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Pebbles froze, staring up towards the centipede clinging to the wall above him.
Suns was stood at the end of the room, their tail flicking. They glanced away from the centipede to look at Pebbles, who made his best attempt to look back without moving his head at all.
The centipede twitched its antennae, then quickly scuttled in a small circle, looping around and ending up slightly closer to Pebbles than it was a moment ago.
Suns frowned, glancing around the room. They spotted a single cherrybomb off to the side.
Slowly, they placed their hands down on the floor and crawled closer, managing to just barely reach it from the ledge that they were stood upon.
They looked over at Pebbles, who was still frozen beneath the centipede. They stared, unsure about how exactly they were going to handle this.
Then, the centipede did another loop on itself, its sudden movement causing Pebbles to flinch sharply. And now it knew he was there.
He yelped and attempted to run past it, but the centipede bit one head onto his tail and quickly began scuttling around to try and connect its other head.
Suns hurriedly reeled back and then tossed the cherrybomb directly into the centipede, right as its secondary head connected with Pebbles’ side.
It happened incredibly quickly.
A loud “ bzzt ” echoed through the room, along with the crackling and pop of the cherrybomb. The centipede hurriedly retreated, leaving Pebbles curled up on the ground.
Suns ran towards him, picking up a spear from the ground and tossing it at the centipede along the way - pinning it to a wall.
“Pebbles!” It was a relief to be able to talk again.
They slid to a halt next to Pebbles, who was curled around himself holding his head.
“Pebbles, are you okay?”
He didn't respond, but Suns could see him breathing still, at least.
The centipede flailed around around where it had been pinned to the wall, and Suns realised that it was slowly prying the spear out of itself. They snatched another one off of the ground and hurled it at the centipede, pinning it against the wall yet again in another spot.
They growled to themself. “You’re staying right there, you.”
They looked back to Pebbles, who’s breathing was slowly levelling back out. They suddenly noticed a mark on his side, two small pinhole-looking wounds from the centipede’s mandibles, with a larger mark between them from the shock.
It looked painful - but it could have been worse. Much, much worse.
They crouched down next to him and nudged him gently.
“Pebbles? You’re okay, it can't get to you anymore.”
He flicked his tail in response, still clutching his head in his hands.
“It's okay.” Suns shuffled around briefly and curled their tail around him. “You're okay.”
They glanced over to the centipede again, which was still struggling, but much weaker now. It was definitely stuck for good.
Still, they stood up and slid over to it, pulling one of the spears from it only to jab it back in. They repeated this a few times, until it stopped moving. ...And once more, just to make sure.
They let out a hiss. “Serves you right.”
They turned back around to Pebbles. “Pebbles, look. It's dead now. You're alright.”
He slowly opened his eyes and moved his hands away from his face, turning towards Suns.
He stared at them with his eyes wide, twitching slightly.
They slowly walked over and crouched down next to him, once again curling their tail around him - somewhat without even realising.
“We need to get to a shelter. The cycle will be over soon.”
He simply closed his eyes and grabbed his head again in response. Suns sighed.
“If you don't want to move, then I'll have to carry you.” They watched as he flicked an ear in response, then continued. “And I know you don't enjoy that.”
No reply.
“Alright.” They stood up. “Come on, then.”
They slowly picked him up and - as gently as they could - tossed him onto their back.
He silently shuffled around for a moment, placing his hands on their shoulders and ending up with his face pressed into the fur on their neck.
Suns’ ears perked up for a minute, and then they shook their head and started walking.
“...Where even is the nearest shelter...?” They mumbled to themself, tilting their head.
They crawled through the pipe into the next room, staying lower than they usually would - so as to not drag Pebbles' head along the roof.
Popping their head out on the other side, they looked around the room. No shelter, but only one other pipe to go through.
They stood up out of the pipe and picked up a nearby spear off of the ground, just in case.
As they were walking to the next pipe, Pebbles suddenly shuffled around on their back slightly, pressing his face against their neck.
They glanced over their shoulder at him, placing one hand on top of his. They turned their head back around and continued walking, but kept their hand against their shoulder.
- - -
Suns slid into the shelter, with two bluefruit in their hands and holding a batfly by the wing in their mouth. They dropped the fruit in the corner, and sat up to eat the batfly.
Pebbles was still clinging onto their back, but he slowly reached over and grabbed one of the bluefruit. He stared at it for a moment, only to huff and toss it back into the corner.
Suns wiped the blood from their mouth and glanced over their shoulder to look at him.
“You have to eat, Pebbles.”
He didn't respond, and instead buried his face back into the fur on their neck.
Suns shook their head and once again wiped their mouth, suddenly very aware of the temperature of their face. They flicked their ear, ignoring it.
They reached over and grabbed one of the bluefruit off of the floor, holding it back towards Pebbles.
“C'mon, take it. You've barely eaten this cycle.”
He sat unmoving for a moment, and then reached a hand out and took the fruit.
Suns looked at him for a moment, when he suddenly pushed himself away from them and flopped down onto the floor, curling his tail around his body. They laid down next to him.
“Are you alright?”
He looked up at them, only to quickly shift his gaze away, pinning his ears back.
“Yeah, sure. I'm fine.”
“You’re not acting fine.”
He huffed, taking a miniscule bite of the fruit. “Well I am.”
Suns stared at him. They were glad to see him acting somewhat normally again. A part of them already somewhat missed the feeling of his face against their fur, though.
They pushed it aside.
“Are you sure?” They glanced towards the mark where the centipede had shocked him. “That still looks rough.”
“I told you already,” he paused to take another bite, “I'm fine .”
Suns frowned gently, but stayed silent.
They rested their chin on the floor, staring at the wall. Slowly, they curled their tail around Pebbles.
He flinched slightly, flicking his ear, but didn't say anything.
- - -
Pebbles finished the bluefruit he was eating, tossing the stem into the other corner of the room. He glanced over at Suns, who had since fallen asleep, their tail still brushing against his back.
He huffed, flicking his tail.
Yawning, he curled around himself a little tighter.
He glanced at Suns yet again, staring for a moment. They flicked an ear, their nose twitching briefly.
Suddenly, they lifted their tail over him and let it fall back down on his back, shuffling around slightly. They huffed and rolled closer.
Pebbles stared at them, confused.
His face absolutely was not any warmer than it usually was. He was just imagining it.
He exhaled, annoyed, and lowered his head down onto the floor, slightly looking away from Suns.
He sat there for a moment, almost completely still.
He partially rolled over onto his side, and pushed himself closer to them with his back legs.
He once again sat still for a moment, listening to the rhythm of their breathing to make sure they weren't waking up.
He huffed and pressed his head against the fur on their neck, closing his eyes.
Suns flicked their tail, before pulling it closer to themself and Pebbles, rolling over partially.
He briefly opened his eyes to look at them. They were still very definitely asleep.
He thought for a moment, and then rolled over so he was facing them. He tossed an arm over their side and nuzzled his face into their neck fur, huffing to himself quietly.
- - -
The clank of the shelter door opening made Suns open their eyes, blinking.
They gave themself a moment to fully register being awake, then looked around for a second.
Their eyes widened slightly when they noticed Pebbles, who had apparently managed to move himself closer to them while they were asleep.
He was pressed up against them, with one hand resting on their shoulder. On top of that, he had his face buried in the fur on their neck, and his tail was wrapped around their own.
Somehow, the sound of the shelter opening hadn't woken him up - and Suns wasn't sure if they wanted to either.
Gently, they lifted one arm and wrapped it around him, closing their eyes again.
It couldn't hurt to stay for a little while longer.
Suns opened one eye as Pebbles suddenly shuffled around for a moment and then stretched, mumbling something to himself.
They closed their eyes again.
Suddenly, he pushed himself away and sat up, frowning.
Suns opened their eyes again, slowly. “...Hm?”
“I- You- ... urgh.” He rolled his eyes.
His face looked significantly more blue than usual. Was he blushing?
“...What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
He was definitely blushing. Suns flicked their tail in an attempt to distract themself into doing something other than the widest smile they could achieve. It only sort of worked.
He frowned at them, flicking his ear. “And what exactly are you smiling about?”
Suns debated for a moment. “... You're blushing.”
His ears perked up and he widened his eyes slightly in surprise, then went straight back to frowning. “I- ...No I'm not. You're just tired.”
Suns tilted their head. “I woke up before you did.”
That one got him.
“Wh- You- I-” He huffed, suddenly whipping his tail against the ground. “Shut up.”
His face was significantly more blue than it was a moment ago.
Suns pushed themself onto their feet and took a few steps towards him.
They moved their tail towards him and gently curled it around his. He flinched slightly in response, but didn't move away.
After a moment, he subtly shifted his own tail to wrap around theirs, too.
Suns stood silently trying to think of something to say, only for Pebbles to quickly interrupt.
“I- We should... get going.” He shook his head and stepped away, walking around Suns and towards the shelter door. They turned around to keep looking at him.
“... Yeah. Alright.” Suns watched as he slid through the pipe and out of the shelter.
They stood still for a moment, thinking, and then suddenly shook themself off and quietly followed him outside.