How To Gain Another Parent

Chapter 8: Warm Welcomes Await Just a Few Hours Away

Dream hadn't stopped until he reached a small pond in the dense forest. Light barely peaked through as he dipped his bloody feet in.

He had nothing on him.

Even so, he could survive. As he was startled out of his thoughts by a little chirp, he took that back. To survive he had to pay attention. The night was dangerous.

Then he looked down.

Swimming around his slowly regenerating feet was a little green axolotl. It was happily chirping at him and Dream had to take a moment.

They were at a pond, no where near the ocean. Slipping in, he made sure to get his hoodie soaked before picking the small thing up. Quickly they seemed to transform in his hands and soon he was holding a little blonde girl.

"Hello." He greeted softly, "I'm Dream."

She, however, did not meet his softness and introduced herself with a loud, "I'm Drista!"

He asked if she wanted to come along and nodded, transforming back. She then cuddled right into his front pocket. Smiling softly at her, he moved on.

~

Hours later, he was stepping out of the forest and headed towards a village he spotted in the distance. It wasn't a normal village, a bit bigger than one, but he headed there nonetheless.

As he finally got there, arms and face most likely all cut up from rogue branches, he headed towards the first building he could find. Entering it quickly, he looked around amazed at all the books.

Then he was decked in the face. There was chirp of pain and his gills curled back. Luckily the little one in his pocket had stayed asleep.

"Oh my gosh, I am so sorry." They floated down from where they were, "You startled me."

"Sorry." Dream rasped out, his mouth had been dry for a while.

"No, no. It's my fault." Then they smiled, "I'm Karl."

The axolotl took that moment to examine the other. It was more so to determine if the other was safe to trust, but if the guy's tinted arms that were blended into his pale skin and gradually became darker blue as it got closer to his fingertips Not to mention his short stature and spirit like wings.

"I'm sorry, but," Dream coughed a bit, "What hybrid are you?"

"Oh! It's been a while since someone new came along and asked that." He laughed loudly before turning around and grabbing a bottle of water, then turned around and answered as he handed it to the other, "I'm an allay."

Dream hummed before sipping the water, "You're not going to... capture me right?"

"No, no." He shook his head, "What's the point when I am also wanted."

"Huh." He stated in his surprise.

Karl just smiled then the door opened from the other room and his smile dropped and he shoved Dream into a room with only a few books in it.

Eavesdropping by the door he heard the sounds of faint conversation.

"Hey, Karl. Anyone new drop by?"

"No." It was direct, probably an obvious lie from the other.

"Are you sure?"

Dream swore that voice was familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

"Well..." Karl admitted, "Someone new is here, but they left already. You just missed them."

"Alright... if you say so." The other huffed, "You know I just worry about you especially with the hunters coming out at night and closer now."