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Even after finding out that Grian’s title of Mother Spore was literal, given the piece of mycelium on his back Grian acted as if everything was normal. As if everything was still just a funny little game. As if the fungus wasn’t constantly yelling in his brain to spread more mycelium, to feed it, to stay next to the Source.
Grian refused to give in. He was stubborn and that wouldn’t just suddenly fizzle out. No matter how tempting it was to do whatever it said to get it to be quiet, even just for a moment. Grian sighed as he shook his head, alone in The Barge once again restocking the shop.
The H.E.P were still stationed outside but at least they weren’t actively swarming the area. They had said something about checking the surrounding area just to be safe and make sure the mycelium wasn’t rotting away at the shop’s foundations. Now that got the mycelium talking.
No. No! You can’t let them do this! You can’t let them find the cave! You must kill them. Kill them and feed them to me! I am so hungry Grian. You must feed me. You have to feed me at some point Grian.
Sighing, Grian finished restocking and flew away out of The Barge. It was time for another meeting after all! Grian just hoped he could keep his head on straight during. Ren said he had some research to talk about and Impulse had some ideas he wanted to run past everybody. Hopefully, Grian wouldn’t have to do a lot of talking.
Grian knew this was getting more serious, at least for him. Hopefully, none of his friends were having the same problem. It was Grian’s fault this whole thing started so he feels it’s only right that the mycelium on him is his curse to bear, no one else’s.
We’ll see about that Gree-on.
Grian’s blood turns to ice in his veins in a matter of seconds, his wings stopping mid-beat as his brain comes to a screeching halt. That had to be targeted. How did it know about that? Grian hadn’t told anyone about that time ever. No one had said his name like that since-
Grian manages to snap himself back into reality as the checkmark he left for himself and the other Resistance members comes into view, thankful for the distraction Grian shakes his head and begins his descent to the Resistance HQ.
Inside the HQ an awful sight waited for Grian as if it was placed there specifically to make his day worse. The Source had grown its own tendrils to wrap around the pipes connected to it. Just like the mycelium that had grown in the original HQ. He knew this wasn’t any person’s doing. It was all the Source.
Grian felt his stomach tighten and churn as the base of his spine warmed, feeling like an unwanted arm around his waist. Grian took a deep breath and desperately tried to steady himself, taking his seat, thankful that he was the first to arrive at the meeting.
Grian didn’t even know when he had gotten lost in his thoughts but he was pulled out of them when Impulse fell through the entrance and took his seat. “Hey, Grian! You’re a bit earlier than usual huh? You weren’t waiting long were you?”
“Oh, I guess I am early. Better for the leader to be early than late right? But uh no I wasn’t waiting long.” Impulse looked Grian up and down with a curious look and under the careful gaze of the man Grian felt his stomach churn again as if just a glance at him would expose everything that was wrong with him.
“Well glad you weren’t alone too long. Etho told me he’d be a bit late but he’ll be here eventually.” In just a matter of seconds, all the pressure he felt was taken off and in this brief moment of relief, Grian just nodded.
Soon the other Resistance members filed in and took their seat, a few pointing out the Source, others averting their eyes.
Since Grian was the head of the Resistance it was his job to start and go over what would be happening in this meeting and end it. As soon as Grian handed the attention to Ren he took off like a dog in a field.
“Thank you Grian. As our dear Mother Spore said I had a breakthrough a couple of days ago in the lab. I found that the mycelium on this island that we have been using and growing has-”
As Ren began to speak and explain his findings, answers questions as he went Grian felt his attention and focus being slowly wrapped around and dragged away by the substance on his back.
Feed us Grian. We’re so hungry. A mother wouldn’t let their child starve, would they?
The way the voice of the mycelium just oozed with smugness made Grian’s skin crawl but he couldn’t react or people would ask if he was okay. Ren kept glancing at him with small quirks of his brow as if checking in on him to which Grian forced small smiles to tell him to not worry.
Grian couldn’t make his friends worry. This wasn’t their problem.
I know who would feed us. Impulse certainly could. Etho could. Ren could. They could feed us if you won’t.
Grian stiffed, apparently noticeably so as Impulse looked at him, similar to how Ren had, Etho briefly glancing at him.
As Ren finished talking, handing the floor to Impulse he moved his seat to be next to Grian, leaning in and whispering. “Hey, you good man? You look really spaced out and on edge.”
Grian nodded, letting go of a small breath he didn’t realize he had caught in his throat. “Yeah, I’m all good, just tired I guess. I’ve been having a bit of trouble sleeping recently.”
That wasn’t a total lie. Grian had been having trouble sleeping but his odd behavior recently wasn’t because of that. Both of them could be traced back to the warm spot on his back that tensed for a moment.
“See me in the lab after all this okay? We’ll talk more then.” Ren gave Grian’s thigh a small pat before paying attention to Impulse. Grian nodded in response, desperately trying to tune in to what Impulse was saying but ultimately failing.
After the meeting Grian saw everybody who was leaving off, making sure they left safely before Ren practically dragged Grian to his lab and sat him down on an exam table that Grian didn’t even know he had.
Ren pulled up a rolling chair and notepad, crossing his legs and getting comfortable. Clearly, he expected to be here while.
“I’m not really a doctor but I can do my best to try and help you out. So Grian how long have you been having trouble sleeping?”
Grian scratched the back of his neck, searching for an answer in the back of his mind that wouldn’t tie this to the mycelium.
“I’ve always had trouble sleeping. It lightens up on occasion though so I guess this is one of those moments where it’s worse.” Grian shrugged as Ren nodded, writing something down and crossing a few things out as far as Grian could see.
“Okay, okay... Is there anything recently that may have led to your sleep getting worse?”
“Uhh no no I don’t think so… Ren I don’t really think there’s much you can-”
“Shh Grian. I’ve got this. Okay, so I suspect you may have insomnia. The first treatment for handling it we’ll try are slowness potions and chamomile tea.”
“The tea I understand. Why slowness potions?”
“The potions will help slow your body down, slowing your heart and breathing, and potentially easing your brain and allowing you to finally rest. If the quality of the rest is bad come back and we’ll figure something else out.” Ren got up, walking over to a brewing stand and while Grian couldn’t really see what he was doing he just assumed he was making sleeping potions. Grian wasn’t sure this was all worth this time or effort but if it made Ren feel better he could try it.
“This is really kind of you Ren but you don’t have to-”
“Nonsense Grian! You need your rest and as both your friend and member of the Resistance if I can help you I will. Now take the potions and if you need me feel free to call me. I care about you Grian.”
That night, holding the slowness potion in hand with a cup of chamomile tea on his nightstand Grian stared at his bed, unsure and shaking after seeing that the mycelium on him had grown.
Grian brought the bottle to his lips, forcing the potion down his throat like a child with cough syrup. Once it was finished Grian set the bottle down to throw away in the morning, sitting on the edge of his bed and starting to sip the tea. He wasn’t confident this would work. Grian had tried classic things to help fall asleep many many many times before. Grian didn’t think it’d work but he’d give it a shot for Ren.
To Ren’s credit the had potion worked, he was able to fall asleep but Grian quickly found being asleep to be worse than being awake.
Neither of them had predicted that his dreams would be plagued with spores, mushrooms, and mycelium as if he didn’t have enough while awake. But this was worse. So much worse. It taunted him, mocked him, threatened his friends, images of the mycelium taking pieces from him, the mycelium eating him alive .
Waking up the next morning drenched in sweat Grian decided he’d rather just keep himself busy at night than try and sleep. It just wasn’t worth it.