Unrecognizable

~Chapter Twenty-Two~

Quickly changing the subject, the cat looked up at Void, saying, "Oh! Big news. You'll never guess who I talked to just walking around earlier today." Her high voice bounced off the walls, and even she had to admit she sounded like a tiny kitten.

"Grumbot; we know. Sage actually wants to talk to you about that." Void seemed terribly disinterested. Was he not interested in the slightest that a robot was just now freely walking around HermitCraft? Was this not that important? Citrus would never understand the admin. 

Well, now she felt silly. She had thought that was such a big deal, but apparently not. The cat was silent for a moment before piping up again. "Oh, Void. There was something else. You know how there ha-" 

But she was so rudely cut off by Void before she could finish. "Hold that thought," he said, still sounding very monotonous and bored. "Right here." He pressed a stone button built into the wall to open up the piston door leading to a room. Oh, had they really been walking that long? She had no idea. Wow, her sense of time really was useless. The door opened up to reveal the usual meeting room, where Sage sat on a chair, fiddling with the tie on his suit. He glanced up as Citrus and V made their way into the room, his face brightening.

"Oh, Citrus! I'm glad you're alright." He was clearly trying to stay calm, but his unnerve was unmistakable as he spoke just a bit faster than was usual. "Maybe tell us before you decide to ditch us for a day or two."

"Right," Citrus said with a slight chuckle. But she did feel bad. A little. "But I do have something to report. This isn't about a Hermit, bu-" 

But she-- again-- couldn't finish her thought because she was cut off by Sage. "Citrus, Grumbot has a new body," he began. Well, she knew that. Her tail flicked as she lept up onto a chair opposite Sage. 

"Yes. I spoke to Him earlier," she confirmed as she got comfortable. The cat stretched her front legs out bending back her ears, continuing. "He still definitely hates us." Before she sat back down, Citrus turned to X, whose communicator had dinged with a message. The admin narrowed his eyes with a slight scowl. 

"Sorry, I've got another glitch to work out," he remarked. His voice was hasty like he was anxious to leave. "Hate to go, but I've got to deal with this." And then he turned around to head back out the door. Just like that. Without letting Sage or Citrus say anything. What was up with him?

But before he could get out, Citrus leaped off the chair, her tail flicking in annoyance. She let out a slight hiss and stopped in front of V, glaring up at him. "Before you go, as I've been trying to say, I have something important to tell you two." She kept her gaze trained on Void and her tail continued to swish rhythmically. After a good thirty seconds, Void broke their stare and sat down on the chair she had been sitting on. Sage sat back, folding his arms as she leaped onto a table in between the chairs.

Now satisfied with having her two companions' attention, Citrus flicked an ear. "Earlier today, I was busy watching Stress." She almost added, 'like I promised I would', but decided against it. "When out of the blue, a blaze appeared." Void gave a small gasp, narrowing his eyes and sitting up. Citrus turned her gaze to him. "I don't suppose you were aware that Nether mobs are spawning in the ice spike biome?"

Sage butt in, speaking quickly. "Hang on, Citrus, you got attacked by a blaze? Are you alright?" His voice was full of worry, even though Citrus was standing right there, perfectly unharmed.

She nodded. "Yes, singed a few whiskers is all. Stress got the blaze before it could do any real harm." She licked down some of her chest fur, which had popped back up. She grinned. "I'm not a kitten." Citrus turned to Void, who hadn't said a word, seemingly frozen. "That's all, Void. Go tend to your important things."