The Raven and The Wolf [discontinued]

Desperation

  Ranboo staggered back, his breath heavy.

  The look, that damned look. Dream's twisted smile and despite his eyes being covered, Ranboo could feel his cold gaze boring into him.

  It almost felt like time had stopped itself, no one spoke, no one moved.

  Suddenly, quick and hard footsteps became audible.

  And within what seemed like a split second, a short figure darted into the room. Immediately attacking Dream.

  It took a second to figure out who it was, "Niki!" Ranboo yelled to her.

  She didn't turn her head but continued scuffling with the masked man.

  The confrontation quickly turned bloody with Niki cutting into Dream's arm. Ripping his green hoodie and creating a large cut along his lower arm.

  He staggered back, but Niki persisted, instantly lunging back at him.

  Tommy stood watching in complete shock, seemingly frozen in place.

  Niki was smaller than Dream, but that gave her the advantage. She was quicker and more agile than him, avoiding almost every one of his strikes. Not to mention that she was armed and he was not.

  Ranboo glanced over at Tubbo next to him. In Tubbo's condition, he wouldn't be able to help if he tried, he was too injured and fatigued.

  Dream sneered in pain, Niki had managed to stab him twice in the side with the small knife.

  Ranboo leaped forward to help Niki but was quickly stopped by Tommy.

  Ranboo tried his best to not hurt the already bloody blonde more than he already had. No matter what Tommy did, he knew the things Dream was capable of, and he knew Tommy wasn't any different than him. Just another victim of Dream's manipulation.

  As the two tussled, Tommy dug his nails into Ranboo's shoulder. The fight was one-sided, Tommy delivering hits, and Ranboo avoiding them.

  "Tommy!" Dream shouted, Tommy and Ranboo both stopped fighting to look at Dream who had been pinned to the ground and was now holding back Niki's hand which held the dagger in it.

  "Go!" he shouted to Tommy.

  "I'm not gonna-"

  "Goddammit! Just run Tommy!" Dream snapped at him.

  Tommy stared at him in worry and disbelief for a moment before turning around and darting away.

  Ranboo didn't have a second of time to help Niki before Dream kicked his legs forward throwing Niki off of him and into a wall.

  "Niki!" Ranboo slid to her aid.

  She lifted her head and winced in pain.

  "I'm okay, I'm okay, " she mumbled.

  Ranboo looked up to see Dream quickly rising to his feet, stumbling forward, but regaining his posture and running off.

  And without a hint of hesitation, he darted after him.
__________

  "Hey, I was looking for you, " Eret spotted Foolish sitting with his back against a tree.

  "You kinda just disappeared after... Well, you know what. I'm sorry, that wasn't much of a warm welcome, I'd like to say it's not always like that here but who am I kidding, " Eret walked over sitting beside their old friend.

  Foolish remained silent.

  "You okay?" Eret questioned putting a worried hand on his shoulder.

  Foolish shook his head.

  "Want to talk about it?"

  "Kinda, " Foolish muttered.

  "Okay, I'm all ears, " Eret said.

  "Eret, after you and Dream disappeared, I-" Foolish bit his lip, as if trying not to cry, "Eret, I made so many mistakes."

  Eret gave Foolish an extremely sympathetic look.

  "Everyone makes mistakes, we're not perfect-"

  "No Eret, I hurt people, I killed people, " Foolish cut them off, his voice cracking with sorrow.

  Eret wasn't expecting that from such a sweet person, but they shook the surprised look off their face.

  "Foolish, I'm one to know of regret, I have my fair share, " Eret comforted him.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Foolish, I've done awful things too, " Eret mumbled.

  "A while back, we were at war. We were losing badly, and Dream... That bastard, he offered me what I wanted most... power, " Eret paused for a moment, looking down, "And all he wanted in return? I betray my friends, I lead them into a trap, and he and his team kill them."  Eret voice grew shaky.

  "And... I did it. I told them I had things for them, and I led them to their demise." Eret hung their head.

  Foolish gave them a surprised and pained look.

  "None of us are perfect Foolish, and the most of us have done terrible things. But, what's important is we grow from regret. Pleading for forgiveness gets us nowhere. We have to make amends with ourselves before we can with others."

  Eret pulled Foolish into a hug.

  Foolish laughed lightly, "Wise words from a wise person."
__________

Running after Dream, Ranboo almost tripped several times.

Each one of Dream's steps left bloody marks behind. Struggling for every step, but still managing to stay ahead of Ranboo.

The chase didn't last long, Dream's foot caught on what seemed like a tree root. He hit the ground with a thud, his mask falling off.

Ranboo stopped, Dream was maybe only five feet away from Ranboo.

Ranboo stared at Dream, his teary emerald eyes looking up at him as if begging him for help.

He laid there, his own blood staining his shirt, wincing in pain, suddenly just as human as the rest of them.

Dream shut his eyes, tensing up, "If you're going to kill me, just do it now." he mumbled.

Ranboo stared in disbelief, what should he do? Kill him? Leave?

He narrowed his eyes, "no."

Dream opened his eyes again, looking up at Ranboo, shock and hope in his tearful eyes.

"You can bleed out on the ground for all I care, but I'm not about to kill someone who can't fight back, " Ranboo turned away.

He started forward, Dream remained silent, he glanced back for a moment seeing Dream's shocked and grateful face.

  He turned back and continued walking, leaving Dream to whatever fate he would meet.
_________

Word count-987