That will most likely be the last time I kill off a character, but I can't make any promises
Chapter 9: Leaving for the Sand
Rolf got no sleep that night, and by the constant ruffling noises coming from Oscar's bed, the sniper knew that his brother didn't either. The tent seemed so empty without the third body sleeping peacefully within the canvas walls. Rolf shifted uncomfortably in his warm bed, telling himself that when he got up, Boyd would be there like he always was, that his color would be back and his blood back inside his body. Even as he thought this, Rolf knew that it wasn't true—Boyd was gone forever. It was his fault that Boyd was gone, his fault that he would never see his brother again.
Rolf felt a wave of painless hurt course through his body, and he sat up nervously. He pulled himself to the edge of the bed and sat watching the bright colors of dawn rise on the horizon. The others would be asleep after the night before, and Rolf knew that he would be alone. Silently, Rolf rose from his small bed and crept past his older brother who did not stir as the archer slid soundlessly from the canvas tent. Taking a deep breath of the new morning air, Rolf looked around the camp with tired eyes.
He half expected to see Boyd to walk out from behind one of the tents, to say that last night never happened, that he was still there. Yet, even as Rolf stood and watched, Boyd did not come. The small boy sighed and walked shakily from his makeshift home towards the nearby forest. The forest had always offered Rolf its green comfort, whether it was with the lush foliage or the protecting branches of the trees.
Rolf let his hand rest softly on the trunk of a nearby tree as he remembered that it was his love of the forest that had gotten him taken in the first place. If he hadn't let himself be kidnapped, then Boyd wouldn't had had to come save him, and he would still be alive, still be there to make fun of him, to call him weak. Even Boyd's insults were never enough to damage their bond; Rolf always knew that he never meant it.
The whole time he was up on that goddess forsaken pole, Rolf knew that his brothers would be there to save him, like they always had before. Yet, when he was finally free Rolf could tell that something was wrong, only Oscar greeted him on solid ground. When Boyd's lifeless body was brought into the clearing, Rolf couldn't bring himself to cry, Boyd would never let himself die so easily, he would be fine, the blood that soaked his clothes was not his. Even as he rode on Oscar's horse with Boyd's body, Rolf told himself that Boyd wasn't dead, that when they got back to camp, Boyd would wake up and be perfectly fine.
Now, Rolf realized that Boyd wasn't coming back. His older brother was gone forever, and it was his fault. Rolf would never see Boyd again, never hear his kind insults again, and never feel his rough fingers ruffle through his hair — nothing would be the same without his older brother. Rolf let out a pained moan and slid to the springy moss-cloaked ground, burying his head in his hands.
The silence of the forest was pierced by the small boy's sobs. Rolf curled himself up into a small, quivering ball and cried, not only for his brother's death, but his part in it. Several minutes passed before Rolf heard a small twig snap behind him. Rolf already knew who it was, and he gently pushed himself off the ground to face the intruder. Oscar was only a little surprised when his younger brother wrapped his arms around him.
"I'm sorry..." Rolf whispered, "I-if I hadn't—"
Oscar knelt down and gently silenced the young archer.
"It won't change anything by blaming yourself." Oscar said softly.
"B-but..."
"There are some things that are out of our control. We can't decide who dies when—it just happens."
Rolf looked away from his brother into the green of the surrounding forest, his eyes still wet. Oscar carefully stood and guided Rolf out of the woods and back to the small tent that was now only home to two brothers. Once inside, Rolf pulled himself into his small bed and curled up underneath the rough blankets. Before another thought could cross his mind, the small archer succumbed to sleep.
It was late in the morning before everyone finally awoke. Ike, Link, Soren, Micaiah and Volug congregated inside of the planning tent while the rest of the camp prepared for Boyd's burial. Soren seemed to be the only one not exhausted and instead watched impatiently as everyone entered the tent and took their place. Volug sat in one of the few chairs in the tent with Micaiah standing near him, ready to translate if needed. Ike stood beside Soren with Link in between the wolf and the Branded. Once everyone was present, Soren cleared his throat softly.
"We have wasted enough time. We need to begin preparations for our journey through the desert." the dark sage turned to the slouching laguz in the chair across from him, "Volug. Do you know of a way that we could pass through the desert unharmed?"
The half-beorc growled deeply before answering. "Near Hatari. There are caves. They go far to the east."
"Where are these caves?" Soren asked sharply, motioning for the wolf to come up to the table that held a large map of Tellius.
Volug flicked his tail in irritation before pushing himself from the chair and leaning over to examine the map carefully.
"Do you know how far the caves extend?" Soren asked as Volug traced a small path across the desert from the decorative print that read 'Hatari' to a spot to the east.
Volug's ears twitched slightly before the wolf continued his tracing further to the east. "We don't know how far caves go. We use them for trade with rest of Hatari, and no one go further than Selring." Volug tapped a place near the eastern border of the map—apparently Selring. "Caves go further, but how far, none know."
Soren nodded and Volug fell back heavily into the chair and leaned back, his tail swishing gently from side to side. Soren bent over and quickly marked all of the locations that Volug had pointed out before looking up once more at the lounging wolf.
"Are you sure of these locations?" Soren asked, his eyes returning to the yellowing parchment.
Volug growled something and Micaiah fought to stifle a laugh, her small hand reaching up to cover her mout end eyes. Soren straitened up and set his burning red eyes on the dark wolf.
"What did he say?" Soren hissed.
Volug looked up at Soren with an aloof expression. "I said, 'I am completely sure'. What else would Volug say?" Volug smiled slightly, exposing a single glistening fang.
Soren said nothing and instead went back to the map. "It would be safe to assume that Zelgius used the same route to get to Link's kingdom. If that is the case, than the caves must extend all the way from eastern Hatari to Hyrule's desert. If we depart today, we could reach Hatari in a few weeks, and the caves a few days later."
"We wouldn't be able to pack enough supplies to last all of us the trip from here to Hyrule in one go." Ike said quietly, "We would have to stop in Hatari to rest before moving on to the caves."
Soren nodded and quickly found the company's current location on the map. He traced a route leading from the edge of Daein northeast in to Hatari, and to the small dot that indicated the caves.
"Do you know the way to the caves?" Soren asked Volug.
The wolf cast a sideways glance at the mage. "I have been there many times. I know the way well."
"We should begin to ready ourselves for the long journey ahead. While the others carry out their funeral, we will begin to pack."
Volug was the first to rise and, with a swish of his tail, the wolf exited the tent with Micaiah behind him. Link cast a sideways glance at the raven-haired mage as he rolled up the marked map and tucked it neatly under his arm. Soren walked briskly from the tent leaving Link and Ike alone.
"What can I do to help?" Link asked with a yawn.
"Mmm. Pack up your things, and help out with disassembling the tents." Ike said the yearning for sleep still present in his eyes.
Link nodded as he wandered from the planning tent to his own to get ready to go.
Many in the group of mercenaries were experts as moving the tents from one place to another—before the sun had reached its zenith, all traces of the army's presence had disappeared. The last reminder of any human activity in the area as the small mound of earth lying at the foot of a great tree.
Oscar stood at the foot of his brother's grave along with the rest of the company. Sothe stepped forward and carved Boyd's name deep into the trunk of the tree, ensuring that the grave would be marked for centuries to come. As Sothe stepped back from his work, he shot an angry glare at Link and tightened his grip on his knife, flicking it slightly in Link's direction. Link pretended not to notice the man's threatening gesture, but reminded himself to keep his weapon by his side at all times during his trip.
The group stood there silently for a few moments before Soren spoke, cutting the mourning short.
"I understand that you would like to linger," Soren said softly, "but we are short on time. Even the loss a few moments could cost us everything."
The group soundlessly complied with Soren's request, and most began to march to the north, towards the Desert of Death. Link noticed Oscar lingered behind for a few more moments on his horse and walked up beside the knight.
"Oscar," Link said softly, "I'm so sorry."
"You-you did everything you could." Oscar didn't look down as he spoke. "It's always been my job to protect my brothers. I'm the one who failed, not you."
Before Link could respond, Oscar kicked his horse into a slow trot to catch up with the group. Link took one last glance at Boyd's grave before following.
Seeing as little to nothing is known about Hatari, I will have to make up things as I go. I hope that my interpretation of the desert country is accurate, or at least believable. I've noticed that my chapters are getting better and shorter at the same time. I apologize if this bothers anyone. Anyway, a favorite or an alert is not a replacement for a review, so if you're one of those people who have this alerted, but yet to leave a review, please take the few seconds it takes to leave a review. They inspire me to update sooner, if you need a reason.