Traum von Asterhive

The Spa

The Asterhive Spa was less of a spa and more of a tropical paradise. An artificial tropical paradise mind you, but still beautiful.

The long white strip of beach seemed to stretch along forever. It was dotted with palm and coconut trees and striped beach chairs. As you walked along it, you came upon a familiar figure.

"Mom?" you asked.

The sleeping woman's eyes fluttered open. "Sweetie!"

She shot up and hugged you.

"Mom," you said. "What are you doing here?"

"Well after your brothers told us about the raccoon flu, everyone sort of migrated here. It seems to have been the right choice."

So you've been here relaxing while people have been running for their lives outside? you wanted to scream.

"Glad to see you again, Mom," you said, plastering a smile to your face.

"Glad to see you too, sweetie. Oh, the others should be somewhere deeper in. Say hi to your dad for me."

"Sure," you said, and began walking.

Maybe you should've asked her why she was there, or why she was so calm, or where home was. You didn't think that you'd get anything meaningful out of it though.

You were still wearing your sneakers, and your footprints left dirt marks all over the perfect white sand of the spa. You were kinda glad they did. Let them see the filth they were ignoring.

You didn't find anything or anyone. Just the occasional service robot offering food and drinks. You ignored them and trudged on.

At a length, you came to an elevator. To the Viewing Deck it said. Maybe it would help you with finding other people. At the very least, you could watch out for danger and relay it to the stuffed animals people and the others.

You clenched your fist and shadows slipped out of it.

"Oh, sorry Knight, forgot you were there," you apologized.

Knight just turned into a fox and licked your hand. You glanced at your palm. It was perfectly healed.

"Thanks," you said.

Knight rubbed against your ankles then turned to the false sea. You must have been walking for a while- the perfect blue sky had turned into a perfect starry night.

Perfect, but fake nonetheless.

Knight padded towards the glimmering water.

You followed him, hands in your pockets. "Where are you going, buddy?"

The shadow stopped at the sea's edge. He stared into the distance, and shifted. For a moment, the silhouette was bigger, more defined, almost human. Then he spasmed back into a fox.

Knight drooped.

"Do you think he's somewhere here? Your owner?" There were false islands in the spa, after all, scattered sandbars breaking through the pristine blue.

Knight seemed to shrug. He continued gazing into the distance. You sat down on the fine sand beside him and leaned against the shadow. You two stay there for a moment in silence, then Knight buries his face in the crook of your neck. You giggle at his wispy fur.

"Let's go up, yeah?" you said, scratching behind his ears. "Maybe we'll see something up there."

Knight made a hopeful sort of sound as you stood, and you boarded the elevator together.