Toriel gives the two humans a shocked look. "You're that girl's older siblings? She talked about having AN older sibling, but not two."
Tenebris shook his head. "She is. I'm just the out-of-place friend here. My name's Tenebris, by the way, and she's Selendis."
Selendis was still shuddering with relief. "S-so she's alright? I... I'm so glad. I thought... I thought..." She started crying again.
Toriel drew her into a hug. "She's alright, my child. She... unfortunately had a run-in with that vile flower as well, hence why I knew about it. I saved her before it could do any lasting harm and escorted her to my abode."
"Oh... oh, thank you... thank you... without her, I... I would be all alone..." Tenebris shot Selendis a sad look, knowing all too well just how crushing and isolating it can be to lose ones entire family. Plus, it was the first time she broke down like that ever since he met her.
After Selendis calmed down Toriel gave the humans a smile. "It's been a pleasure looking after her; she's a little bundle of energy. However... she's very... interesting?"
Tenebris snorted. "Let me guess, she flirted with you?" He forced down another snort when he saw Toriel's face and shook his head. "She flirted with ME when we first met. Certainly made for an awkward first conversation with Selendis."
Selendis rolled her eyes. "Yeah, she's currently of the opinion that she can make friends by flirting with them. She's very innocent while doing so, though, so I'm not too worried about it; she'll grow out of it... eventually."
"I... I see. I said that because she flirted with me AFTER calling me "mom"."
This got deadpan look from Selendis. "She called you mom? That's odd..."
"She hasn't called me mom since. I asked her about it and she said she just wanted to make me happy. Of course I understood."
Tenebris suddenly started grinning. "I can see it; you do give a strong impression of a motherly figure, even from the little time I've known you. After all... who doesn't love a 'MOMster'!?"
Toriel burst out laughing while Selendius facepalmed. "Tenebris no!"
"Tenebris yes!"
Toriel managed to stop laughing. "Okay, that's a good one. I've got one: What does a skeleton tile is roof with? Shin-gles!"
Tenebris burst out laughing as well, drowning out Selendis' groan. "Why am I surrounded by people with a taste for horrible jokes again?"
Tenebris gave her another grin. "You think I make bad jokes just because I can?" This got a glare out of her.
Toriel shook her head. "Now now, children, play nice. Besides, we should get going; I bet Frisk is wondering where I am right now."
"Ah, yeah. Probably shouldn't keep the family reunion waiting..." Tenebris trailed off at the end, earning a worried look and a confused look from Selendis and Toriel respectively.
He didn't just trail off because he himself lost his family while he was gone; that was only half of it. The other half was his eye; it had started burning a lot more than before and he was desperately trying to ignore it.
After traversing the ruins a bit and encountering monsters named Froggits along the way, one of them asking the humans to show mercy to a monster unwilling to fight, a thought crossed Toriel's mind. "I need to ask: I know why you two fell down here but why did Frisk fall down? She doesn't seem like a child who's given up on everything, especially with her having a loving older sister and a great friend."
Selendis shook her head. "I don't know why either. She's always been an energetic and determined kid, but..."
"Ah yeah, about that..." The two females turn to see Tenebris blanching. "I was going to bring this up sooner or later but... the reason Frisk climbed Mount Ebott? Purely because she was dared to."
Both of them adopted horrified looks, but Toriel spoke up first. "My goodness... how awful. I hope the ones behind this are punished fittingly!"
"Last I checked, they were going to be."
"Good..." Shivers went down Tenebris' and Toriel's spines when they heard Selendis speak in a very dark voice.
The mood had lightened up by the time they reached Toriel's house. "Oh, I completely forgot to ask. Do you two like cinnamon or butterscotch?" Tenebris and Selendis answered "cinnamon" and "butterscotch" respectively and simultaneously. This resulted in the both of them giving each other flat looks and a mischievous giggle from Toriel. "I think I can accommodate." As soon as she entered the house she called out, "My child, I'm home!"
"Mrs. Toriel! You've been gone for longer than normal, what hap-" Frisk rounded out of her bedroom and was suddenly at a loss for words when she saw who had entered the house.
Selendis gave her a smile, almost on the verge of crying again. "F-Frisk!"
"Selly! Tenny!" She rushed forward and met her older sister in an embrace. "I-I so happy!"
Tenebris ruffled her hair. "You had us scared to death, kid."
Selendis squeezed her a little tighter. "Please... don't do that to me ever again. I can't... I can't lose you as well..."
Frisk whimpered a bit. "I'm sorry. It's just... some kids told me I had to do that if I wanted to be their friend and I wanted to prove that to them."
Selendis broke the hug and stared at Frisk right in the eyes with a worried look. "Frisk, if they were wiling to send you here of all placed, they won't be very good friends. Just... promise me you won't do something reckless like that again, please?"
"I won't." Frisk broke eye contact and went to hug Tenebris, which he kneeled down to accept. "I'm just glad you two came to find me."
He chuckles. "If you think we're just gonna let you go like that, you've got another think coming. You're the first friend I've had in forever; I'm not about to let it end like that."
Toriel smiled at the scene. Her heart was filling with warmth at the siblings reconciling, but she also felt a longing for the life she once had. She quickly shook it off. "Well, I'm sure you two are hungry. I've got a surprise for you!"
The two older humans looked at each other in confusion as Toriel entered the kitchen, which made Frisk smile knowingly. When she came out, she was carrying two plates with a slice of pie on both. "It might not be fresh, but I hope it will suffice."
Selendis gasped softly. "Not only were you taking care of Frisk, but you're feeding us just like that?"
"But of course. After all, I want to take care of you all as best as I can."
Both of the older humans had a bite of the pie and were surprised to find it containing both cinnamon and butterscotch, much to their delight. During their 'meal', Toriel mentioned that she wanted to adopt them all as her own children. Frisk was happy with it, Selendis was a bit iffy about it, but ultimately decided that there was nothing left for them in their surface life anyways. While Toriel never got a direct answer from Tenebris, he was seriously considering it.
He just hoped that his secret would continue to be safe in the underground.
