The only original characters I have created are Veno, Viro, Ancestor, and Liri. All others come from either Will of the Wisps or Breaking Through Stone. Thank you Kinroth!
Liri felt like a spring ready to burst. Anger, tension, panic, dread, sorrow. It was all just a little too much right now, and at some point, that compression would be bound to rupture.
But she didn't want to explode, not at a time like this.
There was widespread bedlam throughout the Wellspring Glades. Baur's doomsday prediction had just moved up to that very day, which was haunting given how it was nearly afternoon. Civilians were doing everything possible to make evacuation plans and gather their belongings, but there was rarely a smiling face, and nervous breakdowns accosted many a Moki.
The majority's plan was to move west, to more remote areas hopefully not under immediate threat. Baur was offering shelter in his mountainous home, although the climate and lack of food would prove a challenge. Others planned to hide amidst the diverse flora of the Luma Pools. Still, no choice was without risk, and no matter where anyone chose to go, they would still be trapped in fear.
After all, with the heroes venturing off to save the day, no one remaining in the Glades had enough drive and power to restore hope. Their best option was Monk, once a bright beacon for many, but Liri had heard that he fell unconscious after a traumatic experience related to his long-deceased family. It truly felt like everything was crumbling apart.
But nothing compared to the worry she felt for Veno. The others came back, a day after he had promised. Without him. And with the mission to restore the Willow being such a pressing matter, poor, awkward Liri had no chance at asking one of them about it.
So now he was completely unaccounted for, doing who knows what somewhere around Kwolok's Marsh. Oh, when I see him next...
If I see him again.
No. She refused to go under like this. If she succumbed to these emotions, she would only be contributing to this epidemic of hopelessness.
Therefore, Liri was actually trying to help, getting involved in the main village to help families move. If Veno could step out of his comfort zone and leave behind his life as a loner, what was she doing staying holed up in a hut? Even if she did prefer that solitary lifestyle, it would do her no good in a crisis like this.
At the moment, a family of five was hard at work gathering all of their valuables and keepsakes, and Liri was carrying the occasional bag to the various carts being used for evacuation. However, the process was being held up by the middle child, a pubescent boy who was having an emotional struggle.
Liri stood in the doorway, trying to not get involved in this personal matter while the mother tried to reason with him.
"It's only a precaution, Jaryn. We have no idea what could actually happen. We just have to rely on the heroes who went to restore the—"
"See, that! I don't get that!" The child yelled, barely audible through his tears. "Why would you call them heroes already?! T-they haven't even done anything yet! I-I don't wanna lose another home, Mom! You're just g-gonna run away and-and let it happen again!"
The scene was chilling in its familiarity to her.
It slowly turned into an argument, and Liri took a deep breath before stepping outside. It was not her quarrel to weigh in on, and in all honesty, she couldn't pick a side if she wanted to. Both opinions on the matter were valid.
She had lived in western Niwen for a long time, relatively safe back when so much as glimpsing Shriek was a death sentence. Other people here had experienced this feeling before, and many like Jaryn were quite frustrated to suffer through it again.
Upon surveying the rest of the Sanctuary, the emotional state wasn't much better than in that house. If the Shadow indeed came, well, they only had hours left to try and survive.
They're incredibly strong and had lots of prep time. We should be fine...I just need to know that he's safe...
Liri was surprised by a sound that she had not expected to hear at all that day: cheering. Excitement, even. It came from by the river running through the Glades, which now glimmered pristinely in comparison to the once Decay-tainted toxic sludge.
The young Moki scurried off in that direction, joining several others also drawn by the sound. Others had heard, but were too busy preparing for doomsday to bother.
Kwolok had returned from the Marsh. The source of this hubbub could not be more evident. Unlike the others working with Shriek, he was not venturing out to retrieve the Wisp, so the Gladians were excited to again have some form of protection.
For Liri, his appearance meant something entirely different, and she began to fiercely shove her way through the crowd.
"Your flattery is too much for me," Kwolok greeted humbly, even though his smile showed gratitude. The restless crowd started throwing out dozens of questions, clamoring for a solution to their troubles. "I will work with you all in just a moment. —Climb down my right side, young one."
A moment later, Liri was stunned as a familiar ear appeared from Kwolok's back, but this time, it was accompanied by a second one.
That's him. No doubt. ...What happened?!
Other Moki in the crowd were confused, not recognizing or even knowing him to begin with. Liri recovered enough to resume pushing her way to the front.
"Excuse me! Sorry, pardon me! Veno!" At the sound of his name, the artist was startled, and fell the short remaining distance to the shore of the stream from where he had been inching down Kwolok's side.
She finally made it through and helped him up to a stand. The crowd moved right on to Kwolok, but she was much more concerned with the innumerable changes to one of her only friends. "By the Light, what on earth happened to you?"
He turned towards her, finding direction through her voice because of that odd bandana over his eyes. He tried and failed to give a reassuring smile.
"Hi, Liri...I'm sorry, but I don't think there's much time to explain." She reluctantly accepted that truth; ominous storm clouds were starting to gather in the sky. Time was dwindling.
"Alright, but you're not off the hook, mister. We need to get you packed and ready for evacuation."
They left that side of town, heading towards the west where both of their secluded houses lay. She had to gingerly lead Veno along, as his wayfinding with a staff proved to be uncertain and wobbly. I don't understand. Why doesn't he just take it off? Was this some training technique to improve his art? Why obscure vision when it's so important?
Another weird thing was the color of his fur. While the same for the most part, there were now some areas where a milky white blended into his earthy tones. She had heard of dyeing one's fur before, but it was very unlike him.
The one thing that could not be explained was the situation of his ears. Liri had already grown so accustomed to what he claimed was a birth defect. It had actually been kind of cute. But now the other one was just inexplicably there, and in that same white fuzzy texture.
Something very bizarre was going on, and though she didn't want to concern herself with it with all of Niwen at stake, these oddities were too disturbing to ignore.
After a long and arduous trek that otherwise would have been a normal stroll, they arrived at the slope leading up towards their homes. While silently scaling the hill, Veno almost fell over several times, enough that she was almost upset by the presence of that weird purple fabric. Why doesn't he just take the thing off?!
Finally, upon reaching the top, Liri subtly let him go first. She had enough.
She easily undid the simple knot holding it in place, and the purple cloth dropped to the ground. With a surprised yelp, Veno put his head in his paws before she could even come around and see his face. Her anger dissipated upon seeing the genuine fear in his quivering breaths.
"Veno...please. Just look at me. What happened down there? You've been away this long and can't even look me in the...in the..."
She had gently pulled his paws away, which he finally allowed with a sharp exhale.
"I tried! I really tried, Liri! I-I knew that I couldn't just stand to the side and watch, but he took advantage of that, and now I feel even more useless, and I...I don't know what to do."
The Moki found herself staring into two golden pools, shimmering with ripples of light, and red tones swirled about within them before emerging as malformed, bloody tears. They were...beautifully horrific.
Surely it hurt. Crying was painful.
Through some immense restraint and emotional suppression, Veno managed to calm himself before re-tying his blindfold. Liri remained frozen, with various emotions all swirling around inside as she failed to comprehend the sight. She was appalled, horrified, and filled with sorrow and empathy and anger all at the same time.
How? Who did this?! Then sadness. His only passion is gone. What does he have to live for? Then finally a distant hope. Nothing except me and the team he bonded with in the Marsh. We are all he has.
And then there was one feeling that she wanted to repress above all others. One evoked by seeing a mutilated face. As if it was about to be melted off and replaced with only a skull.
She quickly shook off the horror. Time to be there for her friend.
The blinded Veno was tottering over towards his house, but she caught him first.
"Stay and rest. I'll get you anything you need." Of course, the pride in the former hermit wouldn't give up so easily either. His fur bristled with a hint of anger.
"Liri. I...I get what you feel, but don't trouble yourself. I refuse to be some useless burden."
"Wha—Where is that coming from? You were always content with how things were. Veno, you aren't useless. Having you in my life has always been enough."
Veno's tail flickered thoughtfully, and he decided to sit there near the doorway, partially granting her request.
"I'm sorry. We shouldn't be arguing at a time like this." Arguing? That's a bit of an overstatement. Was I too mean there? "I guess...why I want to feel impactful...well, in short, I'm part Spirit."
Thanks to the ongoing crisis—and a few other discoveries today—Liri wasn't too surprised by this. It explained a lot, and it made things easier to just write off all of the oddities as magic-induced.
"On top of that, I'm apparently descended from a famous warrior from Niwen's past. I basically have his...essence, I guess. And all those strong abilities that come with it." Kind of like Ori...wow.
Liri sat beside her friend, watching the growing storm above. Some Moki passed by, already fleeing westward. Impulsive or just cautious, it was hard to say.
She made up her mind regarding her own evacuation plan. She would stay with Veno, no matter his choice. Both of them would benefit from a familiar presence in this despondent time. She brought an arm around his shoulders, feeling stronger than she had ever been.
"So...when I found that out, I realized that if I had these gifts, this strength and legacy, I had to use them to help somehow. A-and we started sparring, and it got intense, and then I wasn't me." He tensed up, expression distant while recalling the incident. "This not-me. According to Kwolok, he's my Ancestor from so long ago, lingering in my body to serve his own goals. And—and he was going to kill them all, Liri. He wouldn't stop, and the Lights know I couldn't. S-so they fought back, as they should have. And then..." His story came to an abrupt halt, indicating exactly what happened next alongside his shudder of remembrance.
She understood now. This past forced upon him also placed a heavy feeling of responsibility on the young artist, but the pursuit of that value and usefulness led to this tragedy that rendered him...well, not an artist.
"Veno...I understand. I probably would have done the same thing. But listening now, I think I see what went wrong. Your value, how important you are to other people...it shouldn't be found within your ability to do things. If the only reason a friend likes you is because you do things for them, then that's just a superficial person who doesn't really know you."
This was a self-reflection too. Back in her youth, Liri made some poor decisions born from being selfish. She agreed to something foolhardy, something that would ultimately be irreparable. Thinking on it now, those same decisions most likely led to...
I refuse to make those choices again. I won't push him away no matter how hard it gets. That's what a real friend does.
"From what I know about the others, like Ori and Shriek, they aren't people like that. You didn't have to prove anything to them. They loved you for who you are, and I'm certain they still do. I think relationships are what should define a person. Even if those bonds are few, or shaky, or just surface-level, you'll be known and understood for who you are beyond just actions. You will mean something to people. I know you mean the world to me."
Liri caught the unintentional subtext of that last part a few seconds too late. She couldn't tell if Veno noticed either, but he still smiled sadly.
"Li...you...ouch." He wiped away a single bloody tear with a half-hearted chuckle. Poor guy. No one else is gonna help. This is my time to mean something to him too.
Once the moment eventually passed, Liri helped her friend to a stand once more. She'd do it as many times as necessary.
"I've got your back, okay? Even if you did ditch me for a few days. You owe me a bowl of veggie stew for that, alright?" He laughed at that, more honestly this time, and she could see that lovable, socially-awkward neighbor of hers coming back.
"Sure thing. You're the best, Liri."
Despite wanting to hurry, they had ended up talking about the whole thing anyway. Now they had to decide what to do about this growing storm and the rising pressure of nature itself, knowing what was to come.
"Alright. What's the plan, Veno? Most everyone's leaving, but I'm going to guess that some of the braver sorts will be staying with Kwolok as a sort of final defense." She could see the answer within him even before it came from his mouth.
"I...don't think I can leave. It's not about my self-worth this time, at least I don't think so. It's more like...I'm the only one like this. No one else has this curse. That makes it my responsibility."
That sounded...arrogant. 'The Chosen One' type of nonsense. Honestly! This Ancestor really messed him up.
"And you are my responsibility. I'm staying too." Rain began to fall around them as thunder rumbled in the distance. "...And you should really be honest with yourself. There's no way you could fight whatever is coming, not in this state. New powers or not, you aren't a match for this threat prophesied to destroy all of Niwen."
"...He is." The foreboding in his voice chilled her to the bone, and the anxious wind was no help either. "Viro can only be stopped by his own mistakes. I know that from experience."
As much as Liri wanted to feel the importance and gravitas of that statement, she couldn't restrain a snicker.
"I—I'm sorry, Viro? Was that actually your ancestor's name?" Fortunately, he saw the humor in it.
"Oh, sure, don't bat an eye at names like Tilk and Telk, or Monk and Mink, but when it's me...hey, that reminds me. Are they doing okay? We met back when I was drawing Shriek for the first time."
Veno reclaimed his staff, informing her that regardless of her answer, he wanted to go see what was going on in the village.
"Um...I don't know them very well, but from what I've heard, it's not pretty. Monk's been unconscious for a few days now. Way back when Shriek was, well, bad, he had his own family. They...um."
"I get it. ...We should go see how Kwolok's handling things." Good idea. Veno took the first few steps out into the rain, but Liri stopped him when a thought struck her.
"Oh, are you sure you want to leave all your paintings here? Do you want to send them with the people evacuating?" He sighed, looking much more weary than she was ever accustomed to seeing. Those days of the passionate, quirky painter were long gone...
"The rain might ruin them. We could wrap them in cloth, but that's a lot, and I don't think we should burden people anymore. Even if the paintings won't do much good for me now either."
"...Well, I still think they're beautiful. When I accidentally went into your room a few days ago, I, um...saw my portrait. I...I've never seen myself that way before. It was nice." Liri joined him on the hillside, fighting back against the dread of the cold rain with a small flame of love in her heart. Foolish as it was.
Veno's resulting blush only fueled that spark; the old him was still in there, at least a little bit. And she would accept the new all the same.
"Th-thanks, Liri. I'm glad I was able to make it."
A particularly loud boom of thunder drew her to look towards the sky. Even through the increasingly vicious storm, she could still see the dim and lifeless Spirit Willow on the great high hill towards the northeast. To think it had once been a bright place of wonder and hope...it had been several generations ago, to the point where very few likely remembered what it looked like then. She had no idea what the Willow truly was like, but if the heroes did succeed, maybe it wasn't so far away.
What is that...? She spotted an odd shape in the air, too large to dismiss as a trick of the clouds. In fact, it was oddly shaped like...
"Veno, look! They're heading for the Willow!" Oh wow, was this exciting! She could just barely make out Shriek's giant figure pushing through the stormy winds towards the mighty hollow tree. Was it true that Niwen was soon to be saved?
"Wow. That's great." Liri only then realized her slip of the tongue.
"Oh, s-sorry. You can't really...look." Even with the rain beginning to assail him, turning his patches of new white Spirit fur a more muted, wiry color, Veno bore a polite smile.
"No, it's good to hear. Can you tell if they found the Wisps?" She continued to watch, looking for any closer details. But it was pretty far away, and she wasn't one to boast of incredible vision. Especially in these conditions.
"Um...ooh, there'a a glowing yellow thing!" The beacon of light cut through the clouds, and even from this distance she could feel a sort of holy, wise presence emanating from the golden ball. However, Shriek's flight was swiftly held up by the sudden appearance of a giant wall of...pink? "Uh oh. There's a bunch of those, um—oh, those are Skeetos! Yuck! They're like, all decay-ey and everything too, gross."
She...wasn't the best storyteller either. It proved challenging to keep up with the ensuing aerial battle against the swarm, her only motivation being Veno's dependence on her sight. While in the air, Shriek continued to blast the insects with a fiery breath attack, while Liri assumed the smaller heroes were picking off stragglers from on her back. But this was clearly ineffective, as the swarm was resilient and immense in numbers. But when things looked grim, there came a turn for the better.
THOOM!
With a mighty flash of light, the yellow orb seemingly exploded. The wall of bugs fell away, unable to stand against such might. The shimmering display lit up that entire area of the sky, which was no doubt visible across all of Niwen. Moki everywhere looked up in surprise and awe.
One individual however, was only part Moki, and that gleam of light meant something very different to a being residing within him.
"Seir."
"What was that, Veno?" She turned, only to be amazed by a vibrant blue glow covering his body, and most notably emerging from beneath his bandana. "Woah, look at you! Is this one of these new Spirit abilities?"
"Leave now, civilian; I have a destiny to fulfill." He spoke in a deep and serious voice as if he was playfully acting as some noble warrior type. How silly—no, wait. This is the not-me? The killer?
"V-Veno? Are you still in there?"
"Worry not, Seir! Your chosen shall be at your side once more, even in this more cumbersome body!"
He dropped his staff and ran off down the hill, in the direction of the Willow and the restless woods. He jogged along with such ease as if blindness simply wasn't a factor at all.
The difference was night and day. It was clear to her that he was possessed, disturbing as that was.
What...what the... No, not this time. Liri wouldn't be left behind looking stupid. She had to go get her friend and stop that crazy alter-ego!
Even if it meant plunging headfirst into the storm!
-- --
I'm getting used to this place.
This newest trip to the—Mind-Hill?—was different in that he had practically been forced here, unlike the previous times being a result of seeking out one's psyche. He could still recognize the bright evening sun and the consistent breeze, but there was a bit more vigor and aggression, as though the wind was compelling him to follow its direction.
Something must have triggered Ancestor. Liri had been describing a glowing yellow ball; maybe this was the Light that he had been told once powered the Spirit Willow. The 'Seirkin', or something like that.
Still, this was very bad. The encroaching storm was proof enough that the evil thing was on its way. And knowing Ancestor, he would run headfirst at the problem to try and eliminate it instead of protecting the people. There's a place for attacking, but there's a place for defending just as much, and Niwen was already quite imbalanced on that front. I need to think.
"Viro? Are you there?" He heard a familiar plodding come through the surrounding prairie grasses before drawing near.
"Yeah, I'm right here. That guy again, huh? He's really got to go. What happened this time?" Veno joined his Spiritual self in an embrace, the greeting becoming more common. So soft...
"A golden light, exploding in the sky. The moment I heard that sound, he kicked me out." Viro hummed thoughtfully before taking a polite step back.
"That sounds like Seir. The Willow's Guiding Light. They have a bit of history. But hey, that means the heroes successfully found all of the Wisps! I can only wonder why, then, Ancestor would make his move now."
Veno listened carefully to the atmosphere of his mental landscape. It felt more tumultuous than ever, and beyond the howling wind was a distant boom of thunder. Could it be coming from the real world beyond his mind?
"I'm thinking it's because of that prophecy. Baur said something bad would be coming around this time, and if the team fails, it's gonna lay waste to Niwen. I bet he wants to make up for the past and go be a hero again."
It didn't feel grossly wrong or anything. He could easily understand Ancestor's point of view. But he could not share it. Not when so much life was at stake.
My relationships, what impact I have on other people, that's what defines me. Not running off on some quest for heroism and higher purpose. If I'm doing anything, it's for the people I care about the most.
That list was small, yes. And one could argue that joining the team at the Willow could be an option to satisfy that very claim. But it was also true that he held a deep connection to the Glades as a whole. And in a way, from up in his lonely little house, he grew to care for this village and its residents above most other things.
If he was too shy to contribute to the community some other way, well, fighting to the last breath would probably work just fine.
And there was no way he could do that while being repressed in his own mind!
"I'm starting to get fed up with this." Veno tightened a fist as he envisioned those evacuating. The surroundings of the Mind-Hill seemed to flicker, the reality beginning to falter. Viro, realizing what was happening, began to cheer on his counterpart in fighting back.
Veno knew the emotion coming upon him now.
Anger.
His heart pulsed as a completely true, honest person took its reins, whispering great encouragement into the echoing fields of his own mind.
Am I going to stand here and do nothing? Will I sacrifice everything I love to remain subservient to a ghost with a grudge? Without the Glades, there is no artistry, no color, no life. No children running about the town without a care. No magnum opus.
No Ori. No Shriek. No Liri.
These people were safe, and they would stay that way. He had watched them through everything, through terror, trepidation, and hesitant new beginnings. He had watched himself grow, from the most timid and clueless recluse to one of the bravest and most helpful neighbors you could ever meet. He had watched as Liri gazed at him one last time, entrusting him with the safety of his departure to the Marsh. He had watched people build back time after time, always maintaining a thriving character of strength through hard times.
His heart was finally at peace with all of these things, with the knowledge that you can redefine yourself through growth and understanding. And now there was some power who dared threaten that revelation?
Veno would not just watch anymore.
"I see what you are doing, Moki." Perfect; they had his attention. Ancestor could clearly sense Veno willing his way back into his own head. "You have conviction, which I commend. But I am irrevocably intertwined with the Light. To rejoin with Seir is to become all-powerful, thus protecting these things you cherish."
"How do you know that?" Was his verbal reply. Veno reached out and grabbed hold of Viro's paw in a brotherly gesture of solidarity. "Leaping forward is a gigantic risk. The people you're trying to leave behind are the ones that need you the most! If you lead my body away from that village, there's no telling what could happen to it during our absence, even if you plan on coming right back. What good is an action so aggressive and forward that it abandons its cause?"
Apparently, the argument was more easily won than expected, as his words were met with only silence. The feeling of the real world drew ever closer. Even so, the lull still felt ominous, so he decided to drive it home. "I'm not going to berate you for your past mistakes, Ancestor. Even if you might deserve it. But you know what you might be risking by doing this. And I don't think either of us want that to happen again."
A volatile strike of lightning shook the very earth, and Veno stumbled as rain suddenly began to fall all around him once again.
Any connection to his inner world vanished in an instant, Viro included; this was reality again. Ancestor was convinced, at least for now.
This left a new problem, though. Veno had no idea where he was. He could feel the beaten wet grass beneath him, but the tempestuous rain snuffed out most auditory hints along with any smells.
Had he neared Willow's End already? How long had it been? Liri was no doubt worried sick!
Veno reluctantly decided that he only had one realistic option: turn completely around and start walking. If Ancestor had been leading him towards the Willow where Sier would be, then going the exact opposite direction would presumably go back to the Glades. Or would it be pointless? Was the damage already done? What if the monster showed up and everyone was now in danger?
With these grim thoughts in mind, the hybrid's shuffling pace nearly drove him mad. Without a staff to guide the way, incoming obstacles were completely undetectable. Instead, he could only creep forward with hands outstretched to avoid running into a tree, stepping into brambles, or even just walking right off a cliff.
Every now and then, the process would be interrupted by a booming thud coming from the area he was leaving behind. The sound of explosive power rumbled through the ground itself. Clearly, a fierce battle was going on.
It still hurt, despite his conviction. There was a small shred of doubt inside claiming that he was abandoning his friends, leaving them to fight the Shadow while he sought his own selfish desires.
But was it truly selfish to hold the last line of defense? Plenty probably had the will, but who else had the power to protect their home?
Amidst this pondering, Veno pushed onwards, even at a snail's pace. He moved past water-logged trees, over slippery rocks, and through the rest of the desolate landscape. He was clearly descending a slope, but of what sort was not to tell.
After all, nature itself seemed to be crying out in protest. The worsening storm, the agitated plant life, the absence of other beings, it all pointed to Niwen as a whole detecting an evil presence.
No other creature dared to venture out into this terrible storm, other than him.
"Veno! Veno!"
And one other.
He stood in amazement for a second before realizing and trying to pinpoint the voice. What did I ever do to deserve someone like this?
"I'm here, Liri! I can hear you!" Somehow, above all of this tumult, above the sounds of climactic battle in the distance, they found each—well, rather, she found him. Even as the addition of distant screeching signaled the very universe being prepared to collapse.
He didn't have to wait long. Suddenly, a familiar presence grabbed hold of him in a big hug, both of them with fur matted and dripping wet. Oof. I probably smell terrible. She leaned on him a little too much, exhausted by whatever had happened in his mental absence.
"Veno! Thank the Lights you're okay again! I thought Ancestor was just going to charge in like a lunatic!" She sounded...a lot more distressed than he realized. Still, the greater concern was this wind-torn and exposed area. They needed to get back to the village as soon as possible.
"It's alright now. I managed to convince him otherwise. But we need to go back! It's getting really bad out here!"
"You don't have to tell me twice. Follow me!" Ignoring her exhaustion for his sake, Liri took him by the hand and started off at a brisk pace that was just enough to follow.
The minuscule claws on his feet caught up wet grass along them as they wove through the cowering nature. No time could be spared to talk, or even offer his gratitude. Oddly enough, it felt as though the rain was starting to dissipate, but it changed little thanks to that foreign screeching sound invoking terror from a distance.
Even still, Liri led him along through countless terrain obstacles. Evey time they had to clamber over another rock or sidle across a fallen log, Veno felt more and more anxious about how far away Ancestor had taken him, and how much Liri had endured to track him down.
Alas, a different kind of anxious feeling took precedence, forcing him to ask a different question first.
"Has anything happened? What's going on at the Willow?"
"I-I don't know," she huffed tiredly, slowing slightly in their rapid advance through the forest. The rain had stopped now? Or perhaps they were under the canopy. "I've only been trying to catch up with you. Those Spirit abilities are hard to follow."
He would have to apologize later. All of life was at threat.
While crossing yet another log, he felt a sudden sense of unease, and not a second later did he hear a yelp of panic.
Liri's paw released, but a Spiritual instinct had him swiftly regrab more firmly at her wrist. This proved wise as he suddenly had to bear all of her weight; while normally agile like almost all Moki, the rampant distractions and bizarre weather had caused her to slip and fall.
Veno had no idea what awaited them below this precipice, so he hung on with the strongest grip he could muster. No rain could dare make his hold falter!
The newly granted strength of his upper body allowed the former artist to hoist his friend back onto the narrow passageway. She was silent but breathing heavily, shaken by the brief scare.
"Are you okay?" After a few moments, he heard the smallest of wry hums.
"Well, you rubbed my wrist raw a little, but at least I didn't take an impromptu mud bath." The fact that they weren't hurrying off of this bridge also proved that it wasn't terribly dangerous.
Veno couldn't restrain a sigh, feeling the burden of his condition mounting up further by complicating some of these completely normal things. "Hey...well, you know what, we'll talk about it later, cuz we're almost there. The village looks fine!"
This glimmer of hope was some much needed rejuvenation, so he got back on his feet and continued the journey. Finally, his feet found some short, gentle grass that felt quite familiar even while accosted by the storm. But this was most definitely the Glades. "It looks like the village is still standing. We should go see if anything changed."
They halted in their tracks, courtesy of a new sound.
A loud, whirring, energized noise that one could only describe as pure, unfiltered hatred surged theough the air, far louder than anything else.
Time held still. It had come from so far away, and yet the sound left complete silence in its wake. The remaining wind and rain had stopped in an instant.
Then, all at once, there was the sound of a huge explosion from the direction of the Willow. The ground itself shook in terror, and all of central Niwen began to crumble apart in the face of unparalleled power.
The Spiritual side of Veno lurched in horror, unable to comprehend whatever just happened. Such an impact was enough to be felt across the whole land, even if the Glades remained unaffected.
"By the Lights..." Liri whispered, a fittingly inadequate exclamation for whatever just happened. Her grip on his paw slackened, wet not from rain but a cold sweat born of fear.
But in this moment, Veno's blindness was shown to be a blessing; he was the first to recover.
"Liri, please keep moving. We're alive, and that's all we have. Be my guiding light." His words brought her out of shock, but the Moki's only next option was to start hyperventilating.
"How...how can I...I'm not...when that..."
"You are. Look at me. I've been given all this awesome stuff, countless opportunities to make myself matter and stand out. And I've really screwed it up. But you're the one who's helped me come through! As far as I'm concerned, that makes you way stronger and way better than I could ever be. Seriously. You're the best."
He made a promise to Viro. He would defend these people and this village to the very last. And how could he do that without his greatest stregth?
The hybrid brought a quivering Liri into his arms, knowing exactly what she was feeling.
Spirit heritage or not, the two of them were just regular people. They had lived humble lives in a small village; the most exciting life event Veno could remember prior to all of this was going fishing at the Luma Pools.
Everyone else involved in this mess had training, years of experience, or some personal stake involved. And yes, per his own motivation, these circumstances could bring anyone to try and help however possible. But no one could have predicted this nigh apocalyptic, literally earth-shaking outcome.
Liri certainly didn't ask for any of this, perhaps most of all. She was only staying in the empty Glades, witnessing this traumatic horror, for Veno's sake. But if that did not speak to her deep tenacity and intense caring...
"You are one brave Moki, Liri. You're my hero."
While comforting his troubled friend, Veno listened warily. The storm had most definitely stopped, but the atmosphere itself had changed instead. There was something vile and sickening in Niwen, not by means of smell so much as just an evil aura.
But thankfully, a flame of courage was restored within his closest companion. She firmly righted herself, although he was lost on her current expression.
"Before we go. I just need to say something...in case I won't be able to later on. I love you, Veno. —I know that's coming out of nowhere, and it probably feels so silly, but at this point I don't care."
He remained silent and amazed. Their proximity took on a different meaning. "I admire your talents and the way you see the world, both before and now. I can tell you've changed a lot, but recent events haven't impacted my feelings at all. No matter your lineage, no matter what Spirit resides within you, no matter how many things you lose...I promise that you won't lose me."
Instead of water, his rain-soaked bandana released a few small drops of red. It didn't hurt this time.
Veno found himself unable to comprehend this. Not for shyness, or for some misplaced self-deprecation, but instead for disbelief of reality. Someone like this could not exist, surely. Storybook romance simply did not...happen.
Or was he the fool? An orphan loner with no concept of what genuine affection looked like? Who am I to judge her feelings?
And who am I to deny my own?
"I...love you too, Liri. At least...that's what I think I'm feeling."
That didn't offend her in the least; the Moki just nuzzled him gently, while Veno was still trying to process the new color visible to the eyes of his heart. Something warm, something...orange? No, it needed more than a simple color. Perhaps if I blended together those two kinds of berries—
"We should keep going. I don't see Kwolok anywhere, so something might've happened."
"...Alright. I'm at your side."
With new vows in place, the duo continued onwards into the desolate village that was now bathed in eerie red light.
A screech of victory echoed across the land, but it could not quell the rising determination in the few souls who remained.