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"Oh dear," Ragatha laughed nervously, walking backwards as the centipedes crawled closer. Pomni fiddled with her hands nervously as she watched the floor.
Ragatha stepped on top of a block, hoping they didn't follow her up. Her mind started to become fuzzy, looking around nervously until she saw Jax laughing a few feet away.
She couldn't feel angry, all she could feel was fear, and her heart raced quicker -- words dying in her throat. A centipede crawled up the block and Ragatha heard herself scream, bawling up and covering her face into her knees.
Pomni quickly rushed to grab the centipede away, looking at Ragatha with a frown before she softly placed it on the floor.
Ragatha looked back up, shaking. "I.. I'm sorry, i don't -- i don't know what came over me." Ragatha stuttered, hugging herself. She felt a tear fall down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away.
Pomni shot daggers at Jax before looking back at Ragatha. "It's okay, Ragatha. You got scared, that's normal."
"I- I-" Ragatha could barely think, her mind was cloudy and fuzzy and all she wanted to do was stay curled up. "Scared." Was all Ragatha managed to say.
Pomni placed a soft hand on Ragatha's shoulder. "Everything will be okay. here," she offered, shooing the centipedes away before it crawled away. "They're gone now."
"No more centipedes?" Ragatha said, hating the way she sounded so small.
Pomni studied Ragatha for a moment before nodding. "No, they all crawled away."
"Okay.." Ragatha mumbled, uncurling and scooting off the block. "I'm.. I'm sorry, for freaking out. I don't know what's wrong with me." She said, annoyed only at her self. She rubbed at her head angrily, trying to get rid of the fuzzy feeling.
"You don't have to be sorry Ragatha," Pomni said sternly. "Seriously, it's fine." She smiled softly.
Ragatha looked away. "Right, I'm.." she stopped herself, swallowing hard. "Okay.. yeah, i'm fine now." she said, mouth formed in a thin line.
Pomni looked at her for a moment, watching her shakingly jump off the block. "Do you want to go see Kinger?"
Ragatha paused, her hands coming close to her chest and fiddling with her fingers. "Kinger..?" she said, her voice small and quiet.
Pomni smiled, nodding. "Yes, Kinger. I can walk you to his fort." She said softly, holding out her hand for Ragatha.
"Kingie.." Ragatha mumbled, feeling herself slip more as words became harder to form.
She took Pomni's hand and followed her to Kinger's fort.
Pomni timidly pushed back the blanket in the fort. "Kinger?"
Kinger turned around to look at Pomni. "Why, hello, Pomni!"
Pomni smiled, waving with her free hand. "Hello, Kinger. I actually have a guest with me, too." Pomni said, looking back at Ragatha.
Ragatha peeked out from behind Pomni, waving at Kinger.
"Oh! And hello to you too, Ragatha!" Kinger said.
"Hi, Kingie.." Ragatha said nervously, playing with her dress.
Pomni softly guided her into the fort. "It's okay, Ragatha, you can hang out with Kinger for a while."
Ragatha crawled in, sitting close to Kinger.
"Oh! Hello, little one." Kinger smiled to her before looking back at Pomni.
"Jax pranked her and she got scared." She explained. "I didn't know she regressed..." She mumbled. "I figured she would want to hang out in here for a while."
Kinger nodded. "Of course, you guys are always welcome."
Pomni smiled. "Thank you!" she said before walking away.
"Ragatha, would you like a stuffie?"
"Stuffie," Ragatha mumbled, making grabby hands towards the soft teddy bear in Kinger's hand. She hugged it close, stuffing her head into its fur.
They sat in silence for a few moments, Ragatha hugging the teddy bear close as Kinger watched her quietly.
Suddenly, Ragatha felt herself start to tear up again, sniffling as tears fell down her cheeks. She didn't know how to stop, or how to tell Kinger what was wrong, all she could do was cry.
"Ragatha?" Kinger said softly, placing a hand on Ragatha's hand. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"Scary," Ragatha said, sniffling.
Kinger nodded. "I see, that wasn't very nice of Jax."
Ragatha shook her head.
"Is there anything else on your mind?" Kinger asked.
"Burden," She sniffled. "'m too much." she cried louder now, gripping harder on the teddy bear. "too much,"
"No," Kinger said softly. "You're not too much, Ragatha. It's okay to need help."
Ragatha couldn't think clearly, everything was fuzzy, crawling closer to Kinger. She was babbling incoherently now, clinging on to Kinger.
"It's okay, Ragatha, you're not too much. You are enough, and I'm not leaving, okay?"
Ragatha babbled in response, letting Kinger sit her on his lap. He gently rocked her until she stopped crying.
Ragatha continued babbling every few moments, giggling happily from Kinger's rocking.
"Oh, yes? and then what happened?" Kinger asked, only getting more babbles in response. He laughed, booping her nose which was responded by more giggles from Ragatha.
"I think someone's happy now, hm?" Kinger asked, pushing Ragatha's hair behind her ear.
Ragatha nodded happily.