It was splooting.

“Which is?”

Finally, Dr. Voss did the only thing that made sense. She lay down on the warm mud, belly-first, arms and legs splayed out in perfect imitation. splootalien

“It’s not hostile,” she whispered. “It’s… displaying maximum vulnerability. In Earth animal behavior, splooting means trust. Or heat exhaustion. But on Gloop VII?” She knelt, her knees sinking into the warm mud. “Let’s try something.” It was splooting