#I drew that clone armor completely by memory baby

[blackseafoam]

Healed Wrong

Part 1 of 4

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WC: 2349

Warnings: Character death, near-drowning, self-harm (kinda)

Summary: Clone Troopers Flinch, Sway and Ash are freshly deployed on the swamp planet of Dokmur to guard a republic base. Things are uneventful, but danger lurks in the nearby flooded forest.

Heeere's my clone OC, Flinch's (CT-8424) backstory! Probably what he was retelling to ulvi in this comic. Takes place toward the very end of the war, weeks before order 66 and the fall of the Jedi.

Whumptober 2024. Day 06 l not realizing they're injured l unhealthy coping mechanisms l healed wrong l "it's not my blood"

The battlefield was a swamp, and forces on both sides struggled to maneuver. The battles were hell, the boots were constantly filled with water, and the insects bit through every gap in the armor.

Flinch, Ash, and Sway were as shiny as shiny could get, assigned as warm bodies protecting the perimeter of a base hardly anyone was using.

“I think the Sergeant has lost his mind.” Sway huffed as he scanned the tree lines

“What makes you say that?” Ash stood at his right. 

“He’s got us running around all over the place, checking the weak points in the wall. Shouldn’t we just be patrolling around the whole perimeter in a circle? We’d end up wasting way less time that way.” 

Ash Shrugged. “Maybe we should ask him why?”

“Hell no, questioning a superior officer? Are you serious?”

Ash shrugged again. “Maybe if you frame it like a suggestion? Or curiosity?” 

“Not with Sergeant Kip, he’d have us court martialed for tying our shoes wrong.” 

“Our boots don’t have laces…” Ash‘s comment trailed off as another figure started running toward them from the sentry threshold in the force field which surrounded the base. 

“Late again?” Ash chided, Flinch didn’t need to see his face to know there was a cocky smirk beneath that helmet.

Flinch slowed to a jog as he closed the distance. “I left my bucket in the refresher right before someone went in and took FOREVER to finish up!” He complained with a huff.

Sway and Ash laughed

“You’re a mess.” Sway punched at Flinch in the arm. 

“OW! Dammit Sway it’s still healing!” Flinch reflexively grabbed his right bicep where his fresh fist print tattoo was marinating under a bacta patch. 

“What’s the point of getting a tattoo no one will see?” Ash tilted his head, the middle of his flame tattoo that led from behind his ear to his collarbone just barely visible. 

“At least mine isn’t a boat.”  Flinch's defensive glare was so potent it shot through his visor.

“What’s wrong with a boat?” Sway scoffed.

“Why do you even like them? They’re useless.”

“They’re efficient… and poetic.”

The patrol went on as usual, boring. The three took turns, rotating one person at the post and two roving, none of them ever out of sight of each other. 

Flinch and Sway walked their route, their conversation dwindling as they grew hungrier through their long shift. They slowed at the treeline. 

“Our relief must be overdue.” Sway complained.

Flinch glanced at the sky. “Nah, we’ve still got an hour and a half.”

“How do you know that?”

“The moons, see? That larger one hasn’t crossed the path of the smaller one yet, they follow the same path every day.”

“How is it you have the concentration to know where the celestial bodies are at all times, but no focus when it comes to keeping your kit together?”

Flinch shrugged, looking into the woods. The stagnant water rippling between the mangrove trees that stood like sentinels in the swamp. “What is that?”

Sway followed his gaze. The still water had begun to ripple. “Probably a fish or something, let’s stay focused Flinch.” He lightly cuffed Flinch’s left, untattooed arm. The pair kept walking the treeline. The pair cast a cautious glance toward Ash, a hundred yards away now, dutifully watching his patrolling brothers with his rifle at the ready. 

Flinch and Sway were at the edge of their assigned area, about to turn back the way they came. Flinch looked up into the tree that marked their border, its base was submerged in the water here at the edge of the swamp.The branches were tall and spindly with myriads of tiny leaves all reaching toward the sky. Vines and bromeliadae hung from the trunk and branches like draped sinew. He spun on his heel and turned toward the base.  

Before the two knew what was happening, arms appeared from behind a tree and snatched both of them. They gasped in sync as the forceful tugs of two assassin droids wrapped around their waists set them off balance and plunging into the thick black water. 

Flinch panicked as he felt the full weight of the droid now on top of him, he could barely see through the opaque surface of the water. Even though the seal of his helmet kept the water out, he already felt the lack of oxygen through the filter in front of his mouth.

“FLINCH! SWAY!” The helmet comm rang out, Ash had seen the attack but was still far away, and he was met with no response. Flinch found himself hoping Ash would stay away. Brave as he was, he was no match for a force like this. 

 The droid’s dead-eyed stare floated right over the surface, watching him struggle. His vision began to go black at the edges. NO. He steeled himself. This is not how I go out. He saw a third droid appear from above his head, upside-down in his vision. It held some kind of strange weapon, a blaster with a noise suppressing muzzle. The droid pointed it at Flinch’s head. 

With his last ounce of strength and at the end of his consciousness, Flinch ripped out one final burst of energy. Twisting suddenly, and violently. The soft mud helped him roll out from underneath the droid. Miraculously, he kept a grip on his blaster through the maneuver. His head spun as he hopped to his feet, his reaction time was not slowed as he put a laser bolt through the droid that had been straddling him. Followed quickly by dropping the second assassin droid on top of Sway.

He leveled his blaster at the third droid, with the modified pistol, and clipped his metal leg as the machine sprung up into the treetops with impressive ease. Flinch lost sight of it.

“I’ve got backup, we’re on our way!” Ash commed in as Flinch rushed to Sway.

“Copy.” Flinch coughed, ripping his helmet off as he caught his breath and grabbed Sway by the neck hole in his chest opening. Dragging his brother to the edge of the water, Flinch rolled Sway onto his side and removed his helmet as quickly as he could.

Sway was terrifyingly still for five agonizing seconds, Flinch’s chest seized with horror, then his brother let out a cough that sounded like it should’ve sent a lung flying across the mud where he lay. He gasped for air, and Flinch leaned forward and wrapped an arm over his side. “You’re okay, you stupid sailor.” He huffed, also out of breath. 

Sway would’ve said something snarky back, but was busy coughing out, gasping in. His whole body shuddered under Flinch’s hold. Flinch sat back up, and looked up at the treetops where the droid had disappeared to. The vines swayed, but now that his helmet was off he felt no wind.

Ash was still sprinting toward them, three other troopers at his flank, probably the next sentries on shift. Flinch struggled to bring his oxygen depleted mind back to focus, he looked back up to the trees. Something felt wrong. 

As much as he didn’t want to breathe the stale air of his helmet again, after almost taking his last breath inside it, he slammed the bucket back on. “Bogeys, tree bogeys.” He whispered into the comm, turning his gaze at the approaching figures again. 

Ash gave one single quick nod, and slowed to a jog, his reinforcements following suit. They were still a good distance away. Please, stay there, out of range. Flinch prayed. 

“Here’s what we’re going to do, boys.” Ash spoke steadily into the comm. His voice was calm and strong, a commander’s voice. He sounded different, not at all like the  young rookie he was. “The droids are using Flinch and Sway as bait, we can’t let them know that we know that. Let’s put on a good show, follow my lead.”

Ash turned off the comm and removed his helmet, his jog now slowing to a march as he neared earshot. “You boys okay? What happened?” 

Sway was attempting to get up now, still coughing and not able to speak. Flinch helped him up and supported his weight as he leaned wearily on his brother. “We’re okay, assassin droids jumped us from behind that tree, there was a third one but… I think it got away.” Flinch gestured toward the mangroves behind him, and slowly began walking himself and his brother toward their reinforcements. Ash held out a hand and made a small motion for them to slow down, casting the quickest glance possible toward the trees, his open palm became a fist, the signal to halt. Flinch obeyed the sign. 

Ash and the three other troopers closed the distance, he reached out and grabbed Flinch’s hand with both of his. “I’m glad you’re okay, brother.” His hands turned Flinch’s hand palm down, he had deposited a round object into his palm. Flinch couldn’t help but smirk. Ash stepped back. “Let’s head back, we’re going to need to activate some protocols.” Flinch caught the signal, flicking the button on the object in his hand. He noticed the other troopers subtly doing the same thing. Ash had always been the tactician. “And from there we’ll have to send our reports straight up to the TOP!” He screamed the last word and all five of them flung their droid poppers into the treetops with all their might. “GO GO GO GO GO!” Ash cried out while grabbing at Sway, who was still coughing but able to keep up with Ash and Flinch pulling at him as they followed the other three patrol troopers who were sprinting back toward the perimeter. The telltale burst of energy sounded as the poppers found their marks, the trio could hear several droid bodies hit the mud below. Then the shots rang out, and they tore across the field with their lives. 

All six troopers made it back to the sentry tower, gasping. As soon as the door closed behind them, Sway collapsed against Flinch. Flinch held his brother up, shocked relief written across his face, a smile hinting through his open mouth as he also caught his breath. The two fell to their knees on the metal floor, their white armor absolutely filthy with black mud.

“I got you brother, let’s get you both cleaned up.” Ash reached down to lift up Sway, who was, in fact, swaying on his knees and beginning to lean forward. Sway accepted the help and got to his feet, a hand on Ash’s shoulder for support. Flinch pushed himself up off his knees and followed, leaving black footprints behind himself. As they exited the tower, several officers rushed up to them asking questions about the incident. Flinch looked up at the moons, studying their position again. Hardly any time. Hardly any time had gone by. That whole ordeal had been mere minutes, he had lived a lifetime and all the emotions in between in those few minutes. 

“No, I don’t think any of us are hurt.” Ash reassured one of the officers as they walked.

“There’s blood on the ground.” The non-clone officer pointed out.

At the comment everyone looked at the ground behind Flinch, who walked right behind Sway. Someone’s bootprint was leaving red tracks in the mossy ground. 

“I don’t think that’s mine...” Flinch’s face tightened, and he looked up at Sway and Ash. Sway was pale. Flinch looked down at his feet, blood cascaded out of the gap between his shin guard and his boot, the black mud that had been therewas replaced by bright red. 

Flinch has a hard time recalling the minutes that followed. Quite unlike the slowed-down time of his adrenaline-induced altercation with the droids, he only remembers the next part in flashes. 

Sway went down, Flinch would not leave his side, Sway’s pale face, and the shaking. Shock. They had learned all about shock as cadets. They made it back, they were supposed to be safe. They had won, that was supposed to be the end of it.

No one had noticed the second assassin droid had a vibroknife, somehow it had found the gap in the armor on Sway’s thigh.

Sway’s last moments were spent frightened, looking up at Flinch. Flinch grabbed the side of his face below the ear, thumb leaving prints of blood over the glyphic boat tattoo on his jaw. He wished he had the mind to say something, anything, any words to comfort Sway as the light left his eyes. The medics didn’t make it in time. Too much time in the rancid water, too much time running while bleeding out, not enough time to get help. Not enough time to say goodbye.

-

Flinch lay in his bunk that night staring at the bottom of the mattress above him. Ash had commandeered the bunk beside his, the previous owner not making any fuss about trading for this night. 

“They said they want to check you for fluid in your lungs again tomorrow morning.” Ash reported, sitting on the very edge of the thin mattress, leaning his elbows on his knees. He looked at Flinch, but tears stung his eyes, he looked down at the floor instead. 

“Water didn’t even get in my mouth.” Flinch said, deadpan.

Ash shrugged. “I told them that, they didn’t care. They just wanted me to tell you. Don’t shoot the messenger.” He gave a weak attempt at a light-hearted tone.

Flinch closed his eyes and sighed, turning over in the bed away from Ash. He felt Ash’s weight sit next to him, setting hand on his shoulder. Ash said nothing, just breathed for a while. “I’ll be right here.” He patted Flinch as he stood and moved to his borrowed bunk just a few feet away. 

Flinch’s left hand found the neck of his black underarmor, he pulled at it, then his hand went inside the shirt to his right bicep. His fresh tattoo. It had begun to itch like mad ever since a few hours ago. As he scratched at it the sensation brought quick relief, he didn’t slow down as it turned into a burning bright pain. He didn’t remember stopping, he didn’t remember falling asleep either. 

[kentuckywrites]

Imperium 2: Chapter 5

Scio via. (I know the way.)

Another roar echoed across the sky, and the Telethia dove towards the caravan at an alarming speed. Elma took aim and fired as soon as the creature drew close enough, which unfortunately happened to be when it landed on top of a tent. To her relief, it seemed like no Nopon were hurt in the landing, but many more seemed to emerge from hiding, taking up various weapons of various sizes. It would’ve been awe-inspiring, were the Telethia not targeting them with razor-sharp claw attacks. That was when Lin began unloading her gatling gun rounds onto the beast, aiming for the head in an effort to distract it.

“Hey, over here you overgrown furry lava lamp!!” Lin shouted, which drew the Telethia’s ire in mere seconds. Elma wasn’t initially concerned, since Lin knew how to handle herself when it came to taunting enemies, but then again, this was a Telethia. A smaller one, much smaller than the one that guarded the Divine Roost in Noctilum, but a Telethia nonetheless. They didn’t know what it could do, and caution would be needed until they could discern more.

Nessa clutched her dual swords tightly as she ran around Starr’s backside. She struck at the beast’s hind legs, and suddenly all of Lin’s work was for naught, for Starr turned faster than Elma thought possible. It tried to bite at her, but thank the gods, she lept backwards and out of the way. However, she tripped over a Nopon in the process, too small for her to see behind her. Elma sprinted towards her, activating Sliding Slinger as she slid down onto her back and positioned her guns in front of her.

“Sliding Slinger!!” Elma cried as she unleashed a volley of shots to Starr’s underbelly, hearing it roar in pain - no, no, that wasn’t pain. That was annoyance. Pain was more raw and guttural, but this was fueled with an anger she couldn’t understand. She quickly found her footing as she jumped up from the ground, running towards Nessa to help her up.

However, Solstice reached her first. They lifted Nessa off the ground like she was a sack of potatoes, and their hands quickly joined with hers, begging, pleading. “Please don’t hurt him, he’s just confused and scared. If I could get up close and speak with him I can -”

“There’s no time, Sol!” Nessa interrupted, forcing her hands out of Solstice’s grip, “The caravan’s in danger! The Nopons’ safety comes first!!”

Although she didn’t vocalize it, Elma completely agreed with that sentiment. As Nessa picked up her dual swords once more, Elma spun around back towards Starr. More of the Nopon were firing at it, many shouting war cries and commands to others. Froyoyo even appeared moments after she turned, launching himself from behind another tent with his large broadsword drawn. He growled before landing on the Telethia’s back, stabbing directly downwards into the space between the shoulderblades. The blade went deep, and Starr’s screams reflected pain now, but the second the blade was freed from its burial, the wound seemed to close on its own. The blood still pooled out of the former wound, and the scar that would’ve likely remained was now lodged firmly in Starr’s mind. It started to reach behind in a desperate attempt to claw Froyoyo, to knock the little Nopon off of its back. Then, to Elma’s surprise, it threw itself onto its back, hoping to squish Froyoyo beneath its body. Froyoyo rolled out of the way, through what Elma assumed was either pure luck or pure skill. And he even struck a little pose with his sword at the end, as if some distant figure was trying to photograph his glorious moment.

“Froyoyo!! Tell your caravan to stand down!!” Solstice implored, desperation lining their voice like the snow on the mountains.

At this, Froyoyo faced her, his expression somewhere between confusion, anger and pity. “Froyoyo know Sollypon is here to speak to dragon, but caravan is more important right now. Can’t have conversation when home is in danger!”

He didn’t give Solstice time to respond, heading back into the fight just as Starr began to pulsate. Ether lines trailed up and down its body, purple and glowing and ominous, and when they collided on its face, a blast of energy erupted from its gaping maw. The fire struck Lin, but thankfully, she took the hit with ease. Starr then swiveled around to face Elma, intending on giving her the same present, and in the same moment Elma activated yet another Art. She walked slowly to the side, her shadow trailing behind her in a fluid but staticy form. Ghostwalker. As the flames spiraled towards her, they ended up hitting one of her newly formed clones, though the embers caught on Elma’s armor and singed the sleeves.

Elma raised her guns, poised to start shooting once more, but as she was about to pull the triggers, Starr suddenly flapped its wings, roaring ferociously as a final warning before taking to the sky, prompting many of the Nopon to yell and scream and raise their weapons. Elma watched it fly off towards the mountains, panting despite not having done much in the fight, though she quickly looked between Lin and Nessa to make sure they were alright. Lin had taken the hit before, but she didn’t look too much worse for wear. However, to her surprise, Solstice started to run after Starr, pushing past and jumping over the scattered Nopon.

“Starr! Wait!!” They cried out, stopping at the camp’s perimeter once they realized their words were meaningless, tossed into the wind with no hopes of ever reaching its intended target. It was strange, seeing them look so defeated in the midst of the Nopons’ celebration. Elma took note of this and approached Solstice with a slow and understanding hand, shadows still flickering around her figure, clinging to her like melting snow.

“I have to go after it,” Solstice said, seemingly speaking to themselves, “I can’t...Starr needs my help. I can feel it, something is terribly wrong with him. Seeing him so close provided a new insight, and...and I can’t…”

Nessa and Lin soon joined them, with Nessa keeping a gentle hand on Lin’s back. Nessa squinted, trying to look out and watch the Telethia fly further, further. “You could see that something was wrong with it? How?”

Solstice sighed, a small but desperate thing. “Through my ether, I can sense Starr’s emotional state. His mind is...it’s not his own. I think something has interfered with it, something that is not in his control.”

“Starr isn’t in control?...Elma, are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Nessa’s eyes went wide with the realization, “Do you think this has something to do with the Ganglion? If Mira’s last memory of Pongo was being around the Ganglion, and there’s a fortress in Cocytios...then maybe Starr’s connected to them too.”

“The Ganglion controlling a Telethia?” Lin pursed her lips, deep in thought, “But...isn’t the Telethia in Noctilum connected to Mira? At least, that’s what I remember Pongo telling us back when he...well.”

“Threw himself into a volcano? Mira’s still upset about that, by the way.”

Elma realized a moment after Nessa spoke that she had blatantly revealed what she was in front of a near-stranger. Solstice gave her a weird look, some mixture between curiosity and shock, and Lin was the saving grace that stopped them from questioning things.

“I’m not too positive that theory is correct, but either way, we’re heading to that base. Maybe once we’re investigating there, we can try to dig up some information about Starr.”

“And maybe you could tag along,” Nessa nudged Solstice’s shoulder - or rather, their forearm, considering how much taller they were in comparison. “Gods know we could use the help, especially if you’ve navigated Cocytios before.”

“I’m familiar with the terrain, yes,” Solstice said, “This Ganglion base you speak of...I believe I know where it is. It’s past a few of the mountains that Starr flew past as he fled.”

“So either way, you’d be coming with us!” She replied, “Aww, I knew you couldn’t get enough of me!” “I never stated I would be joining you.”

Silence.

“I suppose I’ll say it now, then. I’ll happily accompany you and assist where need be. And though my primary reason for doing so is to find Starr…” They gave Nessa a small wink, a teasing smirk, “I’ll admit the company makes for a valuable second reason.”

Elma didn’t miss how Nessa’s cheeks took on a soft shade of baby pink, nor did she miss how Lin rolled her eyes. “Alright then, it’s settled. Let’s inform Froyoyo of our plans, and we’ll head out tomorrow at dawn.”

“Tomorrow?” Solstice said, disheartened, “I...I suppose we could rest for the night, considering what we all encountered just now. But at the crack of dawn, I’ll be ready to depart, with or without you.”

“Ouch,” Nessa acted hurt, “Well, I’ll be ready by then, too. Maybe Vanala can heal us all up some more, and Froyoyo can give us a couple goodie baskets for the road.”

“His hospitality is more than enough,” They replied, “Besides, I know the terrain and many of the resources we can utilize on our journey. There won’t be any need for us to take supplies from the caravan, unless Froyoyo insists.”

“Who say Froyoyo’s name?”

It wasn’t exactly fitting to call the moment “on cue”, since Froyoyo had heard his name in conversation, so Elma preferred to say he’d been “summoned”. The white Nopon bounced right up to the group with Tatsu in tow, his sword still drawn and hanging loosely in one of his wings. Blood coated the blade, though it was a deep blue. Normal for mimeosomes, but unusual for an indigen. 

“If this is about Sollypon’s quest to speak with furry dragon,” Froyoyo continued, “Then Froyoyo grants friends a Heropon’s blessing. Froyoyo will not be able to join adventure since Desserta Caravan needs Froyoyo’s protection!”

“That’s very understandable, and there’s no pressure for you to join us,” Elma nodded, “But yes, we’re electing to go after Starr. We’ll be departing tomorrow, at the break of dawn. Would you mind extending your hospitality until then?”

“Meh meh! Froyoyo not mind at all!” Froyoyo exclaimed, “It’s least Froyoyo can do for friends who defend caravan against weird furry dragon!”

Tatsu started to look around nervously, somewhat hidden behind the much older Nopon. Lin gave him a peculiar look, interested but confused at his change in mannerisms. “Tatsu? Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“N-No, Tatsu is fine!” Tatsu told her, “But, um...Tatsu has question for Elma and friends.”

“Sure thing! What’s up, Tots?” Nessa used a new nickname, though everyone seemed unfazed by it - or rather, there were more pressing concerns at hand.

“W-Well...would it be okay if Tatsu stayed with Desserta Caravan?” 

Elma paused for a moment, the question seeming to fall on her. “Do you mean permanently?”

“No! Just for short while,” Tatsu explained, “Tatsu want to stay and learn how to fight! Tatsu is afraid that Tatsu isn’t helpful during missions, and Tatsu doesn’t want to be a burden!”

“Wait, you’re not...you’ve never been a burden, Tatsu,” Lin said softly, “I-I know I haven’t been the kindest to you, but...but we love having you around.”

“Tatsu have to disagree. Not angry with Linly, not at all! But Tatsu thinks he should get stronger to protect Linly and friends, like Linly and friends have done for Tatsu. And who better to learn from than Legendary Heropon Froyoyo?”

Froyoyo puffed up at that, and he gave them all a reassuring smile. “Not to worry, Froyoyo and Tatsu have discussed plans already. Froyoyo is more than happy to train Tatsu to defend himself while friends take down weird furry dragon! Tatsu is in good company in Desserta Caravan.”

“If that’s really what you want, Tots, then I want you to promise me one thing,” Nessa bent down on one knee to address Tatsu, giving him a small head pat, “When we find Pongo, don’t tell him you know how to fight, but surprise him by kicking his butt.”

“Meh meh! That not very nice!”

“It’ll be funny as hell though. Plus, he deserves a little punishment for making us worry.”

“Nessa may be right...Tatsu is very worried for Pon.”

“Pon?” Froyoyo’s face scrunched up, “What kind of fuck name is that?”

“Full name Pongo! But yes, very weird name,” Tatsu admitted, “Tatsu never said anything out of politeness.”

“His full name is weirder,” Nessa said, “It’s Pong’netai-opta. It’s Miran for -”

“‘With eyes full of stars’,” Solstice finished her sentence, her tone fond and wistful, “What a beautiful name...though, I didn’t know humans were capable of understanding our language, much less understand the naming conventions.”

“Well, um...it’s a long story,” Nessa stood up, dusting her knees off as snow melted off of her armor, “But we’ve got a lot of time before we leave tomorrow, so I’ll tell you everything, if you want!”

“You’ve piqued my curiosity, I’ll admit,” Solstice said, “And in more ways than one.”

“More ways than one? Well, what else are you curious about?”

“If I may be blunt for a moment...why are you wearing such revealing armor? Aren’t you cold?”

“Wh- Well, hey, you’re not wearing much either!!”

“The F'lenla A'slegn can adapt to most climates in the span of twenty four hours. Therefore, my attire doesn’t factor into the environmental concerns. But humans, however, I’d imagine there is some considerable planning that goes into armor selection…”

They began to walk back towards the tents, leaving Lin and Elma to their own devices. She watched them walk farther, farther, their voices growing quieter, quieter. Lin was close by, and when she spoke, her proximity startled Elma. 

“Elma? Are you okay?”

Elma nodded once and only once. “Of course. Now, let’s prepare for tomorrow. We have a Telethia to track down.”

~

The night came far too quickly for Elma’s comfort. It was filled with a comfortable fire, conversations and stories traded between allies and friends alike. The Nopon of Desserta Caravan, though unique in their own right, were nothing less than friendly and open, and Froyoyo’s littlepon took great joy in listening to Elma’s heroic tales. They shone with a starlight curiosity as she told them of their escape from Earth, their landing on Mira, all they’d accomplished in their time on the sentient planet. And when Froyoyo called them all to bed for the night, Elma was left with a warmth she hadn’t felt in quite some time. Vanala gave them two tents to share between the four humanoids, and at Nessa’s insistence, Elma ended up in a tent with Lin. The Outfitter fell asleep in seconds, and with anticipation for the journey ahead, Elma soon followed in her descent into the unconscious.

As promised, they were all ready to travel at the crack of dawn. Froyoyo and a groggy Tatsu saw them off, and though she protested, she ended up carrying a bag full of what appeared to be bananas, a gift from the Legendary Heropon.

“Fruits are called thermonanas!” Froyoyo explained, “Raises body temperature. Good for long travels.”

“You didn’t need to go through all that trouble,” Solstice thanked the Nopon with a small bow, “But your hospitality has been greatly appreciated. Thank you again, Froyoyo.”

“Is least Froyoyo can do for friends!” He stated, “Now go! Track down weird furry dragon! Find weirdly named brother! Be Heropon!”

With the bag of thermonanas strapped to Elma’s back, they bid Froyoyo a fond farewell, and Solstice took the lead into the Cocytios wilderness. The day was bright and promising, the clouds dispersed and allowing the sun a moment to breathe, to rain light unto the snowy plains. Though the wind was bitter with unspoken remorse, it was far more bearable than it had been before. Lin and Nessa managed to pass the time with lively chit-chat, their giggles at whispered jokes continuing to warm Elma’s heart. She overheard a joke or two, but they were never meant for her ears, and so she kept close to Solstice in the hopes that, perhaps, they’d enjoy the same bliss, albeit in their own way.

“So as I recall, you’re aware of the F’lenla A’slegn,” Solstice started as Elma matched their pace, “Could you tell me more about what you know? And if there are other of my kind that are alive and well?”

“Of course,” Elma said, “His full name is L’Cirufe, though we call him L for short. He’s...an eccentric character, though incredibly knowledgeable and has a knack for creating quality-of-life inventions.”

Solstice didn’t stop walking at that, but it was clear from their expression that this caught them off guard. “He’s...he’s alive?”

“Do you know him?”

“I do, though distantly,” They admitted, “We would be called acquaintances at best. However, I do know what he became.”

Elma scowled, clearly confused. “I’ve only heard bits and pieces of his connection to Mira, but as far as I’m aware, he didn’t become anything.”

“L’Cirufe was Mira’s weapon,” Solstice began to explain, choosing their words carefully, keeping them close and quiet and still, “There was a great war amongst my kind. It threatened the planet’s safety, and as such, it chose L’Cirufe to fight in its name. He...he wasn’t the L’Cirufe you know, back then. He was…” A shudder ran down her spine. “I’ve seen many creatures in my time on Mira, but his transformation was by far the hardest to witness.”

“You may be happy to hear that his connection to Mira is severed, then,” Elma tried to lift their spirits, looking on the bright side, “Instead, Mira created a vessel to control on its own. That vessel is -”

“Me!” Nessa interrupted, far closer behind the two than Elma initially believed. Lin had also come up on Solstice’s right side, peering over at Nessa with a smile leftover from their inside jokes. Solstice’s eyes widened at the confession, but the initial surprise was soon replaced by a pensive and thoughtful head tilt.

“You’re...Mira?” Solstice questioned, “But...your name is Nessa.”

Nessa blinked, and suddenly, her eyes were white, whiter than the snow. “Her full name’s Nessa-vara’is. I know, I’m so good at the whole naming thing.”

“Hi, Mira!” Lin quickly added in, prompting Mira to pat Lin’s head much like an older sibling.

“Hey, Lin,” Mira chuckled. Then, turning back to Solstice, she gave them a smile softer than the falling snow, more familiar and familial. “Hello, Sol’stica-veaya.”

“Hello, Mira,” Solstice returned the greeting, “I didn’t know you were capable of creating your own form.”

“It’s a recent development,” She shrugged, “But a welcome one. I’ve been meaning to speak with you, actually. Maybe after this whole adventure is over…”

“There’s nothing you need to say that I don’t already feel,” They told Mira, words with the slightest twist of hostility, “Let us focus on the mission at hand. Then we can -”

Suddenly a loud roar echoed across the plains, familiar, too familiar. Elma spun around, all of the warmth vanishing from her heart, as she spotted a draconic silhouette descending from the skies. 

“Shit,” Lin cursed, and Elma had half a mind to tell her to watch her language. But instead, her gut instinct prevailed as she took a look at their surroundings. Plains behind them, their footsteps in the snow growing old. In front of them, a mountain’s base. She squinted - was that a cavern entrance? Cavern termites be damned. She’d rather take her chances with them than Starr.

“Run!!” Elma ordered everyone, emerging past Solstice and taking the lead as she beelined towards the cavern entrance. She couldn’t afford to look behind her until she’d reached the mouth, and only then did she hear three footsteps echoing behind her. Everyone had followed her, no one had stayed to fight. Elma paused for a moment to look behind her, confirming that Lin, Nessa and Solstice were all there, safe and sound. 

Then the walls shook as Starr flung himself at the mountain, rocks and stalactites crumbling and falling at their feet. An angry roar, and the entrance went dark, covered by a large black and red eye. The ether lines ran down its eyelids, pulsating with energy and fueling the rage on full display. Elma took one step back, two steps, three - then Starr attempted to reach inside. Lin cried out as he first rammed his face unsuccessfully into the hole, and then tried to reach inside with one of his massive claws. Elma took the initiative and started to run once more, further into the cave system, where the light was fleeting and soon nonexistent. 

“ELMA!!”

Elma stopped, and when she turned to see what had happened, Lin was behind her, gasping for breath, pointing back towards the way they came. Elma’s jaw dropped when she realized that the way they’d come through had caved in, blocked off completely by rocks and broken stalactites. And she and Lin were the only ones she could see.

“Nessa?? Solstice?!” Elma called out, unable to stop the panic lacing her voice. She wished she could’ve controlled it better, because she immediately sensed how tense Lin became at her facade, cracking and crumbling under the pressure just as the stones of the cavern did. 

But thankfully, relief soon flooded over her as Nessa’s voice pushed through the rubble, “Sol and I are okay!”

“Thank God,” Lin breathed a heavy sigh, “We’re okay too!”

“I doubt that we’ll be able to breach this,” Solstice said, “But there are other passageways behind us that we can take. Rest assured, we will meet up with both of you soon. Continue on without us, and we’ll catch up.”

“Are you sure?” Elma asked, approaching the newly formed wall between them, “With a little ingenuity we could -”

“We shouldn’t risk the possibility of creating another collapse,” They interrupted her with a valid concern, “We’re lucky that we didn’t get crushed. I promise you, I will take good care of Nessa until our reunion.”

“Hey! I can take care of myself, you know!” Nessa complained, “If anything, I’ll protect you!”

Elma couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “Watch each others’ backs, then. We’ll see you on the other side.”

Then, two footsteps growing distant, followed by silence. Elma stepped back towards Lin, rolling her shoulders in their sockets. The straps of the bag Froyoyo had given her suddenly felt heavy with guilt, but there was no time to ponder what she could’ve done differently. She knew in the end that she’d made the right call. So, she pulled out a flashlight, flicked it on, shone it straight towards their one and only route forward.

“Come on, Lin,” Elma began to forge the path ahead, “Let’s get moving.”

She couldn’t ignore the roars and howls of the Telethia outside, but she could think about how much worse things could’ve been. And now, she could only hope that Nessa and Solstice found their way out safely, and kept each other safe in the process.