It's only matter of Time...

The hybrid

Trigger warnings!: Mention and dealing with a wound, implied harm, and threats

Karl staggers back, clutching the bolt sticking out of his gut. He's been shot before, but the way this hurts is immediately different. Maybe it's just been made different? "Karl!" Sapnap shouts, dashing to his side and helping him stay upright. The Pyro Elf promptly drags him away from the developing battle and sets him down against a tree, mindful of his surroundings. "Do you mind if I look?" He asks. Karl winces but manages a wry smile. "Go ahead." Sapnap delicately lifts his sweater to inspect the wound, then frowns when he realizes that the clothing gets stuck on the arrow after a certain point. "I can't see it really well, but I also can't take it out. It's what's stopping you from bleeding to death...and I'd like to avoid cauterizing the wound if we still have more options." He admits after a moment. Karl nods in understanding, grimacing at a fresh wave of pain. As a Pyro Elf, Sapnap can create and control fire without running the risk of developing burns. This allows him to use his fire and cauterize a person's wounds, but it would still hurt. It's not a fun experience for either person involved, so he avoids it as much as possible. Instead, the Elf snaps off the arrow shaft but leaves the arrowhead and whatever was left of the shaft in, then looks up and freezes. His ears flick, a tight look to his expression. "We've been beat." He hisses, then elaborates further, as Karl can't see. "They have Tommy and Bad. Seems like that puts Ranboo and Technoblade out of the equation, but so have Sam and Punz." Karl groans, but slowly gets to his feet. "They already know we're nearby...they want us to come out, don't they?" He asks. Sure enough, the one leading the group calls out for them to step into sight. "Yeah..." Sapnap hesitates, however it is momentarily, before he offers his arm to help Karl walk back over.

The one who shot Karl has a dark smile, as though he already knows he's won. The man in charge watches the two walk back over, moving to indicate Karl and Punz. "You two speak their demon tongues, don't you? And this little one..." He turns to nod at two of his fellow men. These are the two holding Tommy, one to hold him in place by the shoulders and the other holding his head up, blade at his throat. The boy swallows nervously, trying to hide his still evident fear. "...is human, but doesn't know our words. A feral child. We usually kill them on sight, seeing as they're too far gone to be saved." The man returns his gaze to the Hybrids. "But he helps keep the brutes in check, so perhaps he'll be useful. Now, here's what's going to happen: we haven't enough men to properly restrain the lot of you, so using the feral kid, we will take you all back to our camp through submission. None of you will think of running off to tell anyone, and you won't try to escape. It would be a pain, but we'd do just as well without him. Tell the beasts that, and be quick about it." He orders. Punz grunts softly, gripping his sword with white knuckles, and Karl feels Sapnap's hand squeeze his a little tighter. "We can't do anything without risking Tommy." Ranboo says instantly, his tail lashing, eyes darting from the Hybrids to the Hunters, then to Tommy, anywhere else but one specific spot. Punz had been translating as the man spoke, though it was mostly for the benefit of Tommy, Sam, and BadBoyHalo. The dark Hybrid is avoiding the patch of sun nearest him and rubbing his hands as though he'd been burned. That is most likely what happened, after all–the long, leather coat and wraps around his arms help, but being half vampire means that the sun hurts him, much like with phantoms and undead monsters. "But we can't just concede, either!" Sam snarls, stomping the earth with his paw, the claws extending to create deep furrows in the soil. Technoblade stays quiet, expression unreadable.

Karl is about to reply, however he's stopped by someone darting forward, shoving him to his knees, then keeping him still with the threat of a primed crossbow. "You lot talk too much. I never learned that vile language, but I know you aren't about to surrender. I'm not a FOOL." They hiss in his ear. Sam growls back, silenced when they roughly dig the crossbow into Karl's neck. "So. You'll come quietly, or you won't come at all." The Hunter's leader tells them, keeping eye contact with Sam the entire time. Punz continues to translate, but he's much more curt about it. There's a standoffish, tense silence, before Technoblade snorts angrily, dropping his axe with a heavy thud. Following him, Ranboo slowly shrinks back, the tense posture being replaced with submission. Tommy tries to object, but falls silent when his captors dive the blade into his throat a little more. Punz puts down his own weapon, followed by Sapnap, then Sam, and Bad, who is immediately restrained by another few hunters. Their leader smiles, walking towards him. "We've seen another like this one. It's a demon, if the glowing eyes didn't already confirm it. You'll let us take some necessary precautions." With a nod, the men shove the Hybrid to the ground, pinning him there as he twists and writhes. One sits on BadBoyHalo's chest, leaning forward and drawing out a knife. Ranboo inhales, ears dropping as he steps back. "We can't risk it casting its accursed spells, so we may as well prevent it from speaking at all." The Hunter continues, and the other one raises his knife. Bad pales in fear. Sam steps forward, hesitating when Tommy cries out involuntarily, and the crossbow digs deeper into Karl. "That's right, you'll sit nice and pretty while we do our job. Can't let the little boy get hurt, can we?" The Hunter gives a wicked smile, preparing to bring the blade down on the bucking Hybrid below him.