\|/ Turn 9, dark
This turn was really productive, and I am utterly exhausted.
I was too busy to write this turn in the light, but I'll catch up on it now. Mik's also writing to its journal.
When I woke up, after walking to the spring and both of us having a drink (Mik still finds me going into the spring amusing), Mik showed me another doodle. This one was a bit more complex, showing a process.
First it was squares and imperfect cylinders. I recognized this as the parachute parts and wood. I bared my teeth, Mik did so too and continued to the second drawing.
The second drawing was what looked like a tent.
Mik flipped through, first sketch, second sketch, first sketch, second sketch, tapping them every time. It wanted to make a tent.
After some thought I bared my teeth at it, agreeing. It seemed very pleased by that (recognizable by more teeth baring. This alien is weird, but I've gotten used to it). The reasoning was sound. I felt it getting colder, and despite me having a cloak, the fire and the blanket, I was starting to get uncomfortable again. I have no idea how Mik handles cold, but shelter is a good idea in any case.
After a few berries, we got to work.
Mik used its good arm and hatchet to sharpen the wood pieces into stakes while holding the wood between its legs, while I used the leaves to connect the parachute parts. I was done in about two marks, being in the light, while Mik was still sharpening the wood in the shade.
Time to actually be brave, I thought to myself. I went over and sat down right next to Mik, to hold the wood logs. It seemed partially surprised by this but bared its teeth and continued sharpening. I was extremely uncomfortable. Remembering the weird flesh that bends. I really did not want to come into physical contact again.
But no contact occurred. I held the wood, Mik sharpened. The air taste was different now, it's hard to explain. Mik tasted like a combination of Wet Domain swampland and like... salt? I didn't understand why. After a mark of sharpening I even felt warm from the proximity. I mean that in every sense. Mik radiates heat, somehow. I didn't notice that until now since I was always too far away. Biologically incomprehensible? Absolutely. But at this point I've come to accept "weird alien Mik quirks". If I could handle SILT not being able to read temperatures in life support, I can handle Mik being naturally unnervingly warm.
I still miss SILT dearly, but… I've come to accept the fact that it's gone. At least I'm not alone again.
…
Uh, yeah, tent.
We took the largest log (about as tall as Mik) and put it into the ground. It was an awkward process with a lot of swearing from both sides (I know I was annoyed, and Mik didn't sound happy either), but we got it to be stable. Then, we draped the parachute tent cover I made onto the log and then drove the rest of the wood through the parachute ends into the ground.
And it was actually done!
…
Mostly.
We hadn't made an entrance.
…
Rather, I had forgotten to make an entrance. We were standing outside, looking at the tent we couldn't enter.
After a few moments I came up with an idea and used my tailtip to slowly saw the entrance to it. The feeling was dreadful. The entire time I was going:
Ew no ew no ew no
But it worked out.
Then Mik went inside, and after it I went inside. The tent was done!
Once inside, Mik sat down and held out its hand, holding it in the air before me, palm facing me. I had no idea what it wanted to do. Seeing the faint red marks from when I had clawed its hand those turns ago, I just awkwardly and gingerly placed my tail against it. I'd feel the weird flesh the least with my tail, and Mik wouldn't get poked, was my reasoning.
I stood like that, and it sat like that for a few moments. Then Mik laughed so hard it was clutching its stomach. I couldn't help but join in. If anything, whatever Mik is, it likes to laugh a lot, sometimes randomly, sometimes awkwardly, but its species laughs, and I like it. Laughter is what I need.
Now it's dark again. Mik made another fire, now inside the tent. I remembered to make a hole in the roof, so we don't choke to death. I'm surprised that it actually worked out.
I'm glad I'm getting used to whatever Mik is.
Mik is an actual friend I can laugh with, and I have a place I can call home.