"What's with your mask?"

Dream looked to Sapnap, the source of the question and paused his knife sharpening. "For anonymity, remember? We talked about this already."

"No, I mean the smile," Sapnap said and gave Dream a weird look, "it's creepy and it weirds me out."

"That's the point."

George stumbled into their campsite, having just came back from gathering some firewood for the night. Dream resumed his sharpening, the 'shing' of metal against a specific stone was the only sound. Sapnap sat across from him on the other side of the fire, eating and thinking about something.

George sat down with a sigh and started eating his share of food. He swallowed and asked Dream, "How old are you?"

"Older than you," Dream replied dryly.

George snorted. "No duh... so you're like, skilled at fighting?"

"Yep."

George nodded and asked, "Can you teach me?"

Dream looked up from his blade. "What?"

"Teach me how to fight," George clarified, "so I can defend myself."

"Yeah," Sapnap chimed in, "he's completely useless."

George shot him a glare and looked to Dream. "Can you?"

Dream leaned back and thought for a moment. He asked, "Have you ever held a sword before?"

The prince shook his head and Sapnap laughed, whistling, "Oh boy, we better not let him walk into the forest alone anymore. Who knows what would happen to the poor, defenseless prince."

"Sapnap," George hissed, "fuck off, I'm trying to talk to Dream."

The pyrokinetic scoffed and went back to eating. George nodded in satisfaction and turned to Dream. He asked, "So what do you say?"

"I'll think about it."

George brightened, he was clearly expecting a different response. Dream sighed internally, maybe he should've said no.

The fire crackled in the silence and a soft wind brushed through Dream's hair, a feeling that he relished. Now that the two mortals had seen his hair and ears, what was the point in wearing his hood all the time? If anything, he was glad Technoblade had told him to go visit Nihachu.

Dream pulled out the dagger that he had gotten from the siren days earlier. He turned the blade over in his gloved hands. The metal wasn't silver like a typical blade, instead it was an iridescent black. The hilt was made of black leather and scarlet gems.

He frowned, knowing what it was immediately― a blood blade for the Blood God. Technoblade would use this personally to do his work. The thought made Dream look at Sapnap, who was getting comfortable and was soon asleep.

Dream returned the dagger to his belt and stared into the fire, slowly starting to wish he didn't have to bring Sapnap to Technoblade.

~

A week later, Dream still hadn't done anything to "train" George.

They were currently walking through an open plain. There was a cliff nearby and Dream sensed something off. The hairs on his neck rose and he looked around, scanning the plain in front of them.

George, sensing a shift in Dream's mood, asked, "We're not alone, are we?"

Dream dipped his chin in a short nod. Sapnap held his breath and looked around as well. A winged creature jumped off the cliff nearby and soared above them.

Dream crouched down, the others following suit. He recognized the Fae flying above, but he wasn't comforted. Dream had never met the winged Fae in person, just heard about him from stories. He made Dream seem young in terms of the long life he had lived.

Philza swooped down and landed several paces away from them. Dream stood up, a hand hovering above his sword.

Philza's eyes darted between the three of them, narrowing as he analyzed them. He asked, "Who are you and what are you doing on my land?"

"We're just passing through," Dream said calmly, taking his hand away from his sword in a motion of a truce.

"Who are you?" Philza asked again.

"I'm Dream, a friend of Technoblade, you may know him."

Philza's eyes flickered in recognition and he looked to the two mortals behind Dream, asking, "Who are they?"

"George and Sapnap," Dream said and then added hesitantly, "they're friends of mine."

Philza nodded slowly. "I can offer you a method of transportation if you'd like? To get to your destination."

Dream realized that the winged Fae knew what Dream's job was. Philza was being helpful by not saying Dream's job in front of Sapnap. The three followed Philza up the cliffside.

Dream was in awe of Philza's presence. The winged Fae used to be no more than a legend to him, yet here he was, walking in front of Dream. Philza's dark wings were broad and powerful, folded tightly behind his back as they walked. George and Sapnap kept quiet as they trekked up the cliffside; Dream could hear the rapid beating of their hearts.

Philza led them past a small house on the cliff and stopped behind it, gesturing to two winged creatures in front of them.

"Pegasi," Dream whispered in awe, looking between the two mythical, white creatures.

Philza nodded with a small smile, "You may use them for your travels, but they won't take you the whole way, just past those mountains over there."

Dream tore his eyes away from the Pegasus approaching him and his eyes followed to where Philza was pointing. Several mountains stood tall in the distance, a week or more of walking to get there, but on a Pegasus, much less time.

"I only have two," Philza said, "so you'll have to make do."

Dream said gratefully, "Thank you, Philza, two is more than enough."

Philza smiled and said, "Safe travels."

The winged Fae walked into his house, leaving Dream with two Pegasi and two mortals. He grinned as a Pegasus approached him. He took off his gloves and stuffed them in his pocket, holding his hand out for the Pegasus to smell.

A muzzle huffed against Dream's hand. His other hand pet the creature's cheek. Sapnap came up next to Dream and held his hand out as well.

"We're not actually riding them, are we?" George asked nervously from behind him.

"Are you crazy?" Sapnap whispered loudly, "Of course we are!"

Sapnap went to the other Pegasus, getting to know that one. Dream glanced over his shoulder and said, "C'mon George, this is a once and a lifetime chance."

George swallowed and held his hand out hesitantly. The Pegasus huffed into the prince's hand and nickered softly. Dream left the two mortals and Pegasi and entered Philza's house.

He stood in the doorway for a moment, his hand lingering on the doorknob. Philza stood at a counter, opening a cabinet and grabbing a cup with ease; his movements precise from many years of repeated motions.

"Tea?" Philza offered, not turning around.

"No, thank you," Dream replied and took a step in.

"Shoes," Philza commented with a jerk of his chin as he continued to make his beverage.

Dream looked down. "Right," he muttered and slipped his boots off, placing them next to a pair of worn shoes.

His gaze was curious as he looked around the small house. A few scattered paintings hung on the wall, an assumed hobby that Philza most likely took up in his many years of solitude. A striped hat hung on the wall near Dream's head, frayed from years of usage.

"Be careful," Philza said quietly, causing Dream to look up. The winged Fae was looking out his window as he said in a wistful sigh, "Don't get too attached."

Dream followed his stare, a soft smile creeping on his face as he saw George and Sapnap bicker. George was pushing the pyrokinetic away, clearly trying to befriend the Pegasus while the other was just being annoying.

"I've learned— after many years— that mortals never fail to both amaze and disappoint me," Philza said, his eyes sliding to Dream.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean," Philza replied with a sad smile, "they have both admirable and selfish traits."

Dream didn't reply and Philza continued, "With mortals everything comes to an end... some things more quickly than others. And that end— the meaning of life is gone more quickly than it came." Philza paused and closed his eyes, clutching his tea gently. He whispered, "I... I had a wife once."

Dream noted the obvious pain in his voice and asked quietly, "Why are you telling me this?"

"I have to warn you somehow... it's best if you complete your assignment and leave those mortals behind. They'll only bring pain."

You don't need to tell me, Dream thought. His heart squeezed, he'd been through it once before... the pain― pain only that a mortal could bring.

Dream swallowed and reached for his boots. Philza's eyes opened and watched Dream as he said, "I wish you luck on your journey."

"Thank you," Dream muttered as his boots slid easily over his socks, "for the Pegasi and the advice."

Advice that he didn't need. Dream already knew what a mortal could do and he wasn't about to let it happen again.

Philza just observed silently as Dream nodded in another thanks and closed the door behind him. Dream stepped into the warm heat of the outdoors and approached George and Sapnap.

Sapnap said from on his Pegasus, "No way am I riding with George! Dream, you're stuck with him. I'm gonna beat you guys there!"

"Sapnap," Dream warned, "this isn't a race and these aren't horses. Pegasi need to be treated with respect."

Sapnap grumbled and Dream handed him the pack since the pyrokinetic and his ride wouldn't have the extra weight of George. Dream mounted the Pegasus and held a hand out to George.

George paled. "We don't get a saddle?"

"Respect, remember?" Dream reminded him. "A saddle wouldn't fit with their wings."

Dream pet the Pegasus' withers with one hand, still holding his other hand out to George. The prince looked at Dream's bare hand and grasped it hesitantly. A cold hand slid into Dream's and Dream gripped it tightly, pulling George onto the Pegasus.

George yelped and his arms flew around Dream's torso tightly. Sapnap laughed and took off on his Pegasus, flying ahead. George was pressed tightly against Dream's backside, his head pressed against Dream's shoulder.

Dream laughed softly and looked over his shoulder, whispering, "You ready?"

George's eyes were squeezed shut in fear, his heart pounding against Dream's back. He nodded quickly, gripping Dream tighter. Dream grinned and urged the Pegasus forward. His grin faltered at the pair of Fae eyes looking at him through a window.

Don't get too attached.

Dream tore his eyes away, looking ahead. The Pegasus walked slowly at first, then picked up a gallop as they headed to the cliff edge. Dream's stomach dropped as he remembered his fear of heights. His hands found the Pegasus' mane and gripped the hair tightly between his fingers.

The Pegasus whinnied, a joyous sound, and jumped off the cliff, letting them plummet. Dream was thankful for his mask at that moment as the wind tore at his hair and clothes relentlessly. He blinked back tears, hearing George's scream behind him.

His eyes squeezed shut and he felt the Pegasus' wings open wide, halting their descent. White wings beat loudly as the magnificent creature pushed them higher and higher.

Dream's eyes opened and he gasped, his stomach churning at the ground far below them. He could see Sapnap in the distance, the pyrokinetic's hands lifted in elation. Dream's feelings of fear lessened as he took in the view.

Clouds were within reach, the sun midway across the sky. Dream hesitantly took a hand from the Pegasus' mane and reached outwards. The creature below him flicked an ear back in response and veered towards the clouds.

Dream couldn't help but smile as his fingers sifted through white puffs of clouds, feeling nothing different except the slight dampness in the air around them. The clouds parted as the Pegasus' wings flapped, scattering the clouds. The wings evened out as they soared through the sky.

Dream looked to George, who was still clinging on for his life with closed eyes. He shouted over the rushing wind, "George, look."

George's eyes fluttered at the sound of his name and they opened briefly before he yelped and shut them again. Dream rolled his eyes and nudged an elbow into the prince's side.

"Hey," Dream murmured, "you're safe with me. I won't let you fall."

George's furrowed brows relaxed slightly and he opened his eyes. His face paled at the drop, but he quickly looked to Dream. George's eyes drifted past Dream and widened at the clouds surrounding them. A small, cautious smile spread across his face and his grip on Dream loosened slightly.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Dream whispered.

George looked back to Dream, a flush rising on his cheeks as he murmured, "Yeah, it is."

Dream's lips tugged in a grin and he looked forward, watching as they covered distance quicker than they could've on foot. They flew in silence for a while, quietly watching the scenery, the sun slowly setting in front of them. Occasionally, Dream felt George shift from behind him, his arms around Dream, holding him steady.

George's chin rested on Dream's shoulder and Dream stiffened, glancing down at the prince. Soft hair brushed against Dream's ear and he shivered, but he didn't move. George's hands, which were once fisted, unfurled, now curling into the folds of Dream's clothes.

Dream inhaled sharply and he whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

Dream hated how quickly his heart was beating, and it wasn't from how high up they were.

"Are you afraid of heights, Dream?" George asked quietly.

"Yes," Dream breathed, "aren't you?"

He felt George shrug. George whispered, "You're very comfortable to hold on to."

"Thanks?"

George smiled and leaned his head into Dream's neck. Dream's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Was George flirting?

Dream stiffened at the thought and was grateful when the Pegasus swooped over the last of the mountains and landed smoothly on the ground next to the other Pegasus. George got off slowly, his arms reluctantly leaving Dream.

Dream followed suit and gave the winged creature one last pet before the Pegasus took off, followed by the other. Sapnap walked up to them, a wide grin on his face.

"That was the coolest thing I've ever done!" Sapnap exclaimed.

Dream nodded, but he couldn't bring himself to grin. He grumbled, "Let's set up camp for the night."

Sapnap noted his shift in demeanor, but he didn't say anything. He left to gather kindling and George took a step towards Dream. Dream turned away and sat down, putting his gloves back on. George must've noticed something because he sat several feet away, fidgeting with his fingers.

Sapnap came back minutes later and Dream got up, excusing himself and saying, "I, uh, I'm gonna go for a walk."

"Want me to come with?" George asked.

Dream shook his head and left their temporary campsite and walked off. Several minutes later, Dream came upon a small river. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, studying the water for a moment before undressing. He waded into the cold water, tossing his mask onto the shore.

His eyes closed as fresh air greeted his face, a feeling that he relished. Dream avoided his reflection in the water as he dunked his head. Cold water shoved its way up his nostrils and ears, alerting his senses. Dream stayed under water for a long while, listening to the beat of his heart and the fuzzy drone of the water.

His thoughts grew distant, but there was one name in his mind, George. The prince was acting weird earlier, wasn't he? Or at least different as compared to usual. George was confusing him and Dream hated being confused.

He resurfaced, shaking his hair out of his face, water droplets flying. His eyes opened and he studied his hands. You have nice hands, George had said a while back.

Those "nice hands" now ran through his wet hair, pushing it off his forehead. Dream studied his hands once more, his skin flecked with scars. His arm, previously covered in bandages, now was injury free. A few points of risen flesh were apparent from the wolf's bite.

Dream had gotten a new shirt after the other had been torn. He put that shirt on, dressing himself in his many layers of dark clothing. His hands were reluctant to pull on his gloves and even more reluctant to put on his mask.

He pulled his hood over his head, giving him one less thing to worry about.