Crowned

Arc 3, Chapter 72: Lament.

//TW\\

Dysmorphia

Death

———

Bot yawned subtly, they shifted against the squishy base of the mushroom they had been resting on. Test Tube's soft snores like the waves from a beach. Almost. They sat up and rubbed their tired eyes, wings fluttered slightly as they silently stretched them out. Their gaze then drifted over to Fan. Who was motionless. Still asleep. His body was strangely hunched over, as if the black substance on his face was weighing his head down. His body making a near guttural clicking. Bot found this disturbing.

They stand from the tree, and huffed to themselves realizing how their body ached from their sleep. The pains of having a physical body. Leaves crunched beneath their tiny feet as they walked off, exploring the surrounding area. Large mushrooms decorated the tree's canopy overhead like colourful beach umbrellas. Their eyes traced the sight of the fungal growth overhead. They also caught sight of strange plants they'd never seen before. They doubted the plants originated in Objectica. Doubt rested in their gaze, paired with skepticism as they looked around further. Their wings fluttered as they kept off the ground. Bot emerged from beneath the leave canopy and peered at the surrounding forest. Nothing but green... thicket for miles. Their eyes did inevitably fall on the supposed distant cloud of steam or smoke.

They flinched as they heard the bellowing call of Test Tube from below. Their eyes shot back and they shot through the trees to meet up with her.

Test Tube glanced around groggily, but with a panicked look in her eyes as she darted from one foot to the other in an attempt to find her missing child. Her head turned at the sound of leaves crunching beneath tiny feet. She whipped her head back and sighed with tired relief.

Bot gave a wave and hovered over, lifting off the ground once more. "Right here! Sorry mom." They apologized with a sorrowful glare laced in with the nervousness that came from their nerves.

Test Tube's gaze softened. Her heart felt warmed by the referral of being seen as a mother. She felt a sense of... protectiveness... Maybe. She couldn't really tell. "Where were you...?" She questioned, curious as to why Bot wandered off.

Bot shrugged, "I just wanted to see if there was... Possibly a place of note nearby? I guess?" Their eyes once again observing the direction they believed the rising smoke like gas was.

Test Tube blinked, and looked off  in the direction Bot had been looking, "Is... There something... That way?" She pointed off into the darkened thicket, leaves that obscured the sun. The only light that showed from the daylight was speckles of light on the grass and dried leaves below.

"Smoke. I think. Maybe a campsite?" Bot pointed, and then looked back to Fan. "I think maybe we should check it out— but uh... We should probably wake up Fan first." They smiled slightly.

Test Tube nodded to herself, and glared back at Fan. She stepped over and reached to shake his shoulder. Fan responded by a snappy harsh gaze, then grasping at her wrist, and nearly charging.

His eyes then widened at the sight of Test Tube's horrified, and frankly protective stance as if to shove Bot away from him out of instinct. He let go, and stood up, backing away. "I..." He whispered, and blinked. "Sorry... I thought you were... hm..." He narrowed his gaze slightly. Leaves rustled beneath his feet. Fan's jaw was clenched tightly, and the tensed muscles in his face showed for it.

Test Tube stared at him harshly for a moment before barking back, "Jumpy much?! What was THAT?!" She spat.

Fan furrowed his brows, pairing with an already narrowed gaze. "it's not my fault! You— You startled me." He retorted, glaring at Test Tube as if he was expecting a different face.