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Taph slowly paced near the cabins, their eyes constantly darting from side to side as they searched for a suitable hiding place. Ever since Shedletsky had discovered they weren’t eating properly, things had gone downhill fast. He hadn’t just suggested food—he had tried to physically drag Taph back to his cabin, insisting they sit down and eat whether they wanted to or not.
That, unsurprisingly, had not gone well.
Now, with Shedletsky actively searching for them, Taph needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere out of the way. Somewhere Shedletsky would be unlikely to look.
They approached the side of the main cabin, peering at the narrow space between the wall and a stack of crates. It wasn’t comfortable, and it definitely wasn’t dignified, but it was hidden enough to work. Taph cautiously stepped closer—only to freeze when they noticed someone already occupying the space.
007n7.
He was sitting against the wall with his knees pulled up slightly, shoulders tense, and fingers trembling as he anxiously picked at the fabric of his sleeves. The moment he noticed Taph, he startled, eyes widening as if he’d been caught committing a crime.
“Don’t tell Shedletsky I’m here—!” he blurted out, reaching toward them in a half-panicked, half-pleading motion, as if expecting Taph to immediately betray his hiding spot.
Taph blinked, then quickly shook their head. They raised their hands and signed back, I’m hiding from Shedletsky too.
They lowered themselves to the ground beside him, letting out a quiet breath of relief. At least they weren’t alone in this. After a moment, Taph glanced at him again, curiosity creeping in, and signed, Wait… are you hiding because Shedletsky is trying to make you eat too?
007n7 stared at them for a second before letting out a short, disbelieving laugh. “You too?” he asked, sounding genuinely surprised. “I thought I was the only one.”
Taph gave a small nod and leaned slightly closer to the wall, peeking around the corner to make sure no one was approaching. The area outside was quiet—no footsteps, no voices. Once they were sure the coast was clear, their shoulders relaxed just a little.
They signed again, Dusekkar somehow found out and told Shedletsky.
007n7 groaned softly, tilting his head back against the cabin wall. He dragged a shaky hand through his hair, fingers catching slightly as he exhaled. “For me, it was Chance,” he muttered. “He noticed I hadn’t eaten all day and told Builderman. Builderman told Shedletsky, and then everything just… spiraled.”
The two sat there in uneasy silence, the shared stress forming an unspoken bond. Every distant footstep made them tense, every voice carried on the wind made 007n7 flinch and Taph instinctively lean further into the shadows.
Neither of them said it out loud, but both were thinking the same thing:
Please don’t let them find us.
GUEST POV
Guest rubbed the bridge of his nose as Shedletsky paced the main cabin like a caged animal. His agitation was obvious—tight movements, sharp turns, muttering under his breath. Builderman stood nearby, arms folded, doing his best to explain the situation calmly.
“After we found out that both 007n7 and Taph haven’t been eating,” Builderman said, “Shedletsky tried to make them eat. That didn’t work. Now they’ve both disappeared.”
“They’re hiding,” Shedletsky snapped, glaring toward the door. “I know they’re hiding.”
Guest sighed. “Look, I’ll help you find them,” he said evenly. “It can’t be that hard.”
Builderman nodded thoughtfully. “There aren’t that many places around here where someone could hide for long. We’ll split up. I’ll check the cabins with Shedletsky. You search outside.”
With a brief agreement, Builderman and Shedletsky headed off toward the rows of cabins, already calling out names. Guest stepped outside, the cool air hitting him as he scanned the area.
They couldn’t have gone far, he thought. And knowing them, they probably chose the first ‘good enough’ spot they found.
He walked slowly, checking behind structures, crates, and corners. Nothing. No sign of either of them. After a few minutes, Guest’s shoulders dropped slightly in mild annoyance.
“Seriously…” he muttered.
Then he reached the side of one of the cabins and paused. Something about the way the shadows fell seemed… off. He leaned forward and peeked into the narrow space.
He blinked.
“Oh,” he said flatly.
There they were. Both of them. Sitting on the ground, pressed close to the wall like they thought it made them invisible.
“So,” Guest said calmly, “this is where you two are hiding.”
007n7 shrieked in surprise, jerking violently and grabbing Taph by the arm as if that would somehow save them. “Guest?!” he blurted out, panic flooding his voice.
Taph stared up at Guest in horror.
Guest raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Alright. Hiding time’s over. Let’s go.”
Before either of them could protest—or run—Guest bent down and scooped both of them up with alarming ease, one under each arm. He paused mid-motion, briefly staring at them.
“…Huh,” he said. “You’re both heavier than you look. Still not heavy enough, though.”
007n7 immediately went limp, surrendering entirely like a cat who had accepted its fate. His arms dangled uselessly as he let out a defeated sigh. Taph, however, was not having it.
Draped over Guest’s shoulder, Taph kicked furiously and tried to punch his back, signing angrily the entire time. Guest barely flinched.
“Easy,” Guest said mildly. “You’re not winning this.”
He carried them into the main cabin, where Noob and Chance were mid-conversation. They both looked up at the sound of footsteps—and immediately froze.
Then burst out laughing.
Chance nearly doubled over. “Why is Guest holding them like that?!”
Noob wiped a tear from his eye. “They look like stolen groceries!”
007n7 groaned softly, still limp, while Taph continued to struggle in protest. Guest, completely unfazed, adjusted his grip and looked toward the others.
“Found them,” he said simply.
And judging by Shedletsky’s approaching footsteps, things were about to get very interesting.