It Was Never the End DreamNotFound

Chapter 34

George404 POV

"How are you doing?" Karl blinked worried purple eyes at his friend.

George404 swallowed hard against his nausea. Sapnap and Karl stopped by for a visit, the flame god going for a walk with DreamXD. Which left George404 with Karl, who thankfully seemed to have calmed down, but George404 knew the time god was faking it out of concern for him.

"I'm okay." 

"You don't look okay." Karl didn't fall for his lie. He studied George404 before disappearing into the kitchen. 

George404 struggled to ignore the crashing sounds that followed, instead curling his knees into his chest on the couch, trying to crush out his anxiety. He could feel the forest's pain, helpless as the unknown sickness seemed to spread. 

According to Karl, the enchanted forest wasn't the only place suffering from ailment. Niki's oceans were becoming dark, the fish mysteriously dying. Grass was shriveling, leaves turning deep yellow. 

"Here." 

A deep blue tea cup was shoved in front of George404's nose. Warm steam danced over honey-colored liquid. George404 looked up to see Karl's gentle smile. 

"Chamomile tea. At least I hope it is. It looked like chamomile?" 

George404 puffed out a laugh, holding his hand above the cup. Steam wrapped his fingers in warm moisture, his eyes glowing slightly. Invisible threads searched the liquid for plant content, confirming Karl was right when an image of chamomile appeared behind George404's eyes.

"Yes! I got it, didn't I?" Karl watched George404 take the tea cup in triumph.

George404 smiled, the glass warming his palms. "Thank you." 

"I remember you said it was good for calming nerves and upset stomach." 

George404 also had medicines, or as Dream like to call them potions, but he decided not to mention that, instead thanking Karl for his kindness. Bringing the glass to his lips, he enjoyed the soothing sweetness that wrapped him like a soft blanket. 

Karl had a cup for himself, settling down opposite of George404. The forest god couldn't help the way his eyes trailed to the door. 

"Miss him already?" 

George404 tore his gaze away from the door. "He's only been gone for half an hour, why would I?" 

"Sixteen minutes and twenty one seconds. Twenty-two, twenty-" 

"Okay!" George404 leaned his head back. "It just feels longer I guess." 

Karl giggled, taking a small sip of his own tea. "I knew it. You two are so cute." 

George404's face flushed, but he was saved when the door opened. DreamXD walked through with Sapnap grumbling behind him.

"Why do you get to go first?" 

"Because it's my house and your fat ass would get stuck in the doorway." 

"Says the guy with a massive pair of fucking wings." 

"Jealous?" DreamXD's head turned in George404's direction, and the brunette could practically feel the concern radiating from him. 

"Well? Did you see?" George404 fixed his heterochromatic eyes on Sapnap.

"Oh, yeah." The flame god tugged his forehead ribbon nervously. "Something is definitely wrong out there." 

Heavy silence fell over the room, Sapnap's words dropping a weight in the air. None of them wanted to admit it, but they were all thinking the same thing. Maybe Karl was right...