Just writing this one shot.
Notes: i am going through some emotional and physical stuff due to grieving. It been a while since i last went through this and so i felt like writing something with Twilight and the whole chain. Sorry this is so sploppy, i may go through this later and fix it, or i may not. It is what it is for now.
Warning: some druging done to help with sleep or pain, mention of illness.
It started small. So small that even he didn’t register it and nobody seems to pick up that something was wrong. Well why would he, he had only wrote from nearly having his life ended by the every enemy they were chasing. So sure, healing spells only can do so much. Glad his farm was still good, but he was lacking strength that he use to have. No surprise. However, frustrating. His ancestor keeping close by, giving some suggestion. The Rancher sighed. They end up being joined by Captain, Wind, Hyrule and Legend, after helping the smith out. Time suggested The rancher go take is easy. Take it easy? We have things to do, we got to get this solved!
As they finally back on the road, Rancher had taken to riding on Epona, to avoid slowing the group down. Irritation and self hatred started festering now. His normally good nature, turned to being snippy and short. Negative. Then signing. Shutting up the rest of their walk as they traveled through new lands. Everyone was picking up on it. Captain did his best to get the young man to cackle the way the old man did. However he was met with eye that looked tired and empty. Wild even became subject to his lashes. The Old man had noticed, took note. However yet to step in. The would track for a good 7miles, before captain suggest they take a break. With that a quick lunch was made up. Usually some cheese, bread, dry meats and fruits. His appetite was nowhere to be found. Instead he just curled up beside his trusted mare and took a nap. Not long though, they needed to keep going and find shelter at some point.
A few days later they were met with a few monster camps, which they all took it down. It wasn’t pretty. Twilight paired with Champion and the two used their archery to back the team up. However he felt heart broken he couldn’t use his wolf form just yet, or fully wield his blade. That when they sat up camp, he just tossed his items on the ground and just stalked off. Sky offered to follow. Captain placed a hand on Sky’s shoulder and suggested to let the archer be to himself. At night, he suffered even worst, pains from the impact (or so he thought) of his injury acted up, causing him not to sleep well. How The old man felt helpless as to what to do. “ what i would give for a hot spring.” Groaned the Vet. Trying to be sympathetic in the morning. The rancher said nothing. Stares at his porridge. then dumped it back into the cooking pot, before going off to get Epona ready.
The body aches, the migraines, and now nausea kicking in. Food nor water could be down, it was like he became physically ill. This time the old man stepped in.He road on Epona with the Rancher. Holding him close and just telling the young man to rest his eyes. As they tricked on, being led by the Captain this time. They needed some form of village or at least safe place to stay. Which to their luck, wasn’t too far. Wild sensed they were in his era. Which thank hylia they were, cause all the hero’s were watching their friend slowly struggling. However, whenever someone tried to do anything, he reacted to them. Which wasn’t fair to them. This was his issue and here he was being useless and not himself.
So when they found a traveller’s cabin. Everyone cheered, or those who could. Time just whispered to the rancher, “we have shelter.” Everyone being so excited. The Eldest hero suggested rancher be first to get a hot soak in the tub, to at least ease some of what he was going through. Which resulted in rancher just feeling the pains wash away in the warm bath. Easing him into a peaceful sleep. Wild worked on making some pumpkin superb soup, hoping maybe Rancher would eat it. However that was dashed as he watched Time walk in carrying the sleeping hero to his bed roll. Hyrule came over with an elixir ment to help to have peaceful dreams. So everyone ate, while the rancher slept.
“So how long we going to let this go on?” Asked the concerned Vet.
“Should we search for a doctor?” Asked a worried sky.
There was a loud clap of thunder, followed by rain.
“I think this weather spoke for us. Let’s keep a fire going, heat up some hot water bottle to help. Damp rag. See this out.” Time spoke quietly, as he carded his hand through his descendent’s hair.
Several days of the storm raged on. Keeping the chain to the cabin. Everyone kept quiet and each taking turns watching Rancher. Who mainly got up either to take a leak, nibble on small bits of food. It always was an improvement seeing him reading, till suddenly that became too much. Which four and Some times Time would take the book and reach it. Surprisingly it wasn’t about animal husbandry as most assume. No it was a book about a person, and ordinary person who suddenly goes on an adventure to find himself. Sounds a lot like them at one point.
But at night it was the whimpering, twitches. Tossing and turning. Wild wish he could help, but seeing his mentor so ill and so distressed to be much. That Hyrule had taken to comforting the pup’s filly. Time ended up often sleeping beside the Rancher to give him comfort. Gently humming a gentle tune, bubbling the rancher’s back till the rancher was out again. That repeated sever time in the night.
It wasn’t till the fourth night stuck in the cabin, did the dams break. Instead of the rancher’s usual grumbly self. He managed to taken down some egg on toast. The yoke being the right amount of runny. His belly savoring it. Wild smiled seeing the rancher just wolf it down. Time, chuckling. Rubbing his back and ushering him to slow down. Did the tear start rolling from his eyes. His shoulder begin the shake. The captain was quick to set his plate down and rush over and wrap him arms around the young man. Time had grabbed the rancher’s food before he dropped it and set it aside and Just gently rubbed his pup’s back.
Everyone else joined in and proceed to hug him.
“You’re grieving so much, trying so hard on yourself. We dont expect you to be up and taking on things like you use too. You will get there.” Sky spoke. His tone calming.
“Trust me, when i woke from the resurrection bath, i was like a new born foal. Stumbling everywhere.” Wild join in.
That got the rancher chuckling some because he was not far off.
“At least i didn’t wake up naked and afraid.” The rancher rasped.
The group let go as they all laughed.
That’s how that day went, with everyone engaging with him and encouraging him. When he got sad, they just be there with him, Comforting him. Till he was absolutely tucked out. Time got him to keep hydrated. Then looked after him as he slept. With the rain having stopped. Some of the hero’s went out scouting. However, from this day forth, a rule was made that emotions and pains like grieving is okay and it’s okay not being okay. That they are all in this together. Together they will end this.
