Stormfree (Dream SMP)

CH 4

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The terrain got so steep that at times, the group had to use their hands to help them clamber up over rocks and loose soil. Soon, they were all sporting fresh scrapes and blisters along their fingers and palms. Bad suggested that they could use their shirts to tear into strips to wrap around their hands, but no one really wanted to give up their last line of defence against the wind that was becoming more powerful as the trees grew ever sparser. George couldn't imagine how cold it would be once they reached the cliffs that overlooked the ocean, but he had some hope at least for the outpost there.

They only stopped for a few brief moments during the hike, letting Bad rest his swelling leg and seeing if Dream could attempt to tamp down his persistent headache. George began to suspect it was a migraine or something – he'd never actually experienced one but he'd learned about them during his first aid training (most of which he'd forgotten, unfortunately), and as far as he knew, the symptoms lined up pretty well. What a wonderfully convenient time to get one. On top of those two, his back was also killing him, his sore damaged muscles protesting against the extensive exercise. Needless to say, they weren't moving very fast, which is why Dream barely allowed any of those measly breaks. George considered making a bet with Techno about whether or not the masked man would pass out before they made camp for the night, but eventually decided against it; he didn't want to jinx it or anything. That would be annoying.

Somehow, they made it until the sun began to dip in the sky, which was when Dream finally relented – they could find someplace to sleep among the rocky outcropping. George grimaced in disgust at their lack of comfortable options as one of Bad's feet slipped, forcing him to sit down heavily onto an oblong boulder. He might've teased him about it if he weren't so fucking exhausted.

"At this rate I'm just going to drop dead before we even reach the cliffs," he grumbled, just loud enough for Dream to hear. It was frustrating that the man was travelling like he was the only person to worry about, like there weren't three other people he had to consider and cooperate with. Dream didn't react, pressing his thumbs into his temples as his elbows shook, and George figured he hadn't even heard him complaining. Fine then. He turned and headed towards Bad, helping him upright so they could both try to find somewhere to sleep.

"Where's Techno?" Bad asked once he was standing, lifting his chin to glance around. George followed his gaze and noticed that the strange man was gone. He shrugged his shoulders loosely.

"Who knows. Maybe he went on without us."

"You think he'd do that?"

"No, I was just – I don't know, Bad."

Bad was silent for a moment, and George wondered if he'd been too short with him. He opened his mouth to say something in a lighter tone, but then his friend said, "We really need water. I hope we can make it to the outpost by the end of tomorrow, I doubt we'd ever be able to find any freshwater sources up here."

George swallowed heavily at the thought of a drink, his mouth sticky.

"... Yeah, I hope so too."

"Hey!"

The two pivoted around to see Techno peeking over a small ridge not too far away, waving a hand in the air. He said, "I found a flatter area over here," then disappeared behind the rocks.

"Oh gosh, I'm actually glad he didn't leave without us," Bad chuckled, letting George help him across the rough terrain. "He's very resourceful." George just hummed in reply.
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Dream didn't sleep again. Maybe it was the headache, or the hard ground, or the way his mind wouldn't stop racing, but the exhaustion weighing down his body hadn't been enough to knock him out. He found himself getting pissed off about it – he just wanted to sleep, he was so tired and an hour would've been perfectly fine. His heartbeat throbbed in his temples and he was sure that if he'd had anything to eat or drink in the past two days, he definitely would've thrown it up by then. He spent the night curled into himself in the cold dirt, shivering, blearily gazing up at the stars that spun in the night sky. A small part of him wanted to go to one of the others for warmth and comfort – Bad, mostly, he seemed like the kind of person that wouldn't mind a hug – but the rest of him didn't want to have to stoop that low. Dream was supposed to be this impassable leader figure, he always had been, and it was taking everything left within him to hold up the facade.