>Nepeta: Start over.

[sleepZombie]

Tavros had managed to drag himself laboriously over to his chair, grabbing onto the armrests and pulling himself up. It was a huge sigh of relief when he finally slid back into his seat, able to lean back and just... rest there for a moment. When he'd caught his breath he reached out and re-adjusted his legs, still a little surprised every time by how they felt like so much dead weight as he grabbed onto the material of his pants and lifted them.

In the distance he heard voices and went absolutely still. He wished for a moment that Vriska was there, like she had been while he was doing side-quests, but immediately squished any thoughts of her and shoved them out of his mind. Even that brief moment of memory had his hands shaking.

Part of him wanted to call out again, part of him wanted to hide. He couldn't really reach out to touch the mind of any creature that might be out there, either, since he could really only do that if he could see it physically.

No. He really wasn't feeling confident enough to say anything again. His mind began to race in a panic as he realized that it was going to be near impossible for him to get out of here as well. How was he ever going to manage to wheel himself over the rocky, uneven, course ground? His bi-valve cardiovascular system began to beat frantically in his chest. "Oh Gog, oh Gog, oh Gog."

[nintendonut1]

John led the group, following the sounds of small clinking and soft grunting. It was a bit trickier once those sounds went away, but some trial and error eventually led him down the cavern that opened up to reveal the noise's source.

"...whoa, hey!" He revealed himself to the new paraplegic being, who was obviously another troll, with a hearty greeting. "Are you okay? Wow, you're another friend of Nepeta's, aren't ya??"

[DM: Dersite Merchant]

Yes, he was definitely of the same being Nepeta was. The boy she saw had short black hair, longer horns, and appeared confined to a wheelchair.

Upon reaching the cavern John stopped at, Paula slowly approached and cleared her throat. "Ahem... Hello. How are you feeling? My name is Paula..." she said, wanting to show this newcomer warm compassion in what were likely anxious times for him.

[shiftyPotentate]

>Nepeta: Greet another friend!

You quickly drop to all fours and dart through the caves. You can't believe another one of your friends is here! And one you missed a lot too!!

As you come up on the section of cave where everyone else is, you slow to a stalk, and narrate under your breath.

:33 < *ac sn33ks up behind her furriend for a big pouncegr33t!*

==>

You leap upon your friend from behind, wrapping your arms around his waist and nuzzling into his head, greeting him though your voice is muffled by his hair.

[ryocker]

Waxevius (three followers included) slinked through the caverns with ease, of course, knowing exactly where the cries and uneasy voice would lead the group. Fortunately, it wasn't in their main quarters...

it was the room next door.

"Well, not sure if i should be surprised or scared," he shrugged. The flame on his head burning bright as ever, he cleared his throaght and waved at Tavros. "Hey there. Nice to meet y-"

That's when Nepeta gave him a hug around the waist, happy to see her friend again. "...Heh, that's gotta be a sweet feeling, meeting an old friend again..."

[sleepZombie]

Tavros didn't know what to think when he saw the first alien turn the corner... except then he did. Because he knew that alien. He knew him pretty well, in fact. Tavros had been one of the few trolls who had bothered to look through the time-lines of all of the humans they had been instructed to harass. This was the John-human. Tavros had not had the heart to troll him because they had both been the Heroes of Breath, they were like kin, almost, maybe, sort of. Or something.

The next to turn the corner was a far smaller human. She stepped forward and waved in a friendly enough manner, and he became a little less nervous. He lifted his hand partially, fingers curled. "Uh, h-"

And then he was jerking back, both hands up in the air as he gave a girlish shriek of surprise. It took him a little bit to realize that the bundle that was grabbing around his middle was purring... and...

"Nepeta!" A rush of relief came over him. Suddenly things were not nearly as scary as they had been. He wasn't completely alone here! "If, you're here, then maybe you've seen, uh, Gamzee?"

And then, because it would be rude if he didn't introduce himself, he introduced himself. "I'm Tavros. Uh, adiosToreador?"

[nintendonut1]

This one was a little shy, John noticed! Definitely not one of the trolls he got to talk to either. Man. He hoped he'd meet Vriska at some point. Or Karkat. Oh man that'd be so sweet.

He spotted Nepeta a few seconds before she jumped him, and openly laughed when she surprised her troll friend. They reunited happily, and John watched with delight... and just a smidgen of sadness.

He hoped his friends were okay.

"Tavros, huh?" He was beginning to see a pattern in troll names, though he couldn't put his finger on it. Either way he stepped forward to introduce himself. "Well, I guess you've watched me and probably know who I am, buuuuuuuut either way, I'm John!"

[DM: Dersite Merchant]

Oh, so Nepeta and Tavros knew each other already. He and John apparently knew each other as well, though not personally. Paula couldn't help but giggle slightly at the display she saw before her.

"I see you've met some friends here already," she noted.

[shiftyPotentate]

"Gamzee?" Nepeta froze. Her arms grew cold and slinked off of Tavros.

Gamzee... why is he... no! Equius! Gamzee!! Why are you hurting Equius?!

She shook herself out of that traumatic memory. That was in the past. Gamzee had killed her, she knew that much. A cold hollow in her heart emerged at even the mention of his name.

"No, I haven't seen Gamzee. Not recently..." She smiled and hugged Tavros again. "I'm sorry."

Being the furrmal introductor, Nepeta looked to everyone, gesturing to everyone in turn. "Efurryone! This is Tavros, John, Paula, and Waxevius! And I'm Nepeta!" The impurrtant pouncelor's duty was done.

[ryocker]

Wax laughed a bit. "Well that's one way to take care of business!" he said, slithering away. "I'll be back later, guys. Hey, you three, come here."

Following commands, his little group of ignewax hopped after him. "Hey boss," one asked. "What are we doing?"

"Something special. Now go find everyone else. There's something serious i need to discuss with you guys..."

Still slithering away, Wax quickly ducked into his main cave, waiting for other Ignewaxes to show up. "Now, this way," he whispered to himself. "I'll get to be useful to them."

[sleepZombie]

"Yeah, uh. Sorry if that was kind of, creepy." He sheepishly hunched his shoulders towards John. As Nepeta drew away he looked down at her. Hearing Gamzee wasn't around... made his shoulders slump, his face falling in disappointment and for a moment a flash of insecurity crossed over it. Then Nepeta was hugging him again and he was lightly patting her shoulder.

"So, uh. Where are we, then. Alternia? Is it, uh, not destroyed anymore?" Again that look of hopefulness. "Or, Earth?"

He glanced over at the other apparent human, wondering if she might have the answer as well. He didn't notice the wax-being slink into the shadows.

[nintendonut1]

"Dimensional Island. Crossroads between dimensions," John quickly replied, not really all that bothered by having to explain it multiple times, really. He was too enthralled with the thought of meeting the trolls at last! "We were actually just about to head out and explore the island--oh! See ya, Wax!"

As the candles departed, John looked over Tavros' wheelchair, noting the rough ground that would hinder movement. He could easily captchalogue the four-wheeled device, but... "Hmmm... are you comfortable with being carried out, Tavros? Hopefully there's some flat surfaces outside this cave!"

[DM: Dersite Merchant]

Paula kindly waved Wax and his followers left. Then she turned back to the others as they got Tavros up to speed.

"I've actually been here for some time already, myself," she admitted, offering, "If you'd like, I could show you guys around a little..."

[shiftyPotentate]

Without bothering to wait for an answer from Tavros, Nepeta giggled and slipped her arms under Tavros's legs and back, lifting him up bridal style. She was lean and muscular from so much time spent hunting, and didn't struggle much to carry his weight. She could lift Equius with relative ease. "I've got you! Don't worry!" She nodded to the four wheeled device so that either John or Tavros could captchalogue it.

She didn't seem to notice the candles leaving, but she did smile to Paula. "That would be purrfect! We could use a tour guide! Lead the way, furriend!" Uh oh. There was a new friendleader in town.

[ryocker]

Well that didn't take long. Wax, now by himself, slinked back to their location. "Hey guys, I got my crew to do you kids a favor." He grinned.

Moving away from that cave entrance, a pair of Ignewax marched in, bowed, then pointed toward that cavern exit. "See, since we know the caves inside and out," Wax said, smiling. "We decided to make a pathway for the rest of ya. It's not the brightest thing around, but it helps when you need to see."

As if he wanted to come along, Wax soon gave a polite bow. "After you guys."

And the pathway was quite standard- Every few steps, a pair of ignewax stood to the side, staring, smiling. Though the path seemed winding, they only took a specific route. "Watch your steps, by the way. Our wax is a little corrosive."