There was talk around the campfire later that evening, whispers and murmurings concerning their companion's current health problems. It wasn't long until the conversation dissolved into insults and hatred, ridiculing both Snorpy and his sibling.
"Ugh, you know those Fizzlebeans," Beffica snorted, dramatically brushing her hair out of her face. "Their whole family is completely gonzoid. Who decided to bring them out here anyway?"
"Heh, if there's an ounce of sanity in either one of them, then I've got a sandbox in Florida to sell ya!" Cromdo chimed in. "By the way, does anybody wanna buy a slightly used sandbox?"
Beffica scoffed at the notion. "Oh my grump, are you like, for real? You just made a pile of sticks in the desert, and you're calling that a sandbox."
"It's a work in progress!" Cromdo insisted. "One that requires some assembly fees, taxes, and surcharges for the construction permits."
As usual, it was up to Filbo to try to calm everyone down. He stood at the center of the gathering, trying his best to defend the ailing Grumpus.
"Oh, come on, you guys. You know Snorpy has really bad anxiety. It probably doesn't help that he's sick. You wouldn't be in a good mood either if you weren't feeling well. I'm sure that once he's had a chance to rest, he'll be able to talk to Eggabell and everything will be alright." Filbo forced a smile on his face, trying and failing to sound confident. The others looked at him and groaned, a few of them rolled their eyes.
"Seriously?" Beffica gave him a look. "Last week Snorpy was tripping Cheddorbs in the desert. He was totes saying that like, the space ships were going to abduct the Bugsnax, and that Sprinklepedes have holes in them as proof of alien medical experiments. If he believes that, then it's no wonder he doesn't want to visit the doctor. Probably thinks she'll experiment on him too."
"Well, hold on now, partner," Wambus interrupted. "I done seen some mighty strange things before comin' to Snaktooth Island. Lost some of my finest cattle out there on the farm. Still not sure what happened to 'em."
Beffica rolled her eyes. "Anyway, if you don't believe me, then take a look at this." She held up a series of photographs, each one depicting Snorpy's adventure in Sizzlin' Sands. In one photograph, he was screaming and running around in circles. In another photograph, he was pointing at his own paw prints in the sand, telling everyone how the Grumpinati was controlling him in order to produce discount crop circles. "If that wasn't enough, he started yelling something about Range Four Harry infecting everyone on the island with radiation poisoning."
Filbo sighed. Why did they have to be so difficult sometimes? "All I'm saying is that we need to be patient with him. It wouldn't hurt if we tried being more supportive and understanding right now. I mean, it's not his fault he doesn't feel good."
"I don't know about that, pal." Cromdo narrowed his eyes, giving him a look of stern disbelief. "How do we know this isn't all in his head like everything else he comes up with? Could be worrying himself sick over nothing."
Indeed, it was a very real possibility that Snorpy was imagining his symptoms and making himself sick. But despite the growing anger and hostility, Filbo managed to stay calm. Snorpy wasn't going to get better without the love and support of his friends, that much was certain.
.oOo.
While the others were having their conversation around the campfire, Snorpy had barricaded himself in the outhouse and had been violently throwing up for the past several minutes.
The ailing Grumpus sank to his knees in front of the circular opening, his whole body shuddering. There was a brief moment when he felt the saliva pooling at the back of his mouth, his fur damp with perspiration. Then once again the forceful contractions struck, causing the burning pain in his abdomen to radiate towards his back and sides. Gagging at the sour stench, Snorpy retched and brought up a mouthful of greenish bile. Within a couple minutes, his vision began to blur, a feeling of impending doom piercing his chest. Surely he was going to die out here. He must have ruptured something internally, or so he thought, his panic quelled only by sheer exhaustion.
He couldn't take this anymore. His heart was pounding fiercely against his ribcage, his chest tightening, making it difficult to breathe. Snorpy slumped against the wall of the outhouse, a trickle of vomit running from the corner of his mouth, staining his fur. One paw found his stomach, leaning forward until he was practically doubled over in a furry little ball. Distantly he was aware of Chandlo's voice, frantically calling out to him. But his sight was swimming, and he could no longer think straight. He stumbled outside onto the grass, muttering incoherently about horses.
Snorpy's vision cleared momentarily when the evening breeze touched his face, refreshing his senses and making him aware of everyone's presence. He could feel their eyes staring at him from across the village, around the flickering flames. Muted voices, some tainted with ridicule, others expressing concern.
A faint groan dribbled past his lips, his glasses sliding down his bulbous nose. With a bit of effort, Snorpy managed to lift his head, seeing Filbo run towards him while Beffica sat on her log and laughed. Paws against the earth, shaking and feeling as though he were on the verge of losing consciousness, and yet she was actually laughing at him.
"Are you happy now?!" A voice called out, rising in fury and frustration. "You all just wanna stare at him like he's some sorta freak! But at least Snorpy has it in him to be honest about who he is, unlike the rest of you who go around pretending to be nice to his face while stabbing him in the back!"
"Ch-Chandlo...?" Snorpy stumbled, tripping over his own paws as he attempted to stand. He managed no more than a single step before his strength gave out, collapsing against his muscular companion.
"It's alright, Snorp-dawg. I got ya." Chandlo adjusted his hold on the golden-furred Grumpus, positioning Snorpy's arm around his neck and shoulders so he wouldn't topple over. "Can you walk, Snorpy?"
"I- yeheahuh? Huhmmmhuwha?" It was the best he could manage right now, barely aware of his surroundings, barely aware of himself.
"Come on, I'm takin' you to get help."
He allowed his eyes to close, leaning heavily on his partner as they bypassed Filbo and the others. With one arm around Chandlo and the other holding his stomach, Snorpy could still hear their voices, though by now he was past the point of understanding. It was all just background noise, one voice indistinguishable from the rest, fading into oblivion as he started to collapse, forcing Chandlo to carry him the rest of the way.
"Don't look at them, Snorpy." Chandlo held him close against his broad chest, attempting to shield him from the intensity of their stares. "We... we don't need them. I'm gonna help you get better, and then we're gonna leave this place. I won't let 'em treat you like this. You don't deserve it."
Was it his imagination or was Chandlo crying? That strong voice, breaking under the weight of his emotions, carrying him through the storm. He snuggled against his partner's shoulder, nestled in his warm embrace as they continued to make their way across the village. He was so tired. He just wanted the pain to stop. And while he wasn't fond of the idea of moving to a new location all over again, at least he knew Chandlo would be there for him.
.oOo.
When he opened his eyes, Snorpy found himself in Shelda's hut, staring up at the bundles of dried herbs strung from the ceiling. Chandlo was close by, explaining the situation to his friend. He ran through a list of Snorpy's symptoms, recalling their visit with Eggabell and how it had ended poorly without Snorpy receiving treatment. Shelda considered them for a moment before speaking.
"Hmm, yes. One has recently been made aware of the situation through the enlightenment of one's company. Yet they are not aware of the true nature which befalls your friend. They are blind, shrouded by their own corruption."
Chandlo gazed up at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Can you help him, Shel-dawg?"
"One will try," she simply stated, kneeling beside the makeshift bed where Snorpy was resting.
They had placed him on a matted bundle of dried grass, giving the engineer a place to rest while they worked out what to do. It wasn't the most comfortable bedding, but it was better than nothing. Enough that Snorpy had dozed off for a little while, finally getting some much needed rest.
He shifted slightly as Shelda drew near, eyeing the beads and dangling charms on her necklace. They held his attention long enough that she could hold his wrist, keeping her touch light and gentle. Though he flinched when she made contact, Snorpy didn't pull away. He wasn't bothered by her presence. If anything, he was mildly curious, but he didn't seem to mind being close to her.
"Ah, yes," she said after a few minutes had passed. "The lifeblood of the Mother is strong in this one." Which was Shelda's way of checking his pulse and announcing that it was steady and strong. She looked down at her patient and smiled, like a grandmother would turn to her adoring grandchild. "You are fond of Mother Naturae's treasured artifacts, are you not?"
Snorpy didn't even realize that she was gazing deeply into his eyes, searching for any visible signs of jaundice. He was too busy focusing on the swaying motion of the beads, entranced by their colors, listening to the sounds her necklace made when the assortment of charms clicked against one another. He wanted to touch it. He wanted to spin the beads and examine the textures. Such a fascinating object.
Chandlo was seated next to them on the hardwood floor, watching in awe as Shelda continued her examination. When he brought Eggabell to their home, Snorpy was frightened and horribly overstimulated. However, this time he was completely calm. Something about the old lady's serene presence was strangely soothing. Or perhaps it was the calming aura of the crystals, which was always her answer whenever Chandlo questioned how she was able to get close to Snorpy without freaking him out.
"The crystal child is more in tune with the divine Mother than you think," Shelda said, allowing Snorpy to reach up and paw at her necklace. "He senses the vibrations within this sacred space and knows that he is protected."
"Whatever you say, Shel-dawg," Chandlo breathed, utterly mystified by the scene unfolding before him.
"There is one last thing." Shelda placed a paw on her chest, close to her necklace. Then slowly she lifted her paw, bringing it towards her face. This subtle movement helped draw Snorpy's attention towards her. "One senses a longing for slumber. Can you hear it, crystal child? The breath of thine Mother betwixt the leaves, her calling amongst the gentle waters, seeking to embrace all within this earthly realm."
Snorpy's eyes began to close. He was gradually becoming aware of the delicate sounds made by the wind chimes Shelda hung outside her hut. The fragrance wafting from the bundles of dried lavender surrounded him, easing the tension in his limbs, helping him relax.
"Follow the sound of my voice," Shelda murmured, eliciting a yawn from the ailing Grumpus. This was exactly the type of reaction she'd been hoping for, using it as an opportunity to briefly examine his teeth and throat.
She continued speaking in her soft, soothing tone, noting the irritation at the back of his throat. There were also multiple fillings and visible signs of acid erosion on Snorpy's teeth. Altogether, her findings confirmed what Eggabell had suspected, that the engineer was indeed suffering from a chronic case of acid reflux. Whether or not he had an ulcer could only be determined through more precise medical testing, which was something they didn't have access to on the island. However, it was enough for Shelda to proceed with her treatment now that the examination was complete.
Sitting up slowly, Snorpy yawned and rubbed sleep from his eyes. He had momentarily forgotten about the necklace, watching as the prophet sifted through her belongings. There were bowls in various shapes and sizes, satchels of herbs, crystals, a mortar and pestle. When Shelda found what she was looking for, she turned around and offered him a clay water jug.
"Drink. You'll feel better, one promises."
"What's in it?" Snorpy asked, eyeing the jug with suspicion. The last thing he wanted was to ingest some unknown substance that could possibly kill him.
To prove that it was safe, Shelda took a sip before handing him the jug. "Tis nothing but water, crystal child. Water infused with natural minerals from the mountain springs."
He looked to Chandlo for approval, and when his partner nodded, Snorpy brought the jug to his lips and drank deeply. At first the weight of the water caused the pain to intensify, but this was only temporary. He laid down on the bed of fibrous plant material and closed his eyes, feeling like a burning weight had settled in the pit of his stomach. Chandlo moved to sit beside him, rubbing his back and murmuring soft words of comfort. Gradually, the pain began to subside, though Shelda insisted that he keep drinking small amounts of alkaline water every hour or so to help neutralize the acid in his stomach.
At first Snorpy was so desperate for relief that he decided to follow her instructions. When the burning ache finally began to fade, his first instinct was to sleep, making it difficult to continue her dosing regimen. By ten o' clock Snorpy could barely keep his eyes open. Shelda held the jug in front of his face, encouraging him to drink, and it was only with some gentle coaxing that he woke up long enough to drink some of the water.
When midnight rolled around, Snorpy was sound asleep. After twenty minutes of gentle nudging and calling his name, Chandlo finally managed to wake him up for the last dose before leaving him in peace.
"Let him rest, my child," Shelda crooned in her melodic voice. "In the morning, you shall have much work that will aid his recovery."
.oOo.
The following morning Snorpy was still sound asleep as the sun rose over Snaxburg. A few of the early risers had already started their day, passing by and seeing the engineer softly snoring on the floor of Shelda's living room. Unsurprisingly, Beffica tried to stop and snap a picture. She was grinning broadly at the plush alien tucked under Snorpy's arm when Filbo strolled past and helped her on her way, insisting that they needed to help Wambus harvest his sauce. This, of course, was simply a distraction meant to keep curious onlookers away from Snorpy while he slept.
Eventually, the golden-furred Grumpus began to stir, muttering and yawning as his eyes slowly opened. The first thing he became aware of was the smell of freshly picked herbs drying in the sun, followed by the softness of his blankets and a pillow tucked beneath his head. He didn't remember going to sleep in his bed last night, and yet this didn't exactly feel like his mattress. It felt dry and scratchy, like sleeping on a pile of dried grass clippings. He also didn't remember retrieving his favorite toy after leaving the outhouse. Nor did he recall having so many crystal bracelets and a crown of flowers before he went to sleep last night.
"Morning, Snorp-dawg. Are you feeling better yet?"
Chandlo was sitting beside him, holding out his glasses. The engineer felt around for a moment before finding his glasses and putting them on.
"Wh-whuhum uhm, wh-what am I doing here?" Snorpy stammered. He lifted his right arm, closely examining the dry grass that clung to his fur.
"Don't you remember, Snorpy? I brought you here last night after you exiled a couple sandwiches in the outhouse, bro. Once you were asleep, I brought some stuff from home to make you more comfortable."
"Oh, oh yes, quite right. I think I remember now." Not that he wanted to be reminded of that less than pleasurable experience. He could still taste the bile lingering in the back of his throat.
"So it is that the crystal child has risen from the depths of slumber," Shelda began, entrancing the muscular Grumpus with her divine act. She looked up from the herbs she was grinding, seeing the perplexed expression on Snorpy's face. "Ah, but the young one has many questions, yes?"
The ailing Grumpus nodded, sitting up in bed and massaging his belly. There was a sour feeling in his stomach, the burning sensation somewhat dull after drinking so much alkaline water the night before. "And just what are you planning on doing now that you've got me here?" he queried, trying his best to ignore the ache in his belly. "I'm not going back to that drug peddling glowie, if that's what you're thinking."
Shelda scoffed at the notion. "One does not foresee such interactions having a fruitful outcome, not when they have been led astray by hypnotic disillusionment. One offers the purity of Mother Naturae so as to bring forth proper healing. And so it is that one has many a task for your fated lover."
A faint blush dusted his cheeks. "F-fated lover?" Snorpy hid his face with his paws. "Oh! Oh my, oh goodness me."
Chandlo was ever so slightly confused by her esoteric speech, but still curious nonetheless. "Bro, you have a job for me?"
"Yes, you must go to the snowy mountains and collect the water that flows freely from the earth. It is the source from which we shall return if we are to embrace the healing powers of Mother Naturae. You must also venture into burning sands to collect the nectar of the succulent aloe vera. Bring these to me, and one will set in motion the will of thy Mother."
Snorpy stared at Shelda, his mouth agape. "Excuse me, did you just tell me to drink cactus juice?!"
Shelda momentarily dropped her act. "What? You got a grumping problem with that?"
"Don't worry about it, Snorp-dawg." Chandlo puffed out his chest, ready for action. "If rock water and cactus juice are what you need to get better, then I'll get them for you."
"Yes, but what about food?" Snorpy questioned, unable to hide the anxiety in his tone. "You can't expect me to eat those bizarre food insects that wander the island. Not in my condition. Who knows what they'll do to my insides."
"One suggests asking for assistance from he who collects the toxins and desires to call them his own. For one who is Gramble may be in possession of alternate food sources." And with that, Shelda returned to her herbs, motioning for Chandlo to be on his way. "Go now while the day is young. One will care for the crystal child and see that he is well in your absence."