It was silent for a moment, before a light would flash over his eyes.
Slowly opening his eyes staring slightly at the light.
" There was silence to his questions and acquisitions, the response was a cold hand touched upon his back. Pushing him towards the light floating towards it unable to move away.
"
They need you." Was the only answer he was given, "
What?! NO! I refuse! Not like this!" Reaching up to cover his body, but the shackles on his wrists weighed his arms down at his side. "
NO-noo!" Screaming out, before closing his eyes in-coated in darkness a tear ran down his cheek.
As sudden as he closed his eyes, he felt something he hadn't in ages. A single droplet of water fell upon his forehead, feeling the cool moist ground under his body. He could feel the water slowly stream down his face caressing down to the ground. Keeping his eyes closed, as his ears twitched with the sound of rain drops like a parade of applause falling around him. "
No."
His bottom lip quivered as the tears he was soon shedding mixed with the rain drops falling upon his face and body. Bending a finger some before touching the ground below feeling the blades of grass, moist ground. Reaching over his body, feeling that he was free of the shackles that held him for so long. "Why?" asking in heartache gripping his chest as memories of the past, feelings flooded into his mind.
"I don't belong here!" Yelling out towards the sky repeatedly, as the tears ran down his cheeks. The rags he wore kept him covered as he laid in the dirt turning into mud around him. Tears continues rolling down as memories were coming back. Stomach rumbled with a angry growl, as if he hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Putting his hand upon his stomach with some strain, 'Shut up you, don't you start too.' Sniffling his nose, the smell of the water mixing with the plants around him. The smell of a landscape celebrating with joy, the sound of rain colliding with leaves and the ground.
The splashing of water from the raindrops and the warmth of each raindrop embracing his body and soaking into the fabric of his rags. Covering in mud along his back as he stayed still for a moment silently listening to everything with his eyes closed. He slowly smiling with a chuckle.
"Ha!" lower lip still quivering he was overjoyed but deeply saddened. Opening up his hands and reached out slowly feeling the raindrops along his fingertips and against his body. Heavy footsteps in the rain were getting closer indenting into the ground leaving large footprints behind.
The rain halted for a second as the footsteps came to a stop on opposite sides of his head. A whining cry came from the other in the rain, close to his face. Listening as his eyes slowly opened as the figure was towering over him, there breath panting. Four pale, thick tentacles came from its mouth shaking as they stretched out from its mouth.
Looking up at the figure as his eyes focused more having his head blocked from the rain drops, 'Crash?' the figure whined once more to him. "Crash?" He asked in a unexpecting joyful tune, soon as the name was said. The tentacles stopped inches from his head, a panting whimper sounded from Crashes jaws.
Crash leaned in closer smelling his head with a low growl. "I know, I've been gone so long I'm so sorry, but I'm back now." 'Please, forgive me for leaving.' His finger slowly clenched up before opening lifting slowly up to touch Crash's head that blocked the rain.
Once he touched Crash head they cried happily. "CRASH! AHA! CRAAAASSSSSS!" Slobbering and lapping up at his face with it's tentacles, "Crash! ew aaaa! ow careful ha hahaha!" Each tentacle was rubbing aggressively lovingly against his face. Crash's head moved out of the way as he quickly wiping off the slobber from his face as he gripped the ground to sit up.
Crash could only stay away for a moment before jumping upon his lap like a puppy seeing their beloved family for the first time in a long time. Crash was a (), more commonly known as a ().
Crash was not light weighing in at over six hundred pounds (272.2kg), thankfully the mud was helping cradling his body from the large weight being lovingly smashed into him. Looking behind Crash seeing all ten of it's tails that could split apart or coil around each other to give them a large strong tail.
Each tail looked the same before becoming one large tail, the horns upon its head was formed into a broken crown. Wounds were riddled all over its body some seemed recent as others looked much older. Most of its horns had broken off and were more fragile than when it was an adult. Crash was an elder, only a small few make it to an elders life span.
The slime, saliva were two different liquids that came from it's mouth. It was raining heavily as it's paralyzing smoke that it could let out by will of Crash. Crash was heavily knowledgeable of how to use its toxic smoke, slime. Crashes body was ten foot long (3,048mm), standing tall at six foot six inches (1,981.2mm).
It's scales were a soft sunburnt green and fur was a faded gray. A hardened armor encased around its head, shoulder along the middle of its back. Five tentacles with hooks and suction cups along each tentacle were happily flailing around both inside and outside of their mouth. The hard armor plating was part of its body, as was the scales and medium length soft warm fur that covered Crash.
Crash was excited as they both began playfully wrestling around in a lush muddy meadow near a tree line both filled with joy and pain as his arms wrapped around Crash. Trying not to be impaled and squished, being carried and played with by Crash.
Keeping close to him with it's tendrils happily holding him the best way Crash could. Crash squealed out loud with joy as the rain stopped for a second around them, before falling back down even faster for a moment. 'I can't believe your here.'
He watched before slowly getting up to onto his knees. Crash putting him back down on the ground panting, jumping. Running around as if it were still a hatchling although it was much bigger than normally stopped growing.
Watching Crash as he panting a bit as his body felt stiff, hard to move trying to join in on the joy. 'Your here..'
"You're such a good Crash!"
'Aren’t you?'
"Who missed me?"
'Who missssed me?!?!'
"You did! You did!" Pushing himself up from the ground his legs shook and stumbled around. Only to slip on some mud falling back onto his knees.
He was walking towards Crash wanting to join in their happiness "I missed you so much!" 'Yes I did! Yes I did! I missed you all so much!' Flashbacks of happier times with Crash, with a sibling of the same kind but opposite markings upon its body.
Crash was running around the meadow showing off to him. How fast they were now, rushing from one side of the meadow in almost an instant. "Heeee yeeaa!!" Cheering for them "GO! BOY GO! WHOSE THE FASTEST AROUND!! THAT'S YOU!!" Yelling out excitedly.
Crash smacked into the side of a large tree with it's horns. Bursting a hole in the side then ran into another tree and did the same. Each strike breaking the tree's into pieces that Crash was crashing into.
"Ha! careful bud, don't hurt yourself! I see! I see your so strong now!" A loud roar came out of Crash making the trees begin to fall along the treeline. He couldn't help but smile happily. "You've gotten so strong, I'm proud of YOU GOOD BOY!"
Crash was busy showing off how tough they were that they didn't noticing him fall. Heavily wheezing as Crash slowed down stumbling a bit before turning around and rushing over to him cried out in pain, as its body fell into the mud halfway.
Crash slid a bit in the mud as its legs began pushing against the ground in a pained panic trying to get over to him. Whining cries came from its mouth pushing itself on the ground to get to him. Looking in horror at Crash collapsing to the ground, his heart seemed to stop as his mouth opened up in fear. "CRASH!"
Crashes wounds were starting to open leaving a bloody trail. Crashes body was thrashing around trying to get to him. He was froze for a moment in time, before a splash of rain landed on his eyes making him blink for a second.
Opening up his eyes his legs and arms didn't work fully at the moment gripping the mud only to fall over onto his stomach and quickly crawled on his hands and knees, "Crash!" 'OOooh! No! You do not! get to do that.'
'Get up! HEY CRASH!'
"Ge-get u-up.."
'GET UP!!'
He yelled trying to move quickly, as pain was being sent all over his body, "What?!.."
"NOo no-no.. Crash!!" 'Please don’t noo! nooo!" Reaching to Crash as they both start panting and breathing heavily in pain.
"Not now we.."
"I-I just got back. why?!" Reaching along it's side, his hands shaking covering it's wounds in mud that seemed to be slow some of the wounds, that were opening up from Crash's movements. "It's okay we'll close the wounds.."
"Don't worry this. I-I don't have much energy left.."
"This isn't that bad..
"I will not lose you too. I WILL NOT! NO!"
'we need to ..'
'to cover them..'
The hairs on the back of his neck began to rise. His hands covered in a mix of blood and mud, desperately trying to close each wound. "Crash has been waiting for your return."
"Defying death, now that isn't an easy feet."
A voice called out nearby. 'That voice again..' Looking up quickly in the direction of the voice "YOU."
"YOU DID THIS!" Looking around quickly moving his arms over the body of Crash.
"I have done nothing, Crash made a deal and now."
"It's fulfilled and now your here aren't you?" The voice was calm while speaking, as the figure appeared nearby as the rain like a curtain bent around protecting them. He continued to cover Crash with his body the best he could. Panting and whined out crying in pain pushing its head against him.
"Crash, no.."
'I always warned you never to make any deals h-h.' cradling Crash's head in his arm, being careful as Crash shook every so often out of trying to stay awake. One of the tentacles weakly tapped against his back.
"It.." His lips quivered trying to talk but nothing seemed to want to come out. More of Crash's tentacles slithered out touching his face wiping the tears away. Sqwank! Crash called out weakly, each Sqwank faded.
'It's okay I'm here now I'm here. please don't. I-I need you here with me.' His arm raised up along Crashes side some lightly touching over the scales, fur. Looking horrified tears rolling down his cheeks trying to form words.
'Re-remember, when we would look up at the stars and you'd roar at the shooting stars? huh? Or-or that time you kept snatching the meat from the spit roast? Ha ha, everyone.' The tendrils slowly one by one slowed down their movements. Leaning heavily onto his shoulders.
'E-everyone had got so mad and chased you around.' Tears flowing from his eyes holding onto Crashes body shaking his mouth open as a silent scream poured out. 'I was the only one that could catch you, I guess you were mad I was gone huh? I missed you too!' The figure waiting patiently watching over them.
He sat leaning against Crash. trying to comfort his beloved friend, a family member. His voice cracking every so often. Listening to its heart beat getting slower "I.." It's body let out one last Sqwank with all of it's might for one last time.
'I wanted to go on more adventures with you..' The Sqwank it let out a sound that stopped the rain from falling down. Crashes tail sending out a large piece of mud towards the figure. Crashes whole body stiffened up leaving more of an imprint in the dirt, and mud.
'Please not like this.' His hand shook gripping its paw tighter it wasn't long as the heart stopped. Crash's mouth opened up and let out a joyful screech as its tendrils touched him only to go limp on its way to touch him. Staring at Crash trying to smile, seeing what was Crashes happiest smile he could remember.
'Or the first time we met, with your littler cracking out of your egg shells.' He was in the middle of having a memory only to feel the lifelessness in his hands. His mouth open slightly unable to think of words, "It was the first day you were alive, everyone was so scared of you.'
'You were so hungry, ha.' Trying to laugh but came out as a cracked chuckle, with a lump in his throat. He stayed next to his loyal companion gripping their massive paw, his other hand gripping his stomach as it rumbled. Staying beside them as the rain was slowly washing away the mud from their wounds.
'You all were the most amazing creature's I had ever seen..'
'Like something out of a dream..'
'You two were the best one's there ever will be.'
The smell of food nearby was strong as he held the paw tightly. His voice was soft, "Let's go on one more adventure." 'I-I haven't eaten in so long did you know. I would be starving if.'
'When, I came back? That's my Crash ha, always feeding me even in the end.' He paused hoping and wishing for a response. "Like the good old" 'days.'
Slowly laying Crash's head down into the mud biting his lips. The rain mixing in with tears against his face. His hand shook hesitantly fueled by sorrow and rage. Touching against Crash being as gentle as he could, placing his hand upon the stomach holding the paw in the other.
A warm sensation went throughout his body "Please forgive me.."
'I don't want to do this..'
"Don't hate me." Crash's body was being torn apart, each piece forming into a small glowing bubble. Each bubble began merging into on small bead size before colliding with his body. Absorbing it into his body, tears couldn't stop rolling down his face a silence scream came from his mouth. "Feel better now? Good. So there is something you can do for me."
Looking up into the sky as he leaned back some letting the rain cover his face. His eyes closing soaking himself in the rain. 'Of course, there is something you need.'
"Trust me this will have both of our best interests involved." A scroll appeared with words of different languages switching from one to another. "I'll even start with what benefits you'll get. So first on the list, all your powers and everything you once had will be granted to you. A generous gesture on my part, I think."
"Anywa-a-ay, Oh and as requested last time no small print, no hidden deals, nothing but the truth of this deal. Isn't that kind."
"Oh right, you must still be grieving, the poor thing.."
"Whelp, I will leave you alone then but I'll come back when you've settled in a bit more."
"Oh I almost forgot to mention everyone is still alive, but I will warn you some may not like your return. Remember a lot has changed since you last came here."
His body shaking, all that remained was the muddy imprint in the ground that was slowly filling with the rain. His legs shook some in place for a moment "I'm sorry"
Staying still, staring at the imprint when his eyes opened after everything was completely gone. Tears mixing with the rain seemed to stream down his face. Slowly lowering himself down to the ground touching the imprint with shaking hands. 'I'm sorry.'
'I'm sorry..'
His attention was turned to the figure overlooking him. His fists clenched together as mud began to run out from between his fingers. "There happy now?! You should have just left me alone. Let me just disappear from this world, again!” The figure scoffed at his words before turning his gaze away. “Why am I needed! Huh?!" He said sprinting off towards the figure jumping out to tackle them.
Fires filling his eyes feeling nothing but hatred. The moment his hand touched the fabric, he dove through the figure only to land in the mud. Laying there in the mud in defeat, slamming his fist into the ground in rage. Sending water and mud splashing up. It took a moment, feeling the mud covering his body from head to toe.
Cooling him down from his anger, lifting himself up to his feet. Dusting off his clothing of mud, turning around being face to face with the figure. The figure fading out of sight, with a grin forming from one side of it’s face to the other.
His foot was submerged into mud as he sighed. "Great!" Leaning his head back some to look towards the sky with his eyes closed feeling the rain drops on his face, "You like tormenting me so much. Don't you?" His hands dangling to his side with a heavily sigh.
The water washing away the mud from his face, lowering his head to look back down to the ground. Lifting his hands up in front of him. "What now, huh?" questioning himself, flexing his fingers in front of himself.
He had his freedom, but at what cost? "Back again." Lifting his leg to walk, it had been some time, lifting his head to look ahead, "Alright.."
"Back again then." Walking in the rain, It was a strange feeling to have all these sensations back again. Only stopping every once in a while as he walked to simply feel around with his hands and toes the muddy terrain made him slip and slide some as he made his way, "Ooph, haha almost fell."
The clouds covered the sky above, he had not seen the sun in such a long time. 'It's bright enough to be early morning? Or perhaps it’s getting darker?' looking around more taking in his rainy surroundings. The feel of the mud slipping between his toes the coolness of the water upon his body made his clothing which were tattered and torn sticking to his body showing his form.
'Alone again.' Sitting down in the mud letting the rain fall over him. 'There has to be a town or something nearby, right? Should be.' Staring down at the ground the mud covering his feet.
'Maybe a road?' Looking up towards the sky gesturing to himself and then all around, “Couldn’t give me at least a direction to go?”
He exclaimed making his way through the meadow, coming upon a small pond. Looking at the water some standing at the edge of the pond. Leaning down, kneeling down on one knee.
"Hm?" Staring at his own face, touching along his cheeks and over his head. 'It’s been so long since I’ve seen you. Hello me.' Standing back up dusting off his knee of the mud.
'I guess I should, try to change into something else or there will be some trouble.' Thinking for a moment as he looked down to the ground 'Besides, I doubt they want to see me again.'
Placing his hand under his chin, "Lets get started then, I think I remember how to do this." Reluctantly standing back up straight, closing his eyes for a moment thinking of what he needed to do to change.
His body began shifting, twisting slowly as he groaned a bit trying to keep focused. It didn’t take long for him to fall to his knees in agony. It was something he knew all too well, but it had been such a long time.
From his head to toes were changing, the color of his skin turned to multiple colors. Once there was skin, turned to fur with a long tail forming along tailbone of his spine. Reaching down, gripping the mud at the pond side.
His mouth opened being speechless, through the pain. Passing out shortly afterwards falling upon the ground his arms out reached as his tail laid out of his rags, along the ground. His fur along his back light baby blue with silver tips along the back of his body to the tip of his tail, which at the tip of his tail was puffed out.
Along his sides were patches of jade green, his chest tribal blue markings making their way down to his thighs. The rest of his body held a light brown tint around the stomach area, laying unconscious upon the ground. A bit of time went by beside the pond, the ripple of a fish coming up to catch food.
The clouds over head moved along with soft rays of sunshine coming through as the clouds parted. Two pairs of light footsteps grew closer, one turning back leading away from the pond side. The other footsteps stayed at a distance, before getting a little closer stepping ever so slowly.
A long stick was slowly lowering down shaking before a quick jab to his shoulder with a sharp part of a stick, made him groan and twitch some. The feet quickly stepped back as more footsteps came up much heavier than the others rushing towards them.
Hearing muffled voices calling out, talking among themselves, near his body. Soon surrounding him as he could hear only muffled group of voices talking. His eyes opened briefly seeing blurry visions of shapes, figures.
Slowly closing his eyes from the small ray of sunshine blinding him for a moment. There was only one word he could bring himself to say "Hhee" 'Help?' It was not long before the voices had quietened down.
After the silence there was little talk, before his arms were lifted then his legs being carried away from the pond. His body being lifted a bit higher then laid carefully onto a hard surface. His body jolting some while the surface moved, crackling of metal against rock, wood creaking as gears and objects moved.
Soft voices could be heard around him, half of his body hanging off the edge. The voices from what he could hear were far away. A sudden hard smack to his head, made him groan with pain. His eyes twitched along with his fingertips, 'Ugh.' Sitting up slowly holding his head with a groan. Opening his eyes seeing what he hit or hit him.
His head smacked again into the side of the wall, rubbing his head slightly. He was on a rickety old wagon being pulled down a dirt road. Looking around rubbing his head more seeing more wagons behind.
Staring at awe, watching the wagons following along the dirt road. Each wagon had a cover over it, although they were all connected by a purple bolt from both the top and bottom of each wagon. Each wagon had people sleeping and resting. Children running along the sides of the wagons playing as the adults were gathered together two wagons down.
Each one seemed to argue with the other about what seemed like nonsense to him. 'O' well, I guess.. I don’t have to find the road anymore.' thinking to himself as the tip of his tail flicking along the dirt of the road. Laying back down to rest, curling up against the side of the wagon. Sleeping soundly as the wagon jerked back and forth as the wheels bumped over rocks and slammed into holes.
