Hey guys, I'm REALLY glad to say that I'm BACK on FFN. High school has been cruel to me, but I'll still try to find time to write as much as I can.
-Mist
I awoke in the middle of the night, sweating. I sighed as my breath came out nasally and loud. A draft from the window suddenly rattled my nerves. The middle of summer, and the winds are this cold? There was something unnatural about it.
Little did I know that the freezing wind I felt was an omen of something to come...or rather, someone.
Someone who would turn my life upside-down.
I turned in my bed, unable to sleep. I looked at my dresser, picking up the ancient note. I was almost afraid it would disintegrate in my hands. Brother...Who could you be? Where are you?
-Ike
Hot tears ran freely down my face as I ran, my tiny feet torn up and bleeding by the gravel beneath them. Finally, I collapsed amidst the ashes of my home. You could still smell the smoke that permeated the area. I could only watch as the dark figure rose out of the ruins, stalking closer and closer...
I woke up, stifling a scream. Coming back to my senses, I realized I was soaked...Rain? Sure enough, a torrential downpour was going on outside when I poked my head out of the cave I'd opted to sleep in. Oh, well. In a way, I enjoyed the rain, in the way it drenched me with cool, undistilled water. It gave me a reminder, if only a ghost, of the feeling of happiness.
One day...I'll feel it again for real. With her.
I stood up, checking my watch. 4:00, huh...I'd gotten up an hour late. I'd have to cut through Smashville's alleyways if I wanted to make it on time. My client was waiting.
-Masked Woman
I looked across the horizon at the teenager making a trek through the grass. Son of Gawain...To live, or to die?
-Mist
I hated the rain. I really, really hated the rain. It soaked into my clothes, bogging me down. It didn't help matters that I had a cold already. "Hiyah!" I slipped in a puddle, falling to the ground. I looked up at the person who'd come up from behind. "Link!" "Hmm!" The mostly-mute boy attempted to respond with a grunt, offering his hand in apology. "Thanks," I muttered. "You scared me, Link!" "Hmhm." He let out a muffled laugh. "Link!" I scolded him, attempting to puff out my chest to appear larger than him. It didn't work, of course, and he laughed again, this time a bit more pronounced. I smiled. He was learning. Slowly, but surely, the boy raised by wolves was learning.
-Ike
I didn't understand people and their pointless chatter. This old man had been talking to me about his cat for 10 minutes! Not that there was a problem with cats, but I just couldn't understand why someone would waste so much perfectly good oxygen talking about them! "...Sir?" I asked quietly. He continued to talk. "Sir," I addressed him yet again, this time louder. "Eh? Yes, what is it? I was just getting to the good part! Ohoho!" "...If you don't mind, I need to leave soon. I would like my compensation." "Eh? What's that? Oh, your money? Go on ahead, take it," he wheezed, dropping a small pouch of gold coins into my palm.
"Right, then, where was I?" The old man's voice trailed off as I stalked off, not wanting to hear any more about his cat.
-Old Man
"Right, then...Where was I? Oh, right, that was when Peeko and I-" The old man looked over, to realize the mercenary had already begun to stalk off in that tense, menacing way he had. His stride was stiff and long, as his master had predicted. The golden-edged sword and the red, torn cloak fluttering behind him identified him to the "old man" easily. Perfect. I was so sick of that body. The demon shed his costume, letting out a blood-curdling cry to alert his brethren.
-Ike
"Damn it!" I whipped around to face the demon creatures. Damn that Black Knight...Knowing him, he'll have beorc troops from his crazy cult around here too. I backflipped away, as the gargoyle who had disguised himself as the old man dove down with a lance. A revenant rose from the ground, trying to strike me with its claws. I quickly vaulted over it, rending it in half with the edge of my blade. In these enclosed spaces, I won't stand a chance! I took off for the exit of the alley, only to find it blocked by a wyvern rider. The draconic beast roared at me, trying to shove its body into the alley. Damn it! I looked back at the growing force of monsters. Monsters it is, I decided, turning Ragnell on the creatures.
I cut my way through the fiends as efficiently as possible, trying not to wear myself out in the process. Even with the strength I'd built up over the years, Ragnell still felt heavy in my arms. Maybe I should've waited till I was older to start dragging this thing around...I laughed humorlessly to myself. Who was I kidding? Ragnell was the only weapon I knew of that could put these things down for good. I felt a bead of sweat roll down my face, and paused for a moment to wipe it off. Unfortunately, that moment was the opening my foes had been waiting for. The wyvern rider dove down at me, the mount's claw grazing my shoulder. As he flew back up, the rider chucked a javelin down at me. Still stunned from the wound, I didn't see it coming until it tore through my armor. I felt the metal chestplate dent inwards, crying out as it snapped two of my ribs with a sickening pop. I gasped for air, winded as I pulled out the spear. There's too many of them...I need to get out of here! I closed my eyes against the pain of my screaming muscles as I ran faster than I'd ever thought possible. The rain pounded against my neck and face, blinding me. Slowly, my thoughts were reduced to a single instinct-run.
-Link
I nudged Mist. "You know how to get back home?" She asked. "Mhm!" I replied with a nod. She'd taught me how to answer basic questions. I grabbed her hand and led her down an alleyway. Suddenly, I froze, smelling the scent of fresh blood. "Mm!" I motioned for her to remain quiet. A small clank sound eventually sounded out, followed by a scraping sound and a weak moan. I gestured for her to follow me. Laying under a mass of vines that hung from the roof of a house was a boy, a little over seventeen, laying unconscious. His face was pale from blood loss, and he'd stopped moving, save for his shallow breath that seemed to rattle his chest each time he inhaled, and the occasional painful twitch. The leather armor on his chest had been torn, and deep gashes lacerated his chest and arms. I held my hand over Mist's mouth to keep her from screaming-if he woke up, the situation would only get worse. Instead, I handed her my phone, gesturing for her to call for help.
Other Notes:
The monsters are the same ones appearing in The Sacred Stones.
PoR Ike is best Ike, don't lie to yourself.
Yes, the BK has his own cult. It's a crossover AU. DEAL WITH IT.
Link was raised by wolves, but came back to civilization.