Osk smiled at the sound of Robyn’s voice. She did feel a little guilty for not helping them tear down their camp, but she couldn’t help it. She had to see it: the sunrise through the trees.
Never has she seen so many trees in one place, and the way the sunlight dappled through the leaves enchanted her. The chorus of nighttime bugs giving way to the chirping of birds nesting in their branches.
Robyn seemed content to keep her feet firmly planted on the ground, and just looked up at her waiting for a response.
“I don’t know…climbed?”
“Uh huh,” Robyn laughed, “and have you found anything interesting?”
“The forest is so alive! It so beautiful, I wanted to take it all in.”
Robyn’s smile turned sad as she looked in the direction of the Shroud, “I don’t know that they consider this to be a part of the forest, the very edge if anything.”
“Well its closer than we have ever been, I can only imagine what it is like deeper in where there are so many trees you can’t even see the sky!”
“Osk…”
“I know, I know. It’s dangerous.” She started mimicking the voice of the old man who had told them the story, “them padjal can feel anything that goes on in their forest, and will do anything to protect their precious spirits.” She smiled down at Robyn, “but a girl can dream can’t she?”
Robyn was quiet for a bit as she looked up at her sister.
“I tell you what,” she started slowly, “after we finish this job, if Elio is up for it, how about we see if we can sneak our way in? Just for a peek, and only if you promise not to cast any magic while we are in there.”
Osk’s face lit up, and she dropped from the branch she was sitting on. She ran up to Robyn grabbing both of her arms in her excitement, “really? Are you sure?”
“Like you said, we’ve never been so close. It would be a shame to not take the opportunity.”
Osk hugged Robyn tightly and then took off back towards camp, “Well come on then! We have a job to finish!”
But news that there were visitors? That moved through the village like a wildfire. The moment Osk heard it, there were no doubt in her mind as to who would cause such a stir. Though, even after years of waiting for this very moment, she found herself frozen in place.
Will she recognize me? Will she even want to see me after all this time? What if she has changed?
But no, that wasn’t right. Master Matoya’s stories alone show that Robyn is still the same person she always was. In all the ways that matter, at any rate.
Her feet were moving before she even made the decision to follow the crowd, a nervous excitement running down her spine. She pushed past groups of Viis, whispering to each other and looking out towards the main entrance to the village.
As she made her way around the tree in her path, she saw her: a head taller than the crowd around her, eyes wide as she took in the wonders of Fanow.
Robyn.
Osk’s chest felt tight as she watched.
She was broader than she was before, and covered in new scars. Her hand rested on the hilt of her sword, not aggressively but cautious. Hair tousled, a bit longer but still the bright blue that matched her own.
All at once Osk was a kid again. Looking up at her big sister as she smiled back, a joke on her lips and her hand reaching out to steady Osk’s footing as they walked down the path.
Tears pricked the corner of her eyes as she called out her name, though Robyn didn’t seem to hear her. She has been in Fanow too long, has forgotten how hard of hearing most people are. Nothing for it but to get closer.
Her excitement got the better of her and she started off at a jog, calling Robyn's name as she went. When finally Robyn noticed, and a look of recognition and shock crossed her face, Osk's heart soared.
“Osk?”
Robyn’s voice cracked, but even still it was the sweetest sound to Osk’s ears. Her feet couldn’t get her there fast enough, and once she did draw close she leaped into Robyn’s arms.
Nothing else mattered. Robyn was here! The anxious waiting, the fear and uncertainty, it was all worth it to have her sister back. To feel her strong arms hold her close and know everything would be alright.
“Took you long enough.”
Robyn let out a laugh through her tears, eventually letting Osk down to the ground and taking a moment to just look at her face. “Been waiting for me, have you?”
There was so much love and joy shining in Robyn’s eyes, Osk had to catch her breath. “For so long, though I didn’t realize it until Master Matoya told me you were still alive.”
Robyn looked over her shoulder towards her companions, where Osk could see Matoya smile and nod. And when Robyn looked back, she seemed a bit more settled, a bit more sure. Like that reassurance was all she needed to accept that this was real.
But still, she only looked at Osk in silent wonder, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes, yes. I…I’m…” Robyn paused and took a breath. “I just can’t believe it. I’ve been so worried for so long, and to find you here? Now?” She reached out and pushed Osk’s hair back out of her face. “Look at you, all grown up and beautiful. It almost feels like a dream.”
Osk couldn’t help but beam up at her sister. “It is truly is a dream come true.”
Osk could feel it as they listened to the explosions shaking the ground when Baelsar’s Wall was attacked. She could feel it as the bright glow from a magical cocoon cut through the forest canopy. She could feel it as a battle between unimaginable beings was waged in the skies above.
And throughout the weeks following, more and more people crossed their threshold. Some needing medical aid, some running from the conflicts in Gyr Abania, and even some alliance soldiers brought away from the front. While they were not the closest settlement to the Castrum, they were certainly the best equipped to handle wounded, and that knowledge quickly spread.
But today was different. Chocobo carts laden with injured continued to arrive all throughout the afternoon. Every bed occupied, the yard overrun by tents and makeshift bedrolls.
The resistance’s base of operations had been decimated, or so she was told.
Osk moved from bed to bed, looking for those who would be best served by her magic. There was so much blood, so much pain, so much shock all around her.
Raimon’s voice shouting her name caught her attention, and she quickly made her way to the bedside he directed her towards. She was not expecting, however, to find another mage already there working, the strain and exhaustion on her face belying any sunny disposition the woman’s bright yellow attire suggested.
Osk started looking over her patient—a miqo'te woman with white hair, her clothes drenched in blood with a long gash across the front of her shirt. It seemed like the external wound was already closed and mostly healed over, but the paleness of her skin and the shallowness of her breath suggested that there was still something amiss inside.
“Her heart,” the Lalafell woman spoke hoarsely while she continued working, “it was damaged, and I can’t seem to get it beating again. I’ve been moving her blood myself to give her more time, but I’m at a loss for what else to do.”
Osk’s eyes widened at the thought of keeping blood flowing like that for hours, and the concentration it would take to do so while being transported malms in the back of a cart. Something to ask the woman about later if she gets the chance.
“I’m going to take a look, if that’s alright?”
The Lalafell nodded, and Osk carefully let her magic flow. She could feel the other woman’s magic and was careful not to disrupt its flow while she focused in on the heart. A familiar shape to her mind’s eye, and it was easy enough to locate the damage.
Osk started to mend the pieces back together, starting from the inside and working her way out. Carefully mapping each chamber wall, stitching each bit of muscle back into its place until it was whole again. Then, with a deep breath, she did what she had done many times before and coxed the heart back into rhythm.
“Let go for a moment, let’s see if it holds.”
She could feel the other woman’s magic withdraw, and they both held their breath as they watched and waited. And they both let out a sigh of relief when it did. The heartbeat was still weak, she would need time to rest and to let her body to finish healing on its own, but she would be alright.
“Oh, I cannot thank you enough,” the Lalafell woman said as she reached out and took Osk’s hand, “that you were here, knowing just what to do is nothing short of a miracle.”
“I’m just glad it worked,” Osk smiled back, “we’ll still need to keep an eye on her, but for now I think you both just need some rest. I’ll see if I can get some food brought over, you must be exhausted after all of that.”
“Yes, that would be greatly appreciated,” and she seemed to lose herself looking down at the woman on the bed before them for a moment. “It has been a hard day.”
Osk nodded and stood up, “and there are a lot of other people who still need my help.”
“Of course.” She seemed to look around at where she was for the first time, “give me a few minutes to recover and I’ll gladly help out wherever I can. Magic or no, there is always a need for more hands in times like these.”
While of course she didn’t mind helping the Night’s Blessed, sometimes it felt like they relied on her opinion a bit too much, considering the short time she has lived with them. After all, what insight could she provide a Viis leaving her home that any of the rest couldn’t, especially now when she was finally making some progress in her research.
But they insisted. So she emerged from her cave and took in what she could of the woman who stood before her. She seemed young, not that Y’shtola could really tell, and far more timid and out of place than someone who had made such a defining choice should be.
“I need to get home.”
Y’shtola had to fight a sigh. How did this kid who immediately got cold feet suddenly become her problem? “It’s a little late for that, is it not?”
“No, I’m not…I’m not from Fanow, or anywhere near here as far as I can tell. And I know it sounds crazy but I’m not even sure how I got here in the first place. The Viis have been incredibly kind and hospitable to me, but they haven’t had much contact with the outside world. They don’t have any of the answers I need, and suggested I come here to try and learn what I can before I attempt any journey further.”
Well that certainly was not what Y’shtola expected. Putting aside her comments about Fanow’s hospitality, she started with the more pertinent question, “Then where are you from?”
“Eorzea. Gridania to be more specific, or well close enough.”
The woman seemed to wait expectantly to see if there was any look of recognition at her words. And while most of the people gathered only looked on in confusion, she focused in on the shock Y’shtola could feel written all over her own face.
“Tell me you have heard those names before?”
“I have,” Y’shtola’s mind raced, but you won’t find many who do in these parts. I am from Eorzea myself, though I have spent more time in La Noscea than the Shroud.”
Y’shtola heard the woman’s sigh of relief, and could easily understand the kind of fear and confusion that has plagued her ever since her arrival on the First. Though, what she was doing here, Y’shtola didn’t have any guess.
“Come, let’s sit down and have some tea, and I will tell you what I can.” She led the woman into her quarters, shutting the door behind them with a look that she hoped portrayed that they were not to be disturbed. She motioned for the woman to take a seat as she went to prepare their tea.
“Your eyes must be extraordinary, to see so well in such darkness.”
Y’shtola cursed under her breath. The candles she had lit to keep up appearances must have burned out.
“My apologies, the Night’s Blessed hold the darkness sacred. It is easy to forget that not everyone is used to it.” She hoped the lie was convincing enough, as she quickly lit a few candles around the room.
“Can you tell me of how you came to this forest?”
“Like I said, I’m not sure. One moment I was sitting beneath a tree in the Shroud, I got a blinding headache and heard a voice call out. The next thing I knew I was here in Rak’tika, completely naked I might add.”
“I don’t know if it is any comfort, but that is the same way I came to be here.”
“Truly? Do you know what brought us here?”
Y’shtola nodded. “What do you know of the Warrior of Light?”
“The Warrior of Light?” The woman seemed to be taken aback at the sudden change of subject, “not much to be honest. I mean I’ve heard the stories, of her fighting off giant monsters single handedly, of how she defeated the Garleans in Doma and Ala Mhigo. I know she is a Roegadyn, but I’m not sure what she looks like or even what her name is.”
“If you have no connection with Robyn, what else could he want from you?”
“Robyn?”
Y’shtola blanched, realizing she had been thinking out loud. “The Warrior of Light. That’s her name: Robyn Ostornwyn.”
She could hear the other woman put her cup down heavily on the table.
“Does that name mean something to you?” When no answer was forthcoming, she reached out and took the woman’s trembling hand in hers.
“It has to be a coincidence. Robyn died over a decade ago.”
With this woman sitting here, Y’shtola knew it couldn’t be a coincidence. “She’s a tall Sea Wolf, light green skin, bright blue eyes, and black hair that she died blue years ago to match her sister’s.”
A sob caught in the other woman’s throat, and so Y’shtola continued rattling off whatever she could remember about Robyn’s past.
“She grew up off the coast in Thanalan, the daughter of a baker, and she has an adopted sister. A sister she was separated from during the calamity, but has never stopped looking for.”
The woman was fully crying now, gripping Y’shtola’s hand like a lifeline.
“A sister that, up until this moment, I had wrongly assumed was a Roegadyn like herself.”
“Robyn is alive.” It wasn’t a question, it was more like she was tasting the words in her mouth. After a few moments she perked up, “wait, are you saying Robyn is the Warrior of Light?”
Y’shtola chuckled. “Yes, yes that is what I’m saying. Is it really so hard to believe?”
“I mean, she’s my sister. I’ve seen her burn her hand on a hot oven and trip over her own two feet. But I’ve also seen her protect me with everything she has, and go out of her way to help others.”
“You’ll be happy to know that she still occasionally burns her hand on a hot oven and trips over hew own two feet. And she still fights to protect people with everything she has.” Y’shtola squeezed her hand and smiled at her. “What is your name, dear?”
“I’m Osk,” she took a steadying breath as she said her last name for the first time in over a decade, “Osk Ostornwyn.”
“Osk, I have a lot to tell you, but first know that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe and reunite you with your sister.”
The afternoon was calm and pleasant. A nice breeze kept the sunlight blissfully warm instead of swelteringly hot, and the sound of running water from the nearby river bolstered by the recent spring rain was soothing.
Even the clinic was quiet, a blessing after the chaos of the last few years. Gatty only had one new patient with a wound easily knitted up, especially now after so much practice.
Gatty found Osk sitting beneath the big tree in the yard, resting her eyes as the dappled sunlight played across her face.
“Look at you actually taking a break for once,” Gatty smiled as she knelt down beside Osk, “I never thought you would actually do it.”
Osk cracked open her eyes just so she could playfully roll them at the younger girl. “It has been far too long since we’ve had a day just to ourselves. Will you sit with me for a while? Maybe tell me some of the stories you've managed to coax out of our visitors?”
Gatty settled in and did just that, sharing the stories she has heard of far off lands, of exciting adventures, of the Warrior of Light and her many victories. And if Osk dozed off once or twice while she did, well, she wasn’t going to hold it against her.
Of course, the peace wasn’t meant to last.
All of a sudden, Osk doubled over in pain with a cry, clutching her head in her hands.
“No, not again!” Gatty reached out to try and soothe her as she convulsed, letting her magic flow to try and locate what might be causing these intense headaches. It has happened twice before now, without warning and seemingly without cause—but they both know that something like this doesn’t happen without a reason.
But while the other times only lasted a few moments, this time was different. Osk’s whole body shook, her breathing labored as she seemed to fight whatever pain was shooting through her.
“Gatty…” her voice barely audible, “I don’t…”
“Stay with me. Osk, stay with me!” Gatty’s voice becoming desperate.
Just as suddenly as it started, Osk went completely still.
“Osk? OSK!”
No response. Osk’s body limp in Gatty’s arms.
Falling. She was falling.
Her blinding headache giving way to a sea of stars. Little lights, or maybe crystals, passed her by as she continued to fall.
What was happening to her? Some sort of hallucination? A dream?
Her mind was fuzzy on the specifics, and she tried to focus on what she felt just before the pain overtook her, but she couldn’t get past the sound of Gatty’s screams ringing in her ears.
Before long she realized she was falling, or perhaps being pulled, towards a light. A light that rapidly was getting closer and closer.
A blink and the light enveloped her.
Then all movement stopped, and for a moment she found herself hovering a few feet off the ground, before collapsing hard against the forest floor.
But it was not her forest’s floor—blue flowers dotted the ground, large yellow glowing plants lighting up the space around her. Gnarled trees far larger than any she has ever seen or even imagined blotted out an eerie looking sky.
And everything was blurry.
Where were her glasses? Where were her clothes!?
She frantically look about, only then noticing the woman lying on the ground nearby. She stared at Osk with giant eyes, seemingly just as surprised and confused as she herself was. Her long ears twitching, searching for the sounds of danger—long ears just like her own.
Osk just stared back for a moment. She has never seen another Viera, never knew where to find them or if they would even show themselves to her. And yet, here one was…
Wherever here was.
Osk’s eyes traveled down the woman’s body, only just now noticing the alarming amount of blood covering her torso.
“You are hurt!” Without even thinking, she jumped up and ran to the woman, “I can help, if you let me?”
The woman flinched at her approach, which did make Osk realize how insane it was for her to rush towards her after appearing out of nowhere completely naked. She also idly wondered if the women even understood what she was saying.
But after slowing down and trying to show that she was not a threat, that she wanted to help, the woman did nod and looked down at the gash she was ineffectively holding closed with her hand.
Her eyes went wide again as she felt Osk’s magic, but after a moment of discomfort the wound knit itself closed and she breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” the woman’s accent was thick and unlike any Osk had heard before. “Who…what are you?”
It was no longer a surprise, but still it made her worry. Worry about how Robyn was able to function on so little sleep if nothing else. Though after Ultima Thule, that she was even able to be up and about at this ungodly hour was a blessing in itself.
The thought made Y’shtola shudder.
But instead on dwelling on it, she focused on the sounds coming from the kitchen below. Clinking of dishware, a faint sizzle of something cooking on the stove top, and Robyn softly humming to herself as she worked. She could smell the richness of coffee and something sweet on the air.
It all enticed her to actually get out of bed herself, which was no small feat. Carefully feeling her way down the stairs, she made her way towards Robyn’s humming.
“Good morning, love.”
Y’shtola found Robyn’s outstretched hand and followed it to where she could wrap her arms around Robyn’s waist, nuzzling her face into Robyn’s warmth.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She shook her head, “It’s alright. Nightmares?”
Robyn hummed in affirmation.
"I wish…I wish there was something I could do to help, to ease your mind and let you rest."
"You do help," she could hear the smile in Robyn's voice, "just having you here helps."
They stood there in a comfortable silence for a bit, Robyn working around her so as to not let the food burn.
“If you let me go, I can start boiling some water for tea?”
But Y’shtola’s hold only got tighter, “Coffee is fine, I’d rather you stay right here.”
Robyn laughed, a warm and carefree sound that washed over her. But then, without warning she scooped Y’shtola up and set her down on the counter.
“And I’d rather to be able to reach you,” Robyn said with mirth in her voice as she bent down and kissed her tenderly.
They stayed like that for a while, smiling into sweet kisses and wrapped around each other. Soothing whatever lingering dreams or memories that were still hanging in the air. Eventually Robyn pulled back slightly, “If you don’t want cold pancakes, we should perhaps pause this,” and she gave her another quick kiss as emphasis, “and get to eating.”
Y’shtola just pouted, and didn’t make to move.
“Don’t worry, I’m certainly not done with you. There will be plenty of time after we have had some nourishment.”
“Oh very well. Wouldn't want to see your hard work go to waste.”
Time was hard to gage here in Fanow. No sunset to mark the day’s passing, no way to chart the moon’s cycles. It slipped through Osk’s fingers like the sand from the beach by her childhood home.
She was restless.
Not that she didn’t have plenty to do. There was always a need for extra hands around the village, and plenty of things to learn. And the forest was dangerous. Even the ever careful Viis hunters would often return bloodied and in need of her touch.
This wasn’t where she belonged.
It was strange. All her life she has wondered what other Viera were like, how a place full of them might differ from the cities and villages she has known. How she might fit among them.
But the waiting was almost unbearable.
She missed her family. She worried about Gatty. She missed the comfort of her home, and not having to worry about how one bad step could send her plummeting to her death.
She has gotten used to people staring at her ears or whispering to each other when she passed, most people in Eorzea having never seen a Viera. Here she doesn’t look out of place, and yet the stares are more pronounced, discussions about her not hidden behind whispers.
The Viis were still kind to her in their way, so unused to outsiders in their midst that their mannerisms were not unexpected.
She is eternally grateful for them letting her stay all this time. She has loved getting to know them, to understand their lives and the bits of their history that they are willing to share. She has loved exploring this extraordinary forest, and seeing how well they live in harmony within it.
The things she has learned here she will carry with her for the rest of her life.
