Chapter Text
He needed to keep running, but he felt so tired and his feet were quite heavy as struggled to keep from falling in the rough, thick mud, undergrowth, and twisting roots. He ran across the underbrush and into a clearing then collapsed upon the tall stinging grasses near the edge. They'd find him soon, but laying down was bliss, and he couldn't take another step, he was so sleepy, yet so restless. And, NO, looking back had never been an option, at least not anymore, this was now his life.
Once upon a time, he could of looked back, smile at his pursuers, talk to them casually, as if all of the familiar blood on his hands wasn't there. At one point he thought he did remember such a pleasant, yet foreboding time. But now all he could do was regret recollecting the painful memories in the first place. Maybe, just maybe he could laugh, smirk, and know them again, if they could only understand. But they'd never understand, instead they'd see him like a monstrosity, like a freak. Like what he now was...
It all started with a boy, this boy's name was DAVE STRIDER, and he ran straight into woods at the first chance he got- as did all of the scared shitless escapees- but fuck them, like hell he was scared, escape just seemed like the only option most of them had- all of the others who delved too deeply into the unknown; but how could of any of them even fucking know what they got themselves into. They couldn't even fathom that any of this was going to happen...
Sure, Dave had heard stories of the supernatural that decorated these parts with folklore to start childish paranoia and curiosities; the kind of weird shit that only happened to naive and totally blind protagonists in fairy tales.
But how in the hell, could he have missed this. He felt like a kid who just walked into a shady van because an old guy promised him some quality candy, except right now there was no candy. No, he didn't get his fucking apple flavored lollipop, all he got was just, a pure terrifying experience that he'd never forget.
Cept, he didn't get scared- Striders never got scared. Maybe a little unsettled, yes.
It all started when his bro, lost his DJ job at the local night club back in the city, its not like it did much to pay the rent already, but once bro was dropped the bitchy landlord kicked them out at the first chance he got, saying he was sick of their shenanigans, loud music, and relentless roof top battles, scaring the neighbors straight.
So the first option- after the landlord's ass got handed to him by bro- was to sit on the street like the homeless saps they were, or the second to move to the Lalonde's residence.
They picked the latter of course, nothing better than spending 'family time' with their psychological analysts, constant alcohol consuming, and cat loving sisters. Everyone knew shenanigans were bound to ensue in the very house.
Dave always knew the town was weird, he knew that as soon as they moved here. Hell, there were crows at every corner, never cawing, just silently sitting on the electrical lines watching anyone and everyone. The creepy bastards; Dave watched as their heads followed him like surveillance cameras outside the Lalonde manor, and he thought for a moment if they were mocking him, then threw a rock to scare the black birds away. They laughed then, he could hear their hoarse caws fading as they flew into the distance, leaving their shitty feathers trailing behind.
Dave quietly groaned to himself, great, now he was getting all paranoid- like some old madman throwing rocks at the birds, just like one would wave his cane at the kids in his lawn, except, oh right. Those kiddos were birds.
Eventually Dave quickly got used to the place and the people who lived here all with their own stories of how they all ended up in the small shitty town of Sburb.
Sure the people were nice and even though it was cold as fuck up here, the snow was pretty cool, but nothing here seemed the same...
He would never tell anyone, but, he missed home. And he missed the Texan heat, the annoying city, and his crows and all their ornery noises- not these damn creepy ones. This town was so cold and faded like a rose that lost its color or was washed by the rain too many times over.
The small town was surrounded by a completely endless ominous forest which grew up Mt. Bec; plus the next town over was 5 long hours away and this town didn't have much to offer besides one school and a couple of old family restaurants and slow shops. Plus the one pizza place here sucked, couldn't a guy just get some decent pizza around here?
Ever since he moved here Dave had never felt so secluded and bored in his life. The only reason him and his bros moved here is because the Lalondes had invited them in with 'open arms' (no wait, actually he remembers, one, holding a martini glass of wine while doing this) but otherwise, just what the Striders really needed, especially after bro flipped his shit about losing his job and needing a vacation -up in the secluded dark town, surrounded by miles of untouched forest and the damn place looked like something out of a dreary horror film. . .
dang bro, best vacation and moving choice of the year.
But soon, about two months in, Dave's second year of high school had started, as slowly as ever too, but he had Rose, Roxy, Dirk, and new friends to mingle and grow with, and as of today his small- like man this school was tiny- class was having a field trip up to the old cabins near Mt. Bec, to research some of the shitty plants, follow deer tracks, and maybe hug a tree or two, like the fucking boy scouts they were.
Yep everything was going swell, no problems here, at least until the nightmares started, snapping jaws, sharp teeth, blood, and ear throbbing screams infiltrated his sleep each night- always the same, always shocking him out of his slumber and back into reality with a banging migraine most of the time- And those vast blue eyes he never could forget and- he needed to stop dwelling on it, so he pushed the thoughts and images to the back of his head to rot there.
Dave boarded the bus, and had quickly forgotten what he was just thinking about. But that didn't matter now.
Since he now had the nagging suspicion that something was out of place as he sat at the first seat his eyes fell upon. He turned his attention outside the window as Rose sat beside him and the bus engine slowly started up.
He couldn't feel at ease ever since this trip had started and honestly he really didn't want to step on the bus in the first place, but he was here, and there were no regrets yet.
He usually had a calm head on his shoulders, and shit usually didn't get to him like this, so he just brushed it off and put on his poker face, ignoring his stupid feelings. Everything would go smoothly and the skies would look gloomy like always...
"It seems like its going to rain soon." Rose nonchalantly murmured beside him, her smooth voice barely reaching Dave's ears over all of the other kids' voices in the stuffy bus.
"You, thynk- think s' gonna storm bad Rosey?" Roxy drawled. Dave guessed she still had a bit of alcohol in her system, there wasn't a time when she didn't...
Roxy sat up comfortably, looking over her seat while being tangled up in a snug pink scarf, which matched her eyes that were set upon Rose. Dirk sat quietly beside her, listening to his head phones in one ear, while attempting to fix his shades with a lone screw driver in another.
"Hmm, seems it might, do you think its going to rain soon, Dave?" Rose then turned to Dave next, watching him with keen intent, she already could see there was something on his mind, but a little questioning to get his attention wouldn't hurt.
But as expected, Dave's mind was elsewhere, he was listening to the small thrum of the buses' engine, lulling him into a calm state as he stared outside a window, watching as the tall trees flew by, with a solemn look on his face.
Rose faintly smirked, and gently tapped his shoulder, making him turn to face her- his facade as unreadable as always, then replied with a simple, and flattening, "What."
"Dear brother, is there something on your mind?" Rose quizzically asked, and Dave could feel her peering into his very soul examining every bit like a picture book.
Dave tried not to frown, but she could already read him like a open book, and now even Dirk was watching from the corner of his eyes, his orange irises on his broken shades but his attention on the conversation at hand, Dave knew he had been zoning out again, it had been getting worse as of today...
"Oh its nothing, dearest sister, the trees outside just seem really enticing today, these trees are like the finest of lady trees and not gazing upon them would just be like kicking a puppy into a ditch and screaming goal, like a fucking generic asshole born and taught on the planet Uranus and raised by the biggest of fart spewing assholes."
"Smooth Dave," Rose said as her violet eyes examined him like a apple ripe for picking. He was rambling- it was such a bad habit he knew he had, he already knew it was going to be a very stressful and long day.
"Wow Uranus really? Distracted much Dave?" Dirk smirked and he WAS listening after all.
"Shut up, its none of your business dude." Dave said coolly, while Roxy giggled and Rose raised a eyebrow with a ghostly smile written across her mouth.
"You seem tense Dave."
"Nice assumption Doc."
"If it's true Dave, you can tell me." Rose kept going, her violet eyes set in a steely determination.
"No its just that I forgot to feed the cats this morning and I'm worried if Mr. Cuddlesworth is a cannibal, from some recent behavior."
"Roxy fed the cats this morning and yes, that is some alarming behavior he practices in, just like your zoning out earlier, care to explain, or perhaps share?"
. . .
"I hide no secrets from my dear little sister, what kind of charming man do you take me for? You really do hurt me." Dave smirked.
"Pfft charming? Your more like baby cute Davey." Roxy grinned, and Dirk rolled his eyes.
"David." Rose said, as a thick electric tension filled the air and their stare down continued, to see who'd break first. He was really to used to this familiar family tension, it was like a battle ground in your own fucking minds most of the time. Plus he hated it when she used his nickname for times like these, so why not use hers?
"Rosaline." Dave put on his poker face, his mouth turning into a thin line to show he was serious and that he wasn't going to crack, and he met Roses eyes from behind the shades staring her down until she gave in and sighed. Closing her eyes in a slight annoyance, and then she looked back to Dave, "Dave I just asked whether you thought it was going to rain and cared to give an answer, but you've been unattainable all day and very quiet, are you certain you wouldn't like to share the issue?"
He knew she was concerned after she found out about the nightmares but he was honestly fine. Well not completely.
"Just tired, when are we even arriving at this fucking place?" Dave asked. He didn't look back at her, refusing to meet her disappointed eyes.
And then as if on queue, the rain started to fall. At first it fell in little droplets, quickly turning into a thick, heavy rain. And as soon as it started one of the volunteer chaperones stood from his spot in the back- Mr. Vantas- Dave suddenly wished he brought his headphones with him on this trip up the mountain to drown out the noise, Mr. Vantas had a bad habit of lecturing and about any unsettling or triggering things- which might as well be everything, for a moment Dave almost felt bad for Karkat, the boy who had to live with Kankri for his entire life. Talk about bothersome.
"Okay, young adolescents of Skaia High, I would like to ask you to please quiet down and listen to the proper instructions to this very educational activity, as we shall be arriving to the camping site rather shortly; which by shortly I mean another two hours- I would like to advise no one to trigger anyone or anything else in any upsetting way, now for the important instructions and advise..."
Dave watched Kankri bring out an old and fucking huge manual of, "Camping and The Research of Plant Diversity Instructions" and Dave silently groaned inside as he read.
This would take awhile, and the rain outside was really coming down, it seemed like Rose was right about it this time, but he didn't remember a time when she wasn't right.
Drowning out the sound of talk and lecturing, Dave glanced over to the rest of the chaperones behind the Vantas, six of the volunteers sat in their comfortable space some more annoyed by Kankri's continued blabbering while others quite amused.
In the furthest back of the group of adults was Cronus Ampora- Eridan's brother; who was a constant player, and dick extraordinaire, if Dave remembered correctly, and was intently staring at Kankri's ass.
Although Karkat did mention to Dave that Kankri and Cro were getting closer than he personally liked, but Dave didn't expect the two to actually go out, since Cro seemed to be a lost cause.
Next to Cronus was Mr. Captor- or Mituna, as Sollux- the computer kid from Dave's biology class, called him.
The guy didn't look so good though, instead he was fidgeting around like if something was about to pounce on him, Sollux said that Mituna absolutely hated vehicles after an accident as a kid, that led to some severe damage. Dave watched as he held onto his phone for dear life, and couldn't help to almost pity the guy.
And in the seats across from them was Porrim, Meulin, and then Horrus- who was barely hanging off the seat, sweating a bit from the ledge while keeping himself upright, while Meulin stared out the window and Porrim read another magazine in between the both of them.
Coach Noir, The gym teacher, was driving bus with quite a grimace and a growing headache, the road was getting slick with all this rain and he he could faintly hear thunder in the distance, but like hell a little rain was going to distract him, he really wanted to slit all these loud kids throats to make them shut up... but, had to look good in front of miss Paint, after all.
Dave went back to looking out of the wet window before he heard a long line of loud swears from behind his seat- it meant only one thing- Karkat.
"I swear to Gog if this fucking trip lasts one damn second over the time limit, I will shove Kankri's fat tongue so far up his ass he'll be tasting his own shit spewing instructions he made us listen to."
Dave could hear Kanaya gently scold Karkat and he almost smirks to the shouty boy's rambling protests,
"Well, we all know why you never shut up either Karkles, you were practically raised by the guy, must run in the genes." Dave says and Karkat glares up at him from the ledge of his seat, the bus had gotten warmer and darker as the rain clouds blocked out the sun and the steady yet warm breathing of the passengers had made the bus even more suffocating and heated than it needed to be.
"Hey Strider I don't exactly remember inviting any damn annoying remarks from your gaping shout hole, also just because Kankri raised me doesn't mean I do any fucking thing like him, got that? I'm surprised a stupid shitstain like you could even cook up such an assumption in your fucked up thinkpan."
Dave rolled his eyes behind his aviators, Karkat could really fucking preach when he wanted to, but it wouldn't be as interesting without the creative slander. But seriously the two had to be related.
But just as Dave was going to feed Karkat some more of his snark he caught a glance of something BIG and black- darker than the shadows, black- flash in the corner of his eye, just outside of the window, and stopped,
"What the fuck Strider, are you just going to now put up with my shit like a complete chump now? I mean I thought you were more of a douche than that." Karkat talked on, not completely sure what the hold up was for. But he didn't really care either way.
Another flash, Dave could see it in the tree line beside the bus, quickly moving and making quick even footsteps throughout the undergrowth occasionally getting closer to the edge of the forest and closer to the road, he couldn't think of what it was- whatever it could be it was quick, and massive like a bear, Dave wondered if it was a bear before he glanced away and swung his head to interrupt Rose who seemed to be having a conversation about the dark gods with Kanaya.
"Say, are bears known to be in this area? Were talking about some pretty damn fast ones too, like ones that could fucking keep up with a bus fast." Dave asked. Still processing himself what he had just asked. It probably sounded ridiculous, but it was important.
Everyone went quiet including Karkat and Kanaya, until Karkat practically screeched, "What the hell Dave!" His face matching Rose's, who looked at Dave with concern and was about to answer before one of the kids from the other side of the bus yelled,
"Woah, what's that?"
And suddenly everyone leaned to the windows trying to catch a peek and Dave squeezed past Rose to glance.
There were more shadows, five, seven, then eight Appeared flashing through the trees and forest for only a couple of moments before disappearing again, then peeking back into the buses view, everyone had seemed mesmerized by the movements and Dave noticed there were three other shadows on his side of the bus too, including the first one he saw from earlier.
That's when it hit him that they were surrounded, and a sinking feeling in his gut told him that this wasn't a flock of innocent Bambi's- not with that size nor speed.
He wasn't the only one who noticed either, since Horuss quickly stood up from his seat in the back and spoke rather nervously to the expectant teens, "Excuse me everyone, but, uh please sit back in your seats, this could be very dangerous-"
But Dave tuned out from Horuss, as his eyes were still glued to the window as well as now Dirk's and they quickly glanced at one other, reading each other's faces in the dim light which reflected off their shades, Dirk looked tense but seemed overall calm, while Dave couldn't say he wasn't the same. Dave quickly glanced back at the first shadow again, seeing as it moved closer, he held a breath. The bad feeling in his gut wouldn't go away and he suddenly regretted not bringing at least one of his shitty swords with him...
"Boss whadda want to do, we've been following the humans since they drove outside of town and now we show ourselves?" Growls a small gray wolf running along the tree line, letting the mud, sweat, and rain slick his fur back just the way he liked it, "well?" He said as he panted and ran.
A dark and merciless laughter left the leading she wolf's sharp jaws and her eyes were set on the bus carrying all the delectable fresh meat with a new found amusement, she could already smell the blood and fire, besides her pack wasn't gonna get any bigger without a little push, right? Why not take what was offered. She was the Alpha after all. And so as she thought of all the fun ways to crush the vehicle, she finally decided. she answered with a sickly sweet and simple,
"We crash em' of course."
When Dave looked back his eyes met with a massive black Wolf who almost glimmered in the blinding rain. It was now running beside the bus on the wet pavement, and his eyes were locked upon its huge fuchsia eyes, which were bright, terrifying and menacingly beautiful in the casting dark. Suddenly a wave of fear overcame Dave and made him rigid he clenched his teeth as he watched the wolf wear a grin-like expression upon its dark face, showing off her rows of perfect fangs which were probably sharper than anyone of his shitty swords ever could be, and unsurprisingly they were ready to draw blood and bite. Dave shivered. "What the hell..."
He could see nothing but those eyes and hear nothing but the hushed breathing of everyone on the bus, and before they all knew it she caught up and jumped right in front of the bus taking it head on, before the bus skirted towards the side and the loud screech of rubber burning on concrete woke him back up out of his daze.
A powerful push from the wolves on the other side quickly tipped the beaten bus onto its side and suddenly it was slowly falling into forest and down a steady slope making the worst of creaking sounds as they all tipped over terrified.
Dave braced himself but was quickly slammed against everything and anything being swung at him every which way by the collisions, like small earthquakes erupting from the bursting impacts of the countless trees. The windows were instantly shattered with an ear deafening noise but the screams were much, much worse, filling his ears in the agony and pain of others and before he knew it some of the screams had been his own.
He needed this to stop, he wanted this to end but the bus kept rolling down and his body flung painfully through the masses,
crack over scream,
Scrape, split and shatter, and more endless screams.
The hundredth sight of blood and a loud crack from his own arm made his world black out in a quick stab of pain. The bus had finally stopped rolling. And Dave had been unconscious long before the bus had stopped moving.
The only noise was the rain... thunder.. And the faint howling in the distance...
"Alright boys let's fish out some good ones shall we? Can't let em spoil." A dark womanly voice rang out from the shadows as more wolves lurked forward to analyze the scene sniffing at the thick blood in the air. The fuchsia eyed wolf finally locked onto her awaited prey and new recruiters, some already stirring among the rubble. Things were going perfectly swell.
It was going to be a long day and Dave knew it.