowering. "Mr. Tail-"

"Why the hell wouldn't you wake me up?! Are you trying to fucking kill yourself? Do you want me to eat your fucking corpse?"

"Mr. Tail-!"

"Do you hate me or something? Trying to get rid of me? So what if I fucking ruined your life! It's been 46 years since you've had me as your tail! Get used to it, you little brat! Or I'll just leave you again!"

"TAIL!"

"WHAT?!" He roars out, baring his teeth, "What the HELL do you have to say?!"

"This is why I didn't wake you up!" She cries back, hot tears rolling down her cheeks, "All- all you do is scream at me when you're mad! Or tell me off when I get scared and force me into danger! I didn't want that right now!"

Almost instantly, Tail deflates. His eyes widen slightly, his mouth opening and closing as his mind processes her words. "...oh."

Huohuo lets out a choked sob, "Why do you always yell at me when you get mad?"

"..." Tail sighs, hovering closer hesitantly, "...I- I'm sorry. I just thought you were... trying to get rid of me. I'm as confused as you are, and... I... I'm sorry."

Huohuo sniffles, looking at Mr. Tail. She believed him, as he has never lied to... well... anyone before. And he has no reason right now. But... it still hurts.

"...it's fine..." She weakly mumbles, and Tail reattaches and helps her up. "It'll be fine. I- just..."

"Nah, I get your point." Tail tells her, "Honestly, if I were you, I probably wouldn't wake me up immediately either."

"Mhm..." She mumbles, looking around. "...where are we anyways..?"

"...yo-" Tail hesitates, "I mean... I dunno."

"..." Huohuo looks around, frowning. "...Hello, is anyone there?"

There's no response for a long moment, before a rustling from the trees above is heard. Huohuo and Tail look up, seeing another one of those vaguely-human-creatures staring down at her, this one with black hair with one single streak of white, wearing armor and a patchwork cloak. In his hands, the tip of the blade resting on the branch he stands on, is a sword with a glittering red gem in the hilt. One of his eyes is closed and has a long scar over it, and another scar is by the corner of his mouth. Both look like they were caused by one slash of a blade.

His only open eye, red in color, stares down at the two. He has no expression on his face beyond a slightly stern frown, but he doesn't attack.

They silently stare at one another, before nodding his head slightly.

"...Hello."