Note: Takes place the morning "Steven Floats" ends
Need...to...want to...have to...
—form. Terra Batch J27-13 is now ready for briefing and commission. Notifying Blue Spinel to prepare orientation for—
Cabochon-2F4B, Unit-2713: your designation. You will do well to remember—
—that and everything else. Of course, even you should be capable of handling some—
—life we got, eh? But hey someone's gotta do the icky—
Worthless blob! Make yourself useful and seal this up before my—
—Diamond has selected you for a special assignment. Your assigned destination is on—
—just another garbage planet. It'll probably wound up dead long before you can get there. I still don't understand why—
You're the ones they're sending with me? O-kay then, I suppose—
— it's alright. I guess I can see why you like—
—defending it, miss? This one knows the mistake it made! Please—
—don't try to fight back, any of you! They'll just—
I don't know, backstab us probably! The fact it hasn't happened yet is all the more reason to be careful, R—
—trusts you, and I trust her judgment, so why not?
—because you can't expect mercy from them because of your Gem type! Just...take care to—
—TAKE MY HAND, AM—
BZKKKTTTTT!
...
...hurt...pain...hurt...someone...stop...hurt...help...someone...
...rip...slash...tear...Rip...Slash...Tear...
...
RIPSLASHTEAR, RIPSLASHTEAR, RIPSLASHTEAR, RIPSLASHTEARRIPSLASHTEAR RIPSLASHTEARRIPSLASHTEAR—
BZZZZKKKKKKTTTTTTTT!
...
...
...Are you there?
...
Don't give up.
...
You're going to be okay.
I promise.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kaw! Kaw-Kaw!
For the fourth morning in a row, Shadow Giant startled awake at the raspy call of a blasted crow. They grunted in groggy awareness before standing up on four paws and giving their spine a nice lithe stretch.
As usual, REM sleep proved a cruel lady mutt. Ah, the benefits of sentience.
Oh well, the furry giant cricked their neck, maw wide open in a yawn that revealed sharp teeth, I'm plenty awake now. Better get today rolling.
Starting with coffee, lots and lots of coffee.
And marshmallows, the big fluffy kind that barely fit in the cup and went great with graham crackers, kind of like a drinkable s'more. That is, as long as Uma and Marcus hadn't pigged out on the pillowy sweets first.
Otherwise there was gonna be Words.
Lips smacking to dispel any lingering dryness in their mouth, Shadow Giant ambled through the tree-laden shadows, speckles of light revealing golden fur here and there, leaves crunching under their paws.
A nice place to take a nap— at least when you resemble a large forest predator. Their 'talents' may have had something to do with the peace and quiet, too, not that they would dare use them here. Fortunately, none of the wildlife possessed that level of stupidity, something they wished they could likewise say about the occasional wandering humans.
Upon exiting the forest, they squinted when the morning sunlight fully assaulted their striped face. Noon's still in coming, plenty of time for a brisk walk (assuming nothing major would happen in the meantime).
Beyond the corner of their eye, something pink bounded this way...