A week In the Abyss

As Tod woke up from sleep, he felt a gentle pressure on his chest. He opened his eyes to find Azzy curled up beside him, her head resting lightly against his shoulder, her breath warm and steady. The soft light filtering through the cracks in the abyss provided a gentle illumination, casting a serene glow over the scene.

For a moment, Tod simply lay still, taking in the comfort of the unusual but welcoming surroundings. He could hear the faint sounds of Aranya moving about nearby, her presence a comforting hum of activity.

Tod carefully shifted, trying not to disturb Azzy's peaceful rest. As he sat up, he noticed a small note left on a nearby rock, penned in Aranya's elegant script.

Good morning, sleepyhead. I've gone out to gather some supplies and maybe find something interesting to keep us entertained. Enjoy the quiet while you can. – Aranya

"Well, i guess this is my new life now, a week in this place already…Don't you think it's strange Violet" Violet who hadn't been seen for a day suddenly jumped down from a tree near the koi's pond.

"Meow~" Her wings gently fluttered in the air and made her way towards Tod, Tod petted her purple fur gently feeling its softness.

"Well, I guess this is my new life now, a week in this place already…Don't you think it's strange, Violet?" Tod murmured as he continued to stroke the cat's fur.

"Meow~" Violet responded, her wings fluttering lightly as she nestled closer.

Tod sighed contentedly, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. The abyss, with all its peculiarities, had become a place of unexpected solace. He glanced at Azzy, still peacefully sleeping beside him, and felt a surge of gratitude.

Deciding to let Azzy rest a bit longer, Tod carefully stood up, cradling Violet in his arms. He walked towards the koi pond, the water shimmering in the soft light. The koi fish swam lazily, their vibrant colors a stark contrast to the shadowy surroundings.

As he watched the fish, Tod reflected on how much his life had changed since he entered the abyss. The loneliness he once felt had been replaced by a sense of belonging, thanks to Azzy, Aranya, and even Violet.

Just then, Tod heard a rustling sound from behind him. He turned to see Aranya emerging from the trees, carrying a bundle of peculiar-looking plants and some glowing stones.

"Good morning, Tod," Aranya greeted him with a smile. "I see Violet's finally decided to grace us with her presence."

Aranya moved closer to him and gave him a small peck on his lips her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Couldn't resist," she said with a playful grin. "You looked too serene standing there."

"Yeah, well, I just woke up" Tod replied with a small smile, his cheeks tinged slightly pink from the kiss.

Aranya chuckled and handed him one of the glowing stones. "Here, take a look at this. I found it near the edge of the abyss. It has a unique glow, don't you think?"

Tod examined the stone, its soft luminescence casting a gentle light on his face. "It's beautiful. Do you think it has any special properties?"

"Nope i just wanted to decorate the home of our little fish friend which i think we should give a name to it" Her blue squid like hair moved excitedly, she then held Tods arm.

"What about bubbles" Tod said, with a smile, The koi then looked at them from its pond.

"Yeah that doesn't sound bad" Aranya laughed, her voice echoing softly in the calm of the abyss. "Bubbles it is, then. Let's make sure Bubbles has the best-decorated pond in the entire abyss."

Together, they placed the glowing stone near the edge of the pond, its light reflecting beautifully off the water and enhancing the vibrant colors of the koi fish. Bubbles seemed to approve, swimming around the stone with curious interest.

As they worked, Tod couldn't help but feel a growing bond with Aranya. Her playful nature and warmth had become a source of joy in his new life. He glanced back at Azzy, still sleeping peacefully, and felt a wave of gratitude for the small but close-knit group they had become.

"So, what else did you find out there?" Tod asked, curious about Aranya's morning adventure.

Aranya grinned and showed him the peculiar-looking plants she had gathered. "These are actually edible and quite tasty. I thought we could try them for breakfast. And these," she said, holding up another bundle, "are some herbs with medicinal properties. They might come in handy."

"Impressive," Tod said, genuinely amazed. "You've got quite the knack for this."

"I do my best," Aranya replied with a wink. "Now, let's wake Azzy and prepare something to eat. She'll be happy to know we have something new to try."

With Violet still purring contentedly in his arms, Tod walked back to where Azzy was sleeping. He knelt down and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face. "Azzy, wake up. Aranya found some interesting things for breakfast."

Azzy stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She smiled up at Tod, her expression soft and relaxed. "Good morning," she mumbled, sitting up and stretching.

"Morning," Tod replied. "Aranya's back with some new food for us to try."

Azzy's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Really? That sounds exciting, but aren't you forgetting something?, come on give me a kiss"

Tod felt his heart skip a beat. He leaned in closer, his eyes locking with Azzy's. As their lips met, a spark of warmth spread through him. It was a gentle, tender kiss that conveyed all the unspoken feelings between them.

"Good morning," Azzy whispered, a satisfied smile playing on her lips.

"Good morning," Tod replied, feeling a blush creep up his cheeks.

Aranya, watching the exchange with a knowing grin, clapped her hands. "Alright, lovebirds, let's get to breakfast."

They settled around a small clearing, and Aranya began to prepare the peculiar plants she had found. Tod watched with interest as she expertly sliced and arranged them, adding a few of the medicinal herbs for extra flavor.

As they ate, the conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and shared stories. The taste of the plants was surprisingly delicious, and the trio savored every bite.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Azzy asked between mouthfuls.

Aranya looked thoughtful. " We can go to the outer realm and visit a world" Aranya said with a suggestion.

"So back to the deep depths it is" Azzy said with a knowing nod.

Tod looked confused and then asked"What's that?"

Aranya decided to explain to him. "Well the outer realm is a place where we outer beings can go out from the abyss once in a while to descend into another world, it is a pire white space filled with gateways to many worlds

, each offering its own unique wonders and challenges. The idea is to explore, discover, and sometimes find resources or knowledge that can be useful back here in the abyss."

Tod's eyes widened with intrigue. "That sounds incredible. So we're going to travel to different worlds through these gateways?"

"Exactly," Aranya said with a nod. "It's a bit like a grand adventure waiting to happen. The outer realm acts as a bridge between the abyss and these other worlds."

Azzy leaned in, her expression eager. "We've explored a few worlds before, but there are still so many we haven't seen. Each world has its own story, its own secrets. It's always exciting to see what we'll find."

Tod looked at both of them, feeling a rush of excitement. "I'm definitely up for it. Where should we start?, But aren't you going to sleep soon Azzy, i don't know how you can get if you miss your sleep cycles " Azzy grinned and shook her head. "I'm not going to miss anything. I can stay awake as long as i want, i just sleep for three days straight cause everything here was boring before i met you, and i must say, i like your expression anytime both of us kiss you" Tod chuckled, feeling a mix of amusement and embarrassment at Azzy's comment. "Well, it seems like we're all set for an adventure then."

Aranya chuckled and then moved closer to give Tod a suprise kiss on his lips, her touch both playful and affectionate. Tod's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but smile, his cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. "…you know that isn't fair" Tod said, trying to hide his flustered reaction.

Aranya laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who told you to go challenge a girl throwing a tantrum for thousands of years"

"I don't get how you are not embarrassed by that, and you seem to hold long grudges" Azzy said in disbelief.

"Forgetting is a sin, Forgiving is being merciful and i don't like mercy" Tod glanced between Aranya and Azzy, their playful banter bringing a smile to his face. "Well, it seems like we have our adventure cut out for us, and a bit of drama to spice things up," he said, laughing softly.