The group of four exited the jungle forest a day later.

Callahan had become ecstatic, when they left the jungle, happy that he had finally gotten out. The faun had grown on the three of them in their time spent together. With his snarky comments scribbled in the dirt and joyful energy, Callahan was a good addition to the group.

Dream led them through a village, but not before pulling his hood back up. Dream, George, and Sapnap all needed new clothes and supplies. They stopped in the nearest clothing store and picked out new clothes.

Dream kept the cloak that the dryad had given him and bought new boots, pants, and shirts. All were dark in color, black and some dark green. His dark brown hood stayed over his head the whole visit, careful not to give away his identity.

George and Sapnap got new clothes as well, similar to the ones they already had, just newer to replace their torn ones. Callahan was pointing out boots and nodding or shaking his head at Sapnap and George's clothing choices.

Dream went to the front of the shop, chuckling at their bickering. He approached the counter and placed several gold coins on the table. He said to the young man at the counter, "For whatever we're going to buy."

The clerk tilted his head and nodded. His eyes lit up in confused recognition and he whispered, "Clay?"

Dream froze. His mouth went dry, thoughts running through his mind at impossible speeds. He cleared his throat and said, "Sorry, wrong person."

Dream left the counter quickly, confused. He glanced back at the boy at the counter, noting his unique hair coloring; half black and half white. Dream had never met him before, so how did he know his name? Dream hadn't used that name in decades and the boy looked like a teen.

He approached George and muttered, "We should go."

"Oh, okay," George replied, sliding his hand in Dream's. Before Dream could comment, George said, "Sap and Callahan went to the baker's shop across the street."

Dream's mind froze, his eyes glued to their hands. George squeezed gently and asked quietly, "Is this okay?"

Dream smiled slowly. He tugged George out of the store, keeping their hands together as his answer. George giggled softly, bumping his hip into Dream's. Dream almost snorted at the cheesy action, but they were interrupted.

"Clay?" the tailor asked, now standing in front of them. "I'm almost certain it's you."

Dream froze, how does this guy know me? George looked at Dream, confused, and shook his head. George said, "Sorry, you have the wrong person."

The tailor placed a hand on his hip, his eyes searching under the shadow of Dream's hood. His discolored eyes seemed to see into Dream's soul. Dream shifted uncomfortably. The boy shook his head and muttered, "Sorry, I have a bad memory."

"Yeah..." George said slowly, pulling Dream away, "have a good day."

The black and white haired boy's brows furrowed, but he turned back into the store where he worked. George muttered, "That was weird."

"Yeah," Dream replied, pulling George to the bakery, eager to get away from the boy.

As they entered the bakery, they were greeted by the smell of sugar and chocolate. Dream closed his eyes, inhaling deeply as the smells traveled up his nose. Sapnap was stuffing his face with cinnamon rolls and waving Dream over.

"You're paying for this, right?" Sapnap asked, his mouth full.

Dream laughed softly and pulled out a couple coins. He handed them to the baker and apologized, "Sorry, he's very rude. Thank you for the delicious pastries."

Sapnap glared at Dream and flipped him off, leaving the bakery. Dream sighed and followed him, George and Callahan tagging behind.

Sapnap led them out of the town, stopping under a tree in a meadow just outside of the town. They all sat down in the grass, enjoying the warm weather, which was starting to rapidly cool with the summer slowly coming to an end.

Dream opened his pack and grabbed one of his new shirts, but before he put it on, his eyes caught on the tag. There was a note that read, Hurry up. You're taking too long. - Technoblade

Dream's stomach dropped and his peaceful mood fell. He swallowed and ripped the tag off before throwing the shirt on. He stood up and walked away from the group without a word. After reaching another tree, almost on the other side of the meadow, he sat down.

Dream leaned back, placing his arms behind him and tipping his chin up. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"What's on your mind?" George asked.

Dream didn't open his eyes. He said, "We're almost there."

"I know," George whispered and Dream cracked open an eye.

George was standing a few feet away, his head tilted as he studied Dream. Dream's lips tugged in a smile at the sight of him. George never failed to amaze Dream with his natural beauty. He murmured, "C'mere, let's talk."

George said nothing, walking wordlessly up to Dream. Before Dream could say anything, George sat on his lap. Dream didn't move, keeping his arms behind him, propping him up for support.

George's fingers traced up Dream's chest, dragging up his neck and into Dream's hair. Dream hummed and closed his eyes, savoring the gentle touch. George didn't need to say anything, he already knew what Dream was thinking.

Dream trusted George enough to let him do what he was doing. He let George's nails brush over his scalp and his fingers tug through his hair. The calm reassurance of George's presence kept Dream focused. Fingers traced over Dream's ears and twirled with the ends of his hair where his hairline met his neck.

Before Dream knew it, George was leaning forward, planting kisses on Dream's cheeks. Dream opened his eyes, parting his lips to talk, but George placed a finger over his lips, hushing him with a quiet 'shh'.

"You have so many freckles," George murmured. "Do you think I can count them all?" When Dream's lips curved in a small smile, George smiled as well. George counted quietly, placing soft kisses on Dream's cheeks. "Let's see, here's one..." kiss, "two..." kiss, "three..." kiss.

George's featherlight kisses brought a rumble to Dream's chest, laughing softly from the affection. "So, so many," George whispered, his lips brushing Dream's cheekbone.

Dream shivered at the soft touch, his half-lidded eyes watching George carefully. George met his gaze and his lips pressed softly against the corners of Dream's mouth. "You're so beautiful, Dream," George murmured.

Dream's heart filled with awe as he looked at George, his eyes softening. George's lips hovered over Dream's face, dragging lightly over his cheek and pressing fully on the end of Dream's scar. Dream swallowed, closing his eyes as George brushed his lips over Dream's eyelid, tracing over his scar.

Dream sat patiently, letting George do what he wanted. George's forehead pressed against his own and Dream opened his eyes. Soft, warm breaths reached Dream's lips, dilated pupils staring in his; one an amber brown and the other a light blue. George sucked in a breath and connected their lips.

Dream's eyes fluttered to a close and he kissed George back, lifting his chin to deepen the kiss. It was slow and passionate, one that left Dream's heart racing when George pulled away with a breathy laugh.

George teased lightly, "What did you want to talk about?"

Dream scoffed with a smile. "How am I supposed to talk when you go and do that?"

George shrugged, a faux look of innocence in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. His smirk faded and he tilted his head, insisting, "No, really, talk to me."

Dream looked between his eyes and nodded. He chewed on his lip for a moment before starting, "Well― I don't want to go back... I don't want to hand Sapnap to Technoblade."

George waited patiently for Dream to continue. Dream whispered, "But, if I don't, my years of service to Techno will lengthen and I won't get to be free as soon as I could be if I turn him in. Sapnap― he's my friend."

"He's my friend too," George whispered, twirling Dream's hair between his fingers, "so what are you going to do?"

"I've been thinking about this for a little while now," Dream admitted. "I want to kill Technoblade."

~

"You're not taking me to Karl," Sapnap said slowly in disbelief.

Dream nodded, waiting for the anger to come, and it did. Sapnap stood up abruptly, launching himself at Dream. Dream didn't fight back as Sapnap's fist pummeled into Dream's jaw. He shoved Dream against the tree, holding him by his shirt collar.

Sapnap stared into Dream's eyes, his breathing ragged. He lifted his fist to throw another punch, but he couldn't bring himself to swing. Sapnap pushed himself off Dream and said hoarsely, "You're my friend... I-I can't hurt you."

Dream's face saddened and he said quietly, "I'm sorry, I was just doing my job―"

"Yes," Sapnap interrupted, "but that doesn't mean it was right."

"I know."

Sapnap looked away. "You're a liar. I hate liars."

"And that's okay," Dream said softly, "you can hate me."

Sapnap swallowed and looked to Dream, muttering, "You have no idea where Karl is, do you?"

Dream shook his head and observed as Sapnap's hands curled into fists, flames flickering. Sapnap's eyes teared up. "You― you took me months away from where I was... I was looking for him and now... now how am I supposed to find him?"

"I'm sorry."

Sapnap's shoulders sagged, the fire at his fists relinquishing. He took a breath and asked, "So where are you taking me?"

"To Technoblade," Dream replied steadily, "my boss. You were one of my targets that I was supposed to bring back to him, but I've changed my mind. I'm going to kill him."

Sapnap said nothing, his eyes full of sadness and loss. Dream added quietly, "You don't have to come. You can leave."

"No," Sapnap said with a sigh, "I'm going with you. I'll help you kill him, but I want one thing in exchange."

"What's that?"

"As soon as we kill him, you're going to help me find Karl."

"Deal."

~

"Technoblade is a god?!" Sapnap exclaimed, "How the fuck are we supposed to kill a god?!"

Dream's lips thinned. George spoke up, "Back at my home I used to read a bunch. We had this gigantic library filled to the brim with books. I remember reading about gods and such. It was said that in order for a god to walk the earth, they had to be bound to an earthly object. Something that kept them tethered to the earth. Supposedly that object can be the one thing that sends them back to their realm."

"So," Dream added, "we technically wouldn't be killing him, just sending him back to his home where he can't affect us anymore."

Sapnap nodded slowly. "So we just need to find the object that Techno is tethered to... what is it?"

"I have no clue," Dream admitted.

"Well shit," Sapnap muttered, leaning back and running a hand through his hair.

Callahan was present through the entire conversation, but stayed quiet. At this moment he stood up and walked away. Moments later he came back with a stick and drew something on the ground.

Sapnap tilted his head and said, "Callahan says he knows what we're talking about... hang on― it looks like he's drawing a blade of some sort."

Dream stood up and walked over, his eyes widening at the descriptive dagger that Callahan had scribbled. "No way," Dream muttered and rushed to his pack.

He opened it and pulled out the blade that Nihachu had given him all those months ago. The blood red jewel in it's hilt sparkled in the firelight. Callahan's eyes widened in surprise and he nodded excitedly.

"How do you have that?" Sapnap asked, his eyes confused.

"Techno wanted me to retrieve it. Remember when we saw Niki?" There were two nods and Dream continued, "Well, I gave her a pearl necklace that Techno gave me and we did a trade off. I didn't think it was an unusual event, Techno often tells me to go see Niki whenever I'm in her area."

"He must've made it look like it was no big deal," George remarked, "so that you wouldn't get suspicious.

Is that why Techno wants me to hurry?

"Hmm." Dream muttered, "It makes sense. Niki did say that this blade was very important."

"Then that must be it!" Sapnap exclaimed. "Now how do we use it?"

Callahan walked up to Dream and took the blade from his hands. The faun pretended to plunge the dagger in his heart and Dream's eyes widened in realization. Callahan gave the blade back to Dream and sat back down.

Dream turned the iridescent blade over in his hands. He glanced at Callahan, asking, "How do you know all this?"

Callahan wrote in the dirt and Sapnap read it, his eyes darkening. Sapnap said, "Callahan says he used to be a messenger for Technoblade. When Callahan was of no more use, Techno cut out his tongue and dumped him in the jungle where we found him."

It was quiet for a long moment. George reached over and grasped Callahan's hand gently. "I'm sorry, Callahan. You don't deserve what he did to you."

Callahan nodded, gratitude in his eyes. Dream's gaze turned cold as he said, "Alright, it's decided. We're going to kill this motherfucker."