In the end nothing can last

Panic and understanding

~3rd person pov~
Moss sat under the stairs , the panic from what she'd just said starting to set in. Many thoughts were dancing around their brain. Why would he say that? Did he make the king mad? Why did she have to snap like that? Would Erebus and the others understand? Tears rolled down Moss' face. Everything felt like it was going too slow and fast at the same time, he could now hear footsteps around her hiding spot. They were seemingly muffled and had gaps between them. They hid their face in their knees and hid because if they cant see the person they can't see him. Sadly the world isn't perfect and Erebus sat next to Moss.
"why didn't you tell me something was wrong buddy?" Erebus said softly something he didn't do for most people. He was usually loud and commanding. Moss looks up quietly. They contemplate what to tell Erebus. Before replying in a tiny mumble that was almost incoherent and sounding like a sob.
"I didn't know what to say. It didn't come to mind when I was worried about so much more" Erebus looked around before pulling Moss close and into a tight hug. It was protective and the complete opposite of how Erebus was with everyone else. Moss wrapped his arms around Erebus.
"you don't need to keep your worries hidden runt. The others will listen to any complaint you have. Even if I don't." Moss nods and hides his face in Erebus' shoulder. He babbles without thought. Some of it being apologizes and others being explanations. Erebus didn't listen to it and simply rubbed his back. For the hysterical child this was the nicest thing he could've done. Honestly Erebus didn't understand why Moss was so worked up about this. It wasn't a big deal. But even if Erebus didn't find it that important seeing the kid worked up was the last thing he wanted.... Wait.. no, no, no, no. He didn't care he's just watching this child. He's not attached totally.
    Erebus picked Moss up. Moss was calming down from the panic that he'd just been going through. The last thing Moss expected was Erebus teleporting, unfortunately this is what he did almost making Moss puke. The army looks to their leader as Erebus teleported in.
    "Lets go. Malacoda is waiting for us" he screeched. His voice was shrill and made Moss wince. Even with Moss getting used to the ender king it was still loud and hurt his brain. Moss shock his legs hoping to walk but Erebus wouldn't let him.
    "no. You aren't getting down, not after last time" Moss grumbles but accepted it reluctantly. Her tail wraps around Erebus' arm for a bit more support. Being held like this was strange. Erebus didn't know how to hold a kid so Moss isn't supported. He looks up to Erebus. Erebus isn't even paying attention now focused on his group of endermen catching up to Malacoda and to the portal. It was now that Moss noticed Sugarra not that far behind them. Moss waved at her.
"Hi, Miss Sugarra!" She chuckled. The child making people laugh wasn't unheard of, but it felt like it'd been forever since he heard someone laugh. Everyone was so serious here unnecessary so. It made things awkward. Moss had nothing to focus on so when he realized he was hungry it was the only thing he could focus on. They tap Erebus trying to get his attention
    "yes, runt?" Erebus snarled. Moss was trying to figure out a way to say hungry when their stomach rumbled. That got Erebus' attention quick enough and looks down at him. "Hungry?"
    Moss nodded extremely fast. Everything here looked tasty and even if he knew it wasn't food. Erebus shouted at one of the other endermen, they quickly got him bread which Moss reluctantly ate. The bread was too soft for Moss' teeth making them click together when chewing. Mobs around them made noises that really didn't make sense to Moss. Hearing the ghast's noises made Moss think of crying or nails on a chalk board. These noises weren't Moss' favorite, in fact it made his ears hurt like hell. The bread was basically flavorless, all food seemed to taste like this nowadays. Now that Moss was thinking about it drinks also didn't really seem to taste like anything either. The clicking of Sugarra made Moss look over slightly out of his thoughts. He couldn't help but wonder if she'd burn him if he touched one of her rods. Moss reached a hoof out only for Erebus to push his arm down.
    "No. why would you do that?" Erebus said quietly. Moss didn't reply trying again, Erebus grabbed his arm maybe a little too tightly. The only way he knew was the frown that came upon Moss' face.
    "ow. Sorry.." he mutters. A look of pity washed over Erebus before his normal mad look comes back. "Damn right you should be. You're gonna burn yourself" he lets go after saying that with malice behind it. This kid annoyed him to no end but for some reason he felt protective of them. This feeling managed to annoy and frustrate him more than the origin of the feeling.
    Malacoda floated over and said in his booming voice. "Where is the portal to the overwork!" His voice managed to hurt Moss' brain more than Erebus' screeching. "Just up ahead. Do you remember the plan?" Erebus replied. Moss didn't care to listen anymore. He covered his ears only little pieces of their conversation staying with him. Something about crafters and a diamond of some sort. Malacoda ordering a general to take him was the first thing to stick fully. He could hear Erebus' protests after Malacoda said that. Soon despite Erebus' protests Moss felt warm bony arms around him. And a nether skeleton general was holding him. The only good part was that the skeleton actually knew how to hold a child with proper support.
The general was slower than Erebus and Malacoda. Their voices somewhat quieter. Moss finally uncovered his ears and looked up at the general.
"Hello?" They mutter. The skeleton looks down "yes?" The nether skeleton replies. Moss hadn't wanted anything but conversation.
"What's your name?" The general looks to ahead seeming to think whether to answer the question his clicking steps on rhythm with the rest of the group. Click, click, click.
"Nigel. My name is Nigel" the general finally replies. Nigel wasn't the worst name he'd heard, but it was still arguably stupid in Moss' opinion. Though, they wouldn't say that to the skeleton's face. "And you, tiny one?"
"My name is Moss! It's nice to meet you, Nigel" his ear stood on edge as he heard Erebus scream something, at one of the other generals. This general was another ghast. It was huge just like its king. Maybe it was a genetic thing, or maybe they fed off the fear of their subjects. It wouldn't surprise Moss if they did. He couldn't help but imagine the ghasts drinking souls and fears. Would it come through the eyes? He didn't know, but it was the most interesting thing going on other than Erebus yelling like he usually did. That was something else that made him wonder things. Why was Erebus only seemly nice to him. It wasn't nice by a lot, but he was nicer than he was to others.
Moss wiggles out of Nigel's grasp quickly. Nigel wasn't prepared for Moss' escape, he found himself running after the rambunctious child. Moss hid behind Sugarra, she was warm. Moss hadn't noticed them before now.
"Now what on earth are you doing to this poor child" Sugarra questioned, the child looked fine to her knowledge. He still had two horns, one chipped and the other not, two eyes, two arms, four hooves, and two legs. He didn't look hurt by any means, but there had to be some reason the kid was hiding and not coming out from behind her.
    "Nothing I'm just supposed to watch him, I did nothing wrong lady" he practically spat back, irritation evident on his face. Why the enderman king liked this child at alluded him. This cow kid was annoying and asked far too many questions. He was too sneaky, not to mention he wasn't really useful. Nigel might understand if the child had a use as maybe a spy or something, but that just simply wasn't the case here. Moss stuck his tongue out making Nigel frown even further.
    "Fine you watch it!" He crosses his arms and starts to walk away. Sugarra rolled her eyes. "Well bless your heart" she spit back.
    "Come now sugar. We need to keep walking" she hovered next to Moss and was basically walking. Moss walked beside her his mind wondering. How does she float was just one of many questions that came up. How does she stay on fire all the time?... what happens if the fire goes out? The thought was terrifying, would it hurt? Was it like death? Would it be death... Moss snapped himself out of it and instead reached out to hold one of her rods like a hand. It felt hot. It was intense, but not to the point of really burn. Though, that could be because Moss was holding it with his hoof and not a hand. This felt.... Familiar. Where had he felt this before. A memory popped up but not for long and as it came it went. Moss couldn't remember. She was sure that'd come back to haunt her. Maybe like eating ice cream to a lactose intolerant person.
    Right here, right now it didn't matter though as the army approached the nether portals finally back to the overworld. Would they make Moss go home? Was Ivan ok? Was Cathy ok? How long had it actually been? Probably not long..... right? Sugarra helped Moss into the portal. It made him feel dizzy, lightheaded even. Sugarra didn't let him fall though. She's nice like a mother kinda.. Mom... was she..
Coming out of the portal Moss snapped out of his thoughts. Erebus was screaming bloody murder at Nigel.
"What do you mean he got away and you just let him go!? He could be hurt for all you know!!" Was Erebus screaming about Moss? Why? Sugarra was the one to push Moss to rejoin Erebus. Even if he was a bit entertained by this scene. Moss felt just a little bad for Nigel, even if the bone brain was mean to Sugarra. Moss waddled over and clung to Erebus' leg. This made him go quiet and snap his head down to Moss.
"Please don't be mean to Mr. Nigel.." Moss is very quiet as he asks this of Erebus. He instinctively picks him up. Welp back in his arms once more, Moss guessed this time he wasn't gonna be able to get down. He knew that he probably wasn't trusted to be put down and others weren't trusted to hold him.. This was going to be fine.