Chapter 3

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Dream did manage to doze off in the end, exhaustion catching up to him quickly after the adrenaline of finding one of his closest friends injured faded away. The ground was cold and uncomfortable, but they didn't have anything else really. The only source of warmth was Blade, who was comfortable nestled between the two humans and snoring softly.

The next morning came way too soon. Sounds of fire and pained hisses and groans woke all three up, indicating that the sun was up and burning all the mobs away. But even with the confirmation that the monsters were now gone, or at least all that burned in the sun, the two friends refused to leave their hiding spot for quite a bit longer. Who wouldn't, when you witnessed what they had last night?

"We have to go... we need to find other people." "Are you sure? What about your shoulder?" George looked at the bandages covering his skin, some spots colored in deep crimson. "I'll be alright... I... I'd rather have a hurting shoulder than be dead." Dream nodded and carefully helped his friend stand up, flinching when he groaned and clutched his shoulder. "Maybe we shouldn't move you yet." George's face was set in stubborn determination as he walked to the dirt wall, his worried friend close behind him.

He's not stupid, he sees the way the brunette flinched with every movement of his shoulder, how he hissed whenever too much pressure was applied to the wound. And he hated it. He hated how he couldn't do a damn thing to take this pain away from him. That's a thing that always bothered him, how he could never do enough to help someone when they need him.

How could he, when they were just on a call? He can give verbal comfort and encouragement, but that was about it. Now he has the chance to fully help and he still can't do it.

"Come on. Let's see if we can find a crow." "George I really think you shouldn't move yet." "I'll be fine. I just want to find other people... or a better spot to hide." Dream sighed and dug a hole into the wall so he could peek outside. No monsters in sight, just some bones, arrows and rotten flesh dotted around where the mobs burned to death.

"Looks like it's safe to go." He dug away the rest of the dirt and slowly walked outside, scanning the surrounding area. Nothing but grass and some animals. "Alright. It's safe." George now slowly left the hideout as well, a hand still placed on his shoulder. Blade walked next to him, looking up whenever his new human friend made a sound of pain.

Dream winced a bit, but the brunette ignored it and scanned the sky once he stood next to his friend. "Of course... would have been too easy if we spot one immediately." "Maybe we should go near the forest I spawned at. Probably better than trying to find one out here."  But his spawn is quite a bit away, which only made him question this decision even more. Who knows how long George can go before he's exhausted. His shoulder needs to heal and that will cost his body a lot of energy.

"Alright. Lead the way to your spawn." Even with the pain that shot through his body with every wrong move, he still grinned up at his way too tall friend. "You know, I always thought you were quite the baby when it comes to pain..." "Oh I am... and it hurts like hell... but I'm trying really hard to not give into that... just for the sake of us surviving this shit."

Dream stared at his friend for a few moments, eyes wide behind the white mask he has yet to take off. He was pushing his pain... his suffering... away, because he wants them to survive. Even with being incredibly sensitive to pain, as proven by the challenges they had done that included a tazer. And he still couldn't find the nerves to pull that damn mask of his face.

God he really is an idiot, isn't he?

"Can you stop staring at me? That smiley mask is creepy as fuck." He quickly turned his head away, pulling the hoodie more over his head. "Sorry... forgot about that." "How can you see with that thing anyways? Doesn't look like it has any eye holes in it." "I don't know... I can see just fine. Just at the edge of my vision it's a little blurry..." "Can I try?" Dream hesitated with his answer. For some reason, the mask made him feel safe. Not to mention that it still keeps his face hidden from others, which is exactly what he wants.

George seems to notice his hesitation and immediately regrets asking. "Sorry. Kinda... forgot about that. Let's just keep going." He started to walk into a random direction, secretly hoping it's the right one, when Dream stopped him again. This time, he held out the simple white mask for George to take, his head turned away from the other to keep his face hidden. "But only for a little bit. Don't want all your snot in it."

The brunette laughed and took the mask, carefully placing it on his face. "Woah... that's so weird. It's like I'm not wearing it!" Dream watched him out of the corner of his vision, chuckling when his friend started to wander around with his good arm outstretched like a toddler. "This is some magic shit. No way this would work in real life." "Would be cool though."

George took the mask off again and held it out for Dream to take, keeping his head turned away. The other was moved by how respectful the older one is of his privacy and it almost made him risk it all and just tell George to look at him now.

But he was a coward, so he took the mask and put it back on his face.

"Alright. My spawn is this way, I remember the sun rising almost fully in front of me. We should make it there before it gets dark unless we get held up by something... I only walked for like half a day yesterday." "Then let's go!" The brunette grabbed his hand and pulled him along, or at least tried to until his shoulder protested from the sudden movements. He hissed and clutched it again. "Right... how about we take it slow?" "Very funny."

The two started to walk, staying close together with Blade in tow, who still followed the two like a dog. While walking, the two chatted about all kinds of topics, both Minecraft and real life related ones.

"You know... this isn't how I expected to meet you." "Me neither... but this is kinda fun. If you forget about this whole almost dying thing. Meeting you with your mask. Could have been a thing you'd actually do." The other huffed and elbowed his good side. "If we'd met up I would have been ready to show you my face." "Riiight. You would have still done it. Probably even picked me up from the airport in a hoodie and mask too." "At least you would have recognized me immediately."

They laughed, until there was a loud 'caw' from above. Both stopped and looked up at the sky, where a single large Crow was slowly circling them. "Well... if that isn't an obvious sign I don't know what is. There is no way it would do that on its own." "True... what now?" "We follow it! If we are right, it will lead us to Phil and maybe even more people!" "Right."

The crow descended from its position in the sky, approaching the two. Dream hesitantly stretched out his arm for the crow to land on, which it immediately did, almost making him lose his balance. Damn it's heavier than he'd imagined.

Black eyes stared up at him, a soft noise leaving the bird's throat. "Um... Hi?" It didn't respond, only staring at him silently. A small collar of sorts was around its neck, or at least it looked like it, with a small, glittering heart shaped pendant dangling from it. "Hey I know that! Those are the hearts above your hotbar when you play hardcore mode." "So this basically confirms this is Philza's bird, right?"

The bird seemed to react to that as it trilled and fluttered it's wings, the red heart reflecting the sunlight. George stepped closer and carefully scratched at the soft feathers on top of the crows head, which immediately crooned and leaned into the touch.

"Can you lead us to Philza? Or whoever put that necklace on you?" The crow trilled and took to the skies, hovering above them for a second before it flew off north. "Guess that's a yes."

Without much hesitation the two walked after the black bird, hoping that they weren't making a big mistake when basically just following a random crow.

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1500 words pog.

Some sappy bonding moments because I'm writing an Emeraldduo story in my drafts and need more fluff in my life : )

How is everyone doing? Hope you have an amazing day ♡

Might post a second chapter later too, got more motivation now.

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