Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet walked through the empty tunnel. It was the most-- boring and blank tunnel she had ever explored. And that was really something, because she had explored a LOT of tunnels and caves. It was sort of her thing. She was and adventurer! And now she was in this boring tunnel. Like, there wasn't even a scent in the whole place. No sounds, no rocks, no plants, just NOTHING. It was like no one even came here. Animals must not like going into Pisces or something because there wasn't even a footprint. But still, she didn't want to waste all the time she spent coming here, so she waited for something, anything, to happen.

Sitting around and waiting for things to happen was no way to start an adventure, especially in a tunnel as bleak as this one. Strange, feverish chills set into Comet's body just as quickly as condensation formed on her pelt. It was quite an unnerving feeling...

... and it was exacerbated rather quickly. A faint buzzing whisked by a gem-ear. Then another. A few more... ack - ! Something pinched the pup's cheek, then her chin, then her neck. It was short, sharp little pinches, at least, but they were growing in frequency.

Glittering red carapaces came towards her; it was a whole swarm of Ruby Biters settling in for a much-needed meal. Individual flies were barely visible, but a whole cloud... ? Hard not to see (or feel.)

@Comet

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet had not been sitting for long when she felt the humid air start wetting her fur. She was used to getting her fur wet, but this feeling was different. A creepy feeling. It was right then when she heard a buzzing sound. Just one at first, but then another, suddenly she was surrounded by buzzing. Then, a pinch on her cheek. It hurt, but not too much. She brushed it off, but then more, on her chin, then neck, and soon it was all over her body. Individually, the small bites wouldn't have affected her much, but this was a swarm, and it had surrounded her completely. She would have opened her mouth to call for help, but that would mean getting them down her throat.

Squinting, she saw that they were red bugs, but they were moving so fast she could not see each one. Why had she chosen to come to this tunnel? A bad idea. What could she do to ward them off? Physically attacking them wouldn't work, it would have to be magical. Maybe she could blast them out of the air with water?

@Game Master Navy

Mayfal had been wandering a little outside of Eridanus when they picked up on a familiar scent. A Comet-like scent. She'd been here just recently. Why hadn't she stopped to say hello?

They decided to follow the trail of smells through a rather cold and magical place and then into a worm and dry place. This this warm and dry place was the sound of buzzing and Comet. Something wasn't right.

"Comet!" Mayfal called out, and ran towards the ever intensifying scent. But then they started to feel pinpricks on their face. It was slightly painful and very annoying as they began to accumulate. This was the thing that wasn't right.

Mayfal tried to swat at the nasty bitting things with fiery paws and the pinpricks started to go away a little. They continued their approach to Comet.

@Comet

Mayfal's tiny paws swept towards the swarming biters, and while most of the flies wove around them, there were a few noises like something were charring. They took root nonetheless, feeding eagerly.

Comet's attempts to deter the insects were even less successful. Rather than eject any amount of water to flush them away, her own body concentrated it. She'd experience a glaring headache and sudden, intense thirst. Everything spun in a dizzying manner.

Despite either Gembound's rather unsuccessful deterrents, the ruby biters had their fill in no more than a minute and a half, and buzzed off. They were surprisingly clean and efficient, and would leave no disease or itchy sensation but the phantom feeling of their near-microscopic feet.

@Comet @Mayfal

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet heard a familiar voice calling her. Who was it? She couldn't tell through her intense headache that dwarfed the irritation of the ruby biters. She almost didn't notice when they had left. For a strong spell like that to fail so horribly was not good. Combined with the headache was an thirst. She needed water RIGHT NOW. She struggled to hopefully be able to cast the spell correctly through her headache. Absorbing the moisture through the air, she didn't feel thirsty anymore, and it was a good thing that this tunnel was more moisture than usual.
Now she was just left with a headache, which she hoped would pass. Comet laid down on the floor and curled into a ball.

@Mayfal

The pests left almost as quickly as when Mayfal discovered them. With no more annoying pinpricks, it seemed that the two of them were in the clear.

Except that Mayfal heard some soft thuds. They couldn't hear any other creature in the tunnel so it must have been Comet making those sounds. As if she was falling. How long had those bitting things been here? Was Comet going to be alright?

Mayfal began to feel worried. But this time, they were worried for a creature that wasn't themself. This was new...and frankly unpleasant. They ran over to Comet.

"Comet! Are you okay? What's wrong?" Had it been any other creature, this display would sicken Mayfal. But this was Comet, this was different. They actually WANTED her to be okay.

@Comet

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Her headache subsiding a bit, she recognized the voice as Mayfal's. They sounded really worried. "Mayfal? You came... to help..." she shook her head, were the flies still here? No, they were gone now. "My head, it really hurts." she wished it would go away. She tried ignoring the pain, hoping that would make it go away, but it just came back, more intense than before. Comet wanted to drift off, anything would be better than the pain she felt right now.

@Mayfal

Her head hurt. Hurt how? Was there a cut? What kind of pain?

But Comet sounded too weak to answer any of these questions right now. All Mayfal knew about pain is that water helped soothe it. Where could they find water? That would probably be an easier question, especially for comet to answer.

But even if they did find water, they needed to either bring Comet to it or bring it to Comet. Their jaw was their sole carrying tool. They couldn't carry Comet, but they could carry water.

"Comet, where is there a body of water?" their voice carried their determination to help their...mentor.

@Comet

Comet

Arctic Wolf

Comet heard Mayfal's determined voice echo through the cave. What was it? Something about finding water. Yes, water sounded really good right now, she could use some. But her head throbbed, and she couldn't lift it. "Yes... water in... Polaris, right of exit..." she didn't say anymore. Was there really a point in casting that spell? She couldn't go there anyway. Oh NO, was Mayfal planning to get water for her? By themselves? That was not good, she couldn't risk endangering Mayfal for that. "Don't go! Stay safe here!" she tried to yell, but it came out as a weak whisper. She hoped they heard her.

@Mayfal