Team Crafted One Shots

Best Friend Trio

Sonja walked around the complex, looking into each game entrance. Tucker walked next to her, keeping his hand intertwined with hers. The fox ears that popped out from below her hood stood straight, barely moving an inch. Most people thought they were fake, along with the tail that stayed tucked by her leg.

"Syndi is supposed to be around here," She mumbled only loud enough for Tucker to hear. "We did one pictionary game. One!"

"Let's try over there," Tucker pointed over to a barren section of the complex, colors duller than the rest. Sonja's tail puffed a bit, and her grip on his hand tightened.

"That's the hardcore section," She whispered, getting him to realize. The two went over there anyway, checking the names on the boards. There was one for the ones alive, and the ones who have died that day. Both equally long.

"Syndi... Syndi... Syndi...," Sonja mumbled under her breath, eyes glancing over all the names quickly. Hoping not to see the familiar name. M

"Sonja," Tucker whispered, eyes locked on the dead board. Sonja paused and took a glance, ears dropping.

"He didn't... he couldn't..."

"He shouldn't have," Tucker's stare dropped as he looked to Sonja, seeing her frozen in place. "Come on. We have to tell Mot."

--

Tucker could only stand for so much longer, his body felt like collapsing. Sonja stalked ahead into the house, grabbing a pillow from the couch and screaming into it. Her claws dug into the fabric, ripping it until stuffing fell out. Tucker sighed and picked her up, making the pillow drop.

"Bedtime."

"Not tired," Sonja protested. Tucker didn't listen and took her to the bedroom, tossing her down. Usually, she'd laugh and ask him to throw her again. She only curled up and moved away from him.

"Sonja please."

"No. He's gone," her voice was quiet, "it's Mot's fault. If he wasn't such a cheating asshole-"

"We shouldn't have told Syndi." Tucker laid down, not bothering to take off his hat. Sonja turned to look at him, eyes watering up.

"Maybe there was a glitch. Maybe there was a respawn."

"We don't know how respawn works. Or hardcore. All we know is that crafters don't ever come back," Tucker's voice was harsh, surprising Sonja. She knew he lost someone to that game years ago, it struck a nerve every time they went near one.

By the time midnight rolled around Sonja was still awake, watching Tucker sleep soundly. How he wasn't upset made her more upset. They lost someone close to them, someone they grew up with before any of this bullshit respawn.

She sighed and rolled over, spotting the bow she used back in the dark ages. Before all the beasts, her tribe, disappeared. One other remained, the leader. She didn't talk to him cause they never got along. He had that boy in the jungle.

Her ears perked up, hearing a noise downstairs. She sat up, listening harder. Again, a faint knock. She jumped up, pausing when hearing Tucker move in his sleep. She moved slower, rushing down the stairs and opening the door.

"Hey. Why'd you leave me at the complex," Syndi asked annoyed.

--

"How could you scare us like that," Sonja shouted, landing another punch on Syndi's chest. He didn't even flinch, he only looked more upset.

"Scare you? You scare me! Leaving me like that!"

"You were on the dead board," Tucker explained, pulling Sonja back. Syndi looked between them before sighing, closing his eyes.

"... I joined a hardcore game..."

"You IDIOT," Sonja launched herself at him, but only pulled him into a hug. Syndi opened his eyes, looking shocked. In the silence, Sonja could be heard crying. Tucker took a step forward, but didn't make another move. Syndi hugged Sonja tighter, touching her back gently.

"You're dead... you were dead," Sonja mumbled, pulling herself off him. She wiped her eyes and sniffed, pulling herself together. Syndi frowned a bit before shrugging, not knowing how to explain.

"I woke up in the complex... but hey. Look what I found in my pockets," Syndi reached in and pulled out a pair of fingerless gloves. They were a mix of greens, with red on the palms.

"I also found a matching scarf," Syndi smiled just a bit, but Sonja didn't look the least bit happy.

--

Syndi felt his hands shake with rage, a frown pulling at his lips. Mot didn't look amused, he only frowned more and held his arms tighter over his chest. Their god wasn't happy about Syndi's odd disappearance and was now refusing to speak with them. Mot blamed Syndi, Syndi blamed the rules.

"You're an absolute idiot," Mot hissed under his breath. Syndi would have flinched away at the comment, apologizing for it, but he didn't. His eye twitched slightly, refusing to look at Mot.

"How could you do this? Scare Sonja? Scare me?" Mot sounded more angry than hurt. Syndi clenched his teeth together turning his back to Mot. Mot growled under his breath and grabbed Syndi's shoulder to spin him around, but was surprised when his hand sunk more than it should. Syndi hissed and held his shoulder, turning back to face Mot.

"Holy... shit... Tom..." Mot was at a loss of words. He took a step back, before turning and running. Syndi looked confused, before stumbling forward and falling. He stuck his hand out to catch his fall but it crumpled beneath him.

"What-?" Syndi look at his hand, to see it rotting away. His other hand felt his face, to only sink in the skin.

"M... Mot! S... Sonja.... Tucker..." Syndi tried to stand again but his other face gave out, the land making him bite his tongue. He heard someone run in before it went black.

--

"Don't go near him! You don't know what he's been through!"

Tucker hugged Syndi tighter, seeing his hand changing to the Rotting green. Sonja was yelling at Sparkles again while the two hid out in the bedroom. Syndi pulling the scarf over his face to hide the green crawling up his cheek. Tucker held him tighter, staring at the door. Now Sparkles was yelling, most of the words muffled by Sonjas yelling.

The two didn't know how to help a Syndi. The green came and went without warning. He said it was when he's scared or angry, but Tucker couldn't see a pattern. Mot left... no one has seen him... it's messed with Syndi's head.

"Just go away! Stop bothering us!"

A door was heard slamming before footsteps came closer. Sonja barged in and grabbed a pillow, screaming into it. Tucker wanted to get up and close the door, but Syndi wasn't letting him go. Sonja calmed down enough to close it for them, before laying on the bed next to the two.

"How is it," Sonja spoke softly, raising a hand to put on one of Syndi's gloves. He shrugged, keeping tucked close.

"I'm sorry I yelled at him. I know you want to be friends but... since the game did this to you... who knows what he'll think," Sonja dropped her eyes and her hand, ears sinking close to her head. Tucker sighed and used his other arm to pull Sonja closer into the hug. They're trying their best. They really are.

None of them are normal anymore.