Chapter Text
The forest was in a state of quiet, but peaceful tranquillity , it was serene with how much nature was left untouched by civilization. The trees gently swayed with the winds, the birds chirped and twigs snapped underneath the feet of wild animals passing through.
Though this forest was mostly untouched by people, people still had their hands on it by developing train tracks through the wilderness. And so, occasionally trains need to pass through. In order to get to their destination.
The metal, long forgotten but still functional train tracks that scored the earth clacked and clanged loudly as the weight of the train bucked and pressed against the hard metal. It was loud, especially for this type of train, a freight train, one of the older models usually seen in 1988, even after trains had progressed in the early 2000s. Despite this, it's still reliable for Gardenview to utilize it for their supply lines.
Dyle was situated in the cab of the train, his eyes focused on the tracks, watching the road. Whilst this was a run of the mill resupply for the toons back home, he had something else planned in mind. He took a deep breath to calm himself before he gently pulled on the breaks, this distance was sufficient enough.
At the back of the passenger cart sat someone who was vehemently against the idea of riding. He sat there with his arms crossed, and his teeth gritted. Shrimpo was brought in because Dyle had appealed to his ego. Dyle wanted help to help lift supplies into the cargo carts, while he agreed at the time. Now he regrets having to wait for almost a day in this stinking passenger cart to get to those supplies, not to mention the return trip! He contemplated giving Dyle a piece of his mind, but that idea halted as he felt the train slowly make a stop, was this the place? Shrimpo looked outside from the windows. Both sides of the passenger cart showed green and yellowing trees of a varied mix.
Dyle made his way over to the passenger cart, brandishing a polite smile as they locked his eyes upon Shrimpo "I'm sure you've been waiting long Shrimpo! Never worry! We're here now."
Shrimpo scowled at him before spouting out his usual tirades "I HATE TRAIN RIDES! AND I HATE THE LONG WAIT TIMES!"
Dyle didn't respond to such impoliteness, he beckoned Shrimpo over to the door "Come now! Gardenview needs those supplies!" Dyle walked out through the doors, and so, Shrimpo followed. As Shrimpo stepped through the doors and to follow Dyle, he noticed that the location they stopped at had no buildings, no people, no infrastructure, save for the train tracks. His eyes darted around for anything that could prove him wrong, only to be met with more nature. He was about to turn to Dyle to ask what's going on, only to be interrupted with a swift kick to the back. Shrimpo was sent flying off of the passenger cart, landing on the rough, rocky terrain, with the only soft areas that broke the fall being sharp and rough gravel. Shrimpo groaned and hissed violently as he felt disoriented from the sudden attack. As he regained composure he saw Dyle hop back on the cab, the freight train hummed back to life, and was quickly gaining momentum. Shrimpo felt his heart and soul sink into his stomach as he realized what was going on. Shrimpo quickly got back on his feet and ran towards the train. He pushed his body and mind to run as fast as possible to try getting back on the passenger cart, yet, despite all the efforts. The train didn't take long to gain speed, it bolted through the tracks, speeding away from Shrimpo, and eventually disappearing from Shrimpo's sight as it made its way past the horizon.
Shrimpo slowed down and eventually felt his knees buckle under the weight of his body. His legs and body tire from pushing himself, even feeling a sharp pain hit his side from how much he pushed his limits. Sweat and blood dripped from his body. Sweat soaked into his clothes, while blood trickled down through the cuts from the initial landing. He heaved and wheezed as the air within his lungs were gone, he felt light headed as he was out of breath. Despite that, he was cursing Dyle’s name with every breath. Damn it all if he couldn't breath, his hatred for Dyle blossomed into a righteous fury.
And soon, this righteous anger contorts and twist Shrimpo's face into the most angriest expression that he'll ever brandish
"damnit.... Damnit.. DAMN YOU!! DAMN YOU!! DAMN YOU DYLE!! DAMN YOU!!" His impotent screaming echoed through the wilderness. With nothing but the birds to respond, Shrimpo's scream had scared away a family of birds that had rested within the trees, making them all fly away to a different location, their wings flapping and squawks meeting his cry to no one.
…
As the hours drone on, the sun casted down a deep orange light through the forest, casting godrays as the sun's light weaved through the trees. Even though it's a picturesque scene straight out of a painting, the situation for the lone toon was too dire for him to appreciate. Shrimpo knelt by the tracks, ontop the rough and sharp gravel, like he’s still in denial of the situation, And is desperately hoping for, praying even, for Dyle to reverse the train back to pick him up. Yet, as the shadows lengthened from the setting sun, he grew more impatient. It’s uncharacteristic for him to be like this, all scared, anxious and frustrated. The despair is getting to him, the realization that he is well and truly stranded sets in, and that just makes the sinking feeling within his chest worsen.
His hands balled up into fists before the frustration of the situation made him hit himself multiple times in an attempt to get his brain to think of a solution, he didn't know what to do. All he knew was to be a bully to the other toons, and whatever was in Gardenview that he cared enough to pay attention to. The outside world and everything in it was all a foreign concept to him. He was never let out, so did the other toons, with only Dyle as the exception. Which just made the situation worse, the dots within Shrimpo’s head are slowly forming to a most disturbing conclusion, that Dyle knew, and purposely ditched him here in the middle of bumfuck nowhere, with knowledge that he would not be able to return back home. Thinking about this just made the sinking feeling in his chest drop to his stomach, clutching it tightly as he bit on his lip so hard that it broke the skin. Shrimpo can't believe it, surely it's just Dyle right? Or did the other toons conspire with him to finally be rid of the Gardenview bully? Did Dandy finally have the balls to task Dyle with throwing him to the trash? Oh, the way these questions now linger within his head is getting to him now. Shrimpo rose from where he knelt, feeling a warm liquid drip down to his shins, his knees were bleeding from the gravel that was pressed up against the weight of his body. He barely noticed the pain, in fact, he would rather prefer worldly sensations right now to distract him from his thoughts.
Shrimpo gently limped over towards a tree, its shape was large and its leaves spread out wide, a good place to rest in case of rain. Sitting underneath its branches he made himself comfortable, the only thing he can do for now. The sun was setting, giving way for the dark night sky to cast its shadows over the forest, the stars now twinkle down to give the lost toon some comfort, it reminded him of Astro’s floor, all the cartoony stars and illustrations of the night sky, hell, looking at Astro himself was also an example of what the night sky could look like. Stupid dude looks straight out of some little girl’s idea of what the night sky as a person would look like, yet, the night sky, unfiltered, not through the old dirty window of the Gardenview glass dome, or some TV static or VHS, had proven to be much more beautiful to look at. Shrimpo’s perpetually angry face softened as he looked into the night sky, seeing the stars twinkle and the moon providing a bright and comfortable viewing experience. He could feel his body relax as he stared up into the sky, eyelids growing heavy and his shoulders lowering. And while it's unwise to sleep in an unfamiliar place, he’d rather deal with this in the morning. A good night’s rest will help clear his thoughts.