[REDACTED]

III

chapter name: 1

Torlinger

By the time that Clay had made it into the town, he was very glad it was still daylight. Patches, his gray and white horse was very angry at him and wasn't happy about not having a supply of apples to eat. Clay needed to charge his phone and get some money from selling something before he did anything else. Then he could hope that SapNap was there and that he would be able to hang out for a bit with his long-time friend without needing to continue his trip. He found a stable not to far into the town. There was a young boy standing outside of one of the stables, he looked tired, but nice.

"Hey, do you think you would be able to hold my horse Patches for a little while?" The boy snapped out of his haze that Dream didn't realize he was in, but smiled none the less. "Oh yeah, no problem. You can pay when you come to pick her up." Dream smiled, got off his horse and took his things. He started to walk his way into town until he heard a familiar voice from somewhere in front of him. He tried to squint and see who it is but to his surprise, the person with the voice reached him much further than he expected.

Nick came slamming into the taller smiling. The two boys stood in a tight embrace for about ten minutes, before Nick pulled out of it. "So you vanish for a month, then just simply expect me to be waiting here?!" Clay shrugged, "Pretty much." Nick giggled like a school girl, "asshole." Clay scoffed like he was offended. "I take offense to that." Nick decided to play along, "How will I ever make it up to you?" Clay acted like he was thinking about it, before Nick improvised.

Nick edged closer to Clay and then grabbed his collar, pulling him down for a longed-for kiss. They hadn't seen each other in a while and had a more friends-with-benefits things going on. The kiss got heated quickly, Nick with his arms around Clay's neck and a hand in his hair. Clay was the same, one hand on Nick's waist, and one holding him up on his back. After a few moments the two of them pulled apart, and Clay smirked, "missed me?" Nick punched him in the arm, "Shut it dip-shit." They laughed and then continued their conversation.

Clay smiled, "I have a good bit of things that I'm hoping to sell in a store or somethin'. If I can sell enough and make enough I'll be able to avoid towns for a while." Nick stopped Clay from walking, "Do you think I could come with you this time?" Clay smiled and leaned down to kiss his forehead, more in a joke way than anything, "Yeah of course bubs." Nick smiled and interlaced his finger's with the taller's hand, "Now come on I know a shop we can go to." Clay walked behind Nick as he was dragged through the city, until the finally reached a small shop, it looked family owned.