carnival schenanigans

The trio stepped forwards, the unknown building looming ahead of them. Like everything manmade in this world, it was abandoned to the sands of time, vines slowly overtaking once pristine walls and floors. It didn't seem to matter much to the cryos that approached, curious and cautious.

“There could be something massive hiding inside.” Yunnan murmured, her head held high to observe the structure, “I don't know about this.”

“You worry too much.” Ghoul murmured, the cold air sending frost from his maw as he spoke. Ever the bold ones, Ghoul and Cloud pressed forth. Sure, maybe there was something ferocious awaiting them, but curiosity is a strong feeling. Besides, there were three of them. If danger approached, they'd have each other's backs.

“Just stay close.” Cloud entered the building first, trailed by Ghoul, and then Yunnan. The three sniffed at the air, cautious in the face of something new. Many scents lingered, strong, but nothing that warranted any form of concern. No blood lingered on the concrete below, no stench of it in the air.

“It's just some abandoned building,” Ghoul huffed, “Besides, it gets baldy over here out of the cold-” He let out a yelp as Cloud nipped at his tail, snickering under his breath. 

“Shut it, feathers for brains.” Cloud hissed with no true anger in her words, moreso a form of fond amusement. True bickering between them was rare but teasing was entirely on the table.

“It seems safe, every scent is old.” Cloud craned her head to look at her siblings, head tilted to observe the two. Regardless of the unknown, the trio ventured forth.

The lights revealed plenty of old machines, ones with wings that mimicked pterosaurs in a way, albeit… metal. Yunnan trotted ahead, looking upwards where many spheres hung across the ceiling. Giant, multicolored globes, some with rings, some huge, some tiny. All beautiful in their own way.

“Woah…” Yunnan whispered, “I've never seen ruins quite like this. What are these things-”

“Ghoul. Don't eat that.” Cloud interrupted, staring at her brother who was currently about to gnaw on the wheel of the airplane on the floor. He had the audacity to look sheepish.

“...I wasn't gonna.” Ghoul protested, holding his head up high as if that tomfoolery was entirely beneath him.

“Sure.” Yunnan laughed, mirth filling her voice. She looked around, footfalls echoing in the vacant room, as they pressed further. An odd sort of contraption caught her attention, slowly easing into a trot as she investigated.

Ghoul and Cloud only took a moment before they saw her running off, they both gave each other a brief look before quickly joining their sibling. It was… strange. Some kind of wall that resembled stone, different colored rocks seemed to be stuck to it’s side. At the very top? An odd, bronze bell with a string tied to it.

Yunnan approached it, head tilted as far back as she could. What was it intended for? The trio would find out one way or another.

“I bet you can't climb it.” Yunnan boasted, her eyes locking on Cloud.

“I'm not going to indulge you. This is pointless.” Cloud protested, shaking her head at Yunnan. They were supposed to be on guard, they could be ambushed at any moment! They weren't here for games or challenges-

“Scared?” Ghoul whispered, dropping his head to match Cloud’s height, a hint of a challenge lingering in his eyes.

“I'm not scared.” Cloud huffed back, baring her teeth at her brother. She wasn't scared of this, not by a long shot. 

“We just have more important things to be doing.” She stood her ground, shaking her head in disbelief.

“You're so scared,” Yunnan continued to egg her on, catching onto Ghoul’s quiet mischief, “Scared you'll lose. The mighty Cloud, felled by a wall!”

Cloud growled under her breath, eyes darting up to look at the rock wall. This was stupid… but she wasn't scared.

“Fine.” She snapped, approaching the base of the wall.

“I'm not scared. This is stupid.” She muttered under her breath as she began the climb, her claws curving to catch on the bright rocks that jutted out. Each step was calculated, even if it was awkward. However this was no match for her, it almost seemed too easy for the cryo to climb this ‘challenge’. A slip here and there, but ascension was easy enough. Within a minute or two, the ringing of a bell sounded out in the room.

“See! Easy!” Cloud proclaimed, puffing her chest out in victory.

“Ugh.” Yunnan whined, “Fine, fine. You win.” An amused expression lurked on her face, however, their antics bringing nothing but a fond sense of happiness to the cryo.

“Now get down.” Ghoul murmured, his voice quiet as always, red eyes gleaming with amusement and challenge. 

Cloud glanced downwards, ready to detach from the wall and go on their day… but hesitated. That was a pretty high drop, wasn't it? 

No. She'd be fine, there have been worse drops. Slowly and methodically, she managed to ease her way down the wall. With a proud huff, her head held high, she was victorious over the climbing wall.

“My turn!” Yunnan jumped in excitement, claws clacking against the ground and she trotted over. Instead of using the rocks like it was intended, she dug her claws into the plastic wall and began to climb upwards. A tactic far different from Cloud’s but it seemed to work in her favor.

When she inevitably slipped, her claws hooked on the rocks that jutted out, catching herself before she truly fell. She seemed entirely unaffected by the slips and drops, still clambering her way to the top. 

“Oh no.” Ghoul grumbled, the two grounded cryos immediately rushing to the bottom of the wall. At least Yunnan would have a cushion if she lost her grip.

“Don't worry! I'm going to beat Cloud’s time!” Yunnan chirped, her back legs scratching at the wall as she scrambled upwards, leaving long scratches in the plastic during her ascent. Each inch was a fight but by the gods was Yunnan a fighter. A rock wall, of all things, wouldn't take her down.

The bell rang out once more. Victory for Yunnan! Her ascent wasn't straight down, instead she launched off the wall, landing on one of the airplanes that was suspended in the air. The aircraft groaned in protest and, for a brief moment, the three thought it was going to plummet to the floor. The beams holding it were near ancient at this point, it's a surprise it was still airborne in the first place.

Luckily, it held, and Cloud and Ghoul let out a sigh of relief, anxiety dropping as Yunnan pounced back onto the ground. This one was going to be the death of them. They wouldn't have it any other way, though.

“Best that. I have style points.” She proclaimed, dipping the front of her body forwards in a mock bow. 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. It would have been cool if you didn't look like a three legged squirrel trying to climb a tree.” Cloud grunted, gently nudging her sister with her snout in a brief touch of concern.

Then, Cloud slowly looked at Ghoul. 

“Get up there.” She said slowly, teeth bared in a grin.

Ghoul let out a slow exhale, closing his eyes. He wasn't as agile as Cloud, not as quick as Yunnan. Despite his demeanor, Ghoul was built just like his father. A big brute.

“C'mon, you got this! Just don't look down.” Yunnan encouraged, flanking her sister as she looked at Ghoul. The encouragement was welcome even though it may end up being a bad idea.

Hauling his body up there would be like trying to move a boulder. He can do this, right? He can't be outclassed by his siblings, that wouldn't do. Competition was the name of the game and he's ready to play.

Following Yunnan’s tactics, his claws sunk into the wall. It gave him just enough leverage to haul his body upwards. By some miracle he was actually doing decently well, slow and steady progress. It was no speed climb but he would make it.

Ghoul didn't even get halfway up the wall before it groaned in protest. The weight of the two before him, the destruction from Yunnan brute forcing her way up, and Ghoul’s own claws sinking into the plaster, all combined into one big disaster when Ghoul’s weight was added.

Uh oh.

The plaster seemed to crack and crumble and Ghoul seemed to just close his eyes with a sigh like he was expecting this. Then? The bigger they are, the harder they fall. 

A loud crack echoed, the wall breaking apart at the seams. Ghoul and the part of the wall he was attached to hit the ground with a responding thud. Perhaps it was a bad idea to have the bigger cryo climb on something so frail.

Quickly, the other two ran over in concern, eyes wide as they used their arms to pull the debris off their brother. That wasn't good. This was supposed to be a silly little challenge, something to pass the time and make fun of one another.

“Are you hurt?” Cloud yelped, shifting her weight from side to side. Her concern only grew when Ghoul didn't move for a brief moment, stunned from hitting the concrete.

“Anything broken?” Yunnan fretted over him instantly, dropping her head to look at the collapsed Ghoul. There didn't appear to be any injuries, superficial cuts at best.

“Only my pride.” Ghoul growled, slowly getting to his feet, “I'm never doing that again.”

Relief. Luckily, the trio was unharmed (minus Ghoul’s ego). They weren't impressing anybody with their climbing, but they truly didn't care. What's a couple of bruises for some good ol sibling bonding?