…
"Joey? Es something wong?" Inv asks as he turns his head to where I'm looking.
…
'Well… it's definitely there… but Inv can't see it for some reason. Is it because of the system?' I ponder, it's the only reason I can think of since Inv isnt seeing what im seeing.
"Joey?" Inv says my name, his head looking at me and to the spot where I see the trading booth which to him probably looks like an empty space.
…
'No… let's focus on more pressing matters. I can come back to this later. Inv is more important' i decide to ignore the newly spawned in trading post. I don't want to waste any more time getting back to the shelter.
"It's nothing Inv, just thought I saw something…" I tell Inv, turning my head away from the trading post and the scavenger.
"O-ok?" Inv puzzledly nods back, putting his attention back down over the edge in front of us.
Feeling Inv's fur, I assume he's making sure I'm secured on his back before he hops down to where the popcorn plant would be.
I can't help but feel fuzzy whenever he's extra cautious making sure I'm fine…
It's a strange feeling to be so cared for… especially after being alone for so long…
Pushing my head further into Inv's fur, I just let the feeling flourish.
'Your concern just makes me love you more…'
After a couple more moments, Inv hops down below us. Landing right next to the now dried out popcorn plant.
Looking at the popcorn plant Inv asks me a question.
"Ca u stil eet dis Joey?" Inv pokes at the now expired popcorn plant. Already a few cycles old when Inv ate from it last.
"No, it isn't edible anymore. We'll have to wait a couple more cycles before we can eat from it again"
"Hmm… su we go furter dow?" Inv turns down to the corridor, this one invested with rot with a pipe at the end.
"Yeah, just be careful with the protorot…" I warn Inv, although I'm pretty sure he already knows that. Doesn't hurt to be sure.
"A-awight…"
With his response, Inv slowly moves forward down the corridor. Navigating around the rot by jumping and grabbing onto poles with surprising agility. I guess those stats aint for show…
…
In record time Inv reaches the end of the corridor, stopping in front of the pipe.
Reaching the pipe I suddenly think of something.
'Have me and Inv ever entered a pipe together like this before?' I question myself, quickly coming to the answer no.
Before I can tell Inv to let me down so we can go through the pipe. I feel Inv's fur that has been wrapped around me start slowly pushing me further down Inv's back.
'W-woah!' without any warning, I'm glued to Inv's lower back. His fur completely covering me, even my head. Leaving me completely in the dark, the only thing I'm able to see is light blue luminesce from his fur.
While this is kinda comforting, I also feel slightly nervous now that I can't see what's happening outside.
Only able to feel the vibrations from the outside, I can feel the tight space I'm already in grow tighter. I can only assume Inv is currently traveling through the pipe right now. Thankfully it doesn't hurt, it would suck being crushed like this…
'It's a good thing I'm so used to being in tight spaces at this point, I'd be going crazy right now if I was claustrophobic' I joke with myself, being a slugcat for so long has pretty much made my fear of small spaces completely nonexistent at this point.
Waiting inside the cozy blanket that is Inv's fur, I feel the space around me expand again. Most likely meaning Inv just exited out the other end of the pipe.
Just like earlier, I feel Inv's fur start pushing me back up his back. With my head back on his shoulder I'm able to see again.
Taking a quick breath of air, I turn my head to Inv.
"U-u ok Joey?" Inv asks me, his skin slightly glowing red at the moment.
"Yeah.. I'm fine… can you give me a heads up next time you do that though? Wasn't prepared to be turned into a 'Joey' ball"
"S-sory… nu hur?"
"Nope, I'm ok Inv"
"G-gud…" Inv lets out a small sigh.
…adorable…
With me back in my normal spot on Inv's back, Inv looks down the dark corridor, my vision only seeing the weakest of lights.
"Es dere anyting danrus hear?"
"Not usually… just be careful at the end where the pipe is. There could be a lizard waiting on the other side" I tell Inv, not taking any chances to relax at the moment.
"Ok… lizard… goat et…" Saying this, Inv slowly starts walking down the long dark corridor.
…
Although I can't see anything, I've walked down this path so many times that I can basically do it with my eyes closed, which i don't really need to do since I can't see anything anyway.
But still, I keep my eyes focused forward just in case I see the flicker of some lizard's head.
"U-umm… Joey?"
"Yeah Inv?" I whisper back, wondering why he suddenly said my name.
"Abou earier… te ting i waned tu tel u… i… umm…" Inv stops, his words turning to stutters.
"Inv?" I gently push my head further into Inv's neck, trying to comfort him for what he's about to say.
"D-du… du u rembr wen i… wen crazy froam dat mrrir ting?"
…
"Mhm…"
"Wel… dats wut i wan tu tal aboat wen we… ge bak tu da sheler…" Inv says in the dark quiet.
…
"Ok Inv… just don't force yourself if you don't want to, ok?"
…
"Mhm…" Inv mumbles back, his head starting to lean back onto mine.