Quoted By:
Whether it’s your sixth sense or simply survival instinct after spending so many years dodging items thrown by unruly customers, you find yourself diving forward just as another ‘thwip’ thwips at your haunches–the sudden leap of faith prompting Volka to let go of your wrist and sending you flying down a mossy incline!
Rolling like a cheese wheel down the semi-cushioned incline amidst a cloud of spores jostled free of the myriad of mushrooms around you, you shrug off the pain as best you can as you rapidly approach the mysterious clicking!
Another sticky spear embeds itself inches from your head just before you reach the base of the hill, but all it does is motivate you to get your rear in gear! Scrambling to your feet and limboing another thwip, you rush for the Eclipseweeds like your life depends on it… and it kinda does!
As you limbo beneath one last-ditch attempt to snare you, you drop to the ground and slide like a baseball player stealing home as the clicking becomes loud enough to make your ears sting!
You’re not sure if these are the right plants or not… hell, they might even be some kind of flesh-eating barnacle, but as you slip past the fortissimo florals you reach out and snatch a handful of-
<span class="mu-s">OWWWW THEY DID HAVE BAAAARRRBSSS! OTI, YOU RAAAAAT!</span>
Sonorous sprigs in tow, the fresh pain in your hand motivates you to quickly rise to your feet just as something <span class="mu-s">BIG</span> hits the ground next to you! Kicking a clump of moss in what you hope is its face, you follow the sound of Volka’s jangling armor back up the slope, each step barely gaining purchase on the mossy mound!
Though your pursuer thwips at your heels, you’re rescued by a tiny, but familiar claw grabbing your robe!
“You get ‘em, Ant?” Stammers Tzah-Tzie as you both get pulled up the incline by what you assume is Volka’s tail! Yea, you reply, but-
“Watch yer’ heads!”
Flung behind the Skog, you listen in awe as the gentle giant sends a Volka-sized rock tumbling down the hill! A sickening crunch reverberates across the caverns, but before you can give her a high-five the Grand Marshall is already scooping you and the Spinner up!
“It’s been fun, but I think it’s time to leave!”
Agreed, you nod as you try not to feel odd as Volka’s claw clasps onto your now-vibrating head! Oh right, Oti’s direction spell…
Retracing her steps, however, it rapidly becomes clear that it isn’t necessary. As you close in on your means of escape, a fresh new set of sounds and smells assault your senses:
Crackling flames… and smoke!
>CONTD.
