Evil Xisuma is fascinated by lizards.
There's some in the Nether, of course, bejewled in crimson and golden and black, but those types usually hide out near the lava pools, and EX isn't fireproof, not by a long shot. They tried to catch one once, but they burnt their hands and got told off gently by X when they came home and the lizard escaped. There's some in the trees, but they're venomous and lightning fast.
The ones in the Overworld are much friendlier, so whenever they can, they walk over there and find a mangrove swamp far out, where the Overworld lizards like to hide. They're skittish, but EX has found that if you're gentle, they'll let you hold them.
Why lizards and not like, frogs or something? They don't know. They just think they're neat.
One evening, EX found themself in a particularly foggy swamp, grumbling as they picked their way through sprawling tree roots and mud that pulled at their boots much like the soul sand did. They were getting lost. They didn't care. This server had respawn enabled, anyways. But as they trod deeper and deeper in, something felt a little... off.
"Where are these lizards?" they grumbled, loudly enough to get the attention of a nearby breeze, which ruffled the leaves. Wait.
You can't be noticed by the wind.
"Hello?" they asked, looking up.
Somewhere to the front and right of them and very much on the ground, a twig snapped. A light came out of the fog, and a figure wearing a very broad hat walked into view.
"I'm telling you, Joel," they sighed, "you can't be in here. Especially not after dark. It's dangerous, the ghosts might- who are you?" They stopped and leaned closer, confusion clear on their face.
"If you're asking for a name, I won't give it," said EX. "They're powerful things."
"Fair enough," shrugged the stranger. "There have been some weird things happening around here lately. I'm the swamp witch. What are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for lizards," said EX.
"In full body armor?"
"My lungs are shit. I have to wear this. Also, it's comfortable."
"Oh, so you're the swearing type," said the stranger with a frown. "Okay."
EX sighed. "I've never met you in my life, but you've already managed to sound exactly like my brother."
"Your brother??"
"Yes, my brother. People have them, idiot. I'm not giving my name away but I'll sure as hell give you his- Xisuma. I could pr-"
"Wait, wait, hold on," said the stranger, cutting them off with a wave of their hand. "Xisuma?"
"Weird name, I know."
"No, I mean I've met him. I never knew he had a brother."
"Sibling," corrected EX. "Also, what?"
"My bad," said the witch. They sighed. "Listen, whatever, I don't know how you got here, but you should probably go. There's some dangerous stuff in here, especially at night." They looked around warily as if to prove their point.
EX laughed. "You're tripping if you think that I'm scared of your stupid swamp. It's just a slightly damp forest. What could possibly live in here that I would be scared of?"
On cue, the wind picked up. The stranger looked around frantically. "You need to go." A bunch of blue lights appeared at the edges of the lamplight. "Now."
The wind blew a myriad of leaves into EX's face and they stumbled backwards as the yellow light receded rapidly, tripping over a tree root just as one of the blue lights came into focus. The last thing they thought before their head hit the ground was that it sorta looked like a face.
When they sat up, it was morning. The fog was gone. They looked around to see where it went, but there was none.
"Weird," they said.
Three unread messages from Worm Boy.
Dude, where are you? It's getting late.
EX? I'm going to bed now but please message me if you see this.
Just woke up. If you don't respond by lunchtime, I'm calling Xisuma.
"Hey. Sorry. I fell asleep while lizard hunting," they typed, then sent it with a sigh. What a mess.
A small blue wisp floated up where they had stepped as they walked out of the forest.
