Your hands shiver a little as you take the second plush from PAMA. It still hurts a little to look at Reuben, even as a recreation. PAMA frowns a little as you turn the Reuben plush in your hands, their tail lying close to the ground. You inventory the plush anxiously and look back at PAMA.
"I intended it as an apology," PAMA's tail swishes, "if you do not like it--"
"I like it," You pull the plush back out, "it just hurts to see him sometimes." When you admit that, PAMA pulls back a little. "I appreciate it, though. I think he'd like it if he could see it." PAMA lets their tail droop gently before running a hand along the yellow jabot around their neck.
"The offer for a suit measurement is still open, if you want it. I already have measured Radar so it will not take much time." PAMA smiles with their eyes closed. Their eyes shoot open suddenly. "I did not intend to use that against you! I--" Their tail curls close to their legs.
"I was already alright with it, PAMA." You laugh a little. PAMA walks around the counter and gestures for you to drop your shoulders. You stiffen and PAMA pulls a line of measuring tape onto your back. You wonder if Olivia found this just as boring a few years ago. It seems PAMA is measuring the distance between your shoulders.
After PAMA measures around your chest, they speak again. "Did you have any particular color you want? If I was making suits for the rest of the Order, I would suggest a nice lapis blue. Although, that would mean we would match." PAMA pulls a line of tape from your shoulder to your wrist. Really? Would you match that much? PAMA's tailcoat is covered in the outline of yellow flowers.
"Hmmm." You ponder as PAMA pulls down one of your arms. They measure from your neck to the thumb of the hand you're now holding stiff. "I'd say gray--" You manage to speak before PAMA wraps tape around your neck. Radar stifles a snort as you let out a startled garble. Sure, it's not choking you, but it definitely feels weird.
"My apologies." PAMA pulls the tape off before kneeling down at your legs. How do they do that with digitigrade legs? "What shade of gray? There are many shades. What a peculiar color." PAMA takes a few measurements around your legs. It feels really weird.
"Oh, um, I guess now that I think of it, wouldn't black fit better? If I remember right, it goes with any color." You shrug as PAMA stands back up. "Or am I wrong on that?" PAMA shakes their head.
"Black is a good color! Your assumption is correct, it does work with any color. Do you want your pants to match?" PAMA tilts their head. Funny how that's coming from someone wearing pants that are just slightly darker than their suit. "Although, Radar did tell me he was considering white for his suit... I would need to coordinate that with you, are you okay with contrasting with your assistant?"
"I didn't take you for a guy who liked white." You raise an eyebrow as you look at Radar. He sputters anxiously for a few moments. You watch someone in the line roll their eyes.
"It brings out my eyes!" Radar flairs part of his slicked comb over dramatically. You roll your eyes.
"And the mascara doesn't?" You laugh and Radar sputters. PAMA lets out a sort of mechanical noise, something that sounds like a cat's purr. "I do suppose it would contrast well with your skin tone... I'm not a color guy, though." You shrug.
"I do know a little bit about makeup!" PAMA excitedly puts their hands together as they look over at Radar. "Consider this, a white suit and some gold eye shadow?"
Radar hums a little anxiously. "Yeah, I guess I do have a warmer skin tone." He shrugs. "But black could look cool! I could match with Jesse!"
"That sounds nice! I think he could pull off white eye shadow..." PAMA ponders aloud. "If you want to, of course. If not, I could compensate with something else. I do have a few crocheted scarves that I feel would fit you well!"
"My face wouldn't be a problem?" You ask a little anxiously. PAMA swishes their tail a little.
"Do you mean it may irritate your face? I could test a palette on you and if it hurts we could stop. Do you have time?"
"I have some stuff to do still. Maybe tomorrow?" You offer. "I do suppose we could see how I look in it," You realize something as you turn to ponder, "oh, did you want a deposit for the work?"
"You are the mayor, I have no problem doing this for--" PAMA raises one hand, fingers clenching into their green pawpads as they do.
"I'm not going to have you do unpaid work. What's your rate?" Currency is still something new to you. Even though you'd set up the rates yourself to make interworld trade easier, it still feels like you're not calculating something properly. Income was mostly for frivolous things, food and housing is free. The fact people pay for that in some worlds makes your mind run in circles. That's just cruel.
PAMA taps the counter idly, as if they're debating making it cheaper. You stare at them and tilt your head. "That will be five cherry silva." PAMA seems a little cowed when they speak. That is definitely expensive. Most silva is made of oak and painted with an indicator of worth. But cherry silva? That was made of cherry wood itself. If you remember right, five cherry silva was about five hundred dollars. Currency conversion is still something that's odd to comprehend.
It's a good thing you have some on hand. You place the five coins on the counter and PAMA scoops them up. PAMA seems about ready to turn away when Radar clears his throat. PAMA raises an eyebrow and looks back over at him.
"We were gonna grab lunch, did you want to come along?" Radar asks, tilting his head. PAMA stares at him for a moment before their tail swishes quickly. They shake their head.
"I have to do something."
"And I have to take my lunch break in a few minutes myself." The cashier speaks up. "So you should delay that idea for a little bit."
"Right." PAMA looks away as a frown crosses Radar's face. "I promise I will make it up to you."
"It's fine." Radar shakes his head. "Whatever you need to do is more important." He turns to leave. You look to PAMA before following behind Radar. Despite your expectations, Radar is silent. Maybe he's deeply lost in thought? You don't know, honestly. It's weird seeing him this quiet.
"Everything okay?" You ask. Radar sighs.
"Yeah, yeah, it's fine." His words are a soft grumble that takes you a moment to hear. You reach out one hand to touch him on the shoulder and he slaps it away impulsively. When he realizes what he's done he recoils, covering his mouth. "I'm so sorry, boss, I'm--"
"Hey, hey, it's fine. I... You know you can tell me what's bothering you, right?" You hold one hand out.
Radar blinks. "I'm just hungry and upset about it. Yep. That's it." He turns back around and you sigh. Sometimes, it's like getting blood from a stone block with him. The most you get of his inner life is how glad he is to work with you. Some part of you wants to believe that, while another fragment rejects the very idea.
The most Radar speaks in the next few minutes is when you enter the restaurant. He offers to pay. The most you hear of him is him spinning an incredibly long order. Yours is much simpler in comparison. It's always been hard for you to kick the salad habit.
In Beacontown's earlier years, the sight of you in such a casual place would have been the talk of the town for a while. You would have been swarmed by fans at every angle. Now, you sit at a thin, wooden table under warm lamps. Some people look at you, but only for a second. It reminds you of how your greatest accomplishment was a built Enderdragon. Someone's built a recreation of it somewhere, but you always forget where it is.
Some part of you swallows that idea bitterly. You despised the fame at points and at other times basked in it. Now you have to wonder if it still exists. Is there any fame left to bask in? Or have you already started to fade?
And then you catch Radar absolutely devouring a filet fish sandwich and you laugh your ass off. He glares at you like he wants you dead. You end up choking on a leaf for a few moments. He doesn't save you.
"Aw, fuck you." You sputter raspily, a sort of half joke. Radar rolls his eyes. "Seriously, are you mad at me? Did I do something?" Some part of that loser from eons ago still sleeps in your bones.
"Come on, Jesse, I'd panic and we'd both die! Somehow!" Radar whines. You blink and realize he's practically swallowed that sandwich whole. Right. You saw him inhale a plate's worth of cookies once. You roll your eyes. "I'm being serious!"
"I wasn't actually that offended." You laugh. "I'd be more scared of you killing me for staring at you. I'm surprised I'm the one who choked."
Radar looks at the floor.
"I didn't mean it that way!" You sputter. Radar just continues looking away. "Okay. This isn't about me, is it?"
"Augh," Radar shakes his head, "I'm clearly keeping you from--"
"Radar, I'm the mayor. You're not keeping me from anything. Petra will understand why I took some time." You reach for his hand but don't make a move. Radar sighs.
"It's stupid."
You stifle a snort at the irony. "Yeah, I've heard that before. It's never been stupid." You sigh. "Lay it on me. Can't be any stupider than anything I got up to."
Radar hesitates for a moment before taking in a deep breath. His chest shudders when he speaks, as if he's fighting back the urge to hyperventilate. "PAMA can't love me the way I love them." He clutches the table harshly. "They... I feel like such a monster for wanting what they can't give me."
"What do you mean?" You tilt your head. Distantly, Lukas' own words echo in the back of your mind. What if someone wants me, though? You didn't think you'd find someone on the other end of the equation. Radar twiddles his fingers. "You... Want a relationship with them?"
"I know you'd be telling me to have better standards but... Never mind. I don't..." Radar shoves his head against the table. "It doesn't even matter because they can't want that. They haven't wanted anyone. But I still want it."
"Yeah... We want a lot of things we can't have. But you don't seem to be trying to force them. Unless that offer was--"
"No, no! I just... I just wanted to hang out. Because we're friends. Oh... What if they thought I was trying to get them to go on a date?! I've just messed everything up! I need to go and apologize--" Radar stands up.
"Orrr maybe they're actually busy. How about you clarify this to them later?" You put a hand on Radar's shoulder. "And if it becomes a big enough issue, you might have to consider that you can't be friends."
"But I owe them." Radar's voice is small. "I owe them so much, you don't even know!"
"I don't think you do." You shake your head. Radar's eyes go hollow.
"You wouldn't get it." He starts to walk out. You follow him quietly. Or well, you try to, before the words burst out of your throat.
"Radar, I'm supposed to listen to you. That's my job too. Besides, I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't." You offer. Radar sighs before his eyes go wide.
"You consider me a friend?" He excitedly hops around you. "Golly! I didn't even think you could be my friend!" You hold out one hand to stop him.
"I'm glad you're excited but... You know you can tell me what's eating you, right? You don't need to just push it away."
"What? I'm fine! I'm amazing, now! This is great!" Radar shouts excitedly. You sigh. Blood from a stone block. "I was thinking we could stop at Stampy and Stacy's and maybe even--eep!" Radar leaps back when someone approaches. He nearly knocks you over when he rushes in front of you.
"Nice to see you too, Radar." Cassie rolls her eyes. Cassie's still fond of gray, after all, but it seems she's changed out her hoodie for a gray and pink striped sweater and a gray skirt with pink flowers. "Sorry I'm late, my carriage driver decided to take a few stops." She rolls her eyes before handing some cherry wood to you.
"Well, if you want to see PAMA, you're gonna have to bother them now." You inventory the wood and pass Cassie some silva.
"Uh, the allergies?" Radar stammers. Cassie passes him a little pamphlet.
"That's the guide for every allergy that's known so far. The best thing you can do is tell everyone to declare their ingredients." Cassie shrugs. "Now if you'd let me--"
"Wait, but, why? Why does it work this way?" Radar flips through the pamphlet.
Cassie sighs. "You wouldn't get it fully because your body doesn't work that way--"
"Neither does yours?" Radar stammers.
"I don't want to give you a whole biology lecture!" Cassie snaps. "Anyway, their body basically kills itself. Not fun! Very bad! So tell everyone to declare what's in their stuff and you're in the clear. Is that a good enough explanation?"
"I guess?" Radar stammers.
"Good! I've got to get going!" Cassie shouts and rushes away. You roll your eyes.
"Is she okay?" Radar stammers.
"Probably not." You roll your eyes again. "But I guess I prefer a little rudeness to her previous track record..."
"Why does PAMA hang out with her?" Radar asks as you begin to head to where Stampy and Stacy said to go. "I just don't get it!"
"Are you seriously asking me this?" You snort.
"No, really! PAMA wasn't about killing people and all of that. What they did was because they thought they were helping people. Cassie killed people to escape. Those are two very different things!" Radar sticks his arms up dramatically. "I wouldn't want to hang out with a murderer!"
"You're literally hanging out with someone who tried to kill me." You roll your eyes.
"Well, I--" Radar stammers. "They didn't mean all of that. Not like Cassie did."
You sigh. "I think it's more they're... Hanging onto what they had. I think you just don't like Cassie because she's a bit... Rough around the edges."
"She did worse than PAMA!" Radar protests. You're about to begin but his ramble runs over any attempt. "PAMA wasn't trying to hurt people, okay? Cassie knew she was killing people! And what else was PAMA supposed to do--"
"They still did something wrong. Both of them. And now they're doing the right things. What's the difference? PAMA controlled a world for at least a decade."
"Well!" Radar stammers. "Cassie scares me, okay? She's got a one-hit-kill axe thing!"
"PAMA could crush your skull with one hand." You roll your eyes.
"They wouldn't, though! Cassie--"
"Also has no reason to."
"I don't know, then." Radar stammers. "Okay? I just... I don't know. Gah, I'm being such a hypocrite! Stupid, stupid, stupid--"
"Hey." You grab Radar by the wrist gently. "Don't do that to yourself." You let go of him.
"Well, I'm being a hypocrite! Or something, I don't know! I'm biased! Gah, I--oh. We need to stop talking about this." Radar stops and you see that Stampy and Stacy have set up a little stand. They seem to be in the midst of an argument.
"I am telling you, Stampy. It needs to be pumpkin pie." Stacy argues as she leans against the wooden base of their prototype stand. You find a few small tins of paint next to it.
"But cake is the best! And I would know. I have it every morning, for breakfast." Stampy protests.
"There some sort of problem here, guys?" You approach slowly. Stampy waves at you.
"Hello, Jesse! We heard about this Founding Day celebration of yours and we thought we’d make some sweets!"
"Yeah, and now I’m trying to convince Mr. Stampy here to make the right decision and pick pumpkin pie." Stacy crosses her arms.
"You can't have both?" You tilt your head.
"At that rate, why not have cookies too?" Stacy waves one hand.
"I wouldn't mind cookies, actually." Radar interjects. "I'm kind of a cookies man, myself." Stampy and Stacy stop arguing long enough to glare at him.
"I'd say get some more ingredients and make both. Here," You offer them some silva, "if you don't have enough, I'm sure someone here has to have some."
"Hey, we can afford ingredients." Stacy responds.
"Uh, aren't they free and all?" Stampy tilts his head. You pocket the silva, feeling yourself flush. "Well, thank you anyway." Stampy nods. You remember the lamb in your inventory then and pull it out.
"Oh, I nearly forgot... All of this bickering has my mind going in circles." Stacy takes the lamb out of your hands. Wink leaps at her side, trying to get at it. "I really hope I didn't pay for something that'll get destroyed in five minutes."
"I'd hope not." You laugh a little as Wink keeps trying to get at the lamb. "Well, I've got to head out now. Hopefully you'll figure this out." You walk off and Stampy waves at you. Stacy seems to be too busy trying to figure out if she should keep the lamb away from Wink.
"Would it be rude to say I think they're going to be bickering over the colors next?" Radar gestures to the paint cans as you start to approach the gate. You snicker. "That's not an answer!" Radar whines.
"I'm just gonna hope they don't." You shrug before letting yourself linger on the sight of the cans. Just in case they do drag you in another argument. Radar doesn't seem to register you've stopped for a moment, instead drifting ahead a little. Something flashes in your periphery, something blue.
"Can I interest you in some fine jewelry, my good fellow?" An oddly familiar voice greets your ears. It seems someone's offering Radar a briefcase of nonsense. You step to his side and find--Drift? Didn't he have a home too?
"...Can I help you?" You tilt your head.
"Oh. Jesse. Hello." Drift clicks the briefcase shut. He seems to be dressed in a formal, light blue suit. "I'll just be leaving!" Drift rushes off. You look at Radar and raise an eyebrow.
"I told him that was some stupid scheme to take his money!" Dotty steps out from behind a building. She crosses her arms. "I really wish we could have met under better circumstances..." She shakes her head.
"Oh. You know these people?" Radar turns to you.
"Yeah, we were in the Games together." You step to Dotty. She's in a decently elegant purple dress. "What brought you here?"
"I'm mostly here as a disclaimer to tell people not to buy Drift's... Nonsense." Dotty shakes her head. "He's got himself wrapped in one of those pyramid schemes."
"Well, I hope you get some time to relax soon." You clench your teeth a little. Dotty sighs and waves as she walks off after Drift. "Now, for the mines--"
"No, you can't just release a bunch of lepomis gulosus into the water supply! I already have enough invasive lepomids to deal with! Do you have any idea what I've been doing for the past month?"
"I'm just getting some water for my pet." You hear Warmouth's voice cut through the conversation. "I didn't know this place was that different."
"Oh." The first voice quiets as you look over. "Believe me, I had to pull up a shit ton of tree of heaven last week! It was a nightmare!" It seems this voice belongs to a blonde fellow in a jean shirt.
"Uh, yeah. Yeah. Someone brought a whole bunch of vines and it nearly took over the farms here." You step over to the two of them.
"So... You're gonna keep that in an aquarium, then?" The blonde fellow tilts their head and readjusts their sunglasses. "I mean, honestly, I wouldn't mind a sunfish pond myself. But figuring out how to get that past regulations and find a seller--"
Warmouth holds a bucket up to the pale, blonde fellow. A small, greenish brown fish swims to the surface before leaping out and flopping on the ground. The two of them yelp and struggle to grab it. It flops into Radar's face and he barely manages to hold it in his hands.
"Watch the spines!" The blonde yells. Radar yelps and the fish flops out of his hands. Warmouth lunges with the bucket and manages to catch it.
"I think I'm taking that as a cue to get back home..." Warmouth puts a lid on the bucket. You note the small holes poked in it. "Tell me if you ever build that pond!" Warmouth walks off.
The blonde fellow looks over at Radar and shrugs. "I'm still working on that species evaluation... You know how trapping fish is." They shrug again. Radar raises one eyebrow. "Orrr maybe you don't. I don't know. Haha. I'm rambling, I think."
"Well, I'm definitely going to work on tightening those invasive species laws..." Radar trails off a little. "Can you eat those fish you found?"
"Uh, yeah. They're panfish, after all. Although, if you're gonna eat them, can you make sure you get a picture first? I heard someone spotted a hybrid or two!" You grimace at the thought of a fish being eaten.
"Do you know what they taste like?" Radar asks. The blonde fellow shrugs.
"Not really? I also think they probably remove the fin spines when they eat them. They're really cool fish, though! I wish they weren't invasive here. Have you heard of the coppernose bluegill? Or a handpainted bluegill? There are so many bluegill subspecies alone and--"
"Uh... We need to get going?" You stammer.
"Oh. Sorry. Guess I'll save the fish rambling for when I'm done with this study!" The pale figure laughs a little. They toss a net out of their inventory and head off. "By the way, did you ever figure out an official name for the water body behind the Order Hall? I'm trying to figure out what to call it for my study."
"Not officialy, no?" You tilt your head. "Just pick something that sounds right." The blonde fellow stops.
"Ah. I suck at names." The blonde squeaks. "Maybe I'll just pick a boring one for now..." They walk off again.
"Now I'm craving seafood..." Radar blinks.
"You just ate!" You stare at him.
"Hey, I didn't say I was hungry! You can want to eat something and not be hungry." Radar shrugs. You roll your eyes as you start to walk again.
"You're really weird, you know that?" You nudge him gently. Radar stares at you miserably. "Hey, I'm weird too. That's just how it is in Beacontown."
Radar leads you over to the mines. It's a descent down a stone staircase that sits next to the big red gate of Beacontown's wall. Radar dramatically flairs his arms up and announces, "And here we are at the mines!" You take that as a cue to pull out the iron chestplate you'd stored in your inventory. Gotta protect the vital stuff, just in case.
"Thanks for sticking around, Radar." You nod at him as you step to the staircase.
"Oh, no. Thank you, Jesse. It was a pleasure watching you work. It truly was. Stopping to help all those people, helping them prepare for Founding Day… Very inspiring." Radar nods as you start to head into the mineshaft. "I'll, uh... keep watch on things, here, while you're gone. Off, doing your... adventure-y things. Risking your life. Spitting in fate's eye..." He rambles.
"I wouldn't pick anyone else to do it." You laugh. "Although I do wonder what PAMA had to do..."
"Ah, thank you! There's still so much to do, though... I'll see if I have time."
"I think you'll make it." You laugh and head deeper into the mine. Radar takes a moment to compose himself.
"Bye! Have a good time!" Radar waves.
"Don't I always?" You let yourself smirk as you continue into the mineshaft. You bet Radar's rolling his eyes at that. You expect darkness to swallow you whole but find a decent amount of torches, enough to be almost as bright as the sun.
Right. It'd be stupid to approve a mineshaft's construction without telling them to include torches. The mineshaft is much wider than its staircase, and you can catch the glint of pickaxes in the torchlight. Looks like every miner's on shift today. You take note of the minecarts to your right before you catch the glint of a pickaxe in your periphery.
"Huh?" You swirl your head around. Did part of the wall open? "Petra? Huh, I swear she said to meet right here." You look around again, swearing that your good ear caught some shuffling. "Am I too late?" When you turn, you find a few forms approaching from behind the wall. For a moment, you expect Petra to be among them, and then you catch the greenness of their skin.
Great. Zombies. It takes you a moment to pull out your sword, a fancy enchanted diamond one. Some part of you expects it to talk and that part holds you long enough for a zombie to take a sloppy swing at you. You slash across its chest and watch it crumple.
You can't lie, you missed this a little. As you slash the rest of the zombies you find the smell is definitely not something you've missed. Really, you think you'd remember such a terrible aroma! Nonetheless, you make short work of the zombies.
Something pops its head out from the hole in the wall. You stiffen, expecting another zombie, but instead you catch the orange hair. You let your arm droop. What remains of her armor, the chestplate, tasset, and shoulder-pad cling to her clothes like a lifeline. Part of that makes your soul ache.
"Well... You’re late, but at least you still remember how to fight." Petra smirks as she approaches.
"Yeah. Sorry about that. You know how it is." You stammer as if you've seen her for the first time in your life.
"I was worried you'd gotten rusty." Petra knocks against your iron chestplate. "I can't even imagine that life. Managing people. Signing papers. Bleh." She sticks her tongue out as she looks away.
"Yeah, I guess it has been a while since I've done this." If you were a wolf, you'd be rolling over to show your stomach. Petra glares at your chestplate.
"Well, that's obvious. You're not even wearing a good suit of armor!"
"I didn't want to dent the good stuff! So what?" You protest. You watch Petra twirl an unenchanted iron sword in her hand as if it's something unfamiliar. You raise an eyebrow. "And look who's talking with an iron sword. Where's your fancy gold one, with all the enchantments? Can't remember the last time I saw you without it.." Were you really that rusty? Maybe it broke or something... But last you checked she took real good care of it.
"I, uh…" Petra blinks as more zombies funnel from the hole in the wall.
"Wait... Did you do that?!" You glare at Petra. She goes redder than her hair before slugging you and rushing ahead.
"Ha, time to find out just how rusty you aren't!" She slashes through a zombie with ease. You roll your eyes and take out one of the zombies at her side. It takes some time to cut through the group and when you're done, you patch up the wall with some stone. Petra whines behind you.
"It's a hazard!" You protest. Petra rolls her eyes. "I wouldn't make a good leader if I let my miners get eaten by zombies."
"Laaameee." Petra snorts before looking at the wall. Her eyes trail back to you. "Glad you finally made it. Sometimes, I worry you don't even have time for me--your friends, anymore. I mean, I get that you like your job and everything, but sheesh."
"Hey. I'm here now, aren't I? I'll always make time for you." You slug Petra on the shoulder gently. She takes a moment before smiling.
"Yeah, I guess. But, now that you mention it…" Her eyes trail to the minecarts. "Can’t help but notice that we’re missing… one, two, three?" You let out a sigh.
"Axel has Boom Town duties, Olivia’s grading something or other in Redstonia and Lukas--"
"Is writing. I figured. Man, our friends have gotten lame. I swear, if our old fans saw what we're doing now? I'm just sayin'. I don't care how good Lukas' next book is. It's not exactly slaying a Witherstorm, y'know?" Petra shakes her head.
"Hey, we've got lives now. Everything's different." You say. "I miss those times too."
"Could've fooled me." Petra huffs before turning away. "We'll worry about them later, I guess. We gotta hurry."
"Right... The adventure! What are we gonna do in the mines, anyway?" You tilt your head. "I mean, it's not exactly the talk of the town, y'know?"
"I'll… Tell you when we find it. Just trust me. It's important." Petra stiffens a little. You watch one of the miners jolt as something runs by them, letting out a sort of bleat. You look over at Petra and raise an eyebrow.
"Is that--"
"Come on, let's race!" Petra slugs you and rushes into the tunnel. You glare at her before sighing. You charge after her. What the hell is she having you chase down? This is her adventure? You expect her to take you deep into the ground, where you'd have to hop over lava, but here you are, rushing between miners who look terribly confused.
"What are we even chasing?!" You shout after Petra as you try to keep up. You hear a bit of TNT go off in the distance. Seems some of the miners have decided to go for efficiency. Petra just keeps rushing ahead.
"A big monster!"
"Do you know how little that narrows that down?!" You shout as you nearly collide with a miner. They cuss you out and you stammer a startled apology. You charge past a few more miners, finding Petra has arrived at the end of the tunnel. Before her is a large drop into the darkness.
"Alright, where'd you go?" Her gaze snaps around a bunch. You step to her side, taking a moment to catch your breath. You suppose there haven't been enough available miners to light up the descent. Before you can ask again, Petra lets out a shout. "Ha! Look down there!" She points into the cavern below and you catch something traveling on four legs in the dying light. Petra leaps down.
"So, you're really not gonna tell me what we're chasing?" You ask and Petra stops for a moment.
"Nope. The mystery’s what makes it fun! C’mon!" You sigh and roll your eyes as you leap down. Maybe Lukas' horse got loose, somehow. Or Petra's got a pet now? You don't know. She doesn't seem to be the pet keeping type. Or maybe you're wrong on that. How long has it been since you two have talked?
You swirl your head around and catch a horde of zombies shuffling out of the darkness. You shake your head and begin to run. Petra seems to have gotten a head start, probably because she can hear the damn things better than you.
It's dark and terribly hard to see in the cavern. It seems to not be carved by human hands, instead undulating between large and small. It's hard to run with your few good senses taken out by darkness. Your theory that nobody's been down here is confirmed when you catch a few lava channels. Orange light dances in a thousand, beady red eyes.
"Augh, webheads!" Petra snaps.
"I see 'em!" You shout, readying your sword. One spider lunges and you dodge it, causing it to nearly fall into one of the lava channels. It jolts back and a few of the spiders stiffen. You do your best to avoid them.
The cavern's wall disappears at this point. You find a grand, gleaming light down below. Whatever you're chasing rushes towards it too fast for you to see it. You can't help but scowl. You take note of a few spread out crags that jut from the ground. They're large enough to land on.
Petra slows, looking to where the beast was moments before. "There! It went into that cave." She shouts before leaping onto one of the platforms. "'Annnd Petra’s in the home stretch!!'" Petra excitedly announces as she jumps onto the ground. A few of the spiders break away from behind you and you just barely manage to leap out of the way.
You still for a moment and the spiders leave you behind. Part of you wants to stand up and tilt your head while the more primal parts of you keep you on the ground. Petra lets out a loud hiss as the spiders start to approach her. For a moment, you debate panicking, but you realize she's more annoyed than she is ever afraid.
There's a moment you ponder saving her. There's another where you think this is an easy, dirty avenue to win the race. Besides, you could brag that you solved the mystery first! Although... It is a bit cruel to leave her with those spiders, even if it'll just annoy her. You hope. At least.
Do you help her or do you win the race?
I'm going for the gold!
I'm gonna get those damn spiders!
