They walked on with light chatter, Tommy constantly trying to boost the mood up. Anytime Phil was mentioned, if only by a small reference or blatantly saying his name, Tommy would do something stupid and distracting to keep their minds off of their father.

Hunger was quickly becoming a problem. They had run for so long that everyone was starving. It was one of the things Tommy and Tubbo complained about, among their wet clothes and hurting feet.

"Are we almost there?" Tubbo asked, looking ahead with dull eyes. "I think I'm going to die from hunger."

"He's not wrong," Tommy agreed. "This isn't what I signed up for. I thought it was going to take maybe another hour. It's almost night!"

Wilbur sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. "It's been years since I made the journey, okay? Give me a break."

"Ughhhhhh," Tommy whined loudly. "I haven't eaten all day, man. A big guy like me with muscles needs his nutrients."

"You have no muscles, Tommy," Techno butted into the conversation. He had been eerily quiet.

"Hey! I totally have muscles! You fucking bitch," Tommy looked at him, straightening his back.

"Guys," Wilbur said, looking ahead. "Look! It's a sign!"

That caught everyone's attention. They looked ahead, spotting a sign nailed into a tree. It looked a bit worn and tattered, and the wood was damp from the rain, but it was still readable.

"Folksten town this way," Tubbo read aloud, a smile appearing on his face. "There's a town!" He began to run with Tommy on his heels, the fourteen-year-old boys darting toward where the sign pointed.

He could hear Techno and Wilbur behind them. The dirt ground slowly shifted into gravel before rocks that formed a path, their shoes crunching against the pebbles.

"A house!" Tubbo said. "Civilization!"

"YESS!" Tommy hollered, pumping his hands in the air. "We aren't going to die!"

More buildings appeared along with people. By the time the brothers stopped they were in the middle of a small town, people dotting the streets and shops outlining the road.

"Where do we go?" Tommy asked, his spirits replenished. He almost forgot about Phil.

Not.

"To a shop, I suppose," Tubbo said.

"Yeah," Wilbur agreed. "But we don't have money. We're going to have to pretend to be homeless, starving kids in search of a meal."

The brothers ignored the fact that they actually were homeless and starving and definitely in search of a meal.

"This is going to be easy," Tommy said.

"No, let me and Techno do the acting. You just stand behind us and look pathetic," Wilbur glanced at him, "Hey, you're already halfway there."

Tommy snarled at him. "I am a buff and independent ma-"

His brothers were walking away. Tommy followed them, ignoring the fear that lay in his stomach like a rock. What if this didn't work? What if they couldn't scavenge any food? What if they had to steal something? Hell, Wilbur always called himself a dirty crime boy, but Tommy didn't think he actually wanted to be a dirty crime boy.

"Follow my lead," Wilbur said, turning into a small diner. It looked well taken care of on the inside, with small circular tables dotted around the room.

Tommy followed his family, watching as a waiter padded up to them. "Hello," she said, a wide smile on her face. "How may I help you? Where are your parents?" She looked around the group as if expecting to see them.

"Our parents died from a sickness," Wilbur said, sounding desperate. "W-we were wondering... well, we don't have any money.. we were wondering if you would be kind enough to spare us something?" Tommy snorted and turned away, his face scrunching from the need to let out a burst of laughter. Then he met Tubbo's eyes, and they both let out a wheezy heave of breath, both turning it into an odd cough.

She frowned at them, sympathy in her expression. "Well, of course. Go sit down at a free table and I will come out to feed all of you."

Yes! Food! Tommy's stomach growled at the prospect, feeling like it was tied into a tight knot. He smiled, his face brightening.

Wilbur nodded. "T-thank you so much," he said, a small smile on his lips. "Really."

"No problem," she replied, smiling at them before walking away.

"Yes!" Tommy whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear except the workers.

"I'm so hungry," Tubbo said, his hair falling around his face in a messy manner.

The brothers went to a table, getting seated with rising excitement.

__________

That night they were full and managed to persuade someone to let them stay in their hotel for one night for free. After all, they were just kids.

It ended up being a comfortable sleep. If Tommy hadn't been absolutely exhausted, worries about Phil would have kept him up, but instead, he fell asleep right when he hit the mattress.

The next morning they ate breakfast for free at the hotel before they left again. They had made a deal for one night- the brothers wouldn't be able to stay for longer. Not only that, but Tommy could feel tension about their father rising at every spot of silence between them. Tommy managed to keep up his peppy attitude, acting as if nothing happened and this was a bonding family trip.

The sun was rising higher in the sky when they first spotted the soldiers from before. They were walking from group to group who were walking along the streets, seemingly asking questions.

The brothers immediately padded the other way. "We need to get out of this town," Wilbur said, directing the group.

"They seem to be the only soldiers hunting us right now," Techno replied. "One of the soldiers is missing. He may have taken Phil hostage and gone back to the Kingdom with him. I think their lives ride on them finding and bringing you back, Tommy." He seemed to say the words through bared teeth, something flashing in his eyes, as if talking about Phil pained him.

The Phil comment gave Tommy some hope. What if Phil wasn't dead? Sure, being a prisoner was terrible, but better than death. They had a chance to save him.

"Well, that's fucking stupid," Tommy grumbled. "What will I do when I get there? Learn to shoot laser beams out of my eyes?"

They were going at a quick pace away from the soldiers, turning and twisting around corners in the streets.

"I don't know what they're expecting," Tubbo agreed. "We're fourteen. I was literally playing with mud before they came."

"I was playing my guitar," Wilb said, a twinge of sadness in his voice. "I had to leave it behind."

Tommy listened, shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets. His gaze trailed down and he took in a breath through his nose, trying to stable himself. This wasn't his fault. It literally couldn't physically be his fault.

"Hey, whoa," someone said suddenly. Tommy looked up, his gaze landing on a quite short guy with fluffy dark brown hair, almost like Tubbo's. He was wearing a cool multi-colored jacket and looked to be around Wilbur's age. "Are you those kids the soldiers are looking for?"

Suddenly the whole group was on guard, eyeing him suspiciously, especially Techno.

The guy held up his hands, using the universal sign for peace. "I just want to help," he said. "I think the Queen is on fucking crack. My name is Karl, by the way."

Tommy laughed and his brothers gazed at Karl, slightly confused.

"Why is the Queen on crack?" Tommy asked, the sun catching and lighting up the edges of his hair.

"She's the one who ordered the soldiers after you," Karl said. "She's totally psycho. It's not fair for you guys."

Was their situation that big? How did Karl know about it? Had a soldier approached him?

"Thanks, we would appreciate it," Wil said with a smile.

Karl nodded. "Of course. I know this village like the back of my hand," he giggled. "And everyone knows me."

Maybe they had hope after all.

__________