Ghoworm Sighting

"C'mon, c'mon!" Zipper-Pouf calls, excitedly waving their friend ahead.

Iris, however, is panting as she’s trying to keep up with the trabble’s pace.

“Are you sure we’re almost there?” she inquires, leaning against a tree where Zipper is stopped for her to catch up. The other smiles reassuringly, seeming to still have all the energy in the world despite running through a forest for such a long while.

“I promise,” they assure, confidence in their voice. “It’s just a little further, whenever you’re ready to get going again.”

Iris smiles at her friend, and after a moment or so, stands back up. Her throat is a little dry, but it's nothing she can't handle.

Before she can say anything, the trabble grabs her hand, taking off again like no problem. The bunbii, without any choice, is taking off as well, laughing from the sudden adrenaline.

"Could you at least tell me where we're going," she calls as they run, smile audible in her voice.

"Of course not!" ZP responds, finally letting go and slowing down. When she's able to get a good look at her friend, Iris notices their smile is even wider than hers, which she didn't think would be possible. "That's the point of it being a surprise, silly."

Despite shaking her head, Iris keeps up a fond smile, then almost bumps into their friend from not paying attention. She looks down at them, confused, until they gesture for her to kneel down.

"Now close your eyes," they whisper, and she knows if she could see their eyes they'd be glowing.

Without wanting to argue, she closes her eyes. Zipp always has dramatic surprises like this; it's not exactly uncommon of them to ask her to close her eyes before a big reveal. Leaves rustle in front of her face, and she's greeted with a warm light through closed lids.

"Alright," Zipp cues, finally allowing Iris to look at what they've wanted to how her so long. When she sees it, she can hardly believe it's reality, rendered completely speechless as she gives a soft gasp.

Zipper-Pouf holds the low branches apart to reveal a big tree with few leaves, ghoworms crawling on or dangling from every branch. A few other trees surround it, ghoworms making themselves comfortable there as well, causing for a brighter glow. There are also a few on the ground surrounding the bases of the trees, and it just perfectly completes the scene.

"Wow," Iris sighs, stepping through the opening Zipper had revealed. When she gets a little more towards the center of the view, she spins slowly, keeping her eyes up at the trees to try to get a good look at everything around her.

ZP appears through the clearing after watching their friend observe the sight for a moment, quietly coming up next to her from behind. Iris kneels when she notices a ghoworm coming towards her, Zipp following suit.

"You like the surprise?" they ask with a chuckle, keeping their focus on the bunbii beside them.

"Like it?" she retorts lightheartedly, laughing slightly as her eyes remain on the small, pink creature in front of her. "I love this, Zipp."

Slowly, she picks up the worm when its within grasp, being sure not to scare the little thing. Iris brings it to her face, cooing at it softly. The trabble also pays attention to the worm until their friend looks to them again.

"How'd you find this place, anyhow?" she inquires, still playing with the worm in her hands.

The mollusk opens their mouth to respond, but a startled gasp escapes their throat instead when a soft tap hits their exposed side. Whipping their head towards the feeling, they sigh of relief to see a green, glowing worm nudging at them in curiosity. They pick it up, placing it in their lap before properly responding.

"I found it on accident," they admit, stroking the ghoworm's back gently. "I was walking around here a few days ago, and I saw a little bit of the light from a distance. I went to go check it out, saw this, and I wanted to show it to you so we could enjoy it together."

Only then does Iris turn back to her friend, eyes and smile widening as she feels her heart swell with joy.

"Really?" and if Zipp were looking, they'd see her eyes sparkling like the night sky they're under. "You thought to do this with me before doing it on your own?"

Zipp nods with a bashful smile. Still, their eyes are trained on the ghoworm they're holding and playing with.

"I thought it'd be more fun with you. You were the first person I thought of who'd enjoy this too, and the colors look just like yours...."

A sigh escapes Iris' throat through an ear-to-ear grin, so overwhelmed with glee she didn't think it was possible.

"Thank you, Zipp," and they finally turn to look at her again, their expression lifting to mirror their friend's. All they can trust themself to do in response is nod to the sentiment, rendered completely speechless under Iris' gaze.

Together, they spend the rest of the night watching the stars in a contented silence, a ghoworm resting on each of them. Eventually, the time came to get themselves home, and each reluctantly put the worms they were holding down on the ground beside them. They each call a goodbye to the worms they spent the evening with, and by the time they return out the opening they came in from a few hours ago now, there's a tap at one of their heels.

The duo looks at each other in confusion, then down behind them to see the worms followed them out, seemingly begging to be taken home. Both laugh, picking the worms back up.

"I guess as long as they want to, it can't hurt to keep them, right?" the girl asks, somewhat rhetorically. The pink ghoworm in her arms reaches up to nuzzle its face against hers.

Zipp can't seem to disagree as the green worm settles itself against their flipper and chest, already half asleep.

"I don't see why not."