Hello ! Enjoy this nice little break, because you might have a soul attack soon. Love you !
Chapter 3 : The rest of them
Sans predicted it : the night had been a nightmare. As the hours went by, the gusts of wind of the evening transformed into a snow storm. Papyrus tighten close to Sans chest, he had eventually to take the road back, somehow. With the blizzard, he couldn't see exactly what was surrounding him and he wasn't sure he was heading in the right direction anymore. The Mountain was nowhere to be seen, lost in an opaque ocean of white.
"We can't keep on like this." said the older one, desperate. "We have to find a shelter or we're both not going to make it." He corrected himself immediately when he realised Papyrus could have heard that. "I mean… Don't worry, Pap', we're going to find somewhere safe to wait until the end of the storm."
His brother didn't answer. He lost consciousness twice since they left the tree and didn't wake up since. Sans pulled out the device from his pocket again, worry.
PAPYRUS : 07/35 HP
The situation was urging. He was losing his vitality quicker and quicker. Sans, concentrate on the device, didn't see the vicious root on his way. He toppled but turned the other way to avoid hurting his brother more. His back sunk in the snow and a freezing cold pierced his jacket. He got back on his legs, soaked, and looked around him hopelessly. It was not a good time to catch a cold.
That's where he heard them. The steps. Alarmed, he turned around him to see from where they were coming from. Their footsteps were still visible in the snow. If it was humans, they were both dead. Papyrus was too vulnerable and he was far too tired to both fight and protect him. In last resort, he ran under an other one of these big trees and got the closer he could from the trunk, out of sight for someone standing up. With a bit of luck, maybe they could make it. Papyrus was still asleep, so his brother desperate, tried to hide him under a pile of dead leaves. But every time he was repeating his gesture, it was making a very loud noise.
He gave up when a pair of metal boots stopped in front of the tree. All Sans could see was the stranger's black armour and the end of a blue magic spear. Even if magic meant it could be a monster, he was still unsure. His dad mentioned that some humans could use magic too now. Only the emblem on their chest could inform him, but it was out of sight because of the tree. The soldier crouched to examine the traces in the snow. In panic, Sans forgot to get rid of those. They were leading straight to the tree. He gasped when the stranger's head turned their way.
He tried to calm down and concentrate. His eye shined light blue as several translucent little bones appeared around him, ready to be thrown at the enemy. The soldier lowered the head. Sans didn't think and attacked. With difficulty, he lifted Papyrus and ran as fast as he could, straight in front of him. He tried to apply what his dad taught him : to be concentrate on his breath and watch for an opportunity to hide. But he knew that he wouldn't make it the second the soldier started to chase her. They were quick and more experimented. He got drive straight where they wanted him to go and very soon, he found himself stuck in front of a big rock. Sans growled, ready to attack again, but the soldier didn't attack. Slowly, they put their spear down and got rid of their helmet.
She was a monster. Sans fell on his knees, exhausted but relief. It was a fish lady with dark blue skin colour, and she was not a random soldier : she was part of the Royal Guard, the brigade defending the King himself. They were safe now.
"Hello boys !" she said with a warming smile. "You are quite a runner, I like that. My name is Toryne, I'm a member of the Royal Guard. Are you two coming from the town ?"
Sans nodded shyly.
"Good. Very good actually. I'm tracking you for a few hours now, and I'm kinda impressed you went that far with this little guy in your arms. I even thought you might be young abandoned human with how good you are to trick people by changing of direction."
Well, that's was not voluntary, but Sans didn't answer her that.
"Everything is alright now. We have a camp a few miles away, do you have any family ? Maybe they're waiting for you. What's your name ?"
"Sans. And this is Papyrus, my little brother."
"Oh, you're quite celebrities. You're the royal scientist children, right ? I know the guy. Can't say he's the friendly type, but I heard he's pretty good."
"My brother is hurt." interrupted Sans, changing immediately the subject. "His head is injured, and he really needs help, please." he begged.
"I'm no healer, little guy, unfortunately. But I know someone who can help him. So… I'm going to hold your brother and your bag. Do you think you can follow me by yourself ? We are going to walk for a few hours."
"Yes. Yes, I think I can do it."
"Alright, this way then. If you are tired, warned me so I can hold you too."
Sans agreed and gave her his little brother. She examined briefly his head and grimaced. It was serious, Sans was sure of it now. He got worry when she started to walk very quickly through the wood, like the royal guard knew it was urgent. Sans did his best to follow, but not even two hours later, he couldn't walk. The lady was nice and let him climb her back. Tired, the skeleton fell asleep quickly, holding her tight.
He was not sure how long they walked, but when they finally arrived, night was here again. The camp had been set in an opened clearing, partially hidden and covered by a massive rock. Several tents were standing in the darkness, illuminated slightly by the two campfires lighted up. Some monsters were sitting around them, silent. Sans noticed immediately they were not in good shape. Some only had one leg or one arms, the others were covered with bandages. There were some children too. One of them looked like Toryne, but in little. Same blue skin and a small armour made of old rusty metal on which could be read "Mom Helper".
Toryne walked straight to the biggest tent. Sans followed her, but she stopped him with a gentle but firm arm movement. The skeleton looked at her, confused, but couldn't ask why : the little blue fish girl appeared suddenly in front of him to take the reins. Frustrated, Sans ignored her, but when he looked up again, the royal guard wasn't here anymore. Grudgingly, the young skeleton lowered the eye sockets on her. She smiled triumphantly at him and offered her hand. Sans wished he had his whoopee cushion so badly, but unfortunately, his dad considered it was not essential when he packed their stuff.
"I am Undyne !" claimed the little girl. "Undyne the Undying ! Mommy is taking care of the one that came with you, so I'm going to take care of you ! Follow me, I will find you a place next to the fire !"
She caught his arm and dragged him towards the campfire with an unexpected force. Sans almost fell face first. He grumbled, not happy, but obeyed anyway. There was not much he could do to help his brother. He sat next to the burning wood and watched in silence as Undyne ran to a big pot with a bowl. How could she be that strong ? She was a bit older than Papyrus, but he was certain she was younger than him. She came back with what seemed like soup. Sans only ate two biscuits from all his trip. That nice hot meal was very welcome. It would had been far more enjoyable if the little girl didn't stay this close from his face all the time he dined. He barely finished that she snatched the bowl from his hands and ran to clean it with snow. Yes, she was a weird one.
Sans took advantage of this small respite to analyse the town's attack survivors. The city was pretty big and he didn't recognise any familiar faces. Adults didn't even look at him, they were talking in a low voice between them. Sans concentrated to hear the conversation, and he wished he hadn't. An old Icecap said that he heard Toryne said she found a group of monsters sooner, all turned to dust. Humans didn't even spare the children. What was scarier that it was the second one in two days. The monsters were scared that humans would find them now, and Sans suddenly realised that maybe this place was not so safe.
Undyne was back soon, this time with a blanket. She wrapped him inside by force, despite Sans complaining he wasn't cold, then she sat sit-crossed legs in front of him, still with that very deranging smile. Sans waited for her to say something, but she didn't. She just stared at him, without even blinking, for several minutes. After a while, Sans glanced towards the adults, hoping someone could save him from that demonic child, but no one seemed to care. He was just a survivor here, being the Royal Scientist son changed nothing. Where were they, anyway, the King and the Queen ? Weren't they supposed to help them ?
Sans looked back at the little girl and decided to engage a conversation, so the situation could be less awkward.
"Why are you calling yourself the Undying ? That's weird."
"Mommy called me that. Last year, I got shot five times by a human, but I still kicked his butt like this !" she claimed, proudly. "Well… Mommy kicked his butt actually, but I survived. The doctor said I should be dead since I'm only a child, but Mommy said that I was very strong like her and that I would make it, and I make it, you know, since I'm talking with you today."
"Wow, you're quite a talker. Do you breathe sometimes ?"
"Are you dumb-dumb ? Of course, I am breathing ! When people are not breathing, they are dead, duh."
Sans chuckled. She was just like Papyrus, taking everything literally. He was going to have a lot of fun. He got a bit more serious.
"Can I see my brother now ? If he woke up and he saw I was not here, he might get scared."
"No." answered Undyne.
Sans waited awkwardly for the rest of the answer but it didn't come. She kept staring at him like he said nothing.
"But that's my brother." insisted Sans. "He needs me."
"He is in the Chaman's tent. No one can go there, Mommy forbid it. Because of the microbes of the city."
"But Toryne entered the tent."
"But she is a Mommy, that's different. Do you want some tea ? I can make very good tea !"
Sans ignored her and got up. He walked straight to the tent where his brother was. He was almost there when a green aura circled him. He couldn't move anymore ! With difficulty, he turned the head towards the little girl. Her eyes were shining with the same colour of the attack. She was the one paralyzing him.
"Green means you can't go !" she screamed.
"Leave me alone ! I just want to see if my brother is alright !"
"You can't ! That's dangerous because of the other monsters' illnesses. Mommy said they can contaminate us if we get too close. You can't go because you'll get ill too. Go back to sit next to the fire. Please. Mommy is with him, he's alright."
She released him carefully. Sans hesitated and stayed a long time in front of the tent entry. Alarmed by Undyne's voice, the adults were now looking at him, ready to intervene. Sans sighed. Attacking his own people wouldn't resolve anything. He was far too tired for this. So, he gave up. He followed Undyne back to the fire. The little girl stayed with him until he got sleepy. Then she led him in another tent. The floor was covered with sleeping bags. He wrapped himself in one and fell asleep a few minutes later, exhausted.
The clamour of the guns. The bodies falling in the snow. The screams of terror. Papyrus yelling his name as the men are toying with him.
Sans woke up brutally in the middle of the night, arms and legs shaking. It took a few seconds before he remembered where he was. Around him, everything was silent. Almost all the sleeping bags were occupied now and he noticed several monster heads quietly snoring out of them. Next to him, Toryne was holding Undyne in her arms, both asleep. The royal guard had a hand on her spear, probably for safety. Everything was fine. He was fine. It was just a nightmare.
Or were they ? His dad always said it was coincidences, but most of the time, his nightmares were coming to life, one day or the other. Sometimes he could change the events, sometimes it happened like that. But tonight, was not a time to question his sanity. Papyrus usually felt when he had nightmares. If it was the case now, he must be terrified, all alone in a place he didn't know. Sans missed him. He hated when he was separate from him for long periods of time.
He got up and, still a bit shivering, stumbled outside, his blanket dragged behind him. Determined, he walked straight to the Chaman's tent. He made sure now one watched him and entered without asking. The inside was similar from the shelter he just left, except for the low whining of the injured monsters. It was like an ominous song, disturbed by some erratic movements in the sleeping bags. It was scary.
Slowly, Sans walked between the monsters, looking for his little brother. He watched closely each berth, then finally spotted him. Huddled up in a far too big blanket, Sans could hear clearly the small skeleton sob. His big brother heart shattered in a million pieces and he ran next to him. Papyrus lift two scared eyes to him before he recognised him and took refuge in his arms.
"I'm here, Pap', I'm here. I'm sorry I let you for so long. I'm not leaving anymore, I promise."
Sans entered the sleeping bag and both of them fell asleep again, in each other arms.