The pale moon hangs in the air, ominous and ever watchful as I tread past the cast iron gates of the meadow, the small burning workshop behind me glowed and cracked. The soft crunch of the white lilies can be heard in the silence as I faced the old master of this lonely hunter's dream. Immediately I was on guard as he spoke. "Welcome back hunter." He spoke as one would treat a child or a student. "You've done well. The night is near its end and now, I will show you mercy and you will di-"
"No." I cut him off and take a step back. My hand clasped my cane's worn handle. He gave me this look, a look of disappointment and something else as he chuckles. I think it was amusement.
"Dear oh dear, what was it? Was it the blood? Was it the hunt? What was it that changed your mind." His chuckle came to an end and he took on a far more grim expression as he slowly lifted himself from the seat. "If only you accepted my mercy, you would've been free and under the morni-"
"No! Then what about you?! I hear you cry in your sleep! I will-"
"Then Gherman joins the hunt tonight." With one swift stroke, his weapon assembles itself and he brandishes it against me. It was clear he didn't take kindly nor want to hear about what I had to say. Charging and burying the blunt end into my gut and sending me rolling back in a messy heap. Spitting blood and saliva forced up from my stomach as leaned on my cane and brought up the loch Shield to protect myself from the razor wind slashes from his scythe.
I struggle against the impacts and was forced to kneel. I gritted my teeth and stare back at him with steadfast eyes.
"What was it, keen hunter? You who have made it this far?" His expression was now one of grim determination and unbottled fury. "No matter, I will kill you and you should forget and wake up under the morning sun, free of this Hunter's dream." He brings up his scythe again, an aura of power emanates from in a wreath of howling wind and fluttering white petals.
I had one shot, I knew he was stronger and I knew the only way I had come this far was because I couldn't die out there. But in her it was a different story, you die in the dream and you stay dead to the dream. I take my stance, holstering my cane and shield. Bringing out the glowing moonlight great sword and the boom hammer.
"Oh, hoh? Putting all your strength in one final move? How brave."
I stoked the Hammer's furnace with my blood, letting it grow brighter and hungrier and putting as much of my faith in the moonlight great sword, growing to its full magnificent size. We stare at each other for the agonising moments before we charged. Nothing more than mists until they clashed and the two hunters returned to their original forms as they passed each other. For a moment I stood still as I heard Gherman groan. Turning to face the old hunter clutching a wound on his chest.
I smiled.
I couldn't feel my arm and I could feel the cascade of blood rushing from my stomach. I fell as my legs refused to stand and everything became numb and blurry, the soft leaves and the flowers cushioning my fall. Feeling the hardened leather boot upon my chest, my only remaining arm grabbed it, tried to push it away, weak and broken. I struggled and got so far if only I was just better.
"Dear Hunter, what is it that changed your mind? To deny my mercy?" Gherman's voice was as stern and steady.
"I- it- it's." I gurgle as the blood pooled in my mouth. Swallowing my own blood to speak a little bit more clearly. "It's be-because, I-I thi-think" I struggle, I was embarrassed to say it out loud. But a man in my head just kept shouting. 'Just do it!' he would repeat it again and again, this my last chance to tell him before I forget. I swallow again and speak as loud as I can. "I-I Love you. I-I Wa-want you to b-be free. T-to see the mor-morning sun."
His expressions soften and his eyes glint in surprise and confusion. "Thank you Dear hunter" His face became even softer and happy, I think. "But this is one burden I will not share." And everything went blank. Resigning myself to the inky black sea of unconsciousness with a smile on my face.
**** Farewell Good hunter. May you find your worth in the waking world. ****
I roused myself from my sleep, everything felt groggy and heavy. True to Gherman's words I awoke under the morning sun and to the last prayer of the kind doll. Immediately I start feeling out my lost arm, it was still there. Attached and still functional I sighed in relief before I picked myself up. Dusting off the dust and vines, checking over my equipment. My many pouches and pockets and belts filled with a many munitions, artifacts and trinkets I had kept throughout my stay in Yharnam.
Again I sighed in relief, knowing I had kept all the item I had on me. I looked around, I was surrounded by trees and orange leaves. Autumn. It was Autumn here that much I knew and I took my time to listen. Birds, they were singing and It the air did not stink of blood nor corpses nor other ghastly things. But my arms still slumped down, head hanging with just a tinge of guilt.
"Thank you, Gherman. If only you and the others could have joined me here." I said as I brought out my cane and I walked along a beaten dirt path. "If only so that I may have a companion."
The walk through the path was empty, the birds did not stop their singing and so far no beast nor madman came at me. Nothing seeking to end my life or steal my memories. I cringe at that as I remember the many times when this Tentacled man-beasts had ambushed me, taking away my insight and my memories. Those were not pleasant days when I forgot whom I was until Alfred saved me.
'Revery Rouge is your name huntress or don't thou not remember?' He said to me back then but that name felt superficial to me and it still does.
So many memories made and so many lost. I reminisced my time with others, as I walked until the sun fell below the horizon, as I did not like being alone. God no, especially not in Yharnam. I kept walking and walking but did not tire. It was getting dark and I find a comfy looking branch on a big oak looking tree. This was fine, there were worse spots I've fallen asleep in. I gathered some wood to make a fire.
I did not care for tinder when I had my blood. A tiny portion of Maria's blood flowed through me, channeled by the doll. Bringing out the blades of mercy and cutting my palm, letting the blood drop onto the wood. At first, nothing and then a small and steady rise of smoke became apparent. "Such mundane uses for blood." I chuckle to myself feeling ever so lonely here. The fist tongue of fire appeared through the pile of wood.
I settled at the base of the big tree. Watching the Flame burn and grow, it was relaxing as I had a hard time to trying to stay asleep. Soon my ears pick up a screech. Immediately rose into a crouch cane at the ready. "Shit, Who's there!" I shout my, ears twitching as I hear the same panicked screech. 'That's no beast! That's a child's scream!' Rising to my full height and my head switching to and fro as the scream echoed out again.
Blood pumped through my veins with vigour and battle lust. Dashing through the forest towards the source. I could see a shack, rundown and old with beasts covering it. I roar and with a flick of my arm, the cane became a whip, cutting into the beastly hides and leaving red marks. Almost all of them turn their attention to me and away from the girls. Through the pack of black fur I could see their frightened faces as the older blonde used her body to shelter the black haired one on the cart.
These beasts were exceptionally fast but I was faster, weaving in and out of their claws in a trail of mist and smoke.
Impaling one through the head and one through the gut and to whipping entire rows of the beast. "Run!" I yell at the two but the still seemed paralysed with fear. "Run I tell ye!" I said louder with worry. I knew I can handle these pack of strange beasts but it was only a matter of time till they turned their attention to them! Images flashed through my head, the time when I had failed to save the two young girls.
I became enraged at that memory, it still haunted me to no end. "Not here foul beast!" My other arm reached for the blunderbuss and I shoved it into the throat of one. Splattering the brains of the last in the pack. But their corpses didn't stay, examining their fading bodies that yielded no blood but still small portions of the wispy black essence floated to me and like blood, it stayed in me but nothing bad has happened so far. My attention shifts when the bodies disappear completely turning to the girls, rushing to their side and kneeling down.
"Are you two hurt?" I said as I inspected them for injuries. Just scratches and bruises thankfully.
"N-no" The older one replies. I was relieved to see they were okay. "Thank you, miss hunter, for saving us."
My heart melted at the little one's smile. "But where are your parents? What are children like you doing out here in the woods?" It was out of concern and they fidgeted for a little bit. It was long before the one in the red hood spoke again.
"Big sister is looking for mommy." At that I grew even more concerned, this was far too similar to the time when I told the girl in Yharnam that I would find her mother and I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth. I looked up from the ground as the girl spoke up again. "Miss hunter? Why are you crying? Did we do something wrong?" I reeled back at the question and roughly wipe my eyes with my sleeve, surprised the memory could bring tears to my eyes. I looked at those big impressionable silver eyes.
"No, no you didn't." I offered them my gloved hands and the blonde girl picks up her sister. "Let me take you home and I'll stay with you until your safe and sound." The blonde one takes my hand while she carries her sister. And we start walking.
"Miss hunter. What's your name?" They both ask curiously. "Umm. Yeah, What's your name?"
"My name is Revery Rouge," I replied with a smile, hopefully putting them at ease, as I stayed with them. Determined not to see them die to beasts of the forest. "And I'll be here for you till you get home," I reassured them again.
