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I gasp awake, still feeling the heat of the explosion on my skin. Sitting up, I look at the green gas giant in the sky while a blue spark of an explosion colors it's atmosphere.
I look over at Slate, the four eyed fellow tending to the fire under the stars. They wave hello and I get up, sitting next to them as we talk for a bit.
I pull out a marshmallow stick, trying to ground myself after the last 22 minutes.
I laugh while holding a new marshmallow over the fire. "Did you know it's just an endless void outside our solar system?" I inquired cheerfully, recounting some of my last adventures.
I pulled the burnt sweet back and put it out. Chewing on it, I turned back to Slate. “Yeah," they shrugged their shoulders non-committally,
"I'd stick to exploring our solar system if I were you. As much as I'd hate to admit it, our ships aren't exactly deep-space worthy."
I elbowed them and stood up, flashing smile and waving goodbye. Ready for another journey amongst the stars. I punch the codes into the launch tower and get ferried up until I can step into the wooden platform.
The wood creaks as I step along, and I take careful steps to make sure I don't fall through.
Entering the ship through the Nomai beam I land squarely inside. I turn and grab my suit and check it over for tears unconsciously. Snapping out of my auto pilot, I snicker and climb into the seat stationed in the cockpit.
I pull up the map, going over the ship's log in my head. Brittle Hollow, The Hourglass Twins, and finally Giant's Deep. I still need to do more there, and Hollow's Lantern of course.
I was at Giant's Deep last but I didn't quite fill out everything there at Statue Island. I couldn't figure out how to get inside, maybe if I talk to Gabbro again they'll know. Should I head over to the Construction Yard and see if it has any answers?
Breaking through the green clouds that surrounded the planet, I get tossed into the sea of the watery planet. Emerging from it's depths after hitting the impassable current, I get sucked into the chaotic winds that drown any thought.
I hover above the waters while searching for a certain island with smoke drifting from it. Spotting the high plumes, I descend.
As the landing gear sinks into the sand I hop out of the pilot's seat. My boots hitting the sand, I excited run towards the Hearthian on the island.
Though the increased gravity on this planet made getting any sort of bounding rhythm difficult, I managed. Treading up to Gabbro, they stopped playing their flute for a bit. Letting it rest beside them in the hammock they were laying in. I excitedly sat down on a box of supplies.
“Heyo, hatchling. I was hoping you’d be back- something really weird is going on.”
I nod, feeling as if I already know what they're talking about. I brush off my questions for statue island and Giant's Deep for a bit, "Yeah something is up. Something more than a couple of statues."
Their head turns to me, the glare on their helmet shifting enough so I can't see the expression inside.
"Do you think we’re in a time loop?"