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With the influx of newcomers, making new rooms for them fast enough was a struggle. Yet plenty of them already shared rooms with each other. The host almost never slept in their own room, hell, they didn't even have a proper room until they'd dug a den out recently.
Jade had taken a page out of their book, and was now digging at the roots of a large tree.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU EVEN DOING." Karkat stood just out of range of the dirt spray coming from the dog-girl's paws. He wasn't even really sure why he was watching, but there was nothing better to do.
"Den." was all Jade said in reply.
"DOES ANY ONE OF US EVEN HAVE A PROPER ROOM?" It was hard to tell if the crabby troll was complaining or being genuine. Jade's ears twitched back at his yelling, but it was normal for him. He had a lack of volume control, one they'd all grown used to and for some reason one that Dave and Nepeta found appealing. She didn't see it.
"Dave's asked about it. There should be space in the castle for him, as soon as it's furnished." Jade pointed down, indicating layers below. The one they were on now was the most outdoors, with a forest covering a small island. A field of flowers sprouted on one end, while cave-spotted cliffs jutted out on the opposite side.
"I'M CHECKING ON NEPETA. IF DAVE STOPS BY-"
"I'll tell him." She didn't look up from her digging.
"THANKS." If they had someone in between them, Karkat thinks they might have been gray for each other. She's annoying, and not in the endearing way that Nepeta and Dave are to him, but not enough for any type of pitch relationship. They tolerate each other well enough for their partners sakes.
The path through the woods is silent. It's almost unnerving. Normally he'd hear birds or something in the trees, but there's nothing. The only life around is the plants, and the people.
Well, a couple "people". Rose and Jade don't even consider themselves human anymore.
The cliffs smell of the sea, and Karkat watches the sky darken to shades of orange and pink. It's pretty early for sunset, but the time in here matches the time out there, and daylight savings is a bitch and a half. The path isn't steep, and he finds himself at the mouth of the large cave system.
Most of the tunnels remain unused, empty. Perhaps in case of an emergency, but he doesn't want to think about what that might be. Noise comes from a small cave section in the back. It's blocked off by a green sliding curtain, which Karkat slides open with ease.
"Karkitty!" Nepeta greets, meow's humming being replaced with purrs. Meow's reclining on an olive beanbag chair, drawing something in a sketchbook. The floor is covered with pillows and blankets. There's no bed, purr just builds a nest and demolishes it every night. It's comfier than it seems when someone else is there.
"HAVE YOU SEEN THE FUCKING MESS YOUR DOG IS MAKING?" He asks, rubbing his eyes.
"Jade's project? Not yet. She didn't want me looking until it was done. Why?"
"NO REASON. I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU OF ALL TROLLS TO SEE SENSE, I GUESS."
"It's an animal thing." Nepeta shrugs, going back to purrs art.
"YEAH NO SHIT. EVEN TROLLS DON'T DIG DENS IN THE FUCKING DIRT."
"It'll be comfy, Karkitty! Maybe if you're nice, Jade will let you cuddle with us in there!"
The crabby troll only grumbles, somehow fitting onto the beanbag chair with his matespirit. Quadrants were an odd thing, with not only the blend of human and troll cultures but various other species as well. Yet the humans from their source knew of quadrants pretty well. He was confident in calling Nepeta and Dave his matespirits.
A buzz from his phone distracted him, as well as the cat-troll beside him. It was Dave, telling him to get his gray ass up to the forest and to tell Nepeta too. "DOG TIME. LET'S GO." He stood up, taking Nepeta's hands as he did.
"I like these caves." Nepeta mewsed as they walked back. "They remind me of home."
"DON'T TELL ME YOU'LL MAKE A SHIPPING WALL HERE TOO."
Nepeta smiled mischievously. Karkat would have to check the caves a little more closely next time.
The sky was dark now, stars gleaming above. No light pollution meant that they got to see the sky as it should be, absolutely covered in stars. But they weren't here to stargaze.
The dirt piles were mysteriously swept up, making the area around the den look neat. One glance at Jade's dirt-covered tail solved that mystery pretty quickly. Dave was sitting on one of the roots, sipping some apple juice while Jade pranced around her new room with pride.
"Come on in!" She said. Dave stood, his empty juice bottle disappearing. Nepeta bounded in after the dog-girl, while Karkat stood awkwardly in the cool night air. It was never too cold, unless there was snow, but it was a little chilly.
"You too, crabbypants." Jade beckoned him in, and he followed everyone else.
It was just big enough for the four of them. Jade laid down on the floor, and Dave wiggled his way into her arms before holding his own out for Karkat. Nepeta was already getting comfortable next to the pair, next to where Karkat should be.
So he laid down too. It was surprisingly alright, he was expecting sleeping on nothing but dirt to be painful, but it was okay. Not the nicest, but okay enough. Made better with his partners around him. Dave was hugging him tight, almost spooning him while being Jade's little spoon himself. Nepeta also joined in on the "let's hug Karkat" gang, and he could feel the cat-troll purring. Jade's tail thumped against the floor as four pairs of eyes began to close.
Maybe this wasn't so bad. Life is pretty good here.