Drake in Wonderland - Haunted AU

✧ Prologue ✧

     Dead trees left no joy in the hearts of Mia, Grayson, or Drake as they trudged along a worn, muddy path. Winter was drawing closer, a predator creeping on four paws towards its innocent prey. The air was mostly silent, the majority of birds having migrated south. What birds that did remain gave no light to the gloominess. Owls hid in their trees, waiting for night to fall. An owl contributed a haunting tune with its call, orchestrating oddly with the crickets suddenly starting to sound as the sky grew darker.

     A strong gust shoved the three forward like a bully one meets or had to deal with at least once in their existence. Drake, not possessing any sufficient clothing to fight against the chill, hugged himself and shivered, teeth chattering violently. Grayson ripped the scarf from his neck, turning on his heels, shrugging off the jacket, and giving it to his best friend.

     "Take it," Grayson said, tugging it around Drake's shoulders.

     "No, I'm fine, but thanks." Drake attempted to take of the gray jacket, only to have Grayson reach out and button it up.

     "I don't want you getting sick."

     "What about you?"

     "I lived in the Arctic for a long time. I'm used to it." Grayson replied, throwing the scarf back over his shoulder and around his neck. The thin green t-shirt and gray undershirt, with sleeves only to his elbows, concerned Drake.

     The trio continued walking, Mia giving a glance back to see if they were still following her. They were quiet enough to make her worried.

     "Alright, what's wrong?" Mia spun around, hands on her hips, staring down the two men behind her.

      Grayson gave her a puzzled look. "Nothing? I was just thinking." Mia turned her attention to Drake, who was rubbing his eyes at the moment.

     "I'm okay. Just a little..." a yawn escaped, "a little tired."

     They kept marching against the cold. They had been now walking for more than seventeen hours, having started at three in the morning due to a slight run-in with Nightmares. Drake didn't have a decent sleep; bad dreams and headaches kept him up most of the night. Every invading vision in his subconsciousness disturbed him deeply, enough to throw him into a tizzy every time he needed to close his eyes and rest. But for now, he was too exhausted to care.

     As the sky faded to orange, to pink, then to a darker blue, ending with a midnight navy, Drake, Grayson, and Mia kept on for as long as they could, scouting a resting place suitable enough. After a bit of bickering, they decided to rest by a rocky ledge that carefully cascaded down to a creek, lined with towering spruce trees and shrubbery.

     At this point, Drake was teetering from side to side, his exhaustion desperately trying to get him to sleep. One point, Drake tripped over a rock lodged into the earth, catching himself with a young tree to his right.

     "Come here, Drake." Grayson strung Drake's arm around his shoulders, carrying his sleep-deprived friend to a dry patch of leaves. He reached into his friend's backpack, pulling out the fluffy blue sleeping bag, laying it out neatly for him. Drake collapsed onto his sleeping bag, tiredly grumbling as he burrowed himself in it. Out of the little opening came the dark gray jacket, flopping at Grayson's side. Shaking his head, Grayson pick it up, whipping the air with it to remove the dirt. Drake's head poked out of the opening, staring at the kindling fire. The little flames grew bigger and brighter, painting a small area with flickering orange and red light. Grayson was pulling out some jerky he had saved to give to Drake, but upon looking over the lad, he found him out cold. With best intentions, Grayson ate only one piece of jerky, saving the rest for his friend in the morning. Mia frugally munched on a few berries, taking a sip of water. She herself laid out her sleeping bag, curling up in it and falling asleep almost as quickly as Drake. It took no time for the blonde haired outlaw to fall into sleep as well. It had been a long day, a nice, peaceful rest awaiting them.