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After their last challenge, Trowel and Slide Whistle decided to wander over to a nearby river to calm down. Both seemed slightly worn out by the activity but one appeared to more fidgety than the other.
They both rested quietly on a rock, listening to the water rushing past. Slide Whistle kicked his legs over the side and let them lightly swing there, leaning his head back and feeling the setting sun lightly beat down on his skin.
"It's pretty nice out, isn't it?"
He sat there waiting for a response from the boy sitting next to him, but none came. He only heard a small quiver come from Trowel before he tucked his legs to his chest and sighed.
Slide Whistle turned to face Trowel, but he only looked away, digging his face deeper into his knees, like he was almost trying to hide from his armless friend.
"Trowel? Is everything alright?" Slide Whistle made a sorry attempt at trying to view Trowel's face, before deciding he didn't want to try and push him to do anything.
But Trowel slightly peaked out at him before hiding his face again.
"I ruined everythinggggg..." he sobbed, his sleeves becoming wet from his tears. Slide Whistle hadn't even noticed Trowel had been crying.
"What do you mean?"
"My painting! I fucked it up and we ended up losing the challenge!"
Slide Whistle scooted over to his pale friend so he was directly next to him, gently leaning on his shoulder.
"Heyyyyyy, it could've been worse! Besides, you tried your best, and didn't we trade it for The Best Friends!'s painting?"
Trowel finally looked over at his friend, trying not to burst out in tears.
"But it still got rated the lowest overall, even if we didn't turn it in ourselves." He gripped his knees and looked out at the water, watching how to flowed over the rocks, how it smoothened the stones, how the sun reflected off its ripples, observed the critters that lie under its pearlescent waves. "And now we're both up for elimination because of me. Because I couldn't do better for the team. Even if we kept the painting we still would've lost. I failed to do my part and now we all have to pay the price."
"Trowel!" Slide Whistle was taken aback by his friend's words. It saddened him that Trowel would think so poorly of himself. "Trowel, do NOT think of yourself that way. It's okay to make mistakes. You're not perfect. And besides, you're not the only one who messed up for us. Spaghetti made an AMAZING painting and then fucking ruined it. And I'll admit it, I literally did nothing. And neither did the fish, even if he is the host. Trowel, you probably did the most out of all of us, so what if you messed up? We can't make everything to our exact standards, so who cares? You tried, and that's what matters."
...
"You really mean that?" Trowel weakly let out, his voice stuttering and shaking as he made eye contact with his best friend.
"Why would I not?" Slide Whistle laughed, resting back next to Trowel.
The sky began to turn various shades orange, yellow, pink and blue. The air began to settle over the lakeside plains, fireflies littering the field with illumination.
And as the two walked back to the lake, Trowel wondered how he was going to explain to Slide Whistle that the colors didn't mix.