we can all learn things(just maybe in different ways.)

The warm crackling of a fireplace filled Techno's ears. He looked up, and sure enough, orange flames were dancing and weaving before his eyes, red-hot tongues of flame licking and lapping greedily at the large log that fed it. Glowing embers and sparks shined softly at the root of the fire, pulsing and moving as if they were alive, leaping into the air in a glorious dance.

A warm laugh filled the air and he glanced to his right, letting a small smile tease at the corner of his mouth. He couldn't tell what Phil was smiling at but he looked contagiously joyful, his mouth white open as he cackled at some witty comment someone had made, the flames making his face light up with joy.

Tubbo was giggling too, his hand flying slowly to his mouth as he laughed, a wide grin splitting his face. Small horns poked out of the mess of hair on his head that Techno couldn't resist messing up whenever he got the chance to reach over. He was practically glowing with joy and warmth.

They had all been so happy.

The memory faded into darkness and cold as Techno blinked open his eyes to the dying embers of the campfire fire, merely a shadow compared to what it had been last night, burning and blazing. He grunted softly and sat up, pulling his blanket off himself.

He had chosen to stay in a cave for the night, far enough into the musty darkness that the firelight wouldn't be visible from outside. Techno felt grimy and dirty. His legs ached from all of the running he had done yesterday, and when he looked down he realized his hands were covered in soot and sweat.

He needed to wash himself at least a little bit before continuing. Actually, he was considering giving himself this day to prepare. The hunter had surely been swept way off course by the dam break, and Techno was well hidden. It was unlikely that he would be found deep inside a cave. Also, a cave promised iron and gold.

Techno only took his dagger with him when he went outside. At the mouth of the cave, a wide stream trickled past slowly. He had followed it upstream from the river yesterday and had been lucky enough to find this cave.

He slid off his cloak, shirt, boots, gloves, and trousers, wading into the cool water and letting out a sigh of contentment as it rushed over his aching muscles. Taking the cloth he had brought out with him, he scrubbed himself free of any grime that had built up over the past couple of days. Techno gripped his hair and gently worked the leather band that had held it in a braid free, letting the locks fall down to his shoulders and back and combing through the thick tangles with his fingers. The refreshing feeling of the cool water gently flowing past him was enough to wake him up fully.

After he had finished washing himself, he pulled his trousers, boots, and shirt back on, tying the cloak around his neck in a futile attempt to stifle off the sudden chill. His hair still had several knots in it and the water had made it especially heavy, multiple pounds of the thick wavy strands pulling at his head. He heaved a sigh. It was probably about time to cut it anyway.

He grabbed the dagger and hesitated for a second. Even after he had grown, Phil had always cut his hair for him. It felt like a ritual, something sacred that only his father could do.

Techno shook off the feelings of nostalgia and gripped the hair in a huge bunch a couple of inches below his shoulders. Grabbing the dagger, he slid it under a few locks of hair and sawed through them gently, taking care not to give himself split ends. One by one the old strands of hair fell from his grip, long pink locks falling into the stream below him and being swept away by the current.

Eventually his hair rested gently on his shoulders, now about half an arm's length shorter than it had been before. It felt a lot lighter and freer now that it was out of that braid. The cut was slightly uneven but it was fine, it wasn't that noticeable anyway. He doubted the hunter would care to notice his new hairstyle while he was trying to stab him. Techno pulled on his fingerless gloves and sheathed his dagger, peering at his distorted reflection in the stream for a few moments before standing up and starting back into the cave.