Expedition Day 2: Entry 2:

After roughly 5 minutes of walking, I eventually reached a very hot area with hot sand, but I only found that out when I touched it with my hand, since I did have hiking boots on (with custom insoles, since my feet weren't accustomed to long walks. I learned that the hard way during the Grumpfoot Monster incident). I also noted that there was two different areas to go to, one north and one east. And there was a giant cliff in front of me as well. I proceeded to the east first, where I immediately saw some small corn kernel Bugsnax that were hopping about. I then scanned them and was surprised to see that they were Popticks! And that the Snakscope said that these brand were different than the Caramel Popticks. Why? Because they needed to be puffed up with... fire. And I had two options to choose from, since my head was ablaze with fire and that there was a Scorpepper crawling on the cliff and had fire coming from its stinger.

"Hmm... I think I'll go unconventional with this one," I smiled as I then looked at the Scorpepper from the ground and saw that he was minding his own business, but he sounded pissed.

"Rrrgh... I hate Poptick... they're too loud..." the Scorpepper said, me then simply giving a whistle, but it being a quieter one. Regardless, it got the pepper scorpion's attention. "What? Whaddayou want?" he asked, still pissed off. I simply smiled.

"I couldn't help but overhear that you had a problem with the Popticks. You want to make it so that they can shut up? I want to catch a couple to feed to someone else, but they need a bit of fire so I can prepare them correctly," I smiled, that making the Scorpepper look at the popping Popticks and then looking at me.

"And you can't do it, why?" he asked.

"I'd love to, but I wanted to also offer you a partnership," I said as I showed off a glass container that was heat-proof. And it also had a bunch of holes that could help fit the pepper scorpion's feet as well as for breathing. "I want to ask if you would want to be one of the few Bugsnax that would be able to come to the mainland. I want to be the first to come here and leave in one piece and I'd love to bring back live Bugsnax as proof. In return, I'll give you a nice home. And it's very quiet at my house, I promise," I smirked, the Scorpepper then looking at me with angry eyes and then simply moving its peppery tail to shoot a flame at the two Popticks that were around, making them freak out and start to puff up, the Scorpepper then simply walking down the wall and coming over to me. He also opened the container on his own and then closed it up, but he also did one more thing. He slammed his stinger through the glass to make a hole big enough for it! And it was still on fire.

"If we're doing this, I have free reign. Just don't piss me off," he said, me nodding at that.

"I'll try to honor your wishes," I said as I then simply set up a Snaktrap over to where the Popticks were at and then coated the trap in chocolate, as the Popticks liked chocolate. I then waited until both of them were under the trap's umbrella and then, I slammed it shut, me rushing over and grabbing the duo of them in a snap! I then put them in the same jar (they were that small) and I then noted that the Scorpepper was looking down the gorge to what looked like a set of ancient buildings.

"Ugh... the green Grump. She digs up dead Grumpus bodies, but why?" he said, me tilting my head at that.

"Yeeeaah... when I got here first, I saw a Grumpus skeleton that had some words etched onto a rock... saying don't eat and don't show weakness... what does that mean?" I asked, Scorpepper then looking at me with a frown... I think.

"Ugh, not a clue. Grumps eat us all the time, so who cares?" the Scorpepper asked as I simply shrugged my shoulders.

"I still have no idea why the Grumpus limbs turn into the food of the Bugsnax they eat... yet whenever I eat a Bugsnak, they thrash in my stomach and they don't change my limbs?... And why aren't you surprised at me being able to speak to you?" I asked to the Scorpepper.

"I don't know why either... and as for me not being surprised? I've been here for centuries. Nobody's eating this Scorpepper. It's also why I can speak better than the other Snax... even though you are the only one I can speak to. But I'd heard of you from some of the passing Snax. They claimed on a Grump with no fur that was part Bugsnak, but was unlike all other Grumps to come here before," the Scorpepper said, me being surprised at the fact that the Scorpepper was hundreds of years old and that the word had gotten far in just one night.

"Huh... hey, do you know anything about who these Grumpuses names are that are in the gorge right now?" I asked him.

"The green Grump is Triffany. She's married to the blue farmer, Wambus, but is more concentrated on dead Grumps. And there's also a red loudmouth that keeps eyeing me with drool from the top of the cliff in the center. He's Cromdo Face and I hate him," he said, me smirking at that.

"I actually know Cromdo from a few years ago. He tried to swindle me into buying cruddy items for a high price... so I decided to play 'Door Slam' with him. I won every time," I said. Scorpepper simply chuckled at that. And when he did, it got Triffany to look at us and she looked intrigued.

"Hmm... a human? And you managed to catch a Scorpepper, eh? Mighty surprisin' job, miss," she smile as I simply shook my head.

"Sorry, he's off limits to getting eaten. This Scorpepper is going to be among the various Bugsnak specimens that I bring back to the mainland as proof of my success on Snaktooth... and apparently, according to him, he's hundreds of years old," I said, that making Triffany gawk.

"Hundreds of years old?! And how did you hear him say that? Does he speak English?" she asked.

"No, no, it's more that, since I hit my head after a crash-landing on the island, I can understand Bugsnax... you could call me an interpreter, or Bugsnax Whisperer. And the Scorpepper by my side says he's been around for hundreds of years and that nobody's even attempted to eat him before," I said with a smile.

"Well, nice to meet both of ya regardless, yeah? I'm Triffany Lottablog," Triffany smiled.

"And I'm Felicia Bundoga, AKA, the reporter... I need help to find Lizbert, so do you think you could come back to Snaxburg?" I asked, her shaking her head.

"Sorry, but I'm just on the verge of a major discovery. These bones here are from Grumpuses that were here before us, but I've noticed a specific Bugsnak that has bones to it. This is rather interesting, since these Grumpus skeletons seem to have fossilized Bugsnax in their stomach cavities... Could you catch me 3 Ribblepede and feed 'em to me? They like to hang out on the walls in these here ruins," Triffany asked, me nodding at her.

"I'm willing to help," I said as I then went to the buildings and saw that there were Bugsnax in the form of ribs with tons of tiny legs... and they were just out of reach for the Snaktrap... but NOT the net! I netted them with ease to get them to follow me willingly, which Scorpepper looked at me in annoyance.

"Why are you helping the green Grump? Who cares about dead bodies? Some have been around longer than me," he said in annoyance as I then frowned.

"Do you want to share how they died, per chance? Or would that just annoy you?" I asked.

"They died for one reason. They refused to eat the Bugsnax. When that happens, they get skinnier and skinnier. The sauce fruits weren't around until the blue Grump arrived, as he planted all of them. So, they died of starvation," he said, me being confused even more at that.

"Wait a minute... the Grumpuses I've met so far, save for one, love how they taste. So why would people refuse to eat Bugsnax?" I asked, Scorpepper groaning.

"That's something that only the queen can tell ya. We're forbidden from speaking it," he said, me then nodding. I guess the queen must've been pretty strict, despite never appearing in person.

"Very well, I'll stop asking questions, then," I said, then going back to Triffany with the Ribblepedes and her then smiling at me.

"Golly gee, thanks a lot, missy! Time to find out if this is the source of the fossilized Bugsnax," Triffany said as I then fed her one of the Ribblepedes and she then tasted it at first before then swallowing it down, her left hand turning into a rib with bones on it... which made me grossed out.

"Huh, strange... the bones on Ribblepede are gooey and stretchy, not like these findings at all!... Hmm... maybe if we find out what's behind that banged-up door over there, then we could find out more," Triffany said, pointing to the door in question and me seeing it was covered in hard rock.

"Hey, Scorpepper? Any idea how to break down this stone door?" I asked him.

"Look for a Spuddy. They ram anything they see, but aren't good with turns while charging. If you lure one of them here, they'd be strong enough to get through the rock wall," Scorpepper said, me nodding as I then started to search around the gorge some more, sending out Sprout to go into a hole in the wall. And after following the hole to the other end, I laid out a Snaktrap and caught a green-colored Peelbug and for Sprout to be happy.

"Yay, I gotta help friendly friend!" Sprout said happily as Scorpepper groaned.

"Why a Strabby?" he asked in annoyance.

"Well, he's actually-" I was about to say... before I was cut off by a loud shout from above me.

"HEY, HEY, HEY, BUDDY!" I heard the voice shout, me looking in the direction of the noise and then being surprised at how it was a red-colored Grumpus with a yellow necktie, giant nose, and angry eyebrows. "Come on up here for the deal of a lifetime! Haha! You won't be disappointed, that much I can promise!" the red guy said as I then looked at Scorpepper and Sprout with a smile.

"Um... I got an idea. Scorch, Sprout, you're gonna-" I was about to finish before the Scorpepper groaned.

"Really? Scorch?" he interrupted.

"Easier than saying three syllables," I frowned.

"Fine. What is it?" he asked.

"I'd like to ask for one of you to help lead a Spuddy to the ruins and break down the door. In the meantime, I'm going to go and see what this snake oil salesman has to say," I said, Sprout looking at Scorch and then at me.

"What is snake oil?" he asked in confusion.

"It's another way of saying that he's a cheating cheapskate," I said to Sprout, him then nodding his whole body and for Scorch to speak to me.

"I'll take care of Sprout while you meet with the loudmouth. The sooner he's gone, the sooner I can get some peace and quiet," Scorch said, me nodding as I then went up the staircase and going to the upper levels and meeting with the red Grump and him looking at me in confusion.

"Say, is it just me, or do you look slightly familiar?" he asked, me smirking at him.

"I played 'Door Slam' with you three years ago and I won every time," I said, Cromdo then smirking at me.

"Ah, you're the reporter, then! Nice to know you remember your old friend, Cromdo Face! Come over here and see the best deal ever! And you can't play door slam here, because there are no doors," he said with a cocky grin, me then simply shrugging my shoulders and following him to what looked to be a broken-down bridge. "Feast your eyes on this Beeeyoutifle bridge! New wood, hard construction, oh baby, what a bridge! All yours for just 100 Bugsnax," Cromdo said, me frowning at him.

"Hoo boy, if ever there was a need for a door... but I got something just as good," I said as I then took one of my ketchup fruits and threw it at Cromdo, him frowning at that. "Sorry, but that's way too steep for something I'm not even concerned about," I admitted.

"Can't afford it, no problem! I got something here that can help both of us out," Cromdo said after wiping off the ketchup from his face and leading me to the right of the bridge and I saw that he produced a circular pad that looked like the one that I used on training Sprout. "Presenting, the beautiful Lunchpad! Totally for sale and not at all stolen! I'm gonna offer a free trial to ya. My windmills up there are kinda stuck. Why don't ya use the Lunchpad? Go on, take it for a spin, heheh!" Cromdo said as I noticed that my Bugsnak friends had managed to trick a Spuddy to break down the wall and they then got the attention of Triffany, who then nabbed the Spuddy with her net, me smirking at that.

Regardless, I took some nearby rocks that were on the ground, placed them on the Lunchpad one at a time, and then, after aiming it with a remote control provided by Cromdo, I launched each one at the windmill propellers and got them unstuck, giving us a cool breeze in the hot morning sun.

"Ah, that lovely breeze! Okay, now ya gotta pay up," Cromdo said, me frowning at him. "What? You used it, you bought it! No such thing as a free lunch... pad..." he said, me then sighing and shaking my head.

"Fine, just make it reasonable, please?" I frowned.

"Eh, you can pay me in three Cheepoofs. They think they're sooooo great, flyin' around outta reach! Heh, let's see 'em fly right into my mouth! The Lunchpad could be used in conjunction with your Snaktrap, so think wisely," Cromdo said, me smiling at that as I then decided to check up on Triffany first, seeing that the two snak friends emerged from the ruins along with her and the Spuddy was... now her leg.

I then went down there and saw that the archaeologist was telling stuff to Scorch.

"Ah, you're back from meeting Cromdo, yeah?" she asked, me nodding.

"What was in there?" I asked.

"Something amazin', I tell ya what! Ancient murals depictin' ancient Grumpuses who also hunted, yet revered Bugsnax! An' it also said that, in this very canyon, they had a storage room of sorts. I was hopin' that Scorch and Sprout could go and find it and then you could relay their language to me with what they find?" Triff asked, me smirking and nodding at that, but Scorch looked annoyed again.

"Ugh... it's going to be a waste of time, but if it gets me off this rock, I'll help," Scorch groaned as I smiled at him.

"Thanks, guys, you're the best... and you do know who the little Strabby guy is, right, Triffany?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's Gramble's best bed Sprout, right? Him an' Charwee were the only Snax left after the fight had happened... at least, from what I heard," Triffany said as I simply tilted my head.

"You mean you weren't there for the fight?" I asked.

"I got back after a day at the dig site only to find Wambus spewing flames out of his mouth at poor Gramble. It's his fault, y'know?" she asked, me then looking at Scorch and him then simply holding his pepper pinchers up like a shrug.

"Well... how about this? If we can find out what's in that area, could you possibly come back to Snaxburg? Because I've enacted some new rules to follow and it involves a time limit of 6 days... long story short, the island is on a ticking time clock that ends in 6 days. We need to get my balloon ship back to perfect condition and get everyone back to Snaxburg before those 6 days are up... so please?" I asked, Triffany looking at the Bugsnax, and then at the bones.

"So... what happens at the end of those 6 days?" she asked as Scorch then spoke.

"If she really wants to know, here's what'll happen. The volcano will erupt and the queen will allow us to enact the idiotic plan. It's been the plan for every single resident here. The lava isn't the real danger, but that's all I'm saying. And that's to remain secret. Just tell her about the volcano, got it?" Scorch said, me nodding as I then looked at Triffany with a frown.

"The volcano is going to erupt at the end of those 6 days. If we don't get off the island by then, we'll be swimming in lava. And last I checked, everyone but myself is flammable..." I said, Triffany then looking at my head and then nodding.

"Yeeaaah... that don't sound too good... I'll go ahead and do as you said then, yeah? But I do need to try and find something out here before we leave. I'll tell you more, but only after your friends find the storage room," Triffany said, me nodding at her request.

"You heard her, boys. You go get that storage room found and we can get her back to town. In the meantime, I'm going to go grab some Cheepoofs for Cromdo. I need to pay him for this invention he 'sold' me. But when he said 'not at all stolen'... he stole this Lunchpad, didn't he?" I asked, Triffany nodding.

"He swiped the blueprints from Snorpy during the fight, the slimy sneak," she said, me rolling my eyes at how sleezy that Cromdo could be.

"I knew it," I groaned as I then proceeded to walk my way back to the top of the gorge so I could grab some Cheepoofs.