Starspun has a minion!

Alien the Ocudye

Starspun gazed out the window of the spacecraft as it descended towards the jagged, lifeless surface of Atebus, the moon that orbited Subeta. The wastelands stretched out below, the rift shimmering like a scar against the desolate landscape.

"Alright, Shadowcloud," Starspun said over the intercom, "I'm about to touch down. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Starspun," came the reply. "Remember, stay cautious around that rift. We don't know what might come through from the other side."

The spacecraft landed with a jolt, and Starspun leaped out onto the moon's surface, the weightless feeling making him giddy. He took a deep breath steeling his normally unflappable nerves, then set off towards the rift with a spring in his step.

As he approached the shimmering tear in reality, a sense of unease crept over him. The rift seemed to pulse and writhe, almost as if it were alive. Starspun steeled himself and reached out to collect a sample of the rocks near the edge, his hand hovering just above the quivering surface.

Suddenly, a low hum filled the air, growing louder and more intense by the second. Starspun staggered back, his heart pounding in his chest. Before he could react, the rift let out an unearthly scream, and something began to emerge from its depths.

Scrambling back, Starscpun did not wait around to find out what. samples in bag, he scurried up the ramp like rock structure. Only glancing back long enough to see a long tentacle wiggling from the rift.

"That's enough adventure for today!" Starspun yelped to himself running to the space ship. Sealing himself in and trembled. "What was that?" he asked himself. Setting the bag full of samples aside.

Taking deep calming breaths to steady himself. He wasn't done. He still had more things to do before returning home. But that rift! Was it friend or foe?

Taking a deep breath and sorting himself out. Starspun grabbed a second haversack filled with sample containers. "Things to do. do this, for Shadowcloud. I can do this." Repeating to himself. "I can do this." He left the spaceship a second time.

Returning to the edge of the cliff where the rift pulsed and expanded. Starspun gathered up all his inner wonder and ventured back down. Getting closer and closer until he was near the edge of the strange and cold tear.

Starspun's breath caught in his throat as the rift trembled and convulsed, emitting an otherworldly scream that rent the air. As the shimmering tear widened, something began to emerge, its form twisting and contorting with a haunting hum that resonated in Starspun's bones.

Out of the rift stumbled a creature unlike anything Starspun had ever seen. It had multiple mouths covering its amorphous body, and its tentacles thrashed about in confusion and longing. Its mournful, echoing moans filled the air, tugging at Starspun's heartstrings.

"By the stars," Starspun murmured, taking a step back as the creature turned its sorrowful gazes towards him. "What... are you?"

The creature's myriad mouths moved in unison, forming words in a chorus of whispers and wails. "Lonely... lost... friends... want friends..."

Starspun's adventurous spirit stirred within him, and he took a tentative step forward. "You... want friends?"

The creature's moans softened, and it extended a trembling tentacle towards Starspun, a silent plea in its shifting eyes. Starspun hesitated, then reached out and gently laid his hand atop the creature's trembling appendage.

"I'll be your friend," Starspun said, offering a warm smile as the creature's many mouths curved upward in an approximation of a grin. "My name's Starspun. What's yours?"

"Takeaway." the mouths echoed together, a harmonious melody.

"That's a nice name." Starspun lied with a smile, trying hard not to think of fast food. "Can I call you Tak for short?" He asked hopeful.

"Tak is nice. Call Tak." The creature encouraged. "Home?"

Starspun frowned. "This isn't my home. This is the moon."

"Cold here." Tak's tentacles withered.

"It is, my home is warm. It's a long trip. Do.... Do you want to come home with me?" Starspun asked curiously, worried.

"Yes." The creature and all the mouths smiled.

'Beats rocks.' Starspun thought to himself. "Come on." leading the creature to his space ship.