SAVE POINT 78
Creature Creator Loading...333% (You'll Get It Later ;P)
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Dormouse
There's two things about walking alone in the dark: 1) you're usually scared shitless of every noise and 2) you're left to think too much.
Or seethe.
And, to be real, I think I'm seething too much—or thinking about how I'm seething too much. Each annoyed crunch of my boots in the grass only further cements my rage and self-pity tendencies. Because EmeraldCity_88—that green-haired chunk of monstrosity—created a flying-leopard-winged-thing with black magic. She flew over all this countryside that is now beating my ass into a sweaty, exhausted and cranky pulp. She flew—probably with the wind in her hair.
But I have to walk 'cause I'm being the good person here.
I'm being the good person, trying not to destroy the entire, living Game world and this is what I get for it?
Story of my life. From where I stand, I finally understand it. The good guy never gets thrown a bone. Instead, I get—
Bug bites. I slap another mosquito away from my neck. Yes, apparently the pesky piranhas were, somehow, programmed into The Game.
Oh, and a pissed off almost-girlfriend.
No, I remind myself, Mimi wasn't an 'almost-girlfriend', we just had a thing—a thing that I thought was a thing that Maude totally screwed up...can I stop harassing myself about this?!
Apparently not, I realize with a sigh. I'm basically a closet masochist at this point. Grand Dragon, help me.
My head's been spinning too fast. If I'm not careful, I'll give myself some worry-induced heart attack or something right here—in the middle of this dark trail leading up the craggy mountainside. ...And only animals with sharp fangs would find my despondent body out here, curled on the side of the path—Grand Dragon, why do I think such terrible things?!
I try to refocus my mind. I've picked the most likely path to success. The green-haired girl is looking for a dragon. She's probably smart enough to hack into The Game code and find a map of the place...but probably lazy enough to pick the closest sure-bet.
A town.
With the name 'Dragon' in it.
My money's on she'll be flying straight to the 'Dragon's Sea Town', so that's where I'm headed. Money—ha. I don't bet. I'd have to be lucky for that and, right now, I can't think of an unluckier dude...than me.
Sure, it looks like I have the world at my feet with the arrival of the nerds. They basically worship the ground I walk on—especially the girls. There's t-shirts of my face. They all want my signature. They'd probably go out on a date with me if I asked but...
But I just screwed up every chance I'd ever had with the girl I actually want.
Mimi.
I shake my head, my stomach feeling empty and sour and my heart...hurting. Sometimes, you have all the options in the world and, yet, you don't even care because it's not the one you want. This sucks.
I kick a stone only to instantly stub my toe.
...And it kind of proves my entire, inner, philosophy monologue to me. I clench my fists at my sides, biting my lip.
God—
I want to throw something! I want to punch something! I'm not the type to usually want to punch something but, today, I want to pummel something—
Beat it to a shred. Put my whole fist through a wall.
I want something to fight that's not myself—
A twig snaps. I stiffen—stop. My head flies towards the sound.
...And, then, I check under the heels of my boots—just in case. And there's no twig there.
Shit.
Shit! Why do I have to wish for stupid shit? Never mind! I backtrack quickly in my mind. Never mind about that fighting thing! I prefer fighting with myself, really—really, I'd rather—
Crack.
Fuck. It's something big. I was in Land Scouts growing up, and I know something big when I hear it. My mouth zippers shut. My eyes rake the dark rocks rising above me and the tall, silent grass to my side. What could be hiding in there? The stars twinkle overhead like this all might be smoothed over and forgotten like a fairytale if I just let myself sit and stare at their wonder for a few minutes. But I grew up here. I know the terrors that can lurk in pitch darkness—the beasts. Still—I tell myself and my shuttering heartbeat—it could be a rabbit.
A big rabbit.
Overweight?
Too many carrots?
It's feeling more and more unlikely as my hands scrabble for some type of weapon. This long stick will do, but I don't have any time to sharpen the dull end. I white-knuckle grip it in front of me like a spear. There's also a medium-sized rock on the ledge above me, if I could just reach it—
What am I doing?
Shock apparently has diluted all of my survival instincts. I don't need weapons. I only need to manipulate the code. My shaking fingers drop the wood staff, flying in the air to bring up the interface.
Oh my gosh, why didn't I think of this before? Maybe I can turn on a light or something and see what I'm dealing with or scare it away...
I'm sweating. That's far too obvious. I swipe an arm across my damp forehead, trying to keep the soaked ends of my dark hair from obliterating my vision as I peer at the numbers I can barely see in the darkness.
Setting Options:
I select 'Systems'.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Systems:
Display:
There has to be a brightness function. Everything has a brightness function...
My eyes scan the lists while my ears scan the night.
Silence.
It's only making me sweat more.
Color
Scale & Layout
Resolution
Night Vision
Night vision? Hell yeah. How did I not know this was an option? I quickly press 'enter' to toggle the option—
SHIT.
And nearly soil myself.
Because the world lights up in neon greens and blues—the largest of which is two, enormous eyes, blinking at me through the grass. A mouth below them opens, showing jagged rows of sharp teeth.
A panther?
A tiger?
What the fuck is it?!
I scrabble backwards, momentarily forgetting all combat training except for the obvious: 'get yourself away from the enemy'. I'm hyperventilating. My rapid breaths seize. Oh Grand Dragon, maybe I was right about that heart attack. How the heck am I going to kill this thing before it takes a nerd-boy-sized chunk out of me?!
It's advancing.
Crouched low—its black fur shimmering wickedly in the moonlight and the glow of the night vision.
It folds enormous, ebony, angel wings above its back.
Wait? It's one of those things—the creature EmeraldCity_88 rode off on? Some sort of winged leopard...
I'm rusty. How the heck am I going to fight this thing?!
Its paws slink forward, its eyes narrowed, ready to—
It pounces.
My fingers flail in the air for the code, but my mind delayed any sort of action too long.
And the beast hits me. Solid fur meeting skin. It's so much bigger and heavier—
I go flying, skidding out like a doll on a wood floor.
Dirt and grass sear at my back. The crown of my head hits something hard. The world swims as my health bar takes a blow.
No, no keep consciousness, I beg myself, trying to right the world like a fishbowl teetering off a desk. If I pass out here, the big cat will eat me. I have to stay awake.
The world levels. I'm vaguely aware of my heart beating in my ears and the ragged breaths scrapping up my chest as I struggle to sit up. Ow. I rub at my head, bringing my blurry hand up into wavering vision.
There's blood.
On my hand.
Arm.
I see a red drip on my cheek—more?
I brush it away.
Because I have bigger concerns. My body thrums with fear as I hoist myself upward and onto aching feet—crouching.
The dark beast is laid out only a few feet away, its back facing me and its head lolled to the side like its wings. I can't tell, even with the night vision, if the thing's glossy coat is moving up and down...breathing...
I creep forward, everything in me screaming how this is a bad idea.
Is it...dead?
I lean further, placing a closed-fingered palm in front of its nose to see I feel any—
Hot air.
Rushing.
I trip backwards.
The beast jumps up—
> If you got up first, do I still win at playing dead?
A boyish voice giggles in my head.
—What?!
I balk at the creature who stands there openly: wide eyes, swishing, expectant tail...almost like a golden retriever...
It's not—
It's not going to eat me? It thought we were—playing? Maybe I really did hit my head. I grab for the wound and turn to run—
> Wait!
The leopard whines—a high-pitched, saddest-thing-you've-ever-heard plea.
I can't believe I'm doing this. I'm not doing this. What is wrong with me—
I turn back around to face it's beseeching, yellow eyes.
> Please wait. No one will be my friend. I wanted to be friends with the green-haired lady, but she said I'm a failure. My creator said I'm a failure. I think that's bad.
Its tail stops swishing like the thought is really bothering it.
My breath hitches in my throat. Green-haired lady? EmeraldCity? This animal has seen EmeraldCity? Maybe it can help me find her—
"When did you last see the green-haired lady?" I prod, "Do you know where she was headed?"
The animals black-velvet ears perk excitedly.
> Oh! I know the answers to these questions! Does it mean we can be friends? I'm a good friend! Plus, I know how to roll over and fetch. I even scoop my own poops.
It adds proudly.
I have to chuckle a little at that. The thing is harmless. This blood on me is probably from hitting the base of the mountains. I wipe it distractedly on my pants.
> Oh! I will tell you what I know. The green-haired lady created me. I'm number 333 which is a lucky number I think. She commanded we all follow her west—whatever that means. There were so many of us that the sky was black. But I fell behind. And she yelled at me, but she gave me a new name, Fiasco. And she said it kind of yellingly, but I think it's good to have a new name, isn't it?
The spotted leopard plops its back haunches down in the dirt, panting eagerly. Its eyes lock on mine again as it speaks in my mind.
> I would like a pet now. And, if you have any treats, I like those too.
I bust out in a smile, feeling relief overwhelm my veins. "I don't have any treats, but I'd give you one if I could," I tell it. "I can do the pat."
And I move forward and rub my hand cautiously over the beast's silken head. Except it's fur is so soft that I lose myself in the gesture a little. I widen the motion, rubbing along its spine and chest. The huge thing purrs, surprising me by gleefully rolling onto its back, feet ballooning up in the air like a housecat.
> Oh, you are a good petter.
It tells me, which makes me chuckle again. I envelop my fingers in the soft, dark hair of its chest, pausing to read the black leather collar I've just realize is fastened around its neck. There's a plague:
'Jagwindo #333'
Hmmm. Emerald City really was making a flock of these things? She's probably used enough black magic to break the entire world again.
I reach to rub behind the thing's wings when—when it hits me that this panther thing isn't just a surprise...he's a gift.
"Wait, you can fly, right?" I ask it, my voice hitching with nerves that I can't believe are hitting me just now.
The leopard rolls over, righting itself again and shaking out its huge wings.
> Yes. Yes, I am good at flying.
"You can carry—a person?" I clarify.
> I've never tried, but I will if you'll be my friend.
The beast's huge eyes blink at me, waiting expectantly.
Friend. All this poor thing wants is a friend?
"I'll be your friend," I vow solemnly, extending a hand for a handshake that I just now realize the creature can never give me.
But I feel something wet and look down to find it's huge tongue licking my fingers. I yank them back, grinning, "Ew, that tickles!"
> Friend!
The Jagwindo squeals happily.
> My first friend!
But we're feeling different emotions, because I'm looking up into the pitch-black sky that looks even more ominous than it did fifteen minutes ago.
Where are you, EmeraldCity_88? And can I find you before you destroy everything?