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Theo stood on the circle platform above the lava, staining on his head. The bright idea of surrounding him in lava made it so he couldn’t escape but also made him really sick. His wings were drooped behind him, dirt and twigs stuck in the feathers from his last fight but he was too tired to preen them.. He slowly moved to the floor, his vision swimming as he coughed, glaring at the guards on the other side of the room. He heard water splashing behind him before he felt the numbness of invisibility.
“Go to the edge.”
That was Parrotx2. That was definitely him. His best friend, whom he thought had already died in the hands of the LAW. His eyes widened but Theo made his way to the corner, ignoring his vision tilting as he followed after his friend. As they made it to the bridge Theo felt his vision darken, instinct taking over and reaching out. He accidently shoved someone off of the bridge. Well that's ok they probably deserved that anyways. It didn’t take long for the duo to start climbing out. Theo's legs shaking as he followed but Parrot was too focused to notice. When they made it to the top Theo felt part of his chest tighten.
“Parrot- Parrot theres something i need to tell you” Theo said, holding back a cough
“What is it?” Parrot asked, finally looking over at Theo.
“He had me set a-” Theo got cut off, his stasis was pulled before he could finish
==========
He blinked and looked around him, he coughed hard, his feet giving up under him. He blinked rapidly trying to figure out where he was when he felt a sword inches from his neck. He looked up tiredly to the eyes of a Law member. Theo didn’t know whether he should try to fight back or not. Knowing for a fact he wasn’t strong enough to not injure himself with his own carts he relaxed, leaning back. Theo breathed a sigh of relief when the sword moved away from his neck, letting himself cough. Theo’s wings itched as he sat there, rocks now colliding with the mess of his wings. Theo didn’t know how long he stayed there, his vision swimming and he couldn’t see anything in front of him anymore. His breaths came out in wheezes and he could see the two chungus law members exchange looks of pity. Theo looked away from them, heat rising to his face. He didn’t need pity, he needed sleep.
He needed to stay alive and wait for Parrot. Theo kept his eyes trained on the sky waiting for the expected happy ghast of LettuceK to come torment him. What he didn’t expect was the three happy ghast and distinct parrot wings in the moonlight. Theo wilted, the chungus from law coming over and pressing the sword to his neck again. Theo remained still, and when Parrot was brought over, he could barely hear anything being said.
Theo lifted his hands to rub at his ears, ignoring the looks from the guards
His ears gave a dull ringing. He could hear himself saying things but he wasn’t truly aware. He became slightly more aware when Ace didn’t swing at him but at the law chungus from earlier. His brain skipped as he followed Parrot.
“Watch out for the mace Parrot!” Theo called out, voice raspy
They made it into a tunnel and Theo paused, they didn’t have silktouch to cover it up. Not until Ace dropped his pickaxe. He watched Parrot and Ace talk, his ears ringing again. Theo didn’t think this was a good sign for him. He took the pickaxe that Parrot shoved into his hands, moving through the motions of breaking the stone. The sound that got through to him was the lightning, symbolizing the death of Ace. The only reason they were able to escape was now dead.
“We didn’t even know him”
Theo knew Parrot was upset, and he let Parrot make the deputy the grave. Theo moved away, coughing hard, shaking his wings trying to get some of the dirt and grime out.
“Theo we need to get out of here, we need to get more materials to help and build a resistance.” Parrot said, walking over to Theo
“Any ideas in mind?” Theo rasped
“I do, it's not far. You sound terrible dude, and your wings look bad” Parrot said, concern leaking through his voice.
“Let’s get going then.” Theo said, hopping onto the ghast.
When the duo snuck into the law storage Theo could feel the exhaustion a lot more. Not that he didn’t think he couldn’t protect Parrot because he definitely needed to now that he knew his friend was alive. He helped Parrot get into the room, slipping stuff into shulker boxes, that was until Parrot nudged him into a dug out hole in the wall Theo trying to grab his ender chest but Parrot pushing him past. They hid in the wall, Theo biting his lip, his lungs burning. He couldn’t keep it in, he coughed hard, trembling.
“Theo!” Parrot hissed
“I’m sorry!” Theo croaked
"How many carts do you have?!” Parrot said frantically
“Not enough!” Theo coughed out
At first it was hard, carting and ignoring the dizzy waves, but once Spoke, Flame, and Wemmbu showed up everything became a lot easier. They were able to defeat all the law members and get all of the gear onto the ghast. They moved quickly, the happy ghast moving them slowly. Wemmbus fireworks under them made his ears ring and he slumped slightly, the harness in his grips slipping slightly causing the ghast to stop moving.
“Theo? Are you ok?” Flame asked, looking at the hybrid
“He said he's sick earlier. Is it getting worse Theo?” Parrot asked
“Wemmbu! Wemmbu he's gonna pass out!” Flame cried, just as Theo slipped off the ghast, eyes shutting as he fell.
“Theo!” Parrot screamed, lunging forward only to be grabbed by Spoke. The three could hear fireworks being spammed, signaling Wemmbu going for Theo.
“Spoke, let me go!” Parrot begged
“We need you, Parrot.” Spoke said, his voice filled with regret
Flame leaned over the ghast looking for Theo.
“Flame move us” Spoke commanded
“No! We are waiting for Wemmbu and-”
“If we don’t get everyone else then we are all dead to Law” Spoke said
Flame took the reigns of the ghast and steered them away, Parrot letting out weak cries and Flames own shoulders trembling slightly
“I’m sorry Parrot-”
“Shut up Spoke.” Parrot said, voice weak
When they made it back to district 13 they were all silent. All of them looked different levels of sadness. Not one of them looked happy.
Five rockets.
Wemmbu landed holding Theo, the bird hybrid unconscious and limp in Wemmbu's arms. Wemmbu was soaked, as well as Theo. Wemmbu looked at varying levels of anger and hurt. Wemmbu's tail limp behind him and his hair not braided, loose and out behind him. His clothes were wet with water and red spots on his shirt, his crown loose on his head. Theo looked even worse, clothes and wings soaked, his glasses not seen and his breathing was short wet gasps. There was blood coming from his head and he was clearly unconscious. Which was never a good sign.
“You left us.” Wemmbu said, voice hard
“I tried to stay! I tried-” Parrot reached for Theo stilling when Wemmbu took a step back.
“That doesn’t matter. You left us. If Theo dies.. Because of this sickness. It's all your fault.” Wemmbu said, pushing past them and entering the base.
Parrot followed quickly, Flame followed after and after a moment of hesitation so did Spoke.
Wemmbu laid Theo on a bed.
“Parrot, go get me two towels, Spoke will get me water and some sort of food, Flame will help me get him out of these clothes.” Wemmbu said
They all moved to follow what Wemmbu said, saying nothing. Flame moved for the head wound staying silent.
When Wemmbu and Parrot started drying Theo's wings, Flame moved and handed Wemmbu a towel silently telling him to go clean up.
“I-i’m sorry for having us leave them..” Spoke said, voice shaky
“I understand why you guys did it, but you can’t expect me to not be upset.” Wemmbu said, letting out an oof when Spoke hugged him.
Flame and Parrot stayed by Theo's side while Spoke and Wemmbu went to deposit the gear.
“Flame, have you ever preened wings before?” Parrot asked
“No..” Flame muttered
“Can you help me? I’ll teach you and you can do the other wing.” Parrot said
“Uh- yeah sure.” Flame muttered, sitting at the right wing, watching Parrot.
“The goal is to get any leftover rocks or dirt out as well as any loose feathers.” Parrot explained, running his hands through the other man's wings.
“I get it.” Flame said, running his hands through the feathers, surprised at the softness of the feathers.
Theo let out weak chirps between wheezes, his eyes remaining shut.
“I’m glad he's ok.” Flame said, voices soft
“How did him training you go?” Parrot asked
“Pretty well.” Flame responded
Theo blinked his eyes open his eyes scanning Parrot and Flame. Confusion flashing through his eyes before recognition hit. He smiled looking at them letting out a few coughs.
“Thank you” Theo croaked out
“Why didn’t you ask for help” Parrot asked
“Didn’t want you to feel forced.” Theo cracked
“I can’t say no to a friend can I?” Parrot said, smiling
“You need more rest.” Flame said, looking at the exhausted hybrid
“When is the-”
“Not for another few hours. We can handle any last minute training, just get some rest Theo.” Parrot said
Theo nodded and his eyes shut. Exhaustion and the soft hands through his wings pulling him under.