Emberwood I am the egg man

@Alarian <3

It had been long, too long since Lennon delved into any mind altering experiences. His mind itched to escape his body, release into a reality unknown and glorious. One, he occasionally, wished to remain in forever. He was reminded of dancing with visions of flowers everywhere, intimacy was beyond imaginable ecstasy. His brain salivated at the thought to finally experience a kaleidoscopic world again. He padded through the wood, his nose low to the ground sniffing for anything potentially inducing; with a petite figure beside him. He hadn’t told Alarian what his plans were, but boy was he excited to share a mind connecting moment with his love. 

Right now, Lennon was hardly paying attention to his companion. Far more focused on finding it. He was almost frantic, moving quickly with any provoking smells, occasionally checking to make sure the wolf was staying close. He hummed to himself, body for once not moving to the music. I am he as you are he as you are me.

Alarian was a bit... tired. Lanawyn's presence had been affecting him in unexpected ways; nightmares, vivid but warped and somehow more cruel than the reality they reflected. He took comfort in the presence of his companions-- in Lennon-- but it was wearing on him now. Every time he looked at his sister, he saw the rest of his family; he saw his father.
The boy loved Lanawyn dearly, and part of him felt guilty at her presence being the trigger. It surely was not her fault-- no, if it was anyone's fault, it was Alarian's. He had done it. He would never regret it, but neither would he deny his responsibility for the consequences. By now he was well-acquainted with the idea of living with this burden forever.

But he could do it, he was sure of that. Especially with Lennon by his side-- literally, right now. Ali tried and failed to stifle a yawn as his companion searched, pulling himself out of his thoughts to wonder again what they were doing out here. He wanted to help, but he had no idea what Lennon was looking for, so he had silently trailed along beside him for most of the trip. The only thing he could gather was that it was some kind of plant, from the way Lennon was fondling each one he came across. That or he had lost his mind-- not that Alarian would have cared anyway. It was kind of hot.
Finally, though, he could stand it no longer. What are you looking for, Lennon? Maybe I can help-- I always remember what a plant looks and smells like, if I've ever seen it.

Just when Lennon was going to answer Alarian, he stopped dead in his tracks. The smell of a Liberty Cap bathed in his nose, his ears perked, eyes lightened with a new glimmer. Suddenly, the completely still figure darted forward. Reaching the plant, he encircled it, nose retracting as much scent as he could before barking with pup-like joy. ”l found it, I found it!” He hopped like a bunny, before plopping down next to the ordinary looking shroom. 

Lennon took in one last, long savory sniff before glancing at Alarian with his tongue lolling and tail wagging. ”This,” he placed his paw on on top of the fungi, ”is a Liberty cap.” He announced triumphantly, not realizing that there was almost no chance his small friend could understand the excitement pumping through his veins.

He’d noticed his companion’s slightly off mood, and his whimpers and kicks during the night; since he never spelt himself. In his highest hopes, he planned to eradicate Alarian’s stress and bring him to a land of euphoria. 

The boy's eyes widened a bit at Lennon's discovery of the mushroom. He didn't recognize it, but he knew some mushrooms to be poisonous. Others were edible, but why would his companion be so excited for a dismal, last resort meal when they could easily hunt? Ali was terribly confused, and certain this was a toxic fungus.
Are you going to poison someone? Alarian asked after a moment, expression hesitant. He would not be for this idea, but if Lennon wanted to do it, they must be a bad wolf. Still, there was no way the boy would agree to it so easily. And what other purpose could his companion have for such a thing?

- and we are all together. See how they run like pigs from a gun, see how they fly –

Lennon furrowed his brow and shook his head quickly at the suggestion, looking horrified. He would never, ever kill someone; at least in such a way. Only time he could ever consider putting anything to death was if it harmed him or something he loved, and even then it would have to be in the moment. Murderous it quite the opposite of Lennon, and the idea of him committing such a sin made his stomach drop. ”W- What? No! No, I would never- no, that’s not what this is.” He explained. 

His is upbeat mood returned when his eyes fell back onto the mushroom, and he licked his lips - hungry for a hallucination. ”This is meant to...expand your mind.” Lennon chuckled again with excitement, before nodding his head back and forth to his song. 

”I’m cry-aying.”

Short post is short, RIP

Well, that brought more questions than answers. Ali peered curiously at the thing, then shifted his gaze back to Lennon. Expand your mind? The boy repeated, somewhat skeptical but also somewhat amazed by the claim.
How does it do that? He was undeniably curious now; Lennon seemed excited for this, so Ali felt he should be as well. But he wasn't quite sure what his companion was excited about-- and he wanted to know.

”Only way to know is if you eat it.” He lowered his muzzle to the mushroom, sniffing for a moment before ripping three from the ground and throwing them up in the air. His opened his jaws wide open for them to fall into, before chewing and eventually gulping with a knowing grin. Lennon then picked up a singular mushroom for Alarian, leaning forward for him. 

”Go ahead, then.” He mumbled, tail wagging and eyes wide. ”Try one.”

Seeing his companion eat them put Alarian at ease, and though he was somewhat nervous about the outcome he lowered his head and took one into his mouth. For a moment he just held it in his jaws, as if he was unsure what to do with it-- then, slowly, he chewed. The flavor was not particularly pleasant; the boy wrinkled his nose a bit, but swallowed it anyway.
Then he looked at Lennon expectantly. So, what now?
Ali wasn't sure what he was waiting for-- if anything. He sat down, then, tail swishing across the ground behind him.

Lennon gazed down at his companion, a lethargic smirk laid on his maw. "Just wait and see, man." He gave a quick huff in amusement, before licking Alarian on the nose. He gestured with his head for the two to keep walking, finding what looked like an abandoned den. Something larger than the two of them, though it was obvious life hadn't lived in it for awhile. He side-glanced at Alarian, thinking it the perfect spot to..."lie down."

"Shall we?" He inquired, before stepping into the old abode himself and leaning back and cracking his neck. "Anytime now," Lennon insisted. As the minutes ticked by they seemed to be growing longer and longer, he accompanied himself by watching the violet rabbit bounce incredibly high in the air. Only a few moments later did he realize flying purple rabbits don't exist.  He burst out in laughter, lifting himself off the ground and looking Alarian directly in his hypnotic eyes, watching as they spiraled like an illusion. 

"Sitting on a cornflake," He crooned to his love, "waiting for the van to come."

The boy waited patiently, half expecting nothing to happen. He barely noticed at first when the walls of the den began to crawl.
But then it got more intense, and all at once he noticed. The rocky veins in the walls became a slithering mass, and the dirt below him began to slowly soften and he sank in. Instantly the boy knew this wasn't real; for a moment he panicked anyway. Not again! Not in front of Lennon! No, no, no, no, no...
Then he really looked at his companion.

Alarian realized immediately something was off with him, and when he began to sing nonsensical words the boy's mind darted to the mushrooms. Oh. Why hadn't Lennon told him?
He gave an uncertain smile, eyes trailing what was rapidly becoming a moving swirl of colors around him. Various aspects of the environment warped and changed, shifted hues and shapes, and he almost struggled to remain calm against the onslaught.
Well, this is... something else. He murmured a bit playfully, keeping his focus on the strangely wavy figure of his love.

He continued to laugh, feeling as his muscles stretched out and breathed for once. It had been forever since his last trip and every fiber of his tension melted off his bones and sunk into the ground below. Lennon's color-changing eyes struggled to focus on Alarian's, his smile wavy and crooked. Slowly, he made his way towards the smaller wolf, licking his companions cheek and feeling every individual hair against his tongue. In lethargic and sedated movements he gently herded Alarian onto the ground. 



"I am the walrus," He sang in a sluggish voice. "Goo goo g'joob,"