Heads turned as growing shadows rippled and bushes rustled. Warriors stepped into camp, nodding at his fellow heroes who loosened their grip on their weapons. Some murmured their apologies, but the Captain waved them off dismissively. He was used to it, and he could not blame them. Their primary enemy commanded shadows - it was difficult not to be vigilant if they traveled with someone who thrived in darkness.
Not that the vampire could do the same - it was not an ability of his. While they were those who could in his race, they were a selected few. It came with a lost bloodline they inherited, and the Hero of Warriors was not one of them. Still, he could utilize the shadows for tactical stealth and messing with the other heroes during their prank wars.
"Need a paw, Rancher?"
If looks could kill, Warriors would have been thousand times over. Sapphire-blue eyes pierced through the vampire as their owner scowled. The Captain smirked and placed a hand on his hip. His other hand pointed at the unfinished campfire at the center of their makeshift camp.
"It'll be midnight before you finish that."
Twilight huffed and added a stone to the incomplete perimeter of the campfire. "I'd rather not have anyone catch fire in the middle of the night."
"What? Like your protégé?" The vampire teased, earning him a glare. "He's a dragon! An ordinary fire wouldn't be able to roast him alive. Heck, he could survive a fire spell like it's nothing."
The Hero of Twilight slightly bared his teeth at the other man. "I haven't forgotten about that." He growled. "What kind of moron throws someone into a campfire for 'science'?"
Warriors chortled. Ah, he was talking about THAT. "Now, now," He said. "Don't single me out. The Vet was on it, too, and the Champion was as curious as we were. It's a purely consensual experiment."
"Besides," The Captain added. "No one got hurt, and we got the answer we wanted. It's a win-win for everyone involved, so don't get your breeches into a twist."
The Rancher glared at him again before turning away, muttering not-so-pleasant words in his Hylian language. The vampire did not need a translator to get the general meaning. Fucking bloodsuckers. Cannot take a break. Would maul him one of these days. Or something along those lines.
The hero could not help but grin. Compared to Time, Twilight was like an adorable puppy. It was hard not to poke and tease the latter. Of course, the Hero of Warriors knew when to draw the line and step back. No matter how amicable and patient the Rancher was, werewolves had always been his kind's archnemeses. One bite killed, while a scratch was like poison. He had rather not risk either. He had seen how the other hero fights and knew he would be at a huge disadvantage should they pit in a one-versus-one battle.
The Captain wisely decided to stop for tonight and start his own preparations. He did not need much sleep like the others, but he had been up for five days now - day and night. Dying by sunlight was no longer a critical problem for vampires, but it required wearing a special protective artifact to walk during the day. However, using it was draining, and Warriors needed to sleep to compensate for lost energy. Feeding was not even an option. It was good that the others understood and would sometimes take over his shifts to let him rest.
The vampire was at mid-yawn when Sky burst out from the treetops. "Enemies incoming!" He squawked just as a transformed Time rushed into the camp. "Everyone, get ready to fight!"
The other heroes needed not to be told twice. They were already on their feet with weapons at the ready. Someone extinguished the campfire, and Warriors felt Twilight step behind him. He could feel the werewolf's eyes boring through him. He was about to throw a snarky remark when a roar cut through the silence. Everyone tensed, and the vampire felt a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Stay close to me, Capt."
The said hero huffed. "I can handle myself."
The vampire had said that to the other man but knew what the latter meant. He was not fit to fight right now, and the Rancher noticed it. No. All of them had seen it and positioned themselves in a defensive circle around the Captain. The hero could make out the Veteran's and Champion's glowing eyes in the darkness, scanning their surroundings for the first sign of their enemies. Above them, the Master Sword shone on the Skyloftian's grip, giving a bit of light for their night-blind members to see.
"On your left, Smith!"
At the harpy's shout, Four swung his sword to his left. Metal clashed against metal, and then, all hell broke loose. Their formation broke as monsters poured from all sides, caging the heroes in. Warriors leaped away as an ax swung overhead and lunged at a monster. His sword dug between the eyes, and he freed it just in time to dodge a club. Blood red swallowed the blue in his eyes, and he snarled at the Moblin. He charged at the beast with inhuman speed and smashed his fist on its face.
Skull shattered beneath his knuckles, and the smell of foul blood reached his nose. He did not have a chance to be disgusted as he ducked. Time rushed in and pounced, all sharp teeth sinking into the throat of a monster about to stab him. There was no time to say thanks as the vampire raised his sword to block another, only to find himself struggling to push back. He cursed himself inwardly; his strength had started to fail him.
Shit! Why now? The Captain gritted his teeth and forced his weapon to slide to the side. The sharp edge of the opposing blade bit his arm, but he pushed through the stinging pain. He stepped forward and thrust into the heart with a sickening Squelch! The beast's dying screech was painful to his sensitive ears, but he kept pushing until the body limped before him.
The Hero of Warriors shakily shoved the corpse away and pulled his weapon. The sounds of battle had silenced, and he looked around the vicinity. The others were already picking through the carnage, ensuring no monster was still twitching. Considering the mess, they would have to move camp somewhere safer. The vampire drove his blade to the ground and sank to his knees - his body finally pushed to its limits.
"Wars."
The scarfed hero lifted his head and saw Twilight's back facing him. The younger werewolf glanced at him, and a silent understanding passed between them. Warriors leaned forward, and the Rancher grunted at the man's weight, slipping his arms behind the vampire's knees. He stood up, nodding thanks to Time, who picked up the abandoned weapon. The Old Man gently patted the Captain's back, the latter already slipping into unconsciousness.
"Just rest, Captain. We'll take it from here."
The Hero of Warriors mumbled his thanks and buried his face in the crook of the Rancher's neck. The other hero's scent filled his nostrils - wilderness, horses, Twili magic, and werewolf. Usually, the vampire would avoid the last one, but Twilight was not just any shapeshifter. One of them. Brother. Safe. He heard the man hum softly but did not move away. He sighed, melting on the younger werewolf's back as he drifted to much-needed sleep.
When Warriors finally woke up two days later, he found himself in an inn. The room was dark - the curtains were drawn together to keep the sunlight out. The other heroes were nowhere to be seen, but the air was saturated with their combined scents. Their things were set to one corner, with Sky's sailcloth and Twilight's pelt draped on the Captain. His scarf was not around - probably, taken by one of them for safekeeping. The wooden door creaked open, and Time stepped in with a tray.
"You're awake. Feeling better?"
The vampire could only nod in response. This throat felt like sandpaper - he was parched and needed to feed soon. It was a good thing the elder werewolf was already carrying what he needed. The scent of human blood filled his nose, and he gulped down the liquid greedily. The Old Man took the empty cup and gave him a small towel to wipe his lips.
"A kind human offered his blood for you." Time said as he checked the curtains to see if they were closed properly. "Be sure to thank him later. And Wild, too. He's going around town to see if others are willing to provide more for later."
"...Yeah, I will."
Warriors yawned. He promptly closed his mouth when he noticed the other hero looking with an amused face. Fuck. He covered his face in embarrassment - it was not always he showed a vulnerable side. The elder werewolf chuckled and picked up the tray.
"Sleep a bit more, Captain. We're in civilization. No need to push yourself."
"I should be the one saying that." The Captain remarked as he laid back on the bed. He tugged the sailcloth and pelt closer over his torso. "Tell the others I'll be up tonight. If I didn't, feel free to wake me up."
"Can't make any promises." Time walked toward the door and glanced at the vampire. "Don't worry too much. Just rest. You're safe here."
The Hero of Warriors did not answer - he did not need to - because the other hero was right. The door shut behind the elder werewolf with a soft Click! Total darkness swallowed the room and deafened the outside noise. However, the vampire was not worried. There were no evil plots, assassins, traitors, or malevolent forces who wanted him dead here. He could sleep without being paranoid and needing to look behind his back.
Warriors was safe in the hands of his brothers, no matter what race they belonged in. He was safe, and that was all that mattered.
…And so he rested.
AU Lore #8:
Contrary to popular belief, vampires are neither undead nor incapable of producing offspring - their status as undead springs during their worst wars against werewolves in the Era of Chaos. Back then, vampires are known to turn humans and corpses into vampires and undead monsters to serve in the army. These undead monsters are collectively known as ghouls, which include but are not limited to common zombies, ReDeads, Gibdos, and Stalfos. Following the peace treaty in the Era of Prosperity, this practice is considered taboo and punishable by a slow, painful death under sunlight.
Vampires once have a strict hierarchy, with bloodlines and pureblood vampires as the ruling heads. However, these pureblood vampires are nearly wiped out during the Era of Chaos - the remaining few belong to the Sheikah tribe and serve closely with the Hyrulean Royal Family. Bloodlines have also blurred, and known abilities of these former houses randomly manifest among vampirekind. Those who show potential are often recruited into the military and hold high positions.
While their primary source of nourishment is human blood, they can eat ordinary food as well. Consuming animal blood is a viable temporary alternative. Feeding on other people without consent is considered a crime, and killing the source - unintentionally or not - is grounds for the death penalty.
Vampires always appear as humans of incredible beauty and talent. They are easily identified by their fangs and true eye color - blood red. They live incredibly long lives but are not truly immortal. However, ancient documents reveal that they have a 'real' form opposite to their 'human' disguise. Whether this primal form is still accessible to the newer generations of vampires is unknown.