Who Lies in the End?

Ch 46: 18 "I didn't want you to leave."

art by: wedxt

(TW: Self-harm)

By the time they could see the village wall, it was already mid-day. The afternoon sun cast warm rays through the swamp trees, speckling the group with dappled light. They all looked tired and worn, but they were all happy to see the familiar wall of the mushroom village.

They paused a ways away from the wall so they could craft a plan.

"So, do we even know where we're going to keep her?" Fundy asked as he pointed at Redne.

The ender dragon yawned and lowered herself to the ground. She waited until Dream and George hopped off her back before crossing her claws and resting her head on top. Within seconds of her closing amethyst eyes, soft snores could be heard.

George pat her side before walking over to his friends, "She can stay up in the gardens. It's the largest space."

"But it's not closed off," Sapnap pointed out as he leaned against a nearby tree, "She could fly off at any second or be spotted easily."

Ranboo stretched his long arms to the sky before chiming in, "She'd feel better if she wasn't confined, so the bigger the place, the better."

"Do you think Tubbo could build a den of some sort?" Fundy asked, "That way she can stay outside, but have a safe space to hide."

Ranboo nodded, "It's doable."

Sapnap shook his head, "That doesn't stop her from flying away."

The ender-kin turned to fully face Redne, "I don't get the feeling that she wants to run. I think she sees this place as home? Or at the very least, she sees us like family."

"Oh sure, because I like to destroy my home and threaten my family every time I see them. I completely understand," the fox-kin mocked with a roll of his eyes.

"She was just scared," George's voice was soft as he looked back at the dragon, "She just wanted to fly around and the guards attacked her."

Sapnap sighed, "Sam was having a hell of a time getting the guards to stop."

A frown marred the duke's face as he recalled the frightened guards all aching to attack the perceived threat, "I know."

Fundy took a step forward, "Well, either way, it seems like we should keep Redne out of the public eye for now. Ranboo and I can lead her the long way around and sneak her into the gardens."

"And I will take Punz back home," Sapnap volunteered. When the villager glared at him in protest, he continued, "You look like shit and I want your family to know you got home safe."

They glared at each other for a few seconds before Punz relented with a shrug. His light blue eyes fell to the ground as the others began working out the smaller details. He crossed his arms as he leaned against the tree, his blonde brows furrowed in thought. Slowly, the eyes trailed along the ground until they found the mud-caked boots of Dream.

Punz watched as the outlaw gently swayed on his feet. Although the mask hid his facial features, Punz could see the exhaustion that weighed on his green-cloaked shoulders. The lanky body was hunched over, and Dream's head lulled to the side, unable to stay up for too long. George stood beside him, occasionally reaching out a hand and stabilizing the outlaw before he could fall over.

Out of all the stories Punz had ever heard of the Malefic Dream, he never would have known that the outlaw was just a rambunctious human underneath.

"We'll all meet up at the mansion, okay? And make sure that Sam, Karl, Bad, and Tubbo are there as well," George glanced at everyone to make sure they all heard. When he got affirming nods, he smiled, "Okay, see you then."