Heat hit Fralith's face along with a rush of summer breeze. Breeze. Heat. He turned over, opening his eyes and breathing in the scents. Sky. Pale blue sky with tendrils of clouds arching over larger, fluffy ones. Outside. He. was. Outside.

A smile spread across his face. The sky. It'd been a long time since he'd been under the sky where he belonged. Belonged. This was the wrong sky to belong under. He shoved away the gloomy thought and focused on the clouds. BlueShirt's face blocked some of his view, but he didn't mind. BlueShirt was here, and he looked happy.

"Feeling better?" Tim came into his field of vision, smiling, red hair flopping with each step.

"Beep," he breathed, wiggling and casting his gaze upwards again. It was so blue and vast, it made him want to hop onto a DreamLit and fly as high as it could go, hands outstretched to the clouds.

BlueShirt's arms shifted, and the world tilted as BlueShirt set him on his feet. "Oof," BlueShirt grunted, straightening. "You're a heavy lad, buddy."

He cocked his head, flashing a smile at him and taking his hand, rising on his toes and back down. Where to? Were they going to get food? Find shelter? Sit in a tree and stare at the sky?

Tim put a hand on his shoulder, chuckling. "I know, right? Brave Bud moves like the wind but weighs like a boulder, don'tcha?"

Fralith glanced at him and beeped, reaching up and flicking back a clump of hair. Why were they talking about him? Shrugging inwardly, he cast his gaze to their surroundings, stomach twisting a little as he spotted the MetalEaters.

They sat in rows on a large, cleared out area, apparently sleeping despite the distant rumbling of the busy BlackStrip not too far away. A few spots had grass and a few plants, like a small tree or bush, but besides that, there was no cover. To the left and right, the flat spot continued, their end behind the big building they just exited.

Blocks of other buildings dotted the area past the flat, MetalEater sleeping area, the big building, and the busy BlackStrip. From the looks of it, they were in a more building-clustered part of this world. There were certainly enough MetalEaters around.

"...I'll walk you to the car just in case he freaks out again and you need an extra hand. Where did you park?"

Fralith shook himself and sidled closer to BlueShirt, beeping with brows furrowed. How were they going to sneak past all the MetalEaters? They looked asleep, but they could wake up at any moment. He'd seen it before. He'd been near one before. It was better not to take the risk.

Tim took his other hand, squeezing gently. "Hey, it's okay, Brave Bud. Nothing will hurt you out here. You're perfectly safe. No need to worry."

Biting his lower lip, he glanced up at Tim. he didn't...seem concerned. In fact, he looked quite relaxed and calm. Maybe Tim knew the secrets of MetalEater taming. A little warmth pressed against his ribs. Yes, Tim knew what he was doing. He'd never put him in danger. It was okay. Tim would lead them through safely.

After a few more words, pats, and squeezes, they started forwards, BlueShirt leading the way. Tim stayed by his side, guarding the rear. Fralith made sure to stay close to both of them, gaze darting to each new MetalEater they passed, looking for any sign — any flicker of movement — that would signal its awakening.

He placed his feet quietly on the rough ground. While his leather shoes were thick, they still allowed him to feel the almost gravely ground — except the small stones didn't move and they were all the same color. He didn't mind so much; it felt good to be walking on something other than soft moss and it kept his footsteps quiet.

"Ah, there it is." BlueShirt pointed to a blue MetalEater not too far away from them.

Fralth frowned, hesitating. Why was BlueShirt pointing at a MetalEater? Was it because it was about to move? Limbs seizing and fog flaring, he took a few steps back, eyes glued on the blue MetalEater. Move. It was going to move, wasn't it? They needed to get out of its way!

Tim gently tugged on his hand, looking at him with raised eyebrows. "Brave Bud? Are you coming?"

He bared his teeth, still looking at the MetalEater, especially its glowing markings. They glowed whenever they were about to rouse, and — if one didn't hear its growls — was a good indicator whether it would move.

A frown furrowed TIm's face as he looked at him and the MetalEater. "Matthew?"

BlueShirt, standing close to the MetalEater, turned, hand pulling something that flashed in the sun from his pocket. "Yeah?"

"I think Brave Bud doesn't like cars." Tim looked at him again, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Did anything bad happen to you with cars? This one's safe, I promise."

Fralith growled, taking a few more steps back. The MetalEater wasn't waking! Was it safe, then? No. BlueShirt pointed at it, and he hadn't pointed at any other MetalEaters. Something was different about this one. He glanced up at Tim, beeping. It's not safe. We should go.

Tim smiled at him, patting his shoulder and taking a step forward, towards the MetalEater. "It's okay, Brave Bud. The car's safe. We're here and nothing bad will happen to you."

Why was Tim going towards the MetalEater? Wasn't it dangerous? It could wake up at any moment! But...Tim knew about these things, right? He knew about MetalEaters and had led them safely through a bunch of them already. If Tim was going towards it, maybe...maybe it was okay?

Unease scurried under the tendrils of fog, making his feet itch. Is it okay? Is it safe? he silently asked Tim, chewing on the inside of his cheek and flicking his fingers.

"It's okay," Tim murmured, smoothing down his hair. "It's okay, Brave Buddy. It's alright."

Instides squirming, Fralith looked down at his feet. Was it safe? Tim's voice sounded soothing. Reassuring. He had to...trust Tim that it was okay. Tim hadn't lead him into danger before. Tim had protected him. Kept him safe. This wouldn't be any different.

He hoped.

He prayed.

Reluctantly, he picked up his feet and took a couple of steps. Fog swirled inside of him, covering an uneasy mass of shadows and tangling insides. The wolf — his heart — jumped from paw to paw, tail swishing with nerves and a soft whine worrying her snout. Her ears flicked this way and that, swiveling towards each whoosh and growl of active MetalEaters. He shivered. This place was anything but safe.

Tim smiled, giving his hand a squeeze as he started towards the blue MetalEater. "That's it," he encouraged. "Nothing to be worried about."

One step. Two steps. Another step. One more. The distance between him and the MetalEater started to close, gradually lessening until he was standing beside BlueShirt, right in front of the hideous blue monster.

And...nothing happened.

Fralith just stood there, staring at the unmoving beast, BlueShirt and Tim talking quietly overhead. He didn't move. It didn't move. It didn't even look like it was breathing. How was it staying so impossibly still? Was sleeping so deeply that it turned most of itself off like a SnapMusk in winter hibernation?

But why? Didn't it need to be more awake to look out for its masters? Didn't it...want to be awake to eat anyone who came by? Ice water cascaded down his back and he bent his knees a little more, preparing to spring away if needed.

"...We'll just have to risk it, I'm afraid. We can't exactly sedate him for the trip."

"Yeah, I know. It's just...I hate doing this to him. He doesn't understand everything and...I hope he doesn't lose trust in us."

"...Me too, Matthew. Me too, but we have to get him home."

BlueShirt let out a long sigh and shifted, moving something in his hand. A few moments later, the MetalEater beeped.

Fralith shot straight into the air, a screech bursting from his mouth. It was alive! IT WAS AWAKE! As soon as his feet hit the ground, he spun and ran. Screaming. Roaring. Throwing himself forward at the last moment. Almost there... pain. A thing— a beast crashing into him, hot skin searing his stomach. Flying. Stumbling. Falling. Skidding. Pain. And roaring. Always roaring of the beast that hit him. Screaming. It wasn't all him. It was others, others who saw.

The MetalEater was coming for him. It was going to attack him. Hit him. Hurt him. Chase him. A white lightning bolt stabbed at his mind, filling it white light. Crackles shot through his body, chasing away the fog that held him down. Away. He pushed himself away.

Away, to where? It didn't matter, he just needed away. Away from the MetalEater. Away from being eaten. Away from the danger. He flashed past the MetalEaters, breath coming in ragged gasps and wolf's paws pounding into his ribs. Away, away, away. Away, away, awa—

"Brave Bud!"

Away. Away, away, away. Aw—

"Brave Bud, look out!"

HONK! HOOOOOONK!

Fralith pushed off the ground, launching himself to the side and tucking himself into a roll. The rough not gravel bit into his skin, knocking the wind from his chest. Hot breath whooshed by him, rough paws grazing his foot.

Lying on the BlackStrip, staring up at the sky. Hurting. Hurting all over. Flopping heart. Ragged breaths. Wetness on his face. Blurs around him. Noise around him. So many hands. Too many hands. All touching him. Shaking him. Wanting him to...do something. No. He didn't want to. No. It was too much. Screaming. Fighting. Pushing away. Running. It hurts. Everything hurts.

He curled into a ball, dragging in air as the world crashed in around him. Sounds, blurs, aching. A MetalEater had almost hit him. Again. Too much. It was too much. He covered his head with his arms, a swell pressing past his ribs, up his throat, and through his eyes. Tears poured down his cheeks, sob wracking his screaming chest.

Arms. Arms around him, lifting him up. Words, spoken softly. But he didn't want them. He didn't want it. He wanted it to all go away. Everything to go away. Everything to melt and shift and fade like a nightmare and he'd be at home. In his bed, night birds cooing on the night breeze.

And Davith. Davith Before would be there. Smiles, warmth, and cuddles. All would be okay. All would be okay because Davith Before was there to chase away the bad things. Was there to protect him. Keep him safe. Love him.

But this wasn't a dream. It was reality.