Sound of Music - BeeDuo

Chapter Twenty Five - The Fall

***I know I've updated a lot in the past few days, but I love you guys too much not to post again. Stay hydrated and enjoy, guys, gals and in between pals!***

It was a lot easier to get back down, and much faster, but they hadn't planned their time well enough. Ranboo felt the sun recede from the back of his head as it set slowly- they were still three miles away from camp.

    "We really should've read the map a little closer." Tommy grumbled as he tripped over his third upturned root in the dim light, stumbling into Ranboo. Ranboo steadied him and sighed.

    "Yeah, we should have. But look on the bright side." Silence fell on them for a few seconds before Jack spoke.

    "Yeah?"

    "Huh?"

    "You said to look on the bright side. What's the bright side?"

    "Oh. Well, I haven't gotten that far yet." They all snickered.

    "It's the thought that counts," Tubbo chuckled, moving ahead of the group and hopping carefully from side to side on the trail.

    "Yeah- oh, I got a message from Wilbur." Tommy looked down at his phone.

    "You've got service?" Jack yelped, looking at his own phone with a frown.

    "I dunno- here, let me read it." Tubbo slowed down, rejoining the group with an interested face.

    "Read it then."

    "Okay- Hey Tom! I was wondering if you could call me for a few minutes, I have a few questions regarding the next video." Tommy tapped around on his phone before putting it to his year. Ranboo realized that he was calling him and turned his attention back to the trail, deciding it would be a bit nosy to eavesdrop. Besides, it was hard to walk in the dark anyways.

    Ranboo easily became lost in his thoughts as he walked, the chilly air biting at his face as small breezes swept through.

    He loved this, but a part of him missed home. He missed streaming daily and coming out of his room beforehand, calling to his mother that he was going live, only to be brought a snack and a filled water bottle. He would shoo the cat from his room and sit down, loading up minecraft, waiting for a few seconds, starting streamlabs, and going live, just like that.

    He would talk and interact with chat, all the while watching the small tab, his twitch wallet, swell every time he got a donation. A part of him with deflate, stress leaving his body as he focused everything into what he was doing and saying online.

    He would talk with people and stream for hours, and then end it only to turn around and stand, giving his room a look around. He would walk through his bedroom door and down the hallway to the stairs, which he would take four at a time and five at the bottom.   

    His mother would have a cold cup of milk on the counter for him as well as a loving note, as always. He would drink the milk as he read, and when he was done, he would fold the note and put it in his pocket and put the cup in the dishwasher. Once had done that, he would say goodnight to everyone and then go back up to his room, curling into bed with his phone.

    There would always be a message from Tubbo, demanding a call. He would sometimes call for half an hour or more, or sometimes they would fall asleep on call. Now, it seemed surreal- Tubbo walking right next to him.

    Or he was.

    "OH SHIT!"

    "TOBY!" Jack and Tommy shouted at the same time. Ranboo was snapped from his thoughts and looked over in time to see them jump towards the edge of the trail. Tubbo was gone but Ranboo knew exactly what happened.

    They were passing a steep drop about half a mile from camp, something he remembered. Tubbo had just fallen down it. None of them knew what was down there, but that didn't seem to matter. All rationality was thrown out the window and Ranboo dropped his backpack to the ground, leaping past the other two.

    He lost his footing immediately on the steep slope, stumbling down and hitting a tree with his chest, stopping him. He kept moving, the sounds of crashing continuing farther down and all thoughts blurred. He barely heard the others calling for him.

    He kept running, although it was impossible after much longer and he slid down the rest of the drop, only about ten or so feet. He could hear a new sound- splashing. Water. It was a creek of some sort.

    It was so dark down here he could barely make out the fabric of the white shirt- his, that Tubbo had stolen. It stood out as quick water slammed into the Brit, who was struggling to stand up.

    "TOBY!" He yelled. Tubbo, who was only twenty or so feet away in two feet deep water, stopped moving. "WAIT!" He ran out into the water, feeling large rocks underneath his hiking shoes as water sunk into his shoes and socks. He moved as fast as he could, stumbling down and feeling a rock scraping against his hand. He winced and stood, moving his legs faster.

    "Dude, my ankle. I did something to my ankle." Tubbo sounded breathless as he spoke, Ranboo having to lean close to hear over the sounds of the water.

    "Can you stand?"

    "I don't know." Tubbo tried again and ultimately failed, falling back down. Ranboo grabbed him before his torso could hit the water again. He leaned down, grabbing Tubbo underneath the legs firmly but as gently as he could. He hoisted him onto his back, the smaller getting the message. Ranboo leaned forwards as he felt cold, soaked arms wrap around his neck, the shivering body pressed against his back making his clothes soaked. It was so cold that Ranboo didn't think he was going to make it all the way back- but he had to.

    He couldn't see anything, just darkness. It was a miracle that he was able to find the brit, and he scolded himself for being envious of the stolen shirt earlier. From now on Tubbo could have any of his clothes that he wanted.

    He trudged forwards, trying not to fall. It was a struggle and took several minutes for them to get to the shore. He stumbled up a steep trail, holding Tubbo as tightly as he could and leaning forwards for traction.

    "Ranboo, look." A breathless, pained whisper rang through his left ear. He looked up to see two lights flashing through the trees.

    "TOMMY! JACK!" Ranboo shouted as loudly as his aching throat would allow. The lights stilled before pointing down at them. He began jogging, Tubbo's forehead pressed against his neck.

    "Are you okay?" Ranboo asked, slowing down.

    "I'm fine. Just please, hurry." It didn't take being his best friend for months to know that Tubbo was lying, but he listened nonetheless and jogged faster. Jack and Tommy came into view ahead of them, racing down the hill.

    Jack and Tommy were quick and careful. They helped pull Tubbo down from his back and lift him to the ground, Ranboo turning around as fast as he could and gently put his hands underneath the bruising ankle, helping lower it without any force. Jack immediately opened his backpack and pulled out a brighter flashlight.

    It illuminated the entire trail and Ranboo felt his heart sink as the light was turned to face the shivering brunette, hair plastered to his face and cheeks red in the cold, a small cut on the side of his jaw shining against the tinted beam.