"N-nice kitty?" The vhenstalk looked at Mikey, its pure black eyes staring far too concentrated for comfort. The tuskless cat rotated its head to the side, its mouth hanging open slightly, the smell of dead fish hanging in the air. Mikey stepped backwards, hands still in the air as the vhenstalk watched. Its tail waving erratically behind it. "N-nickel?" Mikey's neck twisted, trying to find his goblin friend. "You there, pal? Could really, really." The vhenstalk took a step towards Mikey, making the boy flinch. Mikey winced, the smell of wet deadness and a hint of rotting hitting his nose. "Use your help about now."
Silence.
Without warning, the vhenstalk jumped, leaping towards Mikey. Somehow, by a miracle, Mikey had the reaction time to duck down. Rough paws hit the ground behind Nickel, the vhenstalk turning around midair and landing, its tail twitching above its head. Nickel watched the creature get up in front of him, barely having time to blink before Mikey yanked him by the collar.
"DON'T WORRY, I GOT YOU!"
"ZHAT DOEZ NOT SOUND—"
Too late. Mikey took off, boots pounding the rocky bank, goblin flapping behind him like a terrified banner.
The vhenstalk, recovering from its failed pounce, let out a snarl before running after. Nickel's body dangled in the air, his limbs waving like target practice for the cat. As the vhenstalk began picking up speed, Nickel's eyes widened. Attempting to turn around to grab Mikey's shirt, his fingers clawing at his wet shirt. Nickel began trying to bring his legs in. screaming. "ZUN FAZTER ZUN FAZTER ZU FAZTER." "WHERE TO?"
"ZE UH." Nickel quickly fumbled the map from his pocket, barely being able to read it from the wind blowing against it. "ZUH ZUH, WATERFALL UP RIVER." Mikey's feet stomped against the ground, the sound of the vhenstalk trailing close behind him. "THAT'S BACK THAT WAY!" Mikey turned around, yelling over his shoulder, a warm liquid immediately filling his pants as he saw the vhenstalk lunging at them.
A scream of fear came from Mikey's mouth as he ducked, holding Nickel above his head like a shield. "ZWAT, MIKEY YOU BI—." The vhenstalk cut Nickel off as he lunged directly at him. Nickel's nose crinkled at the beast leaping over him, its breath washing over his face like an unwanted shower. As the Vhenstalk passed over him, Nickel closed his eyes, accepting his fate. Until it didn't.
Nickel cracked open an eye, seeing the vhenstalk pass over him, and feeling Mikey still holding him up Nickel shouted. "ZUN, ZUN NOW!"
Hearing Nickels shout, Mikey stood up, grabbing Nickel by the waist and holding him like a sack of potatoes on his shoulders. The vhenstalk flew through the air, swiping its paws towards Nickel's direction. Seeing it missed it, it prepared to turn around before realizing it was still midair. The vhenstalk turned its head, only to be met with a rock he didn't remember. Nickel smiled as he saw the cat land headfirst into a boulder.
"WHERE DO I GO?" Nickel jolted, 's movement making the goblin tumble around on Mikey's shoulder, the boy's boots still slamming against the riverbank. "JUZT FORWARD!" Nickel turnt his head to speak to Mikey, turning back only to see the Vhenstalk getting up, looking a lot more angry.
From deep in the forest a green glow swayed, as if it were laughing at the spectacle. A goblin being carried by a boy on his shoulder while being chased by a limping, essentially disabled big cat. A scene they would soon come to laugh at, hopefully.
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**From somewhere above, or maybe just beyond sense, the moment played out very differently.**
A boy, legs like overcooked noodles, hauling a goblin across a mossy riverbank while a giant, limping cat monster huffed along behind them like it needed an inhaler.
The boy's pants were soaked. The goblin was flailing. The cat's remaining tusk looked more depressing than menacing.
Truthfully, quite a sad sight
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Mikey felt a lightness on his back, specifically one he came to know much too well. "WHAT WAS THAT?" Mikey turned his head slightly, seeing his staff removed from its sacred cartridge. "MY STAFF, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" "KEEPING US ALIVE."
Nickel took the staff and swung it at the vhenstalk. The beast now lunging for Nickel's face.
The staff swung towards the vhenstalk, just barely missing its head. Nickel reeled back, swinging it again, this time the hit connecting with a thud. A yowl of pain escaped from the cat's mouth. Mikey, still running with all he had, gave a side glance. "That's it, Staffy, Teach that tuskless cat a lesson." Nickel sighed, annoyed, before swinging the staff once again.
This time the vhenstalk jumped up, biting the staff, refusing to let go. Mikey's form slowed down at the newfound weight. "WHAT'S GOING ON?" Nickel struggled, trying to knock the oversized cat off the weapon. Luckily the missing tusk gave him a perfect hole to sweep the staff out from. With a crack, Nickel slammed the staff into the cat's head, breaking it. "WHAT. WAS THAT?" Nickel looked at the two broken pieces in his hands. The vhenstalk shook its head, barely fazed.
Looking down, Nickel reached his hand back, it passing by Mikey's face. "What's that—? MY STAFF!" Nickel hurled the staff towards the vhenstalk, the Once glorious weapon hitting it in the eye, making it reel back in pain. Nickel smiled as the form of the vhenstalk got smaller in the distance. "NICKEL. NICKEL. NICKEL." Nickel snapped out of it hearing his name. "Zhat?"
Mikey stopped, heaving Nickel higher on his shoulder. "Zhy are we ztopped?" Nickel turned around, seeing a crystal-clear lake in front of him. Water rippling like diamonds poured on glass. They didn't have much time to appreciate it as paws slamming against the ground echoed behind them. Mikey looked around before pointing. "THE WATERFALL." Nickel turned to him. "WHAT?"
Mikey started running once again, the goblin bouncing and being jumbled on his shoulder. As they approached, Nickel yelled. "What if nothing's there?" Mikey didn't pause as he spoke. "THE ART OF SAVING PRINCESS"S CHAPTER 223 EXPLORING PAGE 5, EVERY WATERFALL HAS A SECRET."
"MIKEY ZHAT IS ZTUPI—." Nickel didn't have a chance to finish as Mikey jumped off. His words getting cut off from the crash of water.
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Nickel landed on the ground with a splat, his body rolling across the ground. "Mikey' i hatez zou." Nickel lay on the cold stone floor. Water droplets running down his clothes. Nickel's ear twitched as he heard the sound of, sniffling? Letting his head fall to the side, he saw mikey, hunched over and sniffling. Getting to his feet Nickel came beside Mikey. The boy is holding a broken stick in his hand. Mikey turned to Nickel, a tear forming in his eye.
"He was just a baby." Nickel sighed before putting his hand on Mikey's back, patting it. Mikey clutched the staff closer to his chest, Nickel bending down. "He'z in a better plaze now. But we need to go." Mikey sniffled as he laid the staff on the ground, stacking a few rocks on it.
Standing over the Grave for a sti—, for staffy. Mikey said a quick prayer before turning around.
Finally done with burying his first love, Mikey looked around. The dark of a stone cave greeted him with cold, wet hands. The pitter-patter of water constantly rang in Nickel's ear. The goblin walked towards the waterfall, the blue water blocking the outside world. "Zou were right." Mikey sucked in a sniffle as he smiled. "Of course i was, the Art Of Saving Princesses said so." Controlling the urge to facepalm, Nickel turned towards Mikey.
"Zhat does it say now?" Mikey reached for his back pocket, his satchel somehow protecting the book from water. "Uh, when in a compromising situation, look for a secret entrance; there is always a secret entrance." Mikey closed the book with one hand as he tucked it back.
"Mikey?"
"Yes?"
"Do zou zee an entranz?"
"No."
"Ok then."
A shadow passed from the outside of the cave. The silhouette of the vhenstalk shading the waterfall. Mikey and Nickel grew silent, hearing the beast pace around outside while growling. Nickel gave another look around the cave before spotting an extra dark hole at the very back. Tapping Mikey's shoulder, he pointed. Through a whisper Mikey responded, "what? No, what if there's a centipede monster?" A noise Mikey couldn't describe came from the tunnel.
Mikey and Nickel both stopped and stared at each other. A splash of water echoed behind them, a clawed paw swiping at it. Nickel looked towards Mikey.
"It iz not long before it comez in here." Mikey's eyes rotated between the definitely dangerous creature outside the waterfall and the also 99% dangerous hole in the ground. "Hm, decisions, decisions." The landing of paws on the ground helped him really fast with that decision. Without waiting, Mikey grabbed Nickel and dived headfirst.