Chapter Text
“Come on, come on, keep running!”
Panting, Dream glanced around the foliage. There wasn’t anywhere he could hide. Wasn’t anywhere he could tuck the others away, either. Shit, this isn’t good. He muse,d stating the obvious. On his back, George let out a weak groan, chin digging into Dream’s shoulder. “Hold on, George.” He said, adjusting his grip. Against his back, he could feel blood slicking against his skin, soaking through his clothes. His other arm was wrapped around Ant’s wrist, dragging the cat after him. Dream risked a glance back.
A couple steps behind him, Bad was trying to run. Still, there was a heavy limp slowly him almost too much. A pained grimace painted his face. Come on, Bad, things’ll be fine. When Dream met his gaze, a twisted smile split the demon’s face. You shouldn’t be trying to reassure me. You’re the one who needs reassuring. Meanwhile, Sapnap had a bleary look to his gaze. The arrows sticking out of his shoulders shifted with every movement. In the sunlight beaming between the trees, the rotted fletching gleamed and flashed with old blood and old wax.
Ant stumbled.
Grimacing, Dream hauled him upright. Ant nodded a thanks, kept running. Wheezing breaths cut through the air, both from the man on Dream’s back and the one he was dragging behind him. “Come on, come on, there’s a cave not that far ahead.” He said, and Ant nodded. Of course, Dream was lying out of his ass.
He didn’t know if there was a cave ahead
As far as he was aware, there could have been more of the monsters. Still, when he looked at his friends—at Bad with the limp and Sapnap with the arrows sticking out of his back, at Ant as he blindly stumbled along with only Dream’s guidance as blood dripped from the vicious slashes across his muzzle and eyes—he knew they needed a lie more than the truth. They wouldn’t make it much further, not in this state.
Closing his eyes, he prayed to anyone who might have been listening that maybe, just maybe, they would be able to make it to safety.
Then, he snapped his eyes open again. Above their heads, the sunlight had a golden cast to it. The sky was a gradient of blue to orangey-gold. The sun was setting again. No, no. Please, please. We just need a couple more minutes. Don’t set yet, don’t set yet. He could see the stars starting to appear already. On his back, George whimpered.
“I know, I know.” Dream said again, adjusting his grip on George. The Brit grunted, whimpered in pain again. “I know, ssh, ssh. It’s going to be alright.”
Behind them, there was a rattling growl.
Freezing, Dream turned. His heart dropped to the needle-strewn earth below him. No. Behind them, the last shreds of dying sunlight beamed down on a skeleton. On its shoulders and legs, old and rotted straps of leather clung to the thin, exposed bones. An iron cap, glittering with enchantment, sat on the skull above a gruesome grin. Across its body, magic and enchanted sinew replaced muscles and tendons, creaking and groaning which each movement of the creature. Several teeth were missing from its jaw, it was missing ribs where Dream could see them. Several of its bones had teeth marks, like they’d been gnawed on by other beasts—maybe wolves, maybe zombies, maybe even other people.
Letting out a crackling, hoarse growl, the skeleton focused blank, empty eye sockets on Dream and the others. In a bony grip, the long-rotted form of a soldier’s bow sat in dusty knuckles. Slowly, it raised the bow, pulled the string back. Golden light snapped off the chipped head of an old arrow, flicked off blue and white fletching from the ancient empire Dream had only heard rumours of.
He looked at the others over the course of one second. Ant with his slashed out face, the wounds already infected from the dirt that must have been sitting beneath the zombie’s claws. Bad and Sapnap, with their injuries. In the corner of his eye, at a barely-conscious George, whose glassy brown eyes went to Dream’s for a moment. By then, he’d already made his choice.
Flinging Ant forwards, tossing George forwards as well, Dream shouted, “Sapnap, Bad, take them and run!” Then, he turned and charged for the skeleton. Behind him, he could hear Sapnap and Bad skid to a stop. “ Go!” He roared.
The arrow whizzed by his ear, slammed into a tree with a sharp twang . Ducking down, he slammed an elbow into the sternum through the gaps in the leather. The monster stumbled back, grabbed for another arrow. Drawing his beaten, chipped sword where it sat on his hip, had been clanging along uselessly while his hands were occupied with the others, Dream glared at the skeleton.
Leaping up, he slammed the sword down towards the skeleton’s head.
+++
“Oh, George!”
Dream dropped down from the tree above the hunters. His feet landed squarely on each of George’s shoulders, and he rolled forwards. Spinning, he slammed an elbow into George’s chestplate, cut back with the sword. Screaming, George dropped to the ground. “Dream!” Sapnap yelled. Lunging forward, he grabbed at Dream. Dodging to the side, Dream kicked at the hunter’s leg. Sapnap stumbled, but didn’t fall. Alright, then.
Ducking around Sapnap, he shoved the man. As he did, he spotted Ant. The other man held up his crossbow, aimed for Dream. The arrow shot by Dream’s nose, fletching brushing against his mask. “Nice shot, Ant!” Dream teased.
“Oh, be nice!” Bad yelled, tackling Dream. Rolling backwards, Dream shoved his foot into Bad’s stomach. Then, he flipped them both. Bad grunted as he was smashed into the ground. Muscle smacked against hard dirt, leather armour grated against the rocks. Grinning, Dream leapt upright, turned to look at George.
“Oh, Georgie!” He teased. Eyes widening, George held up his sword, prepared to block. Dream brandished his own weapon.
Then, he turned and sprinted off.
Racing along the needle-strewn path of the cedar trees, he kept a steady breathing pace. Alright, Dream, think. What can you do for traps, you need to get them off your tail. Eyes flicking over the trees, over the lack of foliage to hide in—he’d had to climb up one of the cedars so quickly he swore he would have turned his hands into a pincushion if he hadn’t had gloves—he silently cursed this seed. They’d been in spruce forests for hours , and he’d been running ever since they spawned in. At least they won’t be able to hide, either. I can see them coming from a mile away.
There was a fallen tree up ahead. Swinging his legs up, he threw himself over it, one hand braced against the bark. His boots thudded into a puddle, splashing brackish water. “He’s this way!” He heard behind him.
Cursing mentally, Dream quickened his pace. He wasn’t down on health, somehow. If he had to guess, though, from the landing and the sickening crunch as George had hit the ground, he’d probably brought the other hunter down to…half if he was lucky, maybe down by a third if he wasn’t. And usually I’m pretty lucky, but I won’t make any guesses.
He risked a glance over his shoulder.
Ant was on all fours, charging at full speed. Blue eyes narrowing, he threw himself over the fallen log easily. And there is our resident panther. Spinning, Dream pulled out his sword and slashed back, turning. The blade slid against Ant’s leather chestplate, but didn’t pierce it. Shit! With no other choice, he dropped to the ground.
Ant skidded across the dirt. Turning on one back paw, he slashed back, claws fully extended. Dream dodged back, grabbed Ant by the scruff and flipped him. Then, he aimed a kick for Ant’s head. The cat rolled to the side, twisted around.
Under normal circumstances, Ant was usually pretty far away. Attacking with ranged abilities, rather than something close up. That didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous up close, though.
With that irritably flexible spine of his, Ant twisted and smashed up with both of his back claws, slashing along the side of Dream’s neck and throat. Gasping, Dream stumbled back, grabbed at his neck. A stinging pain and a tacky feeling flooded his skin and nerves, and he grimaced. In the corner of his vision, his communicator warned on a screen he could see but Ant couldn’t that he’d lost five health. Shit. Shit, okay, Dream, think.
Ant surged forwards, teeth bared for a bite. Dream blocked the blow with one of his bracers. Sharp fangs snared in the leather and the sinew bindings, and Dream grabbed his sword and drove it into Ant’s stomach. There was a sharp hiss of pain, Ant’s ears snapped back to pin against his head, and tears welled up in his eyes. Still, the man didn’t let go. His fangs dug in deeper, and Dream felt them pierce through. Crying out, he flung his arm about, kicked at Ant’s stomach. Ant’s bite had cost him three more points, but he added a twist and smashed Ant into the ground. The man’s head knocked against stone, and he let out a cry, jaws snapping open.
“Sorry about this, Ant.” Dream said, snagging his sword. For a moment, Ant stared up at him. Raising the swords, Dream drove them down into Ant’s chest, pinned him there with one blade through each shoulder.
Ant’s eyes snapped wide open, and then his body dissipated in a burst of white smoke. His items dropped, and quickly Dream picked all of them up. He’d have to go through them later, once he got the others off his back.
Behind him, he heard the others skidding to a stop.
Turning, he shot Ant’s crossbow towards George. The man screamed, but Bad lunged forwards and slammed the arrow from the air with his shield. Then, he shot Dream a glare. “You killed Ant!”
“Play of the game, Bad! Play of the game!” Dream shouted, quickly reloading and then sprinting along again. Panting, he glanced around. Pulled out some bandages, held them in his teeth as he undid the bracer on his arm. It was pierced, but not useless. I’ll fix it with Ant’s later, once I have the chance. He’d have the chance.
He’d be fine.
Behind him, there was a yell. Turning, he saw Sapnap. Something slammed against his foot, and Dream slammed to the ground. His jaw smacked against stone. Above him, Sapnap apparently couldn’t stop, tripped over him, and went rolling forwards with a yell down the hill. Straightening up, Dream stared after him for a moment.
Blinking, he stared. Glanced back at the other hunters, who’d skidded to a stop. Well, actually, it was just Bad. George must have gone back. Helped Ant. Dream realised, then planted a hand on the ground. Twisting, he pushed himself up, grabbed out his sword.
“Come on, Bad. Don’t you want to win?” Dream asked. Rolling his shoulders, he stared Bad down. Swallowing, Bad stared at him. He looked nervous. Good. He should be.
Dream charged.
Bad screamed, and Dream leapt up. Swung the sword. It smashed into Bad’s side, sending him staggering back. This time, it cleaved right through Bad’s armour, and the chestplate disappeared. Kicking a leg up, Dream slammed it into Bad’s now-exposed chest, slammed the hilt back into his sternum and slashed the blade across Bad’s chest.
“Bad!” Sapnap yelled. Turning, Dream saw the other hunter sprinting up, sword already in hand. He jumped forwards, thrust the blade at Dream’s chest. Looking at him, Dream stepped to the side, saw Bad try to move away. Instead, the hunter dropped down, hands pressing to the bleeding wounds across his chest. “Hey!”
“Come on, at least try. You’re making this too easy.” Dream teased, slashing at Bad again. This time, he drove the blade into Bad’s shoulder. This time, it knocked Bad to the ground, clutching at the injuries. Alright, he’s not going to be a threat for a while. Dream mused. Then, he remembered the one time Bad managed to get a potshot in from the back. Actually—
Someone tackled him from behind.
Rolling forwards, Dream slammed Sapnap into the ground. There was a harsh grunt, a rush of air, and then Sapnap was on the ground. For a moment, he laid there, letting out a loud wheeze. Then, Dream stumbled back, glanced over at Bad where he was pulling himself up from the floor. He held Dream’s gaze, lifted his fists in front of his face and prepared to fight.
Dream sprang. Ducking to the side, Bad let Dream roll over his shoulders, spun and slammed a foot into Dream’s ribs. Immediately, Dream gasped. Felt the wind get knocked out of him.
I need to get out of here. Stumbling back, Dream spun and then bolted. He stumbled a little bit. Despite this, he ignored it as best as he could, pressed a hand to his stinging ribs. Kept trying to move on, keep on running.
Pulling out a steak, he shoved some of it into his mouth as he ran, watched his health points start to regenerate. Then, he grabbed some more bandages, quickly bound the other injuries even if it wasn’t the best job. It would work for the time being at least. Just until I have the chance to slow down. Just until I have the chance to find something. Somewhere.
Looking up at the trees, he paused when he saw a shadow. There was a spot where the trees looked like they were getting taller. Where the ground sloped up. A hill. Please have a cave, please have a cave—
Ducking around the corner, he glanced about hurriedly.
Oh, thank the Aether. Dodging into the cave, he pressed his back to the cool stone. Held his breath. Waited.
And waited.
And waited some more.
Finally, after what felt like hours, after the sun dropped below the horizon, Dream let out a slow breath. Sank down to the floor and pressed his back against the wall for defence. So he could see if anyone was coming for him. Alright, take a breather. Get some rest. You’ll be back up soon, Dream decided, closing his eyes for a moment. Then, he pulled out a loaf of bread, tore off chunks and started eating quickly.
His body hurt. Everything hurt. Keeping his eyes closed, he took a long breath. Filled his chest with air, then let it all out. Started working again, sewing Ant’s leather bracer onto his to fix it. Fill the gaps. Bandaged his injuries, kept eating, watched as his health bar filled back up to full. Okay, okay, that’s good. That’s good. Closing his eyes, he swallowed and then shifted his shoulders. I can take a moment’s rest. They need to heal and regroup, I have a moment.
Just close my eyes for a little bit…
He snapped open his eyes at the familiar hiss of a creeper.
+++
Rolling forwards, Dream took a step as the world flashed white.
There was a concussive boom behind him. Shrapnel dug into his back, pieces of stone and slabs of rock, pebbles and everything else. The wall rushed up to his face. Smashing into it, Dream grunted, slid to the ground.
For a moment, he couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe. Rock dust flooded his nose and mouth, settled in his chest and over his clothes. Swallowing, he opened his eyes, blinked. The monsters were in the darker shadows of the cave, watching and unmoving. Instead, they didn’t inch forwards. Then, most of them turned and padded off into the shadows.
Ears ringing, Dream slowly reached up and touched at his skin. A tacky feeling met his fingers. Sucking in a breath, he closed his eyes for a moment, then looked at his hand. Blood clung to his fingers, dripped down. Opening his mouth, Dream dropped his mouth open, felt his throat vibrate a bit. He must have made some sort of sound.
Why couldn’t he hear?
Snapping his fingers by his ears, Dream sucked in a few quiet breaths. Stumbled out of the cave and looked around. Pulled out his communicator, started limping through the woods.
<Dream> everyone the hunt’s off
<Dream> send locations
He wasn’t going to do a hunt if he couldn’t hear. Once upon a time, he would have. But the image of Sapnap staggering back to the hunters’ camp, holding his face with blood gushing between his fingers after taking a hit that knocked its eye from its socket, screaming from the amount of pain he was in, was burnt into each of their minds like a brand on a calf’s shoulder. After that hunt, Bad made them swear if they ever lost one of their senses, then they had to call the hunt.
Head screaming, Dream shook himself, kept stumbling along back to the others. “Bad! George!” He screamed, unable to hear himself shouting but able to hear the vibrations in his throat. Sucking in a breath, he yelled, “Ant! Sapnap!”
On his arm, his communicator buzzed.
<Bad> what happened
Swallowing, he forced himself to lift his arm, started typing away.
<Dream> blown up by a creeper while resting
<Dream> I can’t hear anything
<Bad> well keep moving, keep yelling
<Bad> we’ll come for you
Sucking in a breath, Dream kept walking, kept calling for the others. Eventually, he saw movement up ahead. Bad was running towards him, Sapnap right behind.
Something slammed against Dream’s ankles and he stumbled down. Thankfully, Bad lunged forwards, grabbed onto him and pulled him close. Fingers carded through Dream’s hair, his nose pressed into Bad’s shoulder. Then he was being led away, walking off.
Then, he was pulled after Bad, carefully. Sapnap strode along after them. After a moment, Dream glanced back. Bad swung an arm around Dream’s waist, supported him. Meanwhile, Sapnap smiled reassuringly, said something.
Eventually, they made their way to the camp. Sapnap and Bad helped him sit down against one of the trees. George and Ant were currently trying to bandage themselves up, chatting with one another but not with the others. Meanwhile, Bad settled down by Dream’s side, reaching around to carefully wipe the blood from his ears. Then, he got a healing potion from Ant, carefully pressed a potion-soaked cloth to each of Dream’s ears.
Slowly, slowly , Dream’s hearing came back. It mostly started with Bad’s gentle voice, light reassuring words and delicate encouragement. “You’re alright, you’re alright, just keep breathing, nod when you can hear me.” Dream nodded, and Bad dabbed more healing potion on his ears. “Okay. How’s your throat, did you get anything to your neck or any other injuries?”
“No, I’m alright.” Dream replied. Closed his eyes and leaned into Bad’s touch. He let out a deep breath, heard the others talking. “Thanks, Bad.”
“No problem. Just take a rest.” Bad said, kissing Dream’s forehead. Then, he went to check on the others.
He didn’t remember drifting off.
+++
This time, he stirred when he heard bones rattling.
Opening his eyes, Dream glanced around. Mobs. Immediately, he got to his feet, glanced around. There was a loud hiss, and he froze. Turned to see another creeper behind him.
“Everyone up!” He roared, watched the others jolt awake. “Move!”
There was another explosion.
Somewhere, Ant screamed at the top of his lungs. The ringing started back up again, and Dream moved for his sword. An arrow shot between his fingers and he grabbed the sword right in time, turned to look. A zombie was on top of Ant. Bad moved, tackled the zombie, pulled his sword up, slashed it down. With a roar, it turned, maw snapping open and rotting teeth glinting in the dim light streaming over the mountains and through the trees.
In the dirt, Ant was curled on his side. Bad stood over him. One of the skeletons fired for Bad, who cut the arrow from the air. Everything happened in a few moments, it was so quick. Stumbling upright, George charged for one of the zombies and tried to slam his shoulder into it. It stepped to the side, raised its hands. Another skeleton fired, arrow whizzing through the air and grazing against George’s back. It slammed into Sapnap’s shoulder, right between the gaps of his armour. Screaming, he clawed back for it.
Dream moved, brandished his sword and cut at the zombie that had attacked Ant. It didn’t go down, but the blade cut right through the rotting green skin stretched across its back. A foul smell filled the air, and Dream choked back a gag as he moved to have Sapnap’s back. Glancing back, he dipped his head once. Wincing, Sapnap did the same.
“Dream, move!” Bad shouted. Freezing, Dream ducked to the side, shoved Sapnap down with him. An arrow shot by his face, the fletching grazed his cheek. The skeleton who’d fired let out an angry rattle, like it was mad he hadn’t been shot. Sapnap moved to attack the other zombie. His sword glanced off it, though.
“Shit!” He cursed, stumbling back. Dream caught him, helped him straighten up and keep his balance.
“Language!” Bad snapped. Beneath him, Ant had pressed his paws to his eyes, hadn’t moved. Instead, he shook.
“Really, Bad? Is now really the time for—”
“Sapnap!” The zombie that Sapnap attacked lifted its arms above its head, slammed them down on both of Sapnap’s shoulders. He shouted in pain, dropped down for a second. Dream spun to attack it, noticed the other zombie moving for Bad again.
This isn’t going well, we need to get out of here. He thought. Lunging forwards, he moved to get between Bad and Ant and the zombie.
George got there first.
“George!” Bad yelled. Stumbling back, George let out an odd noise. His hands went to the deep, jagged gashes across his chest. The zombie raised its arms again to slash, and Dream stared in horror, frozen where he was, as it dropped its arms down again. George fell.
He didn’t get up. On the ground, Ant was still as well.
Shouting, Dream threw himself at the zombie, slashed his sword in an arc. It was a clean cut, cleaving right through the zombie’s neck and decapitating it. Immediately, it dropped into a burst of dust and golden sand, which drifted away on the wind in an instant. Turning, Dream scooped George up. Grabbed Ant’s arm and pulled him upright. “Start running! Come on, let’s get out of here!”
And then they were running in a direction Dream didn’t actually know, desperate.
He could hear George wheezing on his back, barely conscious. Ant was stumbling along, panting as well and shaking his head but just coherent enough to keep his legs moving. Both Bad and Sapnap cried out, Dream glanced back to see Bad on the ground. In a moment, though, he was back up, limping heavily but still moving. Sapnap had another arrow in his shoulders. They’d lost the zombie and some of the skeletons, but he could still see a flicker of alabaster bone between the trees.
“Come on, come on, keep running!”
Panting, Dream glanced around the foliage. There wasn’t anywhere he could hide. Wasn’t anywhere he could tuck the others away, either. Shit, this isn’t good. He muse,d stating the obvious. On his back, George let out a weak groan, chin digging into Dream’s shoulder. “Hold on, George.” He said, adjusting his grip. Against his back, he could feel blood slicking against his skin, soaking through his clothes. His other arm was wrapped around Ant’s wrist, dragging the cat after him. Dream risked a glance back.
A couple steps behind him, Bad was trying to run. Still, there was a heavy limp slowly him almost too much. A pained grimace painted his face. Come on, Bad, things’ll be fine. When Dream met his gaze, a twisted smile split the demon’s face. You shouldn’t be trying to reassure me. You’re the one who needs reassuring. Meanwhile, Sapnap had a bleary look to his gaze. The arrows sticking out of his shoulders shifted with every movement. In the sunlight beaming between the trees, the rotted fletching gleamed and flashed with old blood and old wax.
Ant stumbled.
Grimacing, Dream hauled him upright. Ant nodded a thanks, kept running. Wheezing breaths cut through the air, both from the man on Dream’s back and the one he was dragging behind him. “Come on, come on, there’s a cave not that far ahead.” He said, and Ant nodded. Of course, Dream was lying out of his ass.
He didn’t know if there was a cave ahead.
As far as he was aware, there could have been more of the monsters. Still, when he looked at his friends—at Bad with the limp and Sapnap with the arrows sticking out of his back, at Ant as he blindly stumbled along with only Dream’s guidance as blood dripped from the vicious slashes across his muzzle and eyes—he knew they needed a lie more than the truth. They wouldn’t make it much further, not in this state.
Closing his eyes, he prayed to anyone who might have been listening that maybe, just maybe, they would be able to make it to safety.
Then, he snapped his eyes open again. Above their heads, the sunlight had a golden cast to it. The sky was a gradient of blue to orangey-gold. The sun was setting again. No, no. Please, please. We just need a couple more minutes. Don’t set yet, don’t set yet. He could see the stars starting to appear already. On his back, George whimpered.
“I know, I know.” Dream said again, adjusting his grip on George. The Brit grunted, whimpered in pain again. “I know, ssh, ssh. It’s going to be alright.”
Behind them, there was a rattling growl.
Freezing, Dream turned. His heart dropped to the needle-strewn earth below him. No. Behind them, the last shreds of dying sunlight beamed down on a skeleton. On its shoulders and legs, old and rotted straps of leather clung to the thin, exposed bones. An iron cap, glittering with enchantment, sat on the skull above a gruesome grin. Across its body, magic and enchanted sinew replaced muscles and tendons, creaking and groaning which each movement of the creature. Several teeth were missing from its jaw, it was missing ribs where Dream could see them. Several of its bones had teeth marks, like they’d been gnawed on by other beasts—maybe wolves, maybe zombies, maybe even other people.
Letting out a crackling, hoarse growl, the skeleton focused blank, empty eye sockets on Dream and the others. In a bony grip, the long-rotted form of a soldier’s bow sat in dusty knuckles. Slowly, it raised the bow, pulled the string back. Golden light snapped off the chipped head of an old arrow, flicked off blue and white fletching from the ancient empire Dream had only heard rumours of.
He looked at the others over the course of one second. Ant with his slashed out face, the wounds already infected from the dirt that must have been sitting beneath the zombie’s claws. Bad and Sapnap, with their injuries. In the corner of his eye, at a barely-conscious George, whose glassy brown eyes went to Dream’s for a moment. By then, he’d already made his choice.
Flinging Ant forwards, tossing George forwards as well, Dream shouted, “Sapnap, Bad, take them and run!” Then, he turned and charged for the skeleton. Behind him, he could hear Sapnap and Bad skid to a stop. “ Go!” He roared.
The arrow whizzed by his ear, slammed into a tree with a sharp twang . Ducking down, he slammed an elbow into the sternum through the gaps in the leather. The monster stumbled back, grabbed for another arrow. Drawing his beaten, chipped sword where it sat on his hip, had been clanging along uselessly while his hands were occupied with the others, Dream glared at the skeleton.
Leaping up, he slammed the sword down towards the skeleton’s head.
The skeleton looked up at him. Then, the blade lodged in an old skull, scattered shards of bone to the side. Yanking back, it raised its head, shaking it from side to side. Half its face had been destroyed, jaw falling to the ground. Staring at it, Dream sucked in another breath,
Then he saw the arrow being pulled back.
There was a sharp punch to his gut, and he glanced down. An arrow stuck out of his stomach, and he stared down at it dumbly. That happened. Swallowing, he looked back up, grabbed onto his sword a bit tighter and then lunged in.
He stumbled, though. Which made sense, he supposed. He did take an arrow to his stomach, he was already hurt. Dodging to the side, he took a few hurried steps back. The skeleton shot at him again. Dodging to the side, Dream sucked in a breath. Slashed back with his sword.
Roaring, the skeleton dropped towards the ground. It slashed with its bow, and Dream stumbled back hurriedly. Then, he cut down with his sword again, cleaved through the skeleton’s head. It laid there for a moment, then shifted.
Oh, come on! Stay down. Dream stumbled back, pulled out his own bow and nocked an arrow. It doesn’t even have a head!
An arrow shot into his hip, and he fired his own arrow at the same time. The punc h hit him, and he winced. Closed his eyes and placed a hand against the wound. Still, the skeleton was gone, leaving only a few bones behind it.
Alright, alright. Go find the others. Go move. Turning, he stumbled through the woods in the second time in twenty-four hours. He could still track the others’ paths.
A strange feeling flooded through his chest as he moved. Swallowing, he moved along, kept his hands pressed to his injuries. I’ll be fine. I’m fine. Taking a breath, he moved along, glanced around at the woods.
He tripped again. Falling to the ground, he sucked in a breath. I can close my eyes, he mused. I’ll be fine.
He didn’t have the time to think that he might not wake up before he fell asleep.
+++
“Dream…up…you need to…come on, you idiot.”
Someone was shaking his shoulder. Groaning, Dream shifted. Tried to open his eyes, he needed to stop them. Except he couldn’t. Hands pressed to his sides, and he tried to blink his eyes open again. There was another shake. Another voice came from his back. “ Dream. Open…if you can…sign.”
Slowly, Dream started to come to. He was lying on the ground, dirt, pebbles, and pine needles pressing into his cheek. There was a tacky feeling on his sides, and he shifted slowly. Then, he cracked his eyes open. Someone was kneeling in front of him, leaning over him. Something pressed to his cheek, and he felt his mouth twitch.
Slowly, he opened his eyes a bit more. Techno. Techno was kneeling over him. On his other side, in the corner of his eye, he could see Phil there. “There you are.” Phil said, stroking his hair. Swallowing, Dream twitched his arms, tried to move. “No, no, stay down.”
Techno’s hands settled on his shoulders. “Hold on, Dream. You’re hurt. You need to rest.” Slowly, Dream blinked up at him.
Then, something hit him.
Pushing himself, Dream tried to force himself upright. Quickly, Phil and Techno shoved him back down. It was a lot easier than he would like to have admitted. “George. Ant. The—are they okay?”
“Yeah, yeah. They’re alright. Everyone’s okay, we got them back. We just needed to find you.” Raising his head, Techno yelled, “Eret! Wilbur! Over here, bring the stretcher!”
Within a few moments, Dream was being moved, carefully. Eret’s fingers locked around his, “You’re going to be fine, Dream. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Even though it was probably a bad thing, Dream passed out again.