Chapter Text
(You, Mira, Odile, and Isa sit by your campfire.)
(The flames crackle low and steady, painting everything in a warm, glowing shade and long, wavering shadows.)
(Bonbon is off collecting raspberries for tonight.)
(Mira and Isa are explaining some nuanced concepts in Vaugardian culture to Odile.)
“So, let me get this straight.”
(Odile has her chin propped in her hand, brows knit together in a way that means she’s both intrigued and mildly offended by the Universe.)
“It’s fine with Vaugardians to enter someone else’s home, but not past the first room?”
“Yeah, it’s kinda weird, M’dame, but…”
(Isa shrugs, palms up.)
“I think it’s something about thresholds?”
”The first room is public-facing, so it’s fine to enter. But everything past that is you space, y’know?”
“...Fascinating.”
(Odile hums thoughtfully, already writing it down in her notebook.)
(Mira nods enthusiastically, happy to be understood.)
(You stare into the fire.)
(The heat is nice.)
(The night is quiet.)
(...Too quiet.)
(...)
(You think you see movement in the trees.)
(It’s probably just Bonbon looking for more berry bushes.)
(They said they’d only go a little way in.)
(Bonbon is careful.)
(Bonbon is smart.)
(Bonbon—)
(...But you have a feeling.)
(A strange sense that it’s more than that.)
(The air feels heavier.)
(The forest feels like it’s holding its breath.)
(Your eyes scan the trees.)
(The firelight doesn’t reach far.)
(The dark presses close, dense and layered.)
(..!)
(There’s Bonbon’s hat, noticeably sticking out in the trees.)
(It’s tilted, caught on a low branch.)
(That’s strange.)
(Bonbon wouldn’t just leave it like that.)
(Also there, noticeably, is a huge blinding sadness about to attack them..!!!)
(It’s wrong.)
(It’s too big.)
(It shouldn’t be here!)
“BONBON, WATCH OUT!-”
(Your voice cracks.)
(You’re already moving.)
(You get up and race towards Bonbon.)
(The ground is uneven.)
(You barely feel it.)
(You snap your fingers, once, twice, thrice.)
(Time tugs.)
(Time resists.)
(The sadness is rearing its two claws!)
(It’s all jagged angles and weight.)
(It doesn’t have a face.)
(It doesn’t need one.)
(You see Bonbon turn around just in time to see the sadness, eyes widening in fear.)
(Their basket drops.)
(Raspberries scatter across the dirt like spilled beads.)
(no no no, hurry up!!!)
(not Bonbon anyoNE BUT BONBON-)
(THE SADNESS IS ABOUT TO LUNGE FOR THEM NO)
(It moves faster than it should.)
(The forest blurs.)
(its two claws stab forward just as you push bonbon out of the way)
(You feel the impact.)
(pain explodes through the entire left half of your face)
(it’s darkless-hot)
(it’s blinding)
(it feels like your skull is splitting)
(it hurts it hurts it hurts)
(no)
(you can’t let them get hurt)
(you don’t regret it)
(not even for a second)
“GAH-”
“‘FRIN!!!!!”
(bonbon’s scream tears through the night)
(you can barely hear bonbon’s voice above the blood rushing through your ears)
(it sounds distant)
(everything sounds distant)
(the sadness is still there)
(you take your dagger and blindly swing towards the sadness)
(your arm feels wrong)
(heavy)
(numb)
(the blade connects with something)
(the others burst through the trees on your right side as isa slams into the sadness with rock craft)
(the impact shakes the ground)
(mira shouts something)
(odile’s voice rings, sharp and commanding)
(the sadness shrieks)
(it recoils)
(you make up the time)
(the world snaps forward)
(the pain lags behind)
(it catches up all at once)
(you watch as the others defeat the sadness)
(you don’t help)
(you can’t)
(useless)
(you sink to one knee)
(your fingers are wet)
(you don’t want to look)
(you don’t want to scare bonbon)
(they’re crying)
(they’re alive)
(that’s enough)
(the sadness dissipates, unraveling into nothing)
(the forest exhales)
(when all’s said and done, mira turns around)
(she stifles a shriek when she sees you)
(her hand flies to her mouth)
(her eyes are wide)
“S-SIFFRIN..!”
(...why is it hard to stand)
(your legs shake)
(the ground feels too far away)
(you feel the warmth of mira’s healing craft on you)
(ha h a . . .)
(you try to laugh)
(it comes out wrong)
(your vision turns blurry)
(the firelight smears into streaks)
(mira is in front of you)
(isa is somewhere to your side)
(odile is shouting orders)
“–F, STAY WITH US!”
(your hearing is fading)
(their words stretch)
(they melt)
(you feel light)
(you feel cold)
(you’re so cold)
(you feel tired)
(it would be nice to sit)
(it would be nice to sleep)
(you did good)
(bonbon is safe)
(that’s enough)
(you)
(let)
(g o)