3rd life, but make it Corika!

{Earrings/Circlet} The First to fall

{REMINDER. I use xe/xem pronouns for prince. do not misgender xem}

The group was lucky when night fell. Most people had animals they could breed, a shelter, and food. Though, nerves prevented anyone from falling asleep. Minus Gloves, Goggles, and Army. Gloves was always up until the early hours of the morning, Goggles didn't care and was asleep anyways, and Army had fallen asleep in Aloha's arms.

Everyone also discovered they had a communicator, to send messages long distance, and to keep updated on deaths.

They only found that out, when the moon hit its peak.

Prince had decided to go for a late walk, clearing xyr head. When...

An arrow whizzed past xem. Xe drew xyr sword, it being a simple stone blade, facing where the arrow came from.

"W-who's there?"

Xe were answered by the rattling of bones, and another arrow. A skeleton!

The arrow hit xyr shoulder, but Prince forced xemself to stay upright, holding xyr sword and dashing at the boney monster. Arrows hit xem, raining down on xem like hellfire but xe were reckless, and struck the skeleton till it was dead.

No blood was spilled from it, but its bones rested in a pile.

Prince sighed in relief, leaning xyr side against a tree nearby. Breaths heavy, a bit panicked. Xe were so... shocked, they didn't notice the skeleton taking aim behind xem.

Until the arrow hit xyr spine.

A strangled cry of pain emerged from Prince's throat, and xe put more of xyr weight on the tree, desperately trying to stay alive. Another arrow hit xyr back, splitting the first one in half. And... Prince fell down, dead.

A few miles away, Emperor slowly stirred from the buzz of his communicator. Gloves was still awake, doing their best to make the little cottage they now lived in look good. Emp reached and grabbed his communicator, looking at it. He scrolled to the most recent message, and....

> Prince was shot to death by a skeleton.

His half-asleep brain didn't register at first. Prince just needed someone to get some skeleton parts. And then, there was a message from Gloves on it.

Gloves : HOLY SHIT. Not even a full day in and someone died?

Emperor shot up, fully awake. Prince... Xe had died. Xe were a yellow life now and one more death and xe'd be red and ready to kill. Emperor couldn't let that happen.

Emperor : Prince, I need you to come find me and Gloves. We're in the spruce forest, we can protect you.

He got out of bed, and quickly headed outside. Gloves had made a wonderful little garden and well-lit pathway, but Emperor didn't care about that. Only making sure Prince was safe.

An agonizing half hour past, but... Prince stumbled through the forest, and into view of Emperor. The sun had still long before it rose, but Emperor could see clearly xe were hurt. He ran over, embracing his little sibling.

"You... oh, god. What happened?" Emperor asked, voice laced with worry.

Prince just hugged Emp tightly, a bit nervously. "...S-skeleton... One- one s-shot me when I wasn't..."

"Hey, shhhh, it's alright. I'll keep you safe." Emperor took Prince inside. "Gloves, do we have a spare bed?"

Gloves nodded. "Kinda. I can quickly craft one. ...Maybe give Prince something to eat? Xe might want something."

Prince nodded. "T-that... t-that sounds nice. D-do you have any sweet berries?"

"Of course we do. Wait here." Emperor dug around in a chest, pulling out a small container of the berries, handing it to Prince. "Here."

Prince took the container, nodding a small thanks. As xe ate the fruit, Emperor glanced and Prince's ear. Where there was once a green heart earring, now there was a yellow one, that must be xyr life indicator.

"Bed's made!" Gloves called out. "I, uh, put it in a different room than ours because... Reasons."

Emperor raised an eyebrow, thinking he knew what Gloves meant. Gloves just nodded, confirming Emp's suspicions.

"...W-well, thanks for the food, Emperor. I'm g-gonna get some sleep..." Prince gave the container back to Emp, heading into the other room. "N-night..."

"Goodnight, Prince."

Gloves gave Emperor The Look. "You need some cuddles?"

"I n-need some cuddles... I'm glad Prince is safe, b-but... I'm still a bit shaken up."

Gloves placed their hand on Emp's cheek. "Alright, love. Cuddles it is..." They picked up Emperor, before flopping onto their shared bed with him. Emp just curled up against Gloves, embracing them tightly. Gloves smiled, their arms wrapping around Emp's waist. They kissed the top of his head, gently rubbing his lower back. "My soft king.."

Emperor gave a sleepy smile, and yawned. "Y-yours..."