Predator (DWT x OC)

13

The next couple days are bearable, but only just. I keep myself occupied by chatting to whoever guards my door, talking to George about our favourite recipes to cook, Sapnap about old stories from both of our pasts, and to Eret about everything we can think of. They told me yesterday that we were going to a meeting with the rest of L'manburg to negotiate terms of the war. I haven't been able to sleep since. 

I tug on the loose strands of my blanket, waiting for George to come back from the bathroom. I hear footsteps echo down the corridor and perk my head up. The door swings open, and to my horror Dream stands in its wake. Shock shoots through me, and I tuck myself into the corner, shrinking away from his looming presence. He stands there for a couple seconds, mask pointed at me, before he clears his throat.

"We're going, come on."

Elation and relief wash over me. I'm getting out of here, and I don't care if we're leaving for only a little bit, the fact I can leave this cell is enough, that I'll be able to see everyone again. I tentatively get to my feet, wobbling slightly as I teeter towards the door. Thankfully Eret let me shower yesterday, so I'm not filthy and disgusting. I almost topple over into Dream, who grabs my arm to steady me. It burns where his hand touches me.

I follow him up the corridor, almost trembling out of excitement. The air gets fresher, the staleness that makes the underground so unbearable fading away. We reach the stairs and I run up them, giddy from the promise of fresh air and space. Even though I'm out of breath once I reach the top, I don't stop running, muscles stretching for the first time in too long, flying out the door way into the early morning. 

It's magical. The sun has just begun to rise, and the fuzzy dawn glow that spreads across the sky enchants my eyes. I take in a deep breath, the air crisp in my lungs, chasing out the horrible dampness of being underground. The earth is quiet, the silence almost like a blanket, cocooning me as I gaze into the field, running my hands through the tough grass. 

I end up wedged between George and Eret, Dream leading us through the forest. It's slowly coming alive, the sunlight piercing through the canopy of trees, the buzz of life in the forest awakening, birds fluttering on branches, rabbits zipping though the undergrowth. I feel free, for the first time since I was taken from L'manburg, like a bird let out of their cage. 

Eventually we reach a flat plain, with a house sitting in the centre of it. I see four outlines of figures waiting by it, in the distance, and my heart skips a beat. I take, off running, desperate to close the gap between us, because it's them, and they're ok and I can finally see them again. I can see them doing the same, through my vision blurred by the tears that are welling up in my eyes.

We collide into each other forcefully, and desperately cling on, my face smushed into someone's chest, arms clinging onto different people. I hold on as tightly as I can, not even breathing, the sheer relief at being safe in their arms again being enough. I'm surrounded by the familiar embraces of my family, the smell of home, and for a split second I forget about the war, and forget about Dream and what I've been through, because just for that second, I'm back home. 

Eventually everyone lets go, and I grab Tubbo's tear stained face, pressing my forehead into his, grabbing him for a tight hug, both of us to emotional to speak. Tommy pulls me into a crushing embrace, doing some kind of half laugh, half sobbing noise that makes more tears spill down my cheeks, and only grows the lump in my throat. Fundy picks me up and twirls me around, laughing as I cling onto his shoulders. 

My heart breaks when I note how different they all look, dark bags below their dull eyes, grimy and filthy, the slashes just barely healing on Tommy and Fundy's arms, the slit that runs up the Tubbo's left temple, from his chin to his forehead. They're all injured, and exhausted, just barely holding on in this war.