Work Text:
The Nether heat was intense today, almost like the lava was hotter than normal. Phil wondered for a brief moment if the Nether had seasons like the overworld did. Summer in the overworld had just begun, so it made sense that it did as well in the Nether.
Phil stepped over the netherrack bridge, his bag full of quartz and gold from a day of mining. He had traded some of the gold with a piglin colony he had found. He got two ender pearls, some leather and almost ten firecharges. A pretty good day to say the least.
Phil smiled as he spotted the Nether portal in the distance, almost home.
Phil checked the sky for any ghasts, before his wings folded out and expanded. Phil didn’t fly in the Nether unless it was necessary, finding it too open to attacks across the lava pits.
But this small distance was fine, it was just on top of a netherrack hill, a bridge leading over to it. But before his feet left the ground, a small squeal caught his attention. It sounded scared, almost distressed.
Phil’s wings folded back in, turning to try and find the source of the sound. When Phil heard the squeal again, he was sure it was a piglin. Following the sound, Phil soon caught sight of a magma cube, oddly interested in a tiny hole dug into the netherrack by the lava.
Phil pulled his sword out of his inventory, he might as well bring home some magma cream for fire resistance potions. It didn’t take more than a few swings of the sword to get rid of all of the cubes. Phil stored his sword away into his inventory again, before bending down and picking up the red and green magma cream.
As he looked up again, Phil came face to face with a tiny… Piglin?
Phil wasn’t sure what exactly he was looking at. It was a child, that much was clear. The clothes were torn and burnt in the edges, hanging loose around the child’s small frame. The thing that puzzled Phil wasn’t the clothes though, it was more the fact the child had the tusks of a piglin, and pointy ears poking out of a mess of pink hair standing everywhere.
Could that child be… A hybrid? Like Phil?
Phil had never seen another hybrid before. His own wings being rare and fascinating for strangers to ask about. But for the first time, Phil was the one wanting to ask questions.
The child held a tiny golden sword, holding it in shaking hands. Phil backed away a bit, seeing that the child was apparently more scared of him than the magma cube from a few moments ago.
The small piglin didn’t seem to relax at all, still holding the sword and hiding behind a rock as a defense.
Phil crouched down on one knee.
“Hey there… You okay?” He asked. The piglin didn’t move, it just watched Phil with big eyes full of fear. Phil slowly reached into his bag, pulling out a baked potato. He held it slowly out to the little piglin, “Are you hungry?”
The piglin eyes seemed to get even bigger, but it stayed put. It’s stomach growled in betrayal, hungry for food. Phil smiled as he placed the potato on the ground and backed up a bit more, letting the piglin get some space.
When it deemed that Phil was far away enough it ran to the potato and started to eat it, gulping it down faster than Phil thought was possible. For a moment he was worried the child would choke.
Phil scratched his hair under his hat, “You’re all alone out here, aren’t you?”
He asked, even if he knew the piglin didn’t understand him. There wasn’t any other piglin in sight for as far as the eye could reach, let alone a hybrid. Phil wondered how the tiny piglin came out here by itself.
“I can’t leave you here.” he spoke mostly to himself, as he saw the child finish the potato. It looked at Phil with the same big eyes again, but this time it wasn't fear in them, it seemed more like curiosity.
Phil chuckled as he opened his bag again.
“You want another one?” The piglins eyes turned to the potato the second it appeared out of Phil’s bag.
Phil placed the potato down on the ground, soon leaving a trail of baked potatoes after himself. The tiny piglin picked them up and ate them until he couldn’t eat anymore. It was a slow walk as the piglin stopped to eat every few steps, but Phil was willing to wait. When the child was full, It then started to just pick up the potatoes, with its arms full it followed Phil. Phil was almost out of potatoes when he reached the portal.
He took his eyes off the small piglin for one second, checking that no more magma cubes had bounced onto the bridge. The piglin leaned down for another potato, two of the potatoes in his arms fell from his grasp and rolled over the blackstone to the edge. He moved his tiny legs as fast as he could to grab it, not wanting to leave the delicious treat behind.
The piglin stuffed the vegetable into his mouth as he heard the cry of a ghast, a ball of fire aiming towards him.
Phil looked back just in time, black wings spreading out and flinging back to send him forward. Holding the tiny piglin in his arm as he pulled out his sword, sending the fireball back to the ghast, before the black wings lifted him higher up into the air.
The piglin dropped the potatoes to hide its face in Phil’s chest, holding his shirt in a tight grip. The dying cry of the ghast was loud. Phil stored his sword away and moved his hand up to stroke the mess of pink hair as he landed on the platform of the portal.
“Okay, I think it’s time we leave.” he said and looked down at the piglin. He smiled as he watched the piglin look with wonder at the purple portal, glad it wasn’t as scared of Phil anymore.
“It’s gonna tickle a bit, okay?” He said, even if the child didn’t understand him.
“Just stay calm.” Phil stepped into the portal.
The sun was setting as they entered the overworld, the sky painted in pink and orange colors. Phil smiled, as he stepped down from the portals platform. He’d looked down at the little piglin in his arms.
It was too busy taking in all the new things, all the colors, to even feel scared as Phil’s wings opened up and lifted them off the ground. It would have been safer walking, but with night creeping up, and the monsters starting to roam free, flying was faster.
Phil landed right by the edge of his house, the cows mooing their greetings. The piglin made a few noises as it spotted a cow. It sounded both scared and curious at the same time.
Phil walked up to the door and pushed it open. He was careful as he set the piglin down again. The piglin took a moment to look around before going running down the hall to explore more, looking over all the weapons and frames littering the walls. Phil locked the door before he placed his bag on the floor. He pulled off most of his armor and placed it in the enderchest by the door. The chest seemed to catch the child’s attention again, coming running back over.
The piglin opened the chest right after Phil closet it, appearing empty now. It looked confused before looking back up at Phil, making a few piglin sounds. Phil chuckled as he crouched down again beside it.
“It’s a magic chest.“ he tried to explain, despite not knowing if the piglin could understand him or not.
“Do you know what magic is?” Phil asked.
The piglin just blinked up at him before turning to open and close the chest again and again. Phil chuckled as he grabbed a hold of the chest lid, he closed it then opened it to show the boy all the books, weapons and diamonds that were stored away in it.
“You put important things in it, so only you can get it out.” he said and closed the lid again.
Phil stood up again, picking up the small boy.
“Enough playing. Let’s get you cleaned up, okay?” Phil suggested and started climbing the stairs to get to the bathroom.
Phil placed the boy down on the toilet and bended over the tub to turn on the tap. He looked at the boy every few seconds to make sure he didn’t fall or go anywhere. Quickly he added soap, before turning back to the boy.
The boy was wearing the same brown shirt and shorts he had seen all the other baby piglins wear. Phil was slow and careful with getting the shirt off him, it was tattered and ruined with burns and holes, not worth keeping or fixing. The boy didn’t seem to mind as Phil placed the shirt in the trash can. Phil would have to make new clothes for the boy in the morning. Phil pulled off his robe and rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, picking up the boy and placing him in the hot water.
The piglin clapped his hands down on the water, splashing it everywhere. Phil chuckled as he crabbed a cup and dipped it in water before pouring it over the boy’s hair, reddish dirt washing down his shoulders. The piglin made a few sounds of protest as he wiggled away, thinking he could get away from Phil by moving to the other end of the bathtub, not realizing Phil’s arms could still reach him.
So whenever Phil poured the water down over the boy’s head, the kid would flee to the other end of the tub. Phil smiled as he picked up some of the soap bubbles with his palm and blew them at the piglin. The boy made a sound Phil guessed were a laugh, before it started blowing and hitting the bubbles around it.
Phil chuckled standing up to get the soap, grabbing a little yellow rubber duck off the shelf next to it before crouching down to the tub again. He held the rubber duck up
“See mate? Toy, quack quack.” Phil shook the duck, the piglin instantly reached out for it. Phil smiled as he handed it down to the boy, seeing him instantly mesmerized by the duck.
Phil was careful as he scrubbed a soapbar over the child's tan skin. The boy was too busy playing with the rubber duck to care or wiggle away from Phil. Phil reached up for the shampoo and poured a good amount in his hands. He struggled a bit with massaging the soap into the boy’s pink hair, seeing as the boy didn’t like the soap running down into his eyes.
“It’s okay, it’ll be over quickly, just play with your duck.” Phil said, filling the cup again to rinse out the soap.
When the bath was finally over, the clean water was now a reddish brown color from all the dirt on the piglin. Phil unplugged the tub, used a towel to pick up the boy and placed him on the toilet. The boy still held onto the rubber duck as Phil started to dry his hair.
Phil dried off the boy’s shoulder when he noticed him yawning, tusks on full display, they weren’t too big, but they still poked out from the boy’s bottom lip. Phil chuckled
“You tired, mate?” Phil asked as he continued to dry off the piglin.
“Just gotta get you dressed and then you can sleep, okay?”
Phil put the towel down and reached for the duck, but the piglin growled slightly, holding the duck closer to himself. Phil moved his hand up in submission.
“Okay, you wanna keep the duck, sure.” he said.
Phil instead picked up the piglin yet again, carrying him out of the bathroom. Grabbing one of his own shirts before carrying the boy to the guest room. It was quick work getting the boy dressed in a white t-shirt. I was clearly too big on him, almost looking like a dress as it hung off the boy’s shoulders. Phil put the boy down on the bed.
The boy was quick to get under the covers, yawning again with heavy eyes. He snuggled down into the soft pillows, the duvet burying him. Phil smiled and placed a hand on the boy's head.
“Sleep tight.” he said, leaving the boy to sleep.
………..
The loudest bang was the thing that woke Phil up the next morning, scaring him so much he almost fell out of his bed. For a second he reached for his sword till he remembered the small piglin hybrid he brought home last night.
for a second he relaxed, knowing it wasn’t an intruder, right until he panicked again. What made that big bang?!
Phil ran downstairs and into the kitchen. The sight he was met with was a nightmare. A few chests laid open, a few items of food thrown on the floor. The flour spilled over the floor marked a pair of tiny footprints. As Phil moved further into the kitchen, he saw a chair was knocked over by the sink, a bucket of milk spilled over the counter top, and onto the floor. A few pots and pans laid thrown out on the floor.
Phil made his way to the fridge, seeing the culprit sitting in the open door of the fridge, raw potatoes littering the floor, all of them with a bite taken out of it. The piglin child looked up at him, a bit of fear in his eyes as it knew it had been caught.
Had Phil been a parent for longer than 12 hours, he would probably have yelled and grounded the child, but right now he could only watch in confusion as the two of them had a staring contest.
“I guess you’re hungry.” Phil said as he took another look around, this was gonna take hours to clean and replace. The piglin made a sound, agreeing with Phil. It remembered that word. Hungry. Phil said that yesterday before the child got all those tasty treats.
Phil sighed tired and smiled, “I suppose you want potatoes again?” he said as he looked over the wasted potatoes. The piglin took a few steps, holding the potato up towards Phil, trying to tell him it didn’t taste the same as yesterday. The potato skin was still on and dirty. Phil picked the piglin up and took the potato into one hand, no bite in this one.
“It has to be cooked first.” he explained and walked over to the furnace, placing the potato over the coal and closing it. Phil looked at the piglin.
“It’ll be ready in a few minutes.” he said and placed the piglin down so it could watch the potato. Phil decided to use the opportunity to clean up some of the wasted food and sweep the flour off his floor.
10 minutes later Phil went back over to the furnace, grabbing a plate and pulling the potato out. The piglin followed after his trial as Phil placed the plate on the dinner table, lifting the piglin up on one of the chairs. The piglin lit up and grabbed the potato with both hands as it started to eat it.
Phil smiled as he sank down into the chair beside the piglin, watching it eat happily. It wasn't as quick to eat the potato as it was yesterday, probably because it felt safer in the little kitchen than in the Nether.
The piglin turned its head to look out the window, watching everything with curiosity. The piglin made a sound as one of Phil’s crows landed on the flower pot outside the window.
“I guess I should give you a name? Can’t keep calling you piglin, right mate?” Phil asked, but the boy was already distracted by the crow, watching it peck and caw at the dirt.
Silently Phil wondered if the boy even had a name to begin with.
“Hey, uhhh, mate.” he tried to catch the boy’s attention again. The piglin turned its head, stuffing another bite of the potato into his mouth. Phil tilted his head in his hand as he rested his elbow on the table, “Do you have a name?”
The little boy blinked and tilted it’s head confused. Phil really hoped this language barrier wouldn’t be too troublesome for long. He placed a hand on his chest.
“My name is Philza. Phil-za.” Phil repeated his name, dragging it out for the boy.
The piglin let go of the potato and pointed at Phil.
“Phikza.” he spoke. Phil smiled wide, so he did understand what Philza was trying to say, even if the piglin language butchered his name a bit.
“Yes, Philza, I’m Philza!” Phil said excitedly, which only made the child even more energetic as it jumped a bit in his seat as it kept repeating the butcher word of Phil’s name.
“Phikza! Phikza! Phikza!”
Phil chuckled and then pointed at the child.
“Do you have a name?” he then asked, the piglin still smiling wide, “Phikza!”
Phil chuckled and shook his head, “No, that’s my name.” he tried to explain as he pointed at himself. He then pointed at the piglin again.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
The piglin blinked a bit and this time said.
“Phikza?” in a more calm and smaller voice.
“Yes that’s me. What’s your name?” Phil asked yet again, hoping the piglin would understand his question soon.
The piglin looked at Phil with a tilt of its head as it processed what Phil wanted from him. The piglin looked down at the half eaten potato in his hand before looking back at Phil.
“Terrcrobade” the piglin said it so carefully, that Phil almost didn’t catch it.
“Tecrobade?” He tried to pronounce it as close as possibly, but it was like he couldn’t bend the letters just right.
“Terrcrobade.” the piglin repeat before taking another bite of the potato. Phil nodded along slightly.
“Okay? Maybe I should give you an overworld version of that name.” Phil said as he leaned back in his chair.
“How about… Technoblade? That sounds cool, right?” He smiled. Phil always wanted a child. A life of immortality was a lonesome life. So maybe this tiny child could be his own, a life to look after and protect.
Techno finished the potato, only smiling back before holding the now empty plate up to Phil. Phil laughed slightly.
“Okay sure, another baked potato coming up.” he said and walked back to the fridge
………………….
Techno had been Phil for almost a week now. By now Techno only knew a few words that Phil understood. He could say Phil’s name, the word potato, which the little boy happily said whenever he pulled a potato out of the ground on the small farm outside in the garden. Techno would sometimes point at one of Phil’s crows and yell ‘Caw’ cause the crows would caw at him when he held the bird seeds for a bit too long.
When Phil had to get milk, Techno got a bit scared when the big animal mooed at him. Techno ran behind a hay bale and Phil couldn’t help the small chuckles as he picked Techno up and sat with him as the cow slowly walked over to them. The cow puffed a bit to Techno's arm. Phil placed a hand on the cow’s head, encouraging Techno to do the same. Not even 30 minutes later Techno was babbling to the cow in piglin as Phil milked it, petting the big head and soft ears.
It was all good, till one night at the end of the first week. Phil had been too quick to get in with a basket full of carrots, that he didn’t see the door close properly after him. The moon was rising up over the forest and over the small house, zombies and skeletons spawning in the shadows of the trees.
“Techno!” Phil called from the kitchen, “I’m making stew for dinner, wanna help?!” he said as he started to store the carrots away. It had been rather hard getting Techno to eat anything that wasn’t potatoes, so far Phil had only really gotten him to eat some carrots and a steak, with a bit of trouble though. Phil hoped if he sliced some potatoes up and put into the stew, then maybe Techno would eat it.
He heard the tiny footsteps come running down the stairs, what he didn’t expect to hear was the sound of an arrow being shot through the room. Phil already had his sword in hand by the time he heard Techno cry out.
Phil basically flew over the kitchen table and out into the hall, seeing a skeleton pulling back its boney arm to shoot another arrow, which Phil managed to dodge and sliced the skeleton twice with his sword before it collapsed into nothing but a few bones. Phil looked up in time to see a zombie making its way up to the door. He rushed forward and slammed the door shut, locking it after.
Phil looked back down the hall, Techno was crying by the stairs, an arrow buried in his leg. Phil rushed over, kneeling down in front of Techno.
“It’s okay, I'm here.” Phil said and reached for Techno faster than he should have. Techno panicked as the arm came towards him, and before he knew it.
Techno bit Phil.
His teeth sank into the flesh of Phil’s wrist, tusks close to ribbing the meat clean off. Phil pushed his arm back against Techno, the piglin’s head meeting the wall as he grabbed onto Phil’s arm.
Phil had pain written clear on his face, but he couldn’t risk moving his arm. One wrong move and this could end horribly. Phil took a deep breath, tears of pain forming in his eyes as he spoke.
“Techno.. It’s okay… Listen to me, you have to relax.”
Techno made a crying noise against the arm, blood smearing over their skin and running down Techno’s chin. Phil let go of the diamond sword and let it rest on the floor, slowly reaching his free arm up to Techno’s hair, gently stroking the pink hair as he hushed the boy, despite the growing pain.
“It’s okay, you’re safe now, I’m here.” Phil cooed gently, keeping the soothing touches up as he watched tears run down Techno’s cheek. The arrow in his leg was still bleeding, and it definitely needed treatment.
“I know, Techno, it hurts, I know.” he said, “I’m gonna help, yeah? Make the pain go away. But you have to let go of my arm.”
Phil knew piglins were known for having strong jaws, and he didn’t doubt Techno could still break his wrist, despite being a hybrid and a child. The hand on Techno’s pink hair slided carefully down to wipe some of the tears away. Phil could feel Techno hiccuping around his wrist.
“Shhh it’s okay, everything is okay, nothing can hurt you now.” he kept cooing. It took a rather long time to get Techno calmed down, but Phil didn’t stop encouraging and reassuring the boy that everything was gonna be okay.
When Techno finally opened his mouth and let Phil’s wrist go, Phil carefully scooped Techno up with his good arm, carrying him to the bathroom. Pulling out the first aid kit, Phil helped pull the arrow out of Techno’s leg. Despite his still bleeding arm, Techno took priority
…………………..
Techno slept in Phil’s bed that night, resting his head on Phil’s chest with the elder’s arms wrapped around him. Phil's thumb stroked gently over Techno’s shoulder, looking up at the dark ceiling.
Phil knew something like this would happen at some point, most people Phil got close to were always destined to die. Being the gifts of life Phil would send to Kristin. It never bothered Phil before, it wasn’t like he had to kill them or physically went on a murdering spree to please his love. No, the people always came to him, some asking for peace, others just happened to cross his path for too long.
They all went to her regardless of Phil’s involvement.
But not Techno. Phil refused to hand this tiny spark of joy over to Kristin. Not yet.
“Kristin?... I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can.” Phil whispered into the air of the bedroom, looking down at the top of Techno’s head.
“Please, don’t take this child yet. There’s greatness in him, I know there is.” Phil looked at his bandaged wrist, two faded dark red spots just visible in the white.
“I’ve given you so many already, please let me keep this life for a little longer. Bless him with the same curse I have.” Phil almost begged, a black wing coming around to cover Techno, the child snuggling closer to Phil, soft snores coming from him as he got comfortable.
“Please let this be the one life I can keep as my own.” Phil's eyes grew wet. He had only had Techno for a week, but he would rather die than lose the boy. Hell, he would rather lose his wings if it meant Techno could grow up safe and happy.
“Please, give him a chance to live.”
Phil wasn’t sure if Kristin heard his prayer, but nothing bad happened to Techno after that. That night became nothing but a scary memory, as months passed on.
………………..
Techno ran along the path, the long red coat swaying in the wind and bag swinging back and forth as he ran. Phil walked further down, watching his son run through the ruins of the village they found.
The still clean water and lit torches told Phil that the pillagers had just been here, raiding and destroying the town. Not a person was insight, the cattle and sheep grazing out on the plains around the ruins.
“Dad!” Techno called out, not in pain or in fear. “I’m stuck!”
Phil shook his head, walking down the path and turning the corner to see a broken down wall, his son caught in a spider web. Techno wiggled a bit.
“Dad help, it’s gonna get in my hair.”
Phil chuckled as he pulled out a dagger, “Alright mate, stand still. I don't wanna cut you.” Phil said as he started to work the knife between the webs. Techno waited patiently as he watched Phil work.
Once free from the webs, Phil grabbed Techno and lifted him down from the wall.
“Watch where you’re going, there's spider webs everywhere.” Phil said as he stepped into the house, opening up the chest to check for food or emeralds.
“I will.” Techno called over his shoulder as he started to look around again. He walked towards the broken water fountain, a bell hanging on the top of it. Techno bent down to pick up a rock from the path. He threw it at the bell, making it clang loudly.
The sound caused something to scuffle in one of the still standing houses. Techno looked over at it, the door was broken in half and a window was shattered. Glass scattered around.
Techno walked over towards the house, peaking over the door and into the shadows of the tiny house. There was a hole in the roof, causing sunlight to shine down on a green bed, more glass laid scattered on the floor.
Techno blinked as his eyes landed on a boy staring at him, pressed into a corner with a bundle of red blankets in his arms. Techno tilted his head as he looked the boy over, noticing the dirt on his face and the holes in his pants. Techno couldn’t see the boy’s middle because of the red blankets, but his arms were skinny and lanky.
He looked hungry.
“Techno! Don’t go running where I can’t see you.” Phil’s voice came from a burnt down building close to the water fountain, moving some of the burnt oak planks out of the way as he stepped out on the path again to walk closer to Techno.
“There's a boy in there,” Techno said and pointed into the house. Phil frowned as he came up next to Techno, looking into the house. At the sight of Phil, the kid moved further back, pressing his back flat against the wall, holding the bundle of blankets even closer to his chest. Phil noticed the boy looked older than Techno, probably around 9 or 10 years old.
“I think he’s hurt,” Techno said and looked up at Phil. Phil nodded and carefully pressed on the broken door, the hindiges shrieking as it opened up.
Phil walked into the house, slow as to not scare the kid. He moved down on one knee to the boy’s eye level, making sure to seem as non threatening as possible. Techno moved behind Phil, looking over his shoulder.
“Hey, are you okay?” Phil asked, noticing the way the boy was shivering, big eyes watching Phil like a hawk. With hesitation, the boy shook his head.
Phil nodded, “Where does it hurt?” He asked. The boy looked at his leg, the left pant leg was ripped open, showing a cut covered in dry blood. Phil moved to look through his bag, finding a healing potion.
He offered the boy a kind smile and held his hand out for him, “I can help, can I get closer?” The boy bit his lip, looking between Phil and the cut on his leg. He then nodded quickly.
Phil was slow as he moved closer, pulling the cork out of the potion bottle and gently taking the boy’s wounded leg. “It’s gonna sting for a short moment.” he warned, the boy gave a nod before Phil poured the glimmering liquid over the boy's wound.
The boy held on tighter to the bundle of blankets in his arms, a soft cry starting to hiccup from it. Phil pulled the potion away, his attention now on the blankets in the boys arms.
“I’m Phil, this is Techno.” Phil said, the baby’s cries growing louder.
“What’s your name?” He tilted his head slightly and smiled. The boy relaxed a bit, but the shivering wouldn’t stop.
“Wilbur…” he said.
Phil smiled, “That’s a nice name. And who's that?” He asked and nodded towards the baby in the blankets. Wilbur held the tiny baby protectively, trying to calm its cries “Tommy.” he answered.
Phil held his hands out, arms open.
“May I?” Wilbur looked conflicted, not wanting to let go of Tommy in case it was a trap. But he felt so tired.
He ended up giving Tommy to Phil.
Phil sat down on the floor completely, cradling the baby and hushing him gently.
“It’s okay, you’re okay, ssshhhh.” he hushed. He moved one hand up to move some of the blanket down to look at his face, Tommy catching his fingers in his tiny hand. Phil's heart squeezed in his chest, the smile growing wider on his face.
Techno hovered behind him, looking with curiosity at Wilbur and Tommy as Phil calmed them both down. Tommy quieted down, the other tiny hand getting a hold of Phil’s green jacket.
Phil turned his attention back to Wilbur, seeing his wound was healing up thanks to the magic potion.
“Techno and I are traveling through the area. You and your brother can come with us, if you’d like?” He offered.
Wilbur pulled a bit on the sleeves of the yellow sweater he wore, before he nodded. Phil stood up, holding Tommy with one arm and offering his free hand to Wilbur.
Wilburs legs shook as he stood up, holding Phil’s hand in a tight grip. Techno stepped out of the way as Phil led Wilbur outside and into the sun. Techno opened his own bag and pulled out an apple. He bumped it against Wilbur’s arm, Wilbur immediately pulled his arm back as all his attention turned to Techno.
Techno didn’t move back, still holding the apple out to Wilbur.
“You’re hungry.” he stated. Wilbur blinked, looking at Techno’s tusks. Techno just pressed the apple against Wilbur’s chest.
“Eat.”
Wilbur reached his free hand up to take the apple, “Thank you?”
Techno gave a simple nod.
Phil smiled.
“Let’s go home and get you boys cleaned up,” he said. Tommy reached up to try and get his hands on the black feathers on Phils wings. Together, they walked down the path between the ruins, crossing the plains to go home.