'It's a serious question.'
'"If a deaf man falls in a forest, and there's nobody around, would he ever really crash or even make a sound" is not a serious question. But logically, he would have to, since forests normally have small twigs or dried leaves on the ground. It would make a crunchy noise.' Choco conceded, attempting to balance another book on Kenny's head.

It failed, obviously, but at least he tried.

The blond grinned cheekily, and continued. 'But how would we know that? He wouldn't know, and there's nobody to hear him.'
'Due to physics, he would have to.'
'But would he, really?'
'I will literally throw this book at you.' The chocobo hybrid warned, and Kenny just smiled before taking the book away.
'Also, I never said what kind of forest.'
'What?'
'Could be a forest of seaweed, you get those sometimes.'

WHAP, book to the chest. It wasn't even a light one either, it was one of those really heavy hardback novels that the hybrid had for some reason.
'Okay, that actually hurt a lot.'
'I said I was gonna do it.'
'Yeah, but still.' The blond groaned, falling back on the sofa dramatically with a hand up to the ceiling 'I-I see the light, I'm ascending upwards.'
'Nah.'
'I HEAR ANGELS SINGING-'
'Mate why.'
'I AM ON MY WAY.'

Choco hit him with a book again, even harder than the first time. His friend slowly sat up and glared at him, rubbing his arm where the hundreds of pages had hit 'Wow thanks Choco, you're such a great friend.'
'Actually yeah, I am. Remember that time, I believe it was yesterday, when I went back into the Nether to get you?'
'Remember that time, before that, when I caught you from falling?'
'...Touché.'
'Big word, well done.' Holding the book above his head for a third time, Kenny's feathered friend smirked and pretended to bring it down again 'Please don't, I have a wife and kids!'

'Oi oi, what've you been up to then?' Genuinely curious, Choco tilted his head slightly and chucked the novel behind him while Kenny laughed.
'Nothing whatsoever, unfortunately. I'm doomed to be alone until I die.'
'So not too long then, knowing you.'
'The whole immortality thing, remember?'

"What's he- Wait what?! WHAT?!"
'You never said anything about that!'
The honey-eyed teenager let out a nervous laugh, fidgeting with the strings of his hoodie while Choco stared at him meaningfully. He thought that he had explained his ability, but apparently hadn't.
Great.
'Uh, yeah... Hm. So basically, I've somehow got this ability; I don't know what it is, actually, but it's like - Ugh, I don't know. Basically, my body heals itself from fatal stuff. If I didn't have it, I'd be dead a long time ago.'
'But you still age like everyone else. Maybe you've got the healing factor, but not the age bit.'
'Notch, I hope so.' Kenny sighed dejectedly and faceplanted into a book, refusing to move whenever Choco asked him to.

Eventually, the hybrid just pushed him into the floor, but it got him moving. 'Hey, Kenny...' Choco began out of the blue, 'What's it like past the barrier?'
'What d'you mean?'
'Like, what do normal people get up to - I've always been curious.'
A grin made it's way into Kenny's face, which is hardly ever a good sign. 'Why don't you come and find out? I was gonna have to go back soon anyway, and explain why the meeting can't happen yet.'
'When?'
'I was thinking tomorrow, if you're up for it.' The teenager offered, before getting smothered by feathers as Choco hugged him excitedly 'Seriously?!'
''Course, now c'mon, you never answered my question.'

~~~
Something was telling Rob to wake up. Not figuratively, either, there was literally a voice in Rob's dream telling him to wake up.
So he did.

For a moment, the wolf hybrid feared that he was back in Herobrine's castle again, almost instinctively moving his hands to cover his face as he heard a quiet sigh.
'It's okay Rob, it's okay. You had a nightmare.'
That explained the tears he felt.
The Canadian blinked a few times before shakily looking up, meeting Preston's concerned gaze as the Texan gently pushed some hair away from his face.
'When did I fall asleep?'

'You passed out about an hour ago, Lachlan was gonna wake you up but he got teleported out for some reason.' The younger brunet explained, cautiously taking ahold of Rob's hands and pulling them down. 'What was the dream about?'
'I... Don't know. I don't actually remember anything.' He admitted, sitting upright and glancing outside of the window. It was raining - And had been for a while, by the look of things - and Rob could hear distant thunder over the mountains. 'Oh great, another storm.'
'I think we've all had enough of those.' Rob suddenly remembered what had happened last time his friend was in a storm, and shook his head before he smiled.
'You kept the scarf?'

Preston put a hand up to his neck and nodded, smiling brightly as he recalled the memory. 'Of course I did, bro. I even wore it to the Nether.'
'Why?'
'I dunno, actually. I guess it just gave me hope - Lucky scarf, after all. I'm glad it didn't burn up.'
'I would've gotten you another one.'
'Aw, you're too kind. Nah, I think I was gonna give it to you when we got there, incase Torchface had fudged up your memory as something.'
The Canadian smiled softly at this, hugging his friend tightly as he shook his head again. 'I didn't let him. He tried, but I managed to fight back.'

'I will kill him one day.'
'Promoting violence? Honestly Preston, hardly gentlemanly behaviour now is it?' The older hybrid teased, leaning against Preston's chest and listening to his heartbeat as the brunet shrugged. 'He hurt you, I'll hurt him, simple as... Oh by the way, your dad came in to drop something off earlier.'
'Hm?'
'He was gonna stay, but didn't want to start crying so left this thing here for you instead.' A light weight was nestled atop his head, but curiosity got the better of Rob as he pulled it off to look.
It was...
A flower crown.
It was wonky, with some of the flowers falling off already, but his father had made him an honest-to-Notch flower crown.

'There's a note, too. He drooped this by a few minutes before your had your "nightmare".' Putting the crown back on, he reached over for the letter before wincing and drawing back. Noting this, Preston muttered a quick apology and handed it to him. 'Do you need a potion or anything? New bandages?'
'I'm fine, I just... My arms are sore.' Ignoring the concerned-puppy-like look on his friend's face, Rib unfolded the piece of paper and began to read.

To my Son.
Robert, I feel I must apologize for what has happened. If you're reading this, it means that I probably "chickened out" of telling you myself, and left this at your bedside.

Where should I begin? For starters, I should have known what had happened. If I'd been paying attention, then I would have heard you being taken and prevented this. Seeing you in such a state as your friends saved you from the castle made me realize how close I was to losing you.
Maybe if I had gone to find you sooner, you wouldn't be as... Damaged? Hurt? As you are now.
I know that I haven't been the best Father - If I had, things may have been a lot different - but I want to try again. To start over, and look after you like I should have done during your childhood.

I hope that you feel better soon. That makes it sound like you've been ill, really, but I never was good with words; Anyone can tell you that. Hopefully you do get better. You have friends - Amazing, wonderful friends - that will always be there for you even if I'm not.

Sending my best wishes,

It looks like Robert's father had written his name, then scribbled it out to replaceit with;

Your Father.

(P.S - I hope you still like flower crowns.)

'What does it say?'
'I could see you reading it over my shoulder, idiot; He says that he's sorry. It sounds like he blames himself for not realizing what had happened sooner.'
'...What's up with the flower crown, though?'

Blood rushed to the Canadian's cheeks as he flushed red, folding and unfolding the note in his hands nervously as he continued. 'It-It's stupid, really... I used to love these things when I was younger. My Mom showed me how to make them.'

'You should wear them more often, it suits you.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*chanting* Poofless, Poofless, PooflESS, POOFLESS-