TINY CAT PEOPLE: THE MAZE TRIALS

[skinstealer]

 
You turn your gaze up to your proxy, weighing the chocolate chunk in your hand.

SEE: Here’s the thing, Minsky.
SEE: You don’t get to say shit.

Minsky looks genuinely taken aback momentarily,

Then their brow furrows.

MINSKY: 'Scuse me...
SEE: Right now, my options are either giving you a second reward, or-
 

You turn to the snake-like TCP.

SEE: What's your name?

The snake looks back and forth between you and the clearly upset proxy.

????(1): Uhh...Leti?
SEE: Thanks-
SEE: I could give this chunk that I already pulled off my head to Leti.
SEE: I can't reattach it, and you wouldn't take it, and I don't know when I'll see Leti again to heal it.
SEE: I can give you a reward at any time, so like-
SEE: This is the better deal.

 

MINSKY: So you're choosing...
MINSKY: ...this, thisthis-
 

They gesture in Leti's direction.

MINSKY: -Con Artist, over ME?!
SEE: Minsky! I want to be your friend!
SEE: I want to trust you! And work with you!
SEE: I want to meet you halfway!
SEE: But you're trying...you're trying to manipulate me here, and I can't work with that!
MINSKY: MANIPULATE you-?!
MINSKY: Kid, do you EVEN REALIZE how-

MINSKY: . . .

MINSKY: You know what?
MINSKY: You wanna play it THAT way, huh?

 

 
They throw their arms up.

MINSKY: Fine, then! GOOD!
MINSKY: See if I care!
MINSKY: We'll just see what happens when you really need me!
MINSKY: I'm not gonna come rushing to your rescue!
MINSKY: Not a CHANCE!
MINSKY: And trust me, you'll be BEGGING for my help before long, you just wait!
 

Minsky folds their arms and faces away.


You think you can see them...shaking a little.
...Probably out of anger, you bet.



 
Within a second, they disappear from sight, leaving you alone on the platform.

 

 

LETI: So um...we have a deal, then?
SEE: ...I...guess so, yeah.
 

You sigh, slouching a bit.

SEE: Hope they're not...nevermind, just...
 

You turn to the other TCP.

SEE: I should probably get your name too, while I'm at it.
 

They seem to startle at being addressed, seemingly caught up in watching.

????(2): Oh, uh, Rhyker.
SEE: Got it...
SEE: Sorry for all of this, uh, chaos, to both of you-
RHYKER: I get it. But, uhh
RHYKER: How is Leti supposed to help you over there?

 

 
The snake already has its bag set down against the side of the elevator, rummaging through it.

SEE: I...am not sure, honestly.
SEE: How are you going to help me over?
 

Rhyker pipes up in her bafflement.

RHYKER: Wait, you don't even know??
RHYKER: How do you know it's even trustworthy??
RHYKER: I mean, no offense to Leti, but--
LETI: I've...got it, it's not a problem.

 
 

 

It removes a long, thin wire-like cord from its backpack, with some kind of claw attached to the end.

The serpentine TCP clasps something onto the wire just below the claw, drawing it down forcefully until it’s nearly flat.

With that finished, Leti holds the claw up, closing one of its eyes as it finds just the right position to hold it.

Leti presses a button on the side.

 

 

The device extends in an instant, flinging the claw up into the air where it loops around the railing of the walkway before wrapping around the wire itself, creating a solid knot.

 

The snake tests the knot's strength with a few good tugs, then ties the other end of the thick wire to the side of its elevator.




After a quick breath, the snake reaches its arms over and hangs down from the wire, shimmying all the way across and climbing up over the railing.

 

 

It drops down onto the platform across the gap from you.
Leti takes a breather, then positions itself in front of the gap, arms out and ready.

LETI: Okay, uh...be careful, but go ahead and jump.
LETI: I've got an extra rope if you'd rather not risk it, but I don't think we need it.
 

You do your best to take this in, but all you can manage is an impressed clap.

SEE: I- wow!
SEE: What even is that stuff?
LETI: It's...well-
 

The snake scratches the back of its neck.

LETI: -lots and lots of different things.
LETI: ...I only ever get trap rooms, so I've used my rewards to get...way, Way too many gadgets and ropes and...stuff like that.
LETI: It's more of a hassle than anything impressive, but...
LETI: ...beats being sawed in half or set on fire.
 

The TCP idly rubs one of the bruises on its arm, apparently having bumped it while climbing over.

Seeing Leti up close now, it's somehow covered in more bruises, cuts, and scrapes than you'd realized.

LETI: You should jump, though.
LETI: ...My arms are pretty tired.
 

You back up as much as you can on the miniscule platform, and with your anxiety high-

 

-you jump.

 

 

The snake catches you with a grunt.

It turns around and carefully sets you down.

LETI: ...there. See?
LETI: No big deal.
 

Leti leans heavily against the railing.

LETI: Alright, um...
LETI: ...can I-
 

It gestures at the piece of chocolate.

SEE: Y-yeah! Yeah, of course-
 

Still rattled from the jump, you pass the chocolate over with shaky hands.

 

 

The snake does its best to stay polite, but hurriedly shoves the piece into its snout, hardly chewing at all.

As it does, you notice that some of its cuts seal ever-so-slightly, and its bruises begin to fade. You're caught up in the awe of it- you've never actually seen your powers at work before.

SEE: How...is it?
 

Leti doesn't seem to hear you.

Its eyes are partially closed, face turned skyward, showing a little blissful smile.

 

 
From the other side of the room comes Rhyker's wide-eyed, impressed tone, her arms falling behind her back.

 
RHYKER: It just works like that? No strings attached?
RHYKER: I can hardly believe it.
SEE: I-I mean, it's not...that special, haha....
 

The mix of emotions going through your head right now is almost overwhelming.

Leti snaps out of it.

LETI: ...Thanks, that-
LETI: I've never eaten anything before.

It looks over itself, seeing the healing progress.

LETI: No offense, but...wasn't expecting that to Work.
RHYKER: Me neither...
RHYKER: It DOES give me an idea, though.
SEE: ...what's the idea?
 

She brings the clawed hand to her chin.

RHYKER: I should... probably save it for the end.
RHYKER: Just in case...
RHYKER: But I think it can help both Leti and me.
LETI: Dunno what you've got, but...might be good to hear about it ahead of time.
 

Your snake friend climbs over the railing again, shimmying back across the wire to its elevator.

LETI: See, you should check your elevator now, see if anything's different.
LETI: I'm guessing it will be when we're all in.

 

 

You nod and hurry on back, stepping into your elevator and examining the panel...

Sure enough...

SEE: Button number 2 is lit up!