"Mg.." Blocky sat in front of a pile of sticks, on his knees with one stick grasped in his hand, him vigorously rubbing it against some leaves that were underneath. He had his tongue sticking out in concentration, but he was in no mood to feel happy. Rain pounded down from all around, despite it being hard to see because of the darkening forest. It was cold.. and a fire was mandatory, especially because he and Clock had been in the river.

After Gb, Tb, and Snowball found Blocky and Clock, the group had stuck together and attempted to find the others.. they had no luck, none of them were anywhere to be seen. Blocky had alerted them over the deaths of 8-ball and Woody, since he had seen them die, but wasn't aware of the other deaths that had occured.. except Bombys but everyone knew about that.

They had no clue what happened to everyone else. They hoped they had all managed to run away but.. that seemed unlikely.

Snowball was in a terrible mood because he lost sight of both Basketball and Pen, and he had no idea where either of them went. He was worried that he would lose them.. they were basically all he had. He had felt this way before when Pen had been at risk, same with Basketball not coming to see him, but this time it felt worse.. because he knew they were in direct danger, and that it would have been so easy for them to get hurt.

Blocky felt awful too .. for many many reasons. Some were related to the whole group itself, some Pen and Eraser, Woody of course.. Clock, too. He had been trying to keep strong for everyone else but it was so difficult when the only thing he could see was Woodys face seconds before he was blasted out of view and killed. He was dead.. he couldn't protect him. Woody sacrificed his LIFE for him - why would he do that...?

He was scared.. he couldn't handle anymore. It felt like it hadn't properly set in but everytime he was reminded he felt sick.

Clock didn't feel great either, in fact he felt the worst he had ever felt. Tennisball hadn't spoken, and Golfball felt guilty. Why didn't she kill Liy sooner? This would have all been avoided.. she was concerned for the rest of the group, but also for Blocky. He wasn't holding up to well, she could see how much he was hurting. She was trying to be open minded about the situation.. she just felt guilty because she had Tb with her still and.. the others didn't have that. Though in a way she was glad she had Tennisball, she didn't know what she would do if she was parted from him again.

The group had found a large tree and decided to set up an area they could sleep in by putting some leaves on the ground for mild comfort. They couldn't go in the rain much because Snowball was extremely vulnerable to it, so didn't have much time to look around and therefore that was the best they could get.

Golfball awkwardly sat and observed as Blocky struggled to set up a fire, biting her lip in thought. She went to speak up, deciding it was probably best. "Blocky.. maybe someone else should do it." She commented, speaking over the silence of the group and the pounding rain.

"I-I got it. Just gimme a sec." He claimed, again and squinted, determined to be the one who sets up the fire. Golfbal silently sighed, defeated. She knew it would be pointless and that he wouldn't budge, turning her attention to the rest of the group alternatively.

She felt awkward because she didn't know Snowball or Clock very well, and she had only just reunited with Tennisball a few days ago - they had talked but were only just adjusting to seeing each other again. It felt weird that she would be forced to talk to him.. she looked around at everyone, who were all just sat and thinking different things to themselves. Everyone obviously had a lot to think about.. what had just happened was a tragedy, the shared hatred for Liy was insane..

Why didn't they just kill her like Jr said. She should have known better.

They had only just managed to somewhat get used to the fact Fries was gone and they needed a new plan for the future, and now this? Not to mention the whole Donut situation.. She felt bad for 8-ball, in a way.. and Woody and Bomby. She felt bad for Blocky too.. this probably hurt him a lot.

She wondered how the others would be handling it. She liked to think they were doing better off.

She turned her attention to Tennisball, who seemed nervous and tense as he sat against the tree and avoided the others. Understandable..she just couldn't help but notice he was always like this. Except now it was more.. for obvious reasons. He just seemed so.. flinchy? She had noticed as soon as they met, she thought it was just him being shy but it hadn't left. She wondered if it was something else...

That was unimportant right now, though. She shuffled closer to him, hoping he wouldn't notice it too much. He perked up wearily and looked up at her, forcing a weak but quick smile as he looked away again. What was up with him? Everyone was upset of course but.. the way he was acting was like he was hiding something.

She turned to Clock instead, who was shivering as Blocky failed to start up a fire. He had his legs against his body, and looked tired. Just.. kind of worn. She pushed up her glasses, clearing her throat and standing.

"Clock ." She spoke firmly to catch his attention, looking down at him. He flinched and looked ip at her, "Wh-What?" He blurted, his eyes drifting off elsewhere again.

"You look cold,.. are you okay?" She questioned, thinking that it would be polite to show her concern since she was.. trying to get better at that. Snowball raised an eyebrow at her, squinting..she was so much nicer than he last remembered, it was a little terrifying actually.

"I..I am, yeah.. a little.-" he admitted under his breath, feeling awkward with his words. Golfball turned to Blocky on her heel, unamused. "Blocky..come on. Just let Snowball do it. It's fine." She demanded him softly, but he still seemed stubborn as he only tried harder.

"Just be patient-" Blocky shot back defensively as rubbed the stick harder, but this time Snowball decided to get included as well.

"Come on man. Just let me do it." Snowball tiredly spoke and stood as he wasn't in the mood for this right now, standing over Blocky as he tried to create something but.. failed miserably. Blocky was uncooperative, not wanting to. "I've got it! Okay??" He spat back at him.

"B-Blocky.." Clock croaked, leaning foward tiredly. "I-it's alright. Snowball can.. take it from here." He was quiet "Pl-Please.. we all need warmth.." he stammered from how cold he was.

Blocky was extremely reluctant, but gave in in a hostile manner, shoving the sticks to the ground and crossing his arms from the frustration of not completing the fire. Snowball awkwardly moved over and picked up the sticks, doing it instead as Blocky moved out of the way.

"You need rest." Golfball spoke firmly to him, frowning. He rolled his eyes at that. "I don't. I'm fine.. okay?? It's been a long day. Can we just..drop this now??" He complained, but the only problem was him. Clock closed his eyes and pulled his legs closer to his body, not wanting an arguement to erupt again.

He was too tired. Weirdly enough, he missed Eraser. He felt like he was the only person he had been able to bond with because they understood what each of them had been through. He missed Pin.. too. He didn't want it to be like this..

"You do. We ALL do. After .. today.. " she trailed off, looking off elsewhere. She gathered her words. "We should sleep through the rain. It will be better than sitting through it." She concluded and closed her eyes, heading back to sit next to Tennisball.

"Just like old times." Snowball murmured to himself grudgingly as he rubbed the sticks. He was used to sleeping outside.. he wasn't too sure how much the others were used to it though. Blocky seemed annoyed and didn't reply, Golfball didn't take this in an insulting way though, she knew he was just dealing with a lot.

"We should .. get looking for the others as soon as possible tomorrow. " she explained as she sat, Snowball grumbling something in agreement. She glanced over to Tb, who didn't reply.

"Tb? Do you agree?"

"H-Huhm?" He flinched. "Uh- oh, y-yeah, I do." He didn't know what he was agreeing too, having not paid attention before hand. She brushed this off with a frown, her attention diverted back to Sb. He had finally got some form of smoke forming, so he went to blow at it gently, trying to get the fire to grow.

Blocky looked over, relived they would finally have some warmth. "Thank you, Snowball. We can use this to keep warm.." Golfball spoke in relief, watching him stand up straight and roll his eyes. "Yeah..whatever." he grouched, but it was clear he was somewhat pleased. "Just keep it away from me so I don't god damn melt."

He stepped away from the small fire and sat against the tree, not wanting to get too close to it. Blocky leaned over and grabbed a stick, going to slide it across into the flames.

The group sat in an awkward silence and didn't say much to each other, wanting to be able to think to themselves about the awful day that had occured. But also.. they didn't really know what to say to each other after that.

---

"We'll be safe in here.." Basketball weakly exhaled and tried to catch her breath, sitting herself down on the cave floor as she was finally able to relax herself. Lollipop and Eraser followed her from behind, taking in the sight on their own accord. "Hm.. this place again. How interesting. " she tried to wipe off the rain from her head, hoping she hadn't been damaged as she flicked it off.

"..It's fine. It's shelter." Eraser grumbled, sitting down with a thump. He pulled his legs to his body and glanced off into the distance, obviously not in a very good mood. None of them really were.. after that happened who could blame them.

They had all gotten split up from their own friends and personal groups, coming across each other while they were running. None of them knew much about any deaths, they were not aware Woody, 8-ball or Fanny was dead.

Basketball felt awkward as this wasn't the.. usual objects that she would find herself talking to but.. went along with it anyways. In a way, she was kind of glad she had Lollipop with her, and Eraser had displayed intentions of wanting to be her friend a few days ago so at least there wasn't any tension between them.

She sat herself down too, cold as a draft blew into the cave and made her shiver. She was worried about her friends, especially Snowball, who wouldn't have lasted in that kind of rain. She hoped he found some sort of shelter.. or even got out of that chaos safely.

"..We should try to get some rest." Lollipop commented the obvious, crossing her legs as she leaned herself back and slowly adjusted herself to the new setting. "We.. need to focus on finding the others."

"Mm.. right." Eraser muttered passively. He had no idea if ANY of his friends were okay. But.. he felt some comfort in knowing all of the others in that cave with him were going through the exact same experience.

They were all just worried about the potential deaths.. if their friends were injured, that would be better than them being gone forever. For THAT to be the last time that they saw their friends..it hurt to think about. Lollipop weakly glanced up at the other two, who looked bothered and tired.

The rain was dripping from the entrance of the cave rhythmically, filling their somewhat silence. She looked down at her hands, unsure what to say to the others.. "Hm...they ..cannot be too far. Everyone is..well, probably looking for each other. We cannot be the only group who joined together." She put forth.

"Ah.. you're right." Basketball agreed, looking over to her slowly and forcing a weak smile. "You.. don't think Liy and the others are still looking for us, do you?"

"I..I don't know, my apologies." Lollipop replied, but felt a weird comfort in talking to Basketball. She reminded her of her friends.. it was nice to have that. "But I'm sure they would have retreated, they'll have no luck in the dark."

"That's..true." Basketball noted, nodding softly. She still felt concerned though.. they came for a reason..what was that reason? To kill? Did they do that? Or was it solely to separate them? The base was destroyed now.. they couldn't stay there anymore. They were in the open now.. vulnerable and unsafe.

"I don't think I uh.. mentioned." Eraser began, Basketball looking over as he spoke up. "But uh, it's nice to see you again, Lollipop. Nice robotics."

"Oh? Hm? Why, thank you." Lollipop smiled in pleasant surprise, feeling somewhat more cheerful from his comment. Basketball looked at the both of them. "Wait.. again? What does that mean?"

Lollipop adjusted her eye piece. "Hm? Ah, of course. You have no idea. Eraser was with our group, he sacrificed himself to become a prisoner and learn more about Twos base. It didn't work out too well."

"No." Eraser grumbled. Basketball remembered the fact he had his arm ripped off for Nickel.. who was apparently dead now anyways. "Ah.. sorry about that."

"It's fine. I'm here now." Eraser excused briefly, waving his arm. "..I wish Pin was here too, though. She was the first one of us in there.. I was the last."

"She was..?" Lollipop wondered aloud. "Hm.. what about Clock?"

"He was second. He got separated from Cake." Eraser shrugged. Lollipop didn't know Cake was dead, neither did Basketball.

"Uh.. hi.."

Thunder rumbled from outside the cave and the groups attention was drawn to the voice, noticing a figure stood in the entrtance of the cave without warning, seemingly just having arrived.

It was Blackhole..

"Blackhole- " Lollipop instinctively spoke, standing in the shock of seeing him there. Well.. it was no surprise he was alive. There was no way Two could kill him unless he had some sort of special device, like Four in that one challenge a looong time ago.. Basketball smiled weakly, cheered up from seeing him. "B-Blackhole! You're okay! It's so nice to see you.." she stood too.

Blackhole didn't seem too happy but it was hard to tell. "..Please...uh, don't be ..kind to me like that. I .. failed to save all of you. I.. was too late." He immediately felt bad.

"Don't say that." Lollipop demanded, walking over to him with crossed arms and a raised eyebrow. "I saw Loser blackmailing you with Clocks life."

"But.. I-I just..wish I got there sooner. I'm the strongest out of everyone I ..should, HAVE the responsibility of protecting you. And, well.. look." He weakly murmrued. "I didn't.."

"Hey .. I-It wasn't your fault. Don't blame yourself.." Basketball walked up to him as well, trying to make him feel better. "We.. are just really happy to see you..."

"I-I am happy to see well, all of you too. I-..uh, was worried that not everyone made it out alive. I didn't see.. I-I'm glad you all are, though. " he spoke. He was still unconvinced it wasn't his fault. He blamed himself for Fries .. for not killing Liy. He blamed himself for this, too.

He slowly floated inside, Lollipop and Basketball moving back down to sit. He seemed slow and .. sad. "I'm..sorry for uh, the bad news but..I have bad news."

"What?" Eraser perked up, curious to know what it was. Basketball glanced off to the side, knowing something like this was coming as she attempted to make herself comfortable in the rough environment. "..What.. is it?" She croaked.

Blackhole felt bad that he was immediately telling them this but..he knew in the past that prolonging saying information like this just caused more problems. He learned that from the situation with Pillow.

"..Fanny ..died."

"Wh-What did you say?" Lollipop immediately spoke, almost choking on her words from the surprise. Eraser frowned and looked down, put his hand on his head.. it was inevitable someone else would die along with Bomby. He ..just..didn't think it would be her.

Basketball didn't know her as well as the other two but still felt bad. "Oh..I- .I'm so sorry." She apologised weakly, the drained expression on Lollipops face upset her. Lollipop looked so.. hurt at the news. She suddenly realised something and spoke up again, turning to Blackhole with a stern face.

"What about Lightning? He was connected to her.. was he not?"

Basketball and Eraser both looked at Blackhole for an answer.. was he dead too?
Blackhole seemed hesitant to reply, so they thought that was the case.. but his answer was debatabley worse.

"He was.. captured and taken by the others. I-I think he.. is going back to Twos base to.. be used as a weapon." Blackhole admitted his thoughts, nervous for how the others were going to react.

"..He.. he was taken?" Lollipop repeated. Eraser stood instinctively, cutting Lollipop off and gathering her and Basketballs attention, "Oh no.. nononono he's gonna be forced to KILL us!! That's what happened to Stapy! And what WOULD have happened to you if you STAYED long enough." Eraser stressed directly to Blackhole, pacing mildly. "They want him because he's powerful! That's why they didn't KILL him! Duh!"

"He.. he's going to be held captive there..?" Basketball stammered in realisation. " ..Wh..what are we going to do?? We can't let him stay there!-" she cried, standing too. Lollipop couldn't believe it.. she knew that Two would want to do something like that. "We.. we can't. But.. what are we going to do?... We cannot tell the others because we don't know where they are.. and did.. you see how difficult it was to free the prisoners..?" Lollipop speculated, on edge from the news. She swallowed ".. He is .. in severe danger..." she trailed off, holding one of her arms.

"I-I'm sorry- I ..I tried to help but I-I lost sight of them." Blackhole weakly spoke, "I..Uh, I thought about him flying away to escape when he got there. But..I remembered Basketball and Tb had.. er, bands.."

Basketball groaned loudly as he said that. "Ugh! Two made me make EXTRA! I didn't know .. it- ughhh.." she felt frustrated, squeezing her eyes shut in frustration.. but mostly out of concern for Lightning. "I..I really hope he'll be okay.. h-he should be able to last a little while before we ..find a way to help him, right?"

Lollipop nodded slowly, but felt distant. HOW would they even manage that? It was unlikely they would be able to save him any time soon.. he would be in there for a while. Would he manage?

Basketball sighed and looked to Blackhole. "Look.. th-thaanks for telling us. We'll..have to.. keep it in mind.. " .. she remembered she left a spare bracelet disabling device back at the base with Tree.. what about that? Could he try and find that? Come to think of it.. had he even found it yet? Surely he would've escaped if he did?

What would he do though... the lab was destroyed. She tried to shake that thought away, hoping that Lightning would be able to find a way out on his own. He was.. resistant. It's not like Two would kill him.. maybe he would be able to find the band disabling device...

"Let's just... get some rest." Lollipop slowly sat back down with a soft sigh, shaking her head. Eraser groaned and did the same, in disbelief that Lightning was.. going to be in the same position as him. Debatabley worse.. he would be forced to hurt others. For the small time he spent with Lightning.. he didn't seem like he would be able to last a while on his own. He was probably terrified..

The only reasob Two would want Lightning is to use him.. so if he didn't do what Two wanted?

"You're right." Basketball uttered. Blackhole felt bad, but still felt a little less pressured now that he had told them the truth. It was better than hiding it from them.. even if it hurt it would be better for them to know rather for them to not know at all.

The group decided to rest with the new information in mind... knowing that they now had more to worry about now they were separated AND Lightning had been taken captive.

---