Robbie wakes up to an unknown gurgling sound from outside the tent. Compulsively, he glances to where Sportacus had been sleeping. The man's blanket is in a tizzy, with a shredded baseball resting on the corner. Robbie inches toward his backpack and retrieves his pocketknife. Keeping it close to his person, he slowly creeps out of the tent. A large shadow pierces the wind, knocking Robbie to the ground.
He maintains a steady grip on his knife, unfortunately allowing it to slice into the palm of his hand. He pulls himself to his knees, crawling on the forest floor. A rustling is heard to the side and Robbie pounces, only to find a terrified rabbit. He shakes his head and turns in another direction and comes face-to-face with the sharp fangs of one of the creatures. Robbie freezes, eyes widening at the close contact.
"Ro-Ro!"
The creature's attention leaves Robbie and begins snaking around to attack the new voice. Robbie jumps up too. He recognizes that voice as his sister's. He attempts to climb a nearby tree for a bird's eye view but sees that he is too nervous to actually do anything productive. He starts running around the woods and somehow manages to find Robin. He has her hair dyed a bubble gum pink and is standing by a lake.
Robbie runs up to her without thinking. Something collides with him. This something is slightly shorter than him and all in blue. Robbie smiles softly, jumping to his feet. He cuts in front of the man, to console his sister. She is crying and Robbie finally turns. It is Sportacus's outfit over his fit body but the face is disturbing. His skin is decaying and his teeth are filed sharply. His eyes glow a demonic red and his head grows scales as the hat and goggles slide off.
Robbie clutches the knife but can't bear to attack Sportacus. The creature in blue advances on Robbie, who retreats toward Robin. Backing up, he also comprehends that the creature in pink is not his sister. It is scaly and growing larger. Both creatures advance on Robbie, now completely shedding their former magical selves. Robbie allows himself to openly cry while wrenching out of their grasp to no prevail.
"There's no use, Robbie." The girl who had been his sister growls, tearing at his back.
"You'll wake them up, Robbie." The man who had been Sportacus shakes him.
"Wake who?" Robbie is terrified and confused.
"Wake 'em up, Robbie." He repeats, while more creatures hover over him.
Robbie isn't listening any more. He delves into his strengths and begins fighting back. With creatures slowly covering him, the only thing he can do is thrash about.
"Wake up, Robbie." One of them repeats in pain.
Robbie had gotten lucky in harming one of them, but there are still roughly eight or ten of them remaining. They claw past the surface of his skin, causing him to look skyward. More of them are bundled up in the trees. He can spot a tuft of pink hair promptly before he takes another swing, fearful of passing out.
"I, I can't brea "
"Wake up, Robbie!"
Robbie's eyes shoot open. He sits straight up, gasping for breath. Sportacus is at his side, but soon as contact is made, Robbie flinches. He forcibly shoves the hero away, scurrying to the other side of the tent. Sportacus fumbles for the flashlight and flips it on. Robbie is shaking in the corner and Sportacus has a hurt look on his face. Not only that, but there are several places on Sportacus's face that are sure to have bruises forming soon. Had Robbie really hit him that hard?
"The nightmare was really bad?"
"Nightmare?" Robbie sighs, some of the fear shaking off. "It was so real."
"Wanna talk about it? It can help."
Robbie thinks about it, then notices Sporty's hat is off. His elfin ears are revealed while Robbie's are still hidden by the gel. He knows that when they do run into any of these creatures, his ears will be revealed, along with his other attributes. He swallows softly.
"They came after Robin. The main one turned out to be you, then it turned out they changed Robin into one of them. And they were trying to turn me into one of them too."
Sportacus nods knowingly with a shudder running up his spine. "Who's Robin?"
Robbie scrunches up his face. "My sister. She's six years younger."
Sportacus nods and crawls over to Robbie. He shines the flashlight to his ears.
"These creatures in the woods, they can only turn magical beings into them. I am an elf, Robbie."
"Not the best comfort speech." Robbie rolls his eyes, no longer recoiling from his dream. "If they attack a human, they'll be dead. So, you're trying to tell me it'd be better to be dead than to be turned into one of them."
Before Sportacus can answer, Robbie continues and takes the flashlight. "I think I agree with you, Sporta-Elf. Only one problem. I wouldn't die if I was attacked."
"What do you mean?"
Robbie turns off the light, embarrassed by others seeing his magic, no matter how small it is. He simply uses a spell that dries up his hair. Otherwise, they would be waiting another four hours. He flips the light back on and shines it in his own face. His hair is sticking up, now dry of all the gel. His ears also stick out and up. Sportacus's eyes widen.
"Are you ? But how?"
"Yes, Sporty. I'm an elf, too. Robin and I are Dark Resting Elves."
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