#eldritch echoes

[scarabscribblings]

It found me through the mirror...

[itsscarab]

Filking for the first time in over a decade...

This one got me.

I used to dream up stories, vibrant, weird, and free. Bound up in all the wonder that poured itself from me. The stars still held their mysteries - The moon had someone’s face our world was full of magic - No horror bound to grace

At some point we forgot this – our truth and obelisk   Reality wrecked fiction - and joy became a risk The callouses grew thicker – my strength built up inside   The girl who saw forever – learned how to close her eyes

Take me to the castle in the sky Remember that our heart still waits inside I know it'll be alright – it’ll be alright in time Recall all the feathered worlds I know And how they teach a world that’s carved in stone My friends it'll be alright – it’ll be alright in time

I’ve never dreamed in colour my nights are black and white But stars I used to run to – still shimmer in the night Sometimes it’s oscillation – the shifting years go by But I was born of coal dust – and I’m not born to die

Slipped into a future - I don’t know when I changed But my forgotten wonder – still clawed up from the grave My armour helped me reach out - the world increased in scope, This girl who saw forever - remembered how to hope

Travel to the castles of this earth   Where we can find the life we all deserve I know it’ll be alright – it’ll be alright in time Remember the world I used to know – One made as much of light and love as stone  You know it’ll be alright – we will be alright in time

That girl who saw forever's long gone now But still, I can hear her calling out from the deepest truths I know   We can see, we’re still learning who we are  Through the hope and fear and loss and pain, this amber came from tar

Don’t waste it all my dear – we are not controlled by all our constant fear   Just stand up tall - raise that shield you hold with pride I won’t stay numb - or let our spirits die I promise it’s okay to feel again Don’t feel shame if you need armour just to stand

Take me to the wonders of the stars Where we can find the stories unlike ours  Dear one it’ll be alright we will be alright in time Remember the world we used to know – One as much of light and love as stone Tell me it’ll be alright - Won’t it be alright this time

[breannasfluff]

Legend catalogs the reaction he’s noticed of each person with the newest hero.

Wild scares the ever-loving shit out of Four. The smithy steers far away whenever he can help it and his eyes swirl a riot of colors. Legend’s watched him circle the Champion at a prescribed distance—a good 10 feet away if he can make it. Situations that bring him closer result in a flighty energy that steadily worsens until Four bolts further away.

Hyrule spouts so much flowery language and courtly manners he gives Warriors a run for his money. The veteran didn’t know he even knew that many manners, much less how to use them properly. Yet every greeting to Wild is some drawn-out, overextended mess of words that leaves everyone confused. The champion doesn’t seem to get it, either, so who knows why Hyrule insists on keeping it up.

Warriors…well, Legend’s not sure what happened between him and Wild, but the captain is waging a one-man war against his chainmail. Some days he wears it and others he’s stripping as fast as he can. It’d be funny if he didn’t look so frightened. Or if the chainmail stripping didn’t coincide with Wild’s close attention.

Wind is too easy-going to stay away from the champion, but he doesn’t seek him out, either. When they stop at rivers or lakes to bathe, the sailor goes in the water before or after Wild, but never at the same time.

Sky looks perpetually ill, sometimes tripping over nothing when Wild runs up to him. The champion peppers him with questions about his loftwing, or his Zelda. The last brings a frown to his face and if Legend didn’t know the chosen hero was just that, he’d say Sky was jealous.

Legend? He thinks Wild is fucking awesome . Oh, he’s still scary as any monster—scarier, even. The champion brings with him the ache of cold teeth, like chewing on an icicle or eating cold food too fast. Prolonged conversation with him results in a headache.

There’s something wrong with Wild, but not enough to keep Legend away. After so many adventures, it’s rare to find something that surprises him so thoroughly. As long as he doesn’t start manifesting dream creations, he can stay.

“You want to spar?” Legend plants himself in front of Wild, ignoring Warriors choking behind him.

Wild looks up, eyes reflecting light in a way they shouldn’t. “Spar?” It probably hasn’t escaped his notice that no one will fight him, even in training.

“Sure, I need to loosen up.” Rolling his shoulders, Legend moves towards the open area Four and Hyrule were using earlier. The sharp spike of cold goes straight to his head and he futilely presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth, trying to warm it.

Warriors, stick in the ass that he is, is trying to get them to stop. “I don’t know if that’s a great idea right now.” He casts about for an excuse, then shifts pleading eyes to Time.

The old man looks like he’s not paying attention, but the veteran catches the tightening in his shoulders and sideways glance. “Play nice, stay safe. Run through some drills, first.”

He’s not a child to be told what to do. Legend tosses one of the practice staves at Wild, not willing to consign himself to metal against the other. “Here, this should do.”

Wild runs a hand over the wood and bends it over a knee, checking it won’t snap. Then he nods and waits for Legend, who stares back.

“Drill?”

“What drill?” Wild’s head tips too far to one side.

Legend doesn’t answer, just starts running through some basic moves. Wild watches but doesn’t join in. Finally, he stops. “Forget it. Fighting or not?”

“Boys,” comes Time’s voice.

“Whatever.” Legend ignores him and raises his stick. “Ready? Go!”

Wild’s not ready, but Legend makes a wide swing to give him time to settle. The kid made it through his journey with whatever weirdness he’s got going on; he can handle one spar without chopping someone’s head off.

His follow-up swing is met with the crack of wood; Wild’s focus is fully on the fight, now. He stays on defense, then switches to offense, and then back again.

Wild’s style is…unique, in that it seems to be a mash of moves with little flowing grace, but he’s a proficient fighter. He’s focused and in control. He doesn’t turn into evil incarnate because he’s crossing blades—or staves, with someone. Warriors worries over nothing.

Legend keeps up, periodically landing faster hits to see how he’ll react. Through it all, the sharp ache in his teeth grows. It’s distracting and the adrenaline of movement isn’t enough to block it out. The tightening band around his head is an indication enough of the growing headache.

Finally, Legend steps back and raises his stave to signal an end. Wild stays poised for one, sharp moment, then steps back as well with a grin.

“Thanks, this was fun.”

Nodding back, Legend tosses the stave to the side and meanders across the camp. Time’s gaze burns, but he ignores it to settle next to Four, far away from Wild and his tooth-aching chill.

The champion may be awesome, but curse the Goddesses, Legend could do without the headache.

Read the rest here!

[scarabscribblings]

"Blood runs thicker than water Blood runs thicker than water Blood runs thicker than water But both feel the same when your eyes are closed."

[scarabscribblings]

I thought I had you figured out Something's gone terribly wrong Won't finish what you started...

[scarabscribblings]

I broke into a million pieces, and I can't go back...

[breannasfluff]

When Sidon tells Wild he’s a little off-putting, he believes him. Now, after spending time with the Chain and watching half of them go out of their way to avoid him, Wild gets the feeling Sidon was downplaying it.

It’s frustrating because the boys are nice and it’s clear they don’t avoid him to be mean. It’s just…instinctual. Sometimes people are more sensitive than others and tend to avoid him. Maybe this whole group is sensitive.

Legend will talk to him for a while, but he always grimaces and wanders away at the end, hand to his head. Twilight, at least, is happy to hang out with him and Wild gravitates to his side more and more often. It’s nice to have a friend and feel less alone in this large group. He tries with the others—he really does. Whether it’s light conversation, volunteering to help, or not fishing with bombs when Time looks like he’ll faint; Wild plays nice. He’s well-behaved and doesn’t push back on directions, even as he chafes at taking them. 

It's exhausting and frustrating, but worth it to stay near the others. Each day it continues, though, stretches his patience further and further. He can’t help how he makes others feel; he woke up like this.

When he asks Zelda if he had a similar effect before the Calamity, she makes a complicated face and says he was very quiet. He knows that from his memories and it doesn’t answer his question. Then she changes the subject and he lets it drop.

No matter how far he travels, he invariably follows the invisible tether to Zelda. She’s still cloaked in the faintest traces of divinity and he can’t help but be drawn to it.

“Why do you do that?” she once asked as they sit on a hill above Hyrule Field.

Wild’s leaning against her shoulder, snuffling at her neck. The action is unconscious and he jerks back. “Sorry! I—sorry.”

Zelda laughs and leans back on the grass. “It’s fine. I just noticed you do it often and was curious why. I know I don’t smell that good after a day out on horses.”

“It’s not your…smell—which is fine!” He leans back as well, rolling on his side to watch her. “It’s more the…aura around you?” He waves a hand vaguely like that will explain it.

“Aura?”

“Yeah, it’s like, um.” He leans a little closer, trying to decipher how to put it in words. “Golden, but more than gold. Rainbows and, and supernovas exploding under your skin and leaking out—” Wild stops abruptly because he’s burrowing into her shoulder again. He pulls back. “It’s your power. Hylia, I think.”

She turns to look at him, unflinching at his strange eyes. “You’re drawn to it?”

He nods. “Ever since I woke up. I can feel it, faintly. Can tell which direction you are in Hyrule.”

“Huh.” Closing her eyes, Zelda relaxes in the sun. “And here I hoped I really did smell nice.”

Read the rest here!

[breannasfluff]

Eldritch Wild, at his core.