"C-c'mon Inv, we need to focus on getting food for me now"
"W-wight!" Inv eagerly nods towards me. A determined look on his face now.
Seeing this I turn around, ready to start heading down to where the slime mold is. But before I can start going forward I feel Inv stop me by putting a paw on my shoulder.
Turning around I look up at Inv.
"W-wai a momen Joey…" Inv says to me, taking his paw off my shoulder then lowering himself to the ground.
I feel utterly confused at the moment. What is he doing?
"What's wrong Inv?"
"U-uhh… wel… remembr last cycl i sai et wud be safr on me bak?" Inv says while looking up at me from his prone position.
… yeah… he did say that, didn't he? I immediately brushed it off though since he was really tired last cycle.
… I also got distracted with trying to carry him. While humiliating, still worth it.
Now remembering what Inv is talking about, I respond back.
"I do Inv, but you don't have to this time. We aren't going up but going down" I point down below us while finishing.
"D-doan??" Inv says back with confusion, slightly tilting his head with a confused look.
"Yeah, without the egg bomb we won't be able to climb up since the DLL is blocking our way. It's also much safer going down. There's always enough food for me atleast when i go down there"
"Wher da popcrn ting es?"
"Mhm, just a bit further down. It shouldn't take long"
With telling Inv this, I still see him staying prone on the ground. An anxious look on his face.
"Wel… i… i caen stil cary u?" Inv says to me, surprisingly being stubborn despite my reassurance.
…
'Is… he worried about me getting hurt?' I think as I look at Inv.
…
'Oh… that's so fucking precious… how can I say no at this point?' I can feel my heart feeling warmer knowing that Inv is worried about my safety.
Probably because of how badly I was injured when that lizard bit my arm… I'm still surprised I didn't die that cycle. Good thing that Inv's saliva is somehow able to heal my wounds.
Feeling my arm that was previously injured, it's back to feeling the same silky smoothness it had before. The only sign of it ever getting injured are barely noticeable marks from the lizard's bite.
'I thought my arm would be permanently crippled after that… Inv truly is the best thing to have happened to me'
…
Focusing back on the current moment, I let out a fake sigh. Shaking my head in helplessness.
"Well, if you insist then I have no choice" I say with a fake defeated tone as i quickly walk up to Invs side.
Despite my words I can see him visibly grow happier with me getting on his back.
Hopping onto his back, I also go prone. Wrapping my arms around him as best I can.
Feeling me tightly secured on his back, Inv lifts himself back up on his feet. My head resting on his shoulder.
I can feel a faint purr emanating from him.
"Alright Inv, just go down to where you ate that popcorn plant. Just be careful of any dropwig's, they like hanging out down here sometimes" I gently say next to Invs ear since my head is resting on his shoulder.
"Mhm!" Inv grunts back and starts moving.
With the free taxi ride, Inv goes down the tunnel leading down the popcorn plant.
…
…
…
Walking down the corridor, Inv abruptly stops, looking up. Raising my head as well I can see why he stopped.
'A dropwig…' I internally sigh seeing the dropwig. Why can't anything be easy? Even if we kill this dropwig, Inv is already full. Such a waste of food…
Looking below the dropwig i see something that catches my eye.
'Oh damn? A pearl!' I grow a bit excited seeing the dull white pearl laying right below the dropwig.
I usually wouldn't be excited seeing a pearl since they wouldn't help in any way here, but…
'I can try out that thing the system gave me!' I remember a very specific feature the system gave me while I was passed out.
Saying that I could absorb pearls for more karma points or use them at a trading post.
Currency! Money! I want!
With a clear goal for that pearl, I put my mouth closer to Inv's ear.
"Inv, let me down. I'll throw my rock below it and you can pounce on it" I whisper to Inv my simple plan.
Inv turns his head to me, a hesitant look on his face before giving me a slight nod.
"Ok" Inv whispers back.
Feeling Inv's fur that was previously keeping me secured on his back loosen up. I hop down on the ground. Readying the rock I had kept since earlier.
Seeing Inv get into a pounce position near where the dropwig is, he looks at me giving me a nod.
With Inv ready, I pull my arm back and throw the rock right below the dropwig!
Feeling something right under it. The Dropwig falls down to the ground. Completely tricked by my rock.
Before the dropwig can even reach the surface…
CRASH*
Inv pounces onto the dropwig midair. Catching it off guard, it's not even able to put up a fight.
SNAP*
Hearing a snapping sound, I see Inv land on the ground. The dropwig already limp in his mouth. Looking back at me, Inv gives me a look that screams 'praise me please'.
Letting out a sigh of relief from the clean quick kill I walk up to Inv patting him on the side.
"Good job Inv… you can let the dropwig go now" I said to him since the dropwig was still being carried with his mouth.
With a happy look Inv drops the dropwig on the ground.