Gatruda descended into the gigantic maw, catching the underground region in their gaze. Shining crystals reflected what little sunlight touched down there.
They hung in clusters, hopelessly resisting the dislodged ones above them. However, some already fell. Sand and shattered crystal powdered the top floor.
"Oh, nooo!" Gatruda lamented. They frowned at the sight of a makeshift desert. "This means tiny Yonie and big Yomie are trapped! Nooo!"
Gatruda sniffed the air, then sneezed. They turned to face West - the direction that they began marching towards.
As they walked, stalking predators came out of hiding. Each one was confused and concerned after laying eyes on the strange terrain.
Sand coated the upper layer, completely burying the stone and soil. Glykers descended onto the strange substance, checking its safety.
Their tiny, blurry eyes couldn't grasp a good concept regarding it. So they continued to glide around, screeching down to it so they could paint an image in their minds.
"Natural instincts for these creatures have gone awry. Glykers, Crystal Kin, and Tunnelers aren't attacking in each other. In fact, we haven't seen fungi yet," Gatruda's concern was clear in their voice.
So far, the surface level seemed unsettled. Disturbed by the sudden shift in temperature and terrain. Producers seemingly disappeared, same as most primary consumers, except for the Crystal Kin.
Tunnelers still moved underneath the surface, easily told by the sudden quakes. They hacked away at whatever was in front of them, effectively traversing the seemingly infinite chasm.
"We'll need to repair the surface... let us move deeper, Ruda -"
"Ruda, Ruda!" Ruda agreed.
"Yes, that's you. Cute little Ruda!" Gat added.
Gatruda effortlessly walked between realities, allowing them to descend to the level beneath the surface. Right where all the Threshers lied.
Ruda jumped off Gat's back, chirping blissfully at the sight of Crystallized Yonies. He tried to run up to a small group of Yonies, who were all holding hands, as they walked back home.
However, Gat caught up and picked Ruda off his feet. She shook her head, even if it pained her to deny her partner.
"B - but Yomie! They are shiny Yonie!" Ruda frowned. "Look, that one is pretty. Yelloooow is my favorite colooor!"
Gat nodded. She saw the glowing yellow Yonie within the small group. He stuck out from the rest, a mutation. All the other Yonies glinted in white or blue colors.
"Okay, I'll let you go to them and ask them about the region. But please, don't spend too much time. King Khantretakhim probably wants us soon," Gat ordered.
Ruda cheerfully hopped off his Yomie's arms, then charged right up to the group. They jumped in unison after the furthest back felt a hand hold his.
"Yonie!!! Hi, hi, hi! I am Ruda!" Ruda introduced himself. He pointed at them with a gentle finger. "Why are so many Yonie walking without Yomie?"
One of the Yonies walked up to examine Ruda. His eyes were full of innocence and curiosity. Which closed as he came in to sniff him.
The Yonie blankly stared at Ruda. "You smell like nothing! Ruda, where do you come from?"
"I come fro-" Ruda paused, remembering what Gat told him. He cleared his throat, then smiled. "I am here to ask a question, Yonie! Is everything okay down here?"
"Greenery collapsed, mostly. We're worried. That's why we are returning home after checking the outskirts of our territory."
Ruda nodded. "Aaah... tiny Yonie doesn't have food, eh..? I will bring food later! Bye-bye pretty Yonie!"
Just as quickly as Ruda allowed himself to be seen, he disappeared. Yet he still stood in the same place as before, but the Yonies didn't realize. So they muttered and glanced all around for him.
Gat picked up Ruda. "Good job, Ruda. Come on."
The duo united again before descending to the third layer. Down here, only crystals formed. Where they'd be pushed higher through the layers until reaching the surface.
Unlike the previous two layers, this one seemed unbothered. No crystals seemed out of place or broken. All there was were the milky-white shards.
"I think that's it," Gatruda concluded. "The first and second layer were damaged by Vhul-Adune. However, the third and below all appear to be stable."
They stepped back from Koroth's reality, then stepped right through to King Khantretakhim's mind. She sensed the presence of her Noble Mind right beside her.
"Precious Gatruda," she began. Her powerful brown eyes struck fear into Gatruda. "I was worried that you didn't make it."
Gatruda bowed, keeping their knees on the smooth wooden floor of her temple. The smell of freshly baked cookies lingered in the air, causing Ruda's stomach to growl.
King Khantretakhim gently smiled, like a grandmother. "Little one is hungry, I can tell. Come, precious Gatruda. Tell me about your hardship over some food."
-Forty minutes later-
Ruda smiled at his plate, full of baked goods. Sugar and vanilla cookies circled the sweet honey cream in the center. Gat placed a cup of warm milk beside his plate.
"Please do not feel afraid of taking some more. I feel like I baked too much for today. We might have leftovers for tomorrow," King Khantretakhim commented.
Gat nodded, her smile was grateful and movements delicate. Her eyes panned across the white tablecloth, taking notes of all the different sweets she hadn't tried.
Candles danced gracefully in their presence, almost understanding their flickering would be disruptive. However, this was a tiny detail nobody paid attention to.
"King Khantretakhim," Ruda's voice sparked up. He swallowed his mouthful of cookies and milk. "Have you given some foodsies to citizens?"
She nodded, laughing elegantly. "Of course. I was down by the bakeries this morning with Senestis."
Gat paused. "Senestis? Why them? Weren't they a problem?"
"You know I've been trying to release some of Senestis' stress. It appears all of their personalities can find comfort in something as simple as this."
Ruda waved at King Khantretakhim. "We should take them to see Uvurim!"
Gat remembered. "Uvurim, right! King Khantretakhim, here's our report..."