Warning! This is based off of Rune Factory 4 but there is MAJOR deviations. If this bothers you do not continue. Otherwise have fun. Remember smut may be ahead.
Plopping on the dirt between the rows of flowers Terra sighed heavily, her mind and heart not into the work she was doing at the moment. Her eyes went to the opening of her second field, her mind filled with worry for Venti. The Native Dragon had passed out after attempting to make her promise to save Leon, the first Guardian, even though she knew it would kill her. Looking at the ground Terra's eyes watered, tears threatening to spring up at the thought of losing her first friend in this town. Though everyone in town had made sure to make her feel welcome Venti had become a dear friend that she could tease and argue with. Knowing that friend was in pain and dying made it even harder to do what Venti had asked of her and Terra was sure no one else would want her following through with it either. Well almost no one. Doug, that selfish bastard, made sure to let Terra know the day she had found out about Venti that he would try to stop her cause he thought Venti killed his family. The bastard thought he was right and no amount of convincing would change his mind. Even though, because of that random chipsqueek, she had found a way to save everyone all at once she barely lived through her fight with the Dead Tree. She needed to become stronger and better if she was going to help everyone.
As the tears streamed down her face at the feeling of hopelessness that filled her two small silver blurs came through the flowers, startling Terra into wiping away the tears. Two foxes stood before her, their heads tilted as they approached her cautiously. She smiled slightly at the pair and offered a hand to them, sniffling some as she tried to look approachable to the vulpines. They slowly moved closer then one became braver and moved up to sniff then nip her fingertips. She smiled and let out a soft giggle then lifted her hand to gently pet the small creature as the other moved to nuzzle her side. Looking down at them she sighed heavily then looked up to the cloudy sky above her.
"I will save everyone... I just … I feel …. I need to be stronger. I need to be able to face whatever is to come." she murmured, more to herself than the pair that now had their heads on her lap. She smiled at them and scratched behind the ears of the one who had approached her first. "But to get stronger I need to train, farm and do everything I do everyday. It will be hard but I think I can do this. I hope I am right."
The pair looked up to her and let out a soft chuffing noise before nipping at her fingers softly. She giggled again and gently moved them from her lap with a sigh. "Thank you. Both of you. You made me smile and I needed that. Please come back again. I will need some support for a little while."
As if they understood her request the two foxes nodded then scampered off, making her smile again. Lifting her water pot and her sickle she set to work again, her spirits lifted slightly.
The pair of foxes that had haunted him for years entered his dreams, returning from checking on the Earthmate that Venti had told him about. He had no idea how Venti had been contacting him through his dreams, other than the fact that he could feel the Forest of Beginnings had grown over the tower he had been told to create runes in. He did know the foxes would never fully leave his side and that they were the best to gather information, as the pair were able to give him information directly rather than through speech. His dream changed as they came close, showing him a field of flowers being tended by a woman. At first he could not see her well but as the dream cleared he could see her perfectly and his breath caught in his throat.
The silvery green of the female's hair caught his attention first, the long locks pulled into pigtails that were secured by clasps of some sort at the end. A wiry headdress sat atop her head and bangs fell across her forehead. A smear of dirt marred her pale skin, the white dress she wore marked by dirt and bits of plants. As he watched the scene the girl collapsed to her knees, her breathing coming out almost as a pained whimper. Her head tilted to the entrance to the field, where in the dream he stood with the foxes. The emerald of her eyes were offset by long dark lashes, the gem like depths swimming with unshed tears and pain. His body instantly began moving forward, his first instinct to comfort the small female and protect her from whatever caused such pain. Just then dream copies of his foxes came forward, their movements slow and cautious as an animal's should be when confronting a human. He watched the scene play out, a smile crossing his lips as he watched her petting his pair of troublemakers followed by a frown caused by her words. Her trembling soft voice punched him in the gut, causing every protective instinct in him to roar forward to protect this frail woman, even from whatever she was planning.
Just as Leon was about to look away from the scene he heard her question, the note in her voice sounding almost pleading for comfort. His eyes shut as he heard the loneliness in her voice, an echoing loneliness beating at his breastbone. He smiled slightly as he saw the foxes nod then run off just as the dream ended leaving him feeling bereft, though the feeling threw him off guard. Looking down to the foxes he nodded slightly and smiled to himself. "So that's the Earthmate that is supposed to free me huh? She's kind of cute."
The air in the dream wavered as a vision of Venti appeared before him, the projection wavering yet nearly solid. He knew she would be watching when his foxes returned, her stories as of late not just of the town or herself but of the enchanting female he had just watched. Venti laughed, the sound weaker than it should have been but stronger than it had been only a few days before. "So you had to see her before she came to get you huh? Well that doesn't surprise me at all. You always were stubborn."
"I like to think it adds to my personality." He quipped to the dragon, his little half smile crossing lips as he looked at the Native dragon's vision, "However I am curious as to why she seems so pained. I mean you have been making it sound like things were fine in the town. What has changed that has the person whom you claim is the reason everything is getting even better so upset?"
Venti looked away from him, the first friend she ever made then made a shrugging motion, as if she had no clue. "I have no idea. Perhaps she feels a bit overwhelmed with all she is doing. Don't worry about it. Eventually she will come and free you and you can ask her yourself."
Leon narrowed his eyes a bit at the large dragon, knowing she was lying but unsure about what. Venti was always easy to read and he knew eventually she would come clean but till then he had to be patient. "Well I will keep sending my foxes to her. She needs some one who can offer a different support than what she is receiving. They seem to be good for her."
Venti startled at his words them laughed a bit, reminded by his actions of the way he once was. "Well if you must send those rascals make sure you choose end of the day. She... She doesn't sleep well. She lost her memory and has dreadful nightmares. Perhaps the pair can help her rest easier."
Leon nodded and turned away, noting the tiredness in Venti's voice and the wavering of the image. "Go rest Venti. I will be back soon and then we can talk. Till then I will watch over the Earthmate. Some needs to."
Venti laughed and faded away, leaving Leon alone in the blankness of his dreams once more. He looked at the foxes, their heads tilted to watch his face. "You heard Venti. Seems our little Earthmate needs your help. Visit her every afternoon and stay with her till she is about to wake. Then return and show me the memories."
The foxes did a little hop and yiff before running off, their actions causing a small laugh to leave him. Once they were gone he pulled the memory of her in the fields back up, creating a dream around the field of flowers and the small female. He didn't know why but he wanted to be able to see her once more before dreams of the past began again. As the dream started he closed his eyes and sighed, "Forgive me Maria."