Username: NerdyDisco
Name: Stark
Story/Art/Etc:
Stark squinted out against the open desert. The sun glare was harsh, and even with his mask protecting his eyes it was hard to see against the sand blowing around. While it wasn't exactly late in the day, he had been waiting for Midas for… about an hour now, he figured. Where were they?
It's not like something could have gone wrong. Heck, he had just spoken to them yesterday when they split up to find some more water. He knew their shelter was only about a mile’s walk from where he was now, and seeing how often they went out they couldn't have gotten lost. Even trying to assure himself they were just running a bit late, Stark found himself fearing the worst.
Fifteen minutes. Thirty minutes. Another hour. The time rolled ahead, and still without any sign of his friend. He pawed at the sand anxiously, and against his better judgement found himself trudging against the sand to find out what exactly was going on. Yeah, things hadn't exactly been the safest since the humans blew up the reactor, and he himself had been strangely affected simply by going near the remains (you thought his breath was natural?). Wait, their home… the reactor… instability from the radiation...
“Midas!” Stark let out a cry as he realized his friend could be caved in, and picked up his pace into a sprint in the chance it did happen. While he was out of breath when he eventually arrived, he dug frantically at the sand, flinging back whatever he could to free them. Eventually he did catch a glimpse of a golden glint, but digging further there was nothing there other than their mask. He froze in place, staring blankly at Midas’s mask. There was no way they would ever leave it behind!
His eyes darted around, frantic for an answer other than the one that was right in front of him. He tracked the prints around the den, called out their name, and even tried digging deeper in case they hid in an air pocket or something, but all clues pointed towards the obvious: Midas was gone. Defeated, Stark pulled the mask out from the sand, placing his paws over it and laying down in mourning. His tails dropped as he thought over the situation, and tears stung his eyes as he realized he probably could have saved them! If he had arrived earlier, or even just met them at their home first thing in the morning, then perhaps..!
No use thinking over it anymore. It was too late, he blew it. Stark got back up to his feet, placing the mask back into the remains of the den and burying it again. Lifting up his own mask slightly to give one last smile to Midas, he stated, “You were a huge help around here, and a great ally as well. If only I could have warned you earlier…”
As he padded off, he swore he felt a friendly breeze blow by, opposed to the sand he was used to. Feeling tears come to his eyes again, he walked faster...
+1 CS time
