#trojanabstruse

[ Speaking of, the ships are getting closer and some ground troups are moving in to set up some kind of artillery support. There's a bizarre mix of weapons-- longbows and grenade launchers, mortar cannons and trebuchets. Along with the mottley assortment of sea creatures alongside the boats... ]

[The rebel crew is still parked on the dragonfly, though they're going to have to take off REAL soon once everyone gets aboard.]

URSAIS: -quickly mounts again- alrRigh' EVErRybody on!!!

NEPETA: =Is back on.... WITH FRIENDS=

MITUNA: -His eyes crackle with energy and he starts floating.- oh 5hi7brickle5

ERIDAN: -mounts himself onto the dragonfly at the beck of this gross lowblood.- RUFIOH: -Keeping some distance away on wings. DETERMINED. He's glad he brought his armor with him.-

NEPETA: =she will eat him=

[PLAY NICE YALL]

HEITOR: BUZZ THE ARTILLERY.

-obnoxiously nudges at the bug pilot-

JOEY: hella. =She has something help tight in her fist. It looks like a flashlight.=

MITUNA: -He's flying close to the dragonfly, keeping an eye on things, waiting for these ships to fire-

[ Some of the trebuchets fire as they take off into the air... and a group of ROWDY PUNCHBOYS sail through the air, directly towards the dragonfly's crew. A gruop of about six sailing majestically like doves...]

[The RUFFIANNIHILATORS have NO GOOD INTENTIONS TOWARDS YOU WHATSOEVER]

[The lances are poised and ready!!]

JOEY: =Receiving a text from her brother dear, she shouted the thing he mentioned in passing as she watched these punchboys sail like leaves on the wind.= JOEY: barrel roll???!(edited)

MITUNA: D0 4 84RR3L R0LL

[A group of Archeradicators down on the surface are taking careful aim... directly at this one DISGUSTING mustardblood flying around COMPLETELY UNTETHERED with his psionics in NAKED OPEN SIGHT. HORRIBLE.]

ERIDAN: -actually just. Equips his assault rifle and lets loose the gunfire on these ruffiannihilators. TAT TAT TAT TAT.-

MITUNA: -Oh shit, he's doing his own meme maneuvers, swooping down and giving them an OPTIC BLAST-

[ The column of flashing red-and-blue light overtakes the group-- some of them manage to scatter, but there is a swathe of scorched earth in their place.]

[The rowdy punchboys are tough-- veritable bullet sponges-- the sustained assault more of a burn on ammunition than anything else, but they, too, begin to drop to the earth.]

[Way to shoot right into the crowd of them some of them bite it but there's so many, they focus on the mighty seadweller who is a nasty traitor. WHAT A WASTE OF GOOD BLOOD]

ERIDAN: -eat his GRENADES.-

URSAIS: - Equips one of her two abstratus. SLING KIND. And holy shit does she spin it fast. The projectile is not a normal rock. It looks very EXPLOSIVE. With a mighty heave she sends it down towards the FUCKIN HIGHBLOODS-

JOEY: =She stands on the back of this mount, popping up behind Eridan and turning on her flashlight. An extraordinary, unnaturally bright light surges forth. Stare into the sun, mofos!=

[There are several loud BOOMS in the direction of the lake-- cannon fire, on the port side!!!! dragonflies have port sides.]

ULFURA: -SHE IS TOTALLY FLYING THIS DRAGONFLY-

MITUNA: -Nyooming back towards the dragonfly and trying to redirect enemy fire back to the enemy themself.-

[No? One ship does so happen to get sploded but we have more ships. MEga ships. So many ships we don't know what to fuckin do with em. The catapult sends another wave of Sword-Waving-Rebel-Fighters right for the dragonfly]

LATULA: -shit dude, fuckin shit, this is making her anxious as hell and she's not a steady shot when her hands are shaking. Gotta... gotta be cool. Gotta be calm. Deep breath. Squeeze the trigger...-

LATULA: -baby's first confirmed kill. She feels sick watching the cloud of blood come from the troll's head, body ragdolling from the sky, but fuck.-

[Some of the others still latch onto the side, though. Landing on the dragonfly and attempting to crawl upwards, onto the surface, and MENACE the team with their various swords.]

NEPETA: =POPS her head over the side= NEPETA: :33 NEPETA: =STABS WITH HER BARE CLAWS AT THE CLOSEST DUDE..... rip. Then eyeballs the others=

[ THEY'RE STILL GOING FOR IT. The ones who agree to load themselves into catapults don't have the BEST survival instincts.]

URSAIS: -In her free hand she equps her MELEE abstatus, which is a clauntet with three prong blades, kind of a bigger, wider version of what Nepeta uses. She coils up on the dragonfly and stabs upwards, aiming for the neck of the nearest guy.- I'M GONNA RrIP YA T' PIECES.

ERIDAN: -is there water below? How deep is it?-

URSAIS: Y' WON'T BE GOOD FErR MORE THAN GRUBSAUCE Y' FUCKIN BULLSHIT HIGHBLOODS. EAT MY SHIT!!!

MITUNA: holy 5hi7 7ha75 a lo7 of 5hip -Swooces in to draw the fire of the mega ships-

URSAIS: -Whether or not they're actually highbloods doesn't matter. She seems very BARBARIAN-Y-

URSAIS: -Like if she had to be a class, she might be someone prone to go into RAGES.-

[Oh, it does WORK. There's a lot of fire, in fact. If cannonballs won't work, there are rockets. If rockets don't work, there are ballistae and arrows.]

[The cloud of projectile weaopns make for a difficult slalom to not lose anymore limbs or die.]

NEPETA: =Oh you know what...... she scrunches up her face then eyeballs the ships.... she's going to start aiming deadly darts for the firerers=

MITUNA: -Nyooms past the pilot, grinning. You FOOL. YOU BUFFOON.

YOU ABSOLUTE DULLARD

! Can't you see the rockets are following him? Flying right back at you.-

[There are a couple EXPLOSIONS as the heat seeking missiles seek heat.]

[ Some of the boats are already sinking... but they're the smaller ones using old fashioned seafaring cannons.]

MITUNA: -Mostly, he tries to get them to redirect fire at each other by nyooming and zooming, occasionally forcing their projectiles back at themselves with psionics-

[But what is Mituna going to do when some larger ships roll up with sonic canons. BWOOOOMMMMMM, shoots right for him](edited)

MITUNA: -IT'S A REAPER!-

RUFIOH: -swoops in at high speeds to BREEZE BLAST Mituna out of the trajectory of the sonic canons. He's got your back bro!-

[As the last of the bloodied trebuchet-victims falls from the dragonfly, they begin launching more rockets-- since their psionic is diverting fire from the WATER then he can't be in two places at ONCE. Right for the side of the dragonfly.]

MITUNA: -Goes swooshing in another direction???? He looks around, confused....-

MITUNA: !!!!

MITUNA: RU F1 00000000000H

[Alright mutant wing freak there's a boom here for you. bWOOOoOOOOOOOM]

MITUNA: -Time to return the favor. He psionics Rufioh right out of the way.-

[Guys.... come on.... just. Let us kill you. GOD.]

MITUNA: -Go fuck your mother????-

[The rockets aimed for the side of the dragonfly seem like they're only an instant away of firing before some strange, crackling blue streak collides into them on the ground. A small, roundish figure crashes straight through in a line, as... someone? Something? Cuts through the survivors with long, tendril-like limbs.]

RUFIOH: -spins in the air. Anyway bye.-

JOEY: D8 what the fu--

ERIDAN: -Doesn't like the look of that figure. Time to shoot it.-

[A LORGER figure blocks that blast, bowling into some ships with it's massive assive]

[That bullet tickled..... in the WRONG WAY. KERSMASHES]

MITUNA: WHA7

LATULA: ???

LATULA: 1UNO DUD3 -SHOUTING-

NEPETA: =perks up and leans over the basket= NEPETA: :33 < finally!!! =LEAPS=

NEPETA: :33 < they're furrrrrieeennndddsssss =descends=

LATULA: WH3R3 4R3 YOU???

LATULA: 4LR1GHT!!!!!

LATULA: SUR3 OK4Y!

URSAIS: AY, WELL. THAZ GOOD ENUFF FER ME. -she's following Nepeta. CANON BALL!!!-

LATULA: 44444!!!!

LATULA: -FUCKIN-

LATULA: -GOD!-

[There's some breathing room, now that a significant number of the ships and artillery are down. Enough to maybe go further on the offensive.]

MITUNA: um

MITUNA: yeah okay fuck me i gue55

NEPETA: =lands on a big large and is fighting the ships down there. So much blood on this cat.=

LATULA: why 1s 3v3ryon3 so fuck1n much.

LATULA: -trying to use her scope to get a read on the battle again...-

FRAZZA: =aka the big large, catches Ursais. They are big, they are heavily armored. They are smashing gunnery=

URSAIS: -Wow that turned out pretty well. She was going on faith here.-

[Okay. What the actual fuck is all this noise??]

MITUNA: -He's just...gonna optic blast the boom cannons. Okay? Okay.-

[LARGER ships roll up with gatling guns, maybe now that the little ships are being sacrificed for the cause they open fire, literal fire bullets on Mituna]

LATULA: DUD3 NO YOUR S1X BRUH

URSAIS: -With her vantage point, she's going to have a nice long time to wind up her SLINGKIND and launch another large projectile at the incoming ships-

[Some of the gatlings BLOW UP, all twisted barrels and scorched metal.]

MITUNA: -He's running through the six with his woes. You know how that shit go. The searing hot pain in his body reminds him he needs to MOVE, and so he does flying back up and out of reach, but that doesn't stop his clothes from being stained yellow. Minimal hits, but getting shot is getting fucking shot.-

[it sure is dude dang]

LATULA: -SCREAMING A LOT-

LATULA: -she's not really hitting much with these shots now, cause of the screaming-

MITUNA: -Plarps next to Latula on the dragonfly. Ma'am can you not. -

LATULA: how b4d????

LATULA: FUCK.

[They're weakened. Fires more shots! ]

URSAIS: -WINDS UP ANOTHER THROW-

MITUNA: 1 G07 FUCK1NG 5H07 8R0 WH47 D0 Y0U 7H1NK

LATULA: 1 M34N 1 C4NT T3LL????

LATULA: M4YB3 1TZ JUST L1K3 4 FL3SH WOUND OR WH4T3VZ?

[Gunman: DOOF, is murderlated by the sling toss. Rude af]

MITUNA: 1M F1N3 1 GU355 1M N07 HUMP1N UP D415135

LATULA: sh1t. SH1T. 4LR1GHT! [The troll with the weird creepy stilt-limbs is creating a path of ice, skittering along the water and using those fingers to punch holes in boats Meanwhile, the blue streak ZOOMS right up to The BIG and nepeta. Communicating that they'd like to be thrown through some hurried hand gestures.]

EQUIUS: -Remind him to work on your voice boxes later-

FRAZZA: =Cronches the muzzle of a big gun and looks at the blue streak.... scoops up.... STRONG TOSS. Gonna skip the friendo like a pebble on a lake=

DAVE: -Jesus Christ they're finally here. it's been a long time but motherfuckers he is coming HOME because of that cheesy bullshit that is home being where the people you care about are. He's slow to get his feet on the ground, taking in the scenery first, before following the others up to the house-

ARADIA: -they're here...-

DIRK: -everyone get the fuck out of the way. dirk is here to greet everyone, but especially family... which right now means dave so hello dave you're gonna get a brother hug... he doesn't really know the extend of the damage done to him so he doesn't know how to be MINDFUL OF IT...-

DAVE: -it's a relief seeing dirk alive and okay, but he doesn't have a lot of time to process it with the hug he's given and the way it gives him such a sharp pain. He grits his teeth, patting dirk on the back and wincing while in this brother hug- LOOSER NOT SO TIGHT

DIRK: Oh fuck-- Sorry. -LOOSENS HIS STRONG GRIP-

DAVE: -YA TOO STRONG YA ASSHOLE- its cool its like a love back break i get it we just gotta respect the property of my spine

DAVE: anyway sup

MITUNA: -Hops down as well, everyone is here wow look at this brotherly bonding. Gay-

MEULIN: -She ALMOST tackled Dave, but instead she's here to try to nuzzle between Strider tiddies.-

MEULIN: -Just. Right there in that hug.-

DIRK: You-- Oh. Hello there.

DAVE: -thank you Meulin for being thoughtful- also hey meu I dont think you can even see my lips moving right now but the sentiment is there

MEULIN: (^・ω・^ )

MITUNA: ehehehe

MEULIN: PRR PRR.

ARADIA: -watching from the roof-

RUFIOH: -also watching from the roof...-

MITUNA: -He's gonna inside. Pauses to wave at Aradia-

HESONY: =just hanging out with the dragonfly, dont mind him=

ERIDAN: -gazing from inside the ice cream truck in his stupid ice cream man geddup. The things he had to do to get everyone here on time... Horrendous. https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-12/2/15/enhanced/webdr07/enhanced-22416-1417551805-3.jpg -

DIRK: -nuzzles meulin's hair a little...- She's got cool shades that transcribe everything around her. I wonder who got her those.

ARADIA: -hops down to greet more properly. mituna first- hows your arm or lack thereof

MEULIN: (○｀ω´○)

DAVENFORTH: -Climbs out the back of the ice cream truck, bandaged and wearing his own shades again. Walks over to the nephew cat sandwich- Aint yall just adorable

DAVE: some anime asshole probably -fuck it's just nice to be with his brother again-

MITUNA: oh i75 how youd 7hink i7d go my balance i5 fucked

QIRIN: =just....eyeballing the Alaska group. What the shit happened to all of you?!=

KURLOZ: =Get over it, he's just going to get out and walk right into the cabin/house. He doesn't know you hos=

DAVE: -he can't help but smile a little at his uncle- yo uncle dave nice job wreckin the presidents -from this angle no one can see the scar on his neck and he is thankful for that-

MINDFANG: -What Didnt happen. Also shes standing near the dragonfly too, eyeing Hesony. Hes had it real good for a while.-

HESONY: =Hello Mindfang, he sees you looking, but the fight in him has pretty much died. They kept their promise.=

MINDFANG: -They sure did, and now there is no real reason to keep them around so she is just pondering that.-

ARADIA: yeah i figured ARADIA: -pauses and then just lightly and carefully hugs him- welcome back

KARKAT: =Is also out and about somewhere but he knows you hoes. At least everyone else didn't go through hell=

RILEY: -EVERYBODY MOVE THE FUCK OUTTA THE WAY-

DAVENFORTH: -It's okay, you can't see the scar on his eye. His face, his beautiful face.- Thanks but ro did the part that wasnt getting my ass kicked you should congratulate her

DAVENFORTH: You look like you went through some shit

DIRK: -lucky bastards, everyone can see HIS scar..-

DIRK: -smiles a little at brunc, but oh fuck here she comes... the mom-

ROXANNE: -Shes getting out of the truck after Derek and Riley, she wasnt going to be in the way of that, no sir.-

DEREK: -LEAPS AFTER RILEY-

DEREK: -JET NOISES-

DAVENFORTH: -Observes-

RILEY: -she's running at them and nearly collides into the boys and meulin consequently, wrapping her arms around their shoulders- OH THANK FUCK.

MITUNA: -A hug is probably the nicest thing he's had in a week. He loops his good arm around Aradia and squeezes and rests his chin on her head.- 7hank5 arayray

DIRK: -starting to get emotional... with his parents and his brother and his uncle and his cat all right here...-

DAVENFORTH: -Gets sad about his cat-

RILEY: -they're getting smooches on the head- my babies.

DAVE: -he winces a little at the first collision but he's okay and WOW WAY TO BE EMBARRASSING MOM- hey

ERIDAN: -disgusting... this clan of humans in their natural habitat... how do you tell them apart. Eridan fears for himself.-

ARADIA: you get to actually rest for a little while now

ROXANNE: -Eridan dont be a downer.-

MITUNA: yeah righ7 7he 5creamy a55hole5 ate back

ERIDAN: -He's always a downer. And eating a dreamsicle in the ice cream truck.-

ARADIA: who karkat

ARADIA: we have a lot of screamy assholes mituna

MITUNA: he ha5n7 been 7ha7 bad ac7ually i mean7 um i mean7 7he dead one5

ROXANNE: -WELL DONT BE.-

ROXANNE: -Also enough of watching the striders reunite, as cute as that is, shes going into the house on a quest to find her own daughter, where is rose where are you hiding her.-

DEREK: -places a hand on dave's shoulder during all this... that'll do pig-

ARADIA: oh that makes so much more sense

DAVE: -STOP IT BRO YOURE GONNA MAKE HIM CRY-

REDGLARE: -Oh, hey, hello. This. And everyone. And people. She's limping. She's tired. She's been keeping herself awake for the flight, and some of the pains have been keeping her from conking out anyways, but she's not quite ready to pass out on the floor. She hobbles over to the nearest thing she can sit on and sits.-

DAVENFORTH: !!!! -Walks over to Redglare and just kind of stands there, taking this all in. She looks so tired, and like she went through literally hell. His eyes linger on her a little too long- You mind if i sit here

REDGLARE: s1t. REDGLARE: 1 s4w your 1m4g3s.

DAVE: -SO SMOOTH BRUNCLE-

DAVENFORTH: -Groans a bit as he sits next to her.- I think they did too much justice

REDGLARE: ...

REDGLARE: Mph.

REDGLARE: You 4lso brought b4ck th3 s1lly... m4sk m4n 4ct.

REDGLARE: 4t l34st 1t s3rv3d 1ts purpos3.

DAVENFORTH: Got something against dave skellington movies

DAVENFORTH: Icon

REDGLARE: 1 th1nk 1 w4s cl34r 3nough.

REDGLARE: S1lly.

DAVENFORTH: Sex symbol

REDGLARE: uh-huh.

DAVENFORTH: -Sighs- Were gonna have a marathon when we get back im gonna get you an entire devils food cake and everything

REDGLARE: Th4t's...

REDGLARE: -snorts.-

REDGLARE: opt1m1st1c.

REDGLARE: You'll t3mpt th3 odds. Just c4ll 1t 4 sl1c3.

DAVENFORTH: Like youd just want a slice

REDGLARE: -PUNCHES HIS ARM-

DAVENFORTH: -Doof. He grins a little- So two slices huh

REDGLARE: M4yb3.

REDGLARE: On3 4nd 4 h4lf.

DAVENFORTH: One and three fourths

REDGLARE: You know wh4t.

REDGLARE: Sur3.

DAVENFORTH: -Puts an arm around her. He's just glad she's alive.- About time i win one

REDGLARE: Oh, shut up. You k1ll3d 4 world l34d3r.

DAVENFORTH: I had help

REDGLARE: Sudd3n bout of hum1l1ty?

DAVENFORTH: Sudden bout of getting crushed

DAVENFORTH: Probably would have a lot more worse for wear if it hadnt been for roxanne

REDGLARE: Oh.

REDGLARE: H4.

DAVENFORTH: I got sloppy and almost lost an eye or life for it you know whichever

DAVENFORTH: Not that ill get sympathy from you

REDGLARE: couldn't poss1bly 1m4g1n3 wh4t th4t's l1k3.

DAVENFORTH: Nope only me

REDGLARE: ...

REDGLARE: Won't b3 4bl3 to do much l1k3 th1s. Sp34k1ng of.

DAVENFORTH: Well get you back up and running

REDGLARE: 1'm not runn1ng 4nywh3r3. C4rry m3. 4ss.

DAVENFORTH: Like a bara princess

REDGLARE: Wh4t do3s th4t m34n.

DAVENFORTH: Ripped to shit

REDGLARE: Oh.

REDGLARE: Y3s.

JOHN: - I didn't get to rp it but you can bet your ass John vigorously rubbed himself on Dave, Aradia and Dirk. Because! He was worried! And he missed them! For Dave it's extra vigorous. -

DAVE: -JUST STEER CLEAR OF THE BACK and we will be good-

JOHN: - Hair gets floofed and refloofed-

JOHN: - Also you get more medical attention because he doesn't trust these non uu people to do it right. -

DAVE: -be my servant-

JOHN: -after all the emotional reunions and fussing over everyone as much as they'll allow him....john honestly feels kind of uneasy and restless. eventually he finds himself sitting on the ground with his knees crossed, dumping out every piece of medical equipment in his sylladex and carefully cataloguing it. it's probably not necessary but he just really needs something to do.-

DAVE: -plops next to John and sits- hey

KANKRI: -It sure was kind of crazy with all the reunions, and after he was settled he managed to find John....dumping stuff on the floor with Dave.-

KANKRI: -Awkwardly stays hidden at the doorway to the room to watch for now.-

JOHN: -taking down how much he has of everything on a little note pad. looks round at dave and only dave since kankri is being weird and evesdropping- hey, man.

DAVE: havent seen you in like a month

DAVE: crazy shit huh

JOHN: yeah. if i had to say the shit was anything, i might use the word crazy.

DAVE: what about ape shit

DAVE: we turning this all primate primape reverse darwins theory of evolution

DAVE: we start as fuckin advanced as hell creatures and then just go back to the monkeys

JOHN: is this your roundabout way of expressing that earth really blows because if so i grudgingly gotta agree..earth really blows.

JOHN: i mean i had expectations for how much it was going to blow but the batterwitch really hit it out of the park.

JOHN: which is impressive because the bitch banned base ball.

JOHN: how do you ban baseball.

JOHN: -SOUNDS REALLY BITTER AND HAUGHTY.-

DAVE: you cant ban baseball

DAVE: baseball lives on in our hearts or some shit

DAVE: you either hit a home run or strike out

DAVE: but seriously i forgot all about queen troll

DAVE: until like now

JOHN: i mean...i'll forgive you, seeing as you had a lot of shit on your plate.

JOHN; ...baseball puns.

JOHN: and i'm really glad you were able to make

JOHN: a home run.

DAVE: ... DAVE: terrible

JOHN: c:

DAVE: how would i have gone another day without your goofy ass

JOHN: -feels the urge to hug him again, but he just leans on him instead.-

JOHN: -what if he just kind of sits on all his friends and protects them.-

JOHN: -crushes them lovingly under his ass.-

JOHN: -would this protect them from the 10 billion things that want to kill, hurt and take them away from him.-

JOHN: -these are the questions.-

DAVE: -lets it happen. He can't get too mushy even if he wants to scoop his best friend up in a hug and just stay like that for ten hours. So that's the most he can do. Let him- who the fuck vacations in minnesota

JOHN: -it's okay dave. he understands strider psychology by now. he knows u love him.-

KANKRI: -Finally walking in after watching that whole exchange.- I think that at least s9me pe9ple must have, at the very least 6ef9re all 9f these redicul9us new take 9ver laws that have 6een implemented. Perhaps they name f9r the scenery.

JOHN: maybe they tried to get out of minnesota but they couldn't, so they made the best of it.

JOHN: -ends up talking at the same time as kankri ???-

KANKRI: -Its like they are linked. Except not.-

KANKRI: -Also he is just going to casually sit on the other side of John.-

KANKRI: What are the tw9 9f y9u up t9?

DAVE: its minnesota

JOHN: talking about minnesota and dancing around the fact that dave adores me.

JOHN: -just sitting there like :)-

KANKRI: Yes it is? And what a69ut it 6eing Minnes9ta makes it less desira6le then anywhere else?

JOHN: i'd say "it's an earthling" thing but

JOHN: i don't think that's a thing anymore.

KANKRI: I d9n't kn9w, I think that there still can 6e "earthling things." 

KANKRI: Whatever they c9nsist 9f anyways.

JOHN: then thinking minnesota is a snowy boring wastleland is probably one of them, to answer your question.

JOHN: although idk this place looks pretty nice.

KANKRI: It has 6een the nicest part 9f earth I have visited s9 far.

KANKRI: Then again I d9nt feel like I have adequate experiences t9 c9mpare it t9...

DAVE: -literally just watching them talk so easily with each other and kankri hasn't even gone on a rant yet-

KANKRI: -That's because he feels like he doesn't really need a lot of words for John to get him.-

[[News of the concert has likely reached the rebellion, and music fills the tunnels, scratchy from radio service. Not too loud, though. The overlanders might hear.]]

[[Even so, it's clear enough for them in their basket. They may have already heard several familiar voices.]]

DAVE: -he's been glued to the radio. damn it. his parents are cute.-

DAVE: -he's not tearing up. he's done so well at not crying this whole time he's DEFINITELY not tearing up-

MITUNA: haha your mom love5 you

DAVE: -FUCK YOU DIRK-

DAVE: she sure as shit does

DAVE: shut up

MITUNA: haha youre loved and 5uppor7ed wha7 a nerd

DAVE: dont you have two girlfriends

DAVE: whos the bigger nerd

MITUNA: don7 you have an en7ire familial ne7work of love and 5uppor7

MITUNA: you

DAVE: whatever

DAVE: -he might be smiling VERY slightly-

HESONY: =He's squished into the corner of this as usual. He can't believe these people would dare draw attention to themselves via CONCERT. They're all insane.=

DAVE: -this has been the highlight of the last three weeks. and he's not stepping away from the radioi anytime soon-

DAVE: -WHY BRO....it means more to him than derek will ever know-

DAVE: -he's amazed yet again like he always is at how amazing of a rapper derek is-

DAVE: -DAMN IT BRUNCLE...thank you...-

HESONY: (.....How many descendants does that guy Have?)

DAVE: youd be surprised

MITUNA: 7heyre like rabbi75 hone57ly

HESONY: ...What are "rabbits"?

MINDFANG: Apparently 8reeding machines. -Chimes in just for that one.-

HESONY: Ah. That makes sense.

DAVE: we expanded all at once i guess

HESONY: You mean to say that you are in a single familial unit with this individual?

DAVE: hes my uncle

DAVE: the guy hes rappin with is my bro D

AVE: my bro as in my dad

HESONY: ......

HESONY: =The translation indicated that "he's my lusus's brother the guy he's rappin with is my brother my brother as in my lusus."=

HESONY: ...

HESONY: Okay.

MITUNA: one i5 hi5 lu5u5 and 7he o7her i5 hi5 lu5u5 bro7her

DAVE: ok just forget everything i said

MICEXA: -She wasn't around for the fuss last night, but she heard enough from Hesony to understand. When she steps into the recovery area, though, she doesn't intend to bring it up. Not only because it's a controversial topic, but because believing what they said has painful implications. They can't go back now; their decisions are set. Terezi is behind them, irretrievable. She has to keep moving forward, for Hesony's sake. For all their sakes. There's no time for tears until the mission is over.-

MICEXA: -She idly unhooks IVs from Mituna and Redglare as instructed, but also because they won't be here after today. They can't afford to delay any longer.-

REDGLARE: -under normal medical circumstances she'd be waiting a lot longer before getting fitted with a prosthetic, and this one isn't a perfect fit at that, but they need to be on the move and Redglare needs to be on her feet, so to speak, so a low-tech replacement leg is attached. She probably can't fight or run, but she can move in a disoriented hobble using her staff as support, but her inability to do much else strenuous is more than a bit frustrating.-

LATULA: -And speaking of preparation, she is getting ready, too. She's one of the least injured, most able-bodied people left in their crew, so she's taking on some full on combat gear, along with a spare energy rifle. The pressure is a little bit nauseating-- especially seeing what that doctor had to do to Mituna's arm-- but that's normal shit, right? She's sort of accepted there's just no getting used to this shit.-

HESONY: =Here I am.... In addition to looking like he hasn't slept all night, his clothes and hair are somewhat more disheveled than usual. After several self-deprecating hours, he's here to deliver individual packs full of necessary survival gear. The contents include food, water, gauze and bandages, a small flashlight, and several matches to name a few. He has even written their names on the packs so no one gets confused!=

MICEXA: -This is UNACCEPTABLE. Once she's done messing with the medical things, she's at his side, fussing with his hair.-

HESONY: =Mumbles something like= We're wanted criminals now, messy Hair is part of the job description. =but he stoops down so she can reach it better=

REDGLARE: -hers is really bad to be fair she looks kinda like she's made up in Gruesome Makeup like they'd put on a model for anti-rebellion propaganda-

MICEXA: -LORD HELP THEM-

MICEXA: You are going to be a smooth criminal today.

MICEXA: I need to give you a trim...

HESONY: =Redglare has a point. We should distribute propaganda of our own. "The Rebel Haircut: only available if youre a traitor to your homeplanet! Join the cause and get it today!"=

HESONY: =sings along under his breath because there are people around= Dang gone it, baby. HESONY: =He turned a little blue in the cheeks and felt out the length=

HESONY: It's not that bad... =it's pretty bad=

MICEXA: Yes, it is. -clucks tongue- I'll snip it before we go.

HESONY: =He nodded and gave her a quick hug before moving to place Latula and Redglare's packs beside them.= We'll be Heading out tonight. We Have more supplies than this, but it's just a precaution. In the event we get separated, at least you'll Have a chance out there.

LATULA: y34h ok4y gotch4 dud3. you got 4ny sort4 sh1t th4t m1ght b3 l1k3 4ll th3 cr4p you took from us or 1s th1s just l1k3 food 4nd b4llz.

HESONY: Everything taken by us personally Has been returned. As for everything else, take it up with the rest of the League.

HESONY: We did not think it prudent to pickpocket for your personal belongings as we decided winter clothes better suited your immediate needs.

HESONY: Next time, we'll reconsider these priorities. :)

LATULA: BRUH 1 KNOW YOU W3R3 H4TCH3D W1TH 4 ST1CK UP YOUR 4SS BUT YOU C4N TOT3Z NOT R1GHT NOW.

LATULA: th4tz W4Y 4n opt1on rn.

LATULA: b3ds1d3z 1 h4d som3 us3ful sh1z but wh4t3vz.

HESONY: =shrug= Sorry... =his eyes flicked downward=

HESONY: Didn't get much more than the essentials.

HESONY: We Had to leave in a bit of a Hurry.

LATULA: ...41ght soz. gu3ss th4tz th4t. -its ALL gonna be on foot for her. dang.-

[[ Meanwhile, some legislacerator is having a grand ol time nyooming around on Latula's board. ]]

DAELOS: - The body has since been placed in his sylladex for safe keeping, but the fur she was wrapped in is still in his lap. He watches the terrain pass by wordlessly, only dimly aware that a long, cold night has become morning. His face is slack and his eyes hollow. -

HESONY: =it’s not healthy to hang onto a dead body like that, man :/ =

ARANEA: -we can pretend she was responding to this properly as it was happening…-

ARANEA: -normally under circumstances like this, empathy doesn’t come naturally to her, only painfully vicarious. but this was different. the sickness, the heartache watching these two has had her in tears countless times even after nyalah passed.-

ARANEA: -she knows it’s selfish to want to reach across the space between her and daelos so she may take away the pain he’s experiencing right now. she knows she’s capable. but it’d be wrong to deny him his mourning, wouldn’t it? she wipes away at the wetness pooling in her eyes again, unsure of what to turn her own attention towards.-

MITUNA: -Still fucking passed out. Maybe he’s next. Except not really. His head is in Latula’s lap-

HESONY: =Sparky, your arm almost looks like mine did: a limp noodle. The parallels happening are hilarious! Except they’re not.=

MITUNA: -He needs major medical attention. This arm is setting incorrectly-

HESONY: =MMMOMYGOD=

MITUNA: -Redglare lost a fucking leg. We all need major medical attention-

HESONY: =HE’S AWARE. And also a little nervous.=

KARKAT: =Is he nervous because Karkat doesn’t sleep and spends his waking moments staring at him when he can do so without lunging across the truck?=

DAVE: -down boy-

HESONY: =jfc…..=

HESONY: =….yes, that might be one reason. Just try it, fish stick!=

KARKAT: =No. But fine.=

KARKAT: =Don’t tempt him.=

HESONY: =What are you going to do, boy? Sneeze on me?=

KARKAT: =More like eat your face=

HESONY: =if you can even get to my face=

KARKAT: =One word: Kneecaps.=

HESONY: =I’ll hold you by the scruff at arm’s length, I swear I will=

KARKAT: =Hope you like having no hands=

MICEXA: -CHILDREN I WILL TURN THIS FUCKTRUCK AROUND-

HESONY: =But Miiiiiiss! He’s looking at me funny!=

DAVE: -is terezi’s old communicator within reach-

[[ Anyone can borrow this! ]]

DAVE: -now that his concussion is no longer life threatening, he was actually able to sleep for probably a good hour drooling on karkat.-

KARKAT: =That’s ok, he’s fine with that=

DAVE: -opens eyes suddenly HES AWAKE-

HESONY: How’re you Holding up, Squishy?

DAVE: -squints at hesony- who the fuck are you talking to

HESONY: To you, Squishy the Human.

DAVE: what a dumbass name

DAVE: what is this adventure time

DAVE: except a shitty version of adventure time where everyone sucks

HESONY: Is this you volunteering yourself as the mascot?DAVE: a mascot

DAVE: what is this sportsball

HESONY: Yes. It is exactly sportsball.

HESONY: The Expunger is the player and we are the ball, trying to gtfo fast enough where we won’t get our asses kicked into our throats.

DAVE: shes not the player shes the season ending injuries

HESONY: Career ending, you mean. =he scoffed, a hint of laughter at the sides of his lips=

DAVE: -this guy is no longer dying. is he dizzy? yes. is he shivering? yes. that's good. do his fingers and toes look relatively normal now? yes. suffering maybe, but not dying. hell no. NOT TODAY.-

[[ That's the spirit! ]]

[[The blizzard still raged overhead. This is sure a hell of a storm. ]]

REDGLARE: -she has been SLOWLY circumventing the radius of the cave, looking for exits. Wherever and whatever they may be...-

DAVE: -watching redglare as she goes around. ENTERTAINMENT-

MITUNA: -He's been alternating, maintaining the "ceiling" and dumping the snow elsewhere. As of now, he rests.-

LATULA: -RUBBING HIS HEAD-

[[ With thorough searching, time, and scruitiny, Redglare may be able to hear a hollow sound over the snowstorm overhead. It sounds akin to wind being pulled through a tunnel. ]]

[[ A wind tunnel, so to speak. ]]

REDGLARE: -She's been dragging a little rock along, scraping the floor so she'll have a line back. She attempts to put her arm through the windy wind tunnel. JUST SORTA FEEL AROUND OUT THERE-

KARKAT: =watches this and stays huddled with Dave.=

DAVE: what is she doing

[[ It's not so much a tunnel yet as it's a hole the size of a dime. By placing her hand up to it, Redglare can feel a coolness against her hand. ]]

REDGLARE: -hm. Some more testing. She takes the sharp rock and begins to attempt to dig around the hole, trying to feel if the surrounding area is soft enough to make it a little bigger.-

DAVE: i hope thats a sharpies pick of a rock

ARANEA: -watches redglare also. by this point she's huddling with daelos again.-

DAVE: if were gonna be diggin our way to minnesota

REDGLARE: -she can't really hear them but she's vaguely aware of the fact that she's being watched. Not that it matters too much to her.-

[[ Success! It breaks away bit by glorious bit until the soil falls away, falling down from the larger rocks littering the base to the floor. Come to think of it, this area actually appears to look like it had been a cave-in at one point. The hole has now grown big enough for Redglare to stick her head through. ]]

KARKAT: =That seems. Like a bad idea. Sticking heads in random holes=

DAVE: thats gotta be a glory hole for a giant dick

KARKAT: Stop talking about dicks, Dave.

ARANEA: 😒

REDGLARE: -2 bad she doesn't really have any source of light... sticking her head through is something she WON'T Do. instead she's gonna stick her arm through and feel around a little.-

DAVE: -DONT DO THAT HAVE YOU SEEN AMERICAN HORROR STORY ASYLUM WHERE ADAM LEVINE STICKS HIS HAND SOMEWHERE AND IT GETS EATEN-

[[ CHOMP! Nah, jk. ]]

KARKAT: =Wow. SPOILERS=

[[ It's chilly where Redglare's arm has decided to be. But the other side is hollow. Any amount of flapping around will only pass through empty air. ]]

REDGLARE: -She's trying to find the floor, if any exists. Does this simply open to some kind of chasm?-

DAVE: -IT HAPPENS IN THE FIRST EPISODE HE DIES RIGHT AWAY-

KARKAT: =Maybe he's still on season 1 or something!=

[[ With effort, her fingers brush something on the other side. It feels like gravel and loose soil, much like what has fallen to the ground on her side. The ground feels like it might be gently sloping downward. ]]

REDGLARE: -She pulls her arm out. It's dusty and covered in dirt and her fingers are a little achy, but she raises her arm and gestures towards the group.-

KARKAT: What is it? I'm hoping you're about to say "a hot spring".

REDGLARE: -Shakes her head. She does a sign for 'wind' and 'down'. Not much ELSE than that, but she can barely see over here.-

DAVE: maybe some clothes

KARKAT: Some place down.... hang on. =Rubs Dave's shoulders and scoots him close to the fire then goes to see what Redglare means and it already feels cooler... but probably because there's no fire on the other end=

KARKAT: Should dig it out you think?

REDGLARE: -NODS-

KARKAT: Alright. =He starts to dig his claws in to try and widen the hole more. Haha good thing it's not all collapsing on them!=

DAVE: careful of the dick

KARKAT: =Sighs.....= Dick just... comforts him. For some reason. =Says to Redglare, or to himself=

REDGLARE: -LISTEN SHE'S JUST SURE THERE'S SOMETHING OUT THERE. Maybe even... THE OUTSIDE?

KARKAT: =Okay but the outside is.... very not great=

[[ The winds howls above, reminding them of the shitty storm still in progress. ]]

KARKAT: =The outside is very not great=

REDGLARE: -well she's not gonna stop unless someone stops her-

REDGLARE: -that's for certain-

[[ With Karkat's help, much of the gravel and slightly larger stones have been moved aside. All that is left now are the larger rocks. There are some the size of their fists and some the size of bowling balls. Down at the very bottom by their feet, there one particularly large one that may need at 2-3 people to move. ]]

[[ But progress is progress and for now they are MAKING some. ]]

KARKAT: =Maybe he can use this dirt and gravel to bury his matesprit, oh wait he doesn't have her body and trolls don't do that haha. Claws out more gravel and dirt, just keeps working=

REDGLARE: -WORK THROUGH THE PAIN. She's going for the big rock and gestures at Karkat.-

REDGLARE: -C'MON-

DAVE: -going to carefully...push...himself up. oooowwwwwwwwwww. USE. YOUR ARMS. DAVE.-

KARKAT: =YOU LAY BACK DOWN, but he's coming Redglare lets get this BIG ROCK.=

REDGLARE: -She is doing her best to get har arms around it, shoving her body weight and attempting to roll it out of the way a little at a time.-

[[ It doesn't roll so much as slide. There is an extended grinding sound as it's moved about an inch. ]]

DAVE: -OH GOD HIS LEGS ARE NUMB SHIT SHIT SHIT okay they're fine now. he's actually managing to stand and it makes him incredibly dizzy and now his HEAD is screaming with pain. but at least the frostbite's gone. he wants to see what they're doing. give him a second. he's basically a turtle with this back sitch-

KARKAT: =DAVE HE SWEARS TO GOD and also huffs a little trying to drag this rock up and out of the way. The grinding sound is annoying and defeats the purpose of them having to be quiet but it's GOTTA GO=

REDGLARE: -YEAH. they might need stuff on the other side. Like more rocks, or plants. Or mushrooms?-

ARANEA: -dave you fucking fuck. hisses a little at him.- (Don't hurt yourself...)

DAVE: what am i gonna do die in this cave DAVE: no thanks -he's walking pretty funny to try to avoid further injuring himself, and he's still dizzy so it takes intense focus to head in the right direction-

[[ Little by little the rock is moved away, grinding along as it's pushed. The dirt the rock had been holding up near the sides shifted, raining down small particles over the entrance they've created, but their work seems to hold. There doesn't appear to be another cave-in happening today. ]]

REDGLARE: -oh hey it feels like her leg is on fire. and bleeding again. She inhales a sharp breath as it finally, after so much effort, gives way to a reasonably-sized opening.-

[[ Well done everyone!! ]]

[[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi4jKa6jaek ]]

KARKAT: =Huzah.=

KARKAT: =Now what the heck is in here?=

REDGLARE: -hm. She takes a rock and then she just. GENTLY ROLLS IT DOWN. see how far it goes and whether it makes a sound...-

[[ It's large enough to crawl through, even for Daelos, but they will have to crawl. The hollow, airy sound Redglare heard before is much louder now. The rock disappears through the hole, rolling for a second or two before seemingly stopping. There is nothing but darkness beyond. You'll need a light source to proceed. ]]

ARANEA: -wobbly follows after dave-

KARKAT: =Someone snap Mituna like a glowstick=

REDGLARE: -DO NOT SNAP MITUNA-

DAVE: -did someone ask for sick fires-

KARKAT: =Sick fires not a sick human.... eyeballs Dave= Sit down...

DAVE: why

KARKAT: Because you look like shit, which coming from me doesn't mean much butif you look at everyone comparatively you look like shit.

REDGLARE: -signs. HAVE LIGHT? It's a long shot.-

DAVE: thats cuz im the only human and not a troll

DAVE: no light

KARKAT: No. I'm sure if we had a seadweller that wasn't a mutant freak then they'd be fucked too. =He looks to the fire=

KARKAT: We can use one of the smaller pieces of wood... not the best idea but it's all we got for now.

ARANEA: -NO LIGHT NO LIGHT IN YOUR BRIGHT BLUE EYES I NEVER KNEW DAYLIGHT COULD BE SO VIOLENT-

DAVE: -too bad my eyes are red-

KARKAT: =He's also thinking about dicks right now so=

REDGLARE: -THIS WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM IF LIGHT WEREN'T SO FUCKING METAPHORICAL!!! stupid paradox space-

[[ The cave waits... seductive and windy. ]]

KARKAT: =Don't...... and he also goes to get a stick..... a log..... a stog from the fire= Alright. Let's hope nothing in there is hungry.

REDGLARE: -frowns, slightly. It's windy. It may not last... but she's not voicing any of those issues. She just nods.-

DAVE: -steps backward because from what he can feel...that's another one way trip to frostbite land-

REDGLARE: -She's going to go in first, getting low to the ground and gradually shimmying down the slope. Just in case.-

[[ Once on the other side, Redglare finds she is able to stand. What light their stog gives illuminates off of the walls of the cave, showing there is much more to the other side than they thought - it is a series of caverns, leading downwards and deeper with no presumable end in sight, far larger than the pitfall into which they were lowered. ]]

KARKAT: =Good, he nods to Dave= We'll be back. =He follows Redglare trying his best to sheild the fire at least a li-- oh= Fuck.

REDGLARE: -Frowns. But then, that's why she's been marking the floors. Now she's going to start marking the walls, too.-

REDGLARE: (3v3ry tr1p m4k3 4 n3w l1n3. know wh4t to follow b4ck.)

DAVE: you better -without much of anything else to say...he very carefully....tries to sit down...-

KARKAT: =Nods at her instructions=

REDGLARE: -BASIC MAZE RULES-- follow the left wall.-

REDGLARE: -that is to say that's what she's doing there. Slow and a bit overly cautious-- or, at least, masking the pain from walking with caution.-

KARKAT: =Would she prefer he piggyback her?=

KARKAT: =To be fair... her leg is pretty gross bad=

REDGLARE: -...SHE WOULD NOT PREFER THAT OK-

REDGLARE: -She takes a deep breath of the air as they go, glancing back at Karkat with the fire.- (how th3 h3ll d1d th3y f1nd th1s pl4c3?)

[[ Meanwhile, in the original skylight cave where everyone else is, howling of a different kind can be heard mixing with the howling of wind from above, along with distant snarls. ]]

DAVE: -furrows his eyebrows and looks at aranea- (what was that)

[[ Redglare and Karkat are quite ambitious for undertaking such a task, but it must be done. It is much quieter in here and their soft voices seem to penetrate the silence. There is nothing but gentle drip dripping sounds from stalactites onto the cave floor. For now. ]]

KARKAT: (Some bullshit asshole luck I'm sure....) =He looks around the place following Redglare and wishing he had some kind of weapon on him at least=

REDGLARE: -well there ARE stalagmites.-

REDGLARE: -she eyes them. fuck u thousands of years of gelogical development they gotta survive-

KARKAT: =True.....=

REDGLARE: -she pauses at all the drip-dripping...-

REDGLARE: (could dr1ng 1t. 1n drops.)

KARKAT: (Could be piss, or bacteria infected.... we don't have anything to boil it in)

REDGLARE: (w3 don't h4v3 4nyth1ng. cl34n w4t3r, 31th3r.) -she continues to walk...-

KARKAT: (True... guess we can't be picky.) =Follows her and keeps the fire sheilded from winds=

[[ There is the occasional flapping of wings and high-pitched chittering that grows louder with their approach. Seems like bats live in here too. ]]

[[ More soft animalistic noises can be heard, little chunks of snow falling from the hole... And then, suddenly, something much larger, flailing in the air before hitting the ground with a crack. ]]

REDGLARE: -She flinches at the sound of the... thing. That crack sounded pretty sickly.-

REDGLARE: -She takes a step towards the noise.-

KARKAT: =Oh.... fucking...... christ. He puts his hand on-- oh=

KARKAT: =Oh fuck. Not that he knows=

KARKAT: =Wait, FUCK BATS.... fuck off bats=

DAVE: -startles and- (FUCK ) -not good for the back. this old man. he tries to move himself backwards as much as he can while he figures out what this thing is-

REDGLARE: -oh ok nevermind that then. She's seen enough about earth bats-- they're not really all that scary, compared to echobeasts. They don't prey on humans.-

MINDFANG: -She had been trying to sleep when whatever the hell it is crashed into the cave floor.-

MINDFANG: (Hhhn-the fuck--??)

[[ Blood pools around it on the ground from what they can see. It's furry. A wolf. ]]

MINDFANG: -What is it DOING down here though.-

MINDFANG: -She squints and slowly, stiffly, makes it onto her feet.-

KARKAT: =.....But they aren't humans. aaaaaaaaaaaaaa not really=

[[ It fell from the hole. Oops?? ]]

REDGLARE: -AAAAAA!!!-

MINDFANG: -Then its a dumb animal.-

MINDFANG: -Shes moving towards the fallen wolf to investigate. It is dead right?-

[[ No need to scream. These bats are harmless and they're more afraid of these large creatures invading their home than you are of them. ]]

DAVE: (what the fuck what the fuck)

KARKAT: =He wants to eat them..... but will leave them alone. For now=

[[ It's not moving currently. Blood continues to spread around it. ]]

[[ If a bat could speak, it would likely say, "You gotta reach us first. Fool." ]]

KARKAT: =That sounds like a challenge you little shit=

REDGLARE: -MAYBE THEY COULD DISCOVER BAT TRAPS. Just like don't starved. And SPEAKING of don't starved, she's going to get a big chunk of Better Rock from one of these stalagmites.-

MINDFANG: -That is not a direct answer.-

MINDFANG: -Shes keeping a small amount of distance then for now. Is there any obvious injury to it besides the whole falling stories thing?-

[[ It's a little too shadowy to tell completely what its injuries are. But before she can get too close, it starts moving again, twitching at first. ]]

MINDFANG: -JUMPS BACK, her metal fist is raised just in case. She can punch really hard with this robot arm, Wolf, just TRY IT.-

KARKAT: =Good, he'll just man the light for now as they continue down this path=

DAVE: (dont move)

[[ It squirms, twitching still, and there's soft cracks and crunches as it limps to its feet, blood still dripping down its fur. ]]

MINDFANG: -Dang, that sounds painful. She grimaces at the noises its body makes.- MINDFANG: (Its alive........ For now.) -Shes not taking her eyes off it.-

DAVE: -he's frozen. being here with a wolf is such a bad idea. no use running cuz that sure as hell isn't going to happen. WATCHES. QUIETLY-

MINDFANG: -Dont worry squishy human, she will protect you.-

DAVE: -thanks...-

[[ It limps closer, dripping. It seems to be approaching toward the direction of the people and the fire. ]]

DAVE: nice dog

DAVE: wolf

DAVE: i have a wife thats kind of a part robot dog

DAVE: maybe you know her i dont know

DAVE: from canine school

REDGLARE: -THE VAGUEST FEELING SOMETHING MAY BE GOING WRONG SOMEWHERE-

MINDFANG: -If it really is getting closer, shes not going to allow it. She picks up the nearest rock and whips it at the over grown puppy.-

REDGLARE: -she sucked the moisture off the stalagmite she broke off. it probably tastes bad...-

KARKAT: =Same...=

KARKAT: =He's jealous and disgusted=

[[ The rock bounces off of it, and it pauses only a moment before it keeps moving. ]]

[[ The bats chittering become louder and their squirming becomes more restless. Suddenly, the bats take off, flying deeper into the cave. ]]

DAVE: (DONT)

REDGLARE: -She flinches.-

REDGLARE: ...

REDGLARE: -Then she starts to back up.-

REDGLARE: (b4ck.)

MINDFANG: -Damn, shes grabbing another rock, this one is much larger.-

MINDFANG: (What is Your suggestion for what we should do then??) -She hisses at him without looking away from the animal.-

DAVE: (wait because its not attacking)

KARKAT: =Oh.... She doesn't need to tell him twice, he just. Puts his hand on her shoulder to guide her as they back track slowly.... nope. NAH=

MINDFANG: (So is your theory to w8 until it does??)

DAVE: (its really hurt tho thats the thing) -carefully extends hand toward wolf-

REDGLARE: -YEAH NAH. if the bats don't wanna deal SHE DOESN'T WANNA DEAL NEITHER-

REDGLARE: -brandishing this big rock-

MINDFANG: -Dave you are going to lose that hand.-

[[ The closer it gets to the firelight, the more they'll seem to see something strange about this wolf. At first it might be interpreted as bone and organs sticking out, but the longer they look, the more it seems to have some sort of... biowiring device on its back. ]]

DAVE: ...

MINDFANG: -That is arguably worse then bones and organs.-

MINDFANG: ..........

[[ With a gurgle, it opens its bloody mouth and snaps for Dave's hand. ]]

MINDFANG: -At the snap she is throwing the second rock, right at its face.-

DAVE: -RETRACTS HAND- (shit)

DAVE: (shit shit shit)

MINDFANG: Move 8ack!

DAVE: -in his attempt to move backward, something...doesn't sound right in his back at all. he just FUCKED SOMETHIN UP REAL GOOD- FUCK

[[ It's hit with a thunk, but the wolf doesn't seem deterred. Much like it isn't noticing much of anything they do. ]]

MINDFANG: -DAVE YOU USELESS HUMAN.-

MINDFANG: -Seeing how the youngest strider seems indisposed, she rushes to get between him and the wolf.-

MINDFANG: -Shes going to punch it right in the doggy snoot.-

DAVE: -he can work with LEG INJURIES AND FOOT INJURIES AND HAND INJURIES but THIS BULLSHIT IS STUPID-

[[ Redglare and Karkat can now hear distinct sounds of struggle and alarm from their "camp" back in the pitfall. ]]

[[ DOOF. It flies and rolls back a few feet over the ground, but it twitches back onto its feet within a few moments. ]]

KARKAT: !! =Okay, he's not going to make her run but he is going to kind of hoist her a little to get some support off her bad leg= (Fuck we have to go back!)

MINDFANG: -!!!??!-

MINDFANG: -Shes staying between it and Dave.-

REDGLARE: -!

REDGLARE: -IS HOIST-

REDGLARE: -she's not arguing but HECK-

DAVE: -got his dukes up just in case-

MINDFANG: Is this normal for earth canines? -Shes pretty sure it shouldnt be.-

DAVE: no

DAVE: no its not

KARKAT: =RUNS BACK... Well. Goes back quickly, here they come bustin in on the scene=

MINDFANG: -Thats just disturbing.-

MINDFANG: -She hisses and advances on the wolf. No sense in giving it a chance to get the first move in on them especially since they have no real weapons.-

MINDFANG: -Here comes her strong fist to its skull again.-

REDGLARE: Wh-

REDGLARE: -what the fuck???-

MINDFANG: -Hey Redglare watch her punch this wolf!-

KARKAT: =WHY, but also kill it=

REDGLARE: -SHE'S NOT YOUR MOM JEEZE-

[[ THUNK. This time it's another sickening crunch, but even bloodied and misshapen, it still tries to struggle up. It appears brain damage does not deter the beast. ]]

MINDFANG: -WITNESS HER.-

MINDFANG: -ALSO GROSS.-

REDGLARE: Wh3r3 d1d th4t com3 from? -She pulls away from Karkat. SHE'S GOT A SHARP ROCK CLUB-

MINDFANG: -Shes not giving up, she will punch it as many times as it takes.-

MINDFANG: -But yeah please get over here quick with that rock club.-

REDGLARE: -She aims it at its back-- pointy end down as hard as she can, to get it between the neck and shoulderblades.-

MINDFANG: -Quickly moves back for Redglare to do her thing.-

[[ Just around the time Redglare aims, something jumps from the wolf and onto Mindfang's metal arm. It's the biowire device, looking like some kind of insectoid creature with dangerous spaghetti wires hanging from it. ]]

[[ The wolf's body collapses in a heap to the stone. ]]

MINDFANG: -UM NO-

DAVE: -oh...my god...-

KARKAT:= WTF=

REDGLARE: -that... wasn't effective in the way it should be. She turns sharply.-

MINDFANG: -The second she sees it she is going into a frenzy to brush it off, get it off, anything.- MINDFANG: Wh8t the SHIT!!

[[ IT GOES FOR A CRAZY BUCKING BRONCO RIDE ON MINDFANG, but it seems like it's trying to crawl onto the rest of her. ]]

REDGLARE: Th3y.

REDGLARE: sh3 w4rn3d m3 to b3 qu13t.

REDGLARE: Som3th1ng would h34r us.

REDGLARE: th1s must b3 1t.

MINDFANG: -She is going to try and grab it with her normal hand and rip it off her. Nope. N O PE.-

DAVE: -IT SUCKS BEING HELPLESS!!!!!!-

DAELOS: - It takes him a while to drag himself to her huffing and puffing, but when he gets to Mindfang he attempts to slap both hands together, intending to squash the creature between them-

[[ It squish crunches grossly, and maybe stabs Daelos' hands a little bit. It twitches for a few moments before going limp. ]]

MINDFANG: -That is disgusting, that was ON her.-

MINDFANG: -She is turning and putting distance between herself and Daelos while she wipes off her metal arm just to get the feeling of it trying to crawl up her away.-

MINDFANG: (What the F8CK!)

KARKAT: What the fuck even happened?

[[ Shenanigans. ]]

DAVE: someones gotta be controlling that right

MINDFANG: -INDEED. Excuse her while she wheezes and tries not to keel over from the ache of her ribs coming back full force now that the rush of danger is gone.-

MINDFANG: (It fell. Through.)

DAVE: (the wolf)

KARKAT: It... God.

REDGLARE: -exhales.-

REDGLARE: ...th3r3's prob4bly mor3.

MINDFANG: Gr8. Splendid.

REDGLARE: d1d 1t hurt you?

KARKAT: So, what? We go fucking spelunking?

MINDFANG: Me? No. It didnt do anything. Asides from try and infect me with its 8ioware parasite.

[[ Past the roar of the storm, they hear the far off howls of the pack, followed by pained yips, then a terrible silence. Eventually, the howls resume, sounding different than before as though a wolf didn't know how to wolf. As though the biotech itself were recreating the sounds. ]]

MINDFANG: ...... -Thats not a comforting sound.-

KARKAT: Alright. Let's go spelunking.

REDGLARE: -She nods.-

DAVE: did you guys find anything like anywhere we could head to get out of this place

REDGLARE: Th3 c4v3s 4r3 3normous.

REDGLARE: But th1s 1s th3 only 3ntr4nc3.

REDGLARE: -she looks up at the hole...-

KARKAT: And there's bats.

MINDFANG: Quite frankly I will t8ke 8ats over more of those Things.

DAVE: are they attack bats DAVE: cuz if theyre attack bats that are trying to kill us then no DAVE: but if theyre normal bats idgaf

KARKAT: Great, let's go. =reaches for dave=

DAVE: about that

DAVE: i fucked up my back trying to get away from that wolf because im apparently useless

MINDFANG: -Good going Strider.-

KARKAT: You're not useless. You got the shit kicked out of you now come here. Let me try to pick you up. ..how bad is it?

DAVE: in medical terms

DAVE: not great

KARKAT: Then we'll. ...fix it down there maybe we'll find some underground grove. =here comes him=

DAVE: yeah and we can like use a stick to fight

KARKAT: Or rocks. =stoops to gently lift=

DAVE: slingshots good idea

KARKAT: =hoists, time to go into the hole=

DAVE: -here we go-

REDGLARE: -SHE'S STILL GOT A ROCK-

REDGLARE: >;I

[[ They can brave the caverns ahead or maybe possibly die in the pitfall behind them. The strange howls are drawing ever nearer. ]]

DAVE: -ANDALE-