Chapter Four: Not the Chapter You Are Looking For.[1]

BANG! BANG!

Cosmo shut his eyes tightly and tried to assume a pose that would make him look both heroic and completely invisible at the same time. It obviously didn't work, because something hit him right in the centre of his forehead, and he fell over.

So this is death, then, he thought. Funny, I thought it'd hurt more. And I didn't know bullets go 'Squish' when they hit you. And smell a bit like apple. Oh well, live and learn. Or rather, die and learn.

He wasn't entirely sure what was supposed to happen next, so he simply lay there. Someone would probably let him know when it was time to get up.

A few more shots rang out, and then all was silent.

Suddenly, all the small green fuzzy things started chattering excitedly at the same time. Whatever the problem was, it sounded rather urgent. Cosmo was tempted to peek, but he wasn't sure dying people were allowed to, so he waited a little longer.

Abruptly the chattering stopped, and was replaced after a brief pause by the sound of footsteps and leaves rustling all around him. When this finally faded, Cosmo opened his left eye.

The first thing he saw was the ground in front of him. The second thing he saw was also the ground. Then a shoe appeared in his field of vision, and somewhere above him, Squid cleared his throat.

"You can get up now, Cosmo. They've left."

"Sorry, Squid. I'm dead. Well, almost. Dying. Any moment now."

"You're not, you know."

"Am too."

"They just shot..."

"Am. Too."

"... some kind of fruit..."

"Am too!"

"... at us. Will you stop that?"

Cosmo opened his other eye, and felt his forehead. Then he stared at his hand. It was covered in something sticky and bright purple. He sniffed at it. It smelled a bit like apples.

He scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off, giving Squid a vaguely embarrassed smile.

"So, the small green fuzzy things ran off, then?"

"Yep. They didn't look too happy. Now what?"

"Maybe it's time we explored this place a little. See if we can find a new ship somewhere. And something to eat. I'm starving."

Squid nodded. "Lead on."

Cosmo peered around the clearing. The forest surrounding them looked much the same on all sides, and the only path leading off was the one the small green fuzzy things had used.

"Very well. This way!" He pointed confidently in a random direction, and strode off.

Ten seconds later, he fell into a hole.

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[1] Please imagine that I'm making a wavy hand gesture here.