I thought I'd write one more filler chapter before the Arctic Cruise DLC, I wanted to do an introduction to a few of my other adorable AHiT characters. I haven't gotten the time to sit down and play through the first DLC again, so It's going to take me some time to write the next chapter.
(Chapter Fourteen: Rough patch Cove)
It was peaceful, quiet, the sound of rushing water echoing off the cavern that had given their kind shelter for generations. Moonlight shone through small cracks in the ceiling, and an occasional large spider that the defense team has to fend off to prevent any of their kind from being taken as a snack.
A pink bush like being with a small flower on a branch sticking out of its foliage sat and watched over the cove as a vast majority of its kind slept. It was different than most of the residents that reside in the caverns, but none judge its appearance because this pink ball of leaves was one of the mightiest protectors of the cove.
His eyes softly glowed a pale pink, and one eye was scarred from a battle long ago. Its skin underneath the leaves was a ghostly pink as well, and fangs sharper than most.
Out of all the different tails the residents have, Small, large, some more bulb-like and others thin; some have Spikes for battle and others do not. The pink warrior's tail was spiked, two small ones and a large third, however, it was broken.
He huffed and looked around once more, slowly it started to patrol. It seemed to quiet as the bush walked. Only then did he realize it's younger charge was nowhere near him. The small pure breed couldn't stay away while the pink warrior worked. The bush being was on alert now, frantically looking around and calling out with a quiet call.
Someone answered his call, but it wasn't his charge. A small, fast, red bush came running at the pink, shivering in place out of its extensive energy and the need to run.
This one was strange as well, its skin underneath the maroon red leaves looked like the color of mud, with glowing green eyes. Its tail has no spikes for it was only a scout of the cove. The young male twitched in place, meowing in a questioning manner.
The bigger pink bush huffed again, and soft agitated growl came from its throat. The red bush's ears perked up in hearing that one of the pure breeds have gone missing, and took it upon themselves to go searching. Just another reason to run around.
The red bush took off with silence, as the pink one watched, then soon joined the search.
Kero hid behind a tree, the child was goofing around as he and Julia were playing a game of hide-and-seek. It started as a one time game because Julia was trying to get things ready for the trip. Melody was welcoming them onto her ship to sleep so that they won't have to bunk in Snatcher tree anymore.
Tomorrow would be the day they arrive at the docks, so making sure they have everything was necessary. Though eventually, Julia started to have a little to much fun and eventually forgot trying to get ready. She couldn't remember the last time she played hide and seek, and if she did, it was a repressed memory.
Julia taunted out in a silly manner. "Kero! Were are you~?" She could hear his giggles from somewhere to her left, making her smile. She walked off in that direction, and when Julia thought she had him. "Hah!"
He wasn't there.
"Mm." She hummed, hearing him laugh out from somewhere. "I thought I had you."
She searched around the next couple of trees, however, she stopped when she heard footsteps on the ground. They sounded light, a little too light to be Kero's. Taking a quick look, but carefully as to not alert what was moseying about. Once she had a full view, Julia was shocked to see that little moving bush from before.
The little bush creature sniffed the air, its tongue hanging out of its mouth and it snorted. The bush immediately turned to look at Julia catching her off guard. It sat down, still looking at her, with its spiked tail hitting the ground.
"Uhh.." Julia couldn't take her eyes away as she called out quietly "Kero..? There's something strange... looking at me."
Kero came around a different tree, opposite from where Julia was looking at. When the small boy saw what his mother was looking at, he immediately gasped and got down on the ground. Seeing this action from the child, Julia followed. The two were now on the ground watching the odd bush.
"What..?! What is it?!" Julia asked quietly, taking a look at Kero
"It's a rough patch!" The child whispered in wonder, "I haven't seen a rough patch since Vanessa frosted the forest!" He smiled as the boy looked to his mother, then back to the animal. It was now copying them, laying down on the ground. "They used to be everywhere! A lot of people had them as pets!"
"So.. are they safe?" Julia asked, looking at the bush.
"Well.. it varies, some are very nice while others.. not so much." Kero now sat up and looked at the rough patch, he tilted his head "but the rough patches I knew were way bigger than this one."
Julia studied the little being that was now called a rough patch, Its foliage seemed to be that of a blueberry bush. A large leaf on its head that looked side-swept, and two berried on the side of its head that looked like a hair ornament. Two sharp leaf ears twitch as it's seemingly glowing blue eyes watched the boy. Its skin was a dark color, but Julia couldn't tell if it was a deep blue or pure black.
"This little one seems to be some sort of.. pygmy." Kero thought out loud, but it made Julia wondered.
"How big are they normally?" She asked
Kero looked at her, "about my hight." He was no taller than Melody and Bonnie.
Hearing that, Julia almost choked on herself.
The pink rough patch sniffed around, feeling a slight breeze made the male turn it's head up. Confused, he walked on to find a slit of space that was unfamiliar to him. A few days ago, there was only cold, dark, and damp... but now there was light and an endless field beyond.
Sniffing again, the pink rough patch froze up. The pure breed was out there. Alone. The male growled, the young one could get attacked, eaten, or something possibly worse! Having a little trouble, the pink rough patch managed to squeeze through and was hit with a large amount of fresh air.
Shortly after, the red rough patch made himself known, bumping into the bigger pink make. Shaking his head from the sudden impact, the scout opened their eyes to witness the largest place he had ever seen! With a smile on the red rough patch's face, tail moving back and forth, he took off.
The pink male quietly called out in annoyance to the younger red male, in a way of saying 'get back here' but the red was having to much fun running around a few trees.
Julia thought it'd be best to move away and leave the wild animal be. She had things she needed to do now that Kero was satisfied with spending time with his mother, however, as the two walked back to Snatcher's tree to pick out a few articles of clothing.. so was the small rough patch.
Julia stopped, as did the bush. when the girl turned around, so did it as well. Kero laughed at the small thing, it seemed to be mimicking his mother. "Mama, can we keep it!?" He pointed out, a smile in his voice, as Julia kept her eyes on the animal.
It was incredibly cute, Julia will not lie about that, though she was unsure is it had some type of bush rabies- or some kind of plant sickness. Or maybe.. the rough patch was troubled and it just wanted some company. I couldn't be the last of it's kind because Julia had seen a way bigger one in the twilight bell. Vaguely another outside Vanessa manor next to a large figure.
So surely it wasn't lonely.
The small rough patch waddled up to the tall girl, making a soft snort with its mouth, then proceeded to pap her leg. It stayed like that for a while as it looked up. Julia was confused, but at that moment, she was agreeing with Kero.
Just as she was about to pick up the small creature, something come running past her in a blur, making the girl lookup. Only to have something thwack her on the head. The thing that hit her pushed off her head as she backpedaled, landing with a raised tail and frilled up leaves.
Julia was being hissed at by a slightly bigger pink rough patch, however, it was still small. A small red one comes running around them like a perimeter. Preventing the two bipedal people from leaving.
"Where did these two come from?" Julia mumbled to herself, looking at how the pink one was standing in front of the smaller one protectively. "Wait- do you think we're trying to hurt that one?" She asked, unsure if the creatures understood them.
The pink rough patch stopped hissing, but it was still in a predator stance, tail raised. It growled at her as if trying to talk back. It noticed the smaller bipedal get closer to the larger one, it was scared.
Julia wasn't about to let a wild animal thrash her child. If anyone takes hits, it'll be her. "Look, buddy! That little started following us! We did nothing, and we won't do anything."
It hissed back, it didn't seem to appreciate that Julia called his younger charge a 'thing'. Though, that small green rough patch just hobbled up to the pink one, and did the same thing to Julia; It papped the side of the pink one's face, an adorable grunt left the green one's throat.
It seemed to calm down, almost looked like it sighed like it was just tired of this small one not taking situations seriously. In the end, it too placed a paw on the small green rough patch's face.
The red one comes barreling towards the two, crashing into the group and knocking them over. The pink one hissed and starting swatting at the red rough patch's face. It didn't seem to mind, it just continued to shake violently with a smile.
"So.. I guess the rough patches are making a return.." Kero spoke quietly, looking at the odd group of three. "That's nice! The forest will be slightly more alive now!" He smiled, looking up. Julia just smiled back.
As the small group of rough patches was about to break apart, a large spider comes speeding down the tree, about to snag the smallest of the group when Julia comes running in and sending it flying with her bat.
When she smacked it, it went hurling at the farthest tree, popping away like all enemies seem to do here. The pink one looked up, almost shaken at how fast this bipedal's reflex was. That shiny stick it held almost looked like the branch in its leaves, maybe this one was a protector as well?
The older rough patch of the group meowed a soft thanks, it's younger charge was about to walk towards the two bipedal beings again when it grabbed the pure breed by the scruff of its neck. The pure breed whimpered, slowly waving all of its paws at the taller being.
The warrior softly growled, as of to say 'we're going home' without another word. The red one ran ahead, never taking a break for a moment.
With an opening in the cove's walls, the pink one would have to keep an extra eye on it. Not only that but also his charge. How was he going to explain this to the elders?
Julia and Kero watched the bush creatures wander off, only to assume that they were returning from where they came. It was one of the less violent encounters she has had, and she was frankly glad about it.
"You think they'll be back?" Kero asked, holding Julia's hand as they walked off as well.
"Probably, little buddy, probably.." Julia said, trailing off with her thoughts.
I love my rough patch children, It was about time I added them to this story.
Pmoneygreen: Aw! I wish you luck whenever you decide to start/post your story! Thank you!
Mad King C: I'm glad you're enjoying the interactions I write, That means I'm doing something right! I also liked/hated the DLC as well, One being (of course) the seals, and the only thing I hated was that one mission where you had to do tasks. I don't do well with timed missions. Also, what a coincidence that was, posting a chapter at that moment?
Mr. Mega1423: Thank you, that means very much to me.
Fighter33000: I have a nice thing planned for the Arctic Cruise, don't you worry! hopefully, I can piece together my thoughts in the proper order.
OPFan37: Mate, Sleep! My story won't be going anywhere! You could always wait till the sun come up. With everything finally getting closer to the DLC, shenanigans will peruse. Trying to relax will be one of them. The badge seller does try to see logic first than anything, he'll always try to help his closest friend though. Another thing to point out in case I forget, but Gabriele has no idea Julia was thrashed by Zephyr, she hadn't told him yet.
Also, with that spinoff, I'll keep these thoughts in mind then! I'll probably end up drawing a picture for it or at least a doodle!