Chapter Text
He tore the pink paper from its gray bag briskly. Eager to see the contents inside. Beside him lay his stuffed polar bear, given the last time this special day came by. The young b̵̪̗̠̤̬͂̌́̾̎̔̋͒͠ơ̷̧̠̭̹̗̊͂̍͌͝͝y̴̢̞̳̬͇͋̏̆̽͑̇͘͠'̵̯͇͍̆̏̍̐š̸̡̮̥̼̼̎̍̌̈̏͑̑̾͊ eyes widened when they layed upon the glistening, crimson velvet.
“Wh-” Was all he could muster through the ever growing joy.
“We scraped together just enough. Do you like it?” A black haired woman said. Her gray eyes, just like her husband’s who rested in the chair to the right. The man gestured to his child who flapped his ears happily before giving the bag and its contents up.
“Papa, Mama, thank you!”
With a nod, his father fastened the gemed button as well as its golden chain accompaniment beneath. Its red fabric dropped to the ground with much room to spread as he had not grown tall enough to fit properly. His beaming son twirled and plopped cross-legged back to the ground, twiddling with the white, fluffy fur lining its ridge.
“Actually, Techno my boy; before you get too comfortable; could you gather some wood from out back? Our chimney is running low.”
With neither hesitation nor complaint, he returned to standing, snatched the toy, then ran through the front door. Not two seconds later, he returned with an eager expression and asked, “Papa? Could I go play in the snow?”
“The...snow?” Papa responded, confused as it never snowed in the oakland forest and most especially not in their town.
Both parents took from their chairs and followed their son out the front. Papa was correct. Dark flakes falling were nothing easily compared to snow as it came from the sky that fateful night. Though Techno could not tell the difference. Ash.
“Sarah. Take him and head for the gate.” His father sounded panicked.
“Papa…?” The b̵̪̗̠̤̬͂̌́̾̎̔̋͒͠ơ̷̧̠̭̹̗̊͂̍͌͝͝y̴̢̞̳̬͇͋̏̆̽͑̇͘͠'̵̯͇̆̏̍̐ asked, as the man he’d known since birth said his next words slowly.
“Hey there Tech… listen bud… You probably won't understand this until you're older but I need you to be strong. For me, for your mother, and anyone else who you come to like. Follow her and do everything she says… I’ll meet you by the river.” The gray eyed, gray haired man stood abruptly and pushed his mother in the direction of the village gate. It was the only safe exit since the forest around them was full of beasts no one dared challenge.
“Papa!” Was all he could call before the hand, which once stroked his pink curly hair at night or braided it during the morn, now tugged violently at his sleeve through the collapsing buildings.
Then came the sound which would always be remembered, though all who heard it wished to be forgotten. No. Not wished. Begged for it to leave their minds.
Through his limited vision, he watched as his mother stopped short. Collapsed to the ground and released his cloven hoofed hands.
“Mama?” Kneeling by her side, TechnoBlade turned the woman to her back. An arrow jabbed itself deeply through the skin. Her breaths were short and labored. Her eyes were bleary and glazed. But there was no evidence for not seeing her smile. No matter how weak it looked.
“C’mon, get up. We have to go find Papa.” He said, pulling on her arm in an attempt to help her stand. It proved futile.
“Look at me, TechnoBlade. Listen… closely…” She mustered, “Run until your legs give out and the darkness takes control. Then when you awake, keep running. Never stop my boy. Don’t let him catch you…I love you…”
“N-no… Mama get up. Get up!” She wiped the tears softly before the last wavering breath passed her lips, “M-mama…? Please… wh-”
“There ya are!” Someone yelled to his left. A… man? Yeah. A human man, about in his twenties, stood defensively mere yards from the fearful child.
He wore a simple white shirt with the emblem of fire in the centre. But perhaps it was his jet black hair that caught most attention in Techno’s claret red eyes. Had there been no fear within him, TechnoBlade may have starred forever, following the white bandana’s edges, tied loosely around the man’s hair. But alas, terror was all that coursed through his veins now.
When the figure took a step forward, Techno bolted in the direction originally set. He had to escape. The gate was in view. It looked different than it had before. Maybe it was the sky above. Maybe it was the fact of it being more than just a gate. More being a liberator or sign of freedom. Or maybe it was just the haze. All he had to do now… was reach it. Get to the forest and hide from the chaser at his heels.
The ash stung his nose and the smoke clouded his vision as he ran through the burning streets of the town. Yet even when the rocks pressed through his worn boots, he still ran. That was the final command. A mother’s dying wish.
Then something hit his skull. He fell to the ground. His vision blurred and his senses faded. All he could hear was the sound of wings, all he could see… a black feather… then everything went dark. Everything stopped.
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<