It wasn't long before Sans had another nightmare where something bad happened to Papyrus, and barely managed to keep from making a noise loud enough to wake Aldyr.

Kiro noticed, though. The wolf jumped up and inspected him with concern, and licked his cheek bone softly in sympathy. Then the wolf curled up on the bed covers by his feet. The furry warmth was a comforting presence.

He thought about things for a long time, staring into the blackness of the cabin and listening to the wolf's snores. Wondering if Papyrus was ok after the last reset.

Then when he finally fell asleep again, he dreamed of trying to solve an extremely difficult puzzle. But the puzzle was hard to sort out, like Mettaton's tile puzzle, and he couldn't think clearly while dreaming anyway.

He went in mental circles for hours trying to find a solution to the dream puzzle. Still, at least it was sleep rather than insomnia, and it was better than the terror and hopeless feeling of the other dream.

...

Elsewhere, Papyrus trudged along slowly in the forest, looking for any sign of his brother. His light cast glittering reflections off of the snow, but there was nothing to show that anyone had been here. He couldn't find Sans at any of his usual spots, and it was getting to be very late at night.

His hand bones trembled as he brushed aside branches, taking enormous care to check every single possible location in Snowdin forest, no matter how unlikely. He felt sick and lightheaded. It was an odd sign of weakness for him, but he kept going anyway.

Flowey popped his head out of the snow. "Still looking, I see."

Papyrus was glad for the company. He treated Flowey like a benevolent advisor, and hoped Flowey could help him now. "I'M SO WORRIED. I CAN'T FIND HIM ANYWHERE."

Flowey cackled. "Well, don't worry. Knowing him, he's sure to be dying to get home. He's probably there right now, sleeping his life away."

Papyrus looked troubled, and not just about Sans's recent disappearance. "FLOWEY...I HAVE THE FEELING SOMETHING IS WRONG LATELY. DO YOU KNOW WHY? I KEEP HAVING MEMORIES OF SANS BEING HURT...AND ME BEING A GHOST...BUT ALL OF IT IS FUZZY...IS THAT WHY HE'S MISSING?"

Flowey looked surprised Papyrus was aware of things like that. Was...it...already working? He covered it quickly though.

"Of course I know. I'm very good at things like this. Just stick close to me and we'll find a way to help him. He definitely needs some help, that's for sure. A kind brother like you ought to be there for him. I know you can do it!"

"YES YES I AM SURE I CAN...AFTER ALL I AM VERY GREAT...BUT JUST IN CASE, COULD YOU GIVE ME SOME HINTS?"

Flowey put on an all-knowing look. "No problem at all..." he said, with a slightly creepy smile, his eyes half-closed.

An icy shiver ran through his leaves and stem. If Sans finds out, there'll be hell to pay...

It was cruel of him to take out his frustrations on Papyrus by playing games like this. He knew that. He actually had no idea where Sans was right now, and he had no intentions of being helpful even if he did. But, he figured, a soulless flower needs some entertainment now and again, right?

Papyrus was always so obliging, it seemed impossible that anyone could be that gullible and stupid. It fed Flowey's ego to have someone listen so closely to him. He even occasionally dropped cryptic hints as a reward and a sort of taunt, doubting that Papyrus could make anything out of them anyway.

He didn't see Papyrus gazing at him with a sad expression.