like watching over a thermonuclear reactor

Erik tires of being fussed over. The crystals that had grown through his flesh were just... there. It was a fact of life. It was a part of life-- he'd never know anything else. The same way that Morg was growing a shroom from her eye, and he'd stationed himself on her bad side for the week. Careful not to knock it off or jostle it, careful she didn't bang her head on anything. It was the same way that he trusted her to be his voice, if he needed one. Erik was capable of talking, but that shit hurt and he'd rather not.

At the sound of her quills rattling around, he can't help but give a small, confidential smile, too. The sound was sorta nice, hollow and familiar. Gaze trained firmly on the path ahead of them, he notices it becoming steadily more desolate and open. What a weird place. Though he wasn't wholly keen on the idea of travelling as an entire family (preferring far quieter adventures where he could focus), this wasn't so bad either.

This place seemed to be full to the bursting with carcasses in varying states of decay. Erik takes great interest in them, breaking from his siblings to observe them intently.
Breathlessly. The gore fascinated him, as did the things that were falling apart at the seams. With great intent, he lowers his head to sniff at something. A long bone from some sort of large bird, though when he reached down to pick it up, it gave a loud crunch and shattered. Hollow. Fuck.

It's then that he catches the scent. Someone else was out here, someone among the living. Someone who was not family, someone who was not Tojo-Kai. Erik's hackles went up, ears pinned against his skull. A growl resonated from somewhere deep within his chest, menacing. Someone was here. Stiff, eyes narrowed, he fixes his gaze on the direction of the scent. Stranger.