"Dream! Wait! I'm sorry!" George shouted as he ran to catch up with Dream.

Dream pulled on his long-sleeved shirt over his undershirt and fastened his cloak back on, pulling his hood up. He held back tears, inhaling deeply.

'Clay, we have time...'

Dream sighed shakily and approached their camp, spotting Sapnap, who was munching on an apple. Sapnap waved in greeting, but paused when he heard George's frantic voice.

Dream felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a voice say, "Dream, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that."

"Get away from me," Dream muttered, shrugging off the hand on his shoulder.

George stepped in front of Dream's path, his eyes frantic and pleading, "Wait, Dream, please... I-I didn't mean it."

Dream pushed past him, his shoulder pushing into George and shoving him out of the way. A hand grabbed his gloved one and Dream whipped around, causing George to jump back. He couldn't muster enough force to be threatening, so he said quietly, "Leave me alone."

George's hand slipped from his, his expression worried and apologetic. "Dream..."

"No, you've said enough," Dream said harshly and walked away.

He heard Sapnap stop George from following. Dream walked and walked, his mind scattered. He swallowed his nerves and climbed the nearest tree, stopping midway up.

Dream pulled back his hood and took off his mask, feeling the gentle wind against his damp cheeks. He wasn't used to crying, he always thought it made him seem weak. Yet, there he was, sitting in a tree, breathing shakily and hands trembling.

He stared into the eyes of his mask and shuddered, turning it over and looking away. He took off his glove and lifted his hand to trace a jagged scar on his face. It ran from over his eyebrow and to his cheek. After he received it, he was blind in the eye for weeks before a skilled enough healer had fixed it. Now he was left with a green eye and a slightly duller green one. Dream's fingers trembled as they ran over the torn flesh.

Yet another thing that reminded him of his lover.

Dream's eyes glided closed at the thought of him, unintentionally falling asleep.

~

"No!" he pleaded, "not him, anyone but him."

Technoblade shook his head in embarrassment, "I warned you, yet you didn't listen."

A sword was lifted and pointed to his lover's chest. Clay screamed, "No!" He yanked himself from one of Technoblade's men and ran forward.

A sword slashed back at an impossible speed and ripped through the skin of his face. Clay screamed as searing pain flashed through his eye. His hands lifted, coming back bloodied and shaky. His vision was cut off in one of his eyes as he looked up to Technoblade desperately and pleaded, "Please don't do this."

Technoblade sneered, "I told you to do your job, Clay, not to befriend your target."

His shoulders shook from his sobs as Technoblade lifted the sword to his lover's neck. Fundy's cheeks were tearstained as he looked at Clay, whispering his last words, "I love you."

Technoblade laughed as he slit Fundy's throat, dropping him to the ground. Clay screamed, his voice broken and hoarse and his eyes blurry.

"You should've known better than to fall in love with a mortal."

~

Dream sat up in the tree quickly, his chest rising and falling quickly. Tears stung his eyes as they fell down his cheeks.

He closed his eyes, but all he could see was him. Light brown hair, tinted orange. Bright eyes and a warm smile. Gentle hands with a forgiving touch. Fundy...

We never had enough time, Dream thought, swallowing thickly. He sighed, a long breath of shaky air. His heart longed to see Fundy again, but time was long gone. It never would've worked anyways.

Even if he was alive, Fundy would be nearing eighty years old. It had been sixty years since his death, when Dream was one hundred and forty-seven. When Fundy died, Dream didn't see a point in falling in love ever again. The chances of meeting another Fae with a personality to match his were low. Even if Dream had a long life ahead of him, he didn't want to fall in love again.

Dream let the breeze dry his cheeks as he looked up at the now dark sky. The stars were covered by thick clouds, a promise of rain. He shifted on the branch he was on and slowly put on his mask, pulling back on his hood.

He climbed down the tree minutes later, when his head had cleared and his tears had stopped. He walked back to the camp, dreading the presence of the mortals, of George more specifically, but he had a job to complete. Dream stepped into the campsite and was surprised to find George and Sapnap still awake.

Sapnap stood up quickly, his eyes wide in relief. "Dream! You're okay! I was worried about you."

Dream said nothing, watching warily as George looked at him. The prince was sitting with his knees pulled to his chest and slightly swollen eyes. Dream didn't feel any emotion in him whatsoever, looking back at Sapnap, who was clutching his hands together, looking between them awkwardly.

"We should find some shelter," Dream said over the steady crackle of the fire, "it's going to rain."

Sapnap nodded in agreement and slung the pack over his shoulder. George got up slowly and the two followed Dream as he led them through the woods, finding an old bear cave. Dream could tell by the smell that the bears were long gone, so he led them in, grabbing a couple sticks along the way.

Sapnap lit the wood and the fire lit up the cave, illuminating the three of them. Dream sat down and leaned against the rocky wall, watching as the rain started to sprinkle outside the cave. Sapnap and George sat down on the opposite side of the cave, quietly watching Dream.

"Dream?" George asked quietly.

Dream didn't acknowledge him, instead, continuing to stare at the rain which had started to fall more rapidly. He heard George shuffle and clear his throat. George whispered, "I'm sorry."

"This is so fucking awkward," Sapnap muttered under his breath.

George ignored him and moved to sit by Dream, sitting down over an arm's length away to give him space. "What do you need?" George asked. "Please, I'll do anything, just say something."

Dream didn't move as he said in a quiet, but even voice, "Just give me time to think."

"Okay," George whispered, "I'm really sorry."

"I know."

Dream heard Sapnap fall asleep, the fire slowing without his conscious presence. George stayed awake with Dream, keeping him company, but being quiet. After a long while, Dream turned to look at George.

George straightened at the sudden attention, his eyes trying to find Dream's, but failing because of his hood. George looked tired, but his expression was patient, determined, and still apologetic.

Dream looked away as he said, "You should get some rest."

"What about you?"

"I'm fine."

"I can stay up," George offered. "Aren't you tired? I haven't seen you sleep in a while."

"Why do you care?"

George was quiet as he replied, "I dunno, but you can sleep. I'll keep watch."

I don't trust you, Dream thought, but he said instead, "I'm good, thanks."

"Oh, okay... goodnight then."

Dream said nothing, listening to the beat of George's heart slow. He sighed when George was fully asleep and leaned his head back against the cave wall, his thoughts accompanied by the drone of the rain.

~

Their walking the next day was awkward and uncomfortable. Sapnap kept trying to find topics to talk about, but Dream stayed quiet and George didn't make an effort to add on to them. Dream was walking ahead, George and Sapnap behind him as they traveled through a steep valley. Mountains towered above them on both sides.

"So..." Sapnap drawled awkwardly, "are you two gonna talk about it or something?"

When nothing was said, Sapnap sighed and said, "What the hell happened between you two?"

Dream ignored the pyrokinetic and continued forward. Dream was walking quickly. He wanted to get out of the valley as soon as possible. He didn't like being out in the open like they were, vulnerable and almost trapped between mountains.

A high pitched shriek echoed in the valley and Dream's head snapped up, completely forgetting about the tension between them. The noise sounded again and Dream swore, "Shit, we gotta go. Now."

"What was that?" Sapnap asked timidly.

"An amphiptere," Dream said. At Sapnap's confused expression, he said more slowly, "It's an am-fif-ter-uh. Very dangerous, we need to find someplace to hide."

The winged dragon-like serpent screeched again, coming from a cliff somewhere. Dream looked around frantically, finding nothing to hide under. He grabbed George and Sapnap's arms and dragged them to the nearest mountain wall.

His arms spread across their chests and he pushed them flat against the rocks. His breath caught when he spotted the creature on the mountain cliff. George gasped and Sapnap's mouth dropped. Dream could hear their hearts race, he could hear his own as well.

The amphiptere launched itself off the cliff, its large wings caught the air with a long, spiked tail behind it. The mossy green coloring of its scales glistened in the sun's rays. It would've been a beautiful sight if Dream didn't know what the amphiptere was capable of.

Dream froze the moment he saw the winged serpent tilt his head, seeing the sparkle in the amphiptere's eye. "Don't move," he muttered.

But they would have to move. The legless serpent glided down, its movements fluid as it landed with precision. Claws on its wings gripped the ground, propelling its body across the valley floor. The sight was terrifying, but Dream shook it off, unsheathing his sword.

The amphiptere stopped a distance away, but Dream knew not to underestimate its size. This one looked to be young, around twenty-five feet (7.6ish meters) long. Its spiked tail lashed behind it, the creature's head tilted as it analyzed them. It's head lowered and Dream saw the large claws on its wings grip the ground.

"Shit," he said, dread pooling in his stomach. He didn't turn around as he said to the mortals behind him, "As soon as it moves, you two run, okay? I'll buy you time."

"Dream..." George said, trailing off as the amphiptere pushed itself forward.

Sapnap shouted, but Dream yelled over him, "Run!"

Dream held his sword tight as he ran forward, fear rising in his chest as the winged serpent neared. Its belly and tail moved across the ground like nothing he'd ever seen before. Dream had never imagined his death before, but he figured that this was probably how he would die.

Dream veered right at the last second, catching the amphiptere off guard. The creature slid past him, but quickly recovered, its claws catching the hard ground. Dream caught a glimmer of something on its neck, a weak spot, where no scales guarded the junction where its head met its neck.

He had no idea how to get close enough for that. There wasn't time to think as the amphiptere approached again. Dream slashed his sword out, metal meeting scales. The winged serpent paused, but seemed to rise taller as it took in the damage. Not even a scrape lingered on its side, the scales serving as an impenetrable shield.

Dream paled at the lack of harm done. He heard shouts from behind him, but he blocked them out. The amphiptere's eyes seemed to narrow as it screeched and propelled itself forward again. Dream took the chance to roll under its left wing, lifting his sword up to slash through the creature's fragile wing.

It hissed in surprise, lifting its wing up. Dream's breathing was heavy as he assessed its condition. His sword had made a clean slice through its wing, where the wing was now flapping uselessly in two halves. The amphiptere shuddered and looked back to Dream, a predatory look in its eyes.

It approached Dream again at a slightly slower speed. Its tail flicked out and Dream ducked, but not quick enough. The end of its tail rammed into his head, knocking him to the ground. Thankfully, that part of the tail had little to no spikes. Dream struggled to get off the ground, his head spinning.

His cloak was torn and his sword laid on the ground in front of him. Dream grit his teeth and grabbed his sword, swaying as he stood up. He couldn't hear Sapnap's shout of warning over the ringing in his ears.

Dream looked around not seeing the amphiptere anywhere. He spun in a circle, making himself even more dizzy. He had to lean forward, resting his hands on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath.

A low growl sounded from his left and Dream turned, but not quickly enough to lift his sword in time. He heard a shout and gasped in surprise as a large boulder rammed into the amphiptere's side. The creature shrieked and turned in shock, it's tail lashing out.

The spiked tail slammed into Dream's chest, forcing Dream off the ground and into the air. Dream's back thudded against the mountain wall and his vision blurred as he fell onto the ground. He coughed, everything in his body screaming in pain.

He looked up weakly to see flames gather in the air, scaring the amphiptere. The creature hissed at the fire and curled back, leaving when it saw a new threat.

Dream's last thought before he passed out was, Where the hell did that boulder come from?

-------------

Here's a picture of an amphiptere (my description has spikes on it's tail):