It Was Enchanting To Meet You. || DNF

37. Camping.

Hours turned into days as Wilbur and his team kept walking. "Wilbur," Tubbo breathed out from beside him, the boy's mouth dry from the consistent walking and dehydration. The brunette gulped thickly at the scratchy voice which belonged to the shorter, guilt swarming in his stomach as he regretted bringing the other along. Wilbur knew his decision made Tubbo happy, and it just added onto his list of things on why he shouldn't let worry cloud his judgment. He needed Tubbo on this mission, more than anything. Maybe it's because of the constant fear of leaving him solely alone with the King at the castle, or maybe it's because of the fact that he was scared that the youngster would get hurt on the adventure, and all because of him. Whichever one it was, the brunette didn't dear well on it any longer. What was most important was that Tubbo was here and in Wilbur's never-wavering sight.

"Yes, Tubbo?" The brunette retorted, side glancing the shorter who wiped the sweat that was traveling down his neck repetitively, having walking in the scorching afternoon sun for hours on end. The troupe had only had around four breaks out of the three days they've been traveling, so Wilbur wasn't surprised when Tubbo responded with, "I'm tired. So tired, and thirsty." Wilbur nodded, his gaze remaining straight ahead. "Don't worry, Tubs. The sun's about to set soon. We'll find a place to camp out then, alright?" The brunette stated reassuringly. Though tired, Tubbo barely managed to nod, slightly panting.

Trailing behind Tubbo was the familiar split haired colored boy ; Ranboo. Ranboo outstretched a careful hand out to the shorter, rubbing soothing circles into his moist skin as he muttered comforting words to him. "Don't worry, Tubs. We'll stop soon, just hold on in there for a little longer, yeah?" The split colored haired boy said, causing Tubbo to nod yet again, a small smile spreading across his slightly freckled face as he retorted with, "Yeah, thanks, Ran." Ranboo returned the kind gesture of a smile, his hand falling away momentarily as he searched through his droopy bag.

"Here, it's not much, but it should help for the time being," Ranboo said, handing a bottle of fresh water to the shorter brunette. A sigh of relief escaped Tubbo's lips as he, without hesitation, gratefully took the water from the taller, muttering a quick 'Thank you' before downing the water, leaving a bit more than a quarter bottle left.

The brief interaction caused Wilbur to smile faintly. The duo, along with Tommy who somehow ended up getting caught in Sapnap's troupe, always clung onto eachother without a care in the world. Ranboo, Tommy and Tubbo weren't blood brothers, even though they used to share the same home, but they were childhood best friends. Their background story wasn't the most pleasing, but their life flipped upside down when Wilbur found the three huddled up in an alleyway while rain poured down on them. Wilbur, at the time, was already royalty, so ever since the former took them in, royalty came the trio's way without a doubt.

The trio wasn't as persistent about telling Wilbur about their life before everything, but months past by and a bond was slowly created. And with the new found trust, Wilbur learnt all about them ; from their past to their present. The royal community wasn't fond on letting a bunch of teenagers into the operation, given that though outside the castle, kingship would seem as though if it were a blessing; the best thing that someone could have and experience. And even though it was partially about that, it was also about danger, being targeted and hunted and nonstop training to fulfill your role as a Knight or something more.

Tommy, Ranboo and Tubbo met and grew up in a careless, poor orphanage, and was soon kicked out after the manager couldn't hold down the fort anymore. You see, the manager of the 'home' was supposedly a drug dealer, Wilbur wasn't sure. And Wilbur definitely wasn't sure what had happened to the rest of the kids at the orphanage; whether they didn't make it on their own, or if they found new homes. He hoped it was the second one, but the brunette was just grateful that he found the trio when he did, because ever since then, neither of their lives had been the same, and for the better.