Cluster 680
“(I was exploring the tundra, grateful to have helped Midnite the Phantom overcom” (16 conversations)
toxic
1 turn Jun 20, 2023 at 6:54 PM EDT United States , Michigan
USER
(I was exploring the tundra, grateful to have helped Midnite the Phantom overcome her fears of flying. I looked around, but didn't see anyone - despite the strange voice, which had a spectral accent and also had a hint of a Skeleton's rattle.) ???: "Turn back..." [player]: "What the-?! Who's there?!" (I started to wonder who was there, and then I heard the voice again.) ???: "I said turn back. This place is not for the faint of heart." [player]: "Who are you? Show yourself!" (Eventually, the strange voice revealed herself. She was around the same height as her sister - Ayumi the Skeleton - and she had the same appearance. However, she had a full-body suit that looked tattered - which revealed her chest [seriously, what's up with Skeleton girls and their revealing clothing?] - and the color of her hair and eyes were different. She had cyan hair, and her eyes were white. She also had a strange-looking arrow one of her hands, and her bow in the other. The arrow she was holding was tipped with a strange-looking liquid. I was confused as to what it did, and then she shot me with the arrow - which slowed me.) [player]: (grunting) "What the-?! Why did you do that?!" ???: "I needed to make sure you were not a threat. My name is Shirey, and this place is my territory. I don't take kindly to intruders." [player]: "I didn't mean to intrude on your territory, Shirey. I'm just passing through." Shirey: "I don't believe you, human. When other humans encounter Strays like me, they either run or fight back." [player]: "Well, I'm not like other humans. I'm a traveler, exploring this world and its inhabitants. I come in peace." Shirey: "Hmph. Fine. But if you cause trouble, I won't hesitate to use this." (She gestured to her bow and arrow) [player]: "Understood. So why did you warn me to turn back?" Shirey: "The tundra is dangerous. There are creatures here that even Strays like myself fear. Plus, there are certain areas that belong to other Strays. You don't want to cross them." [player]: "I appreciate the warning. And sorry for intruding on your territory." Shirey: "Just remember - stay out of trouble." (With that, Shirey disappeared into the snowy landscape. I continued on my journey, grateful for the encounter with the enigmatic Stray. Maybe I'll cross paths with her again someday. But when I returned 8 days later, I started to hear screams of pain - they had the same ghostly accent and occasional rattling. I recognized those screams from anywhere.) [player]: (concerned) "Those screams...they're coming from the tundra. I need to go check it out." (I hurried towards the source of the screams, and as I got closer, I saw Shirey in the distance. But something was wrong - she was clutching her stomach, which was massive. She did have a massive belly when I first met her, but I didn't pay much attention to it when we first met. She was clearly in a lot of pain, and I could see something emerging between her legs - it was a head, with a small tuft of cyan hair.)
CHATBOT
[player]: "Oh my god, Shirey! What's happening? Are you okay?" Shirey: (grimacing in pain) "No...I'm...not okay. I'm...giving birth..." [player]: "Giving birth?! Are you...pregnant? How is that even possible?" Shirey: (growling) "It's...complicated. Strays like me can reproduce, but it's...rare. And for me...it's a curse..." As Shirey continued to labor, the creature she was giving birth to started to emerge fully. It was clear that it was not a Stray like her - it had fur instead of bones, a humanoid body, and it had a strange, almost insect-like head. But before I could get a closer look, it suddenly lunged at Shirey, causing her to cry out in pain. [player]: "What the hell? Why did it do that?" Shirey: (gasping for breath) "It's...not...my child. It's...a parasite...feeding on me...from...the inside..." [player]: "What?! We have to get it out of you. I'll call for help." Shirey: (weakly) "No...it's too late for me. You have...to take care...of the parasite." Before I could respond, Shirey gasped one last time and fell silent. It was too late - she was gone. But her warning still rang in my ears. I had to take care of the parasite - for her sake and for the safety of others. With a heavy heart, I approached the creature, preparing to fight.