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It started out with just a normal, regular cave trip, gathering some ores to make some tools with. Only Wilbur and Tommy went, insisting that they could do it on their own. They were big men, and what could possibly go wrong?
Turns out, a lot of things can go wrong. They took a turn down a narrower cave, and then the shaking started. It was a light shake at first, and then it escalated in a matter of seconds. The roof came crashing down around them, trapping them in a cloud of dust, with no way out.
Tommy chirped in surprise, and Wilbur went invisible to phase through the rocks that were about to fall on him. Tommy wasn’t so lucky. The rocks pinned his wings to the ground, and Tommy let out a loud cry of pure, undiluted pain.
“Wilbur, Wilbur, it hurts,” Tommy sobbed loudly, in so much pain, “Wilbur, please-please-please.”
Wilbur didn’t know what to do. He had two options. He could either go get someone’s help, or he could stay here with Tommy and wait for someone to realise they are missing.
Having calculated what would be better for survival, Wilbur told Tommy through his panicked sobbing, “I’m going to find Phil, okay? You’ll be alone for a bit, but I’ll be right back. I promise.”
“O-Okay, Wilby. Please hurry,” Tommy sniffled. He was trying so hard to seem strong, but Wilbur could see through the facade. His baby brother was terrified .
Wilbur had never gone so fast in his life. The sounds of Tommy’s sobs looped in his ears nonstop, fueling him to go faster. He couldn’t get the sound out of his head
He took note of the things he passed. Certain cave formations, specific ores and groupings. When he got to the surface, he looked at the trees, carving an “X” on the nearest one, before he ran off in the direction of the cabin. He could barely see it from where he was.
He needed to hurry.
He burst through the treeline around the cabin, the wind less powerful through the line of trees blocking it. He was shouting for Phil, trying to get him to come and follow him. He needed to be as time efficient as possible. Tommy is probably freaking out so bad .
Phil came bursting out of the door, and saw Wilbur waving him over, shouting for him to follow.
“Wilbur! What’s-,” Phil shouted, before getting cut off.
“Tommy’s in trouble!” Wilbur shouted, his voice cracking midway due to him trying not to cry.
Phil could hear the emotion in Wilbur’s voice, and could hear how distressed his middle child was. He flew after him, Wilbur leading the way on the ground.
As they were breaking through the treeline, Tubbo and Ranboo burst through the door, having been eating some food with Phil. When he suddenly got up and left, Tubbo and Ranboo were curious. They saw Wilbur leading the way through the trees, with Phil flying after him. They both knew Wilbur and Tommy had gone on a mining trip.
Something was seriously wrong. Something bad had happened.
Ranboo and Tubbo followed after them on foot, since Tubbo’s wings were meant for shorter flights and hovering.
They were going to help their best friend, no matter what.
==========
It was dark. Tommy was cold. He was lonely. Wilbur had left him all alone. Tommy hadn’t stopped crying the whole time he was gone.
He didn’t want to be alone.
Someone help help help.
The rocks pinning his wings to the ground were so painful. He’s convinced his wings are broken in at least one spot. His leg is probably sprained. Best of all, two of his fingers are bent in the wrong direction. He refuses to look at it, for fear of throwing up. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.
Wilbur said he’d be right back. He promised . It felt like it has been eternity since he left, but Tommy knew it hadn’t actually been that long. The fear and pain festered in his chest, distorting and warping his rational thoughts. He felt like he was going insane, trying to wait for Wilbur to come back.
The telltale whoosh of Wilbur’s invisible body phasing through the rocks above him immediately loosened some tension, and Tommy finally let out a breath. He didn’t even know he was holding it.
“Tommy, Toms, I’m back. I brought help. Dad’s here,” Wilbur told him.
“W-What’s the plan?” Tommy asked, a shake in his voice due to the pain and shock he was experiencing.
“Well, I’m going to sit and chill with you, and Phil is going to clear the rocks out of the way so you can leave,” Wilbur explained, gently grabbing Tommy’s wrist, being mindful of his broken fingers. Tommy tried his best to not look down and become aware of his very bent fingers that were beginning to throb in pain.
“I’m scared, Wilby,” Tommy whimpered, both in pain and fear.
“That’s okay, Toms,” Wilbur reassured, “I’ll be with you the whole time. I’m not leaving again.”
Tommy huddled up as close as he could, his wings still trapped under the rocks. He was trying to sit still, but it was really difficult. The only thing preventing him from moving was the promise of pain in his wings at every shift.
The sound of a pickaxe breaking stone filled Tommy’s ears, and it was a comfort to his jittery heart. Phil was getting him out. There was the sound of more than one pickaxe. But who else came for him?
“Will, there’s more than one pickaxe hitting the stone,” Tommy pointed out to his older brother, “Who is it?”
“Would you like me to go look, sunshine?” Wilbur offered.
Wilbur going to look meant he left. He would also know who else is here. He outweighed the pros and cons, and came to a decision rather quickly.
“Can-Can you go check? Please come back, don’t leave me,” Tommy pleaded, fearing being alone in the dark cave, trapped under rocks.
“I’ll be right back, Toms. I promise I’ll only be gone for a minute,” Wilbur reassured him, giving a comforting squeeze to his wrist.
Wilbur phased through the fallen rocks, and saw Tubbo, Ranboo, and Phil chipping away at the rocks very cautiously. Wilbur smiled to himself, grateful for Tommy’s friends. His smile dimmed when he thought of his baby brother, his sunlight, trapped underneath fallen rocks, scared out of his mind, and in pain.
He went back through the rocks, and saw Tommy with his eyes squinted shut, his ears twitching when he heard Wilbur phase.
“How much l-longer, Will,” Tommy asked, trying to sound brave, but Wilbur could see beneath the mask: Tommy was absolutely terrified. It broke Wilbur’s heart.
Wilbur sat there with Tommy for a little over an hour, listening to their people chip away at rocks and shovel gravel away. As the sounds came closer, Tommy seemed to get more jittery, but Wilbur never left his side.
Later, they treated his wings, his hands, and some minor scrapes and bruises. He would have to deal with overprotective everyone . For now though? He felt safe, Wilbur grabbing his wrist gently for the whole hour, rubbing soothing circles along his forearm and wrists.
There was a louder break, and a stream of light filtered into the cove, lighting up his hand being covered by Wilbur’s translucent one. Tommy smiled for the first time since the cave in, knowing that he was safe with his family.