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linksthoughtbrambles · 3 months

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Serenne

Part 16 of Adventure Log+ (sequel to Link's Thought Brambles - much better to read in order, both also on ao3). Warning for strong language and violence. Trigger warning for intense fire. Disclaimer: The content of this chapter is fiction only, and is not intended to contain advice or instructions for surviving hazardous conditions involving fire.

Master-

Yes, yes-

“Off, off, off, off-”

“I got it, I got it-“ Fi?

I look upon your plan with trepidation.

"Hehehe" What else is new?

"What's funny?!"

"Sorry, Beraya, it's the sword." The last thing I need is Beraya thinking I find her shoulders funny, and yeah, Fi, I know-

The moisture is a double-edged sword.

"Kh- shh, Tass."

Zelda already made us swear not to run into the flames. It'll give us some extra time in the heat, act like sweat, and some of it will be gone from the wind before we even get there.

Unless something surprises you, master. Fire is unpredictable, and the heat capacity of water can be deceptive.

Look, Zelda thinks it's better this way. I'm going with it.

If steam becomes trapped against your skin-

It'll scald. YEAH. I know. There!

“Bloody mail- I needed a refit anyway.”

“You got it, Beraya—soon as we’re back.” Faster, Link, faster for $*#@’s sake!

“Shh, sh sh sh- Tass! Link- perhaps we- kh- oughtn’t ride any further.”

“It’s up to you-“ thereFINALLY- “arms through-“

“Kh.”

“-arms through.“

“Yes sir, I have the rest, I have it!”

“The horses should come back here when we dismount.” I hope.

“They may bolt with us still riding.”

Hope not hope not “They might.”

“NEXT BUCKET!”

“Huiru, Reida.” They better- good they’re listening not that I’d expect them to ride into fire without at least something, something SOMETHING to help, dear Hylia, and at least they already have face cloths, just have to douse them-

“P- princess! We- shouldn’t use these-“

-but it won’t last long-

“Sir Margil, I appreciate the sentiment-“

-not in all that heat.

“-but there are more important things than Link and I’s spare clothing.”

“It feels- like sacrilege.”

“Indeed not. Hylia would much prefer her symbol to keep you safe than for you to perish in the smoke. Think of it...“

To the well, Link, help Cohl, water water water “I got it-“

“...Think of it as a ward protecting you.”

“…Yes, Princess.”

“I got that, Margil.”

“Thanks, Aree.”

“I can’t believe I’m wearing something you sewed with your own hands, Princess.”

“I admit kh- when I fashioned Link’s tunics, I had no expectation of their being used as facemasks. Ah- but please, don’t fret, Sir Liff khm-khm.”

Zelda’s susceptible. She coughed a lot at Miss Morsels’ too. Not that I think that stench was as nasty as smoke. “Princess- I again recommend-“

“That I remain with Sirs Bennent and Lahs, and I again decline, Link.”

Amazing she can smile at me in all this, I don’t think I have it in me. “I figured.” Nope- smile failure. “I had to ask. Beraya, your turn!”

“Yes, sir.”

Sitting, good, she’s taller than me.

“Ah!”

“More, Cohl.”

“Coming, Sir Link!” “I’m done, I can help.”

“Thanks, Daile.”

“Get the horses, too.”

“D- damn. Yeah.”

It feels like hours but it’s been minutes, only minutes, how many people are dying while we do this?

Lucky there’s no malice here, unlucky no surface water, only a deep well but the people ran and that’s good, good, stalls empty, no horses, no walking corpses, no corpses at all, no-

“Link?”

“All good.” Stop brooding, Link, you’re not helping anyone, more water- “You’re next, Princess.”

“Khh.”

“I’m done!”

Varniro “Good, help with the horses.”

“Yes sir!”

Here I go dunking my last tunic in water it’s for her for her I don’t know why I feel this matters but I do. “Okay, Z- hold this- get ready.”

"Not the socks."

"Heh. No, not the socks." I don't want to know what boiling water feels like in my boots, either.

Face crinkled, I always like that face on her. “Look up- yeah.” Hair wet, get every fricking inch of her clothing, careful, just barely wet the bandage outside only outside only. Wet bandages bad news…

“You good, Cohl?”

“I got some slopped on me pulling it up so fast. Top’s not there yet.”

“I got you.”

Liff and Cohl look out for each other. Good.

“I believe that’s sufficient, Link.”

“I want you soaked.” …Oh s$&%, Link.

Keep pouring the water, keep pouring it, clearly no one gives a crap or possibly even noticed your ridiculous slip.

…Except Zelda. A single-eyebrow raise. She’ll tease me later. I hope. Later. Hope for that.

“I’m good!”

“Me too, Sir.”

“Alright, almost there- get the horses as best you can. Manes and tails especially, but we won’t take them all the way in. They’ll run after that. Lahs- Bennent- I’m serious. You see something headed your way that’s not us, you retreat immediately and at full speed. Make for the logging village if you can- get word to the castle faster. If something cuts you off, head to the Royal Lab. Got it?

“Got it, sir.” “Yes, sir.”

Link. Look them in the eye. “If not…“

“We’ll bring his body back, sir.”

“…Yes. Thanks. Oereb’s family will thank you, too.”

Zelda’s face. Wish I could hold her now.

Oh. My turn. Just nod, let Margil get you.

“Kh-kh.”

Feels good. Not clean exactly. But maybe a little less disgusting than I was.

“Your bandage, Sir.”

“Yeah.” Hand over it should be good enough. Pat some water… just on the outside.

“Alright…”

Less good now with the water in my pants. That’s going to chafe. Priorities priorities priorities.

Good to have my eyes closed. Just for… a minute.

“Eh- hey, Reida, could you help me with this?”

“Ah- ah. Yes, alright.”

…Snobbish.

“… Uh. Thanks.”

That’s how they seem to me, but maybe I’m biased, they answer to other Sheikah, not to me, Zelda, too, ideally, but they seem not to take her orders seriously in combat like they think they know better and maybe they’re right but I don’t think so, I think they f$(#ed up with those riders, Zelda, Zelda was right, they should’ve broken off, let her fire.

Maybe I’ll talk to herOH more pants water- later. About them. See if she agrees. “Think I’m good. Thanks, Margil.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

Pretty sure Zuho would’ve jumped to help us prep, not stood around being watchful with his nose up in the air, he’s not like them. She’s surrounded by us, this is not the time to stand still, this is the time for speed, speed, oh. Facecloth. “Thanks again.”

And the buckets have stopped. “Ready?”

“Yes Sir!” “Yes.” “Ready.” “Ready, Sir!”

Nods, nods. “Princess?”

“…Mount. We ride-“

Horse horse

“-as close as the horses will allow.”

Good boy- sorry.

“We go the rest of the way on foot- at a run.”

About your rider.

“We enter Serenne if at all possible.”

So, so sorry.

“We slay any monsters.”

I wonder... if you understand.

“If our kh- enemy is the fire itself, we shall help them fight it.”

It hasn’t hit me yet.

“If the blaze is too fierce, we shall evacuate all we can instead.”

But when it does-

“We remain together unless Link or I order otherwise-"

-it’ll be like always.

“-and we avoid extreme heat, smoke, and flame. Onward!”

I’ll have another hole inside. “Everyone ride astride each other. Hup, boy!”

“Go, Tass!” “Hyah!” “Hyup-“ “Hhh.”

A hole where the first person died under my command.

Zelda. Beside me.

I don’t want her back exposed even to our own soldiers.

And there’s a shudder. Our own soldiers. Vayden and Carok guy.

I want to know someone really Goddess-damned well before I let them have a clear shot at Zelda’s back. Or mine, for that matter, but at least if it’s me I’ll react fast. Not that she isn’t fast…

But I’ve never seen her do the Thing. Better to assume she can’t.

-----

My Goddess. The south's all but an inferno, what happened here?

“So much!”

I’ve never, never heard Beraya like that before-

“TASS!”

NONONO

“Easy!”

OFFLinkoff

“Easy, easy, good boy-“

gethisreins!

“Good, good Tass!”

“Hey hey hey hey shh- Tass-“ got him

“Kh- khh-“

got him “shh- shhhhh” soothe him Link “shh-“ just enough give her a few seconds “shh, shh, easy- easy-“ he is so done, rolling eyes- “dismount, everyone- now- yes- gooood boy, good, easy-“ she’s off let go lethimgo-

Good they’re all off “On FOOT! We GO!”

She’s alright she’s so fast like me running beside me and Dear Goddess it's warm even here! In there the plate mail would’ve baked half of us alive and even the water won’t last us long-

“Khh.”

-amazing the horses got us so close to the treeline they’re not lit here not yet outer edge dark silhouettes monsters? Trees bushes rocks maybe or crouching things could be could be do I see horns

“AAAAAAAH!”

“Link!”

“Yes!” Screaming where where nothing nothing nothing nothing

“SPEED!”

“Yes, Princess!” “Ahhh!” “Gh.” “Mkh.” “Kh- kh kh- khh“

Coughing more, please, please don’t let her drop-

“AAAH! AAAAHHHH!” “KHHHHGH.”

“THAT WAY!”

Does she see them does she I SEE “THERE!” MoblinmoblinmoblinnoFASTERLINK NO YEHHHHHS ZELDA GO DOWN GO DOWN

“IT YET LIVES!”

It does but an arrow through its eye gave that kid seconds he needed and now Terial, Aree, great shots, it must be a red, it’s on its knees already and LIFF, yes, he’s fast too and- there goes its throat.

“You hurt?!”

Kid’s shocked he’s shocked answer Liff come on

“I- I- I h- ad to come back!”

Crying.

“We are here to kh- help- what happened?”

Zelda- he may not be able to

“Here- I got you.“

Kid’s filthy and shaking but seems sturdy enough now Liff pulled him up.

“They- they told us to run, but I had to come back! Something’s wrong- at the next farm, too, everyone’s just waiting in the wheat-“

Everyone.

“-and there’s not enough water and we could see the fire got worse!”

The other kids. “How did this start?”

“Monsters. They just- came. Out of nowhere-“

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.”

…What was that?

“Oh, F$*%.”

“Daile?”

“Sir- Princess- that sounds like a lynel.”

“Your dad-“

“Yes, sir.”

“Princess?”

“We go. In.”

And fast, my Goddess-

“Kid, go back. The others have horses?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay. Don’t lose those.”

Liff’s sharper

“The horses want to bolt,”

than I gave him credit for.

“you’re better off on them than not, alright?”

Nod, Link, he has spooked-face

“Y- yeah.”

like he thinks he might’ve overstepped.

“Just- go and don’t come back here- ah-“

I really, really don't mind, people can't be constantly asking me about everything.

“-unless someone you trust fetches you. And-“

Unless he tells the kid to do something stupid.

“-if you see anything off, just run. Uh…”

And Liff’s looking at me.

“Khhh.”

Because which way? Which way is safe? “…Head south by southeast so you’d just barely scrape the farm at the foot of Salari hill in that direction. Then… make for the royal lab.” They can defend themselves better than the logging village, so… safer… maybe.

“O- okay.”

Didn’t have to tell him twice. He’s scared to s#$&… wait, shuffling chuchu LEAP Linkwhathe- “Rkh!”

“Ah!” “Move, kid!” “Move!” “Gkh!”

GONNA POP BACKBACKBACK LINK, BACK OFF

“Eh-“ “Ff-“ “Blasted-“ “Move, move!” “Fire-”

Fire chuchus here?! “In- in, everyone, the town! Go, kid!”

Watch him go watch him go, DAMN the wood’s dry pine needles like flammable fricking carpet, back up "Back up, back up!" watch the kid they’ll pull ahead but I’ll catch up almost almost almost trees he’s out all you can do Link you can’t escort him all the way back and if there’s anyone left alive in the town they’re in just as much danger and more

“There!”

Her eyes so good there it is a boko-

“QUEHEKYUEEE!”

Varniro Genenko careful bad shield arm

“GRK!” “QYEEHEEEE! K-“

GOOD.

Red. DownMORE

“KGGGH.” “KHG.”

They always sound so disgustingly happy

“Gh- ah!”

Happy to maim- Margil

“Ghg!”

Good skewered blue not dead-

“Akk!”

-now it is.

Happy to kill, too.

Not like Margil.

His face is not happy right now. Bokos smile when they kill.

“They are kh- here awaiting those who flee.”

“…Yeah.” I hope there are people left to run.

There’s more I see them waiting on the road at the edge of the houses some behind moblins those are moblins three red blue blue, at least two bokoblins, horns, little horns sticking up show them-

Yes. Shh- there they are. One two three- four five. Eyes out. Look. All of you scan. Zelda?

They- are- looking- inward. We quiet, we surprise them. Yes. Good.

Spread out.

No- Zelda. Stay with me.

Liff and Cohl again. Good. Huiru creeping crouched, Terial with Margil- Aree with Beraya, Daile with Genenko, Varniro with Reida, a pair, okay. Huiru’s alone but he clearly has a method.

Six pairs. Five monsters. So far.

We’ve got THAT one.

Sh sh sh… she knows. She knows. Quiet. The fire’s loud, but- doesn’t mean it couldn’t hear us at all, a snapping branch, a cough-

…please don’t cough.

Hot. Even here. Hot. Smoke. Careful. Pay attention to your skin, Link-

I will endeavor to notify you of any sudden changes in your skin, master, but I have no method by which to measure your surroundings.

Thank you.

Her fists just balled.

She wants to cough.

Hurry, hurry, the flames, hiding the footsteps, careful but quick careful but quick-

Closercloser right in the back the spine wait for it, for the others.

Zelda- yes. Turn. Face out. Watch my back. I watch yours.

They’re- almost- nowTHROUGH

“RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHH!”

“RRGHT!” “QUEKEHHH!” “QUORHHIEWHE!” “KGHR?”

Almost all Daile Beraya Liff got theirs where’s Huiru

“KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH!”

Varniro’s he didn’t surprise it but they’ve got it

“QHWEHHH!”

MORE “MORE!” Main road, there! She’ll follow you Link, go take it out, it's hot but you're okay-

Fighting I hear it on the edges monsters at the next two roads too they have it trust them THIS one- “HhhaaHH!”

“QHEEHKHH!” “Kh-“

“Kh- khmkhm-“

StaybackZelda I’vegotit “Grk- hh!” the armpit slice it can’t raise its shield SLICE- THRUST

Down.

“Kh- hh. The smoke.”

“I know. I know, I’m so sorry- Zelda- it’s your dec-“

“We keep going.”

I thought so but heat smoke “ON RIGHT!”

Sheturned heardboots it’s breathinghard but didn’tgrowl feet loud anyway SLIDE underitsguardLinkSHINSyes

“GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH!”

Yeahthathurtdidn’tit Zelda YESOH ROLLLINK

Damn she nailed that but it almost fell on me it’s prone proneTHRUST- THRUST

Dead? D-NO THRUST-twist-

“Kh-kh-kh.”

Stay still.

Dead- wh?

Margil and Terial

“Another moblin, down!”

Good Terial’s hand on his mask though he feels it the smoke

Goddess if we hadn’t soaked ourselves I’d’ve been soaked by sweat instead and dehydrating fast. How long til it steams off?

Link? You see steaming with your eyes and you grab Zelda and make everyone back the hell off.

Realistically, she'd probably notice it before me.

There are the others. Around the sides of the houses. Here! Yeah, here- let’s not split up. Don’t see Huiru yet… Cohl- Liff. They’re looking, too.

…They don’t see him.

Yeah Cohl, I don’t know either. Just shake your head, Link. Zelda?

“All- kh- together.”

Alright, she’s pointing that way she’s right she’s right less fire we can’t stay in this long south is an inferno north we can at least last a while- Huiru, he should’ve come out over here somewhere anyway, hurry, hurry, but look look look look lots of movement flickering shadows things flapping in the wind from the fire no other people yet not yet- easing, easing it’s not as bad over here, the fire worst in southwest maybe glow and smoke but it’s quieter this way too careful something could hear

“Kh… KH.”

Zelda, is your cloth still wet?

“Link?”

Quietly “Cloth- wet?”

Nodding, good, good- mine is so hers should be too just checking just checking can’t kill smoke with a sword can’t protect her.

Liff and Cohl fell in naturally checking around each house opposite directions it helps we can move faster.

Less and less and less, still hot but cooler here-

Those houses- not flaming-

Zelda?

That’s a yes, we check, Liff and Cohl check that house, Reida and Varniro, check that one everyone else watch watch watch eyes all directions- watch the fire too, embers, it won’t be long they’ll catch

“Khh. Kh.”

It would be insane for someone to hide in a closet or something with fire in the town it shouldn’t be that, either they’re hiding somewhere they can see out or they’re unconscious or dead or the house is just empty

No one moving all up and down road, far as I can see Zelda shaking her head, too-

Bodies? Bodies no bodies they all run?

And-

Head-shakes. Nothing in that house.

Varniro…?

“Kh.”

No. Not that one either.

“Gg- khhh khhhh.”

And Terial’s coughing too and there’s still no Huiru here, two roads over.

Zelda?

I know that jaw- clench. Like right before she gets in the pool at the Cathedral.

“We go.”

Alright. Just point, Link, the less talking the better, that way everyone, west.

Where the fire’s louder maybe talking fine, here just not, lets us breathe through our noses anyway eyes peeled everyone going going going

Behind us?

Nothing.

Beraya- Liff- keep looking back. Okay?

Okay.

flAMES

“Ah!” “FF-“ “S$&#-“ “Kh-“

WOAH that was some pop- Reida looks a little singed but okay, flames more, hotter, some of these houses completely ablaze lucky lucky the paths aren’t too narrow never seen Serenne before wouldn’t’ve known hotter inward we circle circle around where's-

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.”

Lynel

Here we all are, hunted deer watching, listening.

It can’t be that close hardly any louder but maybe wrong, never seen a lynel never heard one either if that’s what it is, Daile’s the only one.

Still… listening.

Roaring. Of fire.

I'm dryer already.

More dark houses. Zelda?

That’s a yes and opinion established we check the survivable houses- pairs- Liff, Cohl- Varniro, Reida- Daile, Genenko- Margil, Beraya.

“Sir?”

“Quick, Margil, we’re good- go.”

Can’t say I blame him, I’ve been having them flank Zelda the whole-

“Khh. Kh.”

-time, but speed! Don’t think I should leave the archers out here alone. We stay. We watch. Should I call out? If someone’s hiding they might just come out and if monsters do at least we’re not walking into an ambush, they’d come to usOH no. Oh, Link. Could the lynel hear me if I yell? The fire might drown me out if it’s among it but I just don’t know and we could sure hear it roar- “No shouting?”

“Agreed.”

“Lynel?”

“Yes.”

I concur, master.

You’ve been quiet.

I am endeavoring not to distract you, master.

I… can see why.

I will take this opportunity to notify you your blood oxygenation levels are still within an acceptable range at 99%.

Uh. Good! I bet that would mean more to Zelda, but I can guess…

100% is desirable and indicates excellent breathing. Below 90% is dangerous.

What about Zelda?

I can measure no one’s but yours, master.

Right- right. Let me know if it changes, okay?

I plan to, master.

I bet hers are lower than that.

It is likely everyone’s are lower than yours, master, considering your pristine physical condition. I speculate your associate Terial is suffering most. I recommend removing both him and the Princess from this environment as soon as possible.

Yeah. Me too.

“Kh- kh. Khh.”

A few more houses.

“KHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRH.”

…I sure couldn’t tell where that came from.

Could be around the corner.

That’s comforting.

“Khhh kh.”

Smoke so thick southward. Even looking down a clear path, hard to see. It… wasn’t that much louder, though.

“Ahm. Ahkhm.”

“Terial, you good?”

“Khhh- akm. Yeah, it- doesn’t agree with me.”

Me either, but it’s getting to him already.

“Kh- kh.”

At least Zelda’s doesn’t seem to be getting worse quick like his.

I think they’re almost done.

A lynel shows up, you don’t let Zelda anywhere near it, Link. You make her run.

Not that I could MAKE her do anything.

But.

“Ahm. Ahehehm.”

Wow. Am I just- falling into old habits or something? She’s right here. “Princess?”

“Yes?”

“Lynel, you leave.”

A long look. Something odd there, something I don’t like. Her eyebrow crease. Can’t see her mouth or nose, but- worried?

“I- understand.”

Wow. Well, good- and Margil and Beraya, also good.

Except also not good-

“Kh.”

-because they’re shaking their heads. “Bodies?”

Oh. No bodies either, so… still good.

Beraya. Squeeze her shoulder, Link.

The others – also coming. Except- no, no, there’s Varniro, too.

Closer. Closer. Okay. “If a lynel surprises us, the Princess is to retreat. Margil and Beraya, you’ll escort her.”

Nods all around.

I’m really amazed she just agreed to it, but-

“Khm. Kh- khm.”

-I’ll take it.

Let’s move. “Cohl- yeah, watch on that edge, Reida on yours.” Corners, corners. “We’ll move a few streets up and start again on the houses. Any of you find bodies?”

“No, sir.” “No.” “No.”

“Two. On- the street that way.”

Don’t let your face fall with your heart, Link. Did you think everyone would escape this hell alive? “…We do this as fast as we can- try to find anyone who’s left.”

“And- kh-kh- discover… where those missing have gone.”

Chuchu- Genenko’s got it, he’s got it aaaand one and two- there it goes already back up back up while it pops-

Chuchus do just spring from the ground. Like the… Dead Hands. Is that what happened here? They just sprang up, lit things? OH- “Back!”

Backupbackupbackup thereyougo manhandlingZelda sorry

HOT- "fffff!"

“Akhhhhh- khhhh ghghm.”

Hot…

Damn. Maybe. Fricking chuchu jelly explodes. Probably wouldn’t see it lying around.

Check behind- clear.

“Khh.”

They’re not too hard to kill but you have to know to run when they start puffing up. A good pop or two with a pitchfork and a sprint the other way would do it but of course you’ve set the nearest house on fire.

“Kh- khh.”

Maybe that’s why so few bodies.

It’s inconsistent.

“Ahhghm- dammit.”

Some houses not lit.

Yet.

Could be why. No chuchu pop-ups there.

But fire ones, here? They’re supposed to live in hot places. Eldin. Never thought to ask father. “Hey dad, do fire chuchus REALLY stick only to the slopes of Death Mountain?”

Has he even been to Death Mountain?

“Ah-hm.”

He must’ve- Oh? Waving waving Cohl?

Stop, everyone.

“Khhh khh.”

Okay- Zelda, with me- we’ll look.

Wow. Wow. Yeah, good eye, back-slap for you come on- come on everyone here- the well.

Buckets. Lots of them. Wet. Recently in use, and no bodies. Right? Am I crazy to be happy about this? Zelda?

No, no I’m not crazy because she looks at least a little relieved. Someone was fighting the fire and not that long ago. Lots of someones. That’s- yeah. Cooler here. Less flame.

Slightly less grim faces.

We go- further-careful check each way check, is that a bokoblin tooth? Teeth? A horn? They did fight back and yes that’s another bucket rolling around- another one there… on fire, now…

Back toward the east- anything?

Eyes every way, everyone.

I think I do see a few more monster parts. No people, though.

Alright everyone- yeah- spread on the street again we don’t quite fit I don’t like it Margil, Beraya? Yes, thank you. Princess’ back. This section seems pretty quiet, pretty cleared out, but still…

“Kh- khm. Kh.”

Steam. They doused things. Pump- there. It really can’t’ve been that long ago, can it? Not if we still see it like that.

“Wait.“

“Princess?”

“The pump. We refresh our facecloths while checking the area- quickly!"

“On it!”

Woah “Wait, the handle- hold your hand near it first, Genenko.” He was totally just going to grab it-

“It’s not hot, I’ll try it.”

Oh good.

“Bucket!”

“Thanks, Varniro.”

“Find your pairs.”

“Yes-“ “Yes, Princess-“

Finger to your lips, Link, they’re talking louder… they got the message. Quiet checking of those houses and alleys- oh no. Beraya.

Her face, Link.

Her family’s house- would’ve been southeast. Where the fire was worse.

Zelda?

Beraya.

…Yeah.

She already realized.

Can’t just ignore that, say something, just- quietly- “Beraya?”

Shaking her head. “We couldn’t have.”

“They might’ve got out.”

A strange, small smile.

She thinks they’re probably dead.

And Terial just dunked his whole face in that bucket. Good. He seems to need it more than the rest of- ”SH”$&%! ZELDA CORRALHERCORRALHERSHIELDSHIELD WHERE

Aree! Her arrow through its neck- Terial- Zelda wants to step out and shoot but no, no, that almost hit me and it could hit her, too- damn that thing was quiet. They usually give themselves away with the squealing.

Dead.

“Where the hell did it-”

“The house.”

“KKRRGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHHHHRRRR.”

I saw her breath catch.

Yes.

Closer, it’s closer, I know. Closer, eyes eyes out Daile?

Daile miming crouch crouch everyone down down LIFF, yes, YOU, DOWN! Zelda I want to just curl up in a ball around her but that won’t help anyone Daile’s looking at me eyes that way eyes that way he says-

There. Far.

But visible. Half turned away from us between houses and the hood on that further well, between smoke.

Okay. My Goddess. That has to be a lynel. Because it’s not a horse. But- it moves almost like one. Bright red mane, way too wide and thick not a horse not one bit.

Move- goodDaileagrees everyonemove STAYDOWN butmove move move move behind the next house holy f#$& don’t turn around now, don’t- face that way face that way face that way Margil Beraya flank Zelda thank you yes- oh. Okay. Daile. Staying crouched behind the well. Looking at me.

Yeah.

He’s right.

We have to take it out.

The mystery of the missing people doesn’t matter much if they can’t come back.

Zelda? I go.

“KKRRRRRGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRHRRRR.”

…It’s like the earth’s breath stops when it does that.

I want you completely out of its eyeline or even possible eyeline.

You, Margil, and Beraya… and Liff and Cohl.

Yup.

Shhh!

Glad I saw him about to talk, Holy Hylia this is not the moment to find out how good lynel hearing is.

S&$#. Genenko’s bad arm. He has to stay, too.

You can do this, Link. You can mime.

Genenko- you- Zelda, Margil, Beraya, Liff, and Cohl, you all look for the missing people.

The missing people.

The PEOPLE.

Bucket-people!

Ahhh now you get it.

Okay. Daile. You and me. On point. But- yeah. Agreed. We flank it.

Yeah. You that way. Me this way.

Okay, Link. Your father told you how to fight these. Just- plan. Archers stay at crazy far range if they can and you have to be ready to f$&$ing run. No bunching up. Everyone at different locations.

Terial, my side. Aree, Daile’s side. Varniro, my side. Reida, Daile’s side. Like this. Spread out- Daile, then Reida, then Aree. And for my side, me, then Varniro, then Terial.

I’d tell the archers to take rooftops if there wasn’t fire involved.

There are… more flames by the lynel, too.

And… We can't go into that soaking wet. We'll have water boiling against our skin. Facecloths only, because we have no choice.

And Fi's not arguing with me.

Okay. Everyone- face cloths only.

And of course the pump makes sound. Does the lynel know what a pump sounds like? Does it know that means people?

Hopefully not. I don’t hear anything rushing toward us. Still… keep it down, Genenko.

Terial went already- Aree next.

Fi, anything I should know?

Your oxygenation level is unchanged, master. But the area into which you propose to head is inundated with smoke. Your facecloth cannot protect you from asphyxiation, nor from carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulf-

Wait, from what?

Forgive me, master. Harmful gases. Your facecloth cannot filter them. It will protect you from burns and solid particles only.

We have to go.

Agreed.

O- oh.

Did you believe I would argue?

Yeah, kind of.

No, master. The beast must be felled. If one arrow would be sufficient to do so, I would suggest the Princess simply take aim and fire at first opportunity. But the beast would charge, and I believe you wished to avoid that scenario.

Yeah, yeah I did. She’s- she’s not ready for that.

No. She is not.

I… kind of thought you’d argue with me there, too.

…

Ohhh there you go again with one of your weird silences. Only this time I have no clue at all why. At least I usually know what it is you’re trying not to tell me.

Ah- my turn. Damn, I went turned-in-like. That happens sometimes when I talk to you.

Thus my efforts not to distract you, master.

Thanks. For the moment, though… just trying to creep low across the square and use the water.

I don’t see it anymore. It could easily come closer, though, just down another road. The facecloth wow needed that. The water… isn’t cool like well water really should be. It’s warm. But compared to what’s up here, it’s refreshing.

Okay.

Nothing for it.

You all ready?

Everyone’s smart enough to look scared. Probably more than they otherwise would be since they’re not used to fighting unarmored.

Reida almost looks angry. Maybe that’s how she preps herself for a nasty fight.

Or maybe she’s pissed because I assumed she’s willing to take on a lynel. I’m treating her like our own soldiers. But Zelda’s not stopping me, so I think I’m okay to do so for the moment.

Okay. We go. Now.

Try not to worry about Zelda, Link. Small smile. Hey- I managed one this time. Oh- there’s those balled fists again. She’s- struggling. Struggling not to cough.

Please- be okay.

See you soon.

Around the house. Keep watch. Wh- nasty thing- bokoblin heart. Pretty sure I see a moblin horn way far off, too. Wins for the missing people of Serenne. What-

Wish- wish I hadn’t seen that. Wonder who it was.

Who they were.

If- we run into monsters and we fight them, it’ll hear us. Daile sure didn’t-

“Kh- m.”

-want us making any sound. Though granted, he’s not the one who fought lynels. It was his father. But seeing a fight happen from far off is better than nothing.

Father did say they have amazing hearing. And eyesight. And sense of smell. That there’s almost no hiding from them, not unless you’re real far away.

Must be why. Why the people are gone. They may all have fled into the trees.

And been slaughtered by the monsters waiting there for them.

Of course. Of course. Line the trees with moblins and bokoblins, where it’s darker and harder to see they’re there, especially the bokoblins that just look like boulders in the dark until you get close. Then send in the lynel and those fire chuchus. Let them light the town up. Let the lynel kill everything in its path and claim the place as its territory, forcing people to run because between it and the fire there’s nothing they can do. Then they get slaughtered in the ring of trees. Boko riders pick off the few who escape to the fields-

The fields. My Goddess. They sent kids there.

And we didn’t kill all the riders, we didn’t, one blew right past us!

“Kh- m- m.”

My Goddess, my Goddess, there’s nothing I can do now nothing I have to find them later have to tell Zelda Goddess forgive me!

The sooner we take this lynel out the sooner we can help them.

The boy was alive. He was alive and he came back to help, right?

He did, right?

…Did he say that’s why?

He didn’t but he went back willingly. Yes. Yes, he said they still had the horses. They were… okay when he left.

Wh-

That’s a Moblin hand sticking out from behind that house.

Look.

Okay. It’s too close to our path, we have to take it out.

Your bow, Link, don’t make Terial cross in front. Here we go. Here we go- there’s its head, turned awayOHit’sturning SHOOT- sunk!

Dammit, LOUD moblin-

Varniro bowling it over it’s yelling take it OUT it’s too loud-

“KKRRRRRGGHRRRRRRR.”

The lynel louder did it hear did it hear? It’s not right on top of us not yet- what was that sound? Moblin-? Varniro has it the arrow screwed it up real good go go go ANOTHER, LEAPOVERTHISONELINK head it off, get it before it’s near Varniro- arrow thunked hit wood Terial missed WOAH!missedmemoblin STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE STRIKE

Not dead not yet black moblins tough kill it shut it up YES good shot Terial SWIPE-

AH! Ittriedtoheadbuttme?! Good its face is in the dirt- NECK. It’s done. Right? Twist. Spine-OH! REALLY?! Hylia, get its-

Head. Another good shot- crunching?

“Kh.”

Crunching wood smash???

Moblin dead- other one too- there’s no roaring but somehow that’s not comforting they don’t look comforted either what was the crunching? Let’s go but this way, backward, around these houses, I have a feeling I just have a feeling it heard it knows and I could be wrong and if there are more monsters this way it’ll hear that too anyway and there ARE, blue boko right there, back up

F#$&!

“KKRRAGGHRRRRERRRRRR!”

The lynel different that was different

“You hear that?”

I swear it heard

“Is it starting?”

kill the boko kill it

“Shh…”

slice slice shield bash it bashbashbashbashbash

SLICE SLICE THRUST- THRUST! It’sgoingdown it’sgoing but I hear it hoofbeats it knows it knows send them backward Link!

Varniro, Terial, retreat! Behind me behind me go go go go go go go go go NO NO I stay, you go!

That was chuffing it’s close GO! Yes, good good go, now I back up, back up, straight though, straight, I think it’ll see me but not them at least not at first and they can take up other positions and more wood smashing it’s close what is it doing ANOTHER smash-

“Khm. Khm- kh.”

-that was close ANOTHER what is it doing THAT was a piece of wood flying over my head a beam, a piece of a beam, the houses, it’s smashing the houses, what’s left of them, does it think we might be inside or is it just angry?

My Goddess I feel like I can hear it thinking, its breath is so loud.

Zelda? She’s probably not looking at the slate. She shouldn’t be. She needs to be watchful-

THERE I just saw it whatever it’s using around that bend right there back up so slow Link so soft so it can’t see you not yet not yet no advantage I’m in the wrong spot and Daile’s not here to flank it though he’ll catch on and move, he will-

SPLINTERS WOODHOTHOT PATITOUT S&$^ PATITOUT

SOUND THAT MADE SOUND IT’LL

“KRRRRRGH!!”

HEAR

“S$&#!” “Sounds bad-“

WOOD!FIRE!EYES

“We continue.“

EYES NEEDTHOSE

“Yes-” “Yes, Princess.”

ASHLINK ASH JUSTDODGEANDPRAY DODGEANDPRAY SMASHING SMASHING DEEP BOOM DIRT WHERE I JUST WAS IWASJUSTTHERE AND I HEARDIT

“KRRRRRRRGH!”

Come on eyes comeON HOOFBEATS DODGEANDPRAYHYLIA ITPASSED MYBACKWALL SPLINTERSSHARP SKIDDING

Yes YESLINK It’sheavy it’ssoheavy ittakestime takes time to stop don’t panic clear your eyes you have a moment you HAVE IT and THEREITIS RIGHT THERE SKIDDED TO A STOP JUST LIKE A HORSE

Mount it!!!

YES! ITS HEAD ITS HEAD BASH ITS HEAD BASH BASH BASH BASH BASH BASH

AH! FFF!

“Kh- m- m- kh.”

THROWN

“Prin-?”

FLAMING ROOF my Goddess get off get off ihhhtFALLING!! ShoulderHOT HOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOT noLink moveyouHAVEto it’llcrushyou theclub HOOFbeats

ROLLROLL NEVERMINDTHEHEAT oh GODdess ff hurts rightwhereIwas whereIwasagain itsaim perfect mountingitworked butcarefulcareful-

“-RRRHH.”

That was different,wh-

RUNLINK

Fathersaid hesaid whenitjuststands burstofflame magic magic they’remagic thefire it’ll burst anysecondKEEPRUNNING

“HH!” “Did you?!” “S$&*#!”

S#%$NO!

“It appears-“

MYBACKMYBACK

“-as though the lynel has been engaged.”

Sh- sh$# singed keep running anyway

get your bearings for a second

it hurts but there’s been way way way worse the heat I think if my back'd been soaked like earlier I'd've lost all the skin all the skin

more FIRE I hear it

It’s pawing the earth-

DAILE!- no, no, hotwe’ll both be on the same side mime mime, I’ll circle around! Hope he saw that, go right Link go go go go go hot that pawing sound again what is it OHNO IT BLEW BY I MOVED IT BLEW BY WHERE I WAS IT’S AFTER DAILE

Please let him have dodged that please, straight back Link we’ll flank it as long as Daile made it PRONE HE’SPRONE

NO YOU DON’T! HEY! HEY LOOK AT ME I’M RIGHT HERE THAT’S RIGHT it has a bunchhot of arrows in it already I didn’t even realize couldn’t see Terial must’ve been going nuts on it from somewhere and CLUBOVERITSHEAD DODGELINK DODGE BACKFLIP BACK AGAIN

Master!

NOT FAR ENOUGH THE VIBRATIONS TOOhot MUCH PRONE PRONE

Your blood oxygenation level is dropping!

YES, Daile! Sword in its flank

Seek to exit the smoke!

DAILE BACKHANDED FLYING HOT HOWISITTHIShotFAST?

“Sirs- kh- hh.”

MOUNT IT AGAIN MOUNT

“The next well-“

BASH BASH BASH BASH

“-this way.”

BASH LEAP EARLY YES

Yes yes Daile- he’s up and it’shot looking at me again and CLUBNO BACKFLIPaaAAAH!

H-head. Good, Link, you’re good, justhot- hit wood, not hotstone

“Kh.”

you’ve had worse way way worseMOVEMOVE!

SMASHINGwood HOTalloverme BURNScrawlout crawlout GODDESS! Shakingground so close how did it miss-

BecauseVarniro!

95% and dropping!

Yesyesyes different hotdirections someoneELSEonitsback Reida it’s ReidaYES SWORD, LINK, RIGHT THERE!!!

Ohhhhitdoesn’tlikethat upitshorse-chestandthrough hotpullout backu- NONO rollunder!

CLUB HolyHylia itstillthrewme and I washot almost behind it, Daile good flank-swipe, arrowsarrows lotsmore Reidawentflying gettingup helpVarniro, itsbelly rightthere hotTHROUGH!

ROLL OUT!

Waveringwavering it’shot whining. Another arrow and another- what-?

PUSH VARNIRO! FIREBALLFIREBALLFIREBALL and HOToh HOTGoddess

MASTER THE FIRE!

IKNOW!!! HOTmy HOTclothes HOTmaskoffoffOFF!

94% AND DROPPING RAPIDLY!

HOTroll ROLL YOU TOO VARNIRO HOT if theHOT houses HOTweren’t here

YOUR BODY IS UNABLE TO REGULATE ITS TEMPERATURE!

HOTwe’d’ve gotHOT hit head-on and YES FI Hyliahelpme IKNOW

“Khh.”

HOTTerialdown? Don’tHOTknow

“Kh.”

crossstreetHOT CROSSLINK RUNRUN FIREBALLHA!missedme HOTHOTHOT CRUNCHING bashingHOT throughtheHOThouse togetme BACKFLIP EARLYLINK be somewhereHOTelse andHOT dotheThing thebowthebowslowitdownslowitall aimaimaimaimaimaimaimaimaimperfectshotbeperfectFIRE

“GRHHHUUUUU!”

Here HOTthey all come

“GR- UUUPH!”

To finish you offHOT

That’s HOTnot a battle cry

Not anymore

Reida

Went forHOT the throat

HOTThe others justHOT- through.

Think- I’llHOT take a breather.

“Kh- khh.”

YES, master, exit the heavy smoke!

It’sHOT down.

Whining.

HOT. Too HOT too hot thingsspinning backoffbackoffcooler

I almosthot feel sorry abouthot this one

Almost

“It’s the same here…”

hotBecause it seems more like an animalspinning

hotAnd less like a monster

It didn’t seem happyhot to kill us

hotNot like bokoblins

But nohot way

“Kh- hh.”

hotNo way

It washot it or us.

Andhot this village

“Oh!”

Or what’s lefthot

“Sir Liff?”

of it and its people.

“Hello down there!”

Too hot what’s she-?

“How fortunate.”

“What- Huiru!”

Yeah. Hot. Yeah- it’s-

“I’ve been following the well system, Princess.”

What?

“We’d thought you lost.”

hotNot now.

“Haha. I was for a time.”

Priorities.

“But now I’ve found you.”

We regroup with the others. They’ll’ve moved.

“Indeed. Huiri-“

We succeed, we returnhot.

“Yes, Princess?”

Not saying it again.

“Is there wind below?”

We’re leaving. Hot.

“Yes.”

You want to stay behind and wait, stay behind. Hot.

hotWow. Get your hotf$&#ing priorities straight.

“Princess?”

Grantedhot the apothecary would pay an ass ton for any lynel part of any kindhot.

“Kh- have you seen anyone down there?”

But I am NOT waiting aroundhot here-

“A few bodies.”

-for it to disintegrate. Hylia help me.

Damn- damn, speaking ofhot priorities- Hey- that well back this way first, everyone.

“Kh. I- see.”

Fresher, cooler water for the cloths, it’s too hot not to-ohhh-spinningagain noo no no- stay up, Link

“Please join us above, Huiru.”

Master- you are at 91%

“Yes, Princess.”

Terial? Terial- Daile!

“Continue to be watchful, everyone.”

Yeah yeahhot help him spinning- out, out everyone OUT north north now!

“It sounds as though the battle has ended.”

You goodhot Aree?

“We kh- shall await the others.”

YOU GOOD?!

“As you say, Princess.”

Come onhot yeah yeah got you gothot

Cooler

Surehot hope now f$&#ing moblins jump us now.

Cooler This way!

The air is better here, Master.

Heh. Yeah. I could tell.

---

Part 17 coming soon (I hope!).

Follow this link to return to the chapter list.

Follow this link for my masterlist.

#adventure log+#adventure log+ AU #botw #botw fanfic #zelda #loz #zelink #fantasy #adventure #action #suspense #sheikah slate POV #unorthodox POV #zelda fanfic #got some totk references going now

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tapperhet-em · 2 months

Text

Everyone is together, but tension between them is building....

"Dude, can you maybe NOT try to antagonize Einar?" Elio had barely waited till they were outside of the cabin to address Tieran. "And don't you dare try and play stupid. You have been hot and cold with Meeri for years, and you know something went down back at the garrison with Einar, so you poke the bear by flirting with her right in front of him?"

Lorcan hung back a bit, ready to back Elio up if needed. He had the same thoughts. Something felt off about the whole interaction back in the cabin. They were all too close of friends for this to be going down now. In the coming days they would need to be a team, not at each other's throats. However, if they were all going to function as one, they had to get this one thing that had been hanging over them all for years out in the open. When things between Einar and Meeri had been more obscure, it had not been such a big deal, but now it was becoming more of one. He would have Meeri’s back before anyone else’s, which meant having Einar’s.

"Maybe you don't know all you think you do E." Tieran raised the tailgate and tried to reign in his irritation. Turning around, he sat on the back deck of the SUV and saw Lorcan’s jaw grinding. That was one man he didn’t want to fuck with, not that making Elio pissed was top of his list to do either. "You two want to know why it's been hot and cold? Because I have been trying to respect the fact that me and one of my best friends are in love with the same woman. A woman, might I add, that looks at him like her hero every damn time that he steps in the room. You two might as well be blooded brothers to her, she took a harsh punishment for E, even. Don’t tell me she wouldn’t do the same for you, Lo. I don't know where I fit in here, I haven’t for a long time. I don’t know where I fit in with you guys anymore, and not with the woman that has my heart and I can’t confess it to. I try to play it off as cool, and I fuck it up. I try to get closer to her, and I feel like I’ve got Einar’s crosshairs on my forehead." He sighed heavily and ran a hand through his hair, knowing he probably made things even more awkward but he'd felt like he had to clear the air.

"Tier, bro, you're our brother, and always have been. You're Einar’s brother. And it is up to you if you want to be close to Meeri as a brother or just a friend. But, what we can't have, is you and Einar at each other’s throats, or Meeri upset because you're hostile again to her, and her not understanding why. All we have are each other now." Lorcan leaned his hip against one side of the rear of the SUV, and looked towards Tieran. He understood his friend’s feelings, but they had to get things settled; or they'd turn on one another at some point. Tieran was the weak link in their chain, a chain they needed to be strong as titanium. Damn, he hated that he was now thinking of his friend like they were soldiers on a battlefield; but Lorcan could not ignore that they had a shit ton of Royal Forces looking for Meeri, and by hiding her they were signing their own death warrants too.

"Lo's right, T. You’ve got to get this settled with Meeri and with Einar. We can’t have constant upset and people on unstable footing. If you don’t think you can, and want to leave and go back to your family, I'll give you my keys. No judgment. If you stay, you've got to get this worked out." Elio hated this. He didn't know if Tieran or Lorcan had noticed the ring on Meeri’s finger back at the garrison, but he had. It didn't take a genius to figure out its meaning; another reason Tieran needed to figure his shit out.

"I'm not walking away, guys. Give me more credit than that. Fuck! I love her, I am IN love with her. I don't know how to change that, but I can at least try to not piss off Einar, or be an ass to her. I’ll figure something out, don’t ask me what. I don't want one of you shooting me, or her." Tieran shrugged and pushed off of the rear of the vehicle to standing. "I guess we need to get this stuff inside, huh?" He didn’t want to talk anymore. At least unpacking the SUV would keep them all moving, and give him something other than the situation for him to think on.

"Damn, you guys are slow." Einar chuckled as he walked up. Then he caught sight of the full postures of his three friends. Something was off, he’d known them all too long not to see the signs. "What did I miss? And do not lie to me and say nothing. I'm too tired to deal with bullshit tonight." His gaze alternated between the three of them as his head tipped back, feeling very uneasy.

“Uh…” Elio stuttered as he tried to think how to handle this without there being an actual fight. Things could even out from here on out, or they could go straight to shit; but it was the watershed moment for the group. It might be a good thing that Meeri was inside, because one member of the group upset at a time was more than enough for him. If she came out, and heard what he was sure Tieran was about to say, then both she AND Einar would be pissed. If she got upset, Lorcan wouldn’t be far behind. Elio’s eyes met Lorcan’s, who also looked unsure how to progress given the current situation.

Tieran held up a hand to his friend. “It’s okay, E, I got it.” Here went nothing. He squared his shoulders as he faced Einar, a man he’d been friends with since they were just kids. A man he respected highly, and loved like a brother. “The guys called me out on something that I should have been called out on a long time ago. I need to stop being an ass to Meeri. I’ve been handling a situation with her wrong, and it is just cuz I have an issue with the fact that she loves you and not me, even though I’m in love with her too.” There he’d said it and the slight look of shock on Einar’s face meant that he might have suspected it, but not really known for sure. For sure it was not what he had expected to hear from any of them.

Feeling like an ass from the way that Einar was looking, Tieran licked his lips, pursed them together, then continued. “Lo and E are like real brothers to her, you’re her hero that she has obviously loved as much as you love her. So where do I fit in, Einar? What is my place when it comes to the group here? Ya know?” He swallowed, looked down, and kicked at the dirt a little with his boot. It was so fucked up that it had gone on so long, and that it was coming out now. “It’s not her fault.” He looked back up. “She loves you, I love her, and I fuck up handling it. The guys are right, I’ve got to stop fucking it up because the stakes are a lot higher now than just some hurt feelings or a quarrel in the group. We all have prices on our heads and we can’t be hurting one another over this shit.” Tieran’s head dropped again and he once more let out a heavy sigh, his hands fisting and relaxing as he fought his feelings. He couldn’t walk away, he couldn’t leave his friends to handle all of this without trying to help them, there was no way he could leave HER, but right now having to be around them, with no escape, felt heavy on him; only his love for all his friends and Meeri kept him rooted in that spot.

For over a full minute Einar stood there trying to come up with something to say, but kept coming up empty. He looked over to Elio and Lorcan in turn, who looked rather grim and they didn’t know what to say either. This was heavy, heavier than he’d anticipated, when he’d demanded an answer. He’d wanted to know, so here it was. “We’ll figure it out, T. We’ll handle it.” His words were stilted. It was clear that he had no idea what to do now, but was trying. His brain was just not absorbing it all at the moment.

Taking a deep breath, “for now we need to get everything inside and get this SUV hidden. This place may not be on the top of everyone’s list, but it will be on a list somewhere. We have to be prepared. We’ll figure the rest out later. It can all be worked out, T. You’re still my brother.” Einar swallowed and still felt a little shell shocked. He was reverting back to handling things as a soldier and nothing more. If he thought on things too much right now, he would lose focus on what was important.

Lorcan clapped Einar on the shoulder. Clearly, this was going over about as well as he expected, and was going to keep going over that way, so they needed to get moving. Using his command voice, he had honed well as an MP and Sargent, he started giving directions in clipped tones that got the others moving. They got the SUV unloaded quickly and everything into what seemed to be the appropriate rooms in the cabin. Once the SUV was clean of everything, Lorcan got the keys from Elio to take it down to the same turnout as the Jeep, only to park it on the other side and throw a ghillie tarp over it that he’d found while he and Meeri had been waiting for the others. He took another one for the Jeep. It wouldn’t pass a close inspection, but would at least help it blend from the air or if they were just driving by and didn’t stop. Thankfully Tieran’s uncle had that damn cabin stocked with anything you’d need to hunt.

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whileyouwait-dm · 2 months

Text

He's been searching for her, but will Djall find Miriana before it's too late to keep a smudge from her soul, and how will that meeting go?

Miriana could hear things moving in the forest around her, but was unable to see anything. So far, nothing had come out of the trees or underbrush to show itself. She hoped that would remain the case until she could find someone else. While she had no clue where she was, she knew enough about most forested areas in her country to know that the wild animals could be dangerous if provoked, wounded, hungry, or around their young. It would be preferable to not find out if any of those were true the hard way. Stumbling on a road or someone’s home would be much better, but so far that didn’t look like it was going to be happening soon.

The sky was darkening, but she wasn’t sure if a storm was coming or it was becoming evening. She couldn’t really see clouds, but she couldn’t see the sun either. She felt so lost and hated the feeling. Miriana was not someone who went hiking often, so she was totally out of her element and now wished that she had accepted those invites form her friends to go to the State and National Parks and go on the trails with her friends. Sure they were going for Instagram and TikTok, but at least then she might recognize something. The only thing she did know was that the large branch a few yards from her that she could see up against a tree was something she would want. A weapon or something to help her traverse the uneven and densely covered ground, it was at least useful.

*****

Djall saw the sky darkening and knew he had to hurry. He’d teleported to the forest, but it wasn’t like it was small. Ravens were out searching, but so far none had returned to him with any reports of a female with the aura of an innocent. If anything happened to her, he would go up personally to see the feathered fucks who were supposed to control the automated algorithm that sorted souls as they passed on the Earthly plain to make sure that this didn’t happen. Trying to restore souls was hard enough, trying to restore a pure soul, in Hell, without leaving a smudge was impossible. Then she’d be trapped.

Thankfully he’d received the name of the female at least, so he had a starting point. As he went, he called her name, making sure to project his voice so she’d hear. If he didn’t find her by dark, there was no doubt that he’d be picking up pieces of her when he did find her. While the creatures that inhabited the forest could come out at any time, and were known to, they preferred to hunt at night when their prey could not see them. It would also make it harder for him to find the poor woman.

As he went deeper into the forest, a raven swooped down and landed on his shoulder. Chattering in his ear, the location of Miriana was relayed so that Djall could go find her before any of the vicious beasts within the forests pounced. The raven indicated that there were many circling, seeming to try to ascertain the best angle of attack. The girl had only a large branch for protection and the raven did not believe she would survive the hour.

Djall swore under his breath and teleported to the location that the raven had given him. Sure enough, just in front of him was the female, long curly hair blowing in the breeze and just about to get caught on a branch. She was definitely not dressed or prepared for the forest, nor did she appear to be at all familiar in moving through one. The bastards upstairs had really fucked her over. Time to at least rescue her and keep her safe till he could fix their fuck up.

Just as Djall had stepped forward to approach Miriana, a hellcat lunged at her, biting her hand. Now he’d have to heal her, and most likely that was going to leave a smudge. FUCK! Lashing out, the hellcat was turned to dust.

In a blink, Djall had Miriana and teleported them both back to his manor. Putting her up against the wall, his hand went over her mouth when she started to scream. He had not the time or the patience for her to panic or freak out. Not today.

“You’re probably wondering what is going on. I am Djall, the ruler in these parts and you, my darling, are in Hell. Don’t scream.” He started to remove his hand, she started to scream, back it went. “Now, Miriana, if we’re going to get along, you are going to have to stop that. I will explain everything, but no screaming. Can we try this again?” He raised his brows, and when she nodded, he removed his hand. “Now, that is a good girl. Let me see your hand. You were scratched by the hellcat. I need to see how bad it is.”

Miriana slowly raised her hand and held it out to the strange man in front of her. Somehow he knew her name and she really hoped that she’d been hit by a car and this was all some kind of dream in a coma, because being in Hell wasn’t on her list of things she wanted to do. She couldn’t deny, though, that something strange was going on, because one second they had been in the forest and the next they were in some mansion. That was not normal.

“Shit! I can heal it, but it’s going to leave a smudge.” Djall gently ran his finger over the open wound that was bleeding, causing it to close completely and leaving a pale grey scar on her hand. His head rose and his eyes met hers. “You’re not supposed to be here, but the pricks upstairs made a mistake. I’m going to try and convince them that since this little smudge is their fault they should still let you in. I’m sorry I didn’t find you sooner.” He really was trying to control his temper, the poor woman looked absolutely terrified, beautiful, but terrified.

Miriana studied the man in front of her, trying to get some idea if he was a hallucination or not. He had to be close to six feet tall, slim but definitely strong from the way he’d just handled her, definitely handsome with his dark hair and eyes, and what must be a perma-tan. This Djall also had the intimidation factor down, he had her utterly petrified.

“Hell? I…I..I’m in Hell?” She finally stuttered out, breaking through the shock of trying to digest everything he’d just thrown at her. “I’m dead?” Her eyes darted around the room, sweeping over every detail, but not really taking any of them in as she fought terror overwhelming her.

“Look at me, Miriana.” Djall kept his tone and volume soft, having her completely melt down was not going to be conducive to anything. “Miriana,” saying her name, the second time, got her to meet his gaze, “there we go. We’re going to take this one step at a time. Yes, you are dead. I don’t know how.” He saw her start to tremble, and wrapped his fingers gently around the hand he still held. “As I said, you’re not supposed to be here, and I’m going to work to get you where you are supposed to be. Are you following me so far?” Normally he didn’t have to have this conversation with souls. First, he didn’t care if they knew they were dead or where they were. Second, they were supposed to be in Hell, so whether they liked it or not was not of any kind of consequence. Normally he was just the administrator over the realm.

Miriana nodded, “yes, I think so. So, you’re not going to hurt me?” Her brows slowly came together in confusion. Was he a demon? Didn’t he say he was the ruler?

“No, I’m not going to hurt you. Outside of this manor are many beasts and beings that would love to, but inside you are safe. So, please, do not go outside without me. You are not a prisoner, but you are, unfortunately, in Hell.” He sighed. There were things he could do that would ensure her safety, but all of them would add additional smudges to her soul. A smudge from a hellcat scratch that attacked her when she was in the forest, that he could probably get by the feathered fuckeheads upstairs. Putting his seal on her, that one would keep her out of Paradise.

“Okay, so inside only. And Djall, right?” Her eyes narrowed as she tried to keep it all straight. “So, are there any other rules? Things to avoid? And what about clothes? Food? Oh G-” Once more his hand was over her mouth and her eyes were huge. She already knew what she’d done.

Djall had to fight laughing, but he needed to be serious. It was clear she already figured out her misstep with the name she’d about dropped. “Yeah, let’s just leave that name out of things.” He winked at her as he let her take his hand off of her mouth with a smirk. “Other than that, avoid mentioning holy things, crosses, do not have sex with any of my employees…trust me on that one…and if you ever have questions, just come and ask. As for what you’ll need to survive until I can get you upstairs, I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry about any of that. Just, do not go outside. No matter what you think or see out there, do not. Even if it looks and sounds like me.” He tilted his forehead towards hers and his expression made it clear how serious he was.

“How will I find you if I need you?” Her teeth worried at her bottom lip as Miriana cataloged everything that she was and was not supposed to do. “And what are you? Demon? I mean, if you want to tell me. You don’t have to if it’s private. I mean, I’ll understand if it is. I just wondered. I mean…” Once again she was cut off, but this time by one finger and he was chuckling. He actually found her being nervous now amusing. “I am the Lord Of Hell. I am not a demon, angel, or other. I guess you could say I’m the brother of the big guy upstairs.” He chuckled and let his finger slip off of her lips. She was definitely going to keep him on his toes till she was gone. “If you need me, just call me,” he leaned in closer to her, enjoying the slight shift she made due to her nerves, “and say you need me. I’ll be there.” He winked as he backed up, he could hear her pulse pounding and her breath having quickened. Djall wouldn’t tease her too much, poor thing, but the flush that had come to her cheeks was flattering to her complexion. At least she’d be nice to look at for the short time she’d be with him.

“O..Okay.” Miriana nodded, glad he had backed up. There was something about him being so close that made her nerves rise and her heart pound. It wasn’t bad, but he certainly had an effect on her. Maybe it was some kind of Hell thing that he was doing, but then why warn her of the demons who would seduce her? She was so confused. “Is there somewhere I could lie down? I just need a rest or something, I’m feeling so overwhelmed?” Her eyes closed and scrunched a little as she was still trying to make sense of everything.

“Of course, Miriana. Whatever you need, you just need to ask. Tomorrow, I’ll give you a tour of the manor.” He turned and offered her his arm. “Come with me, I’ll lead you up to a guest room for tonight.” Djall gave her a soft smile, hoping that she had listened to everything that he had said. He knew that it had to be a shock and overwhelming. While she was resting, he was going to go have a conversation with his counterparts and see how soon he could get her where she was supposed to be.

Her hand slid into the crook of his elbow and she felt a vibration of some sort that seemed to come off of him, it was deep like the heavy bass of music, but not wholly unpleasant. She tightened her hold on him as they moved through the large house, seeing the number of large males that seemed to inhabit it. There was something about the way that they looked at her that made her uncomfortable and move closer to Djall. For the Lord of Hell, he made her feel safer when she was close to him.

Djall, for his part, was watching everything that she was doing. He could hear the beating of her heart and the cadence of her breath. She was still scared, but she was doing better. Having her around for a day or two wouldn’t be all bad, but he had to remind himself that she didn’t belong there and whatever breath of fresh air she might be, she wouldn’t be there for long. He wondered if he could bribe the feathered fucks to send someone down every once in a while just to lighten the atmosphere for a day or so, the souls that inhabited his realm were a little heavy. Unfortunately, he had a sneaking suspicion that the mark on her hand might make Miriana his problem permanently, then she would get a lot “smudgier” and he’d have to see how that affected her, and he truly hoped not at all.

banner credit @cafekitsune

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fictionadventurer · 8 months

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It's very satisfying to me when the number of Inklings Challenge participants divides perfectly into equal teams. Any new members had better sign up in groups of three.

#i kid i kid #but the symmetry is satisfying when it occurs #year one made 81 one of my favorite numbers #because doing the math made me hyperaware of the fact #that not only is 81 divisible by three #but it's 3x3x3x3 #anyway the team posts are scheduled #exciting moment #can still be updated if any last minute additions but for now they're primed and ready to go #i'm tempted to just post them now and have the suspense over with #but when you have october 1st in bold type on all the posts you'd better post on october 1st #(i could just say i'm posting for ella's time zone that is an option)#(not one that anyone expected and thus against the spirit of the announcement posts but one does consider the temptation)#adventures in the inklings challenge

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the-andromeda-effect · 5 months

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Even trying to leaving can go smoothly...

The SUV was loaded, Lars was behind the wheel, and Marcin was waiting in the hall. Now all that remained was for Caliban to wake up Adira and go downstairs. Then they would be off to get away from the estate, the violence, and the memories of the whole area for a while. The fresh air and the cabin would do them both some good. Theron was set up to handle all matters from the city while Caliban would be working remotely as needed.

Thanks to the sedative provided by the medic, Adira had slept soundly. Caliban had checked on her repeatedly while packing, and also talking to Theron regarding arrangements, just to make sure she was still doing okay. Her complete stillness bothered him, but he couldn’t put a finger on exactly why. He knew with all that had happened since the previous morning that she had to be exhausted on top of the injury and medication, yet it still gnawed on him that she made no movement or sound for hours. His only hope was that the rest would help to calm her nerves and help her healing. What she had gone through, he couldn’t even imagine.

Once more Caliban perched on the edge of the couch next to Adira, this time to wake her at least enough to get her down to the SUV, so that they could leave for the cabin. Gently, he placed his hand on her shoulder to rouse her and jostled her gently. Unfortunately due to the sedative and the trauma of the preceding thirty-six hours, Adira’s vision was hazy when waking up, and she was disoriented. Caliban’s face was too blurry to see clearly, his voice distorted when he said her name, and her memory of recent events a bit disjointed; so, her brain told her she was back in Mircea’s mansion. Thankfully, Caliban was clear headed which kept him from getting punched hard in the jaw, having seen the unfocused eyes of Adira, and the look of terror on her face before she started to swing at him.

“Adira…ADIRA!!” Still holding her wrist of the arm she swung at him with, Caliban pinned her other arm to her side by leaning against her as she struggled against him and cried out. He was trying to keep from getting hit, while simultaneously keeping from hurting her, as she reacted in a blind panic. She had already been through enough, he did not want to cause her more pain or upset. The fact she had woken up in such a state already had him concerned.

Thrashing against him, Adira screamed for him to let her go and Mircea’s name more than once. It had Marcin coming in with his gun drawn, unsure of what could be happening in the room; although once he saw the situation, he relaxed. Adira cried, pleaded and begged to be let go, her voice breaking and tears streaming down her face as she begged not to be hurt or killed. Her eyes might be open, but Caliban, and even Marcin, were quite convinced that she was not really awake, but instead caught in a nightmare that she wasn’t waking up from for some reason.

“Shhh…shhh…you’re safe. Wake up. It’s me, it’s Caliban. You’re safe, sweetheart.” He kept his voice calm by some feat of will, as he continued to try to carefully restrain her. Finally she started to still and ceased fighting against him. “There we go, that’s my girl. Breathe deep. Calm down, you’re fine.” He let out a heavy sigh as her eyes seemed to finally focus and then confusion was awash over her face, her eyes darting back and forth between Caliban’s face and Marcin.

As Adira became fully coherent and focused, she also became afraid in a different way than she had been when she had thought she was once again in Mircea’s grasp, and about to face more pain at his hand. Looking up into Caliban’s face with him holding her arm, she was more concerned how bad she had just fucked up. Her breathing was still rapid, and she was having trouble coming up with words. She could hear Marcin saying something to Caliban but was still so confused that she wasn’t making sense of it.

“I’m not sure if it was the medication or a nightmare, but she’s fine. I think when I woke her up she was already having a bad dream, it was just confusion.” Caliban answered Marcin’s inquiry as to what had caused her reaction. It pleased him that the guard was concerned, even though it was clear that not only was Adira not in any danger, but that she was being taken care of. “I think I have learned a lesson about waking her up.” A wry chuckle left him as he turned his attention once more to her, letting go of her wrist now as he pulled her up to sitting and into his arms. “Are you more calm now, sweetheart?”

Adira nodded, not taking her eyes off of his face as her head came to rest on his shoulder. He looked calm, he sounded calm, he had let her wrist go, but she was still afraid she had seriously misstepped. “I’m sorry. Wha..what…whatever I..I did.. I..” her eyes closed as she took a deep breath to calm herself. “I was confused when I woke up,” she finally finished, her eyes still closed to help with her nerves.

“There is no need to apologize. Marcin, please get her some water. Let Lars know we’ll be a couple of more minutes.” Caliban didn’t take his eyes off of her face, reaching up to softly stroke across her forehead and then down her cheek. “You’re fine, Adira. You have had two days that were traumatic and upsetting, plus the medication dulling your senses. I am not upset.” He could feel a slight tremble in her and knew that she was afraid, most likely of his reaction. That bothered him. Yes, he was a violent man, but he would never be towards her. He already knew this to be a fact and he would have to remember to be patient until she knew she was always safe with him; and remember that at times she would react from her past, not their present. After all, they had only known one another since the previous morning when he had quite literally shown up to kill her. He could hardly blame her for having some fear of him.

“Thank you.” Adira’s eyes opened to meet his, now a small smile forming on her lips as she fought the remnants of her fear. His calm voice and soft touch were doing more to calm her than his words. That he had sent Marcin to get water for her also meant something to her too. He was making sure she was taken care of without having to leave her alone, and for that she was grateful.

“No, there's nothing I've done that requires any kind of thank you.” Caliban looked at his wife again, and ran his fingers across the side of her face, his thumb brushing over that bruise that still angered him even though he's been looking at it for the past thirty-six hours. “Adira,” he started, “just remember you are always safe with me. We are going to figure out what happened with Kondrat, and make sure it never happens again. But for now, we are going to have our vacation and relax. Once you've had a little something to drink and your mind is clear, we can look at getting ready to go. The car is all loaded, and all the arrangements have been made.” His arm tightened around her and his other hand came to cradle her head gently to his shoulder. He was worried about her.

It was only a few minutes later that Marcin returned with the water for her to drink, and also with Lars following him. “Hey boss, we thought we'd just come up and wait and make sure everything was okay.” Marcin told him as he handed Adira the water bottle with the cap loosened for her. He was worried about her, just like Caliban and now Lars as well. Now he understood what Lars had told him earlier about her blind fear of her ex-husband. “You doing better, ma'am?”

“Yes,” she replied, “I'm sorry for any upset. I was confused when I woke up.” Adira's eyes darted quickly between Caliban and Marcin. A soft blush roast her cheeks as her eyes dropped, her hand reaching over and taking Caliban’s free one in her own. His thumb swept the back of hers softly as his fingers wrapped to hold her hand softly, and then he gave it a light squeeze. It was helping to calm her to be held so gently by him, each moment that they sat there adding to the calm that she was feeling. Never in her marriage with Mircea had there been a time like this, even in the beginning. He had never been one for quiet, calm, soft..anything. A few sips of water here, a few reassuring looks and touches, and occasionally some words from both Marcin and Lars, helped her to feel better.

Finally, when Adira felt that she had recovered her senses enough to be able to walk down to the car under her own power; so, Caliban decided that they should leave. Lars led the way, with Caliban following after Adira, and finally Marcin bringing up the rear. He was also to let Pietre and Svarog know that they were leaving, and that the house would be empty until they returned.

Earlier in the evening, while Caliban had still been packing, Theron had left to return to his own estate. The following day, he, Pietre, and Svarog would get together again, and begin to try to discern who it was that had betrayed Caliban and led to Kondrat dragging Adira across the yard. In truth, Marcin, Lars, and Caliban would all have liked to have helped in that endeavor. However, it was clear that getting Adira away from the estate was the best for everyone. She needed calm, quiet, tranquility, and also to get to know Caliban better. If they were to be a team and work together, everything had to settle into its place, and that meant getting to know one another without there being constant upset and possible violence.

If Caliban had discovered who it was while he was still there, there was no doubt that violence would erupted the mansion once more, which would only set her back with her settling in. That was not something that Caliban wanted, instead he did want to get to know the woman that he was now married to, at least on paper. He had found himself drawn to her with a possessive and protective nature since their first encounter in that basement, and he could not put his finger on why. He didn’t like unanswered questions. Another question he wanted to figure out the answer to was whether she was clinging to him because she saw him as a savior, or if she too had felt something the night before in the library when everything had seemed so relaxed.

While their marriage was fake at the moment, there was already a hint of something that could develop. Caliban could not deny that she was a beautiful and intelligent woman, and from all he had heard of her, he would find her personality just as charming as he had the night before. Theron too had been taken by her, not an easy feat, so there was that fact that he needed to keep in mind. His best friend was a good judge of character, so it seemed to confirm his own thoughts on the woman. He would rush nothing with her, assume little, but that did not mean he was not intrigued to see how things would develop over the coming days.

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