Zayla Eternal

Paralyzing Swamp Monster!? The Fall Of Bodoku...!?

"So..." Seth, Bodoku and Tidus glanced down at Tanjiro, "we just gonna not talk about that fact that Zayla's been silent ever since we've started heading to the city she was born in?" "She needs to be alone", Bodoku replied flatly. Tanjiro snorted, "dude, the last thing she needs is to be alone", he walked up beside Zayla, "hey Zee, what's up?" "I need to be alone right now Tanjiro". "Right, right... backing up..." he slowed down, "so I guess she wanted to be alone...go ahead, you can say it". Bodoku sighed slightly, "I'm not a child". "It'll feel good" "I told you so". Tidus couldn't help smiling. Seth frowned, "I have never been out of the Lucious complex before, I have to say I am feeling something- like bugs are crawling inside my belly..." "The correct expression would be you have butterflies in your stomach", Tidus mentioned. Seth touched his tummy and looked down at it, "I-I have butterflies inside me...?" The three stared at him, before Tanjiro replied, "no... no you don't, it's a figure of speech or something ya know?" "It means you are nervous", Bodoku finished. Seth looked at them all and blinked, "is that a good thing?" Tidus and Tanjiro shrugged, "hey when you're nervous, you're nervous you can't help it". Bodoku stared ahead at Zayla as she continued to walk without a word. "Worried about her?" Tidus asked. "Uh... yes". "Why don't you go and talk to her then, I'm sure she won't mind if you do it", he smiled a little to raunchy for Bodoku's taste. "What's wrong with you? What do you mean?" "I mean obviously you two like each other right?" "Huh!?" Tanjiro looked at Bodoku, "YOU DO!?" Bodoku sighed, "you've got it wrong, we're just friends". "Your red cheeks say different huh? Remember that kiss, when you gave that excuse?" "Tidus. I'm warning you to stop..." "Okay I will, but you know it's true, she didn't just kiss you because she was out of it-" "I always thought Tonton was a good match for him to be honest..." Tanjiro interrupted. "That's because you fancy Zayla", Tidus laughed putting his arm around his shoulders and ruffling his hair. "Ah shut up! You like her too". "Indeed, googly eyes was it?" Seth added, making Tanjiro chuckled and shove Tidus off. "Never. Call me that. Again", Tidus warned making Seth look at him curiously. Bodoku sighed, "that's enough, stop acting like children". They looked forward hearing a giggle from Zayla, she glanced back, "seriously guys I can hear every word! So you all have a crush on me?" Tidus cleared his throat and looked away, Tanjiro readjusted his collar. Seth felt his cheeks burn, "what is this strange feeling...?" he muttered quietly. Bodoku smiled slightly happy to see she had made the others uncomfortable, then he looked ahead locking eyes with Zayla. He tensed and involuntarily gulped making her blush and laugh, "I'm glad you guys are here". She stopped and faced them, "And I'm really grateful that you're all helping me... I don't know if I could go back if you weren't with me..." "Ah shucks Zee you're gonna make me blush!" Tanjiro said. "You're already blushing!" Tidus laughed. Bodoku took her hand, "Zayla, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else than by your side..." he tensed feeling eyes on him as she practically beamed up at him. She shoved him, "oh you! Stop playing with me Bodoku!" He gave a small confused smile, "oh uh... yeah heheh..." "So anyway-" Zayla continued, "I may have been born in Zanaria but I don't exactly know the way..." "You must have a sixth sense or something then because this is the right way", Tanjiro cut in. They continued walking, "Tanjiro, you've been to Zanaria before?" Bodoku asked. His eyes darted away from the group, "uh yeah... at least I sort of remember being held there, it's where I escaped from... I-" "Speak no more if it", Bodoku quickly interrupted, "I only ask, if you have information that will help us reach the lab, then give us as much detail as you can", he requested. Tanjiro slouched with relief, "uh thanks... I will". Bodoku gave a nod, "how far is Zanaria?" He asked. Tanjiro looked up, "it's not too far but we will have to pass through the swamps and we can't rest there, because at night... the swamp monster comes out!" Tidus gulped, "s-swamp monster?" "Yep and it's suuuper creepy..." "Surely you are messing with him", Seth mentioned as a bead of sweat rolled down his own face, "right?" He looked expectantly at Tanjiro, as did Zayla and Tidus. Bodoku sighed crossing his arms as they continued to walk. "During the day in the swamp, a weird scent fills the air, a scent so weird but sweet that it makes you want to fall asleep. So you succumb to your instincts drifting off until nighttime and that's when..." Tidus, Zayla and even Seth leaned in closer, "it comes out to eat you". "What does?" Zayla asked. "Don't indulge him..." Bodoku said shaking his head, Zayla tapped his arm, "shush!" He frowned not saying another word. Tanjiro continued, "a creature so vile the mere sight of the flesh eating monster makes you want to wretch your guts up! It's scent so disgusting you'll want to kill yourself to escape the smell! It's paralyzing spikes so sharp your body basically shuts down after just moments of being hit by one, it's as if you've been poisoned and it slowly ceases your movements then eventually stops your heart, but if it doesn't the beast will eat you alive! The creature is called the Unon king of the Limfo Swamp!" Bodoku grunted as the others made a 'ooo' sound, "seriously, no such thing exists, quit messing with them Tanjiro". "I'm not messing!" Tanjiro insisted. "Well it sounds like a fable, I mean how do you know what it looks and smells like, have you seen it?" "Yeahuh". Bodoku raised a brow at him, "really? What does it look like then?" "Well I can't quite remember that part because it was so dark, but it tried to take me in the night. I woke up and some slimy thing had wrapped around my ankle and started to drag me away, lucky for me Yena was there, she cut me loose and we ran as fast as we could". Bodoku looked him in the eye, "if you say so". "You still don't believe me do you?" "I'll believe it when I see it kid". "I don't wanna see it!" Tidus cried. "Well it's the only way to Zanaria right?" Zayla asked, Tanjiro nodded, "then I guess we'll have to walk fast and hold our noses", she chuckled skipping ahead. Seth shrugged as Tidus looked at him.