Hello, hello ! The new chapter is finally here ! Sorry for the delay, I had a lot of things to work on recently. Enjoy this little peaceful chapter. My chapters are now corrected by a friend, Lyria Brooks, so a huge thank you to her 3
Chapter 6 : The North wind
Sans was cold. He was laying on the hard ground and he felt the snow soaking his clothes little by little. Even if he knew he couldn't stay like this, he couldn't open his eyes despite all his efforts. It was like he was drained of all his energy. His legs and arms didn't want to carry him anymore. His father had explained one day that children couldn't use big amounts of magic because of the consequences for the caster. When the caster was too weak, he could die. Casting magic needed good health and training. It seemed he got too ambitious with his only health point. He didn't listen that much to what his father said next, and especially not the part about how to detect an issue with overpowering. Sans was never a good student.
Slowly, he put a hand in the freezing snow and pushed to try to sit down. Pain radiated in his skull and persuaded him not to go further. He fell on his back and let go a whine of distress. He forced himself to open his eyes and looked around him cautiously. He didn't recognise this place. He was still in the middle of the forest, but where exactly ? In this part of the woods, trees were so high he couldn't manage to find the Mountain again.
As he snapped out of his sleep, he brutally realised everything was far too quiet around him. He scanned the place with his eyes, distraught, searching for his little brother.
"Papyrus ? Are you there ?" he called with a very small and tired voice.
A cold silence answered him. Despite the pain, he forced himself to get up. He walked with difficulty, blinded by the violent nausea that followed his movement. Trees were dancing around him and the sky was pulsing at the rhythm of his soul, sometimes getting closer, sometimes moving away. Thanks to his species' characteristics, he didn't have a stomach or he would have already thrown up everything.
"Pap… Papyrus, that's not funny ! Show yourself ! Papyrus ! Undyne !" he screamed, more and more panicked.
His voice echoed all around him, then the silence stroke again, only disrupted by the sound of the leaves under the wind.
"Sans ?" A familiar voice called somewhere afar. "We're here ! Where are you ?"
The skeleton turned to the north and stumbled in direction of the voice. Soon, two small monsters busted into view out of some big bushes. A little skeleton and a little fish monster. Sans collapsed on the ground, in pain but with relief. Papyrus ran into his arms and hit his ribcage at full speed. His big brother tried his best to hide his moaning of pain, but it wasn't enough for the very sharp eye sockets of the small skeleton.
"Are you hurt ?" Papyrus asked, alarmed. "Sans ! You can't get hurt !" He gasped dramatically without letting him talk. "Are… Are you going to die ? Sans ! I don't want you to die ! Please don't die ! Sans ! Sans !"
Sans put a hand on his mouth to stop him.
"The only things that are going to die are my non-existent ears if you keep screaming like that." he growled. "I'm fine. I'm just very tired right now. We need to find somewhere safe so we can rest. And the Mountain, too."
"But are you sure you can walk ? Your face is ugly."
"Well thank you, that's always nice to hear."
"Sans ! You know what I mean !"
"I can walk, I think."
Papyrus scrutinised his face, trying to see if he was telling the truth. Sans took on himself to get up, but the gravity disliked him not asking for permission first and he fell back face first in the snow. The small skeleton sighed then caught his arm to help him stand up. Sans hold on to him. Despite the fact that he was very small, Papyrus was actually pretty strong for a child. He couldn't carry him, but it was not that close. Undyne came to his left side to hold him on the other side of his body. She didn't meet his eyes and stayed silent, which was not a good sign. With her mom gone, she had no one but the two brothers now. Sans never was very good with children, but now he had to take care of two of them. How could he even help them without knowing himself what he was doing ?
He realised bitterly they didn't have supplies anymore. Except the shot of determination and his father's device in his pocket, their bag was still in the cave and there was no way they were going there again. But then, how were they going to eat on the way ? He could keep going a few days without food or water, but the children were still young and their magic developing. They couldn't stay long without food or they could die in only a few days.
Sans swept the negative thoughts away for now. One thing at a time. First, he had to sleep, then he could think more clearly. He had to make sure Papyrus and Undyne were alright too. His brother's head wound seemed better, but he kept grimacing at each new step, a sign that it was still painful. Undyne seemed alright physically while her eyes screamed her distress. He would have to talk about what happened with her, sooner or later.
"Sans ? What did you do to get us out of the cave ?" asked Papyrus, interrupting his thoughts.
"I have no idea." he answered honestly. "It was… It was like I knew I had to do this. I didn't really think."
"Will you… Will you teach me how to do this too ? That would be awesome ! I could save everyone with that power later. You will teach me, right ?"
"Of course, little bro." he lied odiously. "You know you are the one who must have the coolest powers after all. You're the coolest."
"Nyeh eh eh !" he laughed happily. "I, the great Papyrus, promise to use that power to save you later every time Dad will scold us for stealing chocolate in the kitchen."
Sans smiled but he felt a lump in his throat. He was still so innocent despite everything. So much hopeful. He would have loved being just like him. That would have prevented him to think about the fact that the worst of their journey was still ahead. Getting to the Mountain was one thing, but if his father had fallen down, what would happen to them ? He could probably meet his brother's needs for some time, but several years ?
"Here ! Look !" screamed Papyrus, enthusiastic.
He pointed at a rock recess large enough for the three of them. It wouldn't protect them from the cold, but at least they would have a roof above their head for the night. Sans hoped nothing would try to kill them anymore tonight. He was not sure he would be able to defend the children one more time.
Papyrus and Undyne helped him sit against the stone wall. Just in time, thought Sans. He couldn't feel his legs anymore and his head was still buzzing atrociously.
"And now what ?" asked Papyrus, sitting next to him.
"We're going to spend the night here, and tomorrow, we'll search for the Mountain. I can't… I can't make fire like in the other camp, so we'll have to stay close to each other to stay warm, alright ? It's going to be alright, you'll see."
"Alright ! I'm going to stand guard then !" he said, already getting up.
Sans caught his arm before he had time to run off and forced him to sit down in front of him. Papyrus struggled, grumpy, but ended up letting him look at his skull. Sans lifted the bandage slowly. The crack had almost disappeared, but it was still visible. Despite that, he was obviously feeling better.
"You didn't hurt yourself elsewhere in the forest ? Undyne ?"
Papyrus sighed dramatically and freed himself, whining about how his brother was too worried and how good he was at handling dangerous situations. He left his brother and Undyne and went a few steps ahead to guard the camp, straight as a ramrod. Sans turned his head towards the small fish monster. Undyne shook negatively her head to answer his question. He didn't insist on that matter anymore. She needed space and he was too tired anyway to help her now.
Sans had an enormous yawn before laying on the ground. Papyrus didn't take too long before running to cuddle with him at the first bird's noise.
"Finally, sentry is too scary." he justified himself.
Sans laughed a little, then clasped him against his ribcage. Undyne joined them shyly, holding onto Papyrus. Somehow, despite the cold, the children finally rested some hours, stomachs empty of course, but finally appeased after the last events.