The mood is sullen as I trudge after Tommy, our footsteps wet and sloppy as we pull ourselves through the mud. We'd diverged from Prime Path a few minutes ago, and now walk in a seemingly random direction, curving just within L'Manburg's borders, in the more forested part of its territory. I can only assume he's taking me to Wilbur, and not on some diversionary traipse.

"Over here," Tommy says, raising his lantern higher as we crest a small bank in the landscape.

I narrow my eyes, attempting to see through the haze of rain. The tree canopies provide us with some shelter, and make it a little easier to see.

Tommy slides down the bank and I follow, mud flicking up onto my clothes. And then he stops, and I do too.

I wait a moment to see what he'll do next, but when he says and does nothing, I peer past his shoulder.

My stomach twists at the sight that greets me.

It's Wilbur, only not the way I remember him. He's sat against a tree, head lulled back and lips slightly parted as he takes raspy breaths. From his shoulder, an arrow protrudes, buried deep into the flesh. His blazer hangs ripped and bloodied around the entry point of the projectile, giving it an even more gnarled look.

"How long has he been like this?" I ask, stepping around Tommy to quickly drop my weapons and myself by Wilbur's side. I place a hand to his neck, checking the strength of his pulse, before moving it up to rest against his forehead.

"Since the inauguration."

Tommy's tone is bitter as he crouches at Wilbur's opposite side, setting down his belongings.

"He has a fever, but he doesn't seem to have lost too much blood," I say, pulling back a part of his blazer to better see the arrow. "This needs to come out as soon as possible."

"I tried, but he yelled bloody hell and passed out." Tommy explains, his voice growing a little strained now that he's faced with his leader once more.

I pause, pursing my lips, "you...you didn't yank on it, did you?"

"Yeah...why?"

"Because that's the one thing you don't do when you get shot by an arrow." I sigh. "Were you never taught first aid?"

"No."

I deadpan. "Of course you weren't..."

Taking a breath, I turn back to the matter at hand. Or more rather the person. Wilbur seems stuck in a place between consciousness and a feverish sleep. His eyes are screwed shut and a light sheen of sweat covers his face. Or maybe that's just rain?

"You have some bandages, right? Pass them over." I instruct, reaching down and digging a hand into one of my muddy boots. My fingers curl around a small wooden handle hidden within.

Tommy chokes, his eyes blinking rapidly.

"Why the hell do you have a knife in your shoe?!"

"For instances like this one," I explain, cleaning off the short blade with my top before placing it to Wilbur's shoulder. A loud rip echoes out around us, only to be quickly muffled by the rain. I drop the pieces of fabric to the ground as I work away at Wilbur's clothing, only stopping once I see the damaged skin of his shoulder.

"Bandages."

I hold out a hand and Tommy obediently places a roll into my palm. He's utterly baffled as he watches me work. And also unusually quiet.

With the cotton roll in one hand and my knife in the other, I reluctantly get started on the extraction process.

When removing an arrow you don't simply tug on the stick and expect the entire thing to pop straight out. You have to ease it out, and pray that the arrowhead hasn't already been dislodged from the wooden shaft it's attached to. Because then you're left with a feathered stick and the pointy bit still stuck in the person. Hence my concern when Tommy mentioned yanking on the arrow.

First, you have to enlarge the entry wound.

I straddle one of Wilbur's legs and press my forearm holding the bandages to his chest, securing him against the tree. Then I take my knife and begin pressing it into the bloodied wound, guiding it along the arrowhead till I meet resistance.

Tommy makes a blanching noise off to the side, out of my sight. I try to ignore him and focus on not letting my hand slip. The muscles around Wilbur's shoulder tense up at the unwelcome action, but otherwise, he remains in limbo, unaware of my incision.

I wiggle the knife slightly, cutting the wound wider. I press the roll of bandages just beneath the arrow, soaking up the fresh blood oozing out.

Once I feel I've made a large enough cut, I withdraw the knife and place it between my teeth to begin working the arrow out with my free hand. It's slow, bloody work, but all the more worth it when the arrowhead comes sliding out into view, shining red with blood.

"Pweth the bandageth to hith wound, av hard av you dare," I tell Tommy around the hilt of my knife, not giving him much of a choice as he stumbles over and takes my place applying pressure.

Pulling the knife from my teeth I stab the arrow into the ground and step out into the rain, my hands held out to wash away the blood.

"That was freaking insane," Tommy breathes. "You just...cut into him, like it was nothing."

"A side effect of my job, I'm afraid," I say, crouching down and wiping my hands through the wet grass, removing the last little bits of blood. My blade also gets a good wipe down, leaving not a speck of red along its flat edge.

"You're weird, y' know that?"

"I am aware my actions are sometimes unconventional, yes."

Tommy pauses.

"...what?"

"I- never mind." I forget that Tommy is still only a teenager. His vocabulary isn't as expansive as mine yet.

Returning the knife to my boot once I deem it clean enough, I crouch beside Tommy and peer between his fingers. He has the bandage pressed dutifully to Wilbur's shoulder, even as the blood begins to overflow the once-white cotton and seep between his digits. I can tell by his tight expression that he hates it, yet he remains glued in position.

"Ease up on the pressure a little, but keep your hand where it is," I say, picking up a second roll of bandages and sliding it quickly beneath Tommy's hand, atop the first roll. "It should start clotting soon, then you can wrap it and start to move him. There's at least an hour before nightfall, so mobs shouldn't be an issue for you yet."

At my mention of changing location, Tommy's expression quickly darkens as he remembers my reason for being here.

"I hope you and Schlatt are happy with yourselves." He mutters bitterly, his eyes narrowing at the blood on his hands. "What did he give you? A place in the cabinet? That's what he gave Tubbo and he went straight over to his side."

"Tubbo didn't take the job because he wanted it, Tommy," I explain, my tone turning stern. I need this boy to understand that Tubbo is not his enemy. "Tubbo was thinking solely of you and Wilbur when he accepted Schlatt's offer. He isn't a traitor. He wants to help you, if not be being by your side, then from within the walls of the country you helped build...And yes, I am part of the cabinet. But that's not why I'm with Schlatt."

There's a pause as Tommy considers my answer, but then he tuts and says, "whatever, can you just go already?"

"Not until I see you walk to the border with my own eyes."

And I mean it. I stay till I see Tommy gather his things, throw one of Wilbur's arms over his shoulders, and begin lumbering off to the edge of L'Manburg.

I watch them cross over and finally heave a sigh of relief. It's dark out. I'm cold and wet, not to mention covered in mud. And it doesn't look like the rain is going to let up any time soon. I'm ready for a hot shower and a pillow to rest my head against. I wonder how Schlatt has been spending his time without me? He must be wondering what's taking me so long.

"Talk about a busy day, 'ey, bean sprout?"

I sigh again, running a hand down my face.

"Hello, Dream."

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WOOOOO! WE HAVE FANART, PEOPLE! AND A LOT OF IT!

This colourful piece was done by SiMQLEA 

I absolutely adore the pastel vibes I get from it <3 (I'm a sucker for pastel colours)

And next up we have Nik_Vero

Dat gay blush doh XD

And finally, we have our returning champion Escitora_san !

The fact that you spend your free time doodling images of Ares makes me want to cry :')

Who's Alice??? XD Does Ares have a twin sister I didn't know about?