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He didn’t mean for it to go this far.
Theo quietly let out a shaky breath. He could see Parrot walking in front of him, map in hand. The two are currently on their way to the great sea. After the purge, Parrot decided that it’s apparently important for them to find Wemmbu, a fugitive that LettuceK claims to have detained. He doesn’t know how it leads to this, but Parrot insisted that Wemmbu has run out of the law prison.
“This is our only chance to show the server that the law and Lettuce is not the correct solution. At least not with how they’re working right now.”
So Theo works with it. He follows Parrot everywhere, making sure that his friend is safe. That’s what he always is, no? Parrot’s best friend. His shadow. A replacement to someone.
They were trying to find shelter at night when the attack happened. It was the law men. Theo doesn’t understand much about politics, or even anything that’s happening in the election right now, but he sure knows that Lettuce sends these people.
“Parrot, run!”
“What? Are you sure you can handle this, Theo?”
He doesn’t know.
Theo watches as a dozen of lawmen start to splash strength potions to one another, doubling their damage. Well, shit.
Even with the difference in number and limited PVP resources, Theo nods. The cockatiel hybrid smiles towards Parrot, ensuring him that he’ll take care of it, “I’ll do my best.”
It reminded him of that time when he needed to go against the best player in minecraft. When he was forced to face the deadliest player he could ever imagine in this SMP where death is inevitable.
That was scary, but he pushed through. He can do it again for Parrot.
The other bird hybrid quickly told Theo to meet him on the other side of a mountain not far from where they are standing. He didn’t remember saying anything back, but Parrot wouldn’t leave if he didn’t say anything so it seems like he does answer the other hybrid.
The fight was more than intense. He ended up using all of his carts halfway, leaving him defenseless for a few seconds that earned him a gash on his right arm. His main hand is now half as strong as it should. That’s fine, he can always fix it with a golden apple.
He tried to run further. Making sure that he got enough time to at least eat a golden apple. It doesn’t work though. An axe strikes his shoulder blades when he tries to chug an apple, which results in him dropping it on the ground.
The dozens of lawmen weren’t actually that good. It’s just that they are all covered in netherite with an ungodly amount of enchanted golden apple. The fact that they have better pots and weapons than him doesn’t help either.
But he pulled through. He was forced to use his sword rather than his usual fighting style—cart, but he’s still Theobaldthebird. He’s still the biggest bird. It’s only after he killed four players when the other lawdogs decide to pull back. Not without making sure that Theo is heavily injured. He didn’t notice the trip wire being planted behind him. He was too busy fighting!
The thin wire apparently was connected to a redstone contraption that triggered a medium explosion. Big enough to destroy a few chunks deep, but not big enough to destroy Theo’s beaten up armor. The next thing that he knew was that he was on the ground, his head throbbing, and he couldn't seem to move. It took a few minutes before he could force his body up, another seconds before he could finally adjust his wobbly vision.
His opponents are gone. Right. What a bunch of losers.
He tried to bring his legs to stand under him, to support his own weight and his armor. He succeeded after a few wobbly attempts, of course. It took another few deep breaths for him to steady himself before he clipped on his elytra and fly toward the direction Parrot was heading.
Parrot told him to meet him on the other side of a mountain, but his vision was starting to make him lose his mind. Why are there three mountains in front of him? He groans, trying to blink a few more times to make his vision clearer. It worked for a few seconds but it’s enough to guide him to the right location.
The two hybrids finally reunited when Theo stumbled down, landing on his side. The loud crash seems to alert Parrot who quickly came out of his hiding hole. Of course he would be underground.
“Theo! Theo, are you good?”
His head is killing him and now that he’s kind of laying on his side, he could feel a weird stabbing sensation. But it doesn’t seem like there’s anything wet, so he’s sure that he’s not bleeding. That’s good, right?
He gave Parrot a small thumbs up before pulling himself up. This time, he did it in one try. Which is good, because he really cannot afford slowing Parrot more than this.
Parrot, bless his soul, the ever loving and trusting Parrot seems to hesitate for a bit, before agreeing to continue their journey.
It was bearable at first. A few hundred blocks away, Theo just feels wobbly paired with a strong headache. It was only until they needed to find shelter from the rain that it got worse.
At this point they have been traveling by foot for almost five thousand blocks away from the Law election tower. It’s been around two hours since Theo got—now he noticed that it might have been, a concussion.
He’s shivering from the rain, and his head is killing him. The nausea that’s creeping from his body is not helping at all. Parrot, who’s been busy with whatever book he was reading. Maybe some kind of political book that Theo wouldn’t spare his time with.
He looked at the rain outside. They have used an oak plank to cover the entrance, making sure that any mobs wouldn’t get in. They left a small room to look outside by using a slab. It’s risky, but not knowing what happened outside is also super dangerous. The rain outside doesn’t seem to stop any minutes so Theo decided that maybe getting a quick close eye isn’t bad at all.
Falling asleep beside his best friend has never been a problem for Theo. He knows that sometimes he snored which Parrot talked about to tease him. But Parrot never mind him falling asleep beside him. Not even when they’re in the middle of an adventure like this.
So it was surprising for Theo when he could feel Parrot shaking him. His vision blurred when he first opened his eyes, and Parrot is saying something but he just can’t seem to understand him. A couple of seconds later, his concussed brain finally catches up.
“What? Parrot? Is there an enemy nearby?” He tried to get up, but this time his whole body just collapsed. He could feel Parrot catching him. Surprisingly firm with his grasp.
“Theo, you’re trembling so badly in your sleep and when I tried to wake you up, you just started muttering words, and you’re burning up! What is wrong?!”
It took too long for Theo to register what Parrot said. He didn’t know what to say to his best friend. He knows that he’s hurt, maybe way worst than he initially thought, and it’s not that it’s his fault. He didn’t know!
“I think I hit my head a little too hard when fighting the law bastards. I ate some golden apples thought, so I should bounce back in a few minutes, Parrot. Just let me sleep please?”
Everything feels too much. His head is killing him, the light seeping from the small hole is killing bim, heck, his side is killing him. He kind of forgot about his side. Something’s wrong with that too.
“What?! Theo, you’re hurt? If it’s your head then you shouldn’t sleep at all Theo! Bro, wake up!”
He groans again when he feel Parrot grabbing his hands, trying to stop him from getting another sleep. Why does Parrot care so much so suddenly? He usually let him sleep!
“Bro, you can not sleep right now! Hey, look at me.” Parrot forces his eyes to open. Theo sigh uncomfortably, but he let his smarter friend navigates his head according to whatever he’s doing right now.
He know that it’s a concussion. It’s not even questionable anymore. But it seems like Parrot is still trying to connect the dot, and Theo’s too far down on his lie—can he even call it a lie?, to just randomly admit having a concussion.
It didn’t take long for Parrot to connect the dot. He was kind of expecting an annoyed response, or at least Parrot sighing tiredly at him. But it never came. Instead, Parrot frown, before quickly going through his inventory and grabbing a bundle. Very typical of him to use bundle and not schulker.
He whipped out his communicator and quickly typed something in while still trying to keep Theo up.
“Bro you need to stay awake. Do you know you got a concussion?”
“Mhmm”
Theo could feel Parrot patting his hair, gently trying to keep his head as steady as he could. The movement distracts him alot, and Parrot’s soft voice makes him feel kind of floaty.
“You knew? Why didn’t you say anything, Theo?”
He throught for a bit. Why didn’t he tell Parrot before?
“Well, I wasn’t sure. I thought it was just, you know, a minor fix. I don’t want to slow you down. Lettuce might catch up, you know?”
“Theo, I need you to understand this. I need you to always tell me anytime you’re hurt after fighting for us. No matter how minor the fixes are.”
“Ok. I’ll do that. I just don’t want to slow you down, man. What will happen if you fail to bring Wemmbu back? You might lose.”
Theo giggles at himself. Everything feels fuzzy now, and he just can’t contain it. His head is still killing him though, and so is his side. Now that he remember the other injury, he just can’t seem to ignore the pain.
“Theo, I couldn’t careless about the election if you’re hurt! I couldn’t careless about being the king if you’re not there with me! So if this happen in the future, please let me know. I don’t want you to hurt yourself, Theo. Now, be honest, do you have any other injuries?”
The other bird hybrid nods slowly. He looked at his side, the one that has been bothering him so much, before he slowly lift up his shirt. Now that he thinks of it, he haven’t even seen his own injuries.
It even feels painful when he move his arms up. The movement seems to be straining the muscles connecting to said injury.
Looking at it now, Theo could see how bad it is. He ignore Parrot’s gasp, and focuses more on observing his bruised side.
“Theo, this is bad! You might experience internal bleeding. Oh my God!”
Yeah, it seems like he’s cooked.
“I-it’s fine. We’re fine. Did you vomit any blood? Theo, I need you to answer me.”
No. No, he didn’t. He didn’t vomit or cough any blood so he shakes his head.
Good. That’s a good sign.
“Ok, that’s good. At least it’s not severe for now. I called a friend of mine to help. He should be here in a bit. You’re going to be fine, Theo.”
Yeah. He’s going to be fine.
Maybe he’s a bit important to his best friend.