Chapter 2

"Well, what are ya waiting for?" The monster with the skull mask extended his hand farther. "Isn't it supposed to be polite to shake someone's hand when offered?"

Not knowing what else to do, Frisk reached out and grasped the hand of this monster. When she did, there was a loud noise that came from the monster's hand. Surprised, Frisk let go of the hand and jumped back.

The monster laughed deep and hearty. When he held up his hand, Frisk saw that something was tied to his palm. As the monster's laughs slowed, he lowered his hand.

After he had ceased laughing, he stated, "Ah, the ole whoopee cushion in the hand trick. It's always funny."

Flabbergasted, Frisk could only stare at the monster.

"Sheesh, you're a tough one, aren't ya?" he asked. "Seeing how your mask makes it look like you're sleep walking through the lane, perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that didn't get a giggle outta ya. You have a sense of humor, don't ya, kid?"

"Yeah—I mean, I do," Frisk answered. "I was just surprised. I didn't know anyone else was here."

"You're Toriel's friend, right?" The monster stuck his pinky in his ear and rotated his wrist side to side. "There's supposed to be a kid she wants Paps and me to guide through Snowdin Lane. You wouldn't happen to be that kid, would you?"

"That's me," Frisk confirmed. "Toriel didn't see anyone here, so she went ahead to see if the people who were supposed to meet us were coming down the road."

"If that's the case, she'll run into Paps." The monster dropped his hand and placed both of them in his coat pockets. The coat her wore was black with thin white stripes running vertically down. It was much too nice a suit for traveling outdoors, and it certainly didn't seem warm enough to wear in snow as thick as this.

Like Toriel, this monster had snow white hair, although his was hidden under a brown cowboy hat that did not go with the rest of his attire. His mask was that of a human skull, the shape round and the details vivid. If Frisk didn't know any better, she would swear that the mask this man wore was truly that of a deceased human.

"How are you here and not your brother?" Frisk asked, shifting her head from side to side as if this brother too would appear out of nowhere.

"I took a short cut," was all the man answered.

Tilting her head to the side, Frisk studied him. He appeared completely relaxed and nonthreatening, but Frisk wasn't sure if it was an act or how this monster really was. She kept her senses on high alert for Toriel's return.

"Anyway, the name's Sans," the monster introduced, bowing ever so slightly.

"Frisk," she replied, curtsying and bowing her head just as faintly.

"So," Sans drawled, "what's a kid like you traveling through Snowdin Lane for? Got business in Waterfall Marsh?"

"I don't know if I trust him," Chara commented.

Neither do I, Frisk mentally replied.

Raising her chin ever so slightly, Frisk said, "I do not believe it is your business why I need to travel through Snowdin Lane. Besides, you agreed to do this as a favor to Toriel. There's no reason you couldn't have asked her these things before agreeing to this task."

Sans chuckled. "A sassy one, aren't ya?"

Before Frisk could reply, she heard Toriel shout from a little ways away, "Oh, Frisk, I see you already met Sans!"

Frisk looked in Toriel's direction to see the woman walking up with another man. Like Sans, he wore a skull mask, but his was more oval shaped and almost humorous in appearance compared to Sans's round, detailed mask. He was also taller and lankier, but his suit was even sharper looking, as if he had ironed it that very morning.

"He snuck up on me not long after you went ahead," Frisk replied, turning her attention back to Sans. It might have been her imagination, but it appeared as if his mask was grinning at her.

"So this is the child you request we escort across Snowdin Lane!" the other man shouted. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Frisk. I, the Great Papyrus, will personally see to it that you safely make it to Waterfall Marsh!"

This other monster, Papyrus, spoke loudly, as if he exclaimed everything he said. Unlike Sans, he did not wear a hat, exposing his neatly combed white hair. However, a red bandana was tied around his neck.

Sans moved to stand besides his brother, and Frisk took the chance to study them. Papyrus was so tall and thin, Sans was short and wide in comparison. Not that Sans was fat, but his broad build was more evident when standing next to his lanky brother.

Because their respective faces were hidden behind their masks, it was hard for Frisk to determine the ages of these men. The white hair didn't necessarily mean that they were old, and their voices sounded as if they were that of those who had yet to become middle aged. Perhaps they were young adults, Frisk concluded, possibly not much older than Flowey.

"Please," Toriel said, her goat mask staring intently at the brothers, "see to it that Frisk makes it to Waterfall Marsh safely. She is on a long journey to New Woods. I would appreciate it if she wouldn't freeze to death shortly after starting her trip."

"Oh, what are you going to New Woods for, child?!" Papyrus asked-exclaimed. Unlike Sans, who sounded as if he were interrogating Frisk, Papyrus sounded genuinely curious.

"I have some business to take care of," Frisk answered, doing her best to sound mature.

"Really now?" Papyrus said. "I wonder what sort of a business a child such as yourself would have."

"I am not a child," Frisk firmly stated. "I am thirteen. I am practically an adult."

Chara snorted but made no comment.

"I see," Sans drawled. Turning his attention to Toriel, "We will guide this . . . adult to Waterfall Marsh just as you asked. It's a weeklong journey on foot, as you know, but I think we can make it in five days if she can keep up."

"Please, whatever you think is best." To Frisk, Toriel said, "Well, this is goodbye. It was a pleasure to meet you, Frisk. I wish you well for the journey ahead."

Eyes watering, it was Frisk who initiated the hug. Toriel didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Frisk in return. As much as Frisk wanted to sob right then and there, she bit back the hiccups. Now was not the time to cry. Now was the time to keep moving forward, watching her back and helping Chara remember his past in the process.

"Never come back," Toriel whispered in Frisk's ear just as she pulled away from the hug. The whisper sent a chill running down Frisk's spine. She could almost swear that she felt Toriel's hot breath against her ear.

After Toriel said her farewells to Frisk, Sans, and Papyrus, she returned down the path to the Ruined Woods. Hesitating only a moment, she turned and looked back. Frisk smiled at Toriel before remembering that Toriel could not see Frisk's face.

As she watched Toriel's retreating figure, Frisk felt her heart ache. Leaving was the right thing to do. However, that did not stop Frisk from wondering, if only for a moment, that she was making a mistake.

As if reading her mind, Chara said, "She will be okay, Frisk. Besides, it is not your job to comfort her. You cannot let guilt rule the decisions you make."

"Well," Sans said, slapping Frisk on the back, causing the young girl to flinch, "I guess we better get started. Nightfall is in a few hours, and we definitely want to cover some distance before then. It gets real cold here at night."