The Raven and The Wolf [discontinued]

Nothing Lasts Forever

  "I'm trying my best, but I'm not sure if he'll make it through the night, " Niki wiped a tear from her face.

  Ranboo stared blankly at Tubbo, the tears that ran down his face stung. But being faced with the fact he might lose his best friend hurt worse.

  Ranboo stood up, Eret placed their hand on his shoulder, "You okay?"

  "I just need a moment alone, " Ranboo muttered.

  He couldn't stare at the half-dead boy that he called his best friend any longer.

  "Don't get hurt okay? Be safe, " Eret hugged Ranboo as if they were just as worried about Ranboo as they were Tubbo.

  "I'll be fine, " he responded.

  Eret watched as Ranboo left, the second the door of Tubbo's house shut they sighed lightly. Returning their gaze to Tubbo.

  Niki met Eret's tearful gaze, "You okay?" Niki questioned.

  Her soft voice was comforting despite its current teary aspect. "Yeah, just worried, " Eret retorted.

  "Things are looking better Eret, it's probably he'll survive, he just needs to make it through the night, then we'll be sure, " Niki tried to assure them.

  Eret nodded softly.
__________

The black walls that surrounded Ranboo were too familiar.

"You're back, " a cheerful voice said.

"Yeah, " Ranboo mumbled.

The ghost-like figure showed itself, but Ranboo avoided looking at it.

"If you claim you're me, then why do you know more than I do?" Ranboo questioned trying to remain brave.

"Well, I remember what you don't, I remember your past, I remember every fight, I remember what you do when you're with him, " The voice chuckled.

"What do you mean when I'm with him?" Ranboo straightened upright.

"Well, you forget what you do, what you talk about, you forget everything once you wake up."

"What do I do? What do I talk about?" Ranboo stood up stepping forward.

"Why get the answers from me when you can ask the man who witnesses it all, " The voice said coldly.

"And who would that be?"

"Dream, " The voice said tauntingly.

"No, no, no, no, you're lying. I would never, " Ranboo's hands shook as his voice distorted under the stress and shock.

"I'm not."

"You're not even real!" Ranboo yelled.

There was a short silence, the soft sounds of water and wind were audible for a brief moment.

"You're right, " the silence was broken, "I'm not real."

Ranboo stepped back in horror as the room almost seemed to be consumed by faint shadows.

"I'm not real, I'm just a figment of your imagination, " it continued.

Ranboo felt a hot tear run down his face as he stumbled back, hitting the hard ground.

"And yet, I'm more real than you'll ever be."
__________

  "Eret it's only been an hour, I'm sure he's fine, " Niki reassured her worrying friend.

  "I know but, what if he got hurt, or-"

  "Stop, you're overthinking, he's going through a lot, he just needs time, " Niki put her hand on Eret's shoulder.