Shadows Swarm

*Sally steps out of the shield just as it's forming. Between being hit by the tendrils & its own projectile, the Gargoyle dissolves, releasing a heart. The other Gargoyle tries to fly away from its deflected attack, & ends up right in the mouth of the waiting Tentaclaw, which crunches on it until it's a tangled mass of twisted limbs & wings, & then swallows it.*

E"Where does it go? What's under the ground?"

R"I don't know. Maybe Dr. Frankenstein can answer some of these questions."

*Sally approaches Jack, cutting wide around the Heartless-eating plant & wringing her hands.*

Sally<Jack, I don't like this. Something bad's going to happen, I just know it.>

*Jack furrows his nonexistent brow, fingering his chin. Sally smiles.*

Jack<You're right. It's not eating them fast enough, we need to plant more.>

*Sally's smile instantly fades.*

Sally<Jack...that's not what I meant....>

*Meanwhile, 2 of the approaching Shadows try to attack, so Roatha destroys them with a quick 2 strikes.*

E"Hypocrite."

R"Well, obviously you can attack them if they strike you first!"

*Euryale tosses up her arms.*

E"I can't keep up with all of these rules!"

R"...Do you need me to write them down for you?"
===================================
*It's a small cave, which appears to be unused, judging by the lack of any sign of bedding or scraps.*

L"So I guess we start dragging in leaves to sleep on, or something?"

*At this time, Monu & Thiera come crashing through the jungle, herding along the fruit they've collected.*
=====================================
Phil<Gonna have to go with distributing the flyers. There should be piles outside of each of the gates. Take a few & start trying to pass them out. And don't take the whole pile!>

Taiyo: "You'll get the hang of it, I'm sure of it."

Azuma: "Polly Patchwork raises a good point. Munching on Heartless can't be good. For the digestion and otherwise."

*So Monu lands inside the cave*

<Fruit for anyone who can eat it.>

*Safian plops down*

<Who needs leaves?>
===
*So Artexi gets on that*

T"Don't we need to make nests?"

L"I imagine it would be more comfortable, & I'm not even sure how snakes are supposed to sleep."

T"You will want to coil up in a dark, warm place. Bedding will do very little to delay your heat loss, and you have no eyelids, only transparent eye scales."

L"...Safian, trade me animals."
===============================
*Taiyo instantly brightens up & hugs Euryale.*

E"Aww, thanks!"

Jack<Her name is Sally.>

Sally<It's okay, Jack, really.>

R"I think the--uhh--trees have this covered. If you're worried, then you should come with me to check Dr. Frankenstein's books.>

Sally<Finklestein.>

R"...Huh. Wait, then where does Dr. Frankenstein live?"
==================================
*Nero follows, hands shoved in his pockets, looking grumpy. Outside of the main gate, they find a pedestal with several brightly colored scrolls piled on it. Nearby is what looks like a skateboard inexplicably cobbled together out of marble & tiny, wooden chariot-style wheels.*

Azuma: "Right right, sorry."

Taiyo reciprocates the hug, probably enjoying it more than she should.

Taiyo: "There isn't one."

*Monu opens his beak like he's about to say something, but it interrupted by Safian*

Safian:<Don't worry, I'll keep you all warm.>
===
*Artexi leaves Nero to grab the scrolls while she checks out the skateboard*

*Nero just stands there, not doing anything.*
================================
L"That sounds like a violation of my personal space."
================================
R"I don't believe you, not after everything I've seen & heard here."

*He heads back out of the gate, Euryale stops hugging, & Sally & Jack follow.*

*Safian licks her paw*

Safian:<You humans have a weird concept of personal space, even when you're not, you know, human.>

Monu:<If you want I could gather some soft leaves for you.>
===
*Artexi picks up the scrolls then heads out*

Taiyo seems rathet let down by the lack of hugs.

Taiyo: "There isn't."

*Heads out the gate without turning around.*

R"I don't believe you!"

*Assuming that Taiyo let go, Euryale starts to slither off, but stops & turns.*

E"Is something the matter?"
==============================
T"We should probably go do that."

*So Thiera flies out.*

L"I'll just--go--somewhere...."

*So Lilith slithers out.*
===============================
*Nero takes the skateboard since she didn't & rolls right past her into the Town Near Thebes.*

Taiyo: "No, I'm fine."

She follows after them.

*Monu follows Lilith*

Safian:<Uh guys, I thought we needed some rest.>

*She stands up as well*
===
Artexi:<I can't believe that thing works.>

N"I can't believe all of these dudes are wearing dresses!"

*The toga-wearing townspeople turn to glare at this asshole riding down the street & talking smack.*
=============================
*When they get to the Square, they can see a White Mushroom by the fountain, holding itself & shivering. Another stands atop the guillotine, hanging its head with a storm cloud over it. Roatha looks to the left to see another Mushroom right beside him, awkwardly holding a position where it stands on 1 foot right before a Tentaclaw bursts from the ground & grabs it by the head. The Heartless suddenly begins moving, kicking wildly & trying to pull itself free, but to no avail, as it is swallowed. Roatha stumbles backwards.*

R"HOLY shit!"

*Meanwhile, another Tentaclaw bursts from the ground between the fountain & the guillotine. The White Mushrooms jump & wave their arms, then start trying to run away. The one on top of the Guillotine falls on its face. As it's pulling itself up, its friend is snatched up & swallowed.*

Sally<Jack...that kind of Heartless never hurts anyone.>

E"But...they're still Heartless, right? Made of evil hearts? So it's still right...right?"
=============================
*Lilith slithers over to the river while Thiera turns into the jungle.*

Azuma: "I don't think so."

===================================

Hitomi follows as sleep is not on the docket.

*Monu hops after Lilith*

<Lilith, what's wrong?>

*Safian looks to Hitomi, then sniffs at the air, looking for searching for anything dangerous in the area*

<I could teach you to hunt. if you wanted.>
===
Artexi:<It's not weird, it's the culture here.>

N"The culture is weird."
==========================
R"Heartless don't always come from evil people, & if this does actually finish them off, it will release the hearts. There's nothing to worry about."

*The remaining White Mushroom does a jumping spin. It almost disappears into a Dark Corridor, but is just too late, as it is snatched by the middle, nearly broken in half, & devoured.*

Sally<...They aren't responsible for how they were created. Why do they deserve to live any less?>

*Euryale stares at Sally, frowning.*

E"...Hey, Roatha, what did you mean by 'if it finishes them off'? And if the Heartless aren't evil, then what are they?"
==============================
L"You wouldn't understand...and someone needs to protect Thiera from predators."

Artexi:<No, YOUR culture is the weird one.>
===
*Safian looks to Hitomi, then follows after Thiera*

<Don't go too far Thiera.>

Monu:<I can try, if it would help.>

Azuma: "These Heartless didn't release a heart when devoured. Did the other ones do that?"

Taiyo: "Maybe some are born from bad people and some aren't."

===================================

Hitomi: "I'll be fine."

*Roatha points to his chest.*

R"Darkness isn't just anger & hate. It can also be sadness, fear, &...other...stuff."

Sally<Maybe it's because they were eaten, hearts & all?>

R"Seriously, am I the only one who finds these things even more disturbing than the Heartless?"
===============================
*Keeps on rollin'.*

N"I don't wear dresses!"
===============================
*Thiera is, of course, on the forest floor, picking up stray pieces of plant matter with her beak & claws. Her feathers seem a bit droopier than usual.*
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L"No...I-I can't say it! I can't let it out...the darkness...."

Azuma: "Yes. I don't think that's possible. If it were a normal squishy pink heart, sure, but....if it's consuming the non-squishy kind, it being ingested is probably bad."

Artexi:<Uh, you're wearing a coat-dress.>
===
*Monu fluffs his feathers*

<I think talking about it will help, you can't keep things inside until they explode.>
===
*Safian heads over*

<Anything tasty?>

*Nero has already disappeared into the crowd. Everyone else stops paying attention & keeps going their own way.*
===============================
T"Considering that I am searching for nesting materials, no."
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*Lilith quickly turns to Monu, opening her mouth wide to display her fangs & hissing.*

L"I tried to eat Thiera! I still want to! There, it's out, & NO, I don't feel any better! Happy now?!"

*Just as quickly, she goes back to glaring at her own reflection.*
===============================
R"Well, I guess that standing here isn't going to tell us anything."

*He heads towards Dr. Finklestein's. He stops briefly to poke one of the plants several times, but it ignores him, so he shrugs & moves on. Euryale follows.*

E"Wait. What if someone accidentally attacked it? That might be important."

*She summons her Keyblade & hefts it over her head, but stops, looking from Roatha to the others.*

E"...Can I?"

Jack<I think you make a good point. They can always be replanted.>

Sally<I don't know...it could be dangerous.>

Azuma: "Do we really want to take the risk?"

Monu:<Oh. Well, you look kinda tasty too...>
===
Safian:<Ether way you shouldn't go off by yourself.>
===
*Artexi starts passing out the flyers*

T"While I appreciate your protection, Lilith worries too much. I have my magic, so lions present no danger to me. After all, you could not cast magic when you first joined the Order, and yours is clearly the dominant species of this world."
-----------------------------------
L"Wow, that is surprisingly not helping at all."
===========================
*People make a wide berth when she tries to give them stuff. One guy even just starts walking backwards.*
===========================
R"I think we can handle a plant if it decides to attack."

E"We're still split."

R"But we really need to know if these things can be trusted."

*With nothing to eat, the Tentaclaw stands straight up & closes its jaws, like a macabre flower bud.*