Cardinal

{2} A sticky situation. {2}

TW: Gross descriptions, Blood, Gore

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As Balloon stepped into the cave, he noted how damp the floors were. There was the possibility of slipping, so he'd make sure to cling onto things if that were to happen. As he ventured deeper into the cave, he found various stalagmites, crystals, and other things. As he was venturing deeper, he noticed a pretty quartz crystal, which he went over to touch. It was pretty sharp, in which he got pricked by it. He started sucking his finger, trying to get the pain to go away as he left it alone.

Some thoughts about making poetry formed in his head as he explored, maybe he could make some when he got out of here? He had enough inspiration, and he certaintly had a few ideas brewing already. Like how he followed that bird, he could turn that into a metaphor for following people you think you trust with blindness? Yea... that sounds like a good idea. Or maybe- how that crystal pricked him earlier, he could turn that into a metaphor of how the things you like won't always accept you? Or maybe how pretty things can hurt like how dating a pretty person doesn't mean their personality won't hurt? He'll have to figure that out later.

As he explored the cave, he found nooks and crannys unexplored. He'd go in, but... he'd obviously pop on impact. Trying to shove him in a small ragged hole was like trying to teach a fish how to breathe air, he's just... not built for that. He sighed, getting a little out of breath from all the walking he was doing. Now, normally anyone else who was atleast somewhat fit would be fine, but him? He never exercised. Sure, sometimes he'd somehow be able to show strength, like that one time he held his whole team, or when he held Nickel, who always sits due to how heavy his coin base is, but... that was when he worked out. He let himself go recently, exchanging working out to writing poetry in his room. It was... sad to say the least.

He worked so hard when he got eliminated during season two, and throughout season three, but... he didn't have the patience for that anymore. Sure, he could still deadlift a bunch, he still had a lot of arm strength, but he had some bad cardio as well. And that combo? It was basically a nightmare. People counted on him to hold things sometimes, but would overestimate how long he'd be able to do so. He had the strength, just... not the cardio. But hey, atleast he wasn't like Fan when it came to running, right?

That thought made him laugh to himself a bit, remembering that one time he had to sprint across the hotel so he wouldn't miss breakfast? It was funny seeing him so out of breath from a light jog, but let's be honest... Balloon would end up the same way. Just a little better in comparison. It isn't much, but... it'll have to do, right? Not like he had the motivation for working out, he wouldn't throw away the motivation to write just for that. He had goals, and he wouldn't betray those.

Balloon got pulled from his thoughts as he saw... a really pretty stone. It was sparkling, it was all rainbow and shiny, and it was something he HAD to have. He picked up the stone, realizing it fell off a crystal and got shaped into a roundish form using water. He stares at the stone in fascination, because... goddamn. This stone was BEAUTIFUL. He thought about showing it to Suitcase later, she'd probably love this. He put I- wait. Where would he even put this stone? He doesn't have any pockets, or... anywhere to put the stone.

"...Uh.." *Balloon mutters.*

Balloon stands there for way too long, before deciding to leave the stone near the entrance. He'd remember to get it later, right? He went back to the entrance, placing the stone to the left of the cave. He stares, before deciding that's... not enough. He goes into the cave, searching for more pretty rocks. After awhile, he finds several rocks that stand up to the level of the first pretty rock, before going back to the previous rock and putting the rocks there, before realizing... why did he go through all that just to mark where a pretty rock is? He stares at the rocks, questioning himself. He eventually shrugs it off, going back to where he was in the cave.

As he went deeper into the cave, he noticed something. That cardinal from earlier... it was here? But that- thats not normal bird behavior? The bird shouldn't be here, it should be outside? Balloon approached the bird, which it promptly flew to a side section of the cave. It was tight, so Balloon had to make sure he didn't pop while climbing through here. Once he got to the end, he found a small room with the bird, pirched on a stalagmite. He went up to grab the bird, hoping he could free the little guy, until... the bird faded into dust?

...What?

Did he imagine that? Was the bird just.. not real? It.. it should have been real, he SAW the damn thing! ...God, he was so confused. He ended up breathing in a bit of the dust, coughing a bit and sneezing as he does so. But, it was a bit too late. He already breathed in the dust, and unbeknownst to him... the transformation had begun. A few seconds later, he felt a sharp pain release into his back. This sent him to the floor immediately, onto his knees. He curled up as the pain got stronger, wondering what was happening to him.

Until suddenly...

"AAAAAAAAAAA!" Balloon screamed.

He grunted and whined as two new limbs sprouted from his back in a bloody fashion, starting to sob from the pain. The warm blood trickled down his back, puddling onto the damp floor below. His head was pounding, it felt like his brain was screaming at him, and yet... it felt so unbearably quiet. The last thing he remembered was the wet noise of his new limbs wrapping around him, making him feel sticky and... slimy.

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Someones gonna make a sexual joke, and i'm gonna call you out for it.

{1063 words}