𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 (Sleepy Bois Inc) /Discontinued/

-2-

Tommy
--

I walked with Wilbur as I helped him carry two glistening salmon back to camp. It wasn't a lot, but it would be the first real meal we'd had in a long time.

Once we arrived at our camp, I saw Phil gracefully descend from the swirling clouds. He landed with a grunt, dust coating his legs. "I guess I should work on my landings a bit more," He joked, brushing himself off quickly. Techno emerged from the forest shortly after that, looking carefully at me. I glared back in his direction. Not that I had anything against Techno, it was just because he never took me with him into the part of the woods that he used to 'train'. No matter how much I begged, his answer was always a, "Nah, I'm good," or a, "You're too young,". I hate being called 'Too young,' because, in reality, I am a big man.

Setting the salmon down, I watched as Wilbur carefully started to cut all of the colorful scales off, his face covered with a faint look of sadness. Oh my god- Was that man obsessed with those fish, or what? I'm convinced he wouldn't have even brought a knife close to one of the 'precious salmon,' if the idea of going hungry never had to pass our minds.

I helped gather sticks for the small fire Techno was starting, while- to everyone's surprise- keeping quiet the whole time. I hummed a tune I'd heard Wilbur singing earlier that day while setting all the sticks upright in the fire pit. "Thanks, Tommy," Techno muttered, rearranging all of the sticks I had just placed down. He nudged me out of the way, a silent 'Go bother Phil or something,' So I reluctantly trailed off towards my tent. My attention was caught by a rustling in the bushes. I quickly looked around the camp to see if anyone else heard, being met with a bunch of turned heads focused on whatever was so important to them-  Techno building the fire, Wilbur preparing the fish, and Phil setting up an old table- So, being the big man I am, It was only smart to go investigate.

Parting the bushes that outlined the clearing in which our camp stood, I wiggled around in the thorny sticks and leaves, trying to gain a sense of where I was going. I continued deeper into the bushes before realizing it was hopeless to go any further, the stickers and thorns would just tear me up too bad. I had already been making my way through the trees for a good amount of time by then, so I turned around and began the journey back. I jumped, startled as an object whizzed past my ear; Making itself at home in a nearby tree's bark, I saw the object was none other than an arrow. Not just an arrow, I told myself grimly. Dream's arrow. A small bright green feather on the end of the arrow was the defining feature that gave him away. My heart sank as I took in the desperate situation- If Dream was close enough to shoot at me, I'd only have a few moments to get back to camp before I was dead meat.

I instinctively dropped to my hands and knees, the thick bushes being the only thing I recognized as a barrier between me and enemy fire, and I hastily shimmied my way through the snagging branches. Scarlett blood drops started to prick at the small scratches beginning to form on the exposed skin all over my body. Having the feeling Dream was right on top of me, I was too afraid to turn around. I let out a sigh of relief as I finally broke the bushes and emerged into the familiar clearing. With a panicked look, I surveyed the scene in front of me, hoping someone would see the tattered, scratched boy that just crawled out of the bushes. I stood up, preparing to sprint back to safety when there was another whizzing sound- but this time I didn't hear it land anywhere. Due to momentum- and gravity- I was returned to the ground again with a pathetic thud. There was a sharp searing pain that shot through my left arm, and I knew I had been hit. It took me a minute to regain my senses as I lay on the ground, head spinning.

"HELP!" I cried out finally, grabbing the attention of Techno because he was the closest. Seeing me on the ground and hearing the pleas for help, he put two and two together. A wild grin grew across the man's face as he jumped up and ran to the table that he'd set his weapons on earlier that evening. It didn't feel as if I'd been in the forest for that long, but the sun had already started to set over the horizon and I smelt the scent of fish grilling over the fire. But those were just distractions, keeping myself focused on anything that didn't involve the arrow sticking out of my arm. I watched as Techno tossed a bow to Phil, and Wilbur rushed into his tent. Then the arrows started flying over my head. Words were being exchanged by both sides, but I paid no mind to them. They sounded distorted and plastic, anyway.

Pushing my body as low to the ground as I could go, I hoped that one of the arrows wouldn't stray and hit me. Quickly, I realized as well that it was a stupid idea to stay out in the open, and I quickly mustered enough courage to army-crawl behind the nearest tent. Once 'safely' behind its flaps, I took a glance at my arm, my body cringed at the sight. Warm, ruby, blood dripped down my arm, the wound springing right under the place where my red-and-white t-shirt sleeve ended.

"Fuck," I muttered, crossing my fingers that the wound wouldn't bleed too much more than it already had. The sound of arrows colliding with wood and other things still filled the air, as the sounds of shouting and pounding feet accompanied them. I saw from my position that it wasn't just Dream attacking us, he was flanked by his two best friends, known by Sapnap and GeorgeNotFound. Cringy names, if you ask me. 

I was startled by a sudden voice next to my ear. "Tommy,"  It whispered with urgency. I turned quickly, only to be met with the eyes of Wilbur, who looked panicked. "Damn- He got you good," He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood while looking at my arm.

I rolled my eyes. "I was never the best at defending myself," I smirked, "It would be good if I worked on that a bit," I followed as he snuck me into the tent I'd been hiding behind, wincing as he poured rubbing alcohol on the hole the arrow was sticking out of.

"It hurts, that's good," He said, audible over the shouting outside.

"How is that good?" I growled as he pulled out the arrow and carefully wrapped my arm, squeezing the bounds a little too tight for my liking.

"You haven't lost your senses quite yet,"