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When Schlatt stirred, everything hurt.
Mouth falling open, he twitched. Gasped softly. W-what… tipping his head to the side, he groaned. Quackity was lying nearby, curled around Fundy. Fundy was turned away from Schlatt, his knees and arms likely pulled to his chest. His tail was slightly tucked up, too. One of his ears, now partially lengthened, was sticking up slightly. The other had been pressed against the ground, pinned back. Beside him, Quackity was on his back, one arm stretched towards Fundy and his legs at crooked angles. His eyes opened slightly, closed for a brief moment. Then, he visibly sucked in a breath. Let out a long groan and blinked. His eyes went to Schlatt. Widened. “Schlatt.” He mumbled.
Opening his mouth, Schlatt tried to speak. Instead, he jerked and coughed. Copper flooded his mouth. Something dripped down the side of his mouth and then his cheek and neck, hot and sticky. Quackity froze up. Reaching over, Schlatt touched the side of his own face with shaking, trembling fingers. Blood? He turned his head. Looked up at the side of the stone stretching up above them. There was a canyon wall beside them. Blood smeared down the side of the pale orangey stone, and Schlatt swallowed weakly. Dropped his head to the side again and looked over. Blinked a couple of times.
Then, he realized what was happening. He, Quackity, and Fundy must have fallen, which meant that they were all hurt. That blood on the stone had to belong to someone. And from the way Fundy was curled up, from the way Quackity’s legs were crooked, from the way Schlatt felt…it could have been any one of them.
Sucking in a breath, Schlatt spat some blood out to the side. “Quackity.” He mumbled. Slowly, he pushed himself up. Tried to drag himself over to the others. His arms gave out, he saw Quackity move. “Stay—stay there.” More blood dripped onto the hot stone beneath him. Looking up, he swallowed and forced out, “Fundy? How—how’s Fundy?”
Quackity glanced down. Looked back up at Schlatt. “He’s alive. I-I don’t know what to do for him.”
“Just—just keep him there. Save your strength. I’ll—“ Sighing, Schlatt lowered his head to the stone. Let out another groan. Something was wrong, there was an odd feeling deep in his stomach. It hurt. A lot. Finally, he forced out, “I’ll come to you.” Slowly, slowly, he made his way over to the others. Laid down with his head on the ground by Fundy’s. The other man had half-shifted, face already formed to a fox’s and his fingers sharpened into clawed paws. The fur by his neck was matted with blood, and there was a sluggishly bleeding gash across his chest. Quackity looked to him, eyes wide and nervous.
“Are you alright, Schlatt? You took a bad hit there.” Quackity reached over. Fingers brushed Schlatt’s head. Pain split through his nerves. Jerking away, he grabbed onto the side of his head, felt at his horns. There was a crack in one of them. Wincing, he looked to Quackity. The man was staring at him, terrified.
“I’m fine, featherbrain. Just…” Shaking his head, he sighed. Looked to Fundy. Rested his chin on the ground again, closed his eyes. “Really tired, I guess. We’ll wait for the others to get here.”
“Don’t fall asleep.” Quackity whispered. “Please?” Schlatt looked at him. Grinned as best as he could. From the feeling of blood on his face, and the worried look Quackity stared at him with, he probably had a very reddish-pink smile. Not the best, but it’ll work.
“Come on, bird boy. When have I ever been known to fall asleep on someone, eh? Wouldn’t be very Schlatt of me, now would it?”
His chest hurt, but he ignored it.
+++
“Schlatt?”
Wilbur glanced around, frowning. He had no clue where Schlatt, Fundy, or Quackity had gone. Holding onto his bow, feeling his fingers cramping up like he had been using his mouse and keyboard for too long again, he swallowed nervously. Raked the surrounding people with sharp eyes. Please. Please just be somewhere we haven’t looked yet, he pleaded silently. Please just be fucking off somewhere in the woods.
Quietly, he walked towards the edge of the cliff, feeling his heart drop immediately. When he looked down, his heart froze for a second. He glanced over. “Phil. Bad. Ponk.” He said, in a tone that was so much more calmer than he really felt. Immediately, it caught the attention of those called to. They looked over, and he said, “I need all three of you right now. We’ve got some injuries.”
“What?” Immediately, Bad was at his side. Then, he turned. “Punz, think you can make a harpoon or something? Someone get me some rope and a couple slings. Phil, glide down there now if you can.” Nodding, Phil outstretched his wings. They had grown a remarkable amount within a couple days. Now, Phil could glide and even get off the ground for a couple seconds. They would have to build up strength gradually. But they had plenty of time to learn how to fly.
In the meantime, they just needed to get to the others.
+++
Schlatt woke up when he was being hefted out of the canyon.
Something warm had been placed at each of his shoulders, as well as the back of his neck. The heat felt really nice. Taking a breath, Schlatt tipped his head to the side. Saw Phil and Purpled pulling him up the side. Ropes supported his butt and shoulders, thankfully, and he tipped his head back. Closed his eyes. “What did you use?”
“Topical analgesic.” Wilbur replied.
Frowning, Schlatt asked, “In English?” Wilbur opened his mouth again. Then, quickly, Schlatt added, “Layman’s terms.”
“We found some IcyHot patches and Ponk used some of his healing powers on the worst parts of you guys.” Wilbur smiled down at him. Added, “You were really brave, Schlatt. You probably saved Quackity and Fundy’s lives, too.”
“What even attacked?”
“Skeletons. Zombies.” Looking down, eyes bright, Wilbur added, “Minecraft style mobs.” Some of the heat kicked in at the back of his neck, probably some of the painkiller, too. Closing his eyes, Schlatt took a breath. “Hey, if it hurts, just close your eyes. Relax. We’re going to take care of you guys.”
“Fundy and Quackity?”
“Conscious.” Wilbur replied. “You were the worst hurt, we’re getting you up first. Fundy did a full shift so we need to take him to a vet or something I guess. Uhm, Quackity’s got the same bruises like Tommy and Phil had before they got their wings. So, uh…”
“Hahahaha.” Laying his head down, Schlatt closed his eyes. Let himself relax a bit more. “He’s gonna regret what he said to me earlier.” Slowly, he rolled his shoulders. Felt some of his bones crackle and pop. “Yeah, I need a nap.”
He must have spaced out. When he came to, he was in the bus. Minx was poking him in the cheek as he laid across his seat, legs kicked forwards and bandages around his chest. Sitting up, he dropped to the side. Smacked his forehead on the glass. “You dumbarse.” Minx scolded. “Don’t hurt yourself more. Tubbo cried when he saw you were hurt.” Glancing over, Schlatt tried to find him. He could see the others around him. Most were sleeping. Tubbo had wrapped himself up in his blankets and Tommy’s wings. Fundy was currently being held by Dream like a kid as he spoke with George, who was currently driving. Dream didn’t even seem to be acting like it was weird or anything. He was just holding a fox, actually, so it wasn’t that odd other than the fact Fundy was in a blanket burrito. Meanwhile, Sapnap and Karl had Quackity smushed under them.
“How is everyone?” He asked. Handing over a water bottle and a granola bar, Minx shrugged.
“Alright.” He nodded. Looked her up and down as he ate. Crossing her arms, she stared at him. “What? Going to comment on how I look? It’s been a stressful day, I don’t care if I don’t look my best.”
He waited for a second. Screwed the cap back on his water bottle. Swishing the water around, watching the moonlight outside reflecting on the surface, Schlatt spoke, “You look like you belong in this kind of world. You’re stronger. More confident.” Pausing, he sort of side eyed her, didn’t turn his head but still met her gaze. Blinking, she looked at him. Her mouth was slightly open, like she didn’t expect what had happened. What he was saying. “I think you’re doing great, Minx. Who cares about looking your best? It’s the apocalypse. We might die anyways.”
“I—thanks.” She mumbled, looking back down. Taking a breath, Minx looked back up at him. “We can get through this, Schlatt. We’re going to be fine. Everything’s…it’ll get better.”
Smiling, he glanced over at her. Grinned. “Too bad your face won’t.” He teased. Eyebrow twitching, she stared at him.
Yeah, he deserved being whacked upside the back of the head.