Sniffles went back to the screaming tree that they saw before. That tree was most definitely living. Forever in a screaming vision that would never leave it's bark. The snake absolutely loved it though, along with the creaking sound it made in the past.

"AAAAAAAAAA" the snake yelled, in hopes to make that same sound happen like before. Only nothing came.

Mayfal was taking a very short stroll through the tunnels (not exactly sure where they were) with the intent of being back in Eridanus soon-ish. But then there was a scream. It was an odd one, too, as it didn't sound like a scream of fear, frustration, or battle. Just...a scream.

It was strange enough to even make Mayfal interested in taking the risk to see what in these caves was going on. They continued to where the scream had come from - it hadn't been too far. When they felt the cave starting to open again, they decided to try and call out.

"Hello? Who's screaming?"

@Sniffles

Sniffles closed their jaws and inspected the tree. Surely it would yell again? Or was it something else that made the noise before? Sniffles would never find out. Their thoughts were stolen from them when a different sound came.

Someone was talking.

Oh!!! Talking!!!!

They quickly slithered to where the noise came from, a fluffy thing was there.

"Tree! It yell!" they added.

@Mayfal

In response to Mayfal's question, a horrid stench crept closer. It was nothing close to anything they had smelled before. Maybe something like a captured hunt, but this was far more rancid and completely unpleasant. They already didn't like where this was going.

With the smell came a voice claiming, what Mayfal assumed it was claiming, that the trees were yelling. The trees were yelling? Mayfal had heard plenty of trees but the sound wasn't one of yelling. What was this creature talking about?

Mayfal had to put their paws over their nostrils in order to find the stability to speak. So, through a stuffed nose, they responded, "I don't mean to offend you, but I don't think that trees...yell."

@Sniffles

The small white thing didn't believe them and sniffles wondered if what they heared with that wolf wasn't a scream from the tree. But it had to be right? It only happened when sniffles messed with the tree before. Maybe they could make it happen again if they messed with the tree?

"I show! Follow!" sniffles said before dashing off.

@Mayfal

Should Mayfal follow? What if it was a trap? And that smell! how long could they stand it? The creature sounded very big and Mayfal was very small in comparison. But this odd creature's voice didn't seem malicious or subversive.

Mayfal followed, deciding to keep a reasonable distance. This distance also happened to naturally occur as this creature covered far more ground than Mayfal could.

When the creature stopped, and Mayfal finally caught up, they held their breath and waited. Attentively, of course.

@Sniffles

There was no scream.

But there was a whisper: a strange rustling through the leaves above, ripping throughout the swamp's forest, as if something were listening; as if something were here. It almost seemed to hold words, and a faint sense of sadness came with it, as if of ancient grief. Nothing, however, could be quite made out.

@Sniffles

There was no returning scream, but something else made its way into Sniffles' ears. Whispering. It sounded sad, full of something that wanted to be said but no words came out. Weird! The snakelike creature thought to themselves before turning to the little fox.

The tree had screamed along with Sniffles before, but that sounds was.... Well something too, they supposed.

"It quiet now..." The snake thought out loud, as they waited to see what kind of reaction the fox would have to that.

@Mayfal

This creature was mistaken. Mayfal knew it. The tree may not have screamed, but it wasn't quiet either.

Mayfal didn't like this sound. The sound of being watched frightened them. Their hair began to stand on end and their plume of a tail bent between their legs.

It was like this tree was trying to talk. it had something to say. And it knew who it could speak to because it could see them. Terrible. A tree with eyes talking to a fox with none. Mayfal began to bare their teeth in the direction of the wordless speaking.

@Sniffles

Sniffles didn't find the tree nearly as scary as Mayfal did - maybe it was due to the fact that they lived in the swamp. The swamp always had scary noises in it, none of which really did startle the snake. They were used to it - hatched in the swamp. None of the sounds were scary. Except Mayfal looked absolutely mortified. Was it really that bad?

"Not scary." The snake said, quiet.

@Mayfal