Notes:
[f/n]= first name
"We're ok, Worrywirt!" I exclaim with a chuckle as Wirt watches us anxiously.
"Almost got it!" Greg declares, reaching for the kite that is tangled with the branches. I hold Greg in my arms so he doesn't fall, considering we're perched on a very high branch. Wirt watches us from down below, constantly fretting about the perils of falling.
"We don't even need the kite!" Wirt claims as he paces around the base of the tree. "We're leaving today!" At his statement, I feel my smile falter. Winter is already over; it flew by so fast. And just like the snow, the warm moments I share with Wirt and Greg will melt into nothing. Soon, my home will be empty once again.
"Got it!" Greg cheers happily as he stretches out as far as he can and swipes at the kite.
"No, wait, Greg-," I cry as he wobbles, his weight causing me to tip sideways. My heart stops as the world flips around, wind rushing past us as we plummet towards the ground. While my mind is frozen with panic, my body kicks into gear. My hand flings out, causing the words to appear in my mind, Sweep forth and lift us away! The wind rushes below us, but fear pierces through my heart with the sudden realization that the wind is not strong enough to support our weight.Greg! I wrap my free arm tight around Greg, bearing my back to the ground. At the very least, I'll take all the damage.
I squeeze my eyes shut tight as I wait for the impact. But I never feel the painful collision. Shocked, my eyes fly open to meet Wirt's frightened eyes. He holds me in his trembling arms, his face strained with the effort of holding our weight. I feel his legs give out from under him, and we all tumble to the ground in a heap of bodies. Even after the fear and shock subsides, I can't seem to stop my body from shaking. "I-I-I," I hear Wirt's voice from under us. "I can't believe I managed that!"
"You saved us!" I breathe out as I scramble off of him, hefting Greg with me. "You saved us, Wirt!"
"You're a hero!" Greg adds with a bright smile.
Wirt grunts painfully as he sits up, his eyes flying to meet mine. "Are you ok?" he asks worriedly.
"I'm fine, thanks to you!" I reply gratefully. Even still, he scrambles to my side and immediately begins inspecting my body for injuries. As his hands graze my skin, I feel my face warm up. "I'm fine, Wirt!"
"Ah, sorry!" he cries as his hands spring away from me, his face flushed light pink.
"We should get packing for our journey," I mumble as I stand up and dust myself off.
"Yes, let's!" Wirt agrees, his voice a little more higher pitched than normal. "Let's go, Greg."
The little boy dashes ahead of us as he exclaims, "I can't forget the rock! I have to return it."
Wirt trails behind, much slower and less enthusiastic than his brother. I stay still as I watch their retreating figures, my heart throbbing painfully. They're leaving today, and I may never see them again. After living with them, I have found out that they live in a separate world from mine. Once they return to it, who knows if they can ever come back. But even so, it is their wish to return home, and who am I to stop them? But where is my home? I shake the thought away, not willing to think about it any longer. Collecting myself, I force myself to walk through the door leading to my house.
Upstairs, I can hear Wirt and Greg stomping around. Wirt is surely chasing Greg for some reason. How I'll miss the noise those two brought into this household. But I can't keep thinking like this, for no matter how depressed I get, I must do what I must. I grab the small leather satchel I always take with me on my travels and I start filling it with the basic necessities. Food, water, healing herbs in case of injury, a blanket. I grab two extra blankets, for Wirt and Greg, and stuff them into the satchel. Since the gateway that leads to Wirt's world is not that far, I don't need to pack much.
"Wirt? Greg?" I call upstairs. "Are you about ready?"
"Yes!" Wirt huffs out as he stomps down the stairs, his hat askew.
"What happened?" I ask him with a small smile.
"Greg took my, erm, notebook and wouldn't give it back," he mutters in reply.
"What's written in the notebook?" I ask curiously.
"Nothing!" he squeaks out much too quickly. As I watch him suspiciously, he clears his throat and tries another feeble attempt. "Just, you know, notes about, um, things I've witnessed around here."
"Wirt," I say sternly, but with a knowing smile. "I know you're lying."
"N-no I'm not!" he protests, his voice once again wearing a high pitch.
Giggling at his embarrassment, I relent, "Alright, if you don't want to tell me, that's fine." The sound of clomping shoes grabs my attention, and I watch as Greg walks down the stairs, holding his frog in his arms. "Are you ready, Greg?"
"I'm just saying my goodbyes to Jason," Greg tells me, his tone slightly saddened. "I think it's best for him to stay where he belongs."
I lean down so I'm leveled with the frog, who is currently called Jason. "Jason, what do you wish? Do you want to stay in this world, or do you want to go with Greg?"
In a croak that could be nothing more than a croak to Wirt and Greg, Jason tells me, "I'd rather go with Greg. I've become rather attached to the little bugger."
"I thought so," I say as I look up at Greg with a smile. "Jason says he would rather be with you guys."
"Really?" Greg breaths out with relief. "Then you're officially part of the family, Jason!"
Looking at the both of them, fighting away the sadness that builds in my throat, I ask once more, "Are you both ready?"
"Yeah, we've got everything," Wirt confirms.
"Then let's go," I say with a tired, forced smile.
"I think here is a good spot," I tell them as I toss my satchel to the ground. Night has cast its shadows across the land, and our legs are aching from walking. There are too many of us to ride the wind, and with no horses, we had no choice but to walk. "We should reach the gateway tomorrow."
"I'll start the fire," Wirt declares, and sets out to fetch some firewood. Greg plops down on to the ground and begins singing a little tune while I begin setting up our makeshift beds.
By the time the fire is roaring, I'm nestled comfortably in my nest of blankets.
Greg is already fast asleep, Jason snoozing beside him. I yawn sleepily as I watch Wirt, who is looking up at the stars. "Aren't you going to sleep?" I ask him.
" I'm not tired," he mutters absentmindedly. "Go ahead and sleep, I'll keep watch for a bit."
"Well, if you say so," I respond as I lay down and snuggle into my blanket. Quiet settles over us, the fire crackling like a lullaby. I stare at Wirt drowsily, and I can't help but tiredly whisper to him, "I'm going to miss you."
He glances at me, his eyes shining with something I can't exactly place. "I'm going to miss you, too," he whispers sadly before I'm taken by sleep.
"The moonlight strokes across your skin, caressing you in the way I can't," a voice whispers, awakening me from my sleep. However, I keep my eyes shut, for I'm curious on what's being said. "Your lips part for your heavenly breath, tempting a kiss I wish to plant. If only I could gaze in your eyes, which rest behind your blissful sleep. Will you ever know of this love I keep?"
His words wash over me, spreading warmth like the heat from the fire. "Wirt?" I mumble out, opening my eyes shyly.
"[f-f-f/n]!" he stutters, his face flushed red. "W-what are you doing up?"
"I heard you talking," I reply softly. "Was that a poem?"
Wirt twitches his mouth open, but before he can come up with anything to say, Greg perks up, "He has a whole notebook filled with poetry about you."
"Greg!" Wirt squeaks out, horrified. "He, he's lying. I don't really care for poetry, it's just something I do when there's nothing better to do. Ah! But there's nothing written about you, not that you're not a great muse. Wait, I mean-,"
"Wirt," I interrupt him, "was that poem about me?" I firmly keep my gaze on him, hope fluttering in my heart. It beats hard against my chest with each second that passes while I wait for his answer.
"Uhh," he says nervously. "Goodnight!" Suddenly, he flips around and thuds against the ground, his blanket fluttering against him. I blink in surprise, debating on whether or not I should push him for an answer. All I see of him is his ears, which are colored a bright scarlet.
In the end, I sadly decide to not push him. He's leaving tomorrow, and if he did love me, it would only make me long for him more. "Goodnight, Wirt," I say longingly, mournfully. As I lay down, I add, "Goodnight, Greg."
"Goodnight [f/n], goodnight Wirt," Greg says happily, oblivious of the tension in the air.
Stuffing the blankets back into my satchel, I glance at Wirt, whose eyes are tired. "Did you sleep well?" I ask him, feeling a tad bit concerned.
"Yeah," he lies, and I feel myself frown. I quickly wipe the frown away and replace it with a hopefully bright smile.
"Alright then, let's get moving," I say with fake cheerfulness. "We're almost there!"
But at my words, instead of lifting his spirit, they seemed to dampen Wirt's spirit even more. "Right behind you," he mutters gloomily. Greg, on the other hand, is lost in his own little happy world as he sings.
We keep on walking, Wirt remaining silent while Greg sings and points out random things. Today is the day we're parting ways. If only...I wish I could ask them to stay. But they have families who are waiting for them, and I of all people know how precious family is. But at the same time, it feels like they're my family as well. I feel so torn, it's like the day I lost my brother all over again. Stop thinking like this! I think desperately to myself. At the very least, I'll still have Beatrice, who is back to her original human form. But she is preoccupied with her own family as well, so I rarely see her much.
After much walking, to the dismay of my heart, we've arrived at the gateway. "Here we are," I declare weakly. "You can finally go home."
"We did it, Wirt!" Greg cheers. "We're back home!"
"Yeah," he replies, but with no enthusiasm.
"Looks like this is goodbye," I say with a sad smile.
"[f/n]," Wirt swiftly says, as if wanting to say something. He gazes deep into my eyes, his eyes saddened and whispering of unspoken words. "[f/n], why don't you come with us?"
"What?" I breath out, completely taken by surprise.
"Yeah!" Greg cries brightly. "You could live with us!"
"But I-I don't belong there," I say anxiously, yet my heart is jumping with yearning at the new idea. "And I don't think your family would invite a stranger into your home."
"We can find somewhere for you to stay, even if I have to sneak you into my room," Wirt replies, new determination lifting his spirit. "And with your abilities, you could be a vet, or even a doctor. I'm sure you'll find a way to fit right in!"
"I….I," I trail off, uncertain of what to say. An image of my empty home flashes through my mind, filling my heart with loneliness. Yet I'd be going to a whole new world, a world that has no druids, no one who was like me and my brother. A world with what Wirt calls cars, and magical appliances that produce light without fire and others that produce water without leaving your home and so much more. Where would someone like me belong? "I don't know."
"You have to!" Wirt cries. "I don't want to leave you, not at all. I, well I, I've come to…[f/n], I love you," he says, his words uncertain yet loving.
"Wirt," I breath out, my eyes swimming. And suddenly, something changes in Wirt's eyes. A boldness that he usually does not possess lights his eyes with bravery. His hand reaches out, wrapping around my wrist and pulling me towards him. "Wirt-" My words are interrupted by his lips. They press firmly against mine, with a passion that threatens to consume me. I'm completely overwhelmed by his passion. I didn't know that Wirt, who is so pessimistic and insecure and constantly worrying, could love with such a passion.
And just like that, it feels like the walls I had built around my heart are smashed into pieces. My arms wrap around Wirt's neck, pressing him closer as I meet his passion with my own. Our lips move sloppily, without experience, but it feels like magic is passing between the two of us. Pulling away, Wirt whispers breathily, "Don't be a worrywart."
At the reverse nickname, I feel myself laugh lightheadily. "Look who's talking, Worrywirt," I retort, my head spinning with drunken happiness. Looks like my heart has decided, despite the petty protests my mind gives. "Looks like I have no choice but to go with you, because I love you, too."
"Really?" Wirt says with disbelief.
"Really," I reply with a kiss on his forehead.
"I love happy endings," Greg says as he beams up at us, and I feel heated embarrassment wash over my face at the realization that little Greg witnessed the whole thing. I pull myself away from Wirt's arms while Wirt coughs embarrassedly.
Turning to Greg and Wirt, I feel warmth embrace my very being. This is where I belong. "You guys ready?" I ask once more, but this time, there is no longer any despair hidden in the words.
In response, Wirt offers me his hand. "Yes, we're ready," he tells me with a warm smile. I take his hand in my own, our fingers entwining as one.
"Let's go," I declare, and together, as a family, we pass through the gateway leading to my new life.
Brother, I have a family again, and someone I love. Thank you for leading them to me.
The End