[GLW : TOT] Cali and Isa Explore the Forest (Part 01)
Calamari wrung their paws, peering around the dark woods with wide eyes. They’d decided a jaunt through the eerie Glowshroom Forest would help inspire them, maybe provide some motivation for working on their upcoming debut graphic novel… But instead they’d been puttering around fretfully. Their friends had said the forest was peaceful, but Cali didn’t feel at peace at all! In fact, they were terrified. It was too dark, and too quiet. Maybe they needed to rethink the genre of their book. A glimpse of movement through the gloom made them jump. Squinting, they realized it was another Snailcat, hunched over and pawing through the undergrowth. Finally, someone to talk to!
“Hello?” Cali called, trying to sound like someone who wasn’t scared out of their mind.
A pair of eyestalks that had been flopping laxly forward went erect at the sound of Cali's voice. A pause, an earflick, and finally, the smaller pink snailcat turn its head towards them. The look on its face was probably not the one of comfort Cali was hoping to find in someone lurking in the dimly lit woods. Piercing golden eyes were furrowed into a scowl that looked about as unfriendly as you could without baring your teeth, and yet... Her chubby cheek fluffs softened the harsh expression enough to not make her actually scary. Or maybe that made it even more alarming.
"Oh. Hi. Who are you?" The stranger's voice unfortunately matched her face, sounding not unlike an annoyed teacher talking to a failing student. She wiped her hands together to remove a bit of dirt, but otherwise stopped whatever she had previously been doing to keep her eyes on Cali.
Cali flinched at the scowl on the Snailcat’s face. Reflecting, Cali realized that approaching a stranger who was digging around in this creepy forest might not have been good friend material. Too late now! They cleared their throat.
“Uh, I’m Calamari - but my friends usually call me Cali.” Cali flashed a smile, silently wondering why she’d added that last part. “Er, who are you? I mean, what’s your name?” They looked the other Snailcat up and down. She didn’t look particularly fierce, if she was a threat after all. As Cali talked more and made their various little mannerisms, the other snailcat's face transformed from an unfriendly stare to a more reserved look. Then her face vanished altogether as she refocused her attention to whatever was so interesting in the undergrowth.
"Isa," she replied shortly after her name was asked, and popped back up to dust her hands off again. Paying little attention to Cali at this point, she started sliding past them. Despite appearing to be abruptly leaving, Isa continued the conversation as she went by, "What are you doing out in this forest?"
Cali breathed a small sigh of relief when the other Snailcat seemed to realize they didn’t want any trouble. “Nice to meet you!” She watched her continue her…. foraging? For a while, not really sure if they were meant to take that as a dismissal. Then, Isa began to glide away, and Cali frowned. Mentally preparing to set out back into the woods by themself, they heard Isa speak again. Cali perked up and started after her.
