Experience Tumblr Like Never Before
Scott could feel the mushrooms.
Every tiny nook and cranny that he could place them in wasn't safe to the eyes of his brethren. Through them he could see. Through them he could hear. Through them he could feel.
There was no privacy in the colony. Everything was shared. That way no one had to deal with things alone.
But that also meant that Scott's pain was shared with the entire colony. His anguish, his agony, his sorrow. Every mushroom in his colony felt it and resonated with it.
He hated it. Hated how miserable he made his colony feel.
But as quickly as it'd come, the hatred would dissipate as the mushrooms soothed him with gentle words. His mind would be lulled into silence with their tender tune of love and adoration; because why wouldn't they adore him? Not many fungal mages roamed the lands anymore. They were few; a tiny sub-populace, a dying minority that would fade away.
The colony couldn't let him be destroyed by his sadness. He was the one spreading their power across the world. So they treated him like the blessing he was.
Scott sat on the mycellium outside his house, one hand tenderly stroking the ground and humming a small melody.
"How are you settling in? Hmm. That's good. I was worried that Martyn's Dollop would be a bit hard to adjust to. It's nice to know you're doing well. Oh? Don't tell me you just learned about the Coliny. They're nice, I promise. Yes, I know, you'll be fine! They aren't competition. They are just... frozen creepers? Yeti creepers? Something like that."
The mycellium around him spoke in a mixture of tones and voices.
"Oh no, I doubt Martyn will find you too quickly. He'll take a while at least. Probably a couple weeks. Maybe some months. He isn't as dense as I'd like him to be, but he's dumb enough."
He felt their worry. Their fear of discovery. And at that he shook his head and tutted.
"Don't fret, my babies. If he does try to uproot you or hurt you..." He trailed off and glared at the sinking sun. "I'll show the fury of the colony. Every single one of his colins shall fall."
It was a promise. The sun, the moon and the blinking stars were his witnesses.
"What's this about killing my colins?"
"Oh. Martyn." Scott stood up and greeted the chillager. "How are you? Is there something you need?"
"Nah, just passing through," Martyn waved him off. "Although, what happened to your last origin?"
"I died."
"I know that! What are you now? How'd you die?"
He shrugged. "Fell. But now I'm even better! I'm a fungal mage!"
Martyn tilted his head like a puzzled puppy. "What's that?"
Scott didn't give him an answer. "I'm not alone now. I have my colony! No matter where I go, as long as I have mycellium, they are with me as well. It's wonderful! Nothing is private anymore! I don't need to worry about secrets! Or going through things alone!"
"I-"
"You'd love it Martyn. It's like never losing your inner child. Like always being able to cling to the parts of you that you love most. I have help for every problem!"
"This doesn't seem healthy." Martyn stepped forward and placed his hand on Scott's cheek. "Are you sure you're alright?" His touch was cold, but it didn't bother him. Scott leaned into it.
"Perfectly fine!"
Martyn's lips tugged down for a second, but returned to a thin line of indifference.
"I'd best be off."
"See you later!" Scott smiled, waving as his friend went away.
---
"He's not okay."
"What do you think it is?"
"He kept mentioning a colony. Acted as if he had a psychic connection with them as long as he had mycellium."
"Hmm. Check everyone's bases. There might be stuff there."
"You sure? What if we're just, y'know, overestimating this? It might just be harmless."
"I doubt it."
"Fine. I'll start looking."