[ Cruel Winter - A Inanimate Insanity Invitational AU ]

Chapter 4 - *Insert good title here*

Balloon was sitting outside of a tent nervously. "Will she be ok-?" He called to the inside. "Relax, Balloon, she'll be fine." Paintbrush replied dryly.

Balloon ignored the humor in Paintbrush's tone. Everything that had happened back at the lake was burned into Balloon's mind. Clover getting shot, Bot nearly drowning, and Yin-yang dragging Silver Spoon away in a headlock; he shuddered at the thought of remembering.

He shoved his nervousness away and was extremely tempted to look inside and see how Clover was doing.

Even though Balloon was worried sick about their injured group member, Nickel was nowhere to be seen. Did he not care that Clover had just gotten pierced by a bullet? Balloon knew Nickel had been there the whole time.

Why why WHY? Why isn't Nickel there? WHY ISN'T NICKEL THERE? Balloon's thoughts were like a tornado of worry.  Balloon snapped out of his thoughts as he felt a poke on his shoulder.

"Hey. Balloon, pal, buddy, ARE YOU OK-?" OJ asked, chuckling a bit. "...Ye- Ye totally-" Balloon muttered in response.

"Haha, as a healer, I can tell you're lying." OJ teased. Balloon glanced to the side. "...I'm just worried about Clover. That's all." It wasn't entirely a lie.

OJ rolled onto his back, letting a beetle onto his finger. "There's more to the story than that, Balloon. Come on, just tell me! I won't bite." He exclaimed.

Balloon inhaled. "...NICKEL ISN'T HERE AND CLOVER IS INJURED AND NICKEL WATCHED THE WHOLE DAMN THING AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE HE IS AND NOW I HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT BOTH OF THEM AND AHH-" Balloon whined.

Balloon could hear Clover's voice from inside. "...Is Balloon ok...?" She asked Paintbrush. "Of course. Just get some rest." Paintbrush replied, eyeing OJ outside. OJ smiled nervously.

Balloon curled up into a ball, covering his eyes with his arms and quietly sobbing. OJ put an arm around Balloon. "Hey, hey, it's ok..." He muttered. "BUBUBUBUT IT'S NOT OK! WHERE IS NICKEL? WHY ISN'T HE HERE?" Balloon's panicking was rapidly increasing. "Woah woah chill-" OJ tried comforting Balloon.

"...Why isn't he here...?" Balloon repeated. OJ didn't want to lie to Balloon. "Well," He began. "I'm not quite sure myself." OJ hugged Balloon. "But he'll be back. I promise, ok?" He suggested. Balloon looked at OJ, blinking the tears from his eyes. "You promise..?" He asked. "Yep." OJ replied. Balloon smiled. "...Okay." He muttered through a distressed voice.

OJ patted Balloon on the head. "I'll go find Nickel." He murmured. Balloon watched OJ leave.

Paintbrush then exited the tent. "Ok, she's resting. It's best to not disturb her- Where's OJ?!" They gasped. "OJ went to find Nickel-" Balloon replied nervously. "HE DID WHAT? OH COME ON! HIS JOB IS LITERALLY TO BE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT! NOT A FOREST RANGER-!" Paintbrush yelled.

Balloon had to cover his ears. "You're gonna wake up Clover...!" He whimpered. Paintbrush took a deep breath. "I'm gonna go find that nerd." They rolled their eyes and headed off. "WAIT!" Balloon called out. Paintbrush turned to him irritatedly. "Can I atleast see if she's ok? Please Please PLEASE...?" Balloon pleaded, making Puppy-dog eyes at Paintbrush.

Paintbrush let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine. Just don't let her get restless about being inside," Paintbrush muttered. "She can't be in one spot for too long after all." They added, heading outside of the camp to find OJ.

Balloon opened up the tent and eyed Clover, who was peacefully nestled in a bed of blankets. Balloon sat down next to Clover, wondering if she would wake up. Balloon sighed, knowing Clover needed her rest. He couldn't imagine getting hit by a bullet. Oh wait; he would just pop.

The small lantern illuminating the tent was withering slowly. Balloon stared at Clover for a moment. He grabbed a blanket and put it over her. That was when Nickel barged in. "IS CLOVER OK-?" He snapped, waking Clover up.

"A-" Balloon yelped. "Yeah-... Yeah I'm fine-... I'm fine..!" Clover giggled, trying to stand herself up. "Clover, you need to get some rest-" Balloon muttered. "Balloon, that gunshot didn't even go through me. Yknow, luck powers?" Clover giggled. "...Oh." Balloon muttered. "WELL- WELL YOU STILL NEED REST GO TO SLEP-" He stammered.

"Oki-" Clover lay down to go to sleep. Balloon turned to Nickel. "Where were you?" He asked. Nickel flinched, as if he didn't want to say. "I uh... Fishing. I didn't catch anything though..." He muttered. Balloon could tell he was lying, but decided to ignore it.

"Just... Don't go missing like that, ok? I'm not willing to lose 2 group members-" Balloon was cut off.

"I'm not dying..." Clover murmured. "..Right, right-" Balloon stammered. Nickel sighed. "Come on Balloon, there's nothing to worry about. I'm /fine/." He huffed. He then knelt down to face Clover, his face softening with concern.

"You ok buddy?" He asked with genuine nervousness. "Yea-.." Clover replied. "Good." Nickel sighed in relief, returning to his usual stone cold demeanor. "If that Silver Spoon tries to attack you- or any of us-" Nickel struggled to find words. "...I'll make sure he doesn't come around." He muttered. "And I'll find a way to civilize the groups. Somehow." He whispered under his breath, walking outside.

Clover and Balloon watched him leave. "...Imma go back to sleep." Clover snuggled with the blankets. "...I'll go get you some water or something." Balloon replied, heading outside.