Two sets of footsteps crunched their way through the worn down path of the forest. The sun was past its peak meaning that it was soon to fall to darkness. Th blond stomped ahead a few paces in front of the ginger who simply just yawned at the younger's rant. "I still think that it's unfair that I need an adult with me to walk through a forest. I'm not a kid anymore," he grumbled.

"You know the village stories, Tommy," Fundy sighed, rolling his eyes at the teen. "Those who travel alone in the forest go missing. And god forbid if you go missing— Wilbur will have it out for my head," he thought out loud.

Their home village of Pogtopia was nothing but a hotspot for supernatural tales. To villages more further away, their customs seemed odd. It was the way they wouldn't let specific age groups out of their homes past a certain time of day, or whenever you came across an old rabbit in a pathway, you'd have to check your shoulder three times to rid any negative energy that followed you. Even the natives knew some customs were just ridiculous and unnecessary, but even some actions you couldn't help but do subconsciously as if the elders maybe did know a bit more than everyone else.

As many skeptics there were as believers, no one dared to disobey the number one rule, "never enter the forest alone." There had always been theories of those who had once defied and never returned. "I won't get lost," they'd say. "I'll be back before dinner," they'd say. "It's just an old tale," they'd say. But they never come back. You begin their funeral service after their first step.

"Oh don't be so dramatic," Tommy snarked, breaking Fundy out of his deep thoughts. The two continued walking along the path, trying to finish the task that Tommy was assigned, of course Wilbur wouldn't let him go without Fundy's supervision, scouring for berries that were likely out of season now. Tommy stopped suddenly, making the older accidentally collide into him.

"Tommy, keep moving." He pushed him forward but the teen seemed to be stuck in a daze. Fundy's brows furrowed, "Tommy?" he questioned. The blond blinked. Shaking his head and rubbing his eyes, focusing on a sight straight ahead of him. "Are you alight?"

"Y-yeah, you see those berries over there too right?" he pointed straight towards a clearing to which Fundy saw nothing but empty and dead shrubs that may have once possibly had their acquired wish on them.

"It's too late in the season. I don't think we're going to get any today. It's best to head home before dusk." He walked back but Tommy stayed put, still focusing on that one spot.

"No, really," Tommy stepped more towards the bushes, looking wildly around. "Right there?" He continued to point as if he was trying to convince himself more than Fundy.

Fundy put a hand on Tommys shoulder, pulling him along slightly. Perhaps what Tommy was staring at was just a trick of the light or maybe the long nights that the teen spends awake for are finally catching up with him. Whatever it was, all answers said that they should head back home.

"No, Fundy, stop." The teenager pulled away from his grip. "I swear something is there..."

Fundy crossed his arms over his chest, already tired and bored, now he's frustrated. "Tommy, we don't have time for this. If you don't get yourself under control, I swear I'm walking back without you."

"Go ahead, I'll meet you back later," Tommy answered instantly. Fundy stood frozen, not liking the tone of the blonds words. He watched in horror as Tommy walked forward in a daze like manner into the clearing. A small carpet of fog appeared along with dark hooded figure rising over him with malicious delight. What the hell?

Fundy unsheathed his sword and ran in front of the witch putting a decent amount of space between her and Tommy. "Tommy, run!" He yelled over his shoulder, receiving little to no reaction from the teen. He swung and slashed his sword right across the witches upper body, unfortunate for him, it did nothing but aggravate her. He no longer felt the ground beneath him as he was picked up by an invisible force and slammed against a nearby tree.

Tommy gasped as if he'd just broken through a surface of water. He looked around aimlessly as the creepy hag steadily made her way over to his friend on the ground. Fundy met his stare. Screaming, "go!" and "run!" at him before he could even feel his legs start to work on their own again.

Fundy struggled to get up right away but a sharp pain shot it's way up his left leg. He glanced down to see a mutilated mess. He felt his stomach go queasy. The witch cackled as she diverted her attention to him. "Well aren't you a sneaky one, aren't you?" She huffed. "I'll teach you a lesson for getting in my way!" She dug her old hand into the deep pockets of her robe, pulling out a dark purple potion that glimmered in the remaining sunlight that broke through the leaves of the overhead trees.

Before Fundy could react, she threw the bottle down in front of him. It's contents splashed over his skin as he screamed at the burning sensation. The last of his vision was blurred but he could still barely make out the blond figure running away.

***

"Wilbur!" Tommy screamed, running through the village. His blood was pumping hard in his ears as he fled Fundy's screaming at lightning speed. He pushed through those who were minding their own business and came barreling into the bakery where his older brother liked to spend some of his time at. The tall man looked up from his book and at Tommy curiously, not saying anything about the lack of berries that Niki had requested just hours earlier.

"We were— and there was— and Fundy got— no, he told me to run! So I ran but Fundy wasn't behind me when— and now I don't know what to do because I was the one who strayed from the path and it's all my fault," he let out all at once, barely making the sentence comprehensible for the older to understand. Wilbur tried to follow along as best he could but once he got talking it was hard to slow him down.

He shushed him, making sure to keep his tone steady as he realized that something may be wrong. "Tommy, I'm going to need you to take a deep breath, alright? Just breathe for me." Now he had heard Tommy say Fundys name but when he looked around, there was no sign of him. Judging by Tommy's state, he wasn't expecting anything good to have happened. "Now slowly, please, where is Fundy?"

"He stayed back to fight the witch," Tommy mumbled. And Wilbur heard it loud and clear.

Wilburs face dropped. He slammed his book shut and got up quickly. "Go get Phil, we're going back there to look for Fundy."

"Uh, Wil?" Niki spoke up from behind the counter, watching the exchange. "Curfew still stands. No one is allowed to go in the forest at night. Getting lost in there will do more harm than good rather than waiting in the morning."

"Did you completely not hear the word, 'witch'? We need to retrieve him before anything bad happens," Wilbur reasoned, Tommy nodding agreeingly.

"Rules are rules, Wilbur. Go talk to Phil about what you should do, but I know for a fact that thinking irrationally will land you nowhere good." Niki talked back. Her glare faltering slightly when all Wilbur could bite back with was a small pout.

***

Fundy awoke much later when there was a thin layer of mist that coated the forest floor. Morning doves sang to him as he struggled to familiarize himself with his surroundings. He attempted to stand up but immediately fell back down to his side when he realized that something was very wrong. Was it the vibrant fur that coated his whole body, or the fact that his limbs were situated in a way that he could stand on all fours? There was shattered glass around him which he could only assume the worst.

That wretched witch cursed him.

Had she gotten Tommy? The thought of the teen being caught struck a cold nerve in him as he quickly tried to regain his ground. Tommy. He ran, right? Fundy had stalled the witch long enough to break the boy of his trance to run... right?

A distant shouting of ah's and grunts grew loud in the distance. Stricken with fear, he instinctively weaved his way through the trees, ignoring the pain that stung in every step. Shrinking back into a bush, he heard the noises and steps get louder, surprised that they're not even that close from how well he could hear them.

Two men barrel their way into the clearing, They clashed their swords against one another's. Laughs and grunts protruded in vicious glee as one would gain the upperhand and only lose it seconds later. Fundy recognized them.

One, his own family member, dawned in a classic white tunic and high waisted trousers, his usual red sash was tied around his waist, fought at the green cloaked rival. The other was a fellow from a neighboring village, his attire was more or less similar despite the odd clay mask he liked to sport. It was rare to see him without it.

They were equal matches for one another. It was truly a wondrous sight to see them duel. Something he wasn't quite sure about was why the two were fighting? The best duelers from the two neighboring villages? It was a known fact that they were rivals, even long before they earned their titles— the Soots and the Schlatts haven't ever seen eye to eye.

"You know, I was wondering," Dream said calmly, it appeared that he had all the stamina in the world to keep him going. "When do we get to use our axes?" His sword blocked the sharp jabs from Technoblade.

"I thought we promised not to murder each other?" Technoblade questioned. "I mean I'm all for beating you to death with it but I don't think Phil would be too happy to see me come home with a big ole blood stain."

"Save it for the battlefield?"

"Or for witches."

Dream raised his shield and stepped back. "I yield," he announced, the two fell to the ground to catch their breath. Throwing their weapons to the side and just basking in the damp foliage. "I heard about what happened," he mentioned.

"Not surprised. News travels quickly around here," Techno shrugged.

"You knew the guy that went missing, right? Fundy?"

"Yeah, he's kind of my nephew but we act more like cousins. Phil and Wilbur have been at each other's throats about where and when to start searching," Technoblade said, while busting himself by going through his inventory.

"I could help, if you need." Dream suggested, "I know a thing or two about witches, Tubbo doesn't shut up about—" the two knights raise their swords in defense, as Fundy wasn't aware of how skiddish his movements were. He'd accidentally moved from his comfortable bush of hiding and was now exposed to the two warriors.

"Oh my god!" Dream couldn't help but let out a quiet squeal. He jumped in place as he saw the small animal.

Technoblade looked over, unamused and concerned. "Dream, it's a fox," he deadpanned.

Oh so apparently Fundy is a fox now.

The one who resembled a little kid in a sweets shop slowly walked over to him in steady movements. Fundy tried to walk over to Techno. Maybe he could bring him home and help him back to his original form. "He's so cute, oh my god," Dream giggled.

"It's... a fox," Technoblade repeated. "And I think you're scaring it."

Dream pounced on the small animal like a cat and held it in his arms, carefully inspecting each part of it without harming it. "Is it illegal to take him? Oh my god, Techno, his back leg looks fucked up, I'm taking him." Dream had decided with little convincing. He unclipped his cloak from his shoulders and let it fall to the ground so he could let the fox, Fundy, be safely carried. The fox however was stuck in a daze stating that the dirty blond locks that peaked out from behind the clay mask. "C'mere I won't hurt you," he cooed.

"You are absolutely pathetic."

"My little brother is going to fix you right back up. You little..." he trailed off murmuring intelligible words. He stroked the foxes fur which Fundy hated to admit how good it felt. But soon the dark green cloak was being wrapped around him and he learned that he was powerless in the arms of this stranger.

Fundy tried to squeak out as many forms of "help" as he could but it was no use.

Techno pulled his scarlet red coat out of his worn out satchel and threw it on. "I should be going. I'm not supposed to be out here alone."

Dream huffed, "I still don't understand your village's weird boundary rules."

Technoblade nodded agreeingly. The rules sucked but it's hard to change somethings that's been a rule for decades. "Everyone is just a bit on edge from last night. Everyone was supposed to have stay in today," he reasoned.

"Yeah sucks. I can walk you part way so you don't get lost," Dream offered. It was clear to the both of them that Dream wasn't the most eager for their training to end so soon.

"Technoblade never gets lost."

"Yeah okay," he said, "I'm gonna take this little guy back home, see you next week? Fishing rods this time? Maybe? Yeah?"

"Yeah, sure. But you're in charge of bringing extra string." Techno pointed accusingly, "don't think you can get away with— oh."

Dream stopped, and looked back at Techno who was kneeling down on the ground. Staring intently. "You okay?"

"Uh, yeah, I don't— this is uh..." Dream walked up to the scene to see a pile of shattered glass and an abandoned iron sword. "This is Fundys sword," Technoblade said.

"And that's a splash potion—" Dream pointed, "or what used to be."

Technoblade was silent for a moment or two. He picked up the sword and rubbed his thumb under the initials carved into the hilt. "I'm going home. Bye, Dream."

The other stood back and waved. Thinking that maybe it was best that Technoblade walked back alone.

It was then he remembered that he was cradling an injured fox in his arms. "Sorry, little guy! It's a short walk I promise."

if you don't like the ship, then don't read it. this work was originally posted on ao3 and is not meant to be shared with any of the cc's mentioned.