(Also for Alternative Whumptober 1 “Wake up”)
The team had been traveling through the forest for a few days now, they were on the move to their hideout. Sun was heading up the rear keeping an eye on the perimeter around them, always hyper-vigilant. After everything they’d been through no one blamed them. Sun was a natural leader, naturally protective, like everyone’s big sibling.
Sun’s stoic scanning face cracked into a smile, watching Crimson sneakily jump onto West’s back. He was so used to this maneuver from the team’s weapons and tech expert, he easily caught her wrist as she put her arms out to grapple West’s broad shoulders. He flipped her over his shoulder, flinging her into a bush to the side of him. Koanya busted out in high peals of laughter, they clutched their stomach, the smallest and right up front, they brushed a low branch out of their way. Ko’s laugh fell short as they moved a branch aside.
The small healer’s eyes went wide, “S-Sun? You’re gonna wanna see this” they barely breathed no louder than a whisper.
Sun pushed forward through the group, worry creasing their brows. “What-? Oh... Oh gods..” they pressed past the foliage and into a small clearing where a bloody body was propped up against a tree, barely breathing. The figures clothes were torn and nearly destroyed but Sun could tell they were formal- Royal- clothes.
Sun stopped short, feeling everyone else behind them bumble to a stop. They dug the heels of their muddy boots into the earth, grounding themselves, their face hard and protective.
A tall broad figure in a regal emerald green cloak, clasped at the shoulder with a golden emblem marking him as a Lord. The drawn gun in his hand pointing right at Sun had their strong tan arms shooting out to protect their team. They would die before they let this asshole shoot anyone in their little misfit family.
“Hey, hey now, man, no one needs to get hurt” they took a tentative step forwards and to the side, sweeping West behind them and Ko to the side. They didn’t have a third hand to be touching crimson, but that’s what the protocol is for. Sun didn’t have to worry about that because they knew West had a hand on Crimson and a hand on Ko. Sun also knew West would protect them to the death if anything happened to them.
The cloaked man just flashed them a sharp wolfish grin.
“Oh, how precious” he snarled, laughing dark and high like a lightning bolt hitting a tree. Only to leave fire and destruction in its wake. “What exactly are you supposed to be?” He looked over the whole group more closely, as if he was picking them apart in his head. His eyes widened and he gasped once he landed on Crimson, her tail visible above her head and her wings fluttering in defensive anger having caught his eye.
“What are you doing with that thing?” He recoiled, disgusted, gun lowering minutely in his surprise. “That thing should be in a cage somewhere”
Sun could barely hold her back as Crimson barreled against the barrier of Suns arms. They were strong but they couldn’t hold Crimson back for long when her rage got a hold of her. Thankfully, West stepped in, putting a calming hand on her shoulder
“Hey, hey-“ he fell suddenly forward as he got an accidental bright red feathered elbow right in the chin. His grip on her shoulder got tighter, his other hand grabbing the elbow that hit him “You’re okay ‘mon, hey-!”
The man just chuckled, laugh building as the half-griffin struggled to get to him to shred him to pieces. “Aww, the mutt seems familiar with the cage. Someone should reacquaint you.” He hummed, face bright and triumphant. The gun was almost all the way at his side now, his other hand on his hip, foot tapping as he considered the ragtag group.
West had to put Crimson in a headlock to get her not to tear Sun’s hair out in an effort to climb over them to get to the man with the gun who would most definitely shoot her. Luckily West was about twice her size, his training peeking through as he kept her immobilized from the waist up as her legs kicked wildly and her head swung from side to side.
Sun pushed the group further along the edge of the clearing inching closer and closer to the tree that had that slumped person against it.
They struggled to keep their arms up, but they couldn’t until everyone was safe, even this hurt guy against the tree. They managed to glance down between them and West, checking in on Koanya. They had their little dagger out but downward in a defensive position and to the side as they pressed against Suns hip in the middle of the formation. It was protocol to keep Ko in the middle.
Their eyes flicked back to the danger in front of them, taking a shaky breath, One foot, then the other. Okay. They concentrated and breathed. Slowly, sparks at first crackled and shone around Sun’s fingers, rubbing together for friction. A few flames sprung from their fingertips as they moved forward.
They were parallel now to the snickering lord in front of them. West and crimson were entirely covered by the tree.
“Ko!” West hissed, jerking his head back motioning them to get over to him. Crimson was much calmer now, but she was limp and scowling in West’s arms.
Ko scurried behind the tree beside West, his arm snaking around their shoulders and they instinctively pressed their body close to his side, breathing in his familiar scent. They put their hand in Crimsons, her scowl softening after the initial start of suddenly touching her hand. She smiled down at Koanya, wanting to reassure them now that their vision had mostly cleared of red.
Sun took a step away from the others and towards the Lord, his cloak flowing in the wind blowing across the clearing. They took another tentative step, lifting their hands, now engulfed in a blaze. Before they could say or do anything he held a hand up, stopping the leader.
“No need, Mage. You can have him.” He said dismissively with a wave of his hand. He holstered his gun. “I’m going back to the castle. I’ve had as much fun with him as I can for now anyways. You get him healthy and I just might see all of you” he made eye contact with Sun and then darted over to Crimson with a wink and a smile, “someday.” he hummed as if in thought but his face never dropped his shark smile as he turned on his heel and disappeared into the forest going the opposite direction.
Sun let out a breath they didn’t know they were holding. Adrenaline coursed through them and they immediately turned from tense and scared to directing the team now that the danger had passed.
“Ko, I need you here” Sun ordered, kneeling beside the figure finally able to look clearly at him for the first time. He looked starved, Sun noticed jutting collarbones and sternum before they saw the blood seeping from his lower stomach.
“Looks like a stab wound” Sun went to put pressure on the wound and the unconscious lump jolted awake, screeching in pain. Sun gasped, ripping the man’s rags of a shirt off to reveal dark purple blooms across the guys ribs.
“Fuck, I’m sorry dude. Ko, start with the stab would, then the ribs. Set any more broken bones you can manage and I’m going to start sewing up the cuts on his arms and legs.” They looked from the subject to Koanya, they gave a resolute nod from behind large circle wire framed glasses, their small round face so serious it would be cute if the situation wasn’t so intense right now.
Sun had clocked a bunch of red all over his arms and legs but upon further inspection they were intricate geometric patterns, some kind of floral looking and some looking like alien language. It all flowed in and out of each other like a giant pattern.
“Fuck” they whispered under their breath. Luckily only a few places were bad enough to be stitched up. They took their backpack off and got the med kit out, 25 stitched over four limbs that’s not that bad in Suns book.
They looked up and Koanya was on their knees, blue glowing magic flowing into the abdomen, sweat pouring down their face. Sun felt shining pride in that moment, Ko had come so far. The stab wound was gone and the ribs looked almost there.
“Good job, kid” Sun smiled as they hoisted themselves up, checking in with West, making sure Crimson was okay and released. Warmth bloomed in Koanya’s chest, they always felt like the weakest member of the group, they liked feeling helpful.
Ko took a small break, breathing heavily as they wiped their brow with the back of their small arm. The guys face twitched and he let out groans and moans as his ribs clicked and creaked back into place, sometimes eliciting gasps from the unconscious man.
Ko wondered who he was, they shook the man a little by his shoulder
“Hey? Um, hey guy?” They said gently, as if waking up a child from a nap.
They peered over his face as his brows came together, shaking his head and whining high pitched.
“Nnnn-” he moaned and tilted his head to the side. Ko gasped in surprise, and shook the man’s shoulder harder
“No, hey! Hey, wake up!” They insisted. His eyes fluttered open, unfocused and blurry.
He immediately squeezed them shut with a grimace. He tried to push himself up bracing his hands on the ground and fell back harshly against the tree with a sharp cry.
“Gods alive! My arms, fuck!” He pulled his arms up in front of him, making sure they weren’t touching anything. He looked down but just saw white bandages and felt the sting of antiseptic.
Koanya scurried away from the sudden outburst, hiding behind Crimson.
Sun strode forward, kneeling quickly by the yelling new man
“Shh, I know I know honey.” They said, taking the mans hands gently “I know it hurts. Can you tell me your name?” They asked, trying to get the man to look at them. He sucked in a breath through gritted teeth.
He exhaled and tried not to focus on the pain. “I-I,” inhale, shakey exhale “Atlas” he gave a toothy grin that would have been charming if he wasn’t desperately trying to keep himself together.
Sun racked their brain “where do I know that name?” Their eyes went wide as they realized suddenly, looking back over their shoulder at West, and back at Atlas. “Prince Atlas?” they shook their head, standing and nodding to West. The two of them helped him gingerly to his feet “Well I'll be damned”
Atlas nodded “T-thank you” he nodded at Sun and looked wildly between this he rest of them, grateful tears welling up in his eyes. Sun clasped the new friend on the shoulder where they knew the cuts didn’t reach.
“All of us have been through things and we all found each other, most of us in your shape or worse” their eyes softened. “You’re one of us now. Or you will be.” Their gentle hand on his shoulder squeezed a bit.
Atlas’s shoulder sagged in relief. He hadn’t expected that at all, to be protected and accepted without even a question? His body was overwhelmed with exhaustion, he had been running on adrenaline and terror. Now that he finally felt safe it was like all his pain and exhaustion crashed down on him at once. He barely registered being picked up as his heavy eyes finally closed. He snuggled closer to the warmth surrounding him as his world went black.
