Animator vs Animation: The Dark Web

Chapter 14: The Whisper

The Color Gang sprawled in their hangout spot on a high cave, just as usual. It was the morning, and they barely woke up, still weary after the tiresome exercises from their training.

Yellow was the first to arise, jolting from his fur mat and clenching onto his blanket. He felt the rush of nervousness wander back to him, the effects of the Crimson Remedy from Lemon finally wearing off.

Blue was the next to awaken, already grumbling silently as if waking up at the wrong side of the cave. Yellow's yelp of fear awoken him, and it irritated him at the very edge. Blue pointed at Yellow accusingly with annoyance as he wrapped himself tightly in his blanket, shielding himself from the cold morning of the Dark Web.

Green stirred up next, groggy as he pulled himself up. He rubbed his head after the amount of times he bumped into tall rock formations from his training. He rubbed his eyes, his vision clearing to the sight of Yellow and Blue already exchanging petty gestures and glares. Green just stared at them before standing up, still wrapped in his blanket like a cocoon, and shifted towards Red.

Red remained asleep, blurring out any sounds that his friends blared about. Green nudged Red with his foot half-heartedly, exhaustion pouring out from his effort. But Red responded by shifting from his mat, burying himself deeper into his blanket. Green stared at him for a moment, unfazed, but his annoyance was rising to the surface.

Suddenly, without thinking, Green blurted his irritation in everyone's minds like an echo across the cave. "How about you get up, yeah?"

Everyone in the cave froze. Even Red, typically unbothered by anything shocking, lifted his head up in surprise yet laced with intrigue. Did Green just... talk? Green jolted, his hands snapping his mouth shut as his blanket slipped from his grip. He looked around the room, their shared reactions having the same racing thoughts.

Was that... his voice? Was that how he sounded?

A rustling of the vines came from the cave's entrance, breaking the silence that overtook the cave. Driftwood poked her head through the curtain, finding the Color Gang stiff in shock as if seeing a ghost.

Driftwood glanced at each of them one by one, confused by their reactions of shock, before Green flinched and waved his hands at her. "What's going on with me?!" Green echoed once more, gaining a shocked reaction from Driftwood, who stumbled back.

Blue pulled himself off his mat, his blanket draping from his arms as he walked towards Green. His annoyance was simmering, his irritation more evident than his confusion. He jabbed at Green's forehead, as if taunting him of his voice.

"You dimwit... You sound stupid."

A gruff voice slipped out, making everyone in the room freeze again. Blue paused, before clutching onto his own throat, processing his thoughts. "I—I sound stupid!" He echoed once more.

Across from them, Yellow and Red gave each other glances of concern, the only two who have yet to speak. Driftwood stepped fully into the cave, her confusion evident before Yellow stomped to Blue, still sappy from the bickering.

"You think you can blame me for the nervousness, Blue?! How about you keep your smart mouth shut and show a little respect?" Yellow exclaimed, visibly trembling from the sound of his voice as collective gasps from the others echoed.

Red just shook his head, clearly unimpressed of the others, and he just wrapped his blanket tighter around him. "Can you guys just... shut up already?" Red's voice came out deadpanned, differing from the others' upset and panicked voices.

Driftwood stood in silence, watching in bewilderment as the Color Gang rambled with their newfound voices. They let their inner emotions spill through communication, making Driftwood more concerned by the second. Green's panic, Yellow's dissent, Blue's irritation, and Red's sluggishness—they all had a sound of their own now.