I quickly turn my whole body around including my tail, getting it off of Inv's face.
While turning around I notice how our positions have somehow switched. Now I'm on top of Inv for some reason??
I genuinely dont understand how the eggbomb can fling us like this. Its capabilities are truly terrifying…
'Why didnt it do what it did last cycle…' I mourn the loss of getting potentionally sat on again…
"You ok Inv?" I ask down at Inv, who's smile seems a lot wider than usual??
"M-mhm, i ok… jus a litl dizy…" Inv answers back, his face notably light red…
… I have a thought on why… but right now there's more important things to do…
Hopping off of Inv's chest, I look down the corridor making sure nothing else is rushing its way here to kill us.
…
…
…
Seeing and hearing nothing, I still don't let my guard down. Turning towards Inv I see him starting to stand up as well.
"You see anything else moving down there Inv?" I ask him since he can see much better than I can in the dark.
Hearing my question, Inv looks down the corridor, squinting his eyes.
…
"Hmmm… nu, i don se anything movin… i se lota fod tho!"
Hearing his answer, I slightly relax.
"Cmon Joey! Le gu ge da fud!" Inv says happily, his tail thumping the ground several times.
"Alright, let's be careful though, something might be waiting to jump us…" I cautiously say back to Inv, not wanting anything bad to happen to us.
"Ok!"
With that, me and Inv cautiously walk down the corridor. I picked up both of the rocks I was carrying earlier in my paws just in case.
Nearing the end of the corridor I finally see what the egg bomb killed and I'm left a little surprised.
'Damn… 4 cyan lizards? With the other cyan lizard Inv killed this is enough for him! Perfect!' I grow happy seeing the dead lizards. Knowing that this is enough to feed my partner.
"Come on Inv, let's drag these back down to the one lizard you killed earlier" I tell Inv as I grab the tail of one of the dead lizards.
"Ok Joey!" Inv chirps back.
While starting to drag the dead lizard, I see Inv grab 2 of the dead lizards by their tails and start dragging them back with ease. By the time I've dragged my lizard half way, Inv is already back, having already dragged his lizards down the corridor.
"U ned hel Joey?" Inv asks me with concern.
"N-nah, i got this one, you go get the last lizard" I tell Inv as im trying to drag the lizard with all my strength.
"O-ok…"
I watch Inv go back for the last lizard. Meanwhile I'm still dragging my lizard down the corridor, cursing my weak strength.
First I couldnt carry Inv, now I can't even drag some stupid lizard?! I'm not sure when but the buff I got from Inv has worn off… I try not to let this bother me but…
It's really frustrating, knowing that I can't help Inv more…
…
By the time I've finally dragged my lizard back, Inv has also brought back the last dead lizard. Totaling 5 dead cyan lizards…
"T-tank u Joey…" Inv thanks me for some reason?
"What for?" I ask Inv, a bit confused.
"F-fo hepin wit de lizrds…"
…
Hearing Inv's response. I can tell he's trying to make me feel better, probably noticing my frustration…
…
'Sigh… now's not the time to feel sorry for myself. I'm fucking weak, so what? I just need to live with it…'
…
'Or… grow stronger…' I think back to my attributes. It's not the typical kind of stats you would see in a game with numbers. All it tells me is a word.
…
But it's better than nothing… there's a path forward now…
'Phew… focus on more important things Joseph' I calm down a bit. Not wanting to worry Inv any further.
"No problem Inv" I say back gently, patting him on the side.
Hearing Inv's tail thumping on the ground tells me that made him feel better, good. I want him to be happy.
"I'll keep an eye down the corridor while you eat Inv, then we can go to sleep" I say as I've turned my patting into rubbing his side.
"OK! I b quik!" Inv says as he bends down on all 4s.
Taking my paw off Inv, I start looking down the corridor, waiting for Inv to start eating.
…
…?
Looking back I see Inv looking up at me with big expectant eyes.
'I know I was petting him while he ate last cycle but I didnt think he would like it that much… but if he really wants it… how can I say no?'
Feeling a smile grow on my face I walk up right beside Inv, in a position where I can keep looking down the corridor and pet him as well.
Stroking is back with one paw I hear him start eating the remains of the lizards. While also purring.
'This is nice… even though if someone else saw this they would think I'm insane…'
For a bit I keep rubbing Inv's back as he eats. Also keeping an eye down the corridor.
If one thing he is definitely going to be drenched in blood and… other not nice things after this.
I think me and Inv were able to get mostly cleaned last cycle when Inv was rushing his way back to the shelter. When the rain was about to fully start dropping down.
But this time we don't have that sort of convenience…
'Maybe this is my chance… hehehe… just gotta make it seem… natural…'
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A/N: What could Joey possibly be thinking...