Chapter 2

"Who are you." Dream said, voice unsure, still gripping the sword tight, staring down at the injured boy lying on the hard ground.

The boy just groaned, Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to swallow.

"What is under the bandage on your leg." Dream said, using his sword to press lightly against it. The boy's head rolled to the side.

"Look." He whispered.

Dream paused for a minute.

"Sapnap." He called.

"What." Sapnap huffed back, only a few dozen feet away.

"Come point your axe at him." Dream said, shrugging off his bag while keeping the sword trained on the boy.

Sapnap trudged back over.

"Huh?"

"I'm checking his leg. Keep your axe on him in case he tries something." Dream directed. Sapnap grabbed his axe with a scoff.

"The kid's not going anywhere. He looks as good as dead with a mutilated leg."

"Looks like death with a mutilated leg. That's the exact reason I want you to watch him." Dream said, dropping his sword and kneeling by the boy's leg. "Could be turning for all we know." He muttered.

He proceeded to reached forward to unwrap the bandage with his gloved hand. The bandaging was done horribly and it came off too easily. Dream slowly pulled it off the leg, and the boy hissed in pain at one point, leg twitching.

When the bandage had been fully peeled back, Dream's eyes widened.

A deep cut that was still oozing blood ran along the outer side of his calf, along with several other scratches.

But no bite.

"What's your name?" The boy asked, voice hoarse and soft. Dream's eyes slowly moved back up to his half-covered face, meeting tired brown eyes.

"Dream." He replied, just as soft, but apprehensively. Like he had no choice but to respond.

"Dream. Please kill me." The boy whispered back.

Dream immediately stood up and backed away. He reached down for his sword but created distance between himself and the dying boy.

"Sap, let's go." Dream cleared his throat.

"What?" Sapnap stared at him incredulously. "Dream, I know we have our rule, but he's going to die."

"We can't help him." Dream looked away. "He's as good as dead. Grab his bag."

"Are you kidding?" Sapnap said, lowering his axe and glaring at the back of Dream's head as the older boy turned around.

"Nope."

"What happened to putting him out of his misery?"

Dream briefly turned back around, and looked down at the brunet on the floor. His eyes were squeezed shut now, pain evident on his face.

"You kill him then." Dream swallowed.

Sapnap just stared at him, his face mask covering his open mouth in shock.

"What is wrong with you? He deserves a chance." Sapnap dropped to his knees beside the boy and unzipped his bag.

"Sapnap." Dream said in a warning tone, but his friend ignored it and pulled out one of the flasks. Dream was quick to move forward and grab his wrist as he began unscrewing the lid. "This is why we can't help him. We already have limited resources. Let's. Go." Dream said through his teeth. But Sapnap stared back with equal fury.

"You go, then." He shoved Dream off and lowered the flask. "The stream is nearby, I'll refill."

Sapnap reached forward and grabbed the injured boy's hand, putting the flask in it. The trembling hand almost dropped it, but Sapnap held it tight for him.

"Sapnap!" Dream seethed, but did nothing to stop him. "Fucking hell. You're going to end up getting us both killed."

Sapnap didn't respond, and Dream gritted his teeth and walked away. He needed space. He didn't want to even see the injured boy's face.

Sapnap helped the boy pull off his face mask, and blinked at the sight of a human face other than Dream's. It was dirty and slightly bloodied, but human. The boy nearly fell to the side, but Sapnap held him upright.

"Here." He carefully raised the flask to the lips of the boy, and helped him drink it.

He finished the entire flask, and Sapnap put it back on the floor, still holding him up.

"Better?"

"Thanks." The boy said, but he still could barely hold himself up, and was sickly pale. Sapnap put his blue mask back over his nose and mouth for him.

"What happened to your leg?"

"Attacked while climbing a hill. No bite." The boy mumbled, eyes closing as he swayed slightly. Sapnap looked back at the bloodied leg, now even worse since Dream didn't put the bandage back on. It was oozing onto the ground.

"We need to clean that and re-bandage it. I think it needs stitches too." Sapnap said, gently lying the boy back down so he could look at it closer. "Don't want it to get infected, and it's still bleeding. How you haven't died yet is astounding."

"Your friend is right." The boy suddenly said, and Sapnap turned back to look at him. "I'm going to die. Just kill me now." He whispered.

"I can't kill you. You're human." Sapnap frowned. But the boy didn't respond, so Sapnap harshly poked him in the arm. "Hey. Don't fall asleep."

"Tired." He mumbled.

Sapnap sighed. Looking between the wound, the boy's face, and his own axe.

"Dream's going to kill me." He muttered, putting his bag back on his back, strapping the axe to it, and then leaning down to the boy.

He carefully put an arm beneath his knees and around his back and lifted him up, making the boy hiss in pain.

"Chill. I'm taking you to the stream so we can treat your leg."

"Why." He mumbled, head dropping.

"Cause I haven't seen a person in half a year and I'm sick of Dream."

"Dream." He mumbled back.

"Yeah. And I'm Sapnap."

"Dumb names." The boy mumbled.

"And what's yours?" Sapnap scoffed as he walked through the forest back towards the stream.

"None of your business."

"Wow. I'm here saving your life and don't even get a name." Sapnap said.

He eventually reached the stream again, but was surprised to see Dream wasn't here. And slightly relieved. Sapnap walked to the opposite side of the stream and gently placed the boy down. He took the backpack the boy was wearing and put it under his head, and manoeuvred the injured leg towards the running water, gently holding it just on the surface

"Shit." The guy tensed as water trickled over his calf, but Sapnap just held it there, watching the bright red flow down the creek. He gently pushed some of the water over the ankle and shin as well, which had similar cuts. The boy was squirming and hissing the whole time.

"I'm sorry." Sapnap winced. He then pulled the leg out of the water, and used a rock to place under his ankle so his leg was propped up slightly, and then opened his bag, taking out his roll of bandages, some thread, and a needle.

"You're an idiot." Dream's voice came from his right, and the bandages were snatched out of his hand. "You cannot waste these on him. We have limited resources."

"Give them back Dream." Sapnap said calmly.

"You need to stop this now, Sapnap. Look at the river. They'll smell his blood! We need to move." Dream gestured to the tainted red water.

"Give me the bandages." Sapnap repeated.

"No, I'm done with this. We are going. No more playing doctor. Leave the kid, he's going to die anyways."

"It's my bandages. I decide what they are used for." Sapnap said through gritted teeth, tightening his grip on the small needle.

"What's your plan after you fix him up, huh? Sit and wait for him to die? He can't walk anywhere, he'll slow us down. And you've wasted resources on him."

"I don't care. We can't leave him, he's human. We're human. There's not many of us left." Sapnap said.

"There will be even less of us left if you waste resources on him."

"How can you be so cruel?" Sapnap said, looking down at the boy, who has his eyes closed.

"That's the way life is at the moment. It sucks, but that's how we survive." Dream gestured to the world around them.

"You're turning this into some shit life lesson." Sapnap glared at him.

"And maybe you should listen." Dream waved the bandages. "We are leaving now. Ask him if he wants you to kill him or leave him here."

"I'm not leaving without at least helping him bandage his leg." Sapnap said, still staring pointedly at the bandages Dream was holding.

"Well, I'm leaving." Dream said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine. Go." Sapnap said, finally standing up with his hands out. "Give me the bandages and you can leave."

"I'll leave without you." Dream threatened.

"Cool. Bandages." Sapnap extended his arm further.

"Sap, I'm serious. I'm not hanging around for you or him. I'm leaving."

"That's really nice, Dream." Sapnap snatched the bandages from his best friend, and bent back down beside the brunet. "Don't die."

Dream stared at his best friend. He wouldn't leave him. Sapnap knows that. Dream knows that. Hell, even the stranger on the floor probably knew that, and he was literally unconscious.

Dream turned on his heel and stormed away down the river again.

Sapnap chewed on his lip as he looked at the leg wound. Him and Dream had the occasional argument, it was inevitable. But he hated them every time.

"You're letting him leave?" The boy that Sapnap assumed had gone unconscious mumbled.

"He's not leaving." Sapnap said, grabbing a stick nearby and holding it out. "I have to stitch you up. Bite on this and try not to scream."

"Just kill me. Please." The boy opened his eyes again, netting Sapnap's, who hesitated. "I won't even make it through the night. Please. Kill me."

Sapnap clenched his jaw.

"I can't kill you. I won't. You're a human. There's not many left of us. We have to stick together." Sapnap said softly.

"Please. Just kill me." The boy whispered once more.

"No." Sapnap sighed. "Now bite." He tugged the material down the boy's face and basically shoved the stick into his mouth. He looked up at Sapnap, wide-eyed.

Sapnap's hands were shaky, but he managed to thread it through the needle, and gently touched around the deep gash.

"I'll try to be quick. I've never done this before, but I've seen enough med shows to get the gist of it." He tried to make a joke, but he was nervous.

He felt pressure on his bicep, and glanced over to the boy gripping his arm, staring at the sky and taking a few deep breaths.

"Ready?" Sapnap asked.

The boy nodded, closing his eyes.

It was probably a good thing he passed out fairly quick. Noises would draw the attention of zombies, something they desperately couldn't deal with. Sapnap did his best to be quick, tasting blood in his own mouth from biting down on his lip so hard.

Once he finished the rough stitches, he rinsed the leg again, and then began bandaging. He glanced at the boy, who's chest was still moving rapidly, but his eyes were closed and face pale.

"Sorry." Sapnap whispered, wincing at the thought of someone having to stitch his own skin.

•

George woke up the next morning, surprisingly. He opened his eyes slowly and blinked a few times. He was staring at a rocky, moist ceiling, and it took him a while to figure out what had happened.

He turned his stiff head to the side, and saw the boy from yesterday. He was sitting against the wall of the cave they were in, staring out of the entrance, jaw tense and tapping against his axe. George's memories were a little hazy, he couldn't remember the boy's name. He tried to sit up, but he hissed in pain when he moved his leg.

"Don't move yet." The boy quickly crawled over, kneeling beside him. He looked at George's leg before looking back at his face. "How are you feeling?"

"Thirsty. Hungry. In pain." George said, sitting up on his forearms and staring at the stranger. "Who are you?"

"Sapnap. I found you and stitched your wound and re-bandaged it. You had a fever in the night, shaking and sweating and talking in your sleep. I didn't think you'd make it through." He said, pulling out a flask and handing it to George. "But here you are."

"How did I not die?" George looked down at his leg, seeing the fresh bandages.

"I brought down your fever, got you some water and redid your bandages again in the night. It was all I could do, but you eventually stopped sweating as much." Sapnap said with a shrug.

George looked to his right and saw a slightly damp item of clothing.

"Used that for your forehead." Sapnap said, a little awkwardly as he picked it back up. "Tried to cool you down."

George nodded, taking a large few sips before heading back the flask. He then dragged himself up against the wall, wincing slightly as he shuffled his leg. But he was sitting now, at the same eye level as the boy.

"Thank you." George said, a little soft, but it was meaningful.

"You're welcome." Sapnap smiled.

George looked around the small cave, glancing at the light coming through the entrance.

"Why did you help me?" George asked, swallowing and looking back.

Sapnap shrugged, as he re-packed his bag.

"Didn't want your death on my conscience." He said simply, before crawling over to the entrance, and removing some of the foliage to look out.

"That's it? Just didn't want the guilt?" George said, leaning forward to inspect the bandages. The bleeding had stopped, since it wasn't leaking through. He was quite impressed by the effort. Especially the mention of stitches.

"No."

"No?"

"The second I saw your beautiful face I knew I had no choice but to save such a divine human being." Sapnap said, looking at George while wiggling his eyebrows.

George scoffed, and then threw a small rock at the boy.

"Shut the fuck up." He said, and Sapnap just grinned behind his face mask before looking away again.

"It seems clear. No zombies in the night luckily." He said.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"No. Had to keep watch obviously, and you were in no state to." Sapnap said, pushing away the door coverings so they could leave.

"I'm sorry." George said, knowing what the sleepless nights were like. The anticipation, the silence, the darkness. Any sound keeping you on edge.

"It's fine. It's what we gotta do." He said, kicking away a boulder.

"And your friend?" George briefly remembered them both talking. Arguing. He remembered his name, shockingly. "Dream? Where is he? Do you normally take shifts?" George said.

"We usually do half a night each so we can rest. And I don't know where he is, he was mad at me."

"He said he was leaving and not coming back." George said, faintly remember the harsh words in his state between conscious and unconscious. Sapnap's jaw tensed again.

"He wouldn't actually leave." He said. "I know he wouldn't, he's my brother." He added softly, before leaving the cave. George tried to push himself up, but was struggling, so he ended up crawling to the entrance after putting his backpack on, and then using the rock wall to pull himself up. He noticed a jutting out rock just by the entrance of the cave having a dark piece of fabric around it, the same colour as Sapnap's face mask. George narrowed his eyes at it in confusion.

He tried to put weight on his leg, but he felt instant pain, and leant against the wall again, holding back a groan.

"Don't walk on your leg." Sapnap's voice came from a little bit away. He was walking around the area with his axe out, checking for any signs of zombies. "You'll make it bleed again."

"How am I supposed to do anything then?" George asked.

"I'll find you some stick you can use it as a cane." Sapnap offered. It was probably the only reasonable option. "So what's your name?" Sapnap asked him. George leaned against the wall, sweating slightly from balancing and moving his injured leg.

"I have to tell you?" George asked.

"I suppose not. But the least you can do is give me something to call you by. I did save your life, you owe me a name." Sapnap said, leaning against a tree.

"George." He mumbled. "Although I'm positive you and the Dream guy have fake names. There's no way they are your real ones."

"So what?" Sapnap asked, flipping his axe once. "I can be whoever I want in this apocalypse."

"Fair enough. I'll stick with George."

"A little boring." Sapnap laughed.

But his smile dropped, as his eyes snapped up to the drop above George.

"Move!" Sapnap yelled, running forward. George didn't have time to react, nor could he actually move. Something heavy fell on top of him, knocking him to the floor, and his head hit the ground with a thud.

He looked into the eyes of a zombie, and couldn't even breathe in enough air to scream.

Suddenly the zombie's head completely fell off, and a blade narrowly missed George's neck. The blood from the body coated George's face, and he froze in shock, with his eyes squeezed shut.

He felt the heavy weight on his body get pulled off, but he didn't move. His face mask was coated and wet against his face, and there was blood in his closed eyes, he could feel it.

Someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a sitting position. George's hands were shaking and he held his breath from the strench of the blood.

"Shit." He heard Sapnap say, and the hand on his shoulder moved off.

George jumped when he felt the material covering the lower half of his face was tugged off, and jumped again when it was pressed instead against his eyes.

"Did you ingest any of the blood?" He was asked.

Although that wasn't Sapnap speaking.

"Huh?" George mumbled, opening his eyes. He had to blink a couple of times, there was definitely blood in his eyes, his vision was slightly black. But he eventually focused on a boy with a yellow face covering, with his hand poised in the air holding George's now black mask.

"I said, did any get in your mouth or nose?"

"Dream, he's probably in shock." A Sapnap was there again, nudging Dream to the side so he could look at George. "You ok?"

"Yeah." George said, hands coming up to wipe his eyes and the remaining residue. "Jesus. Thanks Sapnap." He said.

"That was Dream. I didn't get there in time, he jumped down after the zombie and beheaded it." Sapnap gestured at the unmoving body.

"I was hunting him and he changed his course to where you two were hiding." Dream said, standing up and clearing his throat.

"You knew where we were hiding and you didn't come?" Sapnap stood up too, and George clenched his hands, trying to stop the shaking. He's had too many close calls with the monsters. Especially in the past few days.

"Yes."

"What's wrong with you? What did you even do last night?"

"Sapnap." George said, and the two boys stopped talking. "Can we go to the river and wash my face. I-it's in my eyes."

"Oh, yeah. Dream, help me." Sapnap grabbed George under one armpit, and stared expectantly at Dream, who didn't move.

George looked up at Dream, having to blink a few times from his blurry vision. He saw Dream staring right back at him, felt his eyes scanning over George's face.

"For the love of God." Sapnap grabbed George under both arms and helped him to his feet himself, putting an arm around his torso. "Ok, lean against me. Try and use your good leg."

They began to walk, but George had to hop because his other leg hurt too much to even move. Sapnap was struggling slightly with majority of George's weight dragging him to the side.

But it was relieved when Dream finally wrapped his arm around George as well, and they both helped walk George back towards the river.

"Thanks." George said softly, and Dream didn't respond.

When they got to the water, they placed George beside it, and the boy immediately started scooping water onto his now uncovered face. Bits of black blood was washed off his skin and into the river, and George focused on washing out his eyes.

"Is there a chance he could turn from the zombie's blood in his eyes?" He heard Sapnap ask Dream.

"We don't know how the virus is spread properly. We know for certain through a bite, I'm guessing their teeth have some sort of venom that quickly infects the body. But I don't know. I told you about the stories of people turning without being bitten." Dream said.

"That's why you made me wear the mask. In case it was airborne." Sapnap said. George obviously had that hypothesis as well, with his own blue face mask. The one which had been soaked by black blood.

"Yeah. But I have no idea if it's blood-borne. But think about how much blood we have gotten into contact with. We've touched it and it's on our clothes and neither of us have been infected." Dream said.

George still scrubbed at his face, and his hair which was also soaked.

"But us touching it doesn't mean it got into our system. We probably washed it off." Dream added slowly.

"Unless we had a cut on our hands while touching it." Sapnap said.

"That's true." Dream hummed. "But unlikely. I doubt we've had zombie blood enter our systems. There's no way to know if it can infect you."

George felt two pairs of eyes on him, and he slowly turned back.

"Have you finished debating if I'm going to zombiefy yet?" George said.

"Can't risk it. Like I said yesterday, he's already a liability. Especially now with the contamination." Dream said, taking to Sapnap.

"I'm fine, I got it all out." George said, and tried to stand up, but fell backwards.

"You don't know that. Your leg is better now, Sapnap was incredibly kind in helping you heal and wasting resources he could use on himself. But we should part here." Dream said, a much calmer tone than yesterday.

"You want to leave him? He can barely walk." Sapnap said, gesturing to George who was still trying to stand.

"Exactly. He'd slow us down."

"Slow us down from what? Where are we even going?"

"I don't- I don't know! But he'll slow us down. And use our resources. Sap, I know it sounds cruel but if we want to survive, we can't bring him with us. Yes, he'll probably die. But it's a sacrifice we have to make. This is the life we live now." Dream said.

"We can't win against the zombies if we abandon our own kind!" Sapnap argued.

"The zombies have already won! Have you been paying attention these past few months? This isn't a war. This isn't about winning. We've already lost. This is about survival, Sapnap. It's harsh, but it's true. He can't come with us." Dream said. "And you know that."

Sapnap looked down at George, who stopped struggling and just sighed, looking up at the two boys.

"You want to just let him die?" Sapnap said. And Dream looked down at George too. He looked at his face, which was completely on display, and seemed to be searching his eyes. George didn't know what to do or say. His fate rested in the hands of these two boys. He knows he has no hope if he's alone with a bag leg.

"I don't want to." Dream said, looking at the ground. "But we have to." He turned and began walking away.

George looked at Sapnap, and realised in that moment his one chance at living were these two strange boys.

"I'm sorry, George." Sapnap said, biting his lip. "I'm so sorry. Maybe we'll meet again."

"You're going to leave me?" George asked, looking at Sapnap and then at Dream's back.

"I'm sorry." Sapnap said, gripping his axe tighter before he turned away.

George doesn't plead. He doesn't beg. He holds his chin high, and he accepts things as they are. But this was his life. While willing to give up last night, he now has new hope. In the form of a young, dark-haired man with kind eyes and an axe, and a guarded boy with longer hair and bright eyes, eyes that held so much pain when George first saw them. Eyes that had flickers of empathy and hurt and kindness, the opposite to the harsh words the boy had spoken.

"There's a safe haven."

That made them both stop.

"In North Carolina."

Sapnap spun around.

"For humans. There's food and shelter and homes and doctors." George said, swallowing.

"Are you serious?" Sapnap whispered, eyes wide.

"Yes. It's where I was heading." George responded.

Dream turned around and stormed back over, grabbing George by his shirt and dragging him to his feet, making the brunet gasp in shock and pain.

"How do we know you aren't making this up? Just to save your own skin so we have no choice but to bring you along." Dream seethed through his teeth.

"Dream! Put him down!" Sapnap yelled.

"I'm telling the truth." George winced, hands going over Dream's arm, his bad leg twisting slightly.

"Where did you hear this?"

"I scavenged near Gainesville. There was a group of people all talking about it. I didn't ask, because they would have attacked me and taken my food and tools. But I stalked them for a few days, and they were heading north."

"How can we trust you?" Dream shook his collar.

"You can't." George stared back. "But I'll take you there. I know which city they said, get me a map and I'll take you."

"Tell us. What city."

"If I tell you, you'll leave me to die." George said with a tense jaw. "We can help each other, Dream."

"Dream." Sapnap's voice from behind sounded smaller. "He said North Carolina... do you think... maybe there's a chance..."

"Sap don't get your hopes up. We don't know he's even telling the truth, let alone that anyone there is alive." Dream looked over his shoulder.

"If I'm lying, slit my throat. I'll take you there if you help me. Once I get a cane, I can walk myself. I have my own weapon and water bottle, I won't take any of your resources, I have my own stuff." George was bordering begging. No, he was making a deal. It was calculated. These were dark times and he didn't want to die.

Dream's jaw was tense, and he seemed to be considering it. He seemed to be considering for a long time, eyes flicking between George's, trying to find any lies or deception.

"Ok." He mustn't have found any. "Fine." He dropped George's collar and George had to grab onto the boy's arm so he wouldn't fall. "But if you are lying about the safe haven, I will not hesitate to slit your throat and leave you for zombies, you hear me?"

"Loud and clear." George raised one eyebrow, choosing to ignore the fact Dream didn't kill him yesterday when he clearly had the intention.

"Good." Dream glanced at the hand holding onto his forearm. "Go make a cane. I'm not fucking carrying you." He peeled George's hand off, and the boy gritted his teeth to remain steady.

"What was it that Sapnap called you?" Dream said while walking away. "George, was it?"

"Yeah." George replied softly, not expecting his name to come out of Dream's mouth.

"I'm not saving your life again, George."

•

They had to move that day. Considering they already spent one night near the river, where George's blood and the blood of a zombie now had been washed in.

So Dream was cleaning equipment and clothing in the water and filling flasks, Sapnap was out trying to hunt something for food, and George was trying to make a cane.

Sapnap's task would be difficult. Most of the larger animals had been killed by zombies. Their best options for food were smaller creatures, or raiding towns and cities for food that hadn't gone off, or had already been taken. Dream and Sapnap had no meat left, just some nut bars and dried fruit from their last raid which was months ago, and berries they've scavenged along the way.

Sapnap had created a pile of potential sticks before he left, so George was filtering through to find the best one. Sticks for a cane were not the best material. They had to be strong enough to hold his weight, but not too thick he can't hold them. And his options were limited, especially at the right height.

He was currently carving one stick out now, trying to make it smoother for him to hold so he wouldn't get any splinters or cuts. He looked up occasionally at the boy by the river.

Dream was retightening his mask, and it made George realise his own had been soaked in blood and removed.

"Hey, Dream?" He called.

A huff in response, as the boy kneeled by the river to rinse his sword.

"My face mask got ruined." George said, and that made Dream look at him. "I mean... I don't think the virus is airborne but it's better safe than sorry." George added.

Dream just stared at him, silent, and George fiddled with his dagger.

"Could I borrow some material to use?" He asked.

Dream looked back at his sword, and just continued to rinse it. George watched him for a moment, but then just sighed and kept carving his stick. Maybe he should ask Sapnap instead.

But Dream walked over a little later, with something in his hand, and George looked up to see the same material colour as the one around Dream's mouth.

"Here." He dropped it onto George's lap, who picked it up cautiously.

"Thanks." George said softly, securing it around his face and tying it at the back. He glanced up when he finished, seeing Dream still standing there. "What?"

"How old are you?" Dream asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why do you care." George stared back.

"You're..." Dream eyed him. "20."

"26. Dick." George scoffed and went back to carving at the stick.

"You're 26?" Dream's eyes were wide.

"By that reaction, I'm assuming that makes me older than you. And therefore you should respect me."

"That doesn't mean anything." Dream said, and then paused. "You're actually 26? And that small?"

"I know I'm short." George said through his teeth, not looking at Dream anymore.

"But you're so thin."

"Whoop-de-doo. Welcome to the apocalypse, Dream. Where the most hearty meal I can eat is a squirrel." George said in a sarcastic tone.

Dream didn't say anything at that.

"How old are you and Sapnap?"

"Sap's 21. I'm 23." Dream said, then paused. "Well, I think I'm 23 now. Lost track of the days."

"It's November 2nd." George looked up. "Are you 23 yet?"

"Oh." Dream blinked. It had been that long? "Yeah, I guess I am. I was born August 12th."

"Happy birthday." George said dryly, looking back down at the cane.

Dream stood there for a few more moments.

"What?" George huffed, staring back up at the boy.

"How have you survived this long on your own?" Dream asked, eyes narrowed and raking over George's weak body.

"Stubbornness." George shifted uncomfortably under Dream's gaze.

"No, seriously. Someone like you should be dead, especially on your own. You have no muscle, you haven't been fighting."

"Well I nearly was dead." George mumbled.

"Answer the question."

"I don't know! I've been lucky." George shrugged.

"Is that your only weapon? One dagger?" Dream said, and George clenched it tighter.

"I made a bow actually. And had some arrows."

"Where is it?"

"Destroyed. By a zombie when I tried to escape." George sighed. "But it's fine, I'll make another soon."

"You better. That dagger will be useless."

"Once you're both done flirting or whatever, I got us lunch." Sapnap's voice cut through the air and both Dream and George turned to look at him. Sapnap had an entire deer swung over his shoulders, and George's eyes widened at the animal.

"If you thought that was flirting, I feel bad for the people you try to court." Dream said, walking over to his friend.

"How did you catch a deer?" George stared in shock.

"Talent." Sapnap said with a grin. "And also, we are near a river. The smart ones stick near water on high ground. I went up the hill and found this lonely doe."

"Great work, Sap. I reckon we move before we prep and cook it. Don't want to stay here longer than we need to." Dream said, examining the dead animal.

"I don't want to carry it far, it's heavy." Sapnap groaned.

"Not that far, just away from here. I filled up our flasks, we should be good to go now." Dream said, walking back over to his stuff laid out by the riverbed. Sapnap looked over at George.

"You ever tried deer, George?"

"Can't say I have."

"Pity he won't be today." Dream's swung his bag over his shoulder.

"Huh?" Sapnap said, as Dream looked over at George.

"He said he'd hunt his own food. Did he not?" Dream said, voice light and innocent.

George looked down at his bandaged leg, then at his small dagger, and then at the cane he hadn't quite finished yet.

"Once he's better." Sapnap said sternly.

"It's ok." George said quietly, digging his cane into the ground and using it to help him up. He then reached down and swung his bag over his shoulder, and picked up his dagger, flicking it once in his hand. "We made a deal."

"George, it's fine. We'll share." Sapnap said.

"No, I said what I said. I only need enough for one, I'll go kill a squirrel... or something." George said, glancing over at Dream, who was watching him curiously.

"That's ridiculous. With a cane and a dagger?" Sapnap said.

"Adds to the challenge." George started to limp away from the river.

"Dream, stop him."

"Why?" Dream laughed.

"Dream." Sapnap walked over to his friend and dumped the deer on the riverbank. "It's not funny."

"I mean, it kind of is." Dream chuckled, as George went further into the trees.

"It's an entire deer. We can share."

"He said he'd hunt his own food, that was part of our deal. He's an idiot for suggesting that. He's just abiding by his own terms." Dream rolled his eyes and slipped off his bag, holding it out for Sapnap. "You carry both bags, I'll carry the deer."

"You're an awful person." Sapnap said, not reaching for the bag.

"I saved his life if you don't recall."

"Because you were hunting the zombie. It would have attacked me next, you didn't kill it for him."

"Just because I didn't want him to join us, doesn't mean I don't want to see a human die, Sapnap." Dream said with a frown.

"No. You just want to see him starve." Sapnap scoffed, and then grabbed his axe, and walked towards the trees where George had wondered off in.

"Fine." Dream called out.

Sapnap spun back around, seeing Dream absentmindedly tapping the tip of his sword along the riverbank.

"Tell George we'll share." Like he hadn't already planned for that.

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A/N
I actually greatly dislike this chapter. But it had important information and set-up I didn't know how else to re-write. Apologies.

For those who celebrate, merry christmas next week <3