Mountain Ghosts
Writer's Note: Back at it again! This time we're having some tasty hurt and comfort while exploring a little more about Valkory's past!
!!Warnings!! First time writing Nightmare/Nighterrors, brief mention of Gore, Canon Death, grammar mistakes aaand a long read lolz.
The wind blew against her back and howled in her ears. Today is just a dreadful day, gray skies and a blizzard is quickly forming. Life on the Howling Peaks were never easy what with seemingly eternal winter, the wind constantly blowing against you, and difficult climbs. That's just a few things about this place!
However Valkory wouldn't change it for the world. This was home. Squinting through the harsh snow drift, Valkory's one good eye was searching... Searching... Ah! There! The white wolf found what she was looking for, up above her was a figure with a green cameo cape.
Mister Creeps.
Smiling and blinking through the snow, Valkory hurried up her pace, only stopping to rub her right eye. Her sight on that side seemed blurry... Humming, the young hero hummed in thought. She idly wondered what they were doing or going . She couldn't remember the whats nor whys they were climbing. How long were they climbing? Why doesn't she remember their goal? And why does her heart skip a beat every time she glances at Mr. Creeps. Why was there an ache in her chest?
Suddenly her mentor and brother figure disappeared from view, probably climbed into a cave. With a few more steps, a few more heaves, Valkory hurled herself into the cave. That's right they were heading home! The blizzard prevented them from going fishing. Likely for them they had plenty of food in storage. Which... they were in. Hm, did she pass through the living room?
She remember this place, filled to the brim with treasures and resources. Both ingots and blocks of many materials were scattered everywhere. In and on chests, the room glittered against them all. She knew there were food, armor, and tools neatly sorted in every chest. Creeps always loved mining, he said it was relaxing and that the mountains are generous in resources, you just have to look for them in the right places.
Why were they here again? She's forgetting something... Something important....
Her train of thought, however, broke when the older hero turned and his blue eyes settled down at her. Soft, bright, relaxed, and full of love, Valkory couldn't help herself. Giggling she ran up to Creeps and tried to give him a bear hug.
"Oof!"
Valkory buried her face into the tower parts of his chest, arms wrapped tightly around his torso. One day she'll grow up to give him a proper hug.
"Haha! Happy to be home Lil'Pup?" Creeps asked, his smooth voice tickling Valkory's ears. She loved it when he called her that. Just as he gets happy every time she calls him by his nickname. He returned the hug then quickly picked the youngster up and giving her a little spin. She laughed loudly, hanging onto him. Valkory missed this so much... She wished this moment can last forever, to be safe in his warm arms.
Wha... Why does she miss this? They do spinning hugs all the time! All the time... all... the...
Stopping Creeps set down Valkory and looked her in the eyes, his suddenly hard and fearful. He placed one hand on her cheek and the other into his pocket.
"Valkory." He said, his tone stern and wavering. Valkory suddenly shivered, she knew this tone. The wind blew into the storage room when it shouldn't be possible. They were deep in the mountain! Behind him two shadows slowly crawled into the room, a pair of hero- No- Not heroes... They were human but they are far from heroes.
"Listen to me VERY carefully."
Valkory tried to speak, to warn Creeps but suddenly found out she couldn't. Her throat tighten to the point of choking. Gasping, Valkory reached out for Mr Creeps. She gripped his shirt like a life line, heart beating against her ribs, and quietly begged him for comfort that never came. She glanced behind him and the approaching strangers.
"I need you to go to the Nether portal and follow the cobble stone road."
Purple light flooded the room, Valkory dared glance back behind her to see a large Nether Portal frame. It pulsed with magic, swirling invitingly. No... Stand up, Creeps backed away from Valkory with remorseful eyes. Pulling out a flint and steel, Creeps clicked a few times. No...! Please No! The two figures were close now, she can see their smile that held no kindness. Their eyes were wide and filled with greed. Both of them wanted this room, their stuff, so badly.
"Whatever you do..."
So so badly...
Hands formed from the purple magic, scuttling towards Valkory as she turned around against her will. They crawled up her body, grabbing randomly in a death grip. One clawed at her out one eye, blinding it. Pain shot through her head. Her mouth is open wide yet nothing came out. Thrashing madly Valkory tried to break. NO! NONONO!!
Bad enough to Kill for it.
Click Click... Hiiiissssss...
"Don't. Look. Back."
But she did.
Valkory turned her head, fighting against the hands that held her head and screamed silently out. Creeps sorrowful eyes rested on hers as the tnt that surrounded him flicked with light. Both figures charged towards him, smiling that took over their whole faces. Large board swords rose up, up, up into the air.
"Jeremiah!!"
CRUNCH her whole world view turned crimson. He split into two,
...!
BANG an explosion deafened her. Her home collapsing around her.
...ry!
Sssshhhh-woop purple consumed her. Dragged away from the place she knew.
He's gone. Forever far away from her arms.
...Ory!!
She was falling. Down down into heat and ash. Looking down, Valkory could only watch as a hoard of Wither Skeletons waited down below. All of them held their swords to their chest, points up, and waiting.
..Kory!!
She's going to land on those swords. She's going to wither away into ash. Into Nothingness.
Nothing... Just like what she has done to save her brother. She's nothing...
She's...
"Valkory!!"
Gasping the human bolted up from a tangled mess of bed sheet. Breathing hurriedly she looked wildly around her. Where is she?! Where's Creeps?! She needed to safe him!
"Val! It's ok! Look at me, Arylo!"
Looking up from the ground, Valkory stared into the aged face of Arylo. He was standing over her, one hand firm on his cane while the other trembled out for her. He quickly hobbled over to her bed, the closest furniture in the room and patted his lap.
"Oh my child come here." He said in a soft kind voice. Numbly, Valkory crawled over to the elder, just like she did so many years ago. She rested her head on his lap and griped his sleeping robs tightly. The hero was scared that if she let go, he'll disappear too. She felt a hand run through her hair, smoothing out any tangles and stress. She felt him hum lightly, a lullaby he sang only to her.
Her one good eye saw a flicker of light and locked onto the movement. Illuminated by a candle was the gray face of her friend. Archie stood in the door his face held deep worry. Slowly approaching he sat down the candle on end table then joined her on the ground.
"Sshh, it's ok, just a dream." He said, his voice soft and gentle. He placed a hand on one of hers. The illager was so sure things will be ok yet he was so wrong. Mister Creeps is gone, far far away from her. Betrayed by so called friends for shiny things.
A wave of emotion hit Valkory and fresh tears flowed out from her. She shook her head before grabbing Archie's hand. She buried her face into Arylo's robes and cried, the only thing she could do right now.
Archie's sagged, dread filling him. He said the wrong thing... Looking up from his once strong friend and at the elder. Arylo simply sighed and mouth;
'Later.'
Arylo continued to sing the song Valkory taught her so long ago. The same one Creeps sang to her.
"Far over the misty mountains cold..."