Fallen Down 3: Reassurance

Even with the succubuns' eyes screwed tightly shut, the world is far too bright. Disconcertingly bright. It's tempting to claim that the agonizing light is the source of the bone-deep illness that creeps beneath their skin, like a migraine that's become existential, but instinct insists otherwise. It's something more than that, something that borders on the unknowable.

Ione eventually dares to open an eye. Largely to assess their situation, but also to check on their friends. Though something primal insists the entire situation is wrong, they have to prioritize the buns who were precious enough to warrant going on this journey to begin with. They have to know how to handle the situation.

Their eye is shut almost as soon as it opens. The world surrounding them is blindingly, scaldingly white. They wince, but slowly work their eye open again.

Their one open eye quickly latches onto Jackal. Jackal, whose dark wardrobe makes her a visual safe haven amongst all this light. Ione's eye takes refuge in Jackal's dark fur and black leather before becoming brave enough to notice the grass that surrounds them.  They didn't know of any place in all of Burrowgatory that was nearly this bright, let alone that would have grass growing... in snow? That's not right, but nothing else makes any sense to Ione at the moment either. Needing more information, they squint their other eye open.

Jackal doesn't look like she's doing great, per se, but she's alive. Ione can tell that much. They don't see Dove from their current position, but they do hear them. They can also see Limon. While Jackal is slowly - slowly - pulling herself together, Limon seems to be struggling a bit more.

With more effort than it would normally take, Ione reaches out a forehoof to gently reassure Limon of their physical presence. In doing so, Ione finally figures out the... ground, if it can be called that. It looks like a cloud, though the thriving grass insists otherwise. After all, grass can't grow on a cloud! A bun can't be on a cloud! The clouds beneath them wisp and swirl gently with the wind as if insisting on their own existence. 

Despite the best efforts of the lush grass and gentle heads of little white flowers, Ione's stomach churns with a sort of vertigo. As if, in realizing the clouds' truthfulness, they might have chased away the shockingly solid nature.

Nothing of the sort happens.

Ione is quickly reminded of the situation at hand when they feel Limon reach out to them in return. They turn their eyes to her, and are greeted by a goofy, squinty wink as Limon sticks out her tongue. "Oops," she says sheepishly, as if this "fall" is just a result of her typical clumsiness.

It gets a successful chuckle out of Ione, though. They can't help the silent sound as they pull themself up little by little, and help Limon up to her hooves in turn. "This is a little bigger than oops," Ione chides without any venom in their voice. Limon simply giggles.

Finally, once they're more or less standing, Limon seems to be somewhat aware of her environment. "Are we standing on clouds?," she asks, rubbing a forehoof to one eye. The base of her ears are perked in a way that tells Ione she hasn't worried herself about the consequences that cloud-ground would normally imply.

"We can't be," Jackal mutters, though her face clearly suggests she thinks that they must be.

"We are," Dove's gentle voice confirms.

The base of Ione's ears twitch towards Dove's voice. They turn too quickly, staggering as their eyes struggle to readjust to the new information.

Rows of rollingwhite hills. Or... piles of clouds...? Both, they suppose, though the waving grass once again strikes doubt into Ione's heart. Dove's confirmed it, though. They don't seem worried, either, but Ione still feels wary.

Ione and Jackal exchange hesitant glances of disbelief. It's happening, whether they believe it or not, but everything seems just a little beyond Ione's realm of comprehension.

Limon has no such quarrel. Her hooves clap together as an unmistakable shine of awe manifests in her eyes. "It's like a cartoon!," she cheers. She seems to be struck with an epiphany as she turns upwards eagerly. "Is that the sky, like without caverns-?"

She staggers, seemingly dizzy, then falls backwards as Ione rushes to catch her. From the corner of their eyes, they can tell that Jackal and Dove had similar ideas. Limon moans a complaint from Ione's hold.

"I didn't realize it'd be so bright," she whimpers. She rubs at her eyes in a healing effort.

"... really? This whole place is bright," Ione chastises half-heartedly.

"Look at it while you can, I guess. It's a once in a lifetime chance," Jackal comments idly. Her unspoken words hang in the air - at least between her and Ione, they do. After all, we might just die here. Not that they're even sure what could possibly kill them while they're in such a quaint looking place, but the whole event is surreal. It feels as if anything could happen.

Though, Ione realizes, the quaintness seems to add to the uneasy air. As they notice a cozy-seeming little cottage in the distance of the meadow, they find themself considering that anything could be hiding in there. The thought makes them shudder.

"You shouldn't look at the sun," Dove advises, stepping forward to observe Limon. They steal a reassuring glance towards Ione, and pat their arm as if knowing exactly what Ione was just worrying over.

"But no one's ever seen it!," Limon protests. She squints upwards defiantly, only to cover her eyes with her hooves within seconds. "Never mind! I think they're right, don't look at it!"

The other three chuckle without much commitment. There's too much tension, too dense an ominous air, too little known about the situation. Too much on the line to be able to worry about levity. Even Dove's soft, gentle face is hardset and grim. It's the face of a bun on a mission, and Ione finds themself looking to Jackal in hopes that she has any idea what that mission might be.

They find their own expression reflected back at them.

Seemingly noticing the confusion - from Ione and Jackal, Limon is once again trying to absorb her surroundings while they last with a blissful ignorance - Dove takes their hooves in their own. "Thank you, all three of you," they begin. The affection in their voice is palpable. Limon picks up on the moment, and gently rests her hooves on top of the hoof Dove is sharing with Ione. Dove continues their speech. "Believe me, I know this is scary, but it's important. I could never have gotten this far without you three helping me. I promise, I'll get us back to Burrowgatory once I can sort things out here."

Though the severity of their promise seemed to have led to a certain confidence and ease, Dove glances around the area warily. "I get the feeling it won't take too long." They return their gaze to their friends with a wary affection. "I hope you can trust me."

"Of course we trust you!," Jackal interjects, fur spiking briefly with the rushed energy of her need to reassure Dove. Dove smiles their appreciation at her, and it seems to remind her to slow down enough to shrug and elaborate in her typical gruff tone. "After all the time we've spent together, I already know you're probably the most trustworthy bun in the world."

"Yeah! You're our friend! I mean, you've trusted us this long, right?," Limon chirps gleefully, giving Dove's hoof an affectionate squeeze. "How could we not trust you?"

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't be here right now," Ione adds in their own quieter voice. Still, Dove's words don't do much to reassure them. There's definitely something off about this place to need to make such a promise to begin with - but Ione didn't lie. They do trust Dove. It's partially a matter of being worried for Dove. They seem like they're going to be the one taking the brunt of the situation, after all.

It'll work out. Probably.

"You all have been so kind to me," Dove comments, as they smile with an overwhelming amount of affection before they finally pull the three in close for a hug. It seems to be as much for their own morale as it is to thank their friends. Jackal gives Dove a reassuring squeeze, and Ione helps keep Limon steady. She's still a bit wobbly, her already tenuous balance put under stress from the way this place overwhelms the succubuns' senses.

With that final reassurance and another gentle, affectionate smile, Dove's face sets back into its previous hardened expression. Jackal's face hardens in anticipation, Limon holds onto Ione, and Ione watches with bated breath. Dove steps forward with the stiffness of a mission and the confidence that forges with genuine bonds, ready to take on what may come.