While Chandlo ventured across town to speak with Gramble, Snorpy passed the time sipping water from a jug and fiddling with the bracelets Shelda had given him. Though he wasn't expecting to wake up with nearly a dozen beaded bracelets layered on his furry limbs, he was enjoying them all the same.
He soon discovered that Shelda was more than happy to teach him her ways, explaining that the crystal beads were the colors of the seven chakras to help balance his energy.
"Then what are these for?" Snorpy asked, lifting his paw and pointing to the bracelets on his left wrist. Instead of a rainbow of colors, these were mostly blue, green, and white, interspersed with gold charms.
"Those are to calm the energies of your heart while summoning the healing qualities from the divine Mother," Shelda explained. She paused, smiling serenely as though she were addressing her favorite grandchild. "You are a crystal child, wise beyond your years. Yet one senses that you are burdened with the knowledge that often accompanies such gifts. That is why your insides burn. That is why your heart races. One who seeks such knowledge knows that we are only meant to carry so much wisdom. Anything more, and the mind breaks."
"Y-yes, that's it exactly." Snorpy looked up from the charms he'd been playing with, gazing at her in awe as Chandlo often did. "Do you... do you understand me?"
"Perhaps not." Shelda placed her palms together in front of her chest, keeping her tone mildly pleasant. "One cannot fathom the depths of your mind. The universe is vast, its complexity beyond imagination. You must allow yourself time to rest as well as time to seek, for as thine knowledge grows, so too does the reality it brings."
Somehow, it felt as though she was speaking directly to his very soul. And for the first time in his life, Snorpy finally found someone who not only acknowledged the truth but was also willing to accept and agree with his beliefs. She didn't infantilize him or ridicule him for believing such theories. He had a genuine desire to learn, and Shelda respected that.
Snorpy was still processing this when Chandlo returned from Gramble's ranch, carrying a crate of nonperishable food. Inside there were packets of dry soup mix, oatmeal, pouches of freeze-dried yogurt and fruit snacks, as well as some whole grain puffed cereal treats.
"Whoa, Snorp-dawg, you look like you've been soaking up Shelda's wisdom," said Chandlo. He deposited the crate in the corner of Shelda's hut, grinning from ear to ear now that his boyfriend was sitting up and looking slightly less miserable. "Good for you, bro. It's always good to get your learn on."
The engineer couldn't help chuckling at Chandlo's choice of words. He then blinked in surprise, looking past his partner at the pink furred Grumpus poking his head out from behind Chandlo's muscular form.
"G-Gramble? All of this came from you?" Snorpy had already reached for the crate and was examining a bag containing freeze-fried bananas and strawberries.
The rancher smiled at them, taking a step forward and standing beside Chandlo. "You didn't expect me to venture on out here without somethin' to eat, now did you?" He stared at his feet, twiddling his paws. "I know we've been out here a while now and my supplies are getting a little low, but I wanted to help. And if that means livin' on sauce for a couple weeks, then so be it. We aren't all like Beffica and Cromdo," he added, finally looking up and smiling a little. "Some of us have a heart, and we really do care about you, Snorpy."
"Peelbug!" Tart squealed and rolled out from behind its owner. The juicy little critter skittered up to Snorpy's pile of dried grass and blankets, gazing up at him with its large googly eyes. "Peel peelbug?"
Snorpy flinched, jerking his paw away when Tart attempted to crawl up his arm. "Get that thing away from me!" he cried, his tone harsher than he'd intended.
"Come here, Tart! Snorpy needs to rest." Gramble hurried over to retrieve his pet, scooping up the Green Peelbug and allowing it to rest on his shoulder. "Gosh, I'm real sorry about that," he muttered sheepishly, the fruity insect rubbing its face against his cheek. "He's just a little curious about strangers. Always likes to make new friends, which is why I have to keep an eye on him. Not everyone 'round here is so keen on making friends with Bugsnax, if you know what I mean."
"One does not wish to join the cult of toxicity," Shelda stated, looking down her nose at the rancher and his pet. "However, one expresses gratitude for your kindness."
"Yeah, me too, bro," Chandlo chimed in. "You really did us a solid."
"Y-yes, I am indeed very grateful." Snorpy lifted a paw, curiosity getting the better of him as he opened the bag of freeze-dried fruit and peered inside. "Although I think I should apologize to Eggabell for uhm... for my... behavior yesterday."
Chandlo placed a paw on Snorpy's shoulder. "Hey, don't sweat it, Snorp-dawg. She knows how it is. Though I should probably beat feet if I'm gonna make it up the mountain for that rock water."
"You're... you're leaving me?" Snorpy hugged his plush alien against his chest, the crate and its contents were now the furthest thing from his mind. "But Chandlo, my love, you know it isn't safe out there. What if the Grumpinati - " He was cut off in midsentence by Shelda waving a paw at him.
"What did one just say?"
The golden furred Grumpus sighed, allowing his gaze to wander over the scenic mountains in the distance. Internally he was screaming, fearing for Chandlo's safety. It was like his mind had been swept up in a whirlwind of anxiety, each of his troubled thoughts circling back on itself in an endless loop. At the same time, he also reasoned that Elizabert was out there hunting Bugsnax for the community, and she'd always returned safely from her adventures. If she could stay safe after everything she'd been through, then surely that meant Chandlo could stay safe as well, right? But then Elizabert wasn't in a relationship with a known target for the Grumpinati.
The thought of something happening to his beloved Chandlo was making him nauseous. Maybe he really was making himself sick. He fidgeted with his bracelets, staring into the distance as he continued the cycle in his mind. If he really was making himself sick, then by rights his actions hurt not only himself but Chandlo as well. He had to stay calm, if not for himself then for the sake of his lifelong friend and companion.
"Alright, I'll try not to worry too much." He swallowed hard, maintaining a firm grip on his toy. "After all, Chandlo is a formidable opponent, strong and brave an-and..." Snorpy was blushing again. "Ahh, goodness me!"
Chandlo couldn't help laughing. "Just keep that in mind while I'm gone, Snorp-dawg. You know I don't wanna leave you either, but I have to do this so you can get better. And you've got our friends looking after you, so I'll try not to stress either."
"Y-yes, our friends. Right." Snorpy shifted his gaze, seeing three furry faces looking back at him. Out of thirteen Grumpuses, these were the only ones he considered his friends. Not even his sibling was present. He supposed Filbo counted as well, but he tried not to get too close to anyone other than Chandlo. After all, you never know who might be a secret agent working for the Grumpinati.
.oOo.
Chandlo spent the rest of his morning hauling buckets of fresh water down from the mountains in Sugarpine Woods. Judging by the grin that split his furry features, he was thoroughly enjoying himself, calling out to his fellow Grumpuses that he needed a good workout.
Once he'd collected enough water from the streams in the hills, his second quest was to search for aloe vera plants in the desert. The main food source on the island was limited to Bugsnax, however there was still a decent variety of bushes, herbs, plants and trees. It wasn't unusual for Shelda to leave on herb gathering expeditions, returning with bundles of freshly harvested plants that could be used for their medicinal qualities. Even now, as Chandlo poked around the Scorched Gorge in search of the proper plant, Shelda was mixing herbs to create a soothing beverage for Snorpy.
Gramble decided to pitch in as well. Using a little inspiration from his pet Sprout, he put together a homemade stress ball for Snorpy. The design was simple enough: taking a polka-dot balloon and filling it with uncooked rice before tying the end.
"I know it isn't much, but you look like you would benefit from keeping your paws busy," Gramble said, smiling and offering the ball to Snorpy. "I can get really anxious sometimes too. That's why I have my emotional support Strabby. You're welcome to have a support snak of your very own, so long as you promise not to eat 'em."
Snorpy accepted the gift, turning the ball over in his paws and giving it a good squeeze. It had such a fascinating texture. In a way, it was satisfying to squish and roll, helping him focus and remain calm. Perhaps these other Grumpuses weren't so bad after all.
At the end of the day, Chandlo had brought enough alkaline water down from the mountains to last several days. He also filled a couple baskets with freshly plucked aloe vera leaves, enough for Shelda to make some juice to help their ailing friend.
The muscular Grumpus sat down beside Snorpy, sharing the blankets and placing an arm around him. In time, Snorpy snuggled up next to Chandlo, closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep. There was still a burning ache in his belly, but thanks to the herbal tonic, alkaline water and aloe vera juice, the pain had subsided enough that it was tolerable at its current level.
Shelda explained that it would take approximately two weeks for Snorpy to start feeling relief, stating that although natural remedies often proved effective, they worked slower than prescription medications. If he had an ulcer, as Eggabell suspected, then his recovery time was estimated at four to eight weeks with treatment, possibly longer. However, her speech came with a dire warning, stating that if Snorpy wasn't showing signs of improvement within a month, they would have to send him back to the mainland if he continued to refuse treatment from Eggabell.
Chandlo, who had been sitting next to Snorpy and stroking his fur while Shelda was speaking, tensed when he heard this. His partner had always believed in the big pharma conspiracy theories, enough that it prevented him from obtaining medical treatment. Rather than seek the advice of a doctor, the paranoid Grumpus began researching natural remedies. Whenever problems arose, such as the time he came down with a sinus infection, Snorpy would rely on his research. He later claimed to have cured his sinus infection by consuming several cloves of raw garlic every day for two weeks. This process repeated itself when Snorpy developed a dental abscess and refused to seek treatment.
During that time, Chandlo had struggled to get his partner to see a dentist, only managing some success after driving him to the dental clinic, where Snorpy passed out on the sidewalk after taking two steps out of the vehicle. The second attempt resulted in a mad dash across town when Snorpy flung the car door open and decided to make a run for it. All this after Chandlo had been forced to carry him to the vehicle in the first place.
Three fillings, four panic attacks and one meltdown later, and Snorpy swore he would never go back to the dentist again. He brought out his research materials, and with some help from his sibling, managed to brew his own version of antibiotics in their lab. When he noticed the signs of infection returning to his jaw, he downed the homemade concoction without a moment of hesitation, swearing once again that he had managed to cure the infection on his own.
In the back of his mind, Chandlo couldn't help wondering if these remedies Snorpy was experimenting with in his sibling's laboratory had damaged the lining of his stomach, perhaps weakening it to the point that he had developed an ulcer. And now here they were, miles from civilization, hoping they could treat Snorpy's condition with natural remedies. But no matter what happened, Chandlo would stick with him and do his best to help him get better. Even if that meant leaving Snaktooth Island and carrying Snorpy to the emergency room.