Chapter Text
Look. Cautious[1] didn’t want to invite her. But if she didn’t, it would be one enormous headache in the shape of The Overwhelming Heart.[2]
Overwhelming smiled down at her amusedly. “You are inviting me?”
“Yes,” Cautious nodded slowly. “It’s at Righteous’[3] place- Sorry, I mean her ‘Not Secret Hangout.’”
Overwhelming kept smiling. She was always smiling in a way that pricked her skin. It didn’t help that she didn’t know what she was thinking but Overwhelming could read her mind.
“I see,” Overwhelming said, as if she was about to catch her in a trap. “If that is so, then why isn’t The Righteous inviting me herself?”
Honestly, it would seem as if she got roped into it. One day, Righteous mentioned something about getting all the girls together and Cautious thought that'd be a nice idea. She just hadn’t figured out why exactly Righteous of all vessels wanted to until she mentioned something about illicit substances to entice the others to join. But even if Overwhelming could read her mind, she couldn’t just say that. Overwhelming liked that excessive politeness and acting. Even if they were all technically on the same level.
Overwhelming scrunched her nose at that.
“She’s busy setting the place up,” Cautious said truthfully. “And to be nice, I decided to invite everyone for her.”
“To be reduced as an errand girl,” Overwhelming mused. “There are so many better things you could have been doing.”
“Well, I’m here now,” Cautious said. This is why she didn’t like her. “Yes or no?”
Overwhelming considered it.
“Very well,” and Cautious wanted to leave immediately. “I will grace you all with my presence at this celebration. No need to tell me the time, I know already when to arrive.”
“Great.”
Overwhelming looked like she was waiting for a thank you. She didn’t get one.
“There’ll be food too, because everyone’s going to…” Oh, shit. She forgot to tell Overwhelming something very important. Probably because she wanted to leave as quickly as possible. But every guest was required to bring some sort of food because there was no way they (as in Righteous and Cautious) were going to make twenty-odd servings for everyone.
…She probably wouldn’t bring some anyway.
“Everyone’s going to bring food,” she continued. “Like an indoor potluck.”
Bold[4] squinted at her. “Why would it be inside?”
“Because Righteous thought it would be better to have a cozier environment while everyone has their share,” she coolly said.
Bold stared at her. She stared back. It was true.
“Yeah, I’m probably not going to go,” Bold said. “I still need to find Weathered. You seen her around?”
“No, but I am planning to find everyone. We could find her together,” Cautious reluctantly added.
Bold sneered, “No thanks. You’re going to take forever talking with everyone else. See you!”
“Yeah, see you,” Cautious muttered under her breath.
“You’re exactly who we need!”
Cautious had no time to argue before The Bright Heart [5] plucked her from the ground and flew to who-knows-where.
“Excuse me?!”
“Don’t worry! You will not be harmed.” This did nothing to ease Cautious’ worry. Bright and Cautious had very different definitions of ‘harmed.’ While The Bright Heart would be okay with getting stabbed over and over if it made someone happy, even when that someone was supposed to make her happy, Cautious… was not.
Fortunately, Bright eventually set her gently on the ground. Unfortunately she was now surrounded. Four vessels, including Bright, stared back at her.
“Are you okay?” The Honest Heart [6] asked.
Cautious brushed off her dress. “I’ve been better. What do you want?”
“I just want to make you happy!” The Pliant Heart [7] predictably said.
“Great, the rest of you?”
“Well, we do want to make you happy,” The Gentle Heart [8] said slowly. “But also, we need your opinion on something. Is that okay?”
“So you thought dragging me here was the best decision?”
The silence said everything.
Cautious sighed, “Is it that hard to ask?”
“...Do you want to get a new dress?”
So this is what they wanted. They couldn't decide who was the best dressmaker and brought her into the crossfire.
Cautious looked down at herself. While she didn't have thorns digging into her skin anymore, the vines looked as if they'd wither away at any second because ‘nothing lasts forever’ and things like that. The lower parts of her dress was also riddled with small holes that threatened to connect. But she liked it. It reminded her of what to not forget.
Still, it wasn't as if getting a new dress would mean she would have to get rid of the old. Plus, if she humored them, they would be more likely to accept the invitation- not that she had any doubts that they would. They did make her job easier by being in the same place.
“Make it quick.”
The first dress was made by Honest, but designed by Pliant. She didn’t have much hopes for it, but she could admit it was cute. That was all.
“So who’s next?”
Pliant presumably stared into her soul. “Will that make you happy?”
“Yeah, totally,” Cautious said through gritted teeth.
Gentle made an intricate ballgown (with the help of Honest).
“Do you like it?” Gentle asked.
“Hm,” Cautious spun around. “It’s nice.” But it wasn’t practical.
“I’m glad you're happy!” Gentle cheered. She nodded along while wondering how to get out of it.
“Now it’s my turn!” Bright beamed.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a wedding dress. Cautious was dressed in a dress that was practical and nice and didn’t irritate her please believe it.
“It’s even made with nonflammable materials!”
“Great.” Hopefully it was true. “So, I get to keep the one I like?”
“If that’s what makes you happy!”
“Hm,” she said. “So where’s your dress, Honest?”
“Oh, I didn’t make one.”
She blinked. “You didn’t make a dress yourself?”
“No,” Honest shrugged.
"And you're fine with that?" she questioned.
Honest let out a small smile. "Yes. I'm fine just helping them out."
“Okay...” Cautious glanced around. “You guys wouldn’t mind if I pick this one, right?”
Who was she kidding, of course they’d all start nodding.
Silence.
“...Now what?”
“Right, right,” Cautious said. “Gentle and Pliant yours was good too, it’s just not what I need right now. With that settled, I have something to ask you. Righteous and I have decided to plan a party at her place. Do you want to join?”
“Oh, Righteous is hosting?” Gentle gasped. “Then sure! What about you guys?”
“Okay!” Bright smiled. “It would be so nice to spend time with everyone else in an extremely flammable building.”
“If that makes you happy!” Pliant chimed in.
Honest glanced around. “If you’re all going I guess…”
“You can leave whenever you want,” Cautious said.
“Well, okay,” Honest brushed her dress out. “I’ll think about it. But I’m probably going to go too. Thanks for telling us.”
“It’s also a potluck, so please bring something for everyone to eat,” she added. She almost forgot that. Maybe she should say that piece first.
“If that makes you happy!”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Righteous would be happy too.”
How she didn’t see her in an open field was mind blowing. Literally. As soon as Cautious caught a glimpse of The Divine Heart,[9] her eyes were immediately fried from the pure light she emitted.
“HELLO?!” she couldn't help but scream.
Divine smiled down on her, those pearly whites not helping Cautious’ eyesight in the slightest. “No need to yell. My hearing is exceptional. But hello to you, as well, The Cautious Heart.”
Cautious took a moment of silence. To adjust her brain, obviously. She still had to squint, however, to realize there was another person with them.
“...Burning?”[10]
“What?” From what Cautious could tell, The Burning Heart was punching a brick wall, and that wall was Divine.
“What are you doing?”
“Can’t you tell? Do I have to describe everything I’m doing for you?”
“I… Guess not,” she mumbled. “But I would like to know if you- both of you- would like to attend a party at Righteous’ place. With food. You bring.”
“We’re busy.”
Cautious blinked. “Really?”
“Maybe I do have to explain everything,” Burning scoffed. “We have a deal going on. A fight that we have to earn. Whoever breaks first loses, obviously.”
“And whoever wins?” she pressed.
“We’ll see when we get there,” Divine smiled.
“...Is there any other benefit?”
“This also can be considered therapeutic,” Divine added.
In disbelief, Cautious turned towards Burning.
“What? I don’t care what she calls it. To me, this is a fight that I can put my entire self into.”
Cautious considered what to say. “And how long has this been happening?”
Divine tilted her head, “Perhaps weeks? Perhaps months? Tracking time on a mortal scale is not something I do regularly.”
Cautious looked down. Divine had sunk into the earth to about the bottom of her ankle. She turned to Burning. “And how is this helping you?”
“You’re not going to understand now,” Burning scoffed. “Fighting is who I am. I'm nothing without a challenge.”
“But she's not even fighting back?!”
“Oh, she is. She may not be using her fists now, but eventually she'll have to. I know that powerful aura doesn't mean she's invincible.”
“That is true,” Divine said, although she didn't like the memories that came with it. Her smile returned within seconds. “Her struggle will not be meaningless. In the end, one of us will find the limit. Then we will learn to break it.”
“You're going to do this again-?!” Cautious stopped herself. This wasn't her life or her responsibility. “So I take it that you two won't show up at the party? There's going to be-”
“As it is now, no,” Divine chuckled. “But send my regards to Righteous. Perhaps next time I will take part in the celebration.”
Burning didn’t bother giving a response.
“Understood. Goodbye.”
“Noooooo,” Piercing[11] blinked rapidly. “I definitely won’t show up at that silly kitty’s den right at the exact time. I have all the fun I need right here!”
“Mark her on the guest list,” Patient[12] said. “This shouldn't take long.”
“And what are you doing?” Cautious hesitantly asked. Patient was covered in blood and missing parts of her flesh while Piercing looked suspiciously clean.
Patient looked her dead in the eye. “Slicing meat.”
“I don’t know what she’s doing, but I’m just standing here inNOcently, not slicing any meat at all.” With this, Piercing gave her a wide smile, revealing canines, which were all of her teeth.
“It’s a challenge.”
“Definitely not a game!”
“To see how thinly she can cut, and how much skin I don’t need.”
“And I don’t cut anything at all, so the thinnest I can do is nothing!”
“I can show you a report later, if you like.”
“That’s okay,” Cautious quickly said. “But I guess I’ll see you later. Make sure to bring something... Edible and appealing.”
Piercing severed Patient’s head.
They stared at each other for a long, long time.
“Yum yum.”
Clever- since Patient was beheaded- sighed. “You have something else to do, right Cautious?”
She did.
The Ravenous Heart[13] couldn’t speak, but that didn’t stop her from convening the vast wave of disappointment upon Cautious.
“I mean, you don’t have to take any of them. I was just telling you what might be there.”
Ravenous continued to stare.
“So, uh, is that a no?”
Ravenous stared at her. And through those big, big eyes, Cautious understood everything. About how it would be great to just relax with everyone. About how everyone making food for each other would be lovely. Also about how stupid it was to distribute to already very powerful princesses stimulants is she having enough sleep enough food enough anything? Does she need help?
Cautious quietly excused herself.
“Nah,” The Driven Heart[14] said for the two of them.
“Why not?”
“I just don’t feel like it. Do you?” She peered at The Deep Heart.[15] The silent ghost looked back at her like she was going to torture Driven for questioning her choices.
“So that’s settled. Run along now,” Driven sneered down at Cautious.
“Do you not like parties?” She could understand Deep, but Driven didn’t enjoy wallowing in misery alone. No, she’d rather go out and do things because that’s better than anything else. Or at least that’s the impression Cautious got.
“I’d rather have my own fun. And Deep and I were doing so many fun things until you came along.”
Cautious only saw them having a staring contest before she announced herself. The woods, compared to the field, allowed for dappled shadows and nostalgia. But only those who made it outside in time would have witnessed The Construct’s false life. She knew they didn’t, so perhaps that was why they were here together.
“Fine. I’ll tell Righteous you won’t be coming.”
“Oh, so Righteous is in charge here?” Driven’s smile widened so much that Cautious wasn’t sure where what was left of her cheeks had gone. “Well that changes things.”
“How?” Cautious questioned.
“Because you’re boring.”
“I am not boring,” she insisted. What was she even basing that on?
“If that’s what you think,” Driven rolled her eyes. “We should go, Deep.”
Deep’s face didn’t change.
“Aw, you sure?” Driven leered. “It’d be fun if Righteous’ doing it.”
"Yes," Cautious jumped in. "There'll be... All sorts of cool things to try."
Deep stared at her like she was stupid.
“Fine,” Driven huffed. “Be a wet blanket.”
Deep stared at her like she was going to kill her in her sleep if she had a body. Typical Deep.
“Who else do you still need to ask?”
“Well I’m halfway through so you’re not the last.”
“Do you want help?” Driven grinned.
“…With what?”
“Finding out where everyone is, of course! One or two may be hiding somewhere.”
“If you’re offering then sure.” It would certainly make her life easier if she knew where everyone was. But they all inherently liked to move from place to place.
“Heh, should we tell her?”
Deep didn’t break eye contact with Cautious as she slowly lifted her skeletal arm and pointed to the right.
“Who’s over there?” she asked.
“Everyone waiting,” Deep whispered.
“Thanks,” she said, before forcing the same smile towards Driven. “I’ll see you then.”
“Don’t even bother. You know what my answer is.”
Cautious blinked and scanned the trees for the voice.
“Behind you.”
The Cunning Heart[16] was indeed behind her. Her eyes glowed in the shadows of the woods. She also didn’t look happy, but she argued it was her resting face.
“How did you find out?” Cautious asked after painfully choosing to not yell at her.
Cunning scoffed, “Ravenous. Now, if you want to ask everyone else, don’t let me stop you. Just don’t drag me into whatever Righteous has planned.”
“It’s just a party.”
“Sure,” she said slowly. “You could say that. But I know you and her love to play with words instead of getting straight to the point.”
“Fine,” Cautious sighed. “But if you change your mind, you can still come.”
“We’ll see.”
And with that, Cunning was gone.
She traveled deeper into the woods. It was getting darker, either from the setting sun or the woods becoming denser. Or because she was getting close to nothingness. Still, she felt her presence. And then she saw her.
“The Cautious Heart.”
“Curious,”[17] she greeted. The other vessel was a layer of nerves wrapped into the ground like tiny streams. “What are you doing?”
“I’m attempting to connect with The Empathetic Heart at a greater distance than we had tested before,” she explained in a soothing voice. Actually, her voice always sounded like that, but it was especially welcoming after so many dismissive words.
“Is this like hide and seek?”
“No,” Curious said calmly. Her nerves reached out to Cautious and she gently held them. “It is more than that. I’m spreading from the center to the very edges where The Empathetic Heart promised to stay. The void. The cutoff. Where imagination shapes the land. What are you doing?”
“I’m-” Cautious yawned. “Excuse me. Inviting everyone for a… Party. At Righteous’ home. The one with all the games. And there’ll be food, because all the guests have to bring some.”
“Whatever is the occasion?”
“Just hanging out, you know.”
“If it’s just that, perhaps I could send a telepathic message to all in the multitudes.”
“I’m good, thanks,” Cautious breathed out. “I’d rather do things face to face.”
“Hm. Interesting. Do you need a break?”
Cautious jumped and blinked rapidly. “Oh- Uh-” She hastily let go of Curious whose nerves retreated slowly back onto the ground. She fought the urge to hold on as the pain flared. “No, I really have to get going. Good luck with that- Oh, are you coming?”
Curious took a moment to respond. “Yes. I will. I will see you soon.”
Cautious nodded quickly, “That’s good. Remember to bring food for everyone.”
“I won’t forget.”
“Good,” she hesitated. “Goodbye then, Curious.”
“Goodbye, The Cautious Heart.”
That was a close call.
Cautious stared at the void. For everything to exist, a void would also exist because it was part of everything. Cautious didn’t get the appeal, but several princesses enjoyed the emptiness and so she needed to visit it. But it didn’t look like anyone was in the floating tree section-
Hands grasped upon her shoulders and spun her around. She stared wide-eyed into the empty void of The Wise Heart’s[18] face.
“Forgot what to say?” Wise giggled as she twirled Cautious again.
“Yeah- And first is stop that.” She shoved the gloves off her and faced Wise on more equal grounds- As equal as it could be when Wise didn’t have any legs to stand with.
“And next?” Wise prodded.
“Next,” she began carefully. “Is that I am inviting you, and everyone, to a party at Righteous-"
“I’ll go!”
That was easy. “All guests have to bring food for everyone,” she added.
“Okay,” Wise nodded. “I’ll go do that!”
“And it’s tomorrow-”
Wise had already rushed off. Which was good for Cautious since she didn’t want to be stuck with her forever.
“No.”
“No?”
A deeper sigh. “No, I won’t be going.”
“Are you sure?” Cautious asked. “It’ll be fun. It would be great if you were there too.”
She bit her lips. “...Sorry, no.”
“Why don’t you come over for a few minutes and try out the-”
“No, I already know what will happen,” she sighed. “The party starts, everyone enjoys themselves, the party ends, everyone leaves, but they would want another, then another, so it never ends.”
…Okay. Maybe that was true. But. Did The Open Heart[19] seriously have to put it like that?
Not like Cautious could say anything more about it since the birdcage was yanked from behind and the body stood in front, holding out the other hand as if a deal was declared.
Cautious stared at the hand.
“Oh, it looks like she wants to go,” Open said. “Of course. The cycle has to repeat in some way.”
The Watchful Heart tapped her foot impatiently.
“Well, the invitation was open to you, too, anyway,” Cautious hesitantly held the hand.
Watchful squeezed it and Cautious screamed.
After getting a new application of salve and gloves from a guilty Watchful, Cautious continued the journey through the void. Open said she might have heard something this way, or that she was hallucinating, but when Watchful confirmed, Cautious headed on over.
It wasn’t exactly dark in the void but it was easier to say that. It was like a hazy feeling pressing onto her eyes, a bit similar to taking a nap with Curious. She squinted through the film, already feeling a headache building up the more she tried to see. Ugh, that was the last thing she needed. It would be so much easier to give up and claim she got lost, but she wanted to see this through. She already got through some of the more unpleasant vessels, she could-
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”
Before she could register what that was- she had already jumped and tripped over her own feet, landing on the static of the ground.
“I- You-” She hissed as she looked up, filled with rage at whoever thought to sneak up on her. Somehow that anger made it easier to see who it was. Two giggling princesses without a care in the world, floating above her like they were the ones who kept all the light in this place.
The Tender[20] and Yearning[21] Hearts.
“Did we get you?” Yearning grinned.
“...Sure,” Cautious brushed herself off and got up.
“Of course we did,” Tender scoffed. “Do you want to see the look on your face, it was like-” She gasped suddenly and bent backwards in two before snapping straight up. “Like that!”
“Oh really?” Cautious flashed her fangs. “Almost makes me not want to invite you to the party everyone’s going to go to tomorrow.”
“What?”
“But I guess you’re too busy spooking others in the dark for a cheap laugh. I’ll leave you to it-”
“Wait-” Yearning said. “I’m sorry.” A beat. Her elbow passed through Tender’s side.
“I suppose we could have telegraphed the scare a bit more,” Tender forced out. “What’s this party?”
This was the best she was going to get without losing her mind, Cautious decided. “Righteous is hosting a party tomorrow. If you want to come, you’d have to bring food. And no scaring people.”
For some reason, Yearning looked less interested. Her eyes glazed over. “I-”
“Of course we’ll come! Right, Yearning?” Tender looked over at Yearning, who now had her eyes closed.
“Okay,” she said after a minute. She opened her eyes like nothing happened. “Any food is fine?”
“If it’ll feed more than one person.”
Tender tilted her head at Yearning’s words. Her eyes lit up as if she suddenly realized something. “Oh!” She swung her arm around Yearning’s shoulders and held them there even as they threatened to phase through her body. “We should talk about this. Food is very important, after all! Making food, too, so difficult. We want to make sure everyone enjoys it, don’t we?”
“Oh yes,” Yearning smiled again. “We have to think about this very hard. And alone.”
Cautious looked back and forth between the two.
“Well?” Tender smirked. “Are you going to leave?”
What? Were they going to-? “Yes, I… Have to ask everyone else.”
“All right, see you,” Yearning said.
Cautious needed to stop thinking about this. She needed to purge her brain. Become mindless. Which was one of the uses of the void.
She wasn't the only one trying to forget something. But it was more of being the one forgotten. The Weathered Heart[22] was laying faceup in a pool of black. If she was trying to hide, she wasn’t doing a great job of it as one, Cautious could see her face, and two other tendons and muscles poked out from the gloom.
“Oh, you found me. Here to laugh?”
Cautious rolled her eyes. “Why would I do that for? And what are you even doing?”
“Nothing. So leave.”
“No, I don’t think I will,” Cautious said as she looked down on her. “I’m inviting you to a party.”
“And you think I would lighten up the atmosphere?” Weathered sneered.
“It would be great if you were there.”
“Why?” she asked. “What would I even do?”
“Eat, play games, just hanging out with everyone and having fun.”
“I don’t need to be around anyone. Especially for such a vague reason.”
Cautious narrowed her eyes. “You’re hiding from someone.” She paused. “Bold was looking for you.”
“Let me guess.” Weathered flexed her claws. “She wants a fight?”
“She didn’t tell me why.”
“Well, that’s what she always wants. And for some reason I always give in. But I’m tired.”
“Maybe you should tell her that.”
Weathered scoffed, “That’s not going to work with her.”
“It could,” Cautious said. “You’d be surprised how long you could talk without her interrupting.”
“Why, did you share the same old spiel with her?”
“Something like that. Ah, but I didn't tell you about the cool substances yet.”
Weathered barked out a laugh. “At least you’re honest. So I’ll be honest in turn. I have no reason to go and just thinking about it saps my energy. But this place… Is not the greatest to be alone in.”
“I see. Well, if you change your mind, the party’s at Righteous’ place. It’ll be great if you could bring something edible too.”
“Hm,” Weathered said. Then she glanced over to her. “Well? Don’t you need to find three more vessels?”
“Huh, I do. How did you know that?”
“Because they’re over there,” Weathered lifted her arm to point towards the distance. “Chattering so loudly. Get them to be quiet and maybe I’ll consider it more thoughtfully.”
“No promises,” Cautious said coolly. “But thanks.”
Cautious did hear them before Weathered said anything. But she didn’t want her ears to be unravelled anything soon. She followed the noise of what seemed to be idle chit-chat. Of course, it was muffled by the void’s static, in which Cautious knew she knew much better soundproofing material for what was something to clear your mind, but she eventually arrived in front of them.
“Hey,” she said. The Beautiful Heart[23] was laying against a thin tree and nodded in response. The Vibrant Heart[24] was stuck between waving and giving a rude gesture. And then there was The Empathetic Heart,[25] who had buried her stenciled hand into the ground.
“Hi Cautious!” she said. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to find you guys,” Cautious said. “To invite you to a party tomorrow at Righteous’ place.”
“Oh, sure, I’d love to go!” Then Empathetic paused. “But I’m not sure if I’ll be late or not.”
“So Curious didn’t find you yet?” Cautious asked.
Vibrant snickered and groaned. “Nope./She thinks she’s so smart./How did you know about that?/She probably abandoned us…/She will soon!”
“She probably asked her first since we’re in the middle of nowhere,” Beautiful muttered.
“Yeah,” Empathetic nodded. “I don’t know how long this would take, and I’m not going to abandon this project in the middle of it.”
“But it’s not like we have anything better to do,” Vibrant agreed as one. “We’re just here because we thought it would be over quicker. And we are not interested in staying in place for more than a day, no offense./Actually that statement was full of attacks.”
“None taken,” Empathetic said lightly. “What about you, Beautiful?”
She winced, “I don’t know…”
“It’ll be fun!/I think parties are supposed to be fun./Don’t be the odd one out.”
“Okay, I guess…” Beautiful closed her eyes. “I guess you’ll see me there.”
“I mean, you don’t have to go,” Cautious said begrudgingly.
“No, I already said I would so… Unless you don’t want me there?”
“No, no,” she shook her head. “I meant that nobody should be forced to go anywhere they don’t want.”
“Oh,” Beautiful sighed. “Okay.”
“And- Also everyone needs to bring food.”
Beautiful’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh. Huh.” Cautious was already imagining what kind of food poisoning there would be.
“Ah man,” Empathetic snickered. “I was hoping to how Righteous would stock the place.”
“We’ll be providing some things. Like, uh- Also food. I guess.”
The three vessels glanced at each other obviously.
“Wow. Now we got to be there./But what to bring, what to bring?/We shouldn’t even go, we’d bring the mood down.”
“Well, bye. And good luck. Oh-” Cautious stopped herself and faced them. “Can you give me directions to get out of here?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Beautiful said.
“Sure!/If I have to./To where?/Give me something first!/Why would you ask me of all people?”
“I’m sure you got this,” Empathetic smiled at them. They smiled back before focusing on Cautious.
“I just need to get back to Righteous' place, if that’s not too much to ask.”
Vibrant looked her in the eye. “You’re already there.”
And when Cautious turned around, in front of her was the door in the middle of the woods.
It's pretty convenient to be an eldritch being.