Mystery far below us

(10) A wet greeting

Summary: The best way to deal with Tommy right now is to give in, right? So they cross the river.

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The walk down the river was even longer than expected, but no matter what, even when they were starving, Tommy still wouldnt change their mind. Ranboo even teleported them all a few times forward, yet there seems to be no way of safely crossing. "Alright. Tommy. If we keep walking, we're going to pass out, or starve-" Tommy did not take any notice of Tubbo's words. "Tommy, listen to me." Nothing comes to response. "fine. This may sound stupid, but if youre not going to stop, I guess we're going to have to cross it anyway. Now. Or else, like I said, we'll die just walking much further." Now that made Tommy stop, and turn, the tails swinging kind of excitingly. Ranboo, on the other hand, was not as excited, making themselves small, and slowly stepping away from the other two "Hey, Ranboo, are you alright?" The tall creatures eyes glance dont share those of the smaller two, but the waves. No response comes. He didn't want to ignore the tall creature, but they needed to act now, or else Tommy won't leave them a break. "I'll cross first, with Tommy." he grabbed the small creature, it's tails swinging around his torso and staying surprisingly calm. Tubbo looked a little away from it, since it's glow was strong and blinding. He stepped forward, into the water, the waves being low and only catching his ankle. It was safe on this point, hopefully, the rest of the way was also not that deep.

He safely crossed the river, the bottom was solid and not too smooth, so you can get a good stand on it. He dropped Tommy softly on the other side, his old dirty clothes wet, but they were so dirty that you couldn't tell. He took deep breaths, it was exhausting, and then looked at the other side of the river. "Ranboo? It's good, come one!" But the other didnt move, only stared at the intimidating waves infront of them. "Ranboo?" it blinked, and then looked at him, a painful, worried, and might even considered scared expression on it's face. "what's wrong?" Ranboo looked back at the waves, when it occured to Tubbo what was happening "you're afraid of the river? maybe, water?" Ranboo nodded ever so lightly, that Tubbo barely saw. "It's okay, you can see me and Tommy, we're both safe and sound. It's easy!" Ranboo spinned around, walking a few steps away, and then dropping below a tree, holding it's legs with it's hands, their wings around it. The wings weren't healed enough to be able to carry it's weight. Tubbo thought for a second, he needed a plan to help Ranboo. "Listen, I'm coming over there. I'll help you, we go together okay?" Ranboo just sat there, again, ignoring everything Tubbo said.

He walked back into the river, leaving Tommy at the other side. He soon was at the edge of the water, looking at the shade under which Ranboo was. "Come on, I'm here, we can do this." Ranboo was silent, so Tubbo got out of the water, walking over to it, and dropping infront of it. "Ranboo, I'm right here. Nothing can happen." Ranboo's eyes met his, they looked teary and afraid, but not of him. Of something else, and Tubbo knew what it was. He sighed, and put his hand on top of one of Ranboo's, before he stood up. "I won't let anything happen to you, if we do this, I'll promise to protect you, alright?" Tubbo didn't quite tell the truth, ofcourse he'd try to protect Ranboo and Tommy, but both were stronger than him. Though a slight look of confidence shot into Ranboo's eyes, just a little, tiny bit.

It stood up, looking down at Tubbo, and taking a deep breath, atleast it seemed so. Then, they walked closer to the water, Ranboo's tail swinging more and more, quicker and faster from side to side. They stopped just a little away, looking at the river. "Listen, you hold onto my hands, and I walk backwards, you don't let go, and go forwards. You can look at me, or at the water to reassure yourself. We can do this." Ranboo nods. Then, it just stares for a long time at the river, maybe it was 5 minutes, but Tubbo wanted to give Ranboo the time to reassure themselves. Then, the moth closes it's eyes and takes a step forward, looking away even if they can't see anything, and feel their foot getting wet in the water. A few seconds later, they look down at it. A little less fear was in their shoulders, the shaking a little less, and overall a little more confidence. Tubbo then made his way infront of it. "are you ready? take whatever time you need to make sure you feel safe." but Ranboo took already another step, and another one, not taking it's eyes of their own feet. Step by step, Tubbo walked in the same rythm as the tall moth, looking deep into their eyes to watch any emotion it might have.

Halfway, or so Tubbo believed it was, Tommy starts making loud noises, close to a dogs barking. Both Ranboo and Tubbo's faces turn to it, and Tubbo notices it's warning jumps and turns, pointing at something behind Ranboo. "don't worry about it, Ranboo, Tommy is just a energetic little creature, nothings wrong. Just focus on what you do." While that seemed to calm Ranboo down, Tubbo wasnt. He looked behind the moth, carefully not to alarm it, and noticed something in the bushes they left, something purple hanging on them, and it wasn't there when him and Ranboo sat there. Then, the bushes move, and a creature sneaked out of them. Two legs, purple, with scales all over the body, but fur on the back and legs. A long, strong tail, and long antennas, almost as tall as Ranboo stood. The creatures dark eyes laid on the two of them, before walking towards the water. Tubbo looks at the moth, who wasn't aware of the situation. It needed the calmness, if they panic, like Tubbo is about to do, they could loose their stand and drift into the water.

"you're doing great, Ranboo! Let's go a little quicker, so it'll be over soon!" While Tubbo tried to sound as normal and as positive as he could, Ranboo didn't look to confident anymore, but still listened and went quicker. The creature behind them now was also in the water, being faster than both of them. Now also getting attention from Ranboo, due to the water splashes, who looked behind themselves. Ranboo made a yelping noise, and tried to run, but slipped, exactly what Tubbo was afraid of happening.

Tubbo holding tight on the moth's hands, who tried to take stand again, but the raging waters didnt help. Tubbo also started losing grip of the creature, and the one following was getting dangerously close. That's when Tommy jumped into the water, one tail attached to the closest root of a tree, the other one reaching out for Ranboo, and swinging it around them, pulling them to the surface. Tubbo had no other choice than to let go, and run up to the other end, yet Tommy was strong enough to get both of them out, Ranboo and itself. The purple creature took a jump on the last part, and landed right infront of the group. Tubbo having no energy left for it, looked at the other two. Ranboo tried to growl, but it's voice being damp and quiet form exhaustion. Tommy jumped up. Somehow, the small creature always had energy, maybe it's connected to it always glowing?

It took a stick, long and strong, and ran to the purple creature. Who didnt pay much attention to it and walking to Ranboo and Tubbo. Tommy hit it with the stick, causing nothing much. Then again and again, until it looked at the glowing ball, and Tommy hit it in the eyes. The creature cried in pain. Stumbeling backwards, and Tommy hit the creature on the legs to make it fall, right back into the river. Having nothing to grab or stand on, the creature drifts away on the waves down the river, further and further, until it was out of sight. Tommy truly had saved the day.