Run Boy Run (can find it on ao3 in the first few chapters for free)

Chapter 4

Dream smashes the goblin's head against a rock, clawed hand sinking into the back of its neck. It turned into dust as it died, and Dream rolled out of the way as another charged towards him. He didn't notice the one that rolled up behind him, tackling his feet and pushing him over.

He yelped, falling on his supply bag to keep the goblins from stealing anything. There was a sharp, icy stab in his chest, and suddenly he was a few feet away, standing up. The goblins all yelled in fright, now more scared then hungry for his supplies.

He almost slapped himself. Dream had forgotten- most creatures are terrified of Enders. He opened his mouth and spoke in the Ender language. "Leave me alone!"

The goblins all cried out, as if expecting him to grow extra arms and attack at any point. They all scattered, and Dream placed a hand on his chest, rubbing it to warm it up. His pearl never got super cold when he accidently teleports, since it's sudden and he doesn't have to build up force so that he can aim his teleport. His chest started warming up to its normal freezing temperature, and he checked the ground, making sure he didn't drop anything. The only thing that fell was the book Tommy had put in there that proclaimed that he was the 'alpha male' and everyone had to bow down to him. He was tempted to leave it, but put it away anyway.

Suddenly, he heard voices coming near. They were familiar.

Dream shot up, jumping into a tree and scrambling up into the canopy. He held his breath and tensed, willing the tree leaves to still and hide him.

"Stop talking so loud." He heard George grumble. "My head is killing me."

Sapnap chuckled. "Poor little human George, getting a hangover. We could've stayed longer, you know."

"Then he'd just get farther away- ugh." George paused, gagging. He leaned against the tree Dream was in, taking a breath. "We gotta, egh, catch him."

"Do we?" Sapnap asked tentatively, and was Dream hearing him right? "I mean, yeah we do, but do we gotta, like, do it now? Can we wait a bit? George-" Sapnap sounded conflicted. "-I know you wouldn't understand but he's- he's cold George, cold as ice and..." he trailed off, lost for words and looking frustrated with himself.

George gave him a sympathetic look, hand going out to pat his shoulder. Sapnap jerked away, and George winced. "Sorry, forgot."

Sapnap sat down, bringing his legs up to this chest, and Dream felt a pang of sorrow. Blazeborns burn hot, hotter than humans can handle. They'd get burned.

Which means no human can touch him. He was deprived of physical contact. Dream understood the pain, since humans felt the same for him, but with coldness instead. George paused for a second, before placing his hand in Sapnap's hair. He grimaced, as if uncomfortable, but Sapnap leaned into it and George kept his hand there.

"It wasn't that long, but at the festival I- I felt normal. I felt human. I've never felt that way before, and I miss it." He looked up at George, eyes scared. "If, when, we turn him in, that'll be gone, forever.   He's the last Enderborn, unless I find another freezing born, I'll never feel that way again."

George was obviously at a loss for words, and Dream was too. He didn't know before if the Blazeborn felt it as much as him, but now it was obvious he did. "I-Im sorry Sap, but if we don't..."

"I know." The born snapped, upset. "But I just can't stop thinking... he probably feels the same way. He's the last of his kind, been getting hunted for years now, and has probably been beyond cold for his entire life. It's just... it's not fair."

"It's not." George agreed, taking away his hand. He glanced at it, and Dream could see how red it was, from the heat. "I wish it didn't have to be this way, either, but I also made you a promise, and I'm keeping that promise."