Rumors (Climax of the Sun Event Part Two)
The first rumor cropped up three days after Nym’s disappearance. Casually suggested by Cherry during a picnic at the park, it was the spark to start the bonfire.
“I think Nym’s secretly a Nightmare,” the youngest Guardian said in between bites of a berry sandwich. “Why else would she be so spooky?”
The other Ryubliss nearby nodded in agreement with the sage musings. They were not to question the Guardian’s wisdom, after all… at least not such a serious matter as this.
Cherry snuggled against the grass, humming to herself in pride at her brilliant deduction. She mused, “She rules Shift City, after all. The most Chaotic place in the Ryuniverse.”
A young cyan Bliss, a visitor to the realm by the name of Squog, chirped, “Yeah, that’d explain a lot!” He raised his paws, summoning forth a sparkling construct, a crystalline figurine resembling an angry Nym. “She’s always so grumpy.”
Cherry stifled a giggle at the cartoonishly exaggerated figurine’s expression. She gently tapped it with a paw. “That looks just like her!”
Squog barked, his tail wagging. “Exactly!”
They stared at the goofy looking figurine for a moment longer, before bursting into collective laughter.
A familiar Respie happened to wander over, brandishing a newly polished blade fashioned from the bones of an Abyssalite. He flashed a wide, toothy grin. “Y’know, back when we Respies used to hunt you Dreamfolk… the Nightmares were said to taste the best.”
Cherry stuck out her tongue, surges of protective magic flickering across her horns. “That’s gross!” she hollered.
Tusk shrugged and slung the skeletal cutlass over his shoulder. “It’s in our nature.” He chuckled warmly. “I’d never hurt my dreamy little buddies though… but it is fascinating to think about; Nightmares had the sweetest energy cores. Just goes to show, appearances aren’t everything.”
Squog’s ears lowered, and he glanced at Cherry. The Guardian had averted her gaze, suddenly finding a prismatic snail on the ground more interesting than their conversation. She hissed in a hushed tone, “There’s nothing wrong with Nightmares…” She seemed to be reassuring herself, rather than the others. “But Nightmares aren’t sweet.”
Tusk eyed her oddly. “How can you say that?” He frowned, crossing his arms. “No offense, but that’s a bit hypocritical coming from someone whose mom is a Lurker.”
Squog looked between the two, anxious. He flinched when Cherry suddenly whirled around. It happened before he could process it; Cherry’s paw raked across Tusk’s face, the jagged hook on her heel slicing off a section of scales. Tusk reeled back, yowling like a cat, while Cherry stood, frozen in place, her expression twisted into a grimace. It wasn’t until the Respie’s golden blood sparkled in the corner of her eye that she realized what she’d done.
She whimpered and backed away, shaking her head. “I… I have to go!” Without another word, she ran off, fleeing the scene.
Tusk pressed a cloth napkin to his face, wincing as a small clan of Yume Mice began to flock towards him, attracted to the scent of blood. He picked one of the creatures up, rubbing its head thoughtfully as he hummed, “Was it something I said?”
(Featuring Squog from @just-shapes-and-a-squog)