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Boomie felt his antlers, rubbing them to distract himself from how uncomfortable he felt.
He was on his way to the cave to try again.
He needed to try again.
He was losing balance with his elytra, the trees coming into view as he scrambled to fix his angle and launch himself back up into the clouds with a firework. He rubbed his face, his twists and turns giving him a headache.
He really shouldn't be flying right now, but he needs to get there.
He needs to remember.
Remember.
He choked on the fast air as another firework pushed him forward. He coughed, his trembling hand moving the hair out of his eyes. He felt his arms; cold and hot in different places.
Was he getting a fever?
He boosted himself up again, unknowingly to him, where the air was thinner.
That wasn't a smart idea.
He coughed, falling slightly. His eyes fluttered as he struggled to suck in a breath.
—
He woke up to see he was falling out of the sky.
He yelped, spinning around which made him whine, his vision duplicating. He grabbed the ends of his elytra and used it as a parachute to slow his fall.
That didn't stop him from hitting the tree though.
His stomach slammed into the thick branch, knocking the wind out of him, his vision blurring from the pain.
He gasped, struggling to grab the branch to stop him from falling a few feet. His antlers got caught in the branches, the wood poking and tangling around them.
He fell, landing on his side.
He wheezed, his diaphragm loosening, letting air back into his lungs. His head pounded and spun; he felt lightheaded and nauseous, his eyes blinking slowly.
He grumbled, thin branches still tangled in his antlers, his glowing magenta eyes lighting the grass by his head. He felt overly cold, moving his hands to his skin only to notice it was clammy.
He fidgeted with his golden bracelets, his body heavy and uncomfortable.
He was sick.
He had to be.
He groaned, moving his hands to the side of his head to push himself up.
He needed to get inside.
Inside the cave.
He managed to sit up, checking his communicator in his pocket. The screen was lightly cracked but still functioned.
1:12am
He looked at his coordinates, noticing he wasn't too far away from the cave.
He could walk.
He stood up, his body falling into the tree as he gripped his stomach.
He leaned against the rough bark, a deep, familiar.. –but an unfamiliar response at the same time– to the darkness in the trees around him sparked.
Hide in the trees.
…
Why would he need to hide in the trees?
He rubbed his temples, grunting when he couldn’t place where that small, minute feeling was coming from.
Shuffling..
…
Did he just hear footsteps?
His heart thumped in his chest as adrenaline hid his sickly symptoms.
He had to hide.
Was someone following him?
An urge to keep moving filled his bones, but he didn't know how far he could get without falling. His legs and arms were shaking from adrenaline, his hair hummed with warmth, making him want to sit down and sleep.
Focus.
He forced his fluttering eyes to stop as he moved, using the trees for support as he kept walking.
Boomie reached one particular tree that he thought he could climb, but hesitated. He didn’t have a lot of energy right now, probably not enough to pull himself up the tree.
Crunch.
He cursed.
He would have to do it.
He grabbed and tugged at the first to make sure it was sturdy enough to hold his weight before pulling himself up. His stomach turned with nausea, his head teetering on the edge as his headache only got worse.
He almost got comfortable on the branch before hearing faint voices.
He felt his adrenaline weakening, but used the last of it to pry himself up one more branch before collapsing. Boomie’s leg swung off the edge, his dizzy head hitting the wood.
He coughed before the voices got too close to hear, then held his breath. The back of his throat tingled with an itch to cough more, but he couldn't risk it. His skin was still sickly hot and cold, his head light.
He couldn't risk being found. Not in this state. Not with all the people that would much rather use him, especially when he's weakened, to get out of this dimension.
The red moonlight bathed him; funny how this was named the strength dimension and he didn't feel strong at all right now.
“Are you sure you saw him go this way? We might as well just head to the cave.”
Boomie stiffened.
Mugm..?
They.. they knew about his cave?
“I'm positive. You saw him fall out of the sky. Something’s not right, the cave can wait.”
Was that… Napa?
Why the hell were those two following him?!
He forced himself up off the branch moving in the direction towards the cave by climbing carefully through the trees.
He knew his legs and arms would hate him after this.
He continued to hear their somewhat close voices before hopping out of the bending tree next to the cave.
His landing..
Wasn't graceful.
He hit the ground, groaning and finally letting out that cough before forcing himself up.
“Boomie?”
He didn't care to look behind him. He half jogged half stumbled into the cave entrance, making his way towards the room.
The room where he could tune them out, focus.
Focus.
The candles were already prepared, he just needed to get in that room and light them.
He needed to remember.
He almost made it there when strong hands grabbed him and pulled him back. They held his skin before saying, “He's burning up.”
“N-no. Stop it!” Boomie kicked, weakly but it was something. He tried to thrash but it only made his head spin. The strong hands guided him out, dropping him on the grass outside the entrance.
It was the half voidling, the human standing just beside him too.
Napa kneeled down first, checking his forehead. “Boomie.. are you–”
“I'm fine! J-just let me go inside.” Boomie pushed himself up with the last of his energy, the adrenaline fading away.
“You are an idiot.” Mugm said bluntly, crossing his arms.
“What–”
“Are you not concerned for your own well-being? You have a fever.” Napa exclaimed.
“Why did you two follow me?” Boomie asked, his voice scratchy and hurt, ignoring Napa's comment. Could he not have his own space? Could he not have some trust– some privacy built with the others here? “This was suppose to be–”
“Supposed to be what?” Mugm snarled, bending down to him with narrowed eyes.
His vision was spinning as he hugged himself into a ball, hiding his face. Small tears were appearing.
The moving of feet walked past him then crouched down. “You need a potion. We have to bring down your temperature–” Napa started but was cut off by Boomie.
“I'm fine.” He muttered before coughing again, his throat dry.
He moved his hand away from his face, the glowing pink fading from his yellow eyes as he blinked slowly.
Hands pushed him up into a seated position. Before he could protest, a healing potion was brought to his lips. He choked on it but swallowed it fully. His body swayed when the hands moved away, his eyes blinking slowly.
Of all the people he could be falling asleep in front of.
His legs and arms buzzed from his physical activity, his head a foggy mess only concerned with remembering.
Now he has to wait.
Napa went to pick him up but Boomie slowly scooted away.
“You are not staying here, pink devil. The first thing you will do is try and go in there.” Mugm growled with animosity, his eyes moving from the cave entrance back to him.
“We’ll take you back with us.” Napa offered.
“Did you meet with Noob?”
“Is this really the time and place to be asking these questions right now Mugm? Look at him.”
The voidling went silent, but squinted at Boomie before walking ahead.
Napa sighed, reaching to pick him up again.
Boomie let him this time.
“Once we get back, I'll fully treat you. The small bit of healing should help for now though.” Napa said. Boomie grumbled, feeling his arms. Still unusually warm, but better.
“When was the last time you properly slept? You look a lot more exhausted than you should.” Napa asked.
“What the hell do you do in that cave anyways?” Mugm exclaimed with malice in his tone.
“None of your business.” Boomie hissed, his blackened, metal hand moving to his head. It was pounding loudly like a big drum over and over again.
“Maybe we should stay quiet.” Napa noticed the devil’s head pain.
He heard Mugm scoff in front of him but no words followed.
—
After about an hour of walking, they were able to see the main camp again. Smoke from the campfires barely visible in the dark sky, the red grass swaying in the wind.
Boomie mumbled something lowly before finally shutting his eyes, only for Napa to lightly shake him awake.
“We are almost there.”
Boomie nodded slowly, reaching for his antlers, pulling out branches that were tangled.
Until he heard someone land.
Napa stopped moving, Mugm drew his sword, but when Boomie moved his head to the side all he saw was Noob.
The red star over his eye warped, scattering faint red light on him. His eyes met Boomie’s tired ones, light surprise on his face.
“What the hell… you do?!” Noob demanded, shoving Mugm’s shoulders.
“We found him… you idiot. Now stop causing problems.” Napa growled before Mugm could retaliate. Boomie's ears couldn't seem to hear everything the small group was saying over the light ringing in his ears.
“What–”
“He… a fever. Now… you fuck off?” Mugm exclaimed, sheathing his blade.
Boomie mumbled. He didn't want this to break into a fight, there was no point to arguing right now.
“Look, we have to… stable, so go away.” Napa said sternly, walking past Noob, ignoring his snarky comments.
Boomie let his hand rest on his stomach, lightheaded and tired. He coughed as Napa continued to move closer to the camp.
Maybe he should just sleep.
The pull was irresistible, his vision blurry, his limbs too weak to move.
He just wanted some rest.
He hasn't gotten some good sleep in a while, and it seems his sickly self was just coaxing him to shut his eyes, to let go, at least for today.
He could wait to remember.
The magenta glow faded from his eyes, the yellow returning only for him to close them seconds later.
—
Napa watched Boomie’s arm drop, swaying at his side, his eyes shut peacefully. He picked up his pace slightly, as he could still feel Boomie’s abnormally heated skin. Mugm trailed beside him, eyeing Noob’s figure until they saw the flames of the campfires.
Napa dropped him lightly on the big logs used for seating, the devil’s arm still swaying off the side.
Napa pulled off the devil’s heavy jacket, letting the light breeze brush his arms. He then gave Boomie water then another healing potion, checking his pulse and watching his temperature go down.
“Are you satisfied now?” Napa leaned against the log, pulling the remaining branches out of Boomie’s antlers. Mugm gave him a side glare but grunted in defeat.
“It didn't look like he was meeting with Noob. Even Noob looked surprised to see him like.. this.” He gestured to the pink devil.
“Fine. You win.” Mugm’s voice was still skeptical, but he sat down the opposite side of the log, staring at the flames then looking up at the sky.
“Do you think we will get out of here..?” Napa asked with slight nervousness, his own eyes finding the stars as well before pulling out his blade to sharpen it.
How were they going to escape this place? The air felt different, the chunk ban still active over the exit. It was all red for crying out loud. Napa just wanted to see some normal sunlight.
The voidling moved his gaze to see Napa’s unsure and tense gaze.
The red grass continued to sway, Mugm pulling out a spider lily from the ground, spinning it in his fingers.
“We’ll get out of here.”