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The dark wouldn’t stay still. No, it moved, like ravenous wolves hunting their first animal in months. Swallowing all within their path. Their snarls and growls being the only noise they knew to make. The only noise that could be heard in silence.
He knew they were after him. He knew the shadows- the wolves- the beasts were there to drag him down, to kill him, to mutilate him, to rip him into shreds as if he were nothing but a thin piece of printer paper, but he didn’t want them to do that. No! Who would want that! Who wants a fate so cruel that even a god would feel pity!
However, as much as he wanted to live, as much as he hoped to live, he knew he couldn’t keep going on longer. The world was cruel and his body weak. He would not survive the ravenous shadows much longer, for their endless stamina would always overpower the weak energy his form held.
He had not always been this weak. No. He used to be renowned for his strength! So powerful he had been classified as a god born from a mortal! He had been impervious to the darkened, blood-stained, plans of his enemies.
He had toppled governments! He had taken down tyranny! He had been strong!- And yet, here he was. Weak. Not even able to fight the shadows that took on the form of the beasts he could once tame. He was alone in the dark, running, running too long.
His calves hurt. His hooves were covered in the black ink of the shadows. Perhaps it was blood? Perhaps it was mud? Perhaps- no he should not be using his brain power for trivial things- not when he is running- no- fighting to survive!
He really hoped he could run long enough within the cold- is it warm?- darkness. If he could then maybe he could be saved. Hmm. A savior… No, only one would save him, only one person- bird?- would ever save him, and he was dead. Doomed to the eternal slumber. The
red
enemy made sure of that.- Wait- what red enemy? That hasn't happened-How did his father die? He couldn’t remember- remember? Memory…
Perhaps his split neighbor? No . That boy would have forgotten his existence by now. He would be more likely to win the lottery than he would be to be saved by that boy.
The boy may be one of the most forgiving, one of the kindest people he has ever met, but the boy would never save him. His memory was too fickle. Sadly. He could remember- hah!- the times where one moment the boy was fine, but the next his eyes would haze and he would lose days worth of time. He worried for the boy. He hoped the boy would never go through what he is now.
His breath was shallow now as he continued to run. He wouldn’t make it-
No-
He wanted to see his neighbor again! He wanted to see his house! His pets! His everything!
He couldn’t! He couldn’t leave them behind! Not when they relied on him! Not when they relied on him to be strong and protect them! His outer personality may have seemed uncaring, but the truth was his body couldn’t handle how much he cared!
He didn’t want to leave them yet! He still needed to apologize to so many! He still needed to show that he did care! He had his brother- brothers- to apologize to! For the unnecessary violence he had directed towards them!
He didn’t want to die out here alone! No- he wasn’t alone- the shadows made sure of that! But they aren’t the company he wanted to die with! They aren’t what he wanted to die to!
The world was harsh though. He knew that. He knew he would die, far away from them, far from their comfort and warmth… Far from the
non-existent
grave of his father- No! He never died! Did he? He couldn’t remember. The shadows destroy all. Which is how he knew how far he was. How far he was from his brothers. How far he was from his brothers. He could only be far away- for his home never had ravenous shadows. Those could have only existed far away.
Far away from the grave that was the crater.
The crater he had created alongside his father and his fRiEnD.
The crater that destroyed any chance he had at redemption within his brothers hearts.
He was slowing. He knew it. His body and mind just couldn’t flee from the shadows that snapped their jaws at him. He knew his time was almost up. He knew that his life was to be ripped from him soon. He knew. Yet he couldn’t accept it. He wanted to see the warm smiles again.
The snarls got closer and closer- so close he could feel their breaths on his back as he ran.
No!
No!
No-no-nonononononononononono!
He didn’t want to go just yet!
Yet his body couldn’t go further and he collapsed into the dark oblivion of the ground. His right tusk shattered from the impact. Causing intense pain throughout his entire, already crooked, jaw.
The shadows didn’t jump on him immediately. No. They were intelligent. Calculated. They knew not to do that to collapsed prey, just in case the prey faked it. So instead they circled. Circled like vultures.
They surrounded him, prepared to snap his neck. Prepared to rip him apart.
No!
No! No!
He screamed, but it fell on deaf ears, as just like the snarls, they were silent. Yet louder than any word. Louder than any thought. Louder than his heart as it threatened to escape its cage.
He wanted to escape! He wanted to live!
But the shadows kept getting closer. Kept their desire to kill .
He could not blame them, for they were just hungry. But just as they wanted to live, he too, wanted to live.
He desperately looked for a way out . For a way to return to his family! To return to his peaceful house within the arctic!
But alas, the hungry wolves got closer and closer. Slowly waiting to strike him down.
Just as his throat was about to be ripped out- just as he was about to the dark ground red - a light appeared. A distant light, yet so close.
It brought hope! And with that came strength! The strength to stand and jump over the shadows! The strength to run full speed towards the light!
Wait- No!
One is not supposed to head towards the light! For it is death!
But…
…
It was so inviting…
So warm .
So much like his home …
So much like the love he felt towards his family…
…
He didn’t stop running, though he knew it meant death.
Though it meant the end.
He didn’t stop.
For the warmth of the sun is far better than the cold shadows.
Far, far better…
The warmth was so welcoming, like the softest blanket one could find.
Tears streaked down his cheeks as the shadows, and the light vanished. Suddenly. He was gone. Gone to the-
He woke up. His gaze was blurry as he weakly tried to sit up, before a hand pushed him back down into the- bed? He was on a bed? Surely death held no beds?
He blearily looked up, letting his gaze briefly touch upon this bright and warm world. He was not alone in this world, he quickly realized-
Surely he should’ve realized sooner?
Don’t make fun of him! He’s weak!
Fan#103 has a point, he should have noticed he wasn’t alone the second a hand pushed him down!
Fan#12, that doesn’t excuse making fun of him!
[Moderator has given a warning]: Let him recover before you overwhelm his brain.
To his left was a blurry- bird?- figure. In front of him there were multiple figures, red, horns, guitar, fluffy? To his right was another figure, split?
…
Wait…
…
His eyes widen and his gaze focuses.
“Hey mate, welcome back to the world of the living.”
Bird
- His father- Philza-
Phil-
he thought he died?
“We all knew you could fight it!”
Horns
- Tubbo-
He thought Tubbo hated him?
“Never do that to us again!”
Guitar
- Wilbur-
Hadn’t he been a ghost?
“We almost lost you.”
Split
- Ranboo-
His neighbor didn’t forget him?
A growl came from
Fluffy
- Steve-
His loyal companion was berating him?
And finally,
“Fuck you bitch! You nearly left us! You nearly left me!”
Red
- Tommy-
I never got the chance to apologize- why is he here? Why- why does he care for the brother that took everything from him?
He grunted, it was about all he could do.
“Techno, we all worried so much.” His father spoke softly, “When you came down with that fever it terrified us.”
“No one, not even nether creatures could have survived it.” Tubbo was quieter than he had been initially.
“You should’ve been dead the first night, mate,” Phil’s eyes had tears at their edges- he had not seen his father cry since- This was his fault. He made his father cry.
He whined, making- or at least was trying to make- grabby hands at his father. He wanted to show that it was okay. That he was okay. That crying was unnecessary.
His father happily let his son pull him into an embrace. Although it was sorta awkward to be pulled onto the bed.
Technoblade let some of his own tears shed as he hugged his father close. After a moment he turned his teary gaze to the others in the room before motioning to invite them to the hug. His brothers joined him quickly, tiny tears pricking their eyes. He was surprised Tubbo had joined the hug so quickly, but he wouldn’t complain.
His neighbor hung back unsure if he was welcome in the hug.
He gestured again, telling Ranboo that he was invited to the hug. The enderman hybrid happily joined the hug- well- it was more like a cuddle pile on top of Techno.
Once the hug ended they explained that he had gotten the fever a week back, and that during that time- before Tubbo and Tommy knew he had such a bad fever- Wilbur had been revived.
Wilbur had admitted he was just going to cause chaos again, but when he came to the arctic to talk to Phil he had learned about Technos possibly waning days. Tommy had been with him, so he had found out alongside him.
Tubbo had found out through Ranboo, who was just so worried that his body had teleported him to Snowchester as he had a panic attack.
It took a few days, but eventually Technoblade was able to stand once again, and was able to speak once again.
Before the fever had taken him- before the shadows - he had been at odds with most of his family. But now, it had brought them all together. Brought them to the point of becoming a family once again.
He realizes this now, but the light had never been death, it had been what dispelled the shadows.