Caspen's (slightly begrudgin, uninspirin) training montage!

HEALTH LEVEL 1

Day 1: Self Care
Caspen had saved this as their last form of training for a reason: this wasn't another form of beating something up or a trial of agility. It was taking care of themself. At first, it seemed like a grievous punishment to have to learn self love, but as they waddled slowly into the training grounds, it felt almost alright.

They had packed a picnic for one back in the city, and amidst the chaos of battle, Caspen examined their wares.

They had gone all out: Plenty of bleeding heart fruits, glowless glow grapes, purple and green poffdula pods, a bunch of galanthillas, and wheeple grains. They could get used to this. As they ate, they came up with a mantra. If they were going to do this, they were doing it to the fullest extent.
I will improve. I will be strong. I will be true to myself. I will improve. I will be strong. I will be true to myself. Dipping a grape into a brownish poffdula mixture, Caspen felt strange and at peace. Food and emotional exercise did make them sleepy, and it was hard to fight. See? They did fight after all.

After a long, hard battle with the sleep bug, they gave in softly. I need it. It's good for my health. Sitting still as death on the sandy ground, many thought they were injured, but quite the opposite. For the first time, they were thriving.


(About 240 words)


HEALTH LEVEL 2

Day 2: Impromptu Treats
It seemed like Caspen had gone on snack runs many many times, and none of them were miraculous, fun, or even interesting. But this one would be different. This one was training. Maybe there would be severe hills in the way of their treasure, or an angry creature guarding their personal stash of food. Maybe there would be a magical being that would grant them a special fruit for besting them! Only one way to find out.

Patting Zeno on his big Terreden butt, Caspen clambered up the side of his friend and headed off to destiny. As heavy footsteps pounded the sand, excited as they were for eats, they couldn’t help but feel sad as they clambered toward what used to be home. The city was where they had met a strange sort of family, but a dull ache lingered for the soft sands, the giant tree-flower that had given them shelter for so long.

Swaying back and forth, holding tight to the leaves on Zeno’s back for stability, they crested a small hill and gazed upon the swamp. Oh. Well, even though they weren’t going to make it all the way back, there was still the chance to grab a few glow grapes, and more importantly, a chance for something exciting to happen.

Nah. There was wet, and cold, and Caspen dived in the muddy water many unsuccessful times to try and reach a nonmoving object. With not even a glow grape to show for their trial, defeated, they waddled back to the training grounds. Wait.

Had that tree always been there? It looked...fluffy. It looked delicious. As fast as their legs could carry them into a galumping run, they leapt at a branch of the new nature and retrieved something incredibly soft and warm. Tearing into it with animal instinct, it began to...bleed? Cautiously, horrified, Caspen took a tiny lick. It was the sweetest substance they had ever tasted, and they melted before the flavor. A roller coaster of a journey had ended with a beautiful reward. This fruit tasted like love. Tasted like home.


(About 360 words)

HEALTH LEVEL 3

Day 3: A whole new world
This path of training was strange, but Caspen wasn't complaining. Getting somewhere by doing nothing was exactly what they were expecting, and boy were they glad to see it was somewhat possible. Get this: today's workout… was to take a nap. Well, without further ado, they flipped the inner switch to turn off their mind and crumpled to the sandy ground.

After a second of pure black, they were hovering above a figure, a blob the likes of which they had never seen before. A deep sinking feeling in their stomach told them that this was their own body, from a different time. It almost hurt to comprehend. There was a taller one of the same form in front of 'them', and words were flowing from its mouth. "I'll be back soon. I trust you to take care of the house. Do you want to swim on the beach? Just don't get caught in the undertow. Stay near shore."

The scene transitioned to a beautiful structure, carefully built on the sand. Was this the house? That could be investigated later. The more compelling sight was their new body, flapping strangely in the water. The vast expanse rolled like dunes, constantly bobbing in motion. But all was not well. As suddenly as they had gone out to the tides, the sea had hungrily responded. Undertow.

Seeing through their eyes, Caspen felt the irresistible suction, quickly soaring faster and faster, farther and farther away from land. The salt stung their eyes, and despite never having to breathe before, not being able to seemed like a problem now. Swinging their arms as hard as possible, taking gasping breaths, they fought past the current. Land was so close. They were so tired. Falling limp in the water, it filled every pore as cold began to spread. Then, once more, blackness.

Snapping to reality, Caspen, the blobling, sprang up with a hard jerk. None of it was real. Absentmindedly rubbing Zeno, they dug deep into the sand, feeling the warmth of every grain. I'm here, they murmured. I'm here. This is now. At least now I can try not to fall asleep in the water. Despite the frantic feeling of the pull, it really was a pleasant place. A pleasant place that didn't exist. Everything was okay.

(About 380 words)

HEALTH LEVEL 4

Day 4: Ouch Salad
If Zeno didn't even like more than 6 touches, this round of training would be hell. Caspen had to pull a leaf off of his best friend's back. Although incredibly unpleasant for both parties, there were reasons for it to be done. Maybe if they had bonded more before this, it wouldn't be a trial. Maybe they could just ask, and be generously gifted one, with no pain. Because they hadn't done any of that, hopefully 7 poffdula pods full of treats would make it a bit better.

Well, here goes nothing. Clambering, as usual, up his tough hide, Caspen gave his butt a little pat. Hopefully this wouldn't hurt. Grabbing one of the giant leaves between their claws, they yanked as hard as they could.

A bellow echoed through the grounds, and Zeno's tail whipped hard around his legs, stirring up a wind. "I'm sorry buddy! I'm sorry!" Their voice was no consolation to the angry beast, who shook them off like a fly. It was gonna be quite the endeavor to get back on.

"You're my partner! I love you!" Jumping for it, they hooked a claw into his leg and held on for dear life. Every step felt like the earth falling apart, and their back legs scrabbled for a hold. One gentle movement at a time, after what felt like ages, they had scaled their boy once more.

Taking the same leaf in their teeth this time, they ripped it clean off his body. There was still a bellow, but less anger. Hallelujah. After all that trouble, it was time to make the best salad the world had ever seen.

Taking four flavors of poffdula ink, glow grapes, cyrill star leaves, bleeding heart liquid, and galanthillas, they tore the leaf into smaller bits and tossed their ingredients with their surprisingly useful claws, then threw it into a vulkiln for good measure. It tasted like pure bliss, and Caspen could almost feel the energy rising through their body. They felt invigorated, powerful, and invincible. Nothing could stop then power duo now!

Zeno tore into the promised treats beside them, and together they had a small feast. There probably could have been a better use for all that trouble, but little meant more to the two of them than food, and eating together was a sign of love. They even fed the big creature a bit of his own leaf-salad, which he seemed to enjoy.

There was always a silver lining to moments of pain. There always would be.

(About 420 words)

HEALTH LEVEL 5

Day 5: Death Dreams
Oh no. No no. What have I done? Guys?
Sleep was no longer a lighthearted romp of relaxation and restoration. Sleep had been twisted, turned against them, and made into a prison. Into hell. The inescapable question of mortality rang in their ears as they lay down their head, and every dream played out nearly exactly the same. Every dream highlighted their exact, glaring flaws. Every dream went something like this.

It was a beautiful day in the city. The Fools were out and about, some in the arena, but most in the park. There was a poffdula picnic, and everyone made small talk. Caspen had been able to officially pledge to the group, and Evrah was addressing them by name. Lullia started their first ever one on one conversation, Kip, Star, and Aki kept them energized, and Hai taught them things about the world. Everything was picture perfect and wonderful, clearly too good to be true.

Then an alarm sounds. It's hard to describe the noise, but it's clearly a warning. A shrill shriek echoes over and over the normal flood of blobs, who quickly retreat to shelter. Something is wrong. Kip, taking control, designates positions. Kip and Star to the front. Lullia and Evrah flanking the sides. Caspen in the middle back. Hai and Aki behind. It's a normal shield formation, making sure the snekitts stay safe. It feels like it's been run ten thousand times. They're facing the entrance to the city in anticipation. The first wave breaches.

Waves, bouncing, rolling waves made entirely of ferals crash through the open city. An entire sea is here, slowly filling the ground, waiting for their moment. It's time to fight. The front line takes swing after swing, downing feral after feral. The corpses pile high. For a brief while, everything seems under control. A couple squeeze through the first defense. Things go violently south.

It's Caspen's turn to fight. Swing. Protect. And nothing comes. They're staring directly into the face of the first feral they killed, the piercing blue eyes and strong red body they drained the life out of. And not moving. Red Rabid raises a claw. And as if the switch has been flipped, Caspen flees. Leaves. Runs straight through the oncoming hordes to watch from a distance. Becomes a horrible coward. And pays the price.

Aki is the first to fall. It takes three ferals. The one she killed, the yellow spiral, finishes it. As she's fighting, it takes her in its jaw. And bites down hard. Kip dies a hero's death, fighting seven ferals at once. He goes down in the cluster, smiling. And never comes out. His screams pierce the air. Evrah and Star fall together, countless ferals gathering and climbing their bodies, biting. Biting. The scene is horrible, gruesome. The overwhelming scent of their mingled blood makes Caspen gag.

They all die. Caspen knows, because they come upon the carnage, viscera that makes them instantly forget they're not gone forever. Spared because they couldn't protect the others. Spared because they let them fight alone. When the fools return, Caspen will be killed. Eventually, the flow of insanity ebbs. Then stops. Caspen is left alone in an empty world of bodies. A feeling creeps up from the pit of their stomach, easily overwhelming their brain. There is nothing but pain, fear, and hunger. They leave the remnants of the city, heading to the masses. There is no Caspen anymore. There is a feral.

Jolting awake, Caspen, yes, sound of mind Caspen, Caspen the blob, takes a purposeful breath. There's no sleep without it. Guess it's time to quit sleeping. although knowing it's not real, something about the imagery shakes them to their core. As with their beach dream, they make a mantra: I am not feral. They are not dead. I will always protect them. This will never come true. The dreams won't last forever. feeling better already, there was really only one course of action: talk to the fools themselves.

The dreams were probably not a premonition, but a representation of emotion. Their brain was saying that if Vermin and the ferals were coming, there was a clear choice. Fight or flee. The obvious choice would be made when the time came.

There was one coping mechanism left, and this one could never be corrupted. Eating. Yet another feast was prepared for themself, and after downing all of it in record time, it was a distant memory once more. When the time came, they would see. When the time came, everything would fall into place. Just you wait.

(About 765 words)