Team Alteration: The Darker Side

04

When the next day came, I had awoken before Paradox. There was an usual energy that seemed to pull at my heart. Remembering that I had to make a map, I grabbed a pencil and some paper before leaving. Though, I'd at least investigate this energy first. It was all too familiar and welcoming.

Grass crumpled beneath my feet as I walked across the landscape. This energy was strong, only meaning that it was closer. The thought of another survivor of my world gave me a ray of hope. That I wasn't the only one who made it out. Curiosity started getting the better of me. And before I knew it, I was moving full sprint towards it.

There was an entrance to a large area. Massive pillars obscured my vision upon entering. Looking beneath my feet, then back to the pillars, I realized that they both had the same checkerboard pattern. Saying as I haven't actually been here for a while, the sight caught me off guard. In my head, I was thinking that maybe Paradox knew what this place was.

These thoughts were enough to distract me from the heavy footsteps fast approaching. I didn't realize it was too late until the source of the noise was right upon me. Upon turning quickly, I was tackled by something twice my size. Instead of being bitten, the creature started to lick at my face. I pushed the massive face away to get a better look at what it was. Doing so made me realize that the creature who tackled me was my companion; Matatabi.

In this moment, I just remembered the first day I got to pick out a void creature. At that age, I could recall saying that Matatabi was the coolest looking one. All because he had more than one tail. When it comes to void tradition, a young child picks a creature. If the creature leaves a mark on you, that means they like you. What Matatabi left was a scar crossing over my left eyelid.

"Down boy, down!" I managed to yell through laughter. His presence was quite refreshing, and it only made me happy.

After my command, the large dog-like creature got off and bent his hind legs. He did this until he was sitting, tilting his head to the side. Through a light distortion in voice, I heard him say my name; "Dark."

I reached out, gently placing my palm against his nose. I felt like a child again, getting the chance to pick a creature out from hundreds. The purple in Matatabi's eyes reminded me of the purple in my left. The familiarity the atmosphere had now made me feel more at home.

Matatabi and I took the time to catch up. Thanks to him though, mapping was easier. While we talked, I rode on his back while he trotted through the lands. We passed through more checker board regions, went by a factory of sorts, and traveled the city. The things that were harder to mark would be the area in the water, and the space colony ark above. Though, I just left the ark out since it wasn't necessarily in the same plane as us.

When I finished the map, I guided Matatabi back to where the main 'base of operations' was. I told him about Paradox on the way over, and let him know that he was a nice guy. It was easy to tell that Matatabi had excitement in his eyes. It reminded me of how much he really loved to meet new people. He had sniffed at the air though, which only mean that someone new must've arrived.