Thread:GulfstreamTheGardener/@comment-44642068-20200205231105

(Its here!! I know I only posted the sighups a few days ago but I was just so excited to write that I may have finished the first chapter sooner than planned. Welp. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! Remmber, you can add a character to the world of MR by filling out the form on this thread: https://gods-goddesses-and-deities.wikia.org/wiki/Thread:100466#40.)

Chapter 1: The Introduction

''Please don’t tell me I fell asleep at the register again. ''Clay thought. He was facedown against something. ''I knew staying up 2 days in a row and trying to coffee my way awake wouldn’t work. Why do I even drink coffee? I should be sick of that stuff. ''Clay grumbled. He inhaled to continue his internal rant but dirt went up his nose and mouth. He snapped his face up, coughing and sneezing. “Ayck.” He coughed the dirt out. ''What the hell? ''Eyes opened, he saw tilled soil and crushed sprouts under him. ''Shoot. I must have blacked out somewhere. I could have sworn I quit drinking after the Goose Incident. And wasn’t I at home last? I finished the night shift and was heading to bed. When would I have had time to go partying? ''Clay’s memories weren’t matching up.

“Oh, my radishes. I was actually looking forward to those.” A new voice catches Clay’s attention. It was soft and he couldn’t tell the gender of this person. He looked up, now noticing his location. A forest, if the tall trees and fresh air was anything to go by. He also noticed something else. A creature, somewhat reptilian. Pale green with a leaf on its head. It was staring at him with lidded eyes. “Oh, you’re awake.” It states. ''Ok, I’m dreaming. I’ve been playing too much….wait. What was I playing? ''This creature reminds him of something. Something related to a game. But he can’t figure out what it is. ''This is starting to feel like the intro to a time-travel rpg. ''He thought.

The lizard thing was still looking at Clay. ''Shoot, he said something. Does it want a response? Perhaps I can ask it where I am. ''Clay sat up slightly before speaking. Something about the movement felt off but he wasn’t focusing on that.

“Hi. I don’t know why but I’m in your garden. I have no clue how I got here or where I am.”  The creature listened to Clay before closing its eyes. It waited for a while before speaking.

“Well, you are at my house. The closest town is Rootburrow.” The creature talks at a leisurely pace. Clay felt relaxed at the tone but confused at the words. ''I’ve never heard of a Rootburrow. What kind of name is that?''

“That’s not really what I meant. What country is this? Like, the region? The area? What’s its name?” His words were more irritable that he would have liked but the leaf lizard didn’t seem to care. It just kept its eyes closed for a while and spoke again.

“I believe this is East Temon. I’ve been told the border is close, though. Why do you ask? Are you from somewhere else?” The creature opens its eyes again to look at him. If Clay had to describe the emotion, he’d say it looked curious. Clay shuffled his feet. Again, the action felt strange. ''Wait, I’m not standing up. What did I shuffle? ''He looked down at where his hands would be and saw only stubby paws. He blinked in shock but the paws stayed there. ''Holy! What the hell? Paws? What happened to me?'' Clay moved his hands and the paws moved. They dug into the dirt and scooped some of it up. ''Is it just paws? Has anything else changed? ''He looked at his body. ''Yep, that’s fur. And a tail. And back paws. ''He lifted his paws to his head but couldn’t reach the top.

“Why are these legs so small?” He grumbled out-loud.

“Skitty legs are known for being tiny.” Right, the lizard thing was still here.

“What’s a skitty?” Clay asked. He felt stupid, asking something that anyone else in this world would know. That’s right, he has accepted that this is probably another world. It's the only explanation that makes any sense.

“I believe you are one. Do you have amnesia? I can’t help with that.” The creature states in a calm manner. It walked towards him before putting one of its feet of Clay’s head. Clay shook it off.

“What are you doing, greenie?” Clay hissed. He didn’t like touching people, especially strangers. “Do your kind not know not to touch people without their permission?”

The creature put its paw down but didn’t look offended. “I was checking for a head injury. Amnesia is normally caused by those.” It didn’t seem to care about Clay’s other question.

Clay glared slightly at the thing and stood up on his 4 legs. ''I’m beginning to not like this thing. Is it phased by anything? ''“I don’t have amnesia. I remember who I am and where I was before this. I was working and I wasn’t anywhere near an East Temon or a Rootburrow.” He snapped. “I went to sleep in my home and woke up here. I’m half convinced that I’m dreaming right now.” Clay lied. He knew at this point that he wasn’t dreaming but he wanted to see how this thing would react.

“As far as I know, I am not a dream.” It replied. “I am Floral and I am real. At least, I think so. I’ve never had a reason to believe that I wasn’t.” The thing, Floral, stared at the ground as if it was thinking hard about Clay’s statement.

“I can see that. This feels real.” Clay grumbled, lashing his tail unconsciously. “I’m just very confused.”

Floral looked back up. “Perhaps a bowl of tea will calm your mind?” They suggested. “I have a dried oran berry blend that’s very soothing. At least, according to the seller it is.” They gave Clay a smile that was meant to be comforting but was slightly off-putting to Clay himself. ''This guy seems a bit too nice. I squash his radishes and he invites me for tea? Hm. They’re the only person I’ve met in this world. I guess I have to trust him, for now. ''

“Sure. Why not.” Clay tries to shrug.

“Excelent.” Floral smiles and turns around. Clay has to duck to avoid being hit with their head leaf. “Come right inside. I’ll start heating up the water.” Floral gestures to a hole in one of the tree roots. ''Right, I’m smaller. Makes sense for whatever creature Floral or I am to be living in burrows. They did call the nearby town Rootburrow. ''

''I can’t shake a feeling on unease. I feel cold, strangely. Not just from the air, but inside me. Is this a skitty thing or something else? ''Clay sighed. ''I’ll keep thinking it but for now, it’s teatime. ''With his thoughts pushed aside for now, Clay waddles into Floral’s home on unsteady paws.

(And there we have it. The first chaper complete. Now, I know there aren't any other characters besides Clay and Floral in this chapter but remeber that this is only the first chapter. I have many more chapters coming and new characters are guaranteed to show up. Just give it some time. I do not have a set date for chapter 2 but rest assured, it won't be long.) 