Spiral of Ants

Under a Technicolor Sky

Chronologically right after 'Trust'

The trip would have taken days. But Apollo's microphone really could do anything. He was able to transfer himself, Aseil and Timor about a mile away from the group's campground in just a second.

Apollo had offered to take them directly there, but Timor informed him it was in their best interest to not startle Nora by appearing suddenly. Not to mention he would prefer to give them a bit of a briefing on the way there.

"So... Nora" Aseil said as they walked "you make it sound like she's someone we should be worried about"

"Not... necessarily" Timor said "She doesn't like me but she has a good reason for that. She's extremely defensive but as long as she doesn't see you as a threat, you're fine." he said.

"Why doesn't she like you?" Apollo asked, before receiving a slight elbow from Aseil. "Apollo you can't just ask that"

"No, no it's... it's fine" Timor said, trying to figure out if he should be honest with them or not. If he was doing all this for trust, he should be completely honest. He'd rather them hear it from him instead of Nora anyways.

"I used to work for the lab. One of their hunters" he said, hoping he wouldn't have to elaborate beyond that.

"Oh" Aseil said softly.

"I don't anymore... obviously. Emmy helped me with that. I think you two will like her, "he said. Granged, he felt like ANYONE would like Emmy. "Not everyone is as... forgiving as her. Not that I can blame them. Enough about me, though. Is there anything else you two would like to know before we arrive?"

Aseil nodded "Yeah. So you're a werewolf, what is everyone else?" He asked. Timor couldn't help but admire the humans' adaptability. He was... hesitant, to let him come along, but became clear fast that the two were a package deal. To the humans credit, he did just fine at rolling with the punches of the situation so far. He had already been more involved in this world then most humans, anyhow.

"Nora is a vampire. Emmy is a deer hybrid. Similar to a satyr. And Soap is... a robot? I'm not sure how to explain it. It's not an uncommon thing, when it comes to oddities. Something can just... gain sentience. The lab hasn't figured out how yet, as far as I know. But Soap is a result of that. They were made for a circus" Timor explained, holding a branch out of the way for the two.

"Oh wow" Apollo said as he listened "I didn't realize how many different kinds of not-humans there were"

"Most people don't. I know I didn't until I was initially taken by the lab. I don't think anyone knows the full scope of it. But if anyone can help us, it's you. You know what it's like to be on the wrong side of that place" Timor said. He was hesitant to go there, but it seemed like the two felt more pity than fear or anger. That was useful.

Apollo shuddered a little "I do. I wouldn't wish it on anyone..."

Timor pulled some more branches out of the way, finally seeing their camp site "Well. Here it is." He said, before nodding over to a cave "They're probably over in there. They usually are during the day. For Nora." he said, leading them over.

Before they even made it to the mouth of the cave, someone came running out, practically tackling Timor. It wasn't hard for Aseil to infer that it was Emmy. There couldn't be very many part-deer people. Despite being told exactly what she was, there was something a little jarring about seeing her in person. Timor looked human. Even Apollo looked human most of the time. Even when he used his tentacles, they were an addition to a normal human appearance. They didn't replace any of his human features.

This was different. Not bad, but most certainly different. She really wouldn't be able to pass as human, if she tried. She had antlers, or more accurately AN antler. One was broken, fairly close to the base. However the unbroken one stood a decent half foot above her actual height. She also had deer ears, however one was ripped. What had she gone through...?

The most jarring part was her legs. Timor had explained what she was, in all fairness, but seeing it was just surreal. Deer legs. Like a satyr. Just like Timor had said.

"Timor! You scared me! You can't just run off like that!" She said, burying her face into Timor's shoulder.

"I know, I'm sorry. I promise I have a good reason though" He said, hugging her back before pulling back and gesturing towards Apollo.

Aseil snapped out of it, remembering why they were here in the first place. Was Apollo as thrown off as him? Probably not. To be fair, he was probably odder than anything the two could encounter...

Apollo waved, offering a friendly smile "Hello! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Emmy looked slightly confused at first, before realization dawned on her features "Oh! You must be Apollo. That makes so much more sense now, Nora was just talking about you. Oh Nora! She's going to be so happy!" She said, hugging Timor once again before taking Apollos hand and excitedly running into the cave, leaving Aseil and Timor to follow shortly behind.

"I think I can already tell her and Apollo are going to get along great" Aseil said to Timor as they followed.

"Yeah? Why is that?" Timor asked

"He's a very... energetic guy. He gets excited easily. She seems like that kinda person too"

Timor nodded. "He'll like Soap too, then... that's good. It'll help him be more willing to help us"

Aseil frowned softly "He would help you all no matter what, I think. He's not super transactional in what he does"

"Right. Sorry. That's just not normal, you know? People usually only do something if given a reason too. Especially in the kind of situations we've been in. And we don't have a lot to offer"

"That... makes a lot of sense. I'm sorry. But just rest assured that's not how Apollo works. He'd help you guys even if Emmy and probably Soap weren't his type of people."

"That is comforting..." he said

Soon they made it to a cavern, only a short walk from the mouth of the cave. It wasn't too big but it seemed comfortable enough. It was easy to tell which one was Soap and which one was Nora, as well. Soap looked like a clown. Literally. Their outfit was bright, and something Apollo would absolutely wear, sweater vest and all. They looked like they were wearing face paint and a clown nose but based off of what Timor had said about them being a robot (sorta?) Aseil guessed it wasn't just removable paint.

And then there was Nora. Like Timor, she seemed like she could pass as human. Aseil probably wouldn't have noticed her fangs if he wasn't looking for them. But he was looking.

Despite only getting there seconds before Aseil and Timor, Apollo was already engaged in conversation with Nora, who looked a mix between cautious and disbelieving. However Nora's gaze quickly shifted to Timor and Aseil as they came in. "Is that a human?" She asked, her tone not exactly what Aseil would call friendly.

Before either Timor or Aseil could answer however, Apollo spoke up "He's my boyfriend!" he said happily "It was important to me he came along"

"I've been targeted by the lab too" Aseil quickly tacked on. "I might be human but I understand how... awful that organization is. I promise I'm not a threat, and I want to help"

Nora watched Aseil for a long moment. He realized her eyes were red. He wasn't quite sure how that slipped his attention earlier, but now that her eyes were fixed on him, it's all he could notice.

Finally she broke the tense silence "Alright. Don't give me a reason to second guess that. Now, let's not waste any more time. I think we all have a lot to discuss"

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