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The most sore Click Clack had been in his entire existence was waking up on that damn beach. But what else could he expect after falling from the sky, into the ocean, while it felt like his body was on fire? At least that was the closest description he could think of. Having one’s divinity peeled away, then getting suddenly dropped in cold ocean water, was uniquely awful.
The waves tossed him around for a while before he could get enough feeling in his body to frantically flail to the surface, gasping for breath. Above him he spotted the tail end of a trail of golden white sparkles, fading quickly into the air. All was left of Click Clack the god, he assumed.
A mouth full of salty seawater reminded him that now was not the time to mourn. He looked around frantically for any stable ground. He spotted a beach, bathed in rift light, before he was swallowed by another wave. At least it gave him something to swim towards.
After what felt like forever, he dragged his drenched body ashore, gasping for breath and flopping over on the beach like a dying fish.
He replayed the scene that led him here in his head. The rift opening farther than it should and Inspekta’s reveal. Those many floating hands yanking the rift open farther and farther, then Mitternacht falling.
He flinched at that memory, as if he had just touched a hot stove. She had screamed the whole way down as her divinity faded, as did Huzzle and Bauhauzzo… The thought made his chest feel tight, and his eyes sting. He had barely held on, clinging to Thespius’s hair.
They had been shouting to Inspekta above the roar of the rift when he heard Cobigail say something, then start yelping in pain. There was a sickly snapping sound. He had finally looked over to see Inspekta’s many hands yanking out the roots anchoring Cobigail on the divine side of the rift. Where the roots were too deep to pull out, Inspekta’s hands peeled and ripped at them until they snapped.
A pair of her hands let go and smacked at them, trying to knock them away as if she was shooing hungry birds, but that was enough for her own grip to slip. Dirt and plant bits scattered all over the surface of the spire as she fell past it.
Click Clack had had just enough time to take in the horrified expression on the faces of the mortals below before his own grip slipped from Thespius’s hair. He fell out as well, following after a wailing Cobigail. The last thing he saw was the face of his Thespius, both eyes open and pouring tears, looking absolutely horrified.
And… here they were. Click Clack. Mortal once more, wet and cold and sandy on a beach while the world ended. He wondered how long it would be before the rift swallowed the world. If it was even worth getting up off the beach.
He thought of Thespius, and wondered when he would be washing up on the beach beside him or if he would even land in the same place. Click Clack hoped he did, so he could at least give him a kiss before the world was swallowed.
“Click Clack… miserably stared up at the sky… as a pebble dug into his back. Making laying on the beach an even more uncomfortable experience each second.”
He waited. And waited. But against the odds, the rift didn’t stretch across the sky. And that rock was really starting to hurt their back. So, with a sigh, he stood up on shaky legs and looked around to try and get his bearings.
“There must be something… anything to show where I am.”
But there was nothing but sand and cliff-faces. No signs in sight, to even show which section of the grove’s coast he washed up on. Not even the standees and posters of the local god or gods to help give him a guess.
“Click Clack… kept wandering around. Looking for even a ladder to get up to where civilization was…” He kicked a half buried bottle stuck in the sand and it knocked over, spilling old water on his already damp shoes and socks. “Great.”
It was insult to injury. Right as he was about to lean down to pick up the bottle and huck it into the ocean, he heard what he thought was an expletive.
Click Clack crept closer to the sound and remained silent for a moment before it came again.
“Dagnabbit, ya silly noodle legs!”
Wait, he knew that voice!
“Cobigail?”
“Eh! Who’s there! Show yer’self! I may be smaller, but that don’t mean I can’t bite!”
Click Clack rounded the corner, and there she was sitting in the sand. She was lanky, and dressed in a button up and slacks that were a little too small for her height.
“Cobigail, stand down! It’s me, Click Clack!”
“Click Clack! Oh thank goodness you’re ok.” She reached out to them and gestured for him to come closer. “I ain’t getting up just yet hun, get over here.”
She pulled him into a tight hug when he got closer, practically yanking him down to the ground. As he wrapped his arms around her, he felt her breathe in shakily and sigh, just a hint of tension leaving her body. He nodded a little and squeezed her tighter.
“I know…”
“...that. Hurt so bad.”
“ Yes .” The pair stayed quiet for a moment, letting the word hang between them before Cobigail finally broke the silence.
“Son of a biscuit… I hope that never happens again.”
That got a laugh out of Click Clack, shaking his head he pulled back from the hug.
“Why on earth do you not just swear like a normal person Cobigail?”
“You shouldn’t swear unless you have a good reason.”
“We were literally cast down from the heavens!!! What better reason is there to let out a curse?!”
Cobigail just laughed and shook her head. “It just hurt, that's all. Lil’ pain ain’t too bad. I’m Milldread tough after all. Just… lemme.” She rolled over and tried to tuck her legs under her to stand up but they kicked uselessly in the sand.
“Milldread tough eh? But can't seem to stand.”
“Oh hush bunny boy, I haven't had legs in nearly a hundred years!” After watching her fumble around for a little bit longer, Click Clack leaned down and helped pull her to her feet. Though her legs shook like a newborn foal’s, she stood. “Thanks. Now… where are we.”
“Not a clue Cobi.”
“Corn nuts… well that's splendid." After a moment she took a deep breath in and smiled. “Let's find out then.”
“Please just swear normally…”
Click Clack continued to help her walk along the beach, occasionally stopping so she could rest a moment or to try and get a better look at something that could point them in the right direction. Tracks in the sand, more discarded rubbish… anything would do.
After ages of walking, they found a set of old, wooden, water stained stairs leading up to a lower edge of the cliffside. They looked as though they had been repaired multiple times over. This led Click Clack to believe they were somewhere near the Cove, where Mitternacht’s tears flooded the place frequently.
They made their way up the stairs, which finally led into a recognizable area. It was indeed the overlook connecting Milldread and the Cove.
It seemed other people had been here too, as there were party supplies left out and abandoned. Half drunk sodas and shaboingboings on paper plates littered the ground.
“Now what’s all this?,” Cobigail asked, picking up a soda can and tossing it in a nearby garbage can.
“Stuff for King’s ascension party?”
“But why leave it behind?”
“Well, a lot is going on in the sky today…” Click Clack walked towards the cliff’s edge beyond the small treeline that blocked the view of the ocean and stood overlooking the water. And pointed his gaze upwards to the rift...
He knew exactly why those party supplies had been left.
Hanging above the Grove like a man at the gallows was Thespius, gripping the edges of the rift alone.
A range of emotions flashed through Click Clack’s brain. Confusion, horror, relief, sorrow, joy. It flooded him so quickly words caught in his throat and tears welled in his eyes. Somehow against the odds the rift was not opening wider. The world was safe thanks to his love, his Thespius!
But he knew how hard that tear in reality pulled. Seeing him suspended up there alone, even with the extra hands that floated behind him, made Click Clack’s stomach churn.
After a moment he shouted Thespius’s name, screamed it as loud as he could into the wind rushing in from the sea. Yet no reaction came from the god.
Click Clack waved frantically, shouting Thespius’s name till he was lightheaded and fell to his knees, still unheard by the god of love.
He gasped and wheezed. Then heard Cobigail’s staggering footsteps coming up behind him.
“Are you ok?! Did you find Thespius? I h- oh … oh fuck. ”
After a moment of her taking in the sight she placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
It was a small comfort while Click Clack wept for the fate of Thespius, the man he loved with all his heart, who was now out of his reach.