PSL: fullcowl

[hot_mes]

Original starter

(continuing from this)

[Even though he still has a long way to go to restore his strength, Law manages to last out the rest of the night without dropping off again. It helps that once or twice something a little too large passed a little too close to their hollowed-out tree, but whatever it was either didn't like fire or wasn't into humans and kept going on past. His haki alerted him in time, but he sat tense until it passed rather than wake Deku. Kid needs his rest, after all.

The gap in the tree must face east, because Law eventually can see a gray line in the distance as light starts to come up behind the hills, and then the approaching dawn getting brighter and brighter. The fire fizzles out about then, and he stretches out a heel to scratch some dirt over it lest the smoke attract attention. With dawn coming, he won't be able to sleep anyway, so he just lets Izuku sleep for as long as he needs. Besides, he's nice and warm.]

Comments

[fullcowl]

[Izuku's worrying at his lower lip, but he's not about to back out now that they've gotten this far.]

So it's not moving yet...

[That doesn't mean too much. It might startle awake once they get closer to it.]

[hot_mes]

No, not yet.

[if ever there was a moment in their journey where he really really missed Kikoku, it would be right now. The nodachi could be the difference between a messy conflict and a quick resolution. But Law doesn't have it, and can't let that stop him from ensuring their safety.

There's a corner of the cave wall ahead, reflecting the torchlight in a way to suggest that it's wet, maybe from water seeping underground. But then, the light falls on something less rock-like and more squishy just beyond, making Law hesitate and shrink back. If it's asleep, better to leave it that way until they know what it is.]

[fullcowl]

[He looks forward, at the wet seeping water- and then the squishy thing beyond.

...It's kind of hard to tell if the animal? Monster? Creature? Is asleep or not.

He thinks he hears it breathing, but he doesn't want to say that, not when he doesn't know if the thing has very sensitive hearing.

He looks up at Law. What's the plan?]

[hot_mes]

[it's the real moment of truth. Law raises a finger to caution Deku to wait while he slowly stretches his neck to peer around the corner, foregoing haki in favor of good old fashioned investigation.

And then, his eyes go wide.

Is it a lizard? A dragon? A slug? A snake? It's somewhere in between all of those, with slimy, scaly skin pulsing faintly in the dim light as it breathes. How it's wrapped around itself hides any eyes or teeth, but what is clear is the pale white coloring, typical of albino creatures who spend their entire lives in the darkness. Given that, it may not be able to see them, but that means its other senses would compensate...

Law draws back and hastily whispers his observations to Deku, though he does give him a little tug to bring him over to see for himself]

We're in luck. It's not moving, possibly hibernating.

[of course, the longer they hang out there hissing at each other and waving a torch, the less likely it's going to stay dormant.]

[fullcowl]

[He looks at the creature with nothing but suspicion. This thing might wake up in the middle of the night and try to eat them.

The longer they stay here talking about it, the more likely it's going to wake up and decide that they don't need to exist.]

Fight it or leave it?

[hot_mes]

[that, my young friend, is a very good question]

It hasn't threatened us yet. I don't even know if it can. It would be pointless to waste energy on something harmless.

[on the other hand...] Things that live their lives in caves, never seeing the sun...could never grow this big feeding only on insects or fish.

[the stupid thing to do would be to prod it awake to see if it's dangerous, but then again, that may be the fastest way to solve this internal debate]

[fullcowl]

We can't see it's face... Do you think it's what ate the soldiers?

[Izuku's not stupid enough to prod the thing awake- but the need to make a decision.]

[hot_mes]

If they were eaten, then yes.

[no, this speculation isn't going to get them anywhere. Fortunately, the sluggy-snakey thing makes that decision for them, going into a slow roll that gradually brings its face-end around toward them. Buggy, sightless eyes, a collection of feelers around its, er, mouth? Even Law can't help but make a sort of "ugh, gross" noise under his breath]

Shit. Curiosity does kill the cat, doesn't it?

[he hesitated too long, now they have to deal with it.]

[fullcowl]

Satisfaction brought it back, though.

[That doesn't look like a friendly face. Also, gross.

He'll turn on One for All and hold onto Law's arm, ready to make a quick exit if the slug-snake thing decides that they're its next meal.]

[hot_mes]

[he doesn't relish the thought of being yanked to safety, that's his right arm there - the recent injury may be healed but it still gives him a lot of trouble thanks to the older injury and scar. But, by the same token, his left arm is free to fight...

The torchlight is enough to keep it at bay temporarily, as it flinches its blind cave eyes away from the light, but the feelers become considerably more animated. It knows there's something there. Law points, then, to the cave floor beneath it: something dripping from the mouth falls on a patch of lichen, which hisses and curls and dissolves.]

Look. Acid, poison...something. That's why there were no bones. [he turns slightly, pushing against Izuku's shoulder] Let's move, maybe it's too slow to follow.

[fullcowl]

Let's go.

[He'll start tugging him along, not hard, but he doesn't want to stay here to figure out what the weird monster wants to do to them.

He does keep glancing over his shoulder, watching the thing move.]

[hot_mes]

[Law does not even protest the dragging, it's better to stay in contact anyway. Just in case.

The creature wobbles slowly, feeling around with its weird whiskery bits, and then rather suddenly rushes at them. Sliding on the rock floor on its corrosive slime, it's fast. Law makes a startled noise and then Shambles them a short way up the cave tunnel to give them a head start.]

RUN!

[if he had a sword, he'd stop and fight, but this is not the time. Do the thing, Deku!]