what in the longdark spitting-pit is that

[inourhead]

This was a bad idea this was a bad idea this was a bad idea.

Holly runs as fast as she can but the demon's faster. She has no idea where Lightning's gotten to; maybe he found a tree to climb. She on the other hand has been diverted into a treeless hill and she's careening down a slope, trying very hard not to trip.

And the demon's gaining on her.

She's never seen anything like it and neither has Crystal; maybe Book knows what it is but Book's asleep. It's mostly mouth - it looks like a cross between a floorlength mirror of a mouth and a snake to propel the mouth along.

And Holly's not fast enough.

The mouth catches her.





But it doesn't hurt.

Where are we?

----


with Minus (kappa)

with Mark (kappa)

with Max (Benedict)

in Terraria (kappa)

with Emma (Marri)

with Erin (Rockeye)

Comments

[inourhead]

Holly pants, hard, turns in place to see her surroundings.

"Lightning?" she hollers, when no demons are immediately apparent.

Nothing.

Where are we?

I don't know. It doesn't look like the inside of a demon, though, I don't think.

"Lightning!" Holly calls again, and she checks her mice. Mostly dead. Two alive. That's not going to be enough even if she doesn't get hurt.

She stalks through the forest.

[aestrix]

The forest doesn't appear to contain any demons. It does contain bunnies, though. And a few birds. The bunnies are very tame, but the birds are not. They fly away when Holly gets close.

[inourhead]

Oh, good, bunnies. Bunnies that will let her walk up to them and pet them. She doesn't have a way to carry them around with her, they're too big for the mouse compartment on the backpack, but she will go up to one and stroke it and give it her exhaustion. If they can't find a way home, or find Lightning and Book, they will have to construct some sort of bunny pen.

"Lightning!" she yells again. "Book?"

[aestrix]

"Hello!" says a strange man, from behind them. "I'm Jeff. I'm your guide. I am here to give you advice on what to do next. It is recommended that you talk with me anytime you get stuck."

[inourhead]

Holly spins around.

"...Hi, Jeff," she says slowly. "Where are we?"

[aestrix]

"You are in a forest," he informs. "You can build a shelter by placing wood or other blocks in the world. Don't forget to create and place walls."

[inourhead]

"Oh...kay... relative to Kuigao, where are we?"

[aestrix]

... Jeff blinks, once, very slowly. "You are in a forest," he repeats.

[inourhead]

"Can you be more specific?" Crystal asks, taking over with slightly better patience.

[aestrix]

Pause. "Greetings, H-H-Ho-Cr-Cry-oll-stal-stal. Is there something I can help you with?"

[inourhead]

"...I'm Crystal," says Crystal.

[aestrix]

"Greetings, Cry-Hol-Cr-Cr-olly-al."

[inourhead]

"...You can call me Holly if that's easier?"

[aestrix]

"Greetings, Ho-H-Cryst-ly."

[inourhead]

"...Or skip it. Anyway. Have you seen our brother and his cohabitor?"

[aestrix]

"There are many different ways you can attract people to move in to our town. They will of course need a home to live in."

[inourhead]

"This isn't a town, it's a forest. What's the matter with you? How did you even sort of know our names?"

[aestrix]

"They say there is a person who will tell you how to survive in this land... oh wait. That's me."

[inourhead]

"I was thinking we'd keep walking until we found civilization, and you don't seem to be it," says Holly, taking over again. "Is there a town nearby?"

[aestrix]

"You can build a shelter by placing wood or other blocks in the world. Don't forget to place walls."

[inourhead]

"Are we going to run out of bunnies if we keep hiking? I didn't notice a shortage."

[aestrix]

"You should stay indoors at night. It is very dangerous to be wandering around in the dark."

[inourhead]

Holly squints at the sun. There's only one. "You're expecting a longdark?"

[aestrix]

"If you want to survive, you will need to create weapons and shelter. Start by chopping down trees and gathering wood," he says. He produces a bag, and offers it to Holly. "You should stay indoors at night."

[inourhead]

Holly takes the bag. "What's this for? And if it's so dangerous how did you get here?"