Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

  Dream screamed against unbreaking walls. Trapped in a void. A silence unlike any other. He could only watch as 'he' screamed at Tommy about wanting a family (He already had that long ago but lost it when this thing infected him) Tommy looked sad and Punz looked desperate his clothing still stained a bit red from the parasite (Egg) But all Dream can do is watch and scream himself hoarse. It started a long time ago. When he was 16 and he still was best friends with George and Sapnap and Sam and Callahan and... everyone really. He was creating this place HIS server when he noticed something odd in the code. At first, he shrugged it off, but he decided to investigate it one day. He bid his friends goodbye and searched for the code and when he did find it... it was an odd little piece of code.

  And perhaps if he had known more about the monsters of the void he wouldn't have touched it, but he did and it attacked him. He fought hard but he was only 16 and didn't have any backup. He was easily overwhelmed by the thing, and it possessed him leaking into him like a black smoke. He felt it fill in gaps of his head slowly circling his mind before settling down. He waited for something else to happen but nothing did and so he shrugged it off simply thinking that it was a smoke or dust or something and the code looked... fine? So, he continued on. (He missed how some bits of code glitched, how his mind was no longer his own, how things didn't seem right in the server itself and the looming darkness) As time went on, he felt more and more detached but shrugged it off as stress especially after inviting the two sons of Philza Minecraft.

  Wilbur was an adult 19 and his little brother Tommy was 9 and they were both menaces, but the drug van did make him laugh. He noted that he lost a bit of time being told he said things and did things he didn't recall doing but he shrugged it off. Perhaps he simply didn't remember small things like what he ate or what he said. (He didn't remember the fighting- why couldn't he remember the FIGHTING?!?!?!) but one day- he realized something was wrong. He blinked and he was standing and fighting- when did he start- and suddenly he blinked again and he was told he started a war?

Then again blink and talking to Eret about respect and then blink again (He remembered something declaring freedom. Landburg or something he was a bit upset as this was his server but why did he need to fight?) But... he didn't? Last thing he remember was talking to George and Sapnap about the one time they pulled a prank? And suddenly Dream remembered the black smoke.

  How it almost seemed like a virus. (Perhaps he considered the time Tubbo and Fundy tried to release him from a Dreamon and talked about how similar it was described as the black smoke. How the mini black outs got worse after they did the weird ritual) His eyes widened and he quickly checked the server code, there were small glitches in certain places (And not to mention some odd things laid in the code itself), nothing major but there was a virus oh god the virus was horribly wrapped around the code the surrounding the BadLands. He nearly burst into tears at how crimson it was but then he frowned.

This wouldn't cause him to black out. It was deeply ingrained seemingly trying to become one with the code, but it was small not too big, and it would have required time exposed to it so what was causing him to black out? He hummed and then checked everyone on the server's code perhaps the answer lay there and when he did, he actually burst into tears. Bad's code had thin tendrils of red on it as did Antfrost and a few other BadLand members but not as bad as Bad or Antfrost. Wilbur's code looked wrong a little scattered and glitched in places with a weird glowing lime colour on it but not too bad. Schlatts code (Who the fuck was that Dream thought but it didn't matter) was also a bit glitchy not as bad as Wilbur's but his own code?

  God it was crushed, wrapped in glowing lime chains it nearly made him throw up. Whatever infected him was growing stronger and seemed to ingrain itself on him. But he considered as he glanced at code added to all players, that wasn't the worst part somehow his word ended up being a hardcore three lives server... but no, no, no he wanted it to be friendly, for there to be fun and joy and not whatever the fuck this is! He huffed and narrowed his eyes trying to decide what to fix first when something chuckled in his head it through him for a loop.

What was that voice? He couldn't understand it but whatever it was saying could only mean something bad and suddenly he felt... gone. He wasn't in his body but rather in a void of sorts. It was black and empty, and he couldn't even see his hands. Yet he knew something was wrong. He looked around and felt for something anything but all that greeted him was empty space until finally he latched onto something. He pulled it close, it felt like a comm of sorts, he turned it around and around in his hands before turning it on. There was just a video on it. It was live and he couldn't skip or go back and suddenly he realized that it was through his eyes when Sapnap turned to face the screen and greeted whoever with a hello. He paled as it hit him what was going on.

  The smoke, the black outs the broken code of shit oh fuck he'd gotten possessed by a Dreamon that was what was going on. He cursed himself for his stupidity. He quickly scoured the 'comm' to see what it could do. He couldn't type but he could go to two different things. The live feed of... 'Dream' or look at the server code and the people's code. Dream huffed and decided to for now keep exploring.

He shifted and began walking... and walking and walking. Nothing. Void. Void. Void. He didn't know how long he walked before he gave up. He sat down with a sigh and felt tears build in his eyes. He wanted to go home. Talk to George and Sapnap but now he was stuck somewhere in a void like space, but it also wasn't the void and he was alone. Dream sniffled and then brought out his comm and watched through 'Dream's' eyes. As time passed on there was no escape and so he simply watched.

  Watched as the Egg got more powerful, As Wilbur and Schlatt died permanently and reformed as Ghosts, yet they were all scrambled and wrong and he couldn't reach them, watched as Techno got infected a bit, watched as the BadLands fell, Skeppy die, Bad and Hannah and Antfrost get consumed by the Egg. Tommy get exiled and hurt by 'him'. Could only watch as his server, his home destroyed itself and sob.

He watched blankly as Callahan just seemed to disappear into the shadows. As Eret let their crown weigh so heavy on her shoulders when he looked so powerful but under pressure Dream knew his friend wasn't all that good. He sobbed harder when Tommy and Tubbo (They were so little, so tiny and yet they went through two wars and were knowingly going into a battle where they might die) fought against him. He broke down when he realized Niki and Jack had been persuaded into believing Tommy was the enemy and deserved to die by the parasites.

  Screamed in rage when he noticed the Dreamon possessed Punz, infected him with the Egg and had him on 'Dreams' side. He cursed in every language he knew when he watched Punz torture Vikstar and Lazerbeam. How dare this parasite hurt his members like this! And more importantly what the fuck was the book? He never knew such a thing existed... He watched blankly as Tommy was beaten to death unable to fully comprehend it was HIS body doing it... he sobbed when he saw the infected evil man bring him back to life for Tommy to suffer more.

He pleaded with Quackity to snap out of it, that he should know he was infected and with him dragging Fundy into nightmares, Purpled into forced compliance, his brother Foolish into chaos, and Slimecycle was there to please Quackity (When Slime died Dream felt horrible he couldn't save him... he suspected Purpled had something to do with it as the boy had looked a little red and infected at one point Dream recalled and he knew that the Dreamon loved and devoured every heartbreaking emotion and anguish from the others).

  Pleaded with Sam to see the Egg slowly creeping closer and ruining Sam's mental state (God Ponk lost their arm) Sobbed when he realized Puffy was lost in what to do and hated him (He ignored how he screamed over and over, 'Papa HELP ME PLEASE PLEASE OH MY GOD IT HURTS PAPA PLEASE SAVE ME). He huddled himself close when Wilbur was revived knowing the man was to broken to truly be saved. He could only let tears trickle down his face as he forced Ranboo to Enderwalk. He growled and cursed when the parasite made a 'God' (What kind of fucking lame ass name could they give this God besides two letters.)

And made the God manipulate and hurt Foolish, put George in an endless sleep making Sapnap worried all the while he cursed Karl to time travel and constantly and forget things. He finally just shut off the comm when the parasite threatened Tommy feeling ill with the threats and cursing the parasite for allowing Ranboo and Connor to die. He felt the power grow when they died. He knew the Dreamon got more and more powerful with each sever mates death. The pain and sorrow that followed their deaths making it stronger.

  He blinked at the void. He sobbed and curled up. He could feel the torture Quackity put him through. The starvation of only eating potatoes. But he sighed at least there were good moments like Techno talking to him in prison. He laid there for a while wondering what he was doing with the rest of his miserable life. He'd been in the void for... so long. (He was 23... he'd been only 17 when he got trapped in this endless void alone alone alone alone alone alone.) Dream laid there for a while before opening the coms again and drew in a shocked breath... Tommy- Tommy was launching a Nuke... At the prison... With Tubbo and Punz there- Holy shit. And with the Nuke launched everything turned white.

Dream WasTaken Was Forced Out Of The Server By ⎍⋏☍⋏⍜⍙⋏

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ERROR

ERROR

ERROR

NO ADMIN FOUND

SERVER ON LOCK


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Dream WasTaken Has Joined HermitCraft

Chapter Text

Dream blinked awake. His breathing was strained, and he could feel twinges of pain... but that's not possible? He was still- He sat up in shock eyes opened wide as memories hit him. The Nuke- It worked! Whatever Tommy and Tubbo had done had worked in exploding the server but- Suddenly he blanched at his surroundings. This wasn't the Dream SMP. He felt the code a bit and he could tell it was off, instead of giving the ill feeling or even the original coolness of his server he felt warmth. Not bad warmth granted but gentle warmth like curling up around a friend for warmth or sitting around a campfire warmth.

That wasn't a normal feeling. So, Dream moved in order to properly look around and maybe check his comm only to nearly burst into tears finally taking in the pain he was feeling. The first time in years he could finally move and yet he was plagued by the torture he endured. Or- Dream thought more correctly the torture the Dreamon went through from Quackity for the sins the Dreamon did. He felt pain in every movement he made and a quickly glance down showed no open wounds, but scars covered his body barely hidden by a ruined hoodie and pants. He could close his eyes and picture what each scar looked like since he'd been there for most of the torture sessions. But yet he held no hatred or grudge towards the man who did his torture.

After all he had seen the sheen of red on the man, and he knew all his players of his server's codes were in some way infected with the sickly green code colour. That no one was spared in the infection. How they all were changed, altered, mutilated in ways one could not truly explain or express with words. A player's code was their being. It wrote how they acted, thought, hell what hybrid they'd be and even what their soul and thought process was like (But even then, it wasn't exactly true. A player's code did all that and more yet none of that in the same breath there was no true way to explain players code as there was a way to explain server code.) And yet the parasite, the Dreamon, the-the MONSTER had infected every one of his players and corrupted them in ways Dream couldn't even start to explain much less finish. 

Dream sighed and rubbed his face missing his mask but in the same breath grateful for it being gone simply because it simply held only negatives for him after all these years of the Dreamon controlling his body. (Dream didn't think he could ever wear something over his face again. He could only imagine how many people would see that mask as a threat and danger). Dream checked his inventory for anything useful but noted nothing in it he then checked his body for his comm and sighed in relief when he found it but could only frown when he checked it.

It was cracked. His prized comm- the one with the etched engraving of a mushroom on the side from where George was bored and started carving into each of their comms. Sapnap got some kind of fire symbol and George had given himself a pair of glasses on his, and a burn piece on the left side when Sapnap had gotten too excited and lit a part of the counter they'd place their comms on when talking about some kind of monster. Dream could still remember the panic they all felt putting out the fire and checking their comms luckily their comms still worked but each of their comms had a burn on the left side afterwards. Dream remembered how he'd given them stickers. A cat for George, a blaze for Sapnap and a wolf for Dream... the stickers had long fallen off or been peeled off.

Dream shook himself from the memories and focused on the cracks in his comm. Luckily the cracks were only in certain places, and it could still be turned on. However, Dream noted the engraving was broken hardly resembling a mushroom anymore and the burnt part looked cleaner than it should likely having been washed/scrubbed in an effort to remove the stain... was it the Dreamon that did it or was it someone else? Dream honestly wasn't sure if he wanted to know the truth or if he wanted to live the lie. He noted that while his comm did turn on he couldn't access the Dream SMP records or server code anymore- nor did he recognize the new server he was on.

Checking his comm more he panicked. His comm revealed he was on a server he couldn't access anything on simply reading, 'CONNECTION NOT FOUND' and 'You are not whitelisted on this server'. He couldn't even access this server's whitelist or chat since he wasn't technically a member. Instead, his comm was frozen on the Dream SMP server wide chat but he could scroll on it but couldn't type on it which was a bit annoying.

Not like there was anyone to talk to either way. Perhaps Phil or Techno? They had three lives, right? But yet they weren't talking in chat and that didn't mean anything good. Scrolling back on the chat only made Dream sick with the fact that every single one of his players were dead or killed permanently. Over and over 'Tommyinnit was blown up', 'Tubbo_Underscore was blown up', 'GeorgeNotFound was blown up', 'TechnoBlade was blown up' and he eventually just turned it off trying to breathe through the nausea he felt. He shuddered and sobbed and briefly considered chucking his comm but stopped himself. Even though it was... disturbing and he couldn't communicate it was still HIS comm.

The last bit to his server. His family. He couldn't bear parting with it, so he placed it in his pocket with a sigh and glanced around still huffing in pain. He noted that he seemed to be in a Sakura biome and he giggled softly under his breath. He recalled a time long ago with George and Sapnap. Braiding and twining hair and filling it with flowers. He missed it. Missed them. It was an ache in his chest unlike any other. While he was grateful the Dreamon stayed away from them he also craved having them close to him. Dream huffed and stood up wobbling slightly.

He hummed and looked around and decided, 'I'm going to cut those trees down and make an axe'. Unfortunately for him he wasn't used to the body he had. Unused to his size, strength, even the way he now had to move. He stumbled almost instantly and fell flat on his face with a whine of pain. What would seem like basic human functions felt... strange to him. He laid on the ground face first and pouted and considered his life now. Even breathing was odd for him. He'd spent so long in the void where breathing standstill cold air was a constant to suddenly breathing fresh flowery air was off putting.

But Dream didn't go 8 years trapped by a Dreamon just to give up when he finally got out and leave his friends alone suffering in likely a place so awful he didn't even have words for it. He had never been to limbo. Never seen or heard about it until Tommy and Wilbur came back and talked about it and it freaked him out in all honesty. Some place vile and horribly like that shouldn't exist and he knew it was the viruses' fault for such a thing. Lazerbeam and Vikk explained it better but Dream had honestly just been sobbing and sick the entire time so he couldn't recall much only Limbo being a person's personal hell.

But all that just that meant he HAD to go back and free his players and save them no matter what he had to do. So, he gritted his teeth and started walking towards the tree slowly getting used to moving and breathing again. He grinned in true joy when he finally got to the tree and cheered in excitement and started working on getting some tools. 

Xisuma woke up with a start. Something was wrong he could just feel it. He thought for a moment about what it could be perhaps it was simply left over feelings from a dream but that didn't feel right. So, with a huff he pulled out his comm and searched the chats. Nothing too concerning.

Grian seemed to have pulled a prank on Doc again but that wasn't really new. Xisuma scrolled back and didn't see anything noteworthy, but he sent a quick message to Grian and Doc seeing if they were both okay while he logged out of the chats and checked the server code. He scanned it and saw nothing amiss, but SOMETHING was wrong, so he scanned it once more and- there! A tiny line a code that glowed a slight lime green colour and was out of place.

Xisuma instantly focused on the line of code. It wasn't one he recognized nor did he know what it was for. He hummed and scanned the code after a while he blinked in surprise, it was an interesting line of code. Mixed with old and new code that... it shouldn't be possible for such a thing to happen. He huffed and went to edit it only for the code to snarl at him, well not snarl in a normal sense more of sending the feeling of an animal snarling. He paused and narrowed his eyes. Whatever this code was attached to was alive and that didn't bode well for him or his server.

But he paused and thought about it for a second before sighing and muttering, "Well Keralis was telling me to take a break... guess I'm going hunting. Hopefully this'll be over quickly..."

Chapter Text

Dream panted as he finally finished the axe he wanted to make. It wasn't perfect and was only wood but none the less Dream was proud of it. Dream traced the carving gently humming softly under his breath a song that he couldn't even recall its name. He searched his pocket for something that could help him only for his fingers to hit an object. He froze in confusion. He didn't have anything in this pocket, did he? Or at least the Dreamon never touched this pocket from what he could recall. He carefully removed the object and felt his breathing stop. It was a knife with the words, 'NapFound' etched into the blade.

A joke he and the others made late one night. George, Sapnap and he carved a combination of their names in different things for one another. (He got his knife; George got a book with NapTaken and Sapnap got TakenFound sewed into his bandana.) He felt the tears build up but tried to stop them. Still, he curled up a little bit cuddling the knife stuck in the memories. He shook his head and stood up glancing around to make sure no one was watching him. He wiped his face noting a few stray tears before standing up and grabbing the axe. He needed to find some sheep to make a bed.

He stumbled into a cow, a chicken but no sheep so far. He ignored the two animals figuring wasting his energy when he was so weak and stumbling was pointless. He groaned and sat down for a little taken a bit of a breather before he needed to get up again. He let his head thunk against the dirt block he was sitting by. Eventually he got up again and gasped excitedly as FINALLY he spotted two sheep and quickly killed them noting his axe was going to need replacement before night came.

He stumbled around a little longer looking for any sheep at all. But it seemed those were the only two sheep on this entire server! Dream groaned in annoyance as he kept walking. Well, more like stumbling. He wasn't used to moving this much on his own. Being stuck in the Dreamon's body did that too him. He hated what the Dreamon did. Hated the Dreamon made his once strong body feel so weak no that he could only stumble and even then, the pain he felt with each step was agonizing.

Dream muffled a scream as he once again tripped on nothing before angrily saying, "I swear to ⌖⎅ and ⌿⍀⟟⋔⟒ WHERE ARE ALL THESE SHEEP!"

He blinked in confusion. Why were those names glitched in his head? He was having some issues saying them? He hadn't before. In fact, he knew their names didn't sound like that out loud. Dream breathed in and out as the thought finally occurred to him... Maybe ⌖⎅ and ⌿⍀⟟⋔⟒ were a part of the Dreamon! If that was the case... then how long had the Dreamon REALLY been around? People had been talking to ⌿⍀⟟⋔⟒ or at least mentioning her for YEARS. Heck she even had a ☊⊑⎍⍀☊⊑! 

Dream was panicking slightly and recalled that both Techno AND Kristen were Gods... right? He thought back to all he knew. Techno was the Blood God? But no, he shook his head, he was a vessel? No that didn't sound right either... OH! He was a follower and demigod of the Blood God! That's right. He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Kristen on the other hand was definitely a Goddess. The Goddess of Death is he wasn't mistaken since Phil was the Angel of Death... He blinked and thought back to the revival book for a moment... why didn't she intervene?

She should be powerful enough and because the revival book messed with her domain AND life's domain she should have been able to stop him! Dream blinked as suddenly he heard a 'Baa!' and looked up. There was a sheep! He quickly killed it and gathered some wood leftover he had and quickly made a crafting table. He groaned as he realized he'd have to chop another tree. He wobbled over to the birch tree and cut it down and then made some wooden planks and then a bed. He sighed as he finally had a bed in his hands. He glanced around wondering WHERE to put this bed.

He glanced at the sky and noted it was getting dark fast and just decided to dig into the mountain beside him and created a little dirt hole. He panicked slightly at the thought of having to be enclosed in the dark before realizing- he could just leave one block gone from the top and let in some light and dig deeper and slightly to the side so that he could sleep AND still have some light... the prison cell was so dark yet so light at the same time. The lava made it forever glow a sickly yellow colour but yet the obsidian seemed to absorb any light the lava produced... Dream wasn't sure if he wanted the lava cell or not...

Dream sighed as finally he finished building his little dirt enclosure (he needed a better name) and settled into bed. As he did so though his thoughts went back to Kristen and why she didn't interfere... then the thought came to him. She was the forest around Phil's house, right? Phil mentioned that once to the Dreamon and Dream had found it odd that she was the forest. Though Tommy did once tell Dream that Wilbur's Mom was a Samsung Fridge.

It had stuck out to Dream beause being a forest sounded a whole lot like being stuck unable to do something and that aligned pretty well with what he was going through! Perhaps she too was trapped on the server unable to leave or do anything but sway the trees... What a horrifying thought. Dream paused and suddenly felt the nausea creep in. If the Dreamon managed to trap a GODDESS... what hope did he have in stopping such a thing?

Xisuma groaned and walked up to his destination finally... All this walking was so annoying to him. He took a deep breath and straightened out his outfit before knocking on the door a few times and checking his comm a couple more times before the door FINALLY creaked up revealing a half-asleep Joe... it was 6 pm a little early for bed but he rolled with it.

Xisuma took a deep breath and said, "Joe! I need your help."

Joe blinked, leaned against the door frame and said, "With?"

Xisuma turned his comm around and said, "This code is acting up a LOT and I'm confus-"

Joe ripped his comm away and says, "How long has it been like this?"

Xisuma blinked and said, "Started this afternoon why?"

Joe looked up, face a bit pale, eyes wide and looking more awake than before and said, "We have a breech."

Chapter Text

Dream woke up with a startled scream. He muffled it by clasping his hand over his mouth, but his body still violently shook. He glanced at his hand, he was missing his middle finger on his right hand and all he could think about was pain, how much it ached to even move the finger just a smidge. He didn't even RECALL ever seeing Quackity cut off his finger. But while examining his hand his face paled. He wasn't shaking which was Dream's Original thought.

No, he was glitching. His hand was shifting between sizes almost as if it couldn't settle on a form. Dream felt his breathing go heavier as his body shift and he cried in pain. He was already in pain from the numerous wounds he had, chronic pain isn't a joke after all. Dream had learned, after he'd studied his body intensely that some of wounds had gone too deep and messed with his nervous system had reached bone and likely gouged at the bones. He didn't think too hard about that....

But as he shrank and moved wounds would suddenly reopen and then close or be gone completely. A never-ending loop of pain. Of wound re-opening only to close or to go away. He felt his form shudder as if trying to decide what to look like before it settled on some unfamiliar form.  Too small to be 23 but still having the dozens of wounds open and bleeding. He felt a bit woozy, blood loss his brain oh so helpfully supplied him.

He stood up wobbling and looked around. He didn't have an ender chest or really any chests to check for bandages. All he had was his bed... which had blankets on it. He whipped his head around and tore of the blankets ripping them in places. As he did so he glanced down and wrapped wounds that were bleeding. His right hand where he was missing his finger. His left leg where a chunk of flesh was missing wrapping that without gagging was hard... He shuddered.

He also had to wrap his right arm where an arrow penetrating wound rested on his upper bicep. His left arm was broken near the elbow, and he thinks his ribs are sprained? At least strained considering how hard breathing was. He had a large gash in his stomach, just above his hip bone that was bleeding a lot. And he groaned as he had to bandage it up. He was so skinny too. He counted each of his ribs. It was easy to see what was sprained and what was just bruised. He sighed as he finally finished wrapping his wounds on his body. He still felt a bit woozy, but it was certainly better than earlier.

He felt his face and hummed when he still found scars. There was a cut on his left eye (The opposite of Quackity. Matching Quackity had giggled to him) that was sluggishly bleeding but not enough for Dream to really bandage it. The rest of his face was scars though. The one on the bridge of his nose from his and Techno's battle. The odd scar on his lip where he'd nicked it as a kid on a table. A lot of his wounds were healed or scarred over from before he got possessed by the Dreamon. Some of them that were bleeding Dream remembered fronting for.

Odd that it was only certain old wounds... they were odd wounds to redone too. His finger cut off by Quackity while in prison and the slice over his left eye. (Stop! Please! No more! I can't see!) His left leg and just above his hip where Tommy had dug his axe into his flesh during the Disk Confrontation. (Ow? But also... you hit weakly.) Where a stray arrow struck his body in the battle of L'manburg. (Or was it the duel against Tommy?) His left arm he was certain broke when the nuke hit (Too bright!). His ribs... could have been from anytime so he was lost there.

But his face... oh how he ached for something to cover it. He wanted to wrap bandages around his face. (Maybe just his eye so he doesn't have to see the face that haunts him rather than soothes him that it's his face. That haunts so many people's nightmares.) But he can't. He can't waste bandages on something so little. Not when that strange glitching thing can happen again at any point. As that thought leaves he considers where his mask went. He knows Quackity broke it, but it remained on the Dreamons face for a while...

Dream snapped his right fingers (which was odd to do without his middle finger instead having to use his ring finger, but it sounded fainter), the nuke! It must have destroyed his mask just like it did with his inventory! (If he could an Enderchest? He wonders if his items are saved or not when on a different server? He hopes so.) Dream huffs he can't believe how long that took to remember. He lost his mask perhaps he lost his mind too. He groaned as he put the rest of the bandages away and broke his bed standing.

He wobbled a bit at first before finally digging himself out of the dirt hole... he considered after looking around putting his bed down in the room just to have a base but no, he didn't want to respawn in this place. He needed to get out, and he likely would be able to do that faster by moving. So, he filled the hole (He wasn't that big of a jerk to leave a random place for monsters to spawn though it would be funny to watch it happen) But Dream shakes his head and keeps walking. As he does, he feels a strange aura but shrugs it off.

Xisuma huffs as he sits next to Joe who has his comm. He'd called Keralis over earlier when he realized Joe was diving deep into the code using his comm he used Joe's comm to message Keralis privately to join him. So here they were sitting on Joe's couch waiting for the man to find whoever was on the server. Keralis sighed and leaned into Xisuma's side and Xisuma looked at the older man.

Keralis said softly, "When is Joe going to be done?"

Xisuma sighed and said, "Soon... hopefully."

Keralis snorted but nodded and they sat once more in silence. Suddenly Joe made an 'Ah ha!' Sound. They both looked at the man and Joe had a smirk on his face and was zooming into the code. Keralis and Xisuma exchanged looked before moving closer. To Keralis it looked like normal looking code. Though it did glow and odd green colour. So, he supposed it wasn't THAT normal. However, to Xisuma and Joe? It was the answer to where the person on the server was.

Xisuma and Joe stood up in sync and Keralis quickly followed after them. He glanced at Xisuma who nodded telling Keralis nonverbally that they found the person that had gotten onto the server. Joe hurried left the room and Keralis and Xisuma followed the man out. Keralis huffed and could only wonder what could cause both Joe and Xisuma to worry so much? He figured it was someone dangerous given both men were worried and panicking about it, but it could also be a simple thing as an animal getting in or a hacker. Whatever it was, it wasn't likely going to be good though.

Keralis knew his Xisuma. He knew Joe. Whatever this, 'threat' was? They'd easily take it down if needed

Dream rubbed his head where he ears rested. He kept them hidden at all times tucked away unless needed. He wasn't sure if the Dreamon KNEW Dream was a cat hybrid. (Though it probably did consider Dream's tail was hard to hide but if the Dreamon actually care he wouldn't know. Dream carefully tucked away his tail letting it lay flat on his back ignoring the pain from his tail by doing so. He wasn't sure where he was and if he ran into people, he'd rather they DIDN'T know he was a hybrid!

Dream walked for a while wobbling all the while. Having his tail away did make him lose his balance a bit but he'd spent years doing it! (Well, the Dreamon had.) And he just used the fact he was wounder to excuse his wobble... that was probably part of it. He panted and finally decided to stop. He ate a piece of raw lamb. Nibbling on it as his appetite weened quickly. The Dreamon probably didn't eat while in prison or even when he got out not needing to eat but Dream still felt the hunger even if he was malnourished. Dream huffed and leaned against the dirt more firmly behind him. He couldn't really see but he knew that he should rest not used to walking but a void where he floated.

He closed his eyes for a second before whipping them open (or at least he HOPED both) at a loud 'CRACK'. He opened his eyes and startled when he saw the three people in front of him. One had bug eyes, like a frog and Dream winced remembering joking to Sapnap how George's glasses really made him look like a frog. The second person had brown hair yet gave off an uneasy aura. Like the Dreamon did or Foolish did. Heck if Dream thought hard enough, he thinks Slime? Charlie? Dream couldn't really recall which name the man used... But either way Quackity's friend gave off a similar aura to this man.

The third man made Dream tense the most. He knew that this man was dangerous. Something to be wary of just based of his aura. He wore a helmet that had a purple tinted visor that reminded him so much of the Dreamon wearing his mask. Something covering their reactions. Hiding how they felt and how they wanted things to go. Hiding behind masks. Dream was SO sick of masks covering people's faces! (Although Techno's pig one Dream had a soft spot for it was cool okay!)

Dream couldn't hear what they were saying. He was panicking and he knew his breathing had sped up but these people were dangerous! These were the people in the server that could kick him out if they wanted to! Dream's eye darted around looking for an escape but behind him was dirt and the people surrounded him all three sides. He was well and truly trapped. He bared his teeth in hopes of scaring them (It didn't work. He was so wounded that each man didn't think Dream could really do much damage.)

The wide-eyed man carefully stepped closer holding his hands out in a placating gesture, but all Dream could see was Quackity stepping closer with the shears. Could see the Dreamon wrapping tighter around his brain and body. Dream snarled as the wide-eyed man came to close, almost right in front of him and he pulled out his blade and stabbed the man. The man winced in pain and backed off. Dream barred his teeth as threateningly as he could. Curling up more. Did it loosen some bandages? Yes. Did it hurt? Also, yes. Did Dream care? Not really.

He knew these people were threats and yet all he could see in the helmeted man was Sam. Guarding the prison. Letting the Egg and Quackity and the Dreamon in. He knew that the helmeted man wasn't Sam couldn't be but all he could see was the Warden. But he could also recall a kind man who used to bandage up Dream after a spat. Introduced a younger Dream to a younger George. Who taught Dream how to control his instincts and hide parts of himself. These images were conflicting, and he couldn't think straight.

The wide-eyed man reminding him so much of George. Especially with how hunched over in pain holding his stomach where Dream stabbed him was. Dream could barely recall a time of running around and playing some kind of hunting game with his friends. He remembered how once he accidentally stabbed George a bit to hard and too light and how the older had crumpled to the ground. Dream remembered calling the game off and in that moment with the strange wide-eyed man hunched over he could see George.

He glanced at the third man, who had come closer and was helping Geor- the strange wide-eyed man. He gave off such a similar aura to Slime but also... like Foolish or the Dreamon. Dream knew that meant this man was odd. Was powerful and dangerous and meant he had to act fast. If he killed the strange man fast enough then he could get away- but then he realized where was the helmeted man? Suddenly Dream felt a wave of tired sweep over him and passed out and felt arms catch him.

Dream fell asleep dreaming about George getting cradled to Dreamon XD's chest while Sam put him to sleep and tucked him in.

Chapter Text

Xisuma gently carried the child that rested in his arms. He could only feel sick. This child was clearly someone who needed help and Xisuma knew that. Though he was worried about Keralis. Joe has somehow gotten a health potion onto the wound and treated it all before Xisuma managed to force the panicking child to sleep. And wasn't that something. A child was on his server, and he'd been ready to hurt them! Though logically Xisuma didn't know he should have treated this situation differently. Especially considering how wounded the child in question was.

But that was a question, wasn't it? Xisuma sighed as his thoughts raced. Most of the wounds that he saw easily could come from a battle and that would easily explain the child's strange behavior. Growing up in an environment that encouraged violence would likely cause people to be violent. He knew that's why Grian often would pull out a sword when startled. Why Scar would gear up for a punch before relaxing. Why Doc was so quick to curse in German and whirl around like a mad man and created dangerous world eaters.

Each Hermit came from a bad situation. And as the admin of HermitCraft it was Xisuma's job to help them, take care of them and protect them. And while the child was unexpected and likely wasn't something Xisuma would really want on his server forever this was someone who needed care and protection, so he'd do his best to let the child have it while on HermitCraft after all. As long as they were on HermitCraft he was a Hermit. Xisuma hummed and considered who'd help the child most and then nodded his head. Joe likely already called them.

Xisuma glanced at Joe and softly said, "Did you message Gem and Doc?"

Joe nodded as Keralis glanced at the child in Xisuma's arms. Keralis had a worry look in his eyes and his face was soft. Something that only happened around other Hermits and animals. Something Xisuma liked to see on his best friend because it meant he cared. Though in this situation it wasn't the best Xisuma's heart still melted a bit. Even after his best friend had been stabbed he was still worried about the child. Keralis's kindness knew no bounds and for that Xisuma would forever be grateful.

Keralis blinked and said, "Wait- Doc and Gem? I get Gem but why Doc? He's not an actual Doctor..."

Xisuma blinked, at his friend and said, "Keralis I love you my friend, but you can be a bit silly. Doc is not a doctor however he has an absurd amount of healing knowledge and knowledge on the functions of the human body."

Joe shuddered and said, "Yeah. Doc knowledge base is a bit creepy but... helpful." He glanced softly at the kid in Xisuma's arms before continuing, "Also told them to keep it on the downlow until we figured out how the squirt got onto the server."

Xisuma nodded and they walked over to Gem's base. They were greeted by Doc who led them to a place to lay the kid down. It was a white bed with no blankets or pillow which was likely for the best. Xisuma was gently about it and once he laid the kid flat on the bed and ran his hand through the kid's hair before he could stop himself. The kid looked similar to Grian it was creepy. The same dirty blonde hair, same narrow and intense eyes. That it was a habit to run a hand through his hair. Plus, it gave him time to push the admin code sleep onto the kid again.

After parting ways Doc said, "Okay you three, go. Sit in the waiting room or whatever. Just no disturbing Gem and I!" 

Gem walked in at the moment and nodded along with Doc so Joe, Keralis and Xisuma all hummed in agreement before leaving the room. Xisuma let the frown take over his face as he pondered a bit. It was... odd. The kid was odd. Wounded as he was. He still snarled and bared his teeth instead of cowering like most kids would. Not only that but his code fought back. Sure, it wasn't exactly odd for code to fight back for Admin codes. Grian and Joe's code fought against Xisuma's Admin Code. Keralis was naturally resistant. But the kid was unconscious. Knocked out. 

Joe seeming notice his apprehension and nerves said, "X? What's up?"

Xisuma bit his lip and said, "The kids code... it's admin. He's an active admin."

Joe and Keralis blink in shock and Joe says, "How do you know?"

Xisuma huffs a bit annoyed and replies, "His code. Resisted my admin code for a bit before I could force him to sleep."

Keralis shifted and softly said, "Uh- but where's the kid's server? And how'd he get here then? Wouldn't his server need him to like... function?"

Xisuma and Joe blinked and looked at each other but neither one of them had a clue.

Gem sighed as she and Doc stripped the kid of his clothing leaving his boxers on for privacy. She huffed as she slipped away the make-shift bandages. She could give the kid credit. They'd been good bandages, but she and Doc had real bandages that would help better. She kept in her gasps though just barely when she finally removed everything. She could see Doc trembling beside her. The kid was covered in fresh wounds and scar tissue. She gently wetted a cloth and wiped the kid down with warm water.

After she chucked and cloth in the garbage and began to examine and treat every wound. She shuddered as she carefully treated each wound. The missing middle finger on his right hand was the worse. She had to address it alone because Doc had gotten sick. It was a clean cut meaning the poor child had been held down while the finger was removed. Doc rejoined her once she had fully wrapped the middle knuckle joint. (She ached for the child having lost their finger. She couldn't magic it back or heal what was lost...)

Doc gently rubbed a bit of healing potion into the kid's left leg. A huge chunk of flesh missing like someone took an axe too it. Gem dealt with his upper left arm where an arrow wound rested careful looking it over and wrapping it. She didn't put any healing on it as they didn't want to overwhelm the kid with healing, and she figured on the bigger wounds should get healing and regeneration on them. 

She bit her lips as she gently wrapped the kid's left side of their face. She had worried a bit about covering it before Doc and said monotone that the kid likely couldn't see out of it anyways so with a heavy heart she wrapped it. Doc gently took the kid's left arm and examined their elbow before gently wrapping and securing it so that it would hold steady. She hadn't even clocked that it was broken with so much blood she had focused on bleeding wounds not the broken bones or ribs. Luckily after a quick check she was pleased to see they were only slightly sprained, so bed rest was an order.

She softly said to Doc, "Help me turn him over?"

Doc nodded and helped. They had to do it carefully to prevent them from making the wrapped wounds or broken bones worse, but she needed to look at the kids back to make sure they were okay. She and Doc starred in shock at his back. Sure the- well healed over whip marks were a shock but they were more focused on the tail tucked so tightly to the kid's back in probably hurt. She quickly moved it carefully helping it relax while Doc rushed over to their head checking his hair for ears.

She examined the tail and had to hold back the tears. The kid's tail was underdeveloped. It was shorter than it should be and was missing clumps of fur. Likely a nervous habit to pick at the fur. Grian had the same thing at first with his wings. She glanced at Doc who was gently rubbing a set of underdeveloped cat ears likely in the hopes of making them pop out more, but she doubted they would. She worried then if the kid would ever fully develop instincts or behaviors needed to survive. But she couldn't worry about that right now. 

She checked the rest of the kid's back and was happy to note no wounds, so she and Doc turned the kid back around. She let the tail rest on his right side and walked off taking her gloves off. She glanced at Doc who was leaning against the counter she was washing her hands off at. Doc had his eyes closed seeming thinking about something hard. Usually, she'd leave it alone, but her emotions were already fried.

She softly said, "Emerald for your thoughts?"

Doc sighed and said, "The kid... undeveloped would-be kind. Traumatized would be off... their claws aren't showing ears are too small, tail is too short. The wounds look like torture wounds. They don't have an inch of skin not marred... would X really send him ba-"

Gem huffed and said gently, "No. X is a lot of things. Cruel isn't one of them."

Doc nodded and then replied, "The kid will be broken for the rest of his life."

Gem snorted and argued, "Everyone here is."

Doc just smiled and nodded.

Xisuma paled as he and Joe FINALLY dug into the kid's server code. It was a mess. Even Xisuma was struggling to read it, and he'd read code for a long time. Though Joe did read more he didn't dig too deep into personal code or personal server code just server code. But even he knew it was a horror show of code the kid had. It glowed a lime green which wasn't unusual if not for the bits that glowed a dark green felt more like the kid, then the lime green.

Whatever, or whomever had access to the kid's personal server code had done their best to mess with it and Xisuma and Joe were trying and failing to completely unwind it. Eventually they took a break when Keralis returned with some tea and food for them to have while they waited for Gem and Doc to finish up. While eating Keralis struck up a conversation.

"So, figure anything out?"

Joe shook his head and said, "No. I mean sort of? We can see the kid's personal server code now! But can't tell HOW he got in."

Xisuma hummed and said, "Well I can tell it wasn't any breaking into the server that's for sure. But there's something else draped over the poor kid's code. I mean, the kid's personal server code is crushed and broken and shattered in some many places that I'm surprised he's alive. That's not even talking about his personal code..."

Keralis blinked and said, "But isn't that a sign of breaking into a server?"

Joe answered Keralis with, "No. This kind of breakage happens when someone messed with your code personally usually only with your personal code and sometimes if the damage is bad enough it leaks onto your server personal code. Plus, it's old. Not fresh enough."

Xisuma nodded and said, "Plus, it's not affecting the server in that way. It's more like the server is familiarizing with his code... wait!"

Joe and Xisuma both say at the same time having come to the same realization, "HOW IS THE KID WHITELISTED!?!?!"

Chapter Text

Keralis anxiously gazed at the door. Ever since Gem and Doc went in it’s all he could really focus on. The poor kid had been heavily injured but yet he’d still fought. Keralis could see the determination and the fact the kid was an Admin was only making Kerlais see more and more of Xisuma in the kid.

Though neither looked alike they had this fire, determination to keep going to save those they loved. He saw it in the kid’s eyes from the gaze that he saw. It was why Kerlais approached in the first place. All he could see was the scared Xisuma he first met that startled at loud noises yet loved him in his Cryptic form. 

It was what concerned him the most about the child. Those that were similar to XisumaVoid were… stubborn and cared for their friends and family at their own expense. Grian and Tango were the most obvious about it but Keralis in his long time with Xisuma had learned it was those who were more silent and quiet about it that were worse.

Bdubs, Cleo and Xisuma were the worst in his honest opinion. They were the best at hiding away when things got rough and they’d hide their pain to keep the others going. Granted everyone was hurt but Keralis had the hardest time reading that trio. They kept things bottled up till it blew up.

Never learning their lessons. Honestly it drove him, Etho, and False nuts. Always running after their friends and giving them helping hands. More than once he Etho and False have complicated just tying their friends down to talk about it maybe THEN it would stick.

They have actually devised a plan that would work about it too… Though Keralis is doubtful any of them would actually act on it given all of their… trauma. They might lightly threaten but that was more Doc’s department then anything. It was something that was plan 12443 if all things didn’t work out.

But… on that note… Keralis was glad to see his friend in the kid. It meant the kid was a fighter. Xisuma was a fighter till the end and that meant so was this kid. It would likely be a lot harder to kill the kid then to save him in his opinion. That’s how it was with Xisuma after all.

Keralis tore his gaze away from the door. Sitting there and worrying he thought glumly wasn’t healthy and wasn’t good but honestly in that moment Keralis wanted to throw out his own advice and stare at the door. He knew it wasn’t something he should do having often scolded other Hermits (Read, Xisuma and False) multiple times but there was a kid inside how could he not! Keralis sighed and took out the blade that had been stabbed into him.

Keralis gently examined the blade in his hands. He flipped it over and over glancing at the inscription that made no sense to him, ‘NapFound’. It was an iron knife. Didn’t do or leave a lot of damage. It had no enchantments that made it special. The hilt was leather and honestly the only thing special about the blade was the inscription. 

It was clear the blade was old given the fact it was withered from not use but age. It was also clear the blade had been neglected for some time given the fact the handle was in need of care and the blade was dull. It looked like, perhaps once upon a time it was cared for but it had been forgotten by its owner.

He pondered WHY then would the child use it? He considered if the knife actually BELONGED to the child maybe having been stolen but dismissed the query. After all, the child handled the blade which was already made improperly and thus unbalanced. 

Having been melted and formed incorrectly as Kerlais examined the blade he noted given the weird clumps in it. And not only that the blade was also made out of a strange material- while he could say iron it reflected too strange to be labeled iron but he supposed if melted incorrectly it would be iron but even then it was too dull. And yet the child… handled it like an expert and thus the blade likely belonged to the child. 

He huffed as he took in the blade. It still had his blood on it and was thus dirty. Not only that but it was duller than he’d like… perhaps as a sorry for startling the child he should clean the blade… would that be wrong to do? Hand the blade back to the person who stabbed him? Ehh, Keralis didn’t really care about that. After all, Grian once stabbed him using a feather… he still doesn’t know how.

However, back to the words ‘NapFound’ might have meant something to the child… They most likely did considering the blade belonged to him. He huffed as he thought about it and looked through his inventory for blade cleaners… He didn’t have any. He glanced at Xisuma who Keralis knew had tools for cleaning blades but the man was busy staring at the door.

After Joe and Xisuma had made the discovery the mystery kid was whitelisted they’d spent a few minutes trying to figure out how and what the kids name was given the whitelisted name was scrambled a bit. They tried everything but couldn’t figure out the kid's name. Keralis wasn’t shocked they couldn’t.

 If the kid was hiding it was likely he was scrambling his own name and given he was an admin it likely WAS the kid’s own code scrambling the code… But to have the power to do that was rare. Even Joe, who was a co-admin, couldn't do that and it took a lot of practice to do that anyways.

Xisuma took a break from staring at the screen with a sigh. Something that made Keralis feel bad. It was clear the Admin was just as worried as those that knew of the kid and taking a break meant that he didn’t find anything useful. But Keralis noted, Joe kept looking at the code. Apparently while the kid was whitelisted on the server they couldn’t access the kid's personal code without touching him which was odd for a whitelisted party. 

Well they could examine his server player code but nothing else. And on top of the scrambled name? It was painting an odd picture in Keralis’s head. Usually as Admin Xisuma could see the code of another it was odd he couldn’t for the kid. It wasn’t something Xisuma liked to talk about but he could use his Admin powers to look at anyone’s code. Even Tango, Grian or Joe’s.

But Keralis figured it wasn’t something he had to worry about. If the kid was whitelisted it might have been something Xisuma or Joe did a while ago and never got around to actually doing anything about it. It wasn’t rare for one or both of them to forget something like that after all Xisuma had forgotten up until Doc joined the server that Doc was whitelisted at all. 

But thinking about the kid being an Admin… Keralis knew that an Admin being away from their server was dangerous. It would make the server shut down prematurely locking all the players until the Admin got back and could reset or unlock the server themselves. But given the fact the kid was injured perhaps his server was doing fine. After all they didn’t know if the kid was a co-admin or full blown Admin. Only the kid could answer which he was.

The kid that was injured and being looked at by two doctors. Perhaps his server did something to him? Keralis would like to think not and rather it was something in the void. Something between servers but Keralis knew it likely wasn’t. After all the kid attacked another player and while Keralis liked to keep things light hearted he wasn’t naive enough to think someone trapped in the void would hurt a player… thought maybe they would if not used to people.

Keralis sighed and traced the words etched on the blade and he went back to wondering what they meant, too tired to keep thinking about the inbetween and attacking children. Perhaps it was sentimental? Or maybe it was some kind of code? It might not even be English! Keralis pondered that thought for a moment wondering if it was in fact a different language and turned to the one person he knew had knowledge on most if not all languages.

Keralis cleared his throat and said, “Hey- uh Shashwammy?”

Xisuma glanced at him and replied, “Yeah?”

Kerails showed the man the words etched onto the knife and said, “Do these words look familiar?"

Xisuma examined the knife tracing the word etched into the blade and said, “No… This isn’t in a language I would understand. Perhaps it’s a code name or made up? But what would "Nap Found” mean?”

Keralis hums as Xisuma hands back the knife. The kid gets more and more strange by the second. The fact he had a knife on him was strange. The carving? Strange. The fact the child was injured? Strange. Whitelisted? Strange. Everything about the child was strange and coming from a Cryptic such as himself? Noteworthy.

Keralis sighed as he double checked the blade for anything but there was nothing. No new inscription, no change. It was the exact same as when he gave it to Xisuma. The only change was the fact it was cleaner than it was before. 

He considered what the words ‘Nap Found’ meant. It meant in any context someone found sleep. That someone found a place to nap. Perhaps the knife had been lodged in the ground somewhere for safe keeping? And that’s where the kid would sleep? But why keep the knife then instead of leaving it in the place he’d found overnight?

Keralis knew several places that would have been good to sleep at so why wasn’t the knife left there? It didn’t seem likely so he tossed that theory out. The only theory left really was that the knife had a sentimental meaning. AKA it was found somewhere or was the combination of two things. It wouldn’t be surprising for those two things to be last names or something.

Keralis could feel frustration pool into his throat again. He was honestly running in circles in his mind trying to figure it out. He really wanted to know! If he did perhaps he could help the kid in some way. Perhaps it was misguided but he truly did want to help in any way…

He wasn’t sure if it was because the kid reminded him of Xisuma, stabbed him or was just a kid in general. He wanted to think it was because the kid was well a kid but he knew that wasn’t it. It was because the kid reminded him of Xisuma. A young Xisuma, the one he couldn’t protect.

The one the world hated and was again. The one that suffered the same as him. That was hunted for being alive. Something only a baby Xisuma could understand… Perhaps he was hoping the kid also understood the way he and Xisuma suffered and he could take the kid under his wing…

He sighed and put the blade away again, dropping any thoughts along with it. Now it was the waiting game again. Gosh he hated this game. Already it felt like it had been hours since Gem and Doc started working on the child. Keralis checked his comm and confirmed it had only been an hour and a half. He sighed as he settled to wait.

After all, Keralis could play the waiting game. He hated it but he excelled at it. He waited to save Xisuma. Wait for the right time to spring a cuddle session on the man or force him to sleep. Keralis could wait for the kid, his and Shashwammy’s future kid to be healed up and taken care of. He’d rather have a healthy kid than a sick one after all.

He knew this kid was going to be something special and would perhaps bring something different to HermitCraft. He knew the kid was young but so was Mumbo! And plus the kid was already whitelisted… Now he just had to get everyone else on board with adopting the kid!

Honestly that would likely be the easy part. As he thought more about adopting kids he felt Xisuma shift closer to him and leaned slightly into the man to give him comfort and snort at what he saw on the man’s comms. The Hermits are such funny little kids… Oh how he loved his and X’s children. 

Yes Keralis thought as he saw the chat get spammed with photos. These people were amazing and would accept the kid with open arms. It’s in their nature after all to adopt things. People say like parents like kids and it was clear the Hermits took after Xisuma in adopting strays… They took after Keralis in being terrifying to anyone who hurt what was theirs.

Xisuma didn’t understand. How could a child, someone he KNEW he’d never met. That JOE had never met get whitelisted? Xisuma had added every Hermit himself. Had checked code, had changed and edited code. Had spent HOURS looking at code and yet… this child, one he didn’t know got whitelisted.

Perhaps, Xisuma wondered, was that the child knew some kind of high up being that could mess with server codes? But no, he’d have sensed that. Could the kid be related to or have some sort of power that he could do that? But no that wasn’t possible to do without utter devotion to that high up power. Something Xisuma knew he’d have clocked on the child. It would have been obvious.

Doc for example carried a piece of jewelry that radiated power that he pulled out everyone once in a while and prayed (World ending monsters. Don’t ask. Xisuma didn’t.) And Grian would randomly stop sometimes when the air shifted and look up towards the sky and mutter a few words and afterwards would relax like a puppet's wires when cut and the air would get lighter. (No, Xisuma didn’t want to know WHY or WHAT Grian was praying to.)

Xisuma sighed, rubbing his face. Tired. Confused. Those were his main feelings. If the child didn’t have a higher up being given all that Xisuma knew about them then they had to have been whitelisted by HIM. (And maybe Joe but that seemed like an empty bin to dig in.) But he didn’t recall EVER whitelisting someone fitting the child’s description. 

The closest person would be Grian but the child was obviously not given the fact Grian had darker blonde hair and had brown eyes not the weird green eyes the child had… At that Xisuma thought hard about the kid's eyes. The kid had these Harlequin green eyes. A light shade if he had to guess from the brief glance he got.

They however had a… well Xisuma wasn’t sure how to describe it but it looked like a dull sheen over them but also not? The kid’s eyes looked so life-like yet like someone sucked the life out of them at the same time. Xisuma wasn’t sure HOW to describe them besides it looked like someone coming out of a trance.

But even then people coming out of a trance usually have confusion in their eyes. Perhaps hesitation. The dullness was a lower yet intense sheen. The kid’s eyes didn’t hold confusion or intenseness. No, there wasn’t a hint of hesitation even when the kid stabbed Keralis. There was only fear and self-assurance with a low… dullness.

The kid knew what they were doing. But why would they do that? His best on going guess was a server like Scar’s old server. Maybe even Doc’s old server but he’d have to wait for Gem and Doc to come back and confirm it for him… He could never be too sure until then. Right now it is speculation.

He hoped, he begged whatever deity or thing that was listening, that the kid had just been in an accident. That it looked worse than what he saw. He didn’t know where the kid came from but if it WAS in fact like Doc or Scar’s old servers…. He didn’t know if he’d ever be able to let the kid return.

He remembered when Doc and Scar first came to his server. At different times yes but still so broken from their old violent servers. It had been hard for everyone to adjust and learn the new people’s boundaries at the start. Scar always seemed tense, especially around zombie mobs and he took to calling Cleo Mom in order to soothe his nerves of her being a zombie. 

Of course it was a trauma response but Cleo understood and took him under their wing… It was clear she saw Scar as their child after that and vice versa. And soon the girls all joined their little family. It was cute and definitely something that all the Hermits, especially Cub, Etho and Impulse kept an eye on. After all, it was something that could turn toxic. They were all relieved when it didn’t and Etho got dragged into being another parent figure to Scar and the Girls.

Doc… Doc was violent in a way Xisuma couldn’t even start to explain. It wasn’t physical or mental or emotional but rather his projects were his violence if they could even be called that. The projects were more like pets or friends or entities. Xisuma stopped trying to put a label on them long ago.

Doc and his projects could be strange, violent in a way no words could explain but in the same breath Xisuma understood. Doc had been a part of a server that measured smarts with strength. Chaos with value. Doc was from an extreme server that took machines and items to the next level but in the same breath you couldn’t be seen without said value.

Xisuma sighed. He got off track thinking about his babies again. Well two of his children. Ugh. They would be sooo mad to hear themselves called babies but they all were like his babies… He loved each and every one of them to pieces! The only ones who wouldn’t consider his babies would be Keralis and maybe Joe? 

Honestly Xisuma wasn’t sure WHAT Joe was to him. Or Keralis. The two Cryptids (if you could even call Joe that… what was Joe no one knows. Certainly not him.) had been a part of his life since he was a teen. He’d been friends with Keralis and head admin with co-admin Joe for a long time… There was no label that fit their relationship to be honest.

Xisuma sighed, realizing he stopped thinking and wondering about the kid and how he might be, side tracked AGAIN. Honestly at this point maybe he should stop trying to focus on the kid he saved. He after all would just worry himself MORE about the kid and that wouldn’t help. Worrying about his Hermits was something he could do easily. After all, he could message them instantly.

He checked the time and was a little surprised to find it so late. It meant another night without sleep but it was still surprising. He’d gone to Joe late in the middle of the night, gotten Keralis early morning and then had tracked the kid for most of the day before finally getting him and then bringing him to Gem and Doc… It was now 10 pm.

So he messaged Tango (Who he’d KNOWN was still up) to go to sleep and then messaged Skizz, Impulse and Zedaph to make sure SURE Tango got to bed. He got confirmation from the trio that they would. Zedaph sent photos and he tried not to melt. Tango was curled up on top of Impulse who had a mischievous grin while Skizz was curled up on Impulse’s arm passed out with Zedaph sitting on Skizz’s legs to take the photo.

He messaged Etho to see if the man had gotten to Bdubs and Beef and was done with the project the trio were working on. Etho just sent a thumbs up and then Xisuma got a follow up message from Beef with a photo and Xisuma had to snort. Keralis leaned over to look at the photo and giggled as well. 

Etho was head deep in some kind of chest? He wasn’t too sure WHAT it was. Bdubs however was sitting proudly on Etho’s back preventing him from standing or getting up without knocking off the Glaze hybrid. The photo was a bit blurry but Xisuma guessed Beef was laughing if it was anything like their usual banter.

Xisuma’s comm chimed again as Ren sent a photo to the group chat. Apparently he, the girls, Scar and… he didn’t want to know HOW they managed to do it but Wels was there as well. They were having what looked like a sleepover. Given the fact they were all in pj’s. 

Ren was wearing crown pj’s with smiley faces. Wels was wearing sapphire designed pj’s with stars around them they looked like silk... Pearl had on bird pj’s with different kinds of birds on them. 

Scar was just wearing one of Mumbo’s sweaters (Easy to tell given the mustache design) and black sweatpants. Cleo had on a cat pj with the words ‘Purrfect’ sewn on. False had a nightgown with pink bows on her. Honestly it was rather cute to see.

But Xisuma had to really stop a smile when he noticed what each of his Hermits was doing. Scar was knocked out already sprawled across four blankets and half covered in a third his head rested on Wels lap who was in the middle of running his hand through Scar’s hair. It was clear the man had been asleep for a while given the fact Scar had a few braids in his hair.

Cleo and Pearl were doing each other's face masks and were half way done while False was braiding Ren’s hair. It was a cute picture until you looked a bit harder and that was when you realized the pranks. Scar was sleeping and Wels was calm, yes. However they were the only two the Xisuma could tell were relaxing. Cleo’s face mask was a bright orange and Pearl was a deep green. A colour each girl hated. 

Ren’s hair was also being added to with spider beads something False loved to do but Ren hated since it dragged his hair but he was smiling in the photo so it likely was cleared and might be taken out soon. False’s hair on the other hand somehow had dirt in it… Xisuma was positive it was Ren but he couldn’t be sure.

He was wondering why the photo and then his comm chimed as Grian sent a photo and it made sense. Apparently Ren had stolen Scar from Grian and Mumbo. But also had taken Wels (Explained why the man was there. While he would hang out with them it was odd to see him without one of his close friends) as a way to jab at Jevin and Hypno. 

From what Xisuma could recall Hypno and Jevin and played a prank on Ren with the help of Grian that had doused Ren’s house in red paint. No Xisuma wasn’t sure where or how they got that much red paint but he wasn’t going to dig too deep into it.

It was clear that the stealing of people was revenge but not the only revenge that had been acted upon by the group. This was because in Grian’s photo it had Grian glaring grumpily at the camera while covered in slime Mumbo was hunched over laughing with Jevin at the… slime covered hybrid. (Given the fact Jevin was a slime Xisuma thought he might have something to do with it until he realized it was pink glitter slime, something Ren and False has a TON of.) 

Jevin was also dyed a magenta colour which was interesting to see. While a red hair dyed Hypno was trying to dump water on Grian to get rid of the slime. Xisuma snorted. While dumping water WOULD normally help given the fact Grian was a bird hybrid his poor wings might suffer but honestly… It was a little funny. Xisuma heard Joe also snort while looking at his comm and Keralis sigh.

Sure he and the other two were worried about the new kid but only their Hermits would get into this chaos while they were busy. Soon the other two photos having been sent privately to Xisuma also showed up in chat and then a photo from Cub got uploaded of the man looking tiredly at the camera with the word ‘Shut’ at the bottom.

Xb and Joel then showed up with a photo of the duo working on some water to make it go around in a creek? Or were they swimming? Xisuma… wasn’t sure actually. Could be either with those two. Joe leaned over with his comm out and took a photo of a mid-snort Keralis and exasperated Xisuma with a giant smirk on his own face and uploaded that photo as well to the chat.

Xisuma blinked as the chat filled with messages and conversations. He was a little worried the chat would disturb the working Gem and Doc, or that the other Hermits would point out their silence and ask questions. Until Cub, tired, sleepy Cub AND Skizz annoyed loving Skizz, the two people that were most likely to get people to be quiet typed out messages. 

CubFan:Go to sleep you crazy lot! Scar is sleeping. Tango’s sleeping. I’m pretty sure Doc AND Gem are sleeping. I’m TRYING to sleep. I’m sure a few others are as well. Follow those examples. SLEEP!

SkizzleMan: Shut. Up. Top is FINALLY sleeping and Dipple Dot AND Zeddlebop are falling asleep these notifications are keeping them up! 

After that? The chats went silent. Xisuma huffed a breath, grateful that his Hermits knew when to be quiet. He didn’t want Doc or Gem to be distracted while healing the poor child though he supposed Cub gave them good cover. 

While it was rare for Gem to not be with the girls if she was sleeping that was enough explanation and if Doc was sleeping? No one DARED wake him up. After all, Xisuma's pretty sure Beef still had the scar on his forearm from where Doc bit him the last time he tried to wake Doc up.

He sighed as he rested back. He couldn’t help but worry again about the child. Especially given the fact that now he knew all the Hermits were fine. He wished he could help Gem and Doc heal the child but he also knew he’d just be a hindrance. Alas such a difficult deliuma…

But Xisuma couldn’t help but go back to his original questions. The fact the child was whitelisted. It wasn’t necessarily impossible for Xisuma to have whitelisted him. After all, Ahriman (Evil X) was whitelisted even though Xisuma swore he never whitelisted him. Same with Hels and Truth.

It was perhaps something Xisuma did a long time ago and just forgot about. It could be that the kids player name could be similar to another one of his players that he accidentally added the child and didn’t realize his mistake. It happened once. Hels being the prime and only example Xisuma could think of on the top of his head.

Xisuma sighed and relaxed. He after all hated waiting, and wondering but perhaps he considered. It would help him figure this out. He’d after all wait until Gem and Doc were done and then examine the child’s code. It was something he needed to do to figure out… anything really.

Joe sighed. He hated waiting. Hated it with a burning passion. Of course the other Hermits chatting was entertaining for some time. Listening and watching them chat back and forth brought him some joy but not forever after all it had to end.

But still he enjoyed it while it lasted and was glad X’s Hermits were sleeping soundly. Well most of them. Not all of them were sleeping but they were at least relaxing and not bothering those that were sleeping. He always enjoyed it when the server was this quiet.

It was rarely this quiet and when it was that’s when Joe would smile and spread. Though there was no way to explain how he spread. He spread in the winds and the trees. Into the ground and into the sky. But yet he stayed on the ground. He usually would dance, perhaps hum a song.

Or he usually did. Today he sat in this chair and just felt the tense sullen atmosphere. Mostly from Xisuma and Keralis. He could barely feel it from Gem and Doc but perhaps the doors separating them made it easier to not feel them. Or it could be the fact he was closer to Keralis and Xisuma then he was Gem and Doc in the relationship department.

He’d known Keralis since the start. Well he’d known ALL the Hermits from the start but Keralis especially. Though they were Crypdids, or Keralis was a Cryptic, Joe was and was not. He was a balance. A being with no true name or category. And that’s perhaps what drew him to not only Keralis and Xisuma but also Xb and Joel.

They were beings that logically should not exist but did. Things that made people question the world but also themselves and the knowledge they had.

Cryptic creatures mortals could only barely describe. Could use imagination to picture but would still be off for there was no way to describe the feeling, the looks or the presences of the creatures, of the beings known as Cryptics though many try.

Cryptics weren’t monsters though. Joe knew they showed and felt emotions. They’d scuttle away when humans approached. He remembered long ago meeting one so distorted he didn’t know himself what it was yet it still offered its leg for a shake before disappearing. He never saw it again.

A VoidWalker, beings that most feared, especially those in high power for they were too powerful to not be feared. They were known as living beings or mortality that could come even for those with lifespans that far exceeded the minds of mortals. And thus forced into extinction. Feared by Gods and those that fought aside Gods.

Well Joe considered them extinct given everything that happened. He wasn’t there but he knew it was a long and hard war. Well he supposed you could say they weren’t fully extinct. There was two if you could really count the broken mind and body of Ahriman. He didn’t.

A Water Guardian hybrid which while interesting were thought to be rare and deadly. They after all had control of water, of beings in aquatic life. Had indescribable power simply because they could live on land. Could create destruction yet could also balance life. Protective of their own but yet… the creations of such creatures were so hard Joe himself had only met four.

They were gorgeous but they couldn’t sustain themselves. They were bred to look pretty inside cages. Nothing more nothing less. While they did live long lifespans they were more used for decoration and the species slowly died out. As if the Gods thought it was too much themselves and put a stop to it.

And a being comparable to that of a God but also falling short. A God was egotistical. Did not care for mortals. Did not want to breathe or even WALK among mortals yet that was not what happened. Joe had met Gods. Only cruel for they couldn’t understand mortals or their feelings. Could not understand their fear or wants and thus didn’t care.

That was not what he saw. Instead he saw care and love and affection and joy… something no God could have. No God could express such emotions. And yet Joe saw it every day. Sometimes Joe wondered if he somehow messed up the definition for Gods and then he’d get a glimpse and remember he didn’t. He’d just met the exception.

Joe considered the four to be like him but also not. Perhaps the better word would be that they understood each other in their own ways. They were rare and indescribable and unfathomable to the Hermits. To the world, to Gods, and mortals and immortals. 

But that’s what made them also them. Without those parts Joe doubts the Hermits would even exist. For those differences is what drove them, or at least Keralis and Xisuma, to fully create HermitCraft.

Joe rubbed his forehead in exhaustion. Sure, these thoughts spoke truth but also… he wished they didn’t have to be. He’d suffered. Greatly. For what he was as did the others. After all when one was not understood by mortals the mortals turned fear into anger and hatred. Even immortals could do that same if they wished.

This was a reason why Cryptics hid so well. Having faced the wrath of humans. Why Voidwalkers were practically extinct. Those in power hated being threatened. Why Guardian Hybrids were rare. They might be hard to create but when created were considered threats. Why kind Gods didn’t exist. For kindness was often taken for granted. He’d seen the story many times.

Perhaps… that’s why Joe joined and helped create HermitCraft. He wanted a place where people, where mortals and immortals could exist with peace. With love. With care. Something he knew could not happen out there. Joe had seen the universe’s many dark corners but he could admit that HermitCraft was a light corner.

It’s why he guided many of the Hermits when they first joined. Why he didn’t care for those that abandoned their posts, their villainous paths in hopes of having help. Though he didn’t at first. Not when HermitCraft first started. He’d seen their stories repeat but with Xisuma or another Hermit reaching out a hand to help instead of standing by. 

It was something he saw time and time again and yet still took his breath away. He always wondered… if some reached a hand out of understanding would Cryptics be fearful? If someone had greeted with stability could the Voidwalkers have lived? If people had taken care instead of pride would there be even more Guardian hybrids? If people were gentle and kind would Kind Gods exist more? 

But he couldn’t change the story. Not anymore. But he remembered being wary of Grian. Of Bdubs and Pearl. Fearing what they’d bring. He’d seen what they were. What they could bring. He was fearful of what was to come. 

He remembered going to Xisuma who simply smiled and said he didn’t care. Wouldn’t pry. After all, Voidwalkers that became Admins were also considered dangerous and deadly. He would protect them.

And Joe supposed at that moment he understood XisumaVoid better than he had before. Xisuma cared and didn’t care. He cared for the people, not what or who they were in the past. What they’d done… It was something Joe… Joe could not look past very easily. 

Joe saw all and thus couldn’t look past all. Xisuma couldn’t see all though Xisuma could. He could if he wanted to. But he didn’t. That’s what Joe understood at that moment. It’s why he’s so loyal. It’s why Joe cares.

For Xisuma cares for his Hermits regardless of their pasts. Watcher, Listener, God, Beast, Monster, Hybrid, Deadly, Harmless, Kind, Evil, Violent or not. As long as they changed what they were into a good thing? Had a good explanation and reasoning? Xisuma would care and love till the end. Xisuma had this… this way Joe supposed.

Xisuma could see things no one else could. The kind heart underneath everything. It’s why Grian was on the server. Why Doc was on the server. Why Etho was on the server. Why every member on the server was there. Because XisumaVoid saw their hearts and that’s all that mattered to the man.

Joe admired the man and feared for the man. He was careless with his love. With his care. He’d seen the Admin get hurt by it before he’d rather it not happen again after all. He knew his Admin and he knew the Admin’s care ran deep. 

The child that came to the server Joe knew was deadly. An Admin able to become whitelisted when no one whitelisted him meant powerful forces at work. Though Joe couldn’t sense any that didn’t mean there weren’t. He wasn’t foolish enough to not think that.

After all a lot of powerful forces that latched onto Admins, when the Admin left the server would latch onto the server instead. That meant this Admin, this child could have powerful forces working with him. Or maybe for him too.

But perhaps Joe was latching onto nothing. He thought the same with Grian and Tango and yet nothing ever truly came from it. They proved themselves over and over again. He could be wrong. Joe had been wrong before. Many. Many times in fact. Joe wasn’t afraid or weak enough to not admit that.

He… he hoped he was wrong about the kid. That Xisuma or he had whitelisted him long ago. But he knew until he and Xisuma examined the kids personal code Joe would have no way of knowing what was going on with the kid. Joe supposed that even if he DID get a look at the code he still might not get it.

The downsides of not really knowing personal code very well. He couldn’t edit or look at it the way Xisuma could. He was useless in that aspect. Xisuma scolded him for that kind of thought process though. Would point out how much help he was with server bugs and then would lay on thick the love.

Joe sighed out loud and Xisuma glanced worriedly at him. Keralis had long fallen asleep on Xisuma’s shoulder, splayed out on his own chair tiredly. The man had likely been woken up from his sleep by Xisuma earlier and the stabbing likely tired him out more. Especially given the healing potion.

Joe cleared his throat and said quietly to Xisuma, “How much longer do you think it will be?”

Xisuma shrugged and said softly, “I don’t know but I do worry.”

Joe blinked and tilted his head and Xisuma continued, “The fact it’s taking this long means the kid's body is in bad shape…”

And… Joe paused. He’d seen the kids injured. Had seen his face and thought nothing of it. He’d seen Doc’s face and had seen Scar’s face after all. It was a wound some got from the other player or person or thing playing dirty. 

It was something most hardcore servers did in warning. A way to say someone had gone too far without doing permanent death or damage. Joe had noted the missing finger and bleeding wounds. 

Had seen the scars on the kid and… well he didn’t dismiss them but he thought the worse when he saw them. He always did it. It was in his nature to consider the worst first the best second. It was how he’d lived for so long and survived.

Joe was a hunted species after all it was in his nature to focus on the bad things people could or would do in order to get those scars…

But in doing so… he supposed he lost a bit of focus. Those injuries… the missing finger at least it looked… deliberate. To cut off someone’s finger was easy to do in battle. Testament to Skizz who got his pinky sliced off by Zedaph once when the younger got too excited with his blade… 

That was a long conversation on weapon safety from a worried and angry Xisuma and then Gem had taught some of them how to heal fingers so that if it did happen again (Which it did but this time with Mumbo and Pearl.) they’d at least know what to do. 

But to cut off someone’s middle finger in such a way while missing the other fingers? Not only that but the fact the wound itself was rather old given how healed up it looked even though it still was gushing blood it was in the stages of healing…

Joe knew what that kind of wound suggested… Torture. It was too planned, too well made to be anything but. And that’s when Joe really realized what that meant. Sure people were… violent towards others like that when the person deserved it. (He wasn’t good enough to claim he hadn’t hurt or tortured someone who hurt one of the Hermits or something he considered his.)

But to torture a child? That was a line Joe never crossed. No one really did on HermitCraft. It was something that no one could look past. Though perhaps the kid did something. Something they don’t know but even then it was a kid. Adults, or whoever hurt the kid needed to know that wasn’t okay. No matter the person or reason…

The more Joe thought about it the more likely it was another kid. The fact that the Admin was a kid meant it was likely a server of his close friends and that would likely mean they were also kids… Joe couldn’t imagine doing that to Keralis, Xisuma, Xb or Joel but he also didn’t have all the facts.

He took a deep breath to calm his anger and frustrations. He didn’t have all the facts and thus he couldn’t judge. Not until he had all the facts. It was something he was trying to do. He had… reacted in anger in the past towards people he saw as threats only for them to not have been threats.

But even so he couldn’t come up with a reasoning to torture a child. But… he didn’t have all the facts. He blinked and suddenly Xisuma was in front of him gently taking his hands and holding them and leading through a breathing exercise. That’s when he realized he stopped breathing. After a few moments Xisuma helped him get his breathing under control and he untensed.

Joe glanced at Keralis and was grateful to note the man hadn’t woken up during his panic attack. Xisuma however pulled his attention back by gently squeezing his hands and Joe focused back on Xisuma. Xisuma had a gentle smile behind his visor but Joe could see the fear, exhaustion and curiosity clear as day.

Xisuma gently said, “Are you okay Joe?”

Joe numbly nodded and Xisuma only frowned so Joe replied, “I’m fine just.. Worried.”

Xisuma’s eyes softened and he stood up and brought the taller and older man into an embrace, laying them down on the chairs. It was awkward. Joe won’t lie but it was… nice. His chin was under Xisuma’s helmet and their legs were tangled. Xisuma’s hand rubbed circles on Joe’s back gently and softly and for a while Joe almost fell asleep.

He almost did but he stayed awake feeling the soothing motions of the rubbing. The up and down of Xisuma’s chest. He always loved cuddling with his family. It was something they rarely did given how busy they all were. 

But these soft small moments were a blessing and made him happy. They were rare, tucked in between moments of intensity but he appreciated every one. Keralis at some point had woken up and then was dragged into their pile and laid on top of Joe starfish in only the way Keralis could manage. 

Joe was certain they were all uncomfortable to some degree but yet… he and the others didn’t move. It was something they and the two others had gotten used to. Be uncomfortable hanging out. He remembered that once Joel had been upside down on Xisuma’s hips who crunched up between Xb and Joe while Keralis had flopped on Joe and Xb’s legs.

The three of them, while the two others were busy doing things that needed to be done, laid there basking in each other's presence listening to the other's breath. So yes. Joe was grateful for HermitCraft and the Hermits. But he still hated waiting but refused to take a nap so cuddling with Keralis and Xisuma would have to do.

Xisuma checked the time again. It had been 6 hours already and he was worried. Sure he knew the kids' wounds were bad but… how bad would they have to be for Gem and Doc to take so long. Keralis had woken up and was sipping the cold tea. Joe had offered to reheat it but was declined since they didn’t know when Gem and Doc were coming out.

Joe was flipping through chat as some of the Hermits had woken up (Read Bdubs, Tango and Cub) and were chatting in the group chat about things they were going to get done today. It was rather sweet to watch but Xisuma was worried about the kid. Keralis was trying to get him to eat but he refused.

He didn’t want to eat if the kid was in too bad shape and thus Xisuma would lose his food from fear and worry… He was also worried that if he ate he might fall asleep… Keralis wasn’t above drugging him to sleep after all. Nor was Joe for that matter… Xisuma considered what that meant but shrugged it off.

Eventually finally the door opened and out walked Doc and Gem. Xisuma sat straight up. Joe shut off his comm and Keralis set down his tea. Gem had a grim face on and Doc was looking anywhere but at them. Xisuma knew that didn’t mean good news.

Gem cleared her throat and softly said, “Uh so the kid is all wrapped up. Wounds treated with either a healing potion, stitches, bandages or a brace but… it’s…”

Doc interrupted her, “It’s bad X.. like really really bad.”

And really Xisuma knew he and the other three paled a lot. For Doc and Gem to say that? It meant it was likely horrific. Doc had after all treated himself and a few others before. Gem had seen many different injuries given the fact that they had Scar and Grian on the server. So the fact they both agreed it was bad meant it was likely bad.

Gem cleared her throat and continued, “Uh so, the kid was missing their right middle finger it was a clear cut and he has other signs of torture such as whip wounds on his back-”

And Xisuma and Joe exchanged looks. They had both suspected torture after all but for it to be confirmed was awful. Xisuma wouldn’t wish torture or harm or even pain like torture on anyone besides those who truly deserved it but no one did if they were willing to change their ways or were too young to understand the pain they were causing.

Gem continued, “They have a large gash on their left leg, it’s pretty deep and we used a healing potion on it.” 

Xisuma blinked slightly in shock. He was sure the others did too. The kid had been standing and had lunged at Keralis. Sure it wasn’t rare for someone to ignore pain when frightened but there had been no base. No place to rest so the kid likely was walking for hours willingly…

Gem kept going, “There was a wound on their upper left arm from what looked like an arrow. I stitched it up as well.”

Xisuma saw Keralis twitch from the corner of his eye and understood why. The kid had after all lunged with his left arm and it likely pulled at the wound. Xisuma swallowed, this wasn’t painting a picture he wanted to see.

Gem droned on though, “The kid has trauma to the left side of his face… it damaged the left side of his mouth not too deep but will likely pull at the wound while it heals so little talking. And it… It reached his eye.”

Xisuma felt Keralis slump and he swallowed hard. Losing a part of your sight was… it was horrifying and isolating. Xisuma had seen what losing his sight of the void did to Ahriman. It was something he never wanted to see happen to anyone again.

Gem still had more to say, “The kid also has a broken elbow and ribs so bed rest is recommended given all his wounds…”

Xisuma nodded along and Keralis curled up slightly. Xisuma knew without looking Joe was likely trying to figure out who was best to look after the kid during that time. The kid was proven to be a fighter given the fact they had all those wounds but were still fighting and walking around so it was best to put them with someone who matched their energy.

However all those people would likely want to be out and about and that was something the kid wouldn’t be able to do and thus might make him feel isolated… The best fit would have to be someone who could be active but wouldn’t mind settling down for a bit… Joe and he looked at each other. That put every single Hermit back on the list.

Gem however wasn’t done, she cleared her throat and the trio looked at her and she finally said, “And there’s… one more thing-”

Xisuma, Joe, and Keralis all tensed. Whatever was going to be said… it likely wasn’t going to be good. Gem glanced at Doc hesitant but Doc shook his head. It was clear Doc didn’t want to explain it either. 

Finally Gem sighed and ripped off the bandaid and said, “The kid is a cat hybrid. Specifically an underdeveloped hybrid likely from suppressing his traits. Given he’s also malnourished it likely also plays a part.”

The whole room seemed to freeze. There was one thing that made that sentence a death sentence. See hybrids had the room and time to grow to their proper side, just like humans. A set time. If that time ran out it was likely traits would never fully grow. It was something that every hybrid feared.

For hybrids the time was different depending on the hybrid. Avians for example got wings at 4 years old and their wings grew with them. Creeper hybrids however were born with their traits. Sheep hybrids got the tail and ears but wouldn’t get horns till the age of 10 years old which would finish growing at 18. 

Xisuma said, “Which?”

Gem looked away and Doc cleared his throat and replied, “Cat. Best guess would be tabby.”

And the world Xisuma was sure ended. There was a fun tidbit known about cats. They grew at a middle range. They’d grow the same as Sheep would. Earned their ears and tails at 10 but would stop growing around the age 18. Depending on how undeveloped the kid was… it would depend on whether the damage was fixable.

But Xisuma thought sickly. It was very likely the kid's whiskers had been pulled off considering he hadn’t seen any when he saw the kid. Not only that but now the loss of the kids eye was… it was harsher. Most cat hybrids relied heavily on their eyes especially at night to lose such a thing… It was harsh.

Doc continued, “But otherwise? Kid’s healthy. Good bones, no concussion. Nothing else to really note. We’ll keep an eye on his mental stability but I wouldn’t worry too much about it while the kid’s asleep.”

Xisuma, Joe and Keralis nod. If the kid was asleep it was pointless to worry about his mental health. Xisuma knew that the kid would be asleep at least for a few hours. He’d put a heavy command on the kid with sleep. He wasn’t accounting for the fact the kid needed sleep given the dark eyebags until later.

Gem smiled softly at Xisuma, Kerlais and Joe and added, “I would like to let the other Hermits know but I think it’s best to call a meeting about it.”

Xisuma nodded and said, “Yes that’s best… I do want to wait until the kid is awake a bit. At least to explain things to him first before telling everyone else. He deserves that at least.”

Gem and Doc nodded and Doc replied, “That’s for the best. Kid has been through a lot.”

They all nodded and sat in silence for a while. The kid had been through a lot just from what they could see at a glance. Who knows what wounds are no longer visible. Who knows what wounds are on the kids mental health.

Gem finally cleared her throat and said, “Okay, I’m heading home. I think sleeping is a must. Doc that goes for you too. If I need to drag you to my house I will. I want to limit the visits for just while he’s asleep to two people.”

They all nodded and before anyone could say anything Joe stood up and stretched before saying, “I think I need to head home and give these two Dad’s some time with their new son.”

Keralis and Xisuma flushed red at the titles but still waved to Gem, Doc and Joe. Gem gave them a list of instructions on what to do if they needed help or the kid woke up. Xisuma nodded with everyone. He took notes in his head. They were reasonable and easy to understand. 

It was then that Xisuma realized… that perhaps he’d have to keep Gem up after all… The plan to look at the kid’s code could end badly after all. After a moment of compilation Xisuma told Gem that he wanted to examine the kids' code and both Joe and Gem exchanged a look.

Gem said, “Uh, I think I’ll wait here then and make sure it goes okay… I think Joe being there will be good too…”

Doc snorted and said, “Well guess there goes our sleeping plans. Let’s get the kid’s code a check up!”

Keralis smiled and said to Doc, “Oh no big guy you and I are going to go to bed. Leave the code and healing to those three.”

Xisuma blinked and felt a bit guilty. He forgot his friend was likely still tired from earlier after all the cat nap wasn’t likely enough. He wasn’t someone who stayed up nights on end for a project and rather had a healthy schedule and he just offered his friend to stay up just to meet a kid…

But then Keralis looked at him and Xisuma relaxed. He could see the man was sad about leaving but understood he and Doc would be of more use with sleep. He was willing to let Xisuma help their kid with Joe and Gem rather than meet him… This was why Xisuma loved Keralis.

Doc went to object but Keralis, having spent years dealing with Xisuma, dragged the creeper-sheep hybrid out of there calling over his shoulder that he’d be back in the morning to check on his new son and that they’d better be fine and that he expected Xisuma and Joe in bed soon and that Gem better switch with Doc once Doc slept some.

They all nod along with Keralis, knowing better than to argue with him. Gem then leads Joe and Xisuma to the kid. When they finally got a look they both paused. Sure Xisuma was ready to see the kid but honestly… It was still heartbreaking. The kid’s clothes had been cut off and instead he was wearing a light t-shirt and black shorts and bandages swallowed their tiny frame. 

But Xisuma’s eyes drifted to the ears and tail. They looked so small compared to the kid’s frame. It made him sad. He wanted to see if he could put codes on them to help them grow… but dismissed the thought that had no consent. The kid’s left side of their face was covered in bandages right over where the kid’s face had been cleaved at. 

He shuddered and hoped that no one else saw him do that. (Gem did but decided to ignore it. Joe gently set his hand on Xisuma’s shoulder in hopes of soothing the man silently.) Xisuma stepped forward and hesitated on touching the kid.

Sure he knew he could do that and it was likely something he had to do… but he was scared. Scared that what he’d find would be worse than what he’d seen from the small bit of personal server code. He knew it would be. But he still hoped. Joe gently took his arm holding his hand.

Xisuma glanced at Joe and Joe said, “You don’t have to.”

Xisuma shuddered and said, “I do.”

Joe didn’t argue. They both knew he was right. It was a harsh truth but Joe had been a protector of Xisuma and Xisuma knew that if he backed out Joe would support him… But Xisuma knew it needed to be done. He had to help save the kid.

So Xisuma took a deep breath and gently laid his hands on either side of the kid’s head cupping it slightly. His hands nearly covered the kid's head. But Xisuma focuses, takes a deep breath and opens the code.

He goes into the code with his mind leaving behind his body. When he opens his eyes he’s in a void. It’s his coding space really. He’s able to wear his t-shirt and sweat pants here without the oxygen killing him and for that he’s grateful. It was like his home in some ways… that’s why he became an Admin. 

To remind himself of home. He just… he wanted to see his people again, his home again. Of course he couldn’t actually do that. His home had been destroyed long before the server existed after all. He shakes his head dismissing the memories. He takes a deep breath and focuses on the kid’s code and brings it to him. 

He promptly shuts the code off, turns away, lifting up his visor in the process, to throw up. It was horrifying. He’d seen all sorts of code. But never before had he seen code so… so warped. The kid’s code had been destroying itself from what he could see at a glimpse. A lime green attacking a darker green. The lime green seemed to be doing the breaking, tearing apart as much as stitching.

But the stitching wasn’t meant to help. It was stitching the wrong pieces. It was making the damage worse. The dark green code was smashed, ripped, heck he didn’t even know what the original was like. Now the server personal code made sense. He could hear Gem and Joe talking to him but all he could do was breathe.

It was horrifying what happened. What was happening. It wasn’t something he wanted to see ever again but he knew he had to go back in. He had to fix what he could of the kid’s code even if he didn’t want to. But who else but him? Joe wasn’t familiar enough with code. The same applied to others and thus it was only him.

Finally Xisuma focused again and Gem and Joe’s worried words came to him. Xisuma stood up and put his visor on and said, “Something was attacking his code.”

Joe and Gem blinked in surprise and shock. Sure they were expecting answers but so soon and to be so weird? Gem and Joe exchanged looks. They didn’t know player code very well having never been full admins like Xisuma but they knew it was a big deal for code to be attacked much less the personal code of an ADMIN.

Joe softly said, “By what? What does that mean for his server?”

Xisuma shudders and says, “I… I don’t know Joe. By what is the question. For the code to be this damaged it must have been at it for a while. It likely did spread to the server but what could do this and this much damage? I’m not sure. I’ve never seen anything like it…”

Joe and Gem exchanged looks but nodded and Gem said, “What do you need X?”

Xisuma sighed and said, “Time to fix his code. It’s a… well mess. If I can settle it I can wake him up again. I put him to sleep but the code? It’s keeping him asleep. I can tell the-”

Joe and Gem blankly stare at him and he realizes he lost them. While Joe does understand code it’s server code that he really knows and personal code… it tends to bore him. Which makes sense to Xisuma given… Joe doesn’t really have personal code? Well he does just not to the extent others do.

Gem though… she didn’t care about code at all. She focused more on healing people and building things. Xisuma sighed and just shrugged. He turned back around to the kid and placed his hands back and took a deep breath.

He gently opened the kid’s code up and touched it lightly. The dark green code seemed to like his touch, the lime code hissed and tried to burn him. But Xisuma had two nether-hybrids on his server; burns didn't hurt him at all so he whacked the code away. 

The code recoiled away with a hiss but Xisuma ignored it. He kept working, slapping the lime code whenever it got closer and cradling the darker green code closer; eventually he had the two codes mostly untwined; there was just this one knot left. It was clear the lime code was trying to prevent him from getting there.

He paused and came back to the real world and said to Gem, “Do you have a jar?”

Gem blinked, nodded, handed him a jar and Xisuma went back in. Once he finished untangling the two the darker green code hid behind him while the lime code tried to attack and reattach to the darker green code. But Xisuma had chased down Grian and Etho in a split second. The code running away was nothing.

He grabbed it tightly and shoved it into the jar before locking it. He huffed as the code squirmed in the jar but was unable to get out. He snarled at it before quickly darting towards the locked part of HermitCraft, a place only the head admin could access and locked it there along with a few other items.

He had a few items from Grian, two from Doc. Four from Scar and three from Joe. He carefully relocked the place and left, going back to the kid’s code. It was curled up in a tight ball making what he assumed were sad noises. 

Xisuma knew that the player code was more animated and truthful than the players but this level of sadness. It broke his heart he gently took the code and curled up with it laying it on his simple shirt chest and cradled it close whispering sweet nothings to it in order to help soothe it. 

While doing so he gently fixed any more breaks that he could. It wasn’t a lot but he knew he couldn’t do much without overwhelming the code. While cradling the code the code told him barely anything. Just the player's name it belonged to, their gender and that it had been entangled with the other code for a long long time. He gently peeled the code off which let out a series of noises that sounded sad. 

He patted it gently and searched for Gem and Joe’s code. Once he found them  he guided the kid’s- Dream’s code to them and watched as Dream’s code settled and relaxed and the light yellow and colourful code helped Dream’s code relax. He nodded with a smile and left. When he blinked his eyes opened he felt tired. Joe took his arm when he wobbled and led him to sit down.

Gem glanced between him and Dream and said, “Is it done?”

Xisuma nodded with a soft smile and said, “It is. The kid’s name is Dream and he’s okay. He’ll be asleep for a while longer, I want him and his code to rest. My admin code IS off him but he needs natural sleep for a while anyways.”

Gem blinked and the name and gender dropped but nodded and said, “Okay.”

Joe snorted and said, “And me and this guy are off to bed. It’s been long enough that Doc can switch with you Gemmy if you want.”

Gem nods and waves the duo goodbye as they leave. Xisuma leans on Joe as he’s led away and Xisuma closes his eyes. Eventually they reach Keralis’s house who opens the door half asleep. Doc leaves the house fully energized with a cup of coffee to watch over Dream.

As Doc leaves, Keralis drags Joe and Xisuma into his bed with Keralis in the middle. Eventually Xisuma passes out and Joe does too. Finally it all seems to have settled for a bit. He’s reminded of a time with Joel and Xb but the thought fly away when Keralis does his weird purr thing.

He’s done for when Joe starts doing his power thing that soothes Xisuma’s very code. Makes it settle down in a way Xisuma can’t explain. He huffs and closes his eyes knowing it’s his friend's way of telling him to sleep. Xisuma knows that tomorrow the kid will likely be up and about. He’ll have questions but so does Xisuma.

He hopes that it will all be solved with a few simple questions and answers but knowing his luck? The answers will be complicated and long. Xisuma sighs and he finally falls asleep dreaming of a peaceful server with no chaos… nah Xisuma’s just messing. He dreams of all his Hermits getting the love they deserve and him finally getting a break.