Entering the pipe I start crawling through. I would've much preferred Inv to go ahead of me but since I'm more familiar with what's ahead I'll go first.
After this cycle ends and Inv has the route to here memorized, he can take the lead next cycle and I can follow from behind and watch that thick tai- watch his back for any threats…
Seeing the exit of the pipe in the distance, I clutch the spear I have in my paw tighter.
Reaching the exit, I slowly peak my head out-
Immediately, I can feel everything slow down. A deep feeling of dread clenching my chest in this slowed down time. The only times I ever feel like this is when death is imminent!
Not even having time to raise my head, the only thing I'm able to do is raise my spear, the sharp tip facing above. Right after doing this, I feel something crash into me from above.
Right on impact, I can feel a deep searing pain enter my shoulder, forcing me out of the pipe. Still able to move my body however, I quickly shake off whatever is on top of me.
"JOEY?!!" I can hear Inv scream my name somewhere behind me.
Feeling whatever attacked me fell off me with ease, I finally see what it was.
'Fucking dropwigs' I curse at a dying dropwig under my breath. The spear I hastily raised sticking right through the head portion of it. Seeing one of its mandibles covered in red blood I can tell that's what pierced my shoulder.
Seeing what attacked me, I can't help but think how lucky I was just now. If I didn't move that spear in time, instead of my shoulder getting pierced by the mandible it would've been my head…
Watching the dying dropwig curling its legs up, a surefire way to tell it's dying, I start standing up. While standing up I can hear Inv exit the pipe behind me hurriedly. Turning around I see Inv, his face full of worry.
"JOEY! Ar u ok u dispea-
Before Inv continues I see his eyes dart to the wound on my shoulder.
Instantly I see his skin turn dark blue.
"J-Joey! U-ur arm! Ur hur!" Inv whimpers upon seeing my wound. I can see him moving his arms sporadically in worry, unsure what to do in a situation like this.
"I-its fine Inv… it doesn't hurt that bad. I can also still move it" I lie to Inv, it does in fact hurt a lot. Dying a lot can dull my sense of death but it never makes the feeling of pain easier. The only upside right now is that I can move my arm. I don't think there's any permanent damage.
I can only hope this can heal up without any complications. At this point if I got a wound like this I would've…
I shake the thought away. I can't use that option anymore since I'm with Inv now…
Looking at Inv I can see his face is still full of worry, his skin on the brink of turning black.
"I-im sory Joey i shouda wen firs an-
"Inv, It's ok… I'm fine, I'm still standing. We can worry about this when we get back to the shelter… let's just focus on food" I try to calm Inv down, there genuinely is nothing we can do now besides get food and get back to the shelter.
I see Inv open his mouth about to say something but stop. Gritting his teeth Inv says nothing, only giving me a reluctant nod.
Seeing this I'm a little glad Inv didn't continue this, it would've just turned into another back and forth just like last cycle…
Looking down at the now dead dropwig I'm about to tell Inv to eat it but I suddenly hear a shuffling noise somewhere above us.
Me and Inv both raise our heads at the same time towards the source of noise. Seeing an opening above us mixed with poles. I watch as a cyan lizard peaks its head over the ledge of the opening. The moment it looks over its eyes immediately locks onto us, more specifically, me.
HISSSSS*
'God damn it! Give me a fucking break!' Hearing the lizards hiss, I quickly reach for the spear stuck in the dead dropwig.
Reaching for it with my injured arm however I feel a searing pain go down my entire arm.
'Damn it! Now's not the time to be stopped by pain!' pulling back my injured arm I pull out the spear with my other arm.
WHOOSH*
Right as I'm pulling the spear out of the dropwig I can hear the lizard's propulsion go off. Raising my head as fast as I can, I see it flying right down towards me!
Just like earlier, I see Inv quickly step in front of me with his spear held in both paws.
What happens next I'm barely able to see.
Right before the lizard collides into Inv I see him raise the spear up with both paws. The blunt side facing the front.
I see Inv swing the blunt end of the spear right towards the lizard's head with immense force! Did he just use the spear like a baseball bat?!
Right when the lizard collides with the spear the lizard is sent flying right into the wall near us.
Before the lizard can even attempt to get up from the blunt blow Inv is already upon the lizard, the sharp tip now stabbing down right towards the lizard's head.
CRUNCH*
With a sickening crunch, the spear goes right through the lizard's armored head, killing it instantly.
…
…
…
'Holy… shit' I stand with my mouth agape from the brutal kill. He took care of it so… easily.
Even by seeing such a gruesome display, I look at Inv not in fear but by complete awe. Did I really get a partner that's such a killing machine and hot? It's almost hard to believe…
I've also never thought of using the blunt end of the spear like that! This entire time I've been using rocks or debris to stun lizards while this entire time I could've just used a spear to stun it! I guess the only downside to it would be having to be close up to do that…
'Knowing how small I am compared to Inv, it probably wouldn't work as well for me as it does for Inv. But it's still an option I can use if there's nothing else I can do' Feeling my horizon slightly widen when it comes to spears, I focus back on Inv.
Pulling the spear out of the lizard's head, Inv turns back to me.
"Good job Inv!" I say with a thumbs up before Inv can do anything else. Every time Inv has killed something so far, I can tell he's uncomfortable by showing such a grim side of himself. The only way I can think of to break through the awkwardness is positive reinforcement!
Yeah, it might be weird to be positive right after he just killed something, but I want him to be comfortable with me at all times!
In what I can only assume slight surprise, I can see Inv's skin turn slightly red from my compliment. Good! That's what I like to see!
THUD*
"JOEY LOK OU!!"
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A/N: not everything can go well...