The new face

Dream never ran faster in his life, enough to make Sapnap worry. He forgot all about his mask as panic settled in his chest as he threw open the door to the infirmary. His stomach dropped when he saw the room trashed. The desk he always sat at was close to breaking, the bed George laid in when he first got here was tipped over. There were animals cowering in one corner of the room, and in the other, George was pressed against the wall, bleeding from his chest as more spilled over his right eye.

Patches stood in front of him, bigger with sharper features than usual, in a protective stance against the bobcat with similar features to the supposed house cat. They both were growling at each other, a sound that sent shivers down Dream's spine. He slowly stepped forward, which caught the bobcat's attention. It stepped back to glare at Dream who held up his hands, "I-I just want to calm you."

"Oh shit," Sapnap finally reached the door but he went unnoticed.

"Please, don't hurt anyone any more, i-it'll make your recovery process take even longer...a-and you won't see your family faster," Dream knelt to the floor, almost desperate, "Please."

The bobcat let out an unsatisfied growl but ultimately stood straight, dropping his attack. Sapnap could tell what Dream wanted to do, so he stepped toward the bobcat, "Here, let me help you, you're all banged up because of Patches, right? I'm a dragon, so you can trust me just as much as you trust the dragon nurse."

Sapnap nervously picked up the bobcat, sighed with relief when he wasn't torn to bits, and left immediately. He'll chew Dream out more later.

Dream, without a second thought, made his way over to George, "George! I-I'm so sorry for leaving you in here!" Patches hissed at him, signifying her disappointment in Dream but he couldn't care less, George was bleeding.

The Brit stared wide-eyed at Dream, "Y-Your eyes..."

"Now's not the ti-"

"And you've got fangs...! I bet you really trigger someone's odontophilia," Dream knew the only reason why George was joking at this time was because truly, he's scared.

He bit down guilt and sadness as his eyes raked George's body, "Your chest and head, is there anywhere else you're hurt."

"He bit my leg pretty badly."

Dream looked around and huffed angrily, there's no real place to lay George down to help him. Instead he quickly got up, took his supplies over to George, and had him lay on the floor (of course with a pillow he kicked over).

First, Dream checked his wounds. He made sure the bite wasn't bleeding before he stopped the blood on his chest and head. All while George was growing paler with the loss of blood.

It only took a few minutes for Sapnap to come back, luckily without the bobcat. Dream growled, "Sapnap, get your ass over here and help!"

"Fuck, man, I just walked in," despite that, Sapnap was knelt by Dream to help his clearly distressed friend. He put aside his own emotions and thoughts to help clear the negative emotions from those golden green eyes.

George could only stare at Dream throughout this entire situation. He was handsome, but those golden eyes were unnatural. They would've been terrifying if they didn't water with unshed tears and that burning guilt that was set ablaze within Dream.

To say George was disappointed that he'd seen Dream's face like this was an understatement. But sometimes things don't play out like how one wanted. So much so, that George was scared. He was scared that he wouldn't see those golden green eyes again, so he refused to allow the pull of sleep engulf him. He refused to close his eyes in attempts to soothe the spinning world around him. George didn't want to never see those eyes again. They're pretty, just like Dream.

But as I've said, sometimes things don't play out like how one wanted.

Luckily, the two had stopped the bleeding. Sapnap, under Dream's demand, created a regeneration potion with the materials he just brought back from his expedition. The dark-haired man didn't even need to question Dream on why he was tearing up as he carried George to the room he's been staying in. Though he was still unhappy about having a hunter in their nest. Sapnap watched as Dream disappeared behind the door with George unconscious in his arms.

He felt something rub against his leg. When he looked down, he met eyes with Mars.

"How long has he been here?" Sapnap waited until he got his answer from the big cat, "He's been awake for five days. In five days, can someone change their mind about dragons?"

Patches walked in and looked at Sapnap. He didn't need to hear her to understand what she wanted him to know. If someone can fall in love in five days, then yes.

The slightly injured cat pawed at the door expectantly, so Sapnap let her in the room. Once inside, the door was shut behind her. Patches meowed to let Dream know she was there as she walked towards the bed where Dream was making sure he fixed George up enough.

"It's my fault. I left him there when I panicked. I didn't want George to be scared of Sapnap but now he's scared of me," Dream bit back his tears because once he starts, he won't stop. "Thank you, Patches, for being there to protect him. He would've-...he could've been gone without you there."

The cat promptly ignored Dream as she jumped up onto the bed, laying down beside George. Her purring was loud, a soothing vibration against the unconscious man's body. Dream didn't say anything after that. He couldn't, or else he'd feel the overwhelming amount of guilt that lightly ate at him right then.

Sapnap heard it. He heard the sadness in Dream's voice. The man had always worn his heart on his sleeve, no matter if it was good or bad for him. Sapnap leaned away from the door and walked towards the kitchen with Mars trailing behind, "So Dream fell for a hunter?"

He laughed dryly at what Mars said, "How can that fool not know he did? It's unfortunate that the hunter got mauled by the dragon, I would've already questioned him if he wasn't half dead right now."

Sapnap's amber red eyes softened as he prepared food for Dream, knowing that he must be drained from today's events. Mars sat patiently beside Sapnap, knowing how much he cared for his friend. They were like brothers and that's what the dragon's nest symbolized. It's created with two or more dragons, either by blood or completely different types, who care for each other deeply. So much that they use their territory to be their nest where they can power down and be themselves without any worry. It's a home where they can run to, a place where there should be nothing but love and family.

Dream and Sapnap found each other when they were young and orphans. They decided that they would be each other's family and build their own dragon's nest. And that's what they did. Then Dream developed a love for healing others, so Sapnap allowed him to bring the injured to their nest where they both knew they were supposed to be safe. But, once again, something's don't turn out the way one wanted.

Once Sapnap was done, he brought the meal to the room, knocking lightly before entering, "Got you food, you look like you need it."

Dream looked up from George, as if he was lost in his train of thought, "Oh...thanks, Sapnap."

The drake shifter smiled and gave the plate to Dream, "Yup. How's he holding up?"

The golden green eyes scanned over George, "He's moved a bit, so that's good. Hasn't woken up, probably won't be for the rest of the day considering the amount of blood loss. Patches has been with him for a bit since she's the smartest one here and starting sharing her healing process with him."

"The smartest," Sapnap crossed his arms when silence fell upon them. He debated if he should even ask the questions in his head. He does anyway, "How'd you meet him?"

"He was injured after fighting that shifted drake that attacked him, I took him in with the drake. He woke up the next day confused, a little reserved, and stubborn," Dream smiled at the memory.

"What's he like?"

"Funny. He's also charming and rather flirty. Sometimes I catch him off guard and he gets red, it's honestly cute. And he's tough. Not to mention he would help me without a second thought. I told him that I should be getting ready to go out searching for you, but I didn't want to leave the injured alone, he right away said he would do everything."

Before he could continue, there was a click on the window. The two dragon shifters look towards the window to see Para. Sapnap went to open it and she tweeted happily. When she hopped in, a falcon landed on the sill.

"She can fly! It's barely been two days," Dream smiled softly, "That antidote really did the trick."

Para flew over to the headboard of the bed, looking down at George sadly. The falcon released a small, concerned noise as she made her way towards George. Sapnap looked towards Dream, "Is this the wyvern you mentioned he helped you with?"

Dream nodded, "Yeah, and she's really thankful towards him. You know how lost wyverns are."

"Has she marked him?"

"No."

The falcon landed on the pillow beside George. Mars looked up at Sapnap as if asking permission to join the shifted dragons, making him laugh, "He's pretty popular with the shifted. He's even got you wrapped around his finger."

That made Dream look from George to his friend, "What? What do you mean?"

"Right, Mars said you hadn't noticed."

"Hadn't noticed what?"

"I'll let you figure that out yourself."

"Wait, no, answer me."

"Why should I help you? You're the idiot here."

Dream deadpanned, "Says the one who kept eating the pans."

"I was looking for fuel and there was no other metal that I liked!"

"Lava dragons are annoying."

"Hey, at least I can shift, unlike you."

"Yeah, okay. Did you eat the pan you made this in?"

"Saints, can you shut the fuck up?"

"Stop it, you dumb fuck-"

"Get your foot out of my face, you're disgusting!"

"Boo hoo, cry me a river, you cheater."

"I won fair and square, stop being a sore loser."

"I am not being a sore loser, you just cheated."

"Considering you tried to set fire to my cards, I think I won fairly."

"Mars, what do you think?"

"Hah, even he agrees with me."

"I thought you were my friend. Where's Beckerson, he's my favorite now."

"Probably scanning again."

"That tiny bitch."

There was a thump and a wheeze.

"BECKERSON!"

"Oh my- that was the best timing ever."

"I'm stuffing you in a frame, Beckerson, c'mere!"

George is too tired to open his eyes or mouth. So he falls back asleep.

"Do you think he's gonna wake up any time soon?"

There was a sad sigh, "Hopefully soon, it's been fourteen hours since he fell unconscious."

"Well, is he still bleeding? Might wanna check that."

"Where's the cards, I'm gonna shove them down your throat."

"Bite me, defect."

"I still have sharp teeth, Sapnap," Dream mumbled.

Sapnap scoffed, "Oh, so scary. Not like I can literally spew out fire from my throat right now."

There was a hiss beside George, it came from Patches. "That was an empty threat, please don't shift," Sapnap rushed out.

George silently opened his eyes this time, squinting at the two figures beside him who looked at each other.

"Oh, so you're scared of the cat and not the guy that can poison you in your sleep?"

"Well, the cat is a hydra. I'd rather not have three angry heads chopping at me as I run for my life. Plus, I can easily outrun you considering I can shift."

"Okay, I get it, you're a better dragon shifter, now stop mentioning it or I will literally leave you to fix yourself up when Patches shifts," Dream smirked, "Because I think you just pissed her off."

Sapnap goes over to Mars, "I think the fuck not."

Mars nipped at Sapnap and moved away, "You traitor."

There was a clicking noise that rang out above George. When he looked, he saw the falcon he remembered Dream brought into the infirmary. He remembers that it's the wyvern, "Hi again."

"George!"

The Brit looked over at Dream who was now looking at him with relief-filled eyes. The smile he adorned was bright, "You're awake, are you feeling okay? Is there any-AH!"

Sapnap yanked Dream back from behind and clipped on his mask, "Where's your brain?"

When Dream recovered, the mask was on incorrectly and his hair was a mess. It made George laugh a little.

Dream turned in his seat, back towards George, to take off the mask and fix it, "You could've done it nicer."

"Since when am I nice?"

"Right, I forgot you were a certified dick," When Dream turned around again, his long hair was fixed and the mask was straight, "Are you feeling okay, George?"

George took a second to answer, "I think so." He looked around the room, "I think I really am a magnet."

Patches rubbed against George's cheek as Dream sighed, "So no pain?"

"No pain," he repeated.

Sapnap grumbled, "Well, he did have Patches on him the entire time-"

"Don't be a smartalec," Dream turned to his friend.

"I thought you were gonna get him food," Sapnap crossed his arms. Dream stood up, mumbling something along the lines of "I'll be back". Once the door was closed behind Dream, the room fell silent.

George slowly sat up, the pain in his chest was now noticeable along with the pain in his head. He couldn't do anything about it though, so he stomached it.

"You're a dragon hunter, right?"

The Brit looked up at the amber red eyes that could burn holes through him if he tried. It wasn't natural, not like any humans...but it was similar to Dream's golden green eyes. George forgot to answer until the shifter hissed at him, "I-I am!...I was?...Wait, no, wait. Uh..."

It took a few moments for him to collect his thoughts through the pain, "I'm currently in the Hunter Corps, yes. But I'm in no condition to hunt, and neither do I want to...unfortunately, once you become a hunter, you must serve ten years before you are given a chance to continue serving or not. There's no exception unless the hunter dies."

"So, you're a threat."

"What? No, I'm not a threat! I wouldn't do that to Dream. Plus, I literally just got mowed down, I'm no threat to a fly."

Sapnap had a sharp glare, "Clearly."

George would've felt slightly offended if he didn't believe that he deserved this treatment.

"Are you aware of dragon shifters?"

"If I didn't know any better, I believe you're one," George curses his automatic sass.

The dark-haired man stood there, face empty of any emotion that George could possibly use to help him out in this interaction, "Fine then. Where is your platoon?"

"Dead."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm pretty sure after seeing the drake shred them like paper," he really wished that he didn't have a sharp tongue now.

"So why are you the only one that survived?"

"I'm mainly an archer, I stayed in the trees until I misstepped and fell. That was around the time only a fourth of my platoon was still alive."

Sapnap's glare darkened, "Are you hiding something?"

"What do you mean," George questioned but didn't get an answer. "I don't know where my weapons are, if you're asking. Only Dream does. Honestly, you can ask Dream if I was hiding something in the clothes I wore for hunting. I have no idea where he put them if he kept them. And I've been with him almost the entire time since I woke up. The only time I was really by myself was when he told me that Para, Patches, and Mars were dragons shifted into animals. I slept alone that night."

"In this room?"

"Yes."

Sapnap looked down to the small vinous-throated parrotbill. It flew up and landed on the dragon shifter's left shoulder, letting out a small chirp. The shifter looked back to George, "I'm giving you one chance, hunter. If you are to hurt any creature in my dragon's nest, I'll tear you apart. Understand?"

"Yes," George immediately responded. The falcon on the headboard jumped down onto the pillow behind George and waddled it's way to George's side. She basically shrieked at Sapnap, spreading her wings.

It took the dragon shifter aback, he looked at the falcon who folded her wings, still staring at Sapnap. George was far beyond confused at what was happening.

It was silent for a while until Dream came back in, "If you want any more food, I can get you more, George."

Dream handed the plate of food to George, not noticing the tension in the room yet, "Th-Thanks..."

But he did notice the stutter, "Is something wrong?"

Dream looked towards Sapnap, then the falcon. He slowly realized what he just walked in on, "Did you say something, Sapnap?"

"I said what I needed to say."

Dream tilted his head, "And that is?"

The two turned to the falcon, which made George look at her too but not really finding anything to note-

The dirty blond turned to Sapnap with a sharp tone, "You did what?"

"It's our dragon's nest and you brought in a hunter. A dragon hunter, Dream. I'm only protecting it since you can't anymore!"

"You threatened an injured man, Sapnap. That's totally protecting our nest," Dream spoke sarcastically with a hint of venom.

"An injured hunter! Put yourself in my shoes! Leave for a few days and come back to find that your brother is housing someone that kills dragons for a living just for breathing."

"Then put yourself in mine. Go out and find a dying person on the floor, bleeding out, with dead bodies all around. Tell me what you would do."

George couldn't help but feel like shit for starting this fight between the two. The hold on the plate tightened.

"That doesn't change the fact that he has innocent blood on his hands. Don't you remember the baby dragon we found dead last month? The amount of poison in their bloodstream was way overkill. Plus, he doesn't need to fight, he just needs to land a blow with his poison arrows and that's it."

The Brit looked down because it's true. He doesn't need to fight. He's an archer, all he needs is a bow and arrow and he's just as deadly as a healthy hunter. And the baby dragon. Was he the one that killed them? No, he wasn't. He hadn't even seen a baby dragon yet. But Sapnap didn't know that, so that didn't stop him from blaming George.

"Don't you think I would've known that? Do you see any arrows? I'm not an idiot, Sapnap, I knew what I was getting myself into when I took him in."

"But did you know what you were getting the nest in?"

The dragon's nest is a place that is supposed to be safe. So the fact that Sapnap considered George a threat completely shatters what a dragon's nest is. George knew that.

Before anything else could be said or thought of, the falcon shrieked loudly, tearing the argument and the rabbit hole George fell through apart. She jumped forward, spreading out her wings, creating a wall from the two arguing and George. Another shriek rang through the air.

Dream looked at George, "George?"

The falcon somehow spread her wings farther, shielding George from them.

Sapnap scoffed, "I'm checking the grounds, to make sure there's nothing that would hurt our nest." He turned toward the door, "C'mon, Mars."

The mountain lion didn't move, which annoyed Sapnap, "Mars."

He didn't move a muscle. The dragon shifter hissed and slammed the door shut behind him.

Dream looked like he wanted to say something but he decided against it. He paused for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry...uh...if you need anything, ask Mars, Patches, or Para. I'm sure they'd be happy to help you."

And with that, Dream left. The door closed softly behind him. Only then did the falcon-disguised wyvern fold her wings.

Patches rubbed her head against George, as if to ask him if he's alright. He didn't answer. Instead, he put the food down on the nightstand with a tired sigh. Mars finally moved, but towards George and placed his head on the bed. The Brit slowly went to lie down, the shifted dragons around him gathered on the bed to surround him in a warm pile.

The human glanced at the falcon and smiled, "Thanks for stopping them from fighting."

She let out a small click. Para nuzzled closer to George's cheek with a small chirp of her own, telling George to rest now.

The purr of both cats pulsed through George, lulling him to sleep that he felt he very much needed to drown out all the negative thoughts he just had. He felt happy that he was surrounded by the four of them. Lucky, even, to have four dragons there to comfort him when they could've just left him alone to let his guilt eat at him whole. But they didn't let him.