Chapter 14
Karlis bit back a groan as they knelt leaning forwards on the rocky terrain.
Ae didn’t fully understand, ae had fallen like 20 feet from where the portal had opened and yet wasn’t that severely injured (mainly due to their strange genetics, also due to not really feeling the pain that much).
Blinking the dust from aer eyes, Karl sat up to look around expecting to see aer family around them but they weren’t there. In their place were people ae assumed to be locals of the area. They were standing stunned. They also looked very angry, Karlis noted. Angry, scared and confused.
Ae was brought out of aer stupor as a man stood in front of ae, wearing a look of pure and absolute hatred as he looked down at ae.
“How the fuck did you escape?”
Karl’s brow furrowed in confusion.
Ae opened aer mouth to retort something sarcastic in return, but when ae tried to activate aer voice box, it was like lava rushing up Karl’s throat, as ae started hacking and dry heaving, the static of aer– broken – voice box rang out around them. Ae bent back over as blood splattered on the ground below ae.
Ae couldn’t focus on aer surroundings, so ae failed to see the purple hoodie-clad figure standing in front of ae, back facing ae, defending ae.
Ae fiddled with the chains on aer wrists that connected at the floor where Karlis was currently sitting cross – legged.
Karl had only been here an hour and was already chained up. That had to be a new record.
Ae was currently torn between pondering why the locals had all freaked out, and was also trying to suppress aer panic and aer hybrid instincts like chirping in distress at being locked up in a small space, and because aer flock was nowhere to be found. Ae knew they could take care of themselves, but it didn’t stop the worry.
Aer worrying was put on pause as two people entered the bare room (it wasn’t a cell, not like the ones before). The first was the man from before who had asked why ae wasn’t in prison anymore, for some reason, and he had short black hair under a beanie, and was wearing a white shirt with slacks. Most noticeable thing about him, though, was the scar over his left eye and the soft yellow wings peaking out from behind him.
The second person was a reindeer hybrid with antlers protruding from his short brown hair.
Karlis also had to raise an eyebrow at the axe held over the bird’s shoulder, clearly trying to intimidate ae.
Quackity narrowed his eyes at the figure sat on the floor in badly-concealed fury. He had had half a mind to call Sam as well to haul ae to prison, but frankly he wanted answers first. And he was going to get them.
“Now, let’s begin with why the hell you aren’t in the prison, Dream.”
Karlis stopped aerself from touching aer throat. They had given ae a healing pot, but ae didn’t want to risk damaging aer voice box again so ae settled for fiddling with the end of the sleeve of aer soft grey turtleneck jumper.
Chains clanged noisily as Karl raised aer hands as ae slowly signed, unsure if they even knew sign language, but it wasn’t like ae had many options at the moment.
My name isn’t Dream, and why the hell would I be in prison?
The reindeer hybrid translated to Karl’s delightful surprise. One thing at a time.
Now it was the duck hybrid’s turn to look confused. He did note that ae wasn’t as scared of him as actual Dream was, and he was pretty sure that Dream could still talk.
“Then who are you? You look exactly like him, bar the colour scheme and lack of mask.”
Well first things first, my preferred pronouns are ae/aer/aerself, please and thank you. Second, colour scheme?
“Oh, uh, my apologies, and well, he practically lives in green.
Karlis looked pointedly at aer outfit composed of light greys, baby blues and yellow highlights.
As for your other question, I suppose I might be an alternate version of this Dream fellow, or it might be pure coincidence and I’m simply an extreme lookalike, a doppleganger if you will. However, considering I can do this:
Karlis waited for the translation to finish before ae pulled up an admin screen. This wasn’t aer first time in a world that operated in the same way. Ae allowed it to fade out and continue signing.
For now, just call me Karlis.
They had both frozen, partly out of shock and fear.
“An alternate version? So you are like him?”
In what way? Aer eyebrows scrunched up slightly in confusion.
“A manipulator who just wants to forward your own self gain.”
Karl’s eyes hardened, and ae started signing more vigorously.
No, never. If anything, I am the opposite: a guardian and protector. My only purpose is to serve and help others. Ae finished.
Some time had passed since that first conversation. Ae could tell that they didn’t fully trust ae yet, but the chains were no longer connected to the floor.
A week had passed, the duck hybrid, named Quackity had come several more times, mostly accompanied by the reindeer hybrid Callahan. He had brought others too, to prove ae wasn’t Dream. Dream apparently had quite a few enemies on their world – called a server. One such man was something called a creeper hybrid named Sam, who was the prison Warden for Pandora’s Vault, where ae thankfully was not.
Currently, Karlis was panicking because ae had had no contact from aer family. Now, however, Izarri and Luke’s feathers on the necklace were in bad shape.
That was an understatement. Most of the time, the feathers were all neat and shiny as if they were freshly preened, but now they looked almost dead. Ae didn’t know if it was from the distance between them or their physical states. Ae had no telepathic connection at the moment, so Karl felt as if ae had a right to be worried.
The sound of footsteps caused ae to pause. From the sound it was a single person today.
Ae was proven correct when Quackity entered, and he had to hold back a squawk at how distressed Karlis looked.
Karlis pretty much flew at him, panic written all over aer face.
“What’s wrong?” He asked calmly and seriously. This was the first bout of genuine emotion he had seen from Karl, ae wasn’t even that emotional when hacking up blood.
Karlis started signing, then realised that Quackity couldn’t understand aem.
Karlis pulled out the necklace and all but shoved it at his face, pointing at the two damaged feathers.
Quackity went stone still, holding onto the necklace with an unrelenting grip.
“These are Avian feathers…Why do you have Avian feathers!?” He started quietly, becoming louder and louder in his anger, not seeing how Karlis froze and aer breathing picked up.
“Answer me Karlis, why the hell do you have 5 Avian Primary feathers?”
Doing the only thing to try and get across the message, ae grabbed a picture from aer pocket and thrust it into Quackity’s hands.
He was silent, still breathing heavily as he came down from his anger and took the picture to scrutinise.
It was a few years after they had all escaped. Karlis was standing in the middle, Raiden to aer right, and Raya on aer left, Luke standing at the front with Raya’s hand on his shoulder, and Izarri being carried by Raiden. Raiden stood tall and strong, a small smile on his face as he carefully held Izarri, who looked to be wriggling around, shouting boisterously. Raiden’s wings were folded loosely behind him. Raya had her other arm around Karlis, her wings more out in relaxation. Izarri and Lukianos both had their wings nearly fully out in joy. Luke was absolutely beaming up, shouting right back at Izarri in their brother’s arms. It was an anniversary of many things, of being taken, escaping, and healing. On the back of the photo was ‘family’ written in the middle, with 5 ‘I love you’ in different handwriting surrounding it.
Quackity took a step back, then after a few seconds of silence, he handed the photo gently back, and spoke as slowly and softly as he helped Karlis calm down and ground aem back to reality, apologising afterwards.
After the small incident, Quackity told ae that ae was welcome to build aer own small holding, with supervision and help of course, as a treatment for the previous treatment.
Karlis truly didn’t mind. They had acted out in fear and trepidation, and many had been hurt by the one ae resembled. Ae honestly couldn’t blame them for hurting and grieving, for wanting to heal, because Karl had been in their situation before and knew what it was like. Ae knew what it was like to look over your shoulder every second in fear of being caught again, fear of it not being real, of being unable to sleep without one eye open, and most of all to lose yourself.
Ae had built quite a big house over the span of two weeks, making sure it was big enough for aer family and extra. Ae took advantage of all the little freedoms.
After spending 500 years fighting in wars and being involved in conflicts, ae really wanted to make the most of the time they had.
Ae had also spoken to many more people here. It was quite overwhelming honestly. Of course, even if Quackity trusted them (even then, it was but a mere thread that would snap at the smallest of signs if S5 wasn’t careful), the majority of inhabitants didn’t. Ae wouldn’t be surprised if some thought ae was trying to manipulate Quackity in some way.
Therefore, ae had an ankle monitor that kept them tied to the property, but Karlis didn’t have a problem with it. Ae found it annoying to deal with at times, but ae also understood why ae had to wear it.
“Um, hello?” Karl jumped from where ae had been sat on the sofa analysing some code, and walked to the door where ae saw Tommy, one of the youngest members on the server.
To not scare him, ae knocked lightly on the wooden wall three times.
Tommy startled and looked up and and ae waved at him with a small smile.
Tommy seemed frozen, his face completely neutral as he muttered under his breathe,
“No green….”, before clearing his throat and speaking louder.
“Hello there! I heard there was a new person in town that looked like a certain green bitch. You…er, certainly weren’t what I was expecting.”
Karlis raised a hand to cover aer mouth as ae snickered quietly, to which Tommy seemed to relax and brighten up some more.
Ae grabbed the comm that Sam, surprisingly, had given them.
It’s totally understandable. I’ve heard that he isn’t exactly the best person around. You can call me Karlis, it’s nice to meet you, Tommy.
Slowly, ae held out a hand for Tommy to shake, which he did with a lot of energy.
“POG. Sooo…this is a nice house you have here. Why’s it so big if it’s just you?”
Ae wasn’t stupid, and noticed his glances at the exits and possible hiding spots, and aer golden apples. Ae didn’t comment on it.
Thank you. I like more open spaces, and it’s just in case my family also appear, like how I did.
Quackity had mentioned to aem that how ae had appeared was odd. Normally, a person had to be allowed on by an admin, but that didn’t happen with Karlis. Some people force themselves in, like a man named Philza, but that didn’t happen either. Apparently it was as if the world itself had created a space and pulled Karlis in. (Karlis would definitely investigate the idea later of worlds being ‘alive’)
“Family.” Tommy said, pausing and sitting on a stool next to the door.
Yep, 4 children
“You’re a parent? You don’t look that old.”
Biologically, I am still 18
“Biologically?”
Nothing important, don’t worry.
“Well, can I ask what you were doing before?”
I was….looking at admin codes
Tommy froze like a deer in headlights.
Yeah, I just…am not aware of the history of this place or people so I should know, especially because I don’t know how long I’ll be here.
“Still, isn’t it like an invasion of privacy?”
S5 sighed, noticing Tommy’s flinch as ae did so.
Let me be real with you Tommy. I looked at the files. I know what he did to you.
If possible Tommy’s face drained of any remaining blood, now looking pale as a ghost. He tensed, about to bolt, so S5 hurridly continued.
And….I’ve experienced a similar thing…
Ae said vaguely, to which Tommy just looked more confused.
Me and my family are on the run from someone who hurt us and wants to hurt us more, wants to use us. For some reason he targets me specifically. When he had me he tried his darndest to break me.
“He had you?”
……I wasn’t meant to say that, ignore it.
The pounding beneath aer feet was the only thing grounding aer at the minute as ae rushed to the ‘spawn point’ as it was named.
Ae had felt it with aer apparent admin powers when someone had appeared in the server.
Ae ran and ran, faster and faster, paying no mind to the ankle monitor or aer heaving breath and freezing lungs.
Ae skidded to a halt as ae panted heavily trying to catch aer breath, and failing when ae saw the figures laying on the floor.
Ae ignored Quackity and Sam yelling behind aem, as ae sprinted, skidding on aer knees, fervently grabbing onto the body of Raiden, the hotness of the tears dripping down aer face blinding them momentarily. Ae trembled, barely able to focus on breathing when they were all in front of ae, and they looked awful.
All ae could focus on was the countless bruises covering his body, ugly blues and yellows marring together to create a twisted canvas of his skin, which should never have been tainted in the first place. And the chains. Goddamn fucking chains clamping tightly over his wings. Ae felt the hot panic dissipate, boiling into rage that settled deep in aer bones.
Ae felt Quackity behind ae, but ae didn’t care about him at the moment, instead tugging and pulling on the godsforsaken chains. His wings were in horrible shape, covered in grime and dried blood, numerous feathers missing or broken or in disarray.
Forlorn, ae noticed the same fate had fallen upon the other 3, who were hesitantly being approached by some members of the server who wanted to help. They were all unconscious, and Karl couldn’t decide whether or not ae was happy or upset by that.
Ae still couldn’t get rid of the goddamn chains. Ae whipped aer head side to side before aer vision tunnelled in on one person. With all inhibitions and caution gone to the wind, ae let loose a long, drawn out cry of help-please-scared-chicks-help-protect-hurt.
With some sense back as ae tried to rail in aer instincts, ae slapped a hand over aer mouth. Some people looked around in confusion, but a few observant eyes widened in realisation, including the Elder Avian staring right at ae.
Moving so fast it seemed like he teleported, Phil appeared at aer side, and aer bird brain was so relieved to have someone to help, so ae immediately latched onto his side and clug like aer life depended on it, and aer Avian instincts finally let loose; with an abundance of distressed chirps leaving aer vocal cords, which would kill later, but ae didn’t care about later.
All that matters at that minute was helping aer family.
From behind where ae had collapsed, Quackity was frozen in fear, not for himself, but the young person in front of him, clearly an Avian that had had aer wings taken from ae.