TINY CAT PEOPLE: THE MAZE TRIALS

[skinstealer]

 

You hesitate to hit the button, leaning back out of the elevator.

SEE: So, uh…before we go up…
SEE: I’m really curious about that idea. Yknow, just because it might give me more time to think about it.
SEE: Or if it’s something action-y, I’ll be able to be prepared. Stuff like that.
RHYKER: Um, well.
RHYKER: I'm worried that uhh, if I say it now, I'll get unlucky and then it can't happen.
RHYKER: It happens all the time because I have really bad luck.
RHYKER: I'll tell you when it's safe to, okay?

This....is not helping you feel less anxious.

 
SEE: Okay! That's...that's fine!
SEE: But, uh-
SEE: There are some things you should know about my ability! And how it works!
SEE: If it's related to that!
RHYKER: Nope! Don't worry it has nothing to do with your ability. No problem there.
 

There's a pause.

LETI: ...we should probably know, about...both of those things, though.
LETI: If you don't want to share, er, Rhyker, that's fine, but-
LETI: ...See, I'd like to know, at least. About your ability, I mean.
 

 ...time to bullshit.

 

 

SEE: So, uh...food type abilities! They're interesting!
SEE: I can take chunks off my body, like I did for Leti- and I can give them to others!
SEE: And then it heals them! But!
SEE: Healing depends on how big the chunk is, and who removed it.
SEE: If somebody just, takes it without asking, they won't get healed at all.
SEE: It's gotta be given willingly. O-or it won't work.
 

Rhyker nods along to all this, seeming completely convinced.

RHYKER: Interesting, that's good to know!
RHYKER: Not that uh, not that it would come up at all.
LETI: Mm. Okay.
SEE: S-so, yeah! We ready to do this?
 

Leti nods, and hits its button. Rhyker follows suit a moment later.

You rush back in, only to hesitate before pressing yours.

Minsky, if you can hear me...I'm really sorry.
I didn't mean to hurt you-
But I really, really need you to come back soon.








No response.






You press the button, your posture slumping.

For now, you're on your own.
 

 
Your elevator's doors close, and from a look outside the glass, so did Leti and Rhyker's.

All three elevators head up, leaving you to think for a few moments.

Minsky's gone for now. Leti and Rhyker probably want to eat you, and you have no idea if Leti's buying your coverup. Rhyker seems to be, at least...but....

Before you can get to into it, the lift stops, and the elevators open. You turn around and-

Oh god, what is that.

There's a giant pillar floating in the center of the trial chamber, with, this time, a path connected to Rhyker's elevator. From what you can tell, it snakes around the pillar, ending at a switch in front of you- too far to jump, but...

 
 

 

Rhyker steps onto the platfom before her, scoping the rest of the chamber. She leans against one side of the caged platform, then the other, looking in the pillar's direction - then stops to point to the switch.

RHYKER: I can see that. It doesn't look so bad from here. But...
RHYKER: Is there something behind the pillar?
LETI: It's just a path that gets thinner as it loops around the pillar.
LETI: You'll... have to watch your balance, a bit.
LETI: But I think you can do it just fine.
SEE: Leti's right, there's a little path back there...
SEE: Just be careful!
RHYKER: If you say so.
RHYKER: Alright, I can do this.
 

After a moment to gather herself, Rhyker begins on the path, gaze trained on the floor beneath her, so far so good. She hesitates at the first corner but crosses it, each step smaller than the last in increasing carefulness.

Then she disappears behind the pillar, and a much more uneasy Rhyker emerges at the other side. She hesitates at the next corner. She crosses it, sighting Leti's elevator; she stares for a moment, pulling her arms closer to her chest.

 

 
Rhyker is a little way onto the next section of the platform before-- she wobbles, and gasps. Her body stumbles forwards and Rhyker lands on the path, propped up on her elbows and knees now, her expression wide-eyed with panic. She grips the thing in her claw-less hand tightly, its limbs appearing to flail before her grip relaxes.

RHYKER: I'm fine. I'm good!