//TW\\

DEATH

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Gelatin's head was rested on a rock covered in a thick moss. His eyes tiredly rested on the grass beneath him. He wished he was back in his bed. Comfortable... Breakfast waiting... Was this how his mom and dad felt? Before they died? He frowned and shivered. Sleep was lacking, but not entirely. He managed to doze off every now and again—but it was so difficult to stay beneath consciousness. He didn't bother. His metal skin long vanished. Pain seeped into his joints and skull. A pounding headache jabbed at his mind. He tried to ignore it. Everyone else was sleeping after all.

Leafy was holding Bow... who seemed to have long fallen unconscious due to her wounds she sustained from her thorny prison. Leafy was—and had been—dead a while. There was no point in describing her ghostly appearance. And Taco was asleep on the bush nearby.

Gelatin whined to himself. He wished to be somewhere else. Anywhere else. Discomfort. Chilling cold. He felt like someone knew this feeling. Someone unfamiliar. He sat up. Finally. He needed to clear his head. If not for a fleeting moment, pretend this was fine. He took a shaky step forward into the forest. Crinkling beneath his feet as he travelled into the thicket. Cool morning air blew past his face.

One foot after the other.

The crinkling beneath his feet soon turned into a painful squelch. He grimaced and lifted his foot. He remembered this... all too well. His eyes widened as the turned to the ground covered in a red blanket. He took a step back, recognizing a trail of it. But... This wasn't the way beck to the village... His nerves raised, he could feel the heart pounding at the back of his throat. He sighed shakily, looking into the darkened thick forest ahead, and decided to step further. He walked past the lush leaved shrubs and greenery. Mossy dampness at the base of each tree as he followed the coppery scent the blood left. It was a paste like texture, nearly dry, but not quite. Not yet.

He was always too curious for his own good.

Gelatin ignored the thought of this being that... Creature again. Back to finish the job. Each step more uneven and shakier than the last. He grabbed a stick from the ground. It wasn't nearly as big as the one he'd used to attack Leafy before—In fact—this one was more flimsy too. But... A weapon was a weapon. He clutched the branch, his white knuckles clenching around the rough bark, scratching against the skin beneath.

He eventually caught sight of a cave, a creepy one at that. He didn't exactly think it was a good idea to go in, but, what could you possibly have expected from him? His foot collided with stone, rather than the dried corpses of leaves. He swallowed the pounding heartbeat and walked in. His eyes directed on the blood trail below—

He heard the huff of an animal.

Shit.

He froze, both hands clutched the stick. It sounded like the chuff of a tiger. But more guttural, and low. He looked back. This was a mistake. Gelatin took an uneasy step back—only for the stick to snap in his hands and clatter to the ground. His breath hitched and only his eyes shot down to look. His head not bothering to follow as all his shaking ceased in an instant.

Adrenaline. His eyes darted up to the beast, which had long woken. He was frozen. Entirely still. The creature gave a low growl, and gained a defensive stance. It bore teeth aggressively. Gelatin noticed this, his legs felt like they were made of lead. He tried to take a step back, but his left leg only vibrated in response. "Nice doggy...?" He smiled awkwardly, a squeaky nervous voice was the only thing he could manage. Of course, the creature looked nothing like a dog. More like bear-sized-raccoon.

The Beast snapped at him.

Gelatin whimpered and stumbled back. The beast did not follow. How strange. He looked down to it's feet in confusion— was it a mother? No. There was not it's young. But the faint silhouette of a body. It was... protecting it's food? No... there was a... short rise and fall in the chest of the object. "Is that a—p-person...?!" He muttered. The beast growled once more, making Gelatin flinch. "I-I'm sorry! I—uh..." He backed up...

The object below stirred and groaned. The beast shot it's eyes down, and nudged them with it's snout. Gelatin watched, how curious indeed!

Looseleaf's eyes open softly, and he found himself face to face with the beast who'd broken his arm. He tried to scream, and scramble back, but the only thing that escaped was a hiss of air from his lips, followed by a wince and groan of pain. He looked down to see herb-like leaves on his wounds. Messily done and torn a bit, which rubbed against his wound... But... It was something.

The three tailed raccoon beast rumbled and sniffed Looseleaf. Looseleaf in response, tried to sit up. He was growled at. "O-okay! Okay... Jeez..." He laid down again.

"You're awake?!" Gelatin flinched. He froze as the beast snapped to him and snarled.

Looseleaf flinched and turned his head to Gelatin. His wide round eyes—or...one, the other was leaking some sort of smoke—laid on Gelatin with unfamiliarity. But, at least it was another object. "Who are you—?! Why am I here?"

"I could ask you the same thing—!"

The creature roared, and swatted at Gelatin, making him fall back. Looseleaf flinched, "EY. He's just a kid what's you problemffhhph—!" He was stepped on by a heavy paw. The beast growling at Gelatin. Looseleaf couldn't breath and clawed at the beast's paw with his arm which hadn't been broken. The Raccoon beast glanced down at the squirming demon and raised its paw. "HES NOT GOING TO EAT ME. OR WHATEVER— LET GO OF ME!" He screeched angrily.

The beast grumbled gutturally and stepped back, slouching down grumpily.

Gelatin finally let his guard down. Looseleaf tried to ignore pain as he stumbled up to the stone wall and approached. "Are you lost? Where are we?" He asked in a demeaning voice.

"This is the Yoyle Woodland... Connected to the Dark Forest—and Evil Forest." Gelatin explained, he twiddled his thumbs out of nervousness.

"Have you seen anyone named Paper?" Looseleaf grunted as he forced his broken arm to hold the herbs on his stock to his abdomen, and... keep his flesh from falling out too.

"No..." He shook his head, "Anyone for miles is dead..." Gelatin informed falsely—but quickly corrected himself, remembering. "O-oh! But... My buds Taco and Leafy are back that way! Along with some kid covered in flowers..." He pointed back, wincing as his arm aches in pain.

Looseleaf looked in the general direction, and narrowed his eye. "Kid... Covered in Flowers... A Bow?" He questioned, trying to confirm suspicions.

"I think? She's pretty beaten up." Gelatin frowned, and turned back to fully face the piece of Paper before him. Looseleaf returned this direct attention with that of his own.

He blinked, "Can you take me there?" He asked in a still pained tone.

"I-uh... uh... Ye-yeah... yeah uh...—yeah! Follow me—I guess..." he muttered, and turned off to lead Looseleaf.

Looseleaf took a step forward, shakily, his ankle missing it's preferred positioning and target. It bent sideways causing Looseleaf to tumble down on his already broken arm. Gelatin flinched and turned to face Looseleaf who had fallen. The beast growled annoyedly and chuffed. then slumped over, and scooped Looseleaf onto it's back. It then glared meanly at Gelatin. But followed him.

Gelatin swallowed, nervously biting his lip. "Gonna—uh—tag along...? Heh-hehhehhh...?" He did nervous finger guns.

The beast snarled.

"Right..........." He whispered, turning back towards Camp, and approaching on where Taco and Leafy had been. He followed the blood to where he'd came. When the trail ended... He kept pushing. Eventually he found the three of them again. And stopped in front of Leafy, who was holding Bow.

Leafy soon stirred from sleep, the slight shake in the surrounding earth made her snap her eyes up to the raccoon like animal. She hauled Bow away and backed up.

Gelatin stepped in, "It's a uh—N-nice doggy???" He grinned with a nervous toothy-grin. Which made Leafy furrow her brows.

"Gelatin... Why did you bring a Raccursi here?!" She snarled. Which made Gelatin flinch and put his hands up defensively.

"I thought they were called Cooncoons?" He whispered, and let his nervous smile fade. Only to have a wispy finger jabbed in his face. Gelatin hunched back.

"No! That's the SMALLER subspecies! And that's NOT WHAT I ASKED." She screamed, concerned for the safety of the two girls.

Gelatin frowned, "I'm sorry! Okay? There was this guy—I followed a trail of blood! And this thing brought him here! He wants to see her!" He pointed to Bow. Leafy held Bow back as she rose from sleep.

"She's a young child alone in the forest! Who is to say she wasn't running from someone?!" Leafy retorted in retaliation. It had made Gelatin whine to himself.

"I'm sorry...!" He muttered.

"Relax." Looseleaf groaned, managing to slowly sit up and slumped over the head of the 'Raccursi' "I'm not going to hurt nobody... As much as that would be amusing..." He spat.

Leafy narrowed her eyes defensively.

"You have no reason to trust me and all that..., But I can assure you I have no interest in harming anyone." Looseleaf gripped the fur of the beast slightly with the arm that had not been broken in his scuffle with it prior.

"Real convincing..." Leafy gritted with pure skepticism. She wasn't going to automatically trust a stranger. Especially not with recent events. Anyone could be a foe. She couldn't really expect this to be indifferent from a prior event. She'd been murdered by someone she assumed a friend, after all.

"Why would I even want to kill you?!" He retorted through his sharp teeth. Annoyed this exchange was like trying to push over a brick wall.

"You just said it would be amusing..." Leafy reminded, Gelatin kinda—nervously nodded in agreement. It was no falsehood. It was a fact. A fact indeed.

"Tch... Can't take a joke?" He argued, he bitterly chuckled in a sarcastic manner. Leafy rolled her eyes. Looseleaf didn't appreciate her rude form of acknowledgment. "I'm too injured to do anything even if I wanted to." He finally uttered.

Also a fact. Gelatin nodded in enlightened agreement, "They are right! His stomach is all torn up... I think? It was bloody... v-very. Actually..." He explained.

Leafy groaned, "Who's side are you on?!" She questioned annoyedly.

"The... Good one...?" He shrugged.

Leafy face palmed with her free hand, "Do you even know their name?!" She spat, throwing the arm out palm up with narrow eyes.

"Uh. No..." He replied bluntly. Frowning in acknowledgment to his lack of better judgment.

"I'm Looseleaf." He butt in. A near growl. "I don't appreciate the exclusion—you do know I can hear you, right?!" He furrowed his brows. Frustrated. He had a right to be after all!

Leafy grunted in acknowledgment, and shot a glare to Looseleaf. "FINE! Fine. He can stay! Jeez... But. Any funny business and I SWEAR." She hissed through her teeth.

"So harsh..." Gelatin muttered, a step back from Looseleaf and closer to Leafy so she could hear his statement beneath the cloak of his breath.

"He doesn't know who I am..." Leafy replied, skeptical and wary. "He may be in the form of a living object, and a creature of the dark beneath the surface..."

"He does give uncanny vibes I guess..." Gelatin swallowed his nerves for the millionth time, and Leafy pushed past him. "Hhu—?"

"We're leaving, now. We have to get to the Capital." She demanded. The Raccursi growled at her approach. Leafy, growled in return, which made the creature instantly stiffen, the hair on it's back raised. "Sit." She spat.

The beast obliged with an annoyed chuff and inner growl.

Leafy rolled her eyes, "So much complaining..." She spat, which made Gelatin raid a brow. Looseleaf intrigued.

"You can talk to it?" Gelatin asked, astonished, "I thought you just—fended them off with your powers!" He fawned, amazed.

"Yeah? You didn't know?" Leafy chuckled slightly.

"We going or not? I need to find Paper." Looseleaf scorned angrily. He was quite impatient, and trying not to show weakness through his pain, which he surprised wasn't already obvious.

Gelatin perked and apologetically nodded, "Right! I'm sorry. I'll—uh. Wake Taco I guess." He walked over to the sleeping girl and shook her shoulder. Noticing the bleeding had died down. "Hey! Tak-ster!"

Leafy looked over and grinned, "Tak-ster?" She chuckled. "Really?" Leafy lightened the mood.

A mood that could not be lightened.

Gelatin shook her cold skin again. Panic was approaching. But... Distant. He was in denial. She was asleep. She was asleep. She was asleep. She was asleep. She was asleep. She was asleep....

She was not asleep.

Gelatin raised a brow. "Helloo? Taco! Wake up silly! We have to go— we're wasting daylight." He ignored every instinct and thought that screamed the truth at him.

Every detail was blurred to his consciousness. She'd always been a heavy sleeper. There was no pale purple-ish skin. There was no wrinkled flesh where her leg was severed. She had no dead rotting skin around her wound. She was breathing. She was asleep.

"Tak-ster!" He beckoned again, turning back to Leafy with an apologetic look. Ignoring the older girl's face of clear horror and realization. "Sorry— She's uh. Kinda difficult to wake up... heh...?" He smiled and turned back to Taco. "Come on dude! You gotta wake up! We gotta go!" He lifted her lifeless body ignoring her slightly visible open dull eyes. She was asleep...

Voices in his head screamed at him, he playfully pried her eyes open. The glossy marbles remained open. Purple eyelids showed her lack of blood. He sat her up and chuckled as he let go to snicker at her tired look. She did not remain sitting.

Her body slumped over once again lifeless to the ground. A loud thud rang out along with the crushing of the blood soaked leaves beneath her. Gelatin's smile became more forced as the situation pried at his brain like a knife to the skull. He knew. Yet, he didn't. He hadn't known. He couldn't understand. "T-Taco...? This isn't funny dude..." He muttered.

Leafy approached To put a hand on his shoulder. Bow grasped onto her arm as she watched silently. She was in pain and didn't dare utter a word. "Gelatin..." Leafy whispered.

Gelatin shoved her hand away, "DON'T. Touch me—do-don't— she's—she's gotta wake up!" Gelatin shook his head. "Th—hh—ha-hhhh... She's gotta! She's fine! The blood loss is making her... tired—b-but that's okay. I can h-help...!" He rushed to explain.

"Gelatin..." Leafy shook her head.

"NO!" Gelatin screamed back, whipping his head back. Tears threatened. He denied them. "Don't you dare..." He turned back to her, shook her again, more harshly this time. "Taco! TACO WAKE UP! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!" He yelled, clutching her arms. The area he clenched turned white, blood did not return to redden the area. Gelatin looked at the lack of life in the eyes of his friend, shaking his head. "WAKE UP DAMN IT!" He screamed this time.

Looseleaf felt familiarity in those eyes. He'd... Felt that before... He dared not speak. Not a word.

Gelatin saw nothing. The situation seeped in from his feet to his face. His chest felt like it was being weighed down by thousands of bricks. Like it was being torn apart from the weight. "Stop... St-stop...!" He muttered, shaking his head... Tears finally escaped his eyelids. "Stop! No...!" His lip trembled as he looked at her pale face... The limp expression was all that could fill his mind. "NO!" He yelled, choking, "YOU CAN'T! YOU CAN-CAN'T! IVE—I—I CAN'T LOSE YOU TOO! TACO PLEASE!" His eyes poured like waterfalls-it stung. Burned. This sadness. Fear. It was all too much. "YOU C-CA—N-CAN'T G-GO!" He whined.

Leafy frowned. She hated seeing what should've been an innocent life be... Racked with such grief and agony. She wished she could relieve his suffering in some way.

Gelatin felt his eyes widen as the situation finally hit him. It finally came. It was finally all there. Taco wasn't coming back.

She was dead.

She bled out last night in her sleep.

He didn't bother speak as realization broke him like a glass mirror. Which reflected his pain instantly on everything around him as he let out a pained shriek. It wasn't fair! How could he let this happen...

As his scream slowly died, He cried harder, shaking his head again. "DAMN YOU! DAMN IT ALL!" He sobbed, his voice cracked and screeched slightly, and hugged her dead body, breaking down in finality. He had no more will to try and awaken what could not be stirred from sleep. His eyes pouring out down her now brittle back as her flesh slowly dried out. He'd lost everything in a single twenty-four hours. He had nothing left. He felt incomplete... Broken... "WHY...?!" He grieved, not understanding. The lack of her beating heart made him reminisce in the times they'd hugged before. Though he wasn't paying attention then...

He sure as hell was now.

"Wh-why-y d-did you leave m-me...?" He whined his voice wavered—barely comprehensive. "Where did everyone g-go...?" He sobbed, he was the source of this in SOMEWAY. If he'd only stayed with Taco... Held into her only slightly longer...He could've—done SOMETHING. Saved her...

It should've been him.

"I-it's not f-fair! I can-can't do this! N-not withou-t you Tac-Taco! PLEASE COME BACK! I n-need y-you! Please...!" He couldn't stop the flood of water that poured from his face. Every single part of it. "I-I ne-need you..." He wanted his best friend back. His life... Her life... One and the same. He'd shared it with her after all.

"Gelatin—w-we need to leave soon.. I know your hurt but..." she spoke softly, and tried her best to be comforting as she grabbed his wrist to unwind it from her body.

He ferociously slapped it away baring teeth, raw emotion took hold. He showed no formality to the deity before him. "D-DON'T TOUCH US!" His head snapped back, Leafy thought one's head could not turn that far. It was akin to an owl's.

Leafy stumbled back, wide eyed. She took her hand away and wrapped it around Bow. A frown and now furrowed brows plastered on her face. Not if anger. But guilt more of.

Gelatin burred his head into Taco a pounding heart in his chest. It hurt. It hurt too much. He didn't want the comfort of someone who didn't care for him. Not really. She was a god. He was a mortal. Nothing could change that fact. He cried hard into the corpse he held, as if it were the friend he had before she'd died. "D-Damn you...!" He cried, a high pitched sob is all he could manage at this point. His face contorted beyond recognition at this point. Scrunched up, every crevice and wrinkle soaked in his tears. His knees and shins soaked in his once-friend's blood. "D-dam-Mn y-yo-u...!" His voice cracked completely, no longer coherent. He could only cry.

He had no energy for anything other than else.

"I-I—I-'m s-so s—ssor—hhh-ry..."

"I—I-Im... s—s-o... sor-rh—ry...!"

He closed his eyes tightly, tears dribbled down his face as he placed his forehead to the cold body of hers.

"G-g—good-bye....

....T-Tac-co........"

Goodbye.

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