AN: Distraction during frantic studying for finals. Failing a Biology quiz hasn't gotten me any good points, so I might not be able to get another chapter out for a bit. Plus, you know, finals.

Sollux huffs out a breath, reaching up to attempt and rub the blood out of his eye. A choked noise makes him spin around in a quick movement. His first thought is that Karkat isn't behind him anymore.

"Kar-?" He begins to ask, before glancing down. He forces himself not to panic as he tucks his wings as close to his back as he can, falling through the air. Karkat is clearly unconscious, and Sollux knows that he won't be aware enough to start flying again if he comes around, the only thing he can do is catch up as fast as he can.

Tears stream from his eyes from the wind, but he's can almost reach out and touch him. They're passing through clear air now, and Sollux barely worries about being seen as he sees the treetops coming into view. He stretches out his arm, snagging the front of Karkat's shirt.

That small snag slowed Karkat's momentum enough for Sollux to get a more secure hold. He pulls up sharply, but not quick enough to get above the trees. He painfully slows their descent, re-angling his body in an attempt to avoid tree branches, but unable to get back into the air before they crash into the forest floor.

He must've passed out. He groans as he sits up, unfolding his body from the contorted position it'd landed in. He tries to catch his breath as he carefully folds his wings into a better position. Scratches cover his skin, and his knees are bloody and torn from where he'd tried to land at least somewhat gracefully. Snow is caked along his back and sides, and he can see where they had landed, disrupting the peaceful blanket of white.

Karkat had landed partially on top of him, and Sollux is careful to lift him up. His face is pale, and blood is drying from a split lip and the scratches he'd gained on the fall down. Sollux doesn't see what would be immediately wrong with him, maybe he'd been flying too high and Karkat couldn't handle the lesser amount of oxygen.

Either way, he can't just sit here. He doesn't have any clue where they are and he they need to get back as soon as possible before they're found again.

He picks Karkat up bridal style, glancing around for something to jump off of. Of course, this part of the forest was completely flat, and the trees were sparsely spread. His head swivels in an attempt to find out where they are, knowing that if he could just find the way back to the clearing he could get back to the house.

Turning in what he believes to be the direction they came from, he starts walking as quickly as he can. A slight limp begins to interrupt his step, but he barely notices it in his haste to get back.

Too much time passes before he finds himself back in the clearing. Karkat had ran further away than he'd thought, but at least he knows where they are now. The walk to clearing had only taken ten minutes, but Karkat hadn't woken up in that time.

Sollux cranes his neck up, looking at the best branches to use, before sighing and shaking his head. There's no way he could easily get up there without possibly dropping Karkat. Not going to risk it.

Instead, he searches for the lowest branch, finding one that's it just a bit above his head. It's the best choice he has.

He jumps shallowly, buoying himself up to the branch and crouching on it near the trunk of the tree with Karkat still cradled in his arms. The smaller teen mumbles something under his breath, before squinting up at Sollux.

"Sol-huh?"

Sollux looks at him, slightly shocked at the sudden voice, "Oh, you passed out, we're back in the clearing. I'm carrying you back to the house."

"I can walk on my own," Karkat mumbles, waking up a bit more and pushing at Sollux's chest to try and get free from his arms. Sollux frowns and tightens his grip.

"No, I'm carrying you back and I'm not letting you fly like this."

Karkat tries to protest even more before Sollux takes off without warning. His words fade into a startled squeak as he tightly grips Sollux's shoulders. Sollux could almost laugh if he wasn't too preoccupied with making sure they're not being followed. Even though he doesn't have the best eyesight in the dark, Aradia's was a lot better, he can pick out small shadows in the trees.

Once he's sure there's no one, he heads directly to the house. Only one light is on, the one in the kitchen. Sollux lands less than gracefully, nearly dropping Karkat in the process.

The door is slammed open and Aradia storms out, her burgundy eyes blazing as she looks at Sollux, then to Karkat who's managed to stand and is now shakily leaning on Sollux's shoulder.

"In." She barks, pointing them inside and scanning the forest behind them before slamming the door shut. She clicks the lock into place before whirling around and glaring at them.

"What the hell, I told you before nightfall, and you show up near eleven like this!" She yells, brushing snow off of the both of them and scrutinizing their faces. After getting all of the snow off of them, she grips their arms and drags them to the medical room.

"Idiots, both of you," She mutters, pointing at them to sit down as she turns around and grabs a bottle of antiseptic and some bandages.

"I'm sorry AA, I didn't-" Sollux begins to say.

"I know what happened," Aradia snaps back, cutting him off. She makes him tilt his head back, holding back his bangs, to clean away the dried blood. Sollux stays quiet, and Karkat just watches, slightly concerned.

"Why am I always right," Aradia murmurs quietly as she moves to kneel in front of Karkat. She makes him sit up straight, which he does with a wince, before pulling up his shirt.

He tries to protest what she's doing before she presses against his side. He opens his mouth in a breathless gasp.

"Fractured rib," She explains, carefully wrapping a bandage around his chest. Sollux says "oh" quietly.

Aradia sighs and sits back, giving them another once over before shaking her head and standing. "Both of you get showers then go to bed, I don't want to yell at you anymore."

She watches them leave, noting the way that Sollux looks at Karkat in concern before the door closes behind them and cuts off her sight line. A tired sigh hisses from between her teeth as she turns to put things away, ignoring the feeling that the door was going to open soon. Just as she's about to leave. Jade opens the door, looking frantic.

"Are Karkat and Sollux back yet?" She asks, head swiveling around the small room as if looking to see if they were hiding in the corner.

"Yes, I took care of them. They had been attacked," Aradia replies calmly. Jade sighs in relief and leans against the doorframe for a moment.

"If my suspicions are right, then they were in horrible danger."

"Not were, are," Aradia corrects, "We all are."

Jade frowns and nods, "Yes, that's right. The disruption signal is localized to only this house. We can't be tracked here, but anywhere out of a ten foot radius..."

"And they're getting closer. We'll need to head to our other location soon," Aradia agrees quietly, looking up at Jade. The scientist is tying her hair back, once again, in an attempt to keep the thick locks in check.

"Yeah, it's just getting there that's worrying," Jade replies, settling her hands on her hips and taking a deep breath. "I'm packing together the research right now, we'll be ready to leave by tomorrow."

Aradia raises a concerned eyebrow, "Staying up all night again?"

Jade laughs, "I barely ever sleep anyway, it's alright. You need your sleep too, head off to bed." She shoos the teen out of the room, watching her retreat into her bedroom before relaxing slightly. She walks out to flick off the light in the kitchen, the entire house falling dark. She leans back her head and looks at the ceiling.

Her gaze goes to her arm, which she can manage to see in the dim light being reflected off of the snow outside. She can almost feel the small chip of metal ruining their chances of escape.

If only she could figure out a way to deactivate it.