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The frown on the upside down bat’s face was not what Karoto was expecting.
Usually Lemlo was shy and anxious a lot of the time, her depression notwithstanding, but from what the duo was able to observe of her currently?
She was fucking exhausted.
The bags under her eyes said it all as she unfurled her wings and stretched fully, not nearly large enough to enclose about a quarter of the space she was in due to the expanse of her gardened cave.
She barely made it down with how drowsy she was, but still made a graceful landing, akin to a bow as the fruit bat greeted the two.
“G’d mrning yu two…”
Nabiu giggled a little at her loopy demeanor, “Morning Lemlo! Coming here to rreeestock!” She gave a little salute.
Lemlo couldn’t help the soft smile that pierced her lips, eyes crinkling with it.
Least she’s not acting like before.
The carrot thought with an unknown relief.
“Popbombs, right?” “Yeeeuupp! We’ve used them the most out of the ones you’ve given us. It’s got such a good advantage and-“
As Nabiu kept yapping away, Karoto couldn’t help but look around the cave.
He hates how similar in coolness it was for the cave. It reminded him to much of that… old… home…
Shaking his head, he decided to take stalk of the surroundings, just… breathing for a minute.
Until he looked to the floor.
Drips. Drips that looked really dark. W… was she…?
He looked over to the lemon bat, trying to take a quick look at her legs-
Until a pair of eyes met his, shame obvious.
Oh jeez…
He took a deep breath, looking over his options.
Confronting was the obvious, but something told him he should do that on a more gentler approach for later.
He could ask if she’s been having thoughts but that may be too quick.
Why hasn’t she talked to someone? No, too harsh sounding.
Hmm…
Maybe easing into conversation somehow?
Yeah, he’ll start with that.
He idled for a few more moments as Nabiu continued to speak away, until she looked over and recognized that pensive expression.
“There something on your mind?” She asked aloud.
Bless her soul but she is not great at cues for idling conversation.
With an internal sigh, he spoke.
“Say, Lem.”
“Uhm… yes?”
“You have anything for today? Nabiu and I were planning on heading to the nearby kingdom to keep looking for Nabiu’s Mentor’s chair. Could be nice to see what the place has to offer, too.”
Karoto could physically see the gears turning in the lemon bat’s head, a bit too hard for his liking.
She glanced back at her cave, pristine plants almost glowing with crisp morning dew and bright greens, showing off their health and beauty.
Her shelves were stocked to the brim with products that she sold: plant bombs, traps, thorn balls, things of the naturey nature.
The river that flowed deeper into her cave was cleaned and clear of debris and leaves, sparkling water being able to be seen from a mile away.
Everything had been taken care of.
Eventually, she responded.
“I…” She paused, clearly hesitant.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to!” Nabiu pipped up, seeing her hesitancy.
But at this, something seemed to shift, a bit of guilt and worry overcoming her features.
“Oh, nononono! I don’t mind going!”
An eyebrow raise from Karoto and two creased eyebrows from Nabiu.
She backtracked, anxiety as clear as day, which got Karoto to raise his hands in a placating manner.
“Woah, hey. Easy-“ “I-I’ll go!”
…
“Aarreee you sureeeee?” Karoto questioned, starting to feel a tad unsure on this now.
“I’d say so!” Nabiu pipped up again, and Karoto had to blink a few times to register what she had said.
“Sorry?” Lemlo and Karoto both said in unison, both with different questions to the saying.
“If you’re saying you’ll go, then we trust you! Right Karo?”
He blinked once more. Twice.
And he looked from Lemlo to Nabiu, to Nabiu, and then to Lemlo again.
He’s pretty sure he could see tears lining her eyes at the little blueberry’s small pep-talk.
“O-okay. I... thank you.” She answered politely, although shakily.
“Great! And of course! This is gonna be AWESOME!” Nabiu pumped her fists, ready to go.
Karoto couldn’t help but to chuckle at her antics, Lemlo growing a soft smile that he could see, which gave him some confidence that this was the right choice.
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“I can’t believe you managed to get such a pretty place to live at, Lemlo!”
“I… can’t believe either, sometimes.”
“Looks like a fun way to ride down!”
The three couldn’t help the easy conversation, it slowly devolving into chaos.
“You want to what?! ” Lemlo almost screeched, fear for the carrot seen in her eyes at the suggestion.
“It’ll be fun! Nabiu could ride with me and you could glide down next to us!”
“I-I could but this could spell danger for you guys, you could fall off, get hurt-!”
“Woahhh slow down.” Karoto tried, adding in his own little logic, “I’ve done this before! Hell, in an even deeper slope this is bound to be even better than before!” “YOU’VE DONE THIS BEFORE?!”
Tok! went his beloved dice, simply showing Lem that yes he’s done this before , landing on that lovely two (he’s learned how to get the exact number he needs based on how hard he throws).
He held his guitar, feeling the thrumming energy as his instrument began to turn into two gleaming cymbals, brimming with power!
Seeing that his gorgeous guitar had fully transformed into the two cymbals from their previous Lycan fight, Nabiu excitedly hopped on over, her beaming smile infectious as he grinned along.
Lemlo had a concerned frown on her face.
He really wished he could lighten her up some. This…
“LETS GOOOOOOOO”
“WAIT NABIU-“
“WOOOOOO!”
AND OFF THEY WENT UNFORTUNATELY
Karoto couldn’t help the velocity in which Nabiu literally flung them!
The cave in which they emerged from was high, and as described earlier, could make for a fun ride down!
IF NABIU WAITED THAT WAS!!
“KAROTO! NABIU!” Lemlo called, and she was right at their side and speed, wings folded in some but expanded enough to keep air under her wings.
“Hiii!” Nabiu greeted as if they WEREN’T FLYING DOWN A MOUNTAIN!
Hey… hold on…
“How do ya feel about a race?!” Karoto had to shout, the wind being difficult to hear over.
“AWWW HECK YEAH!” “U-uhm— I mean…” Her voice went unheard, as Nabiu took her rod and pointed it at a rock with a bit of a slope upwards.
“NABIUUUUUU!!” Karoto yelled her name, but it went over yelled by Nabiu’s laughing, them zooming down UNTIL!-
WHOOSH!!!
They went flying.
And someone joined the speed.
She hovered next to them as the cymbal holding the two foods slowed to a stop for a second.
“…Y-y’know what? Y-you’re on!” Karoto couldn’t help but smile at her slowly changing behavior to something more confident.
And then his stomach dropped .
And just like a roller coaster, it flew down! Rumbling against rocks and dirt like a water slide!
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH-“ “WO-HO-HOOOOO!”
Karoto saw Lemlo spiral downwards after them, doing a few flips in the air as she quickly gained speed and zoomed past them!
“Hey!” Nabiu called after her, although not without a smile on her face.
Lemlo couldn’t help but spiral in circles as she flew down, quickly getting further and further ahead of them, in that all too graceful way that her species flew.
It was like she was getting into it, eventually creating an arc to move to the other side of them, flinging her wings open to match back to their speed, showing off a bit.
“Showoff!” Karoto lightly teased, not helping but to laugh a little at her silly antics.
Her laughter was like music to his ears, especially when things have been rocky.
For a split second, it’s like things went to a standstill, just…
A calmness.
Until he turned around and sAW A WALL OF ROCKS CLOSING IN ON THEM-
“NABIUSLOWDOOWWWWNNNNN!”
“H-hold on!” And a vine grew from the ground thanks to Lemlo’s magic, creating a safety patch to slow down on as they slid across its smooth surface to a stop.
But Lemlo didn’t.
“WAIT LEM-“
BANG!!
“SHIT!-“
Nabiu quickly hopped off and ran on over, Karoto not too far behind as his cymbals shifted back to its guitar form.
“Lemlo!” They both called, followed immediately by Nabiu’s “Are you okay?!”
Karoto thought he had heard crying.
Until it shifted to one of sudden gasps and the sound of laughter.
“Ehehehe! You two were so fast! I could barely keep up.”
Nabiue’s features changed from concerned to smiling, not helping but to praise her as well.
“You kidding?! You managed to keep up with us and pass us! That was AWESOME!!”
As the purple and yellow fruit bat was helped up, Karoto couldn’t help but to sit back and just… watch.
It was good to see Lem slowly come out of her shell.
Lord knows that Depression is quite the isolator.
Do the opposite, from what he’s heard.
And speaking of…
“You two up to going to the kingdom, now?”
Just as quickly as that happiness came it was wiped from her face, a nervous frown painting Lemlo’s features now.
What’s so bad about it?
“U-uhm…” A pat on her shoulder from Nabiu.
“You did awesome in coming out to hang with us, understandable if you want to go back and rest after that!”
She took a few minutes, pensive over the thought of going to the kingdom.
“There something wrong with it?” Karoto decided to ask, curiosity getting to him.
“U-uhm— w-well, it’s just- uhm” and she began stuttering, “I-it’s just- rough sometimes. People there aren’t… the…kindest…” she slowly talked lower and lower, as if she was telling a dark secret.
Is that it? Easy to deal with!
He waved his hand in a “Eyyyy forget about it!” motion, reassuring the quaking bat.
“No worries about it! With Nabiu and I traveling? We’ve seen a lot. Besides, we haven’t been there yet, either!”
“Mmm… if you’re sure.” She gave in with a sigh.
“Sssoooo how do we get there?!” Nabiu inquired, excitement clear in her eyes, already gripping her monster book, “Gosh there’s so much I wanna know!!! How do your species live? Do they have upside down shops and all walk upside down? WHAT DO THEY EAT-“ She jumped up and down, spewing questions a million miles per minutes, but was gently stopped by Lemlo. earning a light giggle from the bat. “Well… it’s certainly easier to fly there, but there’s a rocky path we can take, it shouldn’t take too long, and I can answer those for you if you’d like…” She mentioned.
And Karoto and Nabiu were right on it, ready to take off right then and there, “We’ll, where do we go?” “CAN YOU ANSWER THEM NOW-“
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Once they got there, it was quite the sight to take in.
It was a rocky blue, green and purple outcropping, filled to the brim with holes in an equal manner, spaced evenly, although of different sizes.
Underneath the row of caves, those being of little shops and homes, was a sort of concrete sidewalk that went downwards like a staircase, able to walk up or down and left or right, giving it a pretty pattern like a plaid shirt.
The ceilings were covered in glowing, floating orbs, filled with little nightlight flies that flittered around in a sleepy motion. Next to some of the orbs were little ledges for the flightful fruits to sleep from, some of them having done so now or simply resting.
In the middle was a pattern adorned as a star with a circle of clouds outside of it, representing the night sky with a dark blue background and miniature stars beside the biggest one.
And under that was a set of stairs that led downwards.
The queen’s chambers.
All in all, it was pleasant and calm, the atmosphere of the bat species, and some occasional other fruits and vegetables, going to and fro to their destinations, and Karoto was impressed with the organization of it all.
It’s bound to have some interesting treasures.
Lemlo took a deep breath, and addressed the two, catching his attention.
“W-well, this is it…” “It’s so pretty! No upside down shops… noted!”
“This seriously looks super neat. And actually… A good place for a fight!”
“Huh?” Nabiu questioned, Lemlo looking over with a bit of a panicked expression.
He gripped his quitar’s neck, bringing it from his back and readied into a battle stance.
He was thinking on this for a bit since this morning from when they first met Lemlo for the day, and he thought she could let off some steam.
And so a quick duel sounded perfect!
“W-what are you… doing…?”
“You’ve been stressed ever since we left, and it’s been getting better! Butttt-“ A strum of his guitar and some vibrations echoed through the cave, getting some nearby bats’ attention.
“I think a bit of a battle could help let off some steam!”
“H-here?!” She squeaked, and an embarrassed flush crossed her features at the sudden sound, locking eyes with Karoto in that familiar anxiousness.
He really wished that that could go away for her. No one should have to be this way…
“Yeup!” He continued his bravado, smile not having faltered.
“Now hold on, we don’t even know their customs!”
“Only one way to find out!”
He won’t lie, he was kinda excited to propose this fight! First impressions are always important! (Espexiallyifyouregonnathiefefitlater-)
Shaking his head, he focused back in on the duo, not having really looked away as he waited for confirmation.
“I-I’m not sure… I don’t… wanttomakeherupset-“ She sped up past that last part, worry as clear as day as she practically backed away from the middle despite not being near it.
He decided not to question the latter half of thay sentence, as he simply proposed another suggestion.
“Mmmmmmwell what about outside of it? ‘Sides, doesn’t look like they can fight either.” He stuck his thumb over to the lingering bats, ears flicking towards them with offended but intrigued expressions, some competitive looking.
“Be nice!” A small smack to his arm and he gave a slight sympathetic smile.
Oooohhh this was gonna be fun!
“Well… if you want to, anyways.” “If she wants to!”
A slight glare his way and he backed down, starting to feel a bit bad at pushing it.
So he let Nabiu take the lead.
“It’s completely up to you. You know the place better than we do! I trust you to make the right judgement for yourself.” And he swore he say Lemlo tear up a bit again.
Her ears flicked to and fro, contemplating a bit too much for a decision.
She looked on over to her companions, then to the bats who looked at her almost expectantly.
What’s up with that?
Finally, after a few minutes…
“Okay… I-I’ll have a fight with you.”
“LET’S G-“ And the look on Nabiu’s face told him to tone it down.
He looked up and saw why.
It was almost like he was being judged for being himself, the lingering bats not having too much of a pleased expression, multiple of them looking almost angry.
Hmph. Well, if they have a problem with that, then they could fight him!
Well, after Lemlo’s anyway.
“Hey.” He called before starting. And decided to say just one cheeky line to get her boosted up a little, and to ignore the stares going her way.
Seriously, why were they so angry looking at her?
“Just be yourself, ‘kay?” Oh the irony of that statement.
She stood still, having been taken aback for a moment.
Until a shy smile appeared. “O-okay…”
“I’ll be the referee!” Nabiu offered and both gave a thumbs up to that.
“We’ll go until one of you falls! Ready?!”
And both nodded.
“Ready, set… GO!!”
…
..
.
It was an awkward standoff, neither of the two knowing when to go.
Until Karoto made one tiny move of his leg and-
FWOOSH!!
“AUGH-“ A stringy root vine shot out of the ground.
“Ah! S-sorry-!”
And he just laughed, “That’s what we’re supposed-“ He held his guitar, holding up his pick in a ready striking motion. “To DO!!”
STRRUMMMMMM!!
“EE-“ She squeaked, and flew upwards, hovering above the air for a second as Karoto assessed his position, aiming for another strum as the sound wave passed her-
Suddenly, Lemlo flew down, swooping past him as he dodged.
He chuckled as he heckled her some, “Heh, that all you’re gonna do?!”
“N-no!” She tried fighting back on his words, and he noticed something.
Several somethings under her wings, her patterns a glowing lavender.
They were the size of a walnut, but there were multiple and spiky-
FWIP POMP POMP POMP-
“FUCKING O W -“
STICKY THORN BALLS-
“Ah- uuhm-“
“HIYA!”
*Tok*! The dice bounced off of Lemlo’s head, her being taken off guard and using that stunned expression to his advantage.
As it flew down, his heart pounded.
Come onnn six, come oNNNN SIX-
It bounced.
And rolled.
And landed at a stop in front of him.
His heart dropped.
A two.
Aw fuck-
FWWSSHHHHH his guitar hummed, a brimming, slick silver flute flashed in his hands, ready for a fight.
Know what?
He could use this.
A sly smile grew on his face, him standing up straight with the thing level at his side as he leveled eye contact with the bat.
Which she quickly looked away from.
PERFECT!
With a quick few seconds and movement of his hands, he placed the flute up to his mouth, using it almost like a tranquilizer gun, and played one of the notes for a shot.
“EEP-“ Lemlo squeaked again, attempting to dodge but-
He could hear an audible breath in as she almost faltered down in pain, wavering some as her left wing lowered.
“BINGO!! Betta get better at ya dodgin’ there Lemmy.”
He was trying to get her riled up, as that’s when the best moves come out!
With a huff, she looked around, assessing her surroundings.
Hm.
Nah.
FWOOM! Another shot and her right wing got hit, her having to flutter heavily until she decided to swoop towards the ground.
Not gonna get me with that trick again!
And just as he was about to shoot!-
It was like things went into slow motion.
The shot missing, he was eye to eye with her, both opposite ways, as Karoto was still in his stance and Lemlo coming down with one wing half closed and the other open.
A silent stare off for a few second UNTIL-
SHWING!
Silver bullet and a oranged-leaf meeting, crossing each other’s paths as they both dissipate from the impact.
She arched around, just like in their earlier race, and landed with a graceful bow, a shy smile on her lips as she leveled a glower at him.
He smiled back, readying up his next shot.
You see, this flute had something special it could do.
But it had to be the perfect pitch and whistle.
And so, with a deep breath in-
FWWEEEEEEEE!!!
From all four spots on the flute they shot out a cacophony of glowing arrows, heading straight towards the bat at a blinding speed!
Due to that speed, not even the toughest of vines could protect her, they punctured through her protection AND—
FWOOSHH!!! She flew up! Although not without a few scratches right near-
…
..
.
Her legs.
They were so-
C u t u p-
SMACK! A vine from the ground hit the spot he dodged out of, nearly hitting his feet.
Pomph ! He protected himself with another arrow shot, but he couldn’t stop thinking about what he saw.
He was aware of it and tried his damndest to help her but seeing it-
“ P-pay attention, Karo!” Lemlo couldn’t help but giggle out, no real malice to her voice.
She was nonethewiser.
He-
Something grabbed his leg-
“YEECH!-“ He sprawled out, and now he was hanging upside down, a dried vine clutching his leg like a lifeline.
They just stared at each other for a few seconds before Lemlo put him down softly.
And then she giggled.
“Lemlo wins this round! Good job, girl!” Nabiu cheered.
“Eheh, thank you!” She waved her cloaked arm, unaware of Karoto’s plight, but not like he wanted them to know yet, so he shook his head, sat up, and walked on over to Nabiu.
“Uh, yeah! Good job. That wasn’t too bad!” He faked, hoping to god his facade was good.
What the bat said surprised her, although not disappointed, “Y-you want to- you want to go again?” She stuttered, although not without a smile, and a rare expression: Excitement.
He wanted to, oh he wanted to SO BAD.
Stupid dice-
But that imagery popped up again and he went silent.
“You okay?” Nabiu asked, and that got Lemlo to perk her ears and tilt her head.
“…Huh? Oh, yeah! Yeah, I’m good. I was just thinking we should take a break first. Besides, seems like there ain’t much of an audience.”
“Ah, yeah… they like the peace and quiet a lot. And that sounds good, actually, some of the cuts you gave were packed quite a punch!” She giggled lightly, although something seemed to change her expression some after a moment.
He can tell. And that peace and quiet seems like something they all need for a second.
“Yyouuuu wanna show us around?” He asked, almost pleadingly, trying hard not to eye her legs or the parts he accidentally cut.
She turned around, eyeing the place as if there were traps set up and ready to kill.
Or the denizens.
Either way, she hesitated for a moment, before taking a deep breath and nodding.
That duel seems to help a bit!
Good.
“YEAHHH LETS GO LETS GOO!! Jk actually kinda hungry, OOOOO what types of foods do you guys usually eat-“
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It was an expansive tour, Lemlo showing the best bits of the place, and a cute little restaurant poked out of the inside of the outcropping is where they had stopped.
“Gosh the shops are so cute! And impressive! I forgot how expansive bats are with their cultivation!”
Lemlo giggled at Nabiu’s excitement, agreeing.
“Heh, yeah. It’s… where my magic came from, actually.”
“How ya mean?” Karoto and Nabiu questioned at the same time.
“Well… this cave has a certain element to it from a tree that grew here long ago. That’s actually where the label is for the kingdom, where, uhm, the tree grew.”
“Woah- really? What kind?”
“A Fruiticus-“ “A RAINBOW GEM TREE?!” Nabiu shouted, and had to be hushed due to the passerby’s giving them dirty looks.
“Yes, yes. One of those. It’s wilted long ago, only said to have one bramble of it left, still holding magic. Still… holding on to a little bit of life left.”
Karoto couldn’t help but make a strange connection.
Did… was she a part of that tree? None of the other citrus bats looked like they had abilities.
Maybe the queen?
Ugh, this thinking was going to give him a headache.
But so too was that same imagery from earlier, and he couldn’t help but to need to say something.
Something to hopefully resonate with her.
“…Maybe that hope’s there for a reason?”
A head tilt.
And a more knowing expression coming from Nabiu, seeing where he’s going with this.
“Y’know… that even though it’s mostly dead there’s still that want left, I guess.” He leaned back in his chair, sipping his carbonated beverage.
“It’s true! And of course giving yourself some grace. Actually… what was with the bats earlier? They seemed pretty social just- not happy. I guess some species are like that but-“
The lemon bat stayed silent for a moment, thinking over something.
“It’s… complicated.”
She was hiding something, but being addressed probably wasn’t the best right now.
“Well, either way.” Karoto concluded, beginning to move on, but not before saying one more thing.
“You matter, Lem. Just like that tree that was there before and breathed life. So… just… don’t forget that, ‘kay?”
Something shifted in her eyes, then gleaming with unshed tears, but a heartfelt smile accompanied her cheeks, Nabiu coming over and hugging her side with as much force as her little arms could give to let her know that that statement will forever be true.
Grateful.
She looked grateful.
“Now then-“ He adopted a more mischievous grin, “You wanna go for another round?”
“M-more than ever.”
Things would truly be okay. And he knew they would. If today hadn’t said anything, well, he hopes his actions would.