'N-no… not now!'
In the distance, Inv sees something next to his partner that fills his entire being with immense dread.
Looming over his partner is a small blue creature with a singular giant eyeball.
Out of all times for it to appear it had to be now!?
Throughout the many cycles Inv has gone through, if there was one consistent thing he remembered it was this thing!
Whenever Inv was about to die a miserable death in any way this thing would always appear and just… watch.
Sometimes it would even lure lizards to where he was!
It was as if this blue things sole existence was to just torture Inv!
Before Inv can even move forward to get his partner away from the blue eyeball, it snaps its eye right towards Inv.
Being spotted, Inv could only feel horrified, not for his own safety but for Joey's.
Dropping the spear with the batflys, Inv makes a mad dash right towards his partner, hoping he can kill the small blue devil during the process.
Beep*
Right as he starts running however, he hears an unfamiliar sound emit from the eyeball.
Beep*
Feeling an ever-increasing feeling of dread, Inv runs as fast as he can to Joey. Seeing the eyeball look directly at him.
Looking into the giant eyeball Inv can swear it looks as if it's… enjoying this?! Enjoying messing with him and his partner?!
Every passing moment Inv can see it grow brighter and brighter, not understanding why since it's never seen it do this before.
For what seemed like an eternity but was only several seconds, Inv is just about to reach Joey.
Letting instinct take over. Instead of attacking the Eyeball, Inv jumps right on top of Joey completely covering his small body.
Beep*
Wrapping his arms around Joey Inv-
KABOOM*
point blank, Inv is hit by an overwhelming amount of pain as he's launched to the other side of the room.
Slamming into the wall, Inv can feel the breath knocked out of him. The entire time however, Inv held Joey close.
Making sure only he was the one taking any attacks and trying to soften any impacts to Joey.
Falling onto the hard metal ground Inv turns himself midair despite all the pain. Landing hard on his back holding Joey close to his chest.
Despite the excruciating pain, Inv immediately picks himself up, holding Joey close in his arms.
Looking back at the area where the eyeball just was, Inv sees the area destroyed beyond repair. As if a bunch of explosives went off in one area.
Feeling the side of his waist, Inv can tell this is where the main brunt of the explosion hit.
Inv can only thank his healing already kicking, making the pain he's feeling dull just a tiny bit.
…
Looking down, Inv makes sure if Joey is alright. Still feeling a beating pulse Inv lets out a long sigh of relief.
'I didn't know it could explode like that… it's never done that before…' Inv can only wonder why now out of all times it would do this.
To kill his partner? To torture Inv even more?
Inv doesn't know and could care less. If it ever tries to pull the same thing again, he will be prepared next time.
Not wanting to waste another moment, Inv gently holds Joey towards his back. Controlling the hair on his back, Inv wraps Joey onto his back with his fur.
Inv hasn't said anything about this with Joey yet but… all the hairs on Invs back?
Inv can willingly manipulate it in any way he wants. Just like he's doing now with securing Joey on his back.
Inv hasn't said anything about it to Joey since he thought Joey would find it weird…
But Inv is starting to suspect that Joey actually… likes it? Throughout climbing up with Joey, Inv tried to keep it subtle, but the more and more Joey kept pushing himself into his fur…
Inv couldn't help but indulge in wrapping Joey more and more. Through the hairs Inv can feel… every bit of Joey.
Sadly, at the moment Inv can't enjoy this due to the state his partner is in…
Securing Joey to his back to where he won't fall off Inv hurriedly runs back to where he dropped the spear with the dead batflys.
Picking up the spear Inv can feel a small spark of hope! All he had to do was get back to the shelter now!
hisssss*
Stopping his small moment of thought, Inv looks up, hearing the distant sound of a lizard's hiss.
On top of this hiss, Inv can also hear the sound of a bunch of heavy thumps hitting against metal.
Not wanting to find out what is coming this way from above, Inv immediately dives into the pipe that leads back down to the shelter he stayed in with Joey last cycle.
HISSSSS*
While quickly crawling through the pipe Inv can hear a bunch of loud hisses from behind.
'Did the explosion attract more lizards? Was it hoping I wouldn't get away in time?' Inv can only speculate upon hearing the many hisses from behind.
Too bad for the little demon, Inv was made out of much tougher stuff!
For once being glad being made the way he is, Inv exits out of the pipe.
Before Inv can move even further to get down to the shelter…
Rumble*
Feeling the ground shake, Invs ear droop down…
Knowing that the rain is almost upon them. Inv can't take the easy way down…
Despite only climbing up here only once, Inv remembers the path back. But it would take too long… he has to take a risk.
Running and jumping over a small gap, Inv hops onto a metal platform and looks over the edge into the abyss.
In the darkness, Inv can see a single long pole sticking out.
Knowing if he could jump down and grab the pole would save a lot of time, Inv prepares to jump.
He can't mess this up since he has Joey on his back and the food in one paw.
He can't mess this up. He won't mess this up.
Making sure there is no chance that Joey would fall from his back. Taking a deep breath, Inv jumps down into the abyss.
--------------------------------------
A/N: Inv is tough!