If the human were any taller, we would be face-to-face.

It's way too close for my comfort, as I am easily within their knife's reach.

... "You're in my way."

Their hand swiftly reaches up to my chest, and before confusion can even hit me, I am forced backward, slammed hard into the ground. The pain shocks my back as it collides with the hard ground, and is comforted by the numbing cold of the snow.

They didn't kill me... they just pushed me out of their way.

Their gaze never falters from staring straight ahead, as they stride past me, not even looking back to see if I am okay.

Which I am... oddly enough. It seems that my own mind can't fully understand that I am still alive. I keep expecting to see a bright light or a blinding darkness or something.

They didn't do a violence... They really did come through!

I sit up, wiping some snow off my clothes and trying to compose myself, and I see Sans running toward me. I wonder how much of this interaction he saw. The expression he's wearing tells me... a good bit.

He comes to a halt on his knees beside me. He grabs my hand and brings it to his face, pressing it into his cheek.

"Papyrus... I told you not to mess with the human... I told you not to leave the house without me!"

"SANS... I KNEW I COULD GET THROUGH TO THEM. I JUST HAD TO CONVINCE THEM, THAT I BELIEVE IN THEM. THERE IS GOOD IN EVERYONE, SANS. I TOLD YOU."

"Papyrus...YOU SCARED ME TO DEATH! I woke up and you weren't there!" Even though he's yelling, I can still see him holding himself together. I'm thankful; I really don't know if I can handle seeing him fall apart right now. "I saw your footprints outside, and I followed them, and then I saw another set meet yours... a-and I couldn't breathe, Pap..." I do my best to keep myself composed, keep my voice strong, keep my hands steady.

The hand already cradling his face moves gently, caressing his cheek. "I ADMIT THAT I WAS PRETTY SCARED THERE, TOO. BUT, IT ALL WORKED OUT. THE HUMAN FOUND OUT WHAT MERCY FEELS LIKE, AND IN TURN, DECIDED TO GIVE MERCY. I DID IT, SANS!"

He stares admiringly into my eyes. "I... I'm so proud of you, Pap. Worried sick... but proud." My smile perks up at his praise. Making my brother proud is all I ever want. Whether it's improving in my training, making an exceptionally good pot of spaghetti, or doing something completely out of the ordinary, like this, all I want is for my big brother to be genuinely proud of me.

I leave my brother's gaze and turn my head in the direction the human went. I wonder where they're going now? Will they continue to kill other monsters after me? Will this be a turning point for them, or will I be a sole survivor?

Will they try to kill my brother?

"SANS, WHERE DO YOU THINK THE HUMAN IS GOING NOW? DON'T YOU THINK THEY WOULD LIKE TO STAY IN OUR GUEST HOUSE?"

"Sure, Pap, your guest house is perfect," he smiles at me. "If we could get the human to stay with us, we can keep an eye on them, and maybe save everyone else."

"LET'S GO, THEN!" I'm excited now; I'll get to use my guest house! And I'm in a hurry, before they meet anyone else.

Sans stands and attempts to help me stand. But, you know, he's so short that he's not really any help. "The human listens to you, for some reason bro, so you should be the one to talk to them." I nod to him in agreement.

And off we go, on our way to capture the human!