Guess It's Gonna Stay This Way
Chapter 1: It's A Start, I Suppose
"I can't go with you, there are others who need assistance as well", The Guide calmly explained to the creature
It seemed restless, it's tail swishing about as it tried its best to convey the anxiety it felt
"Perhaps you could join me then?", she suggested, which was promptly met by a soft bonk to the head, seems like it wasn't too keen on that idea either
"Well this isn't going to work then...", so there was a horrifying, possibly eldritch monster with the mental capacity of a scared child with abandonment issues that refused to leave her alone but did not want to be seen by anyone else which was sort of impossible since she usually spent her time going around and guiding lost people through this labyrinth of a forest
...not an ideal situation but it'll have to do. At least this creature hasn't attacked her for however long they have been wandering together
It made some sad noises as its hand rested on her shoulder, it sounded like whining. It was...a little pathetic but who's she to judge? She's met many folks, from the most normal ones to the most unhinged and deranged ones, a whiny, clingy anomaly isn't the worst she's dealt with before
"Hm, you can still accompany me to help other lost travellers. You just need to eat this-", The Guide hummed as she took something from her bag, grabbed it's main hand and placed it in its hand, "I don't have a name for it but eating it should make you invisible to the naked eye"
It stayed still as it took in the new sensation in its palm, it was old, crinkly, very...dry. And flat. Hm, interesting. It 'looked' at the Guide, wondering if she'd be able to see him anyway judging by the confidence in her tone.
It was about to put the 'treat' in its gaping mouth when the dry thing moved suddenly, startling the poor thing. Like any other scared soul would, it shook the moving thing off its hand and shrunk in slight fear.
Must've been more jarring for it since it can't see
"Oh! Sorry, yes, I forgot to say, you have to eat it alive to get the effect", she chuckled awkwardly as she picked up, what it now assumed was some kind of bug native to the forest they were in, and sheepishly placed the bug in its hand again
It decided that eating it quickly would be best.
She didn't know what she had been expecting when she told it to eat, the sight of the attempt at eating, nearly choking and the coughing and wheezing that followed after it ate the bug was... uncomfortable, to put it mildly
"Now that that's over, let's go. I heard someone shouting in the distance", The Guide gestured at it to follow her
It did not, one, because it was wondering how she heard something it did not, though perhaps that was because its hearing was...limited at best. And two,...well it was obvious.
It took the Guide a moment to realise her mistake, "Sorry! Sorry, I forgot you can't see", she cringed visibly as she gently grabbed it's hand and led it
It was eerily for a while, the ever-eternal darkness that surrounded this forest was looking, threatening, and the wild life within this region did not help soothe any worries.
The silence was broken by a quiet, curious hum from the creature as it silently, sloppily, slithered along with the Guide. She looked at it, mildly confused before answering what she thought was likely it's question to her
"Yes, I can see you. Certain folks have eyes that can see through certain magical effects", she answered in a hushed tone, the silence of the forest loud and unbearable but oddly comforting for one such as her, one who has been here for...a long time
It hummed before returning back to its silence once more. Huh, guess she guessed its question correctly
What basically started this AU lol
Edit: I posted this to AO3 by the same fic name lmao, I'll be crediting every OC I use for this AU :)
