Where she finds success, Sarge meets resistance, and in the end it turns out little Will-o did did need a hero, but that she was a part of the story in a way she'd never been allowed.
At first, it just seemed like nothing at all happened, but it quickly became apparent to even her muddled mind that something was wrong as Sarge whipped backwards. Still, she touched something -- grasping it, she used all the strength in her raggedy little body to haul out just the thing she'd been searching for this whole time. The rune she'd been so close to in the first place, the trail she'd been on the entire time. The rune she would've had, before now, if only she'd not let fear grip her.
Wisp drew a deep breath at the feel of the energy pulsing from the stone, and she turned to smile at her friend with a bit more clarity than she'd been blessed with in the last days.
It all goes to realizing that he's gasping, wobbling, swelling. Her heart clenched, features twisting into panic.
The heavily accented word came sharp, and for a moment, Wisp could only stare, disbelieving. She left the rune and surged to his side, but even for all the lack of her knowledge in herbs and healing, she knew it was too late. It was too much. Whatever had happened, it wasn't a natural bite -- it wasn't something, she thought, a healer could not have fixed even were she one. That tiny thread of knowledge didn't make her feel better.
In fact, she raged against it, tears welling in her eyes and clenching her throat.
Here, between, in another life, she'd find him and she'd keep her promise. Whatever it took, she thought desperately as the tears spilled over. And then, another thought hit her:
Take him into her realm, give him a chance at the peace he deserved. Place him somewhere new for a second chance. Something, anything -- he'd given his life for her, for her mission, and whether or not he thought they'd been friends, the strange little Wisp counted him among her few. But the mist swirled on, and the stars glittered somewhere far, far above, unseen and unheard. If the fae queen could hear her, could do anything, Wisp didn't get to know.
She settled her teeth into his scruff, tears hot on her cheeks, and hauled with all her might.
He shifted, barely, and Wisp knew she was fucked. Maybe she could've moved him a little, on a perfect day.... but the mist still wreathed around her, and it was starting to make her dizzy, lungs aching. Or was that just the grief welling up threatening to make her explode? She wasn't sure.
She wanted to bury him. She had to bury him. It wasn't like she could build him a pyre here, or find a BOAT to float him downriver on. There were a thousand ways to properly take care of a body after the death of a friend, but Wisp didn't like the option of leaving him here. It wasn't as if the circle of life would absorb him, like this -- there were no scavengers to repurpose him, no bugs, no plants.
A sob wracked her, but Wisp turned, grabbed the rune, and fled morningstar for the second time without noticing whether or not misfortune had befallen her or not....
Headed the wrong way.
At first, it just seemed like nothing at all happened, but it quickly became apparent to even her muddled mind that something was wrong as Sarge whipped backwards. Still, she touched something -- grasping it, she used all the strength in her raggedy little body to haul out just the thing she'd been searching for this whole time. The rune she'd been so close to in the first place, the trail she'd been on the entire time. The rune she would've had, before now, if only she'd not let fear grip her.
Wisp drew a deep breath at the feel of the energy pulsing from the stone, and she turned to smile at her friend with a bit more clarity than she'd been blessed with in the last days.
It all goes to realizing that he's gasping, wobbling, swelling. Her heart clenched, features twisting into panic.
No.
The heavily accented word came sharp, and for a moment, Wisp could only stare, disbelieving. She left the rune and surged to his side, but even for all the lack of her knowledge in herbs and healing, she knew it was too late. It was too much. Whatever had happened, it wasn't a natural bite -- it wasn't something, she thought, a healer could not have fixed even were she one. That tiny thread of knowledge didn't make her feel better.
In fact, she raged against it, tears welling in her eyes and clenching her throat.
Ah'll find ye,she whispered, vowed, pressed her head against his though she didn't know if he could even hear her,
Ah'll keep mah promise, Sarge.
Here, between, in another life, she'd find him and she'd keep her promise. Whatever it took, she thought desperately as the tears spilled over. And then, another thought hit her:
Queenie,her voice croaked, turning her faded vision skyward,
Queenie, ah'll never ask fer anythin' else if ye can help 'im.
Take him into her realm, give him a chance at the peace he deserved. Place him somewhere new for a second chance. Something, anything -- he'd given his life for her, for her mission, and whether or not he thought they'd been friends, the strange little Wisp counted him among her few. But the mist swirled on, and the stars glittered somewhere far, far above, unseen and unheard. If the fae queen could hear her, could do anything, Wisp didn't get to know.
She settled her teeth into his scruff, tears hot on her cheeks, and hauled with all her might.
He shifted, barely, and Wisp knew she was fucked. Maybe she could've moved him a little, on a perfect day.... but the mist still wreathed around her, and it was starting to make her dizzy, lungs aching. Or was that just the grief welling up threatening to make her explode? She wasn't sure.
She wanted to bury him. She had to bury him. It wasn't like she could build him a pyre here, or find a BOAT to float him downriver on. There were a thousand ways to properly take care of a body after the death of a friend, but Wisp didn't like the option of leaving him here. It wasn't as if the circle of life would absorb him, like this -- there were no scavengers to repurpose him, no bugs, no plants.
A sob wracked her, but Wisp turned, grabbed the rune, and fled morningstar for the second time without noticing whether or not misfortune had befallen her or not....
Headed the wrong way.