(Blood warning, read at your own risk!)

POV: Viper

"Welcome back, Tango." I say to the taller man standing feet ahead of me. His red eyes are fiery with hate and he grimaces before I turn back, walking to the tree where I before sat. Climbing up the tree, I see X, Stress, and Scar hurriedly walk over to Tango and I heard whispers of concern. I knew they weren't whispering, I was just trying to tune them out. It was not my conversation to hear. I knew it was my fault this happened to Tango. And Grian. They weren't supposed to find out about me. Nobody was, in all truth. I thought about my friends back in the Graylands while clicking the keys of my flute, going over songs I played back at home. 

I missed Ruvio and Shard. My two closest friends. I think Ruvio was something along the lines of 'redhead' in Portuguese. The name suited him. He wasn't much taller than me. He had red hair, although he always preferred to have 'ginger' used to describe it. Ebony and I called him Ginger sometimes. He, just like myself, was part of the Shifters. A group in the Graylands for people who could shapeshift. It wasnt uncommon. Nearly half of us could. He could shift into a lion. Much better than a viper. He could hurt people, sure, but he could control it and wouldnt hurt a fly. I cant say im the same. Me and Ruvio had been friends since we were very young. He was there when I found Sylvester. But, unlike me, he could play ukulele. He was happy with it. it suited him. 

Shard couldn't shift. They did play flute like me, however. Shard had been using they/them pronouns for years now. Nobody questioned it. You could use whatever pronouns you liked in the Graylands. It was normal. 

Shard and I met in band class. They sat next to me when we started. Shard started hanging out with Ruvio and I, and fit right in. They couldn't shift, but so what? It didn't matter. After a few months, Ruvio and Shard started dating. It never bothered me too much. 

My thoughts drifted to my animals. Sylvester, Boom, Archer, all of them. I missed them all so much. Sylvester, although the size of a kangaroo, was a sweetheart. He had learned to talk. Sure, it wasn't perfect, but it worked. Archer had wings, just like me. Not everyone in the Graylands had them, but I did. They were a white-gray, not plain white like most of the others. I chose to hide them most of the time, somehow they just disappeared when I wanted them to. But ever since an accident almost 8 months ago, I kept them hidden all the time. I was flying with Archer, when, being the cinnabon-headed person I am, crashed into a tree. A big one. Now, unable to heal, my wings were broken. I couldn't use them, so I kept the broken parts wrapped up in bandages. I only took the bandages off to change them, until I was running from Tango. I thought maybe I could fly with them. But no. 

I didnt fear heights. Some in the Graylands did. We all had fears. Most with ophidiophobia stayed well away from me. They were scared of snakes. So, because I was feared by them, I stayed away from them. It wasn't my fault I had haphephobia. I just didn't like being touched. It was just weird for me. 

Which is why Ruvio and Shard always asked me before they hugged me and things like that. Which didnt happen very often. It was also why I attacked Grian. I hadn't meant to... It just happened. I guess the story was the same for Tango. 

I was snapped back to reality when I realized the flute I was holding in one of my hands was slipping out of my grip. The other hermits were still talking to Tango, his eyes still holding hatred. I gasped as my flute slipped just before I could get a good grip on it. They all looked at me in surprise as I quickly descended down the tree and to my flute. It wasn't dented, thank god. I sighed and turned to the four people staring at me. 

"Heh... Flue slipped-" I said nervously. I gripped it harder when I noticed Tango staring me down. He slowly drew a shining blue sword from behind his back, his eyes still burning with hate. X noticed this.

"Tango! Woah, chill! Put the word away!" He told him, gripping Tango's hand, making sure he didn't go anyway. Looking a bit scared, Scar also drew his sword. Stress was mumbling something to Tango that I couldn't hear. We just stared at eachother, not breaking eye contact. I set my flute on the ground and took of my red sweatshirt. It was warm enough today. Not caring to pull my hair back, I tossed my sweatshirt on top of my flute. Stress let out a little gasp, all three looking at me with interest, Tango continuing his icy-cold stare. I slowly, not breaking eye contact with Tango, walked over to Scar and took the sword from him. He was too surprised to do anything about it. Stress whispered something frantic to X and he nodded and let go of Tango. The shining blue sword was bright against my gray shirt, the shoulder stained a dark crimson. I had taken sword fighting lessons with Ruvio and Shard. Sure, they were both better at it than me, but it was a thing we just did for fun. Now I was thankful Shard convinced us to do it.

Scar's sword was too heavy. It wasnt built for me like the one I had back home. I was skinny, probably too skinny, but I would have to work with Scar's sword because it was the only one I had. Maybe Stresses would have worked better, but whatever. 

"Tango." I said in a calm voice, even though I was scared half out of my skin. He growled. 

"You're gonna pay, right now." He growled, swiftly slashing his sword at me. I raised up mine. Well, Scar's. He looked surprised. I backed up, no intention of hurting him, just protecting myself. He raised his sword, I tried to sidestep and deflect it, but alas, was too late. It hit my wrist. Crimson blood gushed from it, and I hissed in pain. He smirked, thinking I would stop. So, being the dumb person I am, raised my sword, and brought it down on his shoulder. He yelled, but kept going. 

He starting backing up into the trees. I followed, our the metal of our swords clinking in the forest. When the trees broke, I saw where we were. A giant mansion. 

Covered in snow. 

I hissed, and didn't follow Tango any further. He snickered. "Viper too scared to climb up the stairs?" He taunted. I hissed, and sprinted, my sword ready to be swung. I wasn't going to hurt him, just make it look like I was. 

It must have worked, because his eyes looked fearful. He raised his sword, but in all honesty he didnt need to. Because I tripped over my shoelace. I fell, the sword clinking on the stone of the staircase a few feet ahead of me. Hands scraped, I got up and ran for it. But Tango beat me to it. 

"Never learned how to tie your shoelaces, snake?"  He taunted me again. 

"When life gives you shoelaces, dont tie them." I hissed at him, back on my feet again. I had learned how to tie my laces but never did. Nice job, self. Nice job. 

Tango started backing up the staircase, and knowing I would regret my decision, I followed him. He dropped the sword I was using. 

"I want a fair fight," He said, shrugging. I nodded and picked up my sword, and the fight resumed. A slash on my leg, a slash on his arm. I didn't realize we were still climbing up the staircase toward the snowy mansion until I felt myself growing tired. I dealt a blow to his leg, he dealt a few on my arms. I heard a rusting coming from the forest, and me and Tango turned to see what it was. 

Scar, Stress, and Xisuma emerged, all holding purple boxes. I turned back to Tango and he shrugged. Swords continuing to clink, and hearing the three other hermits shouting, we fought on. I could feel myself getting weaker and weaker. Because of the cold. Why didn't I keep my sweatshirt on? We were almost at the top of the staircase now. I felt my head spinning and nausea set in. 

Warmth warmth warmth warmth warmth-  

I felt my shoe hit the short railing of the staircase. I was getting more disoriented and weak the higher we climbed, the more we fought. The pain was starting to truly set in. 

A few more blows to Tango, him dealing a few more to me, the headache grew even worse. I dropped to my knees, holding my head, trying to stop the pain. 

"Warmth warmth warmth warmth warmth-" I struggled to say, running out of breath. Tango looked confused. I stood up, swaying, and fell. 

Off the staircase. 

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WC: 1562 

Hope you all enjoyed! I feel bad making Tango seem like a bad guy, but it adds to it. 

See you all for Chapter 9!