odorekijin | R Bradley (Fruitful Exploration) “Who Follows” (Caulis, Chloe)

“Who Follows”

[West Country—Tower of Trials]

Bradley: … …

Akira: Bradley? Why did you stop walking? Did you see something strange?

Bradley: Shhh.

Akira: Wuh?

Akira: (He’s signaling that something is behind him... What could keep him on alert?)

Bradley: Dun’ move Sage, I’m gonna show you sum’n funny.

Akira: Funny? What could you possibly…

Bradley: See that stone block behind me? ‘Kay, keep watchin’ it an’ see what happens when I turn my back to it…

Pupa: Pew…

Akira: (Hm? I think something moved… Wait, isn’t that Pupa?)

Bradley: Hup.

Pupa: …!

Akira: Oh! It hid again as soon as you turned around…!

Bradley: I think it’s tryna tread on my heels but every time I wanna catch it in the act, it hightails outta sight.

Bradley: I wanna try sum’n: stay there, I’ma take a few steps to see how it reacts.

Pupa: Pew…

Akira (Ah-hah! It instantly jumped out to follow Bradley.)

Bradley: Hup.

Pupa: …!

Akira: (It froze in place...! Ah, of course, it has nowhere to hide nearby…)

Pupa: … …

Bradley: … …

Bradley: BOO!!

Pupa: Meep!!

Akira: Pupa…!

Bradley: Bwahah! Dang, that there was worth the trouble. Thanks for the laugh, li’l guy, yer surprisingly fun to rile up.

Akira: I hope Pupa’s alright… It ran away so fast…

Bradley: Bah, you worry too much. …Over ‘here, look who’s sneakin’ behind that rock.

Akira: Huh?

Pupa: Mew…

Akira: Oh, hey! It’s looking at us!

Bradley: See? That critter’s tougher than we give him credit for.