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“Tommy, you better stay with me or else I will tie you to your horse and send you back to Phil.”
Turning, Techno stared at his little brother. Sure enough, Tommy had started to wander, attention drawn by something deeper in the woods. His head jerked up when he realized that Techno was looking right at him. Sheepish, he rubbed the back of his neck, settled into the saddle. Techno turned back to the road, holding the reins of his own horse. She snorted back to Tommy’s mare, flicking her tail in the other horse’s face. Snorting back, Tommy’s mare quickened her pace until they were walking beside one another. Hoofbeats thudded on hard-packed dirt.
All around them, the forest was peaceful. Birds chirped. Mid-morning sunlight shot between the spring-green leaves. It was a nice late spring day. A fair, warm breeze whispered along the path. However, it wasn’t the kind that whipped their hair back or into their face. More of something that just delicately played with it. Snorting, the horses kept walking. Every so often, their ears would flick back to the riders.
“Would you really send me back to Phil?” Tommy asked, turning to look at his brother with wide eyes. Snorting, Techno just looked ahead. “Techno? Techno?”
That was how about the next hour went. Tommy kept begging Techno for an answer about whether or not Techno would really go back to Phil. They kept riding on. Every so often, Techno would look around. Check for anyone following them. Then Tommy began talking about how Wilbur and Schlatt were chatting about Hot Pockets for fifteen minutes nonstop while Niki and Minx were there and going through the five stages of grief. Rolling his eyes, Techno kept on moving. Occasionally told his mare to go somewhere else. Tommy eventually quieted. The sound of the horses’ hooves on the dirt, scattering pebbles and sticks as they went, was the only noise that echoed through the trees.
“Hey, Techno, dare you to race!” Tommy suddenly said, spurring his mare on. Never one to turn down a challenge, and also never having lost his brother on a trip, Techno nudged his own mare in the ribs and galloped after him. Hooves thundered on the dirt. Soft mane brushed against his mouth and nose. Leaning closer to his mare’s neck, Techno stared ahead. Up in front of him, Tommy kept a firm grip on his horse’s reins. Laughed loudly. Freely. Grinning, Techno whispered in Enchanted to the mare.
Shaking her head, ears flicking back to him, the mare quickened her pace. She was practically eating up the ground. Outpacing any racehorse Techno had seen. She was bred for running, born almost of the winds themselves. Unlike most racing breeds, her running didn’t put the same stress on her heart and lungs. She wouldn’t bleed internally. Plus, she liked running.
Hooves flashing shell-pink against the white stockings of her legs and the rich reddish brown of her coat, the sorrel kicked her legs forwards quicker. Soon enough, they were at the same pace as Tommy’s bay. “Hi, there!” Techno greeted. Eyes flicking over, Tommy nearly yanked on the reins as he stared at Techno in shock. His mare skidded with a whinny, reacting to the tug on her reins. Stones skittered in front of them. Cackling, Techno let his mare have more of the reins, let her strike out as much as she wanted as they charged for a fallen log. With a snort, she leapt over the cracked wood. Techno slid to the back of the saddle as a result, even though he really had tried to lean forwards so she didn’t stumble. Slowing, the mare turned, snorting and tossing her head. Rubbing her neck, Techno praised, “Nice job, pretty girl. When we get back I’ll give you a couple apples. That sound good?” Turning, she snorted. Threw her head again.
Tommy and the bay approached, having gone around the jump rather than clearing it. Snorting, ears flicking, Techno’s mare shook her head. The younger horse ducked her head. Did the chewing motion that came with submitting. Satisfied, Techno’s mare dropped her head. Started grazing from the soft grass poking out of the path. Walking over, Tommy’s bay ducked her head, too, scratched her nose against the inside of her leg before finding a snack as well.
“I think I won.” Techno teased, leaning forwards and grinning at Tommy. Immediately, Tommy flipped him off. Snickering, nose wrinkled up, Techno glanced to the left. Studied what was beyond the trees. “Hmmm. Well, on the bright side, we got to have some fun. Also, there’s a village up ahead. Think we should check it out.”
“Yes.” Rubbing the back of his neck, Tommy moaned, “I haven’t been able to take a bath in days. All sweaty and gross.”
“Aww, Wilbur’s rubbed off on you, I see.” Techno laughed, tugging on the reins gently. His mare flicked Tommy’s in the shoulder with a long, reddish-gold tail. Then, they were riding along the path. Taking a breath, Techno glanced around the village. Then, he paused. Listened.
“Oh, sure. Like you don’t spend two hours brushing out your—“
“Tommy, shut up.”
“No. No, I want to talk—“ Tommy paused, glanced over when Techno made a gesture. Nodding, he closed his mouth. Looked around, one hand already going for his weapon. He didn’t even hesitate to listen.
There was a flash of white scales under the bright sunlight. A long, webbed tail with spokes slashed out. Techno was knocked from his mare. Rearing, the two horses spooked and fled. Disappeared into the woods. Darn. Rolling to the side, wincing as the move dragged at scrapes and some hopefully only bruised ribs, Techno rasped in a breath. Tommy was missing. So was the beast.
Punching the ground, Techno pushed himself up. Grabbed onto his sword. He stumbled to the side as he stood. Touched the side of his head gingerly. There was a cut along his hairline. Still, he shook his head. Looked over to the town. It was a normal-looking town…until he realized it wasn’t. Deep claw slashes marked the cobblestone, leaving wakes of white at the ridges.
As he walked, Techno recognized the foul scent of blood. Metallic, old. The houses weren’t years old. Perhaps weeks. There was a thin layer of dust along the windowsills. Walking over, Techno dragged a finger through it. Swallowing, he looked out across the paths of the town center.
One of the doors was open. Blood spattered it. There was more, dried and crusted at the stairs and then the frame of the door. All of it was old. It was the only house with blood on it. All the others had shattered windows, cracked or ripped off doors, but no blood. There, dangling down the steps, was a hand.
Swallowing, Techno glanced around. “Tommy?” He called. “Tommy!” There was a whimper above him. Freezing, Techno slowly drew his gaze up.
There, standing above him, was a white Enderman. Spiked tail flicking around its legs, clawed talons digging into the roof, it scowled down at Techno. Deep ruby eyes scowled down at Techno. There, in its grip, was Tommy. Thin, ridged claws wrapped around Tommy’s throat and neck. Shaking, he was holding onto the Enderman’s wrist. Fear played across his whole face.
The Enderman suddenly started shaking Tommy by his neck.
There was a loud snap, and Tommy’s eyes widened.
The Enderman dropped him. Tommy slammed into the ground, boneless. Already, Techno was at his side, picking up Tommy and bracing him against his chest. Standing up, he glanced at the Enderman. Hissing, it scowled down at him. He grabbed something from his inventory. Throwing up a TNT stick, Techno turned and ran away. The Enderman shrieked as there was an explosion.
By then, Techno had already retreated into the woods. In his arms, Tommy was limp. Every breath seemed hard fought for. Head dropping into the crook of Techno’s arm, Tommy rasped in a breath. “Ssh, ssh, it’s alright. You’re fine.” Techno whispered to him. Blinking, Tommy stared at him. Kept breathing.
Techno stayed with him until he passed.
+++
When Techno got home, Tommy had already respawned.
Brushing by Wilbur and Phil with a couple greetings, having already taken care of the animals and put them away, Techno hurried up the stairs. Looking around, he sniffed and rubbed at his eyes. He hadn’t even realized he’d started crying. Honestly, that was fine. Tommy had died in his arms. He was allowed to cry. Especially because this was his little brother.
Darting into the room, Techno glanced around. There was Tommy, lying on the bed. Weakly, he lifted his head. Smiled softly. “Hey.” He croaked out softly.
“Hey, Toms.” Smiling softly, Techno made his way over. Then, he dropped down beside Tommy in the bed. “Do you mind if I join you?” Holding out his arms, Tommy nodded. Techno dropped down, pulled him close. Tommy immediately buried his face in Techno’s chest as the latter kicked off his shoes. Tommy grabbed onto Techno’s cape and shirt and then curled up a little bit. “How do you feel?”
Humming, Tommy mumbled, “’m tired. Want to curl up and sleep for a week.” Gently, Techno ruffled his hair and then kissed the top of his head. His hand found Tommy’s back and he started rubbing his back and shoulders. Tommy settled into the bed. There was another soft chirp, particularly when Techno’s hands rubbed over where his wings were coming in. They were still too small to use, and probably hurt, too.
There was a soft humming chirp. Chuckling, Techno kept rubbing his wings. “You’re alright. I’ll keep you safe here. No worries.” Burying his face into Techno’s chest even more, if that was even possible, Tommy relaxed even more.
When Tommy drifted off, Techno kept Wilbur and Phil from taking any blackmail pictures while he slept.
He did let Kristin take a picture to send to him later, though.