Searifa led the way once again. The human was silent. She didn't say anything more since she dropped gold into her golden hands. The blonde girl was thinking that much was obvious. She was tugging at the edges of her borrowed clothes with a furrow between her brows. The lizard monster was unsure if she wanted to interrupt or even if she spoke if the girl would hear. The lizard monster stopped at her destination. Searifa looked at the teen once and noted how the teen stopped as well before entering the shop that Undyne had suggested.
Kendall stood still in front of the doorway. Her thoughts were whirling, echoing and overlapping like the whispers of the Wishing Room. The prophecy of the Angel bothered her. A lot. It kept repeating in her mind. The Underground empty. Monsters like Papyrus, Undyne, Searifa. Nothing but dust. She knew that said cook was hopeful. That this angel would save them. Even though she didn't believe that she herself would see the Surface. Kendall clenched her fists. She will escape, she will tell the Surface about the monsters. The humans would..help? Destroy whoever was left down here. The teen wanted to wish the best, put off the negative thoughts.
"Hey, kiddo," a deep voice greeted, causing the girl to jump. Her blue eyes caught sight of a short skeleton in a jacket. Her hand dropped from its place on her racing heart.
"Sans," the girl muttered. "What did you want?" She narrowed her gaze at the slouching skeleton.
He put his hands in his pockets. "Just looking for dust." His eye-lights drifted as if to scan her.
"Do you think so little of me?" Kendall asked. "Or do you think so little of humans?" She crossed her arms across her chest.
Sans shrugged, "A bit of both to be honest. You really didn't give me any reason otherwise. But I heard a rumor about a human helping a fire monster crossing a river. Even though it coulda gotten you caught." Kendall didn't say anything. "So I thought, maybe that you aren't so bad." Kendall straightened at the praise.
"Sans, thanks. That means a lot to me," Kendall admitted.
"Sure kid. Be sure that Seari eats something. I would hate for Paps to lose his new penpal," with a wink, the skeleton disappeared. Kendall stood staring at the empty spot, a small smile on her lips. Searifa walked out of the shop, the gold of her scales standing out in the dim light.
"What got you all smiling now?" Searifa asked, half an apple in her mouth. "You looked so upset earlier."
The heavy thoughts returned again, her lightness from Sans's words faded away. The words were there on the tip of her tongue. "I feel stuck. Like there isn't a happy end to this story," Kendall admitted. "If I leave the Underground, monsters are stuck here for longer than if I die."
"Or perhaps the humans would help us escape when you talk to them," Searifa interrupted, her mouth turned to a frown at the pessimistic words.
Kendall frowned as well, "what about you? If it takes too long you could be gone before the humans do anything? What if the angel falls and kill you all?"
"I am sure I will be fine. I made it this far without falling down. And If another human falls, I guess I'll just have to put them on the right path," Searifa said, motioning the girl to follow her. The two moved along the dark paths.
Kendall looked at the lizard. "What if they don't care? Not all humans are good."
Searifa chuckled, "No one would hurt those who help them. I heard this saying that Kindness is the sharpest weapon that can pierce even the coldest heart." The lizard was walking toward a boat bobbing on the river. Kendall followed the monster as she stepped into the boat. It dipped under their weight.
"But what if they spurn kindness. What if they are so determined to hurt everyone? You can't talk to them. Promise me."
" Promise you what?"
"That when the next human comes, that you stay in your restaurant. That you leave them alone. Hide away from them."
The lizard tipped her head and the boat was pushed from the shore. "Kendall. I am glad you are concerned, but I will be fine. I am sure the next human who falls will be just as kind as you are." Kendall wanted to scream. Searifa didn't know. She didn't know that the teen had came and started attacking everything she saw. She didn't know that Kendall even tried to kill her too.
"But I'm not. I hurt monsters. I killed monsters," Kendall whispered, so softly that Searifa leaned forward to listen.
The chef's green eyes were narrow, confusion clearly evident. "Your LV is at one," Searifa said slowly, "If you truly hurt someone, it would show." Kendall looked at the water that rushed past the boat. She couldn't tell the monster the truth, she wouldn't understand. Searifa would think that she was crazy. "When we get to the king, you'll see. Everything will be okay. No one has to die and monsters will see the Surface again," the monster smiled, sharp teeth fully exposed.
"Would the king agree or will he just attack?" Kendall asked. Searifa looked away, with a sigh. "Would you fight him if it came down to his life or mine?"
The lizard flinched, "I…. I am sure it won't come to violence. The king is kind and fair." She quieted looking down at the water. Kendall huffed, looking to the Riverperson who silently docked the boat. Both stepped onto the dock silently. The human teen looked at the lizard who tugged at her sleeves.
Kendall could see the conflict building. She would be forcing the monster to make a difficult choice. She was asking her to pick which life meant more, the ruler she known all her life or the human she just met. It was probably tearing her apart. Just the thought of the turmoil she was causing, made her feel guilty. The chef's jaw was clenched and Kendall couldn't allow this to continue. "Hey Seari, thanks for getting me this far," she said giving the monster a smile.
Searifa gave the girl a inquisitive look before the teen shoved her with all her might. The lizard was surprisingly easy to knock over even with her height. The girl didn't look to see the results and just ran. Kendall could hear a splash but didn't turn back, the RiverPerson would help her. That was what monsters did. She had to keep her friend out of this mess. No matter the outcome, Kendall didn't want Searifa to see. Either her own death or the king's. Or whatever horrible ending this story had, she couldn't let her friend see.
The teen could swear she heard the sound of childish laughter and a flash of yellow in the corner of her eyes.
