[ Cruel Winter - A Inanimate Insanity Invitational AU ]

Chapter 1 - Humble Beginnings

Test Tube trekked through the snow, staring at the white sky. The sky, the snow, the fields of nothing but ice, all of it ceased to interest her anymore.

It had been months since MePhone4 created the groups and sent them out to fend for themselves while he sat back in his cabin. Test Tube gritted her teeth at the thought. She had barely gotten enough food for her and Fan. How were the others faring? She didn't have time to care about that.

She stopped at a giant shattered hole in the lake and thrusted her net into the water. She dragged the net out to reveal a few small jello-fish. "Good enough." She told herself as she swung the net over her shoulder. The dying fish flopped around from the lack of water.

Test Tube sighed and continued stepping through the snow, nearly sinking into it. It was a mystery how the snow didn't bury them. It was constantly piling up, but it felt like the pile never got taller. But some mysteries are best kept unsolved. Test Tube sighed as the snow fell... and fell... and never stopped. Not even once had it stopped in months.

Test Tube then found herself in the pine forest, where the pine leaves have darkened and wilted from all the snowfall, yet never died. Another mystery, just best kept unsolved.

Test Tube sighed as she entered the forest as the cold breeze ruffled her cloak. The only thing that brought comfort to her was the small woven bamboo building. Fan was there, sitting infront of the fireplace–which he had recently lit.

"Oh! Test Tube! Your back!" Fan exclaimed, waving her over. Test Tube smiled lightly and ran over to Fan. "Hey, I got us some pretty good fish- Not the best, but... Haha, it's the best I could really get." She muttered, emptying the net and releasing the now dead jello-fish. Fan's eyes lit up at the sight.

"Woah... Great catch!" Fan exclaimed. Test Tube let out a slight chuckle. "Oh come on, it's not THAT great." She suggested. Fan started shaking Test Tube. "Are you kidding? This is the best catch you've gotten in DAYS!" He laughed. "Well, what are we waiting for? I'm starving." Test Tube complained in a joking tone. Fan chuckled and grabbed a jello-fish. "Can you eat these things raw-? I forgot." Fan muttered. "I mean, they are made out of jelly, so... Probably?" Test Tube shrugged. "Eh-" Fan replied, shoving a jello-fish in his mouth.

Test Tube's eyelids felt heavy. "...Yknow, I'm not hungry. I'm gonna go to bed." She muttered, standing up. "Oh, ok!" Fan exclaimed with his mouth full.

Test Tube smiled and headed to her hammock. She climbed into the hammock, just flipping onto her back and staring at the roof above her. The flame light glimmered against the walls of the bamboo building, making it hard for her to sleep. She pulled her tattered blanket over her head, shutting her eyes and trying to get some sleep.

She knew Fan was trying his best to be quiet, but she could still hear him chattering to himself about random things. Her eye twitched. She wanted to lash out at him, but she didn't want to hurt his feelings. Test Tube let out a muffled sigh and covered her ears. Fan seemed to hear however and stopped talking to himself. Test Tube sighed, falling asleep.

Fan meanwhile, quietly whispered to himself about random things that happened today. "And then, I saw a squirrel outside! -I mean, I saw a squirrel outside." His voice came down to a whisper as he remembered Test Tube was trying to get some sleep. He was in a really–really energetic mood right now and he wanted to go out and do something. Fan stood up, whispering ' Good night ' to Test Tube before heading outside.

He trotted through the snow excitedly, wondering what he could do today. He looked around at the forest for a moment. Always the same. Every day. Never changing. Fan sighed. He wanted something new for a change. He always did.

He had a tendency to never stay in the same place for long points of time. But Test Tube always kept him in the same place. They depended on each other, and Fan knew Test Tube didn't want to leave and find a new camp just yet. So Fan forced himself to be comfortable with his never changing surroundings.

He lay down in the snow, grumbling about wanting something new. Although, whenever he had thoughts like that, he always felt guilty. Like he was being needy.

Fan twiddled his fingers together for a while, just staring at them in pure boredom. Only now had he realized how boring it was here. He was an energetic guy in a place where he had nothing fun to do. He rolled onto his back and blinked. He was just aimlessly chilling there. He twitched. He twitched again. He then sprung up.

"UUUUUUGH, I'M SO DAYMN BORED." He groaned loudly. Fan walked back into the bamboo building and shook Test Tube awake.

"Wha- Fan- What is it?..." Test Tube sighed, rolling over to face him. "Test Tube... I'm bored. Can we go outside of the forest? Together? Y'know, doing some fun activities?" Fan asked, staring at Test Tube with pleading eyes.

"...Fan. I just finally got to sleep... Couldn't you have asked when I woke up?" Test Tube sighed in response. "Well- No! I've been cooped up in this forest for so long! I literally can't take it anymore!" Fan suggested.

Test Tube stared at him with hardened eyes. "...Fine." She grumbled, standing up. Fan's face brightened instantly as he started bobbing up and down excitedly.

Test Tube slightly smiled at him. "Now come on." She laughed, still drowsy from being abruptly awoken.

She headed outside, waiting for Fan. Fan bounded after her. "Wooh! Let's go have some fun!" Fan exclaimed as they headed out of the forest.