Monday evening, in a suburban home’s garage.
This was where the band Windfield†Cult had their band practices. Today’s practice went well. They were really vibing.
“Oh my gosh, my heart is pounding~" Frontwoman Denise Foster set down her microphone.
She was a short girl with brown and pink hair, wearing heavy, dark makeup, dressed in a long-sleeved shirt with a short skirt. She and her brother Silas founded Windfield†Cult one year ago.
Silas’ style was a bit more gritty with a black leather vest and ripped jeans. He had an undercut and blue dip-dye hair. “Your singing is unmatched today, Denise~" He smirked, strumming a chord on his electric guitar, then looking back at the other two band members. “Cookie, Randall, you’re good?”
“Yeah.” Randall took off his bass and set it aside. “I think Cookie was a bit off sometimes, though.”
“Excuse me?” Cookie, the drummer, got up from their seat.
Cookie had wild brown hair and wore cat-ear headphones, always donning some sort of artsy eyeliner. They were dressed in all black and purple. “If anyone was off, it was you!”
Randall rolled his eyes. “Man, you’re getting on my nerves.”
“YOU are getting on MY nerves!”
“Cookie, Randall, please…” Denise approached the two. “The mood has been so tense between you two… you should talk it out in private.”
“Muh…” Randall reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “I’m getting a call. Be right back.” He walked out of the garage and answered the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, Randall… It’s me, Toby.”
Toby sat on his bed, twirling his hair around his finger. “I know you have a day off tomorrow but… C-Can you come to the HQ anyways? I need to talk to you about something.”
Randall blinked. “Why me?”
“P-Please! I don’t know who else to talk to… It’s kind of uhm… Personal.”
Randall put his head back. “Again, why me?”
“...” Toby sighed. “I-I’ve seen the flag pin on your bag.”
“... Oh. That’s what this is about.” Randall grunted. “Fine. I’ll be there for your lunch break.”
“Oh my god, thank you- Thank you so much, Randall!”
“Yeah, whatever. See you tomorrow.”
“Y-Yeah, see you!!”
Randall hung up the phone.
“Who was thaaaat?” Denise came over to him.
“Mh. A friend from class.”
“Is he your boyfriiiiiend?”
“No?” Randall looked at her.
“WILL he be your boyfriend??”
“No!” Randall ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m not interested in a relationship at the moment, and I prefer girls anyways.”
“Yeah… I know that.” Denise placed her hand on Randall’s arm. “I do miss being with you sometimes....”
“...” Randall looked away.
“Actually… I wanted to ask you about Cookie…”
“...” Randall peered back to the garage, where Silas and Cookie were talking. “I don’t know what got into them. Everything was fine until… Until…” Randall’s gaze wandered off - he was recalling something.
Everything had been fine. Randall knew Cookie for almost two years now. For a year of that, they were playing in a band. Cookie had never been a big talker, but they got along pretty well. Especially since Randall’s little sister had been born – because Cookie knew what it was like having to take care of a younger sibling, their little brother River was blind.
Something had changed a few weeks ago.
“... until - I told you guys about my new job.”
“Ohh…” Denise turned her head away. “Well – you really should talk about this. Maybe it’s just a big misunderstanding.”
“Yeah.” Randall returned inside the garage, now packing up his bass into its case. “I’m heading out.”
“Already?” Silas tilted his head.
“Hm.” Randall was about to reach for his bag, when suddenly a grey head popped out of it.
“HUEH!” Kracheen crawled out of his bag and onto his arm.
“Kracheen--? When did you get into my bag?!” Randall tried to take him off, but Kracheen clung tightly onto him.
“Oh my gosh!! He’s so cute!!” Denise followed inside and smiled at the snake-like Morpho Mon. “Hello there, little man~" She patted his head.
“Gh…” Cookie looked at the Morpho Mon with disgust.
“I’m sorry-” Randall was now fully entangled with Kracheen. “He was supposed to stay at home- Ugh- Stop it, Kracheen, I can’t breathe–”
“Maybe he felt lonely~" Denise scratched Kracheens chin. “You cute little fella… I don’t mind you taking him to band practice~"
“Well, I do.” Cookie grabbed their bag. “I’m not coming when he’s coming.”
“Huh?” Denise looked at them. “Are you scared of Krachy? You don’t have to be, he’s nice!”
“God.” Cookie came to join them. “Don’t you get it? Randall’s basically a cop. He’s going against everything that punk stands for! Against everything our band represents!”
“Cookie…” Randall took Kracheen off his body. “That’s really not it…”
“Shut up!! Just shut up!! I’m leaving!!” Cookie shouldered their bag and stormed off.
Denise raised her hand. “Cookie, wait!! Muh…. They’re gone.” Denise faced Randall again. “Please, set this straight with Cookie. I don’t want our band to fall apart because of this.”
Randall nodded. “I will, don’t worry.” He opened his bag and let Kracheen slither back in. “I’ll text you later.”
“Please do~ Later, Randall.”
~~~~~~
~~~~~~
Cookie had arrived home. Their home was only a few houses down from Denise and Silas’. “I’m home-” They quickly took off their shoes and tossed them to the side. “Where’s River?”
“He’s upstairs in his room!” Their mother replied.
“Thanks--” Cookie rushed upstairs and knocked on River’s door. “River? Can I come in?”
“Sure, come in Cookie,” the voice from inside replied.
Cookie stepped into the room. River was sitting in his chair and took off his headphones. He had long, brown hair and a side cut. His style matched Cookie’s, as they picked out his clothes and did his hair for him. He turned his head in their direction.
“Cookie… Is something wrong?”
“...” Cookie straightened their back. “Where’s Zeke?”
“Ah…” River pushed his chair to the side with his feet. “Here.”
A big dog crawled out of the space under River’s desk. The dog had no visible ears nor a tail and was noticeably plum and berry colored. “Cookie.” The dog said. “You’re nervous.”
“...” Cookie sat down on River’s bed. “I’m… I’m worried.”
Zeke jumped up on the bed and sat down next to Cookie. “Why are you worried?”
“... Can- Can Morpho Mons catch the scent of one another?”
“Ah… is it because of your Morpho Defender friend?”
Cookie nodded. “I’m worried they’ll find out about you… and take you away from us.”
Zeke shook his head. “Some of us can. But not all of us.”
“Cookie…” River smiled. “Don’t worry. They won’t take Zeke away from us. Remember what Basu said… They will protect us from those evil defenders. So Zeke can stay with us forever.”
“... Evil defenders. Right. Right!” Cookie put their hands on their knees. “They can’t hurt us. Not as long as we have Basu.”
“Right~" River got up from his chair. “You must be very tired from band practice. Don’t worry about us. Take care of yourself first~"
“... I will.” Cookie got up, too. “Love you, bro.”
“Love you too~"
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