The Maguuma Jungle is harsh and unforgiving, swarming with Modrem and and the Dragons ever taunting whispers. Another loss is the last thing the party needs, though it makes one thing clear:
Mordremoth needs to die, and quickly.
Uh hi guys I haven’t updated this fic in two years oops. Gonna try and not do that again haha... hah. Cough. Anyways. Jumping into Heart of Thorns territory here! Enjoy! Also on AO3!
“Just you wait, Commander - we’ll be victorious, you’ll see. Just as we were with Zhaitan.”
Trahearne’s smile is infectious - she can’t help but return it, despite the edge of worry gnawing at her insides.
“I’ll hold you to that, Marshall - you secure the skyway, we’ll follow as soon as we get our answers.”
“See that you don’t take long - I need my Commander at my side, after all.”
“You have most of Destiny’s Edge with you.” she scoffs, eyeing their familiar forms on the ship behind him, “You’ll be fine.”
Trahearne smiles, and turns, and the world turns with him, spinning until she’s seeing something she’d never actually seen-
-the Pact ships wrapped in massive vines, choked and falling from the sky, the Sylvari members of the crew seemingly gone mad-
-the world spins again, and she’s back in the Cave, back in the vision of Caithe’s past, of Wynne and the secret she was born to bear.
“We were meant to serve the Dragon!” she whispers, frantic, grabbing at Caithe’s wrist pleadingly, “You must kill me, sister! Faolain will only use this knowledge against the Pale Mother, you know this - the truth must never be discovered. Kill me, quickly!”
A flash of a dagger and a gasp of pain, Faolain’s frustrated shout sounding in the background-
-and then there is darkness, and a slithering chill creeping around her, as though the vines that had strangled the Pacts ships have returned, climbing towards her heart.
“Do not fight it.” A voice echoes in the black emptiness - malicious and all-seeing, a voice that both makes her angry and makes her shiver in fear - “Do not fight it - you will see, in time. There is only one purpose. There is only Mordremoth.”
The cold engulfs her, and a vine strangles her scream.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Terra bolts upright, scream dying in her chest as her eyes snap open, darting around her surroundings.
Her companions remain sleeping - curled on their respective bedrolls around the small fire they’d extinguished hours ago, taking advantage of the relative safety of the high-cliffs they’d found in order to get some rest.
The Sylvari gives a rough sigh and scrubs at her eyes, trying to force the remnants of the visions from her mind.
Normally, she would enter The Dream when asleep, but since entering the Maguuma Jungle… well, it was safe to say she wasn’t getting any rest. Not with constant memories of the past and Mordremoth’s whispers tormenting her.
The whispers are worse when I’m asleep. Terra sighs, opening her eyes to stare up into the thick canopy overhead - imagining she can hear the far-off Pact choppers and battles still raging on even while they rest - If the solution is I barely sleep until the Dragon is defeated, then so be it.
There’s a few hours yet till sunrise, and the others are still blissfully unaware of their leaders issues.
Terra quietly stands from her bedroll and, after one last look to ensure they’re all alright, steps out of their campsite and just into the brush of the jungle, headed for the edge of the cliff.
She stops several feet away, rubbing her arms as a chill seems to creep in, staring out at the deceptively quiet Maguuma Jungle. Her sharp sight can just make out the packs of Mordrem patrolling far below, mostly hidden by the darkness and thick foliage - they don’t glow the way Sylvari do, an ‘improvement’ on the design, apparently.
Kasmeer’s magic keeps their little camp hidden and safe, and Terra makes sure to stay within that circle, taking a seat amongst the blooms and keeping an eye on the activity below.
This place is beautiful, if deadly. She thinks, noting the way some of the plants glow, lips pursing at how some of them seem to match the steady rise and fall of her own glow, If it weren’t for the Dragon, I wonder…
“Hey, Boss, what’re you doing out here? You need to sleep, too.”
Terra starts from her thoughts, head snapping back in surprise; Braham’s standing right behind her, giving her a look that makes her flush.
“Can’t sleep.” she says, looking quickly away to conceal the blush - how did I not hear him? Braham isn’t what I’d call quiet - heart beating a little faster when he moves to sit beside her, “And what about you, Braham? I thought you were asleep?”
“Eh, I heard you leave, wanted to make sure you were alright.” Braham shrugs, lifting one hand to scratch at the back of his neck, “There’s been… a lot going on. And I know you.”
Terra shoots him a look, eyebrows lifted, “What does that mean?”
Braham huffs out a breath, shooting her a look that says really?. “I know you hide when you’re hurt - physically or emotionally. I’m not stupid, Boss. So I thought I’d check on you.”
Terra stares at him for a moment, caught off guard - she’s used to protecting and worrying, not being worried about - before looking away, staring out over the Jungle below, fiddling with the ends of her gloves.
Then, quietly, “I’m surprised any of you still… trust me. Still follow me.”
“What?” Braham sounds honestly surprised, “Why?”
“Because I’m a Sylvari.” she bites out bitterly, the words that she’d once said with pride now falling like acid from her lips, “Because I’m one of them, the dragon minions. I… I hear Mordremoth, Braham. It whispers incessantly. Fighting it is exhausting, but… it’s louder when I sleep.”
“That’s why you jolt awake all the time, isn’t it? Why you never sleep more than a couple of hours?”
Terra’s laugh is weak. “You’ve noticed all that, have you?”
“Boss, I’m a damn Guardian - smashing and healing are what I’m made for. And you’re my friend, of course I noticed.”
“I still don’t know why you all trust me so much.”
“Because you’re you. You’re no Mordrem; you’re Terra.” Braham’s voice drops slightly then, a growl lacing the words, “Anyone has a problem with you, they can go through me.”
That startles a laugh out of her - a real laugh, one she’s quick to stifle lest she wake the others up, eyes wide and bright when she glances at the ridiculous Norn beside her.
Braham lifts a brow, tilting his head, “So, uh… am I helping? Cause you’re just giving me a look.”
“You are ridiculous, Braham.” she laughs, unable to help leaning against him, needing to touch him to prove that he’s real, “And I wouldn’t change you a bit. Thank you. I’ve been… well. Just trying to keep up the facade, I suppose.”
“What facade? You seem pretty legit to me.” Braham’s arm comes up around her back, and Terra can feel her Soul Mark pulsing in time with her heart, the blue markings along her arms glowing and fading in tune with the beat, “We’ll take down Mordremoth, and get everyone back.”
“I hope you’re right, Braham.”
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Terra doesn’t remember falling asleep, yet she’s woken suddenly by sunlight in her face, pulling back from where she’d still been resting against Braham’s side.
Well, shit. She thinks, sighing and watching him sleep for a moment, affection rising in her chest.
They’ve been through so much together since Scarlet - fighting to try and figure out what was happening with the Zephyrites and crazed Sylvari, and then the Mordrem and attack on the Pale Tree, then Caithe and the egg - but she’s never been brave enough to ask him, or to even broach the subject.
Soon. Once we’ve dealt with this Dragon. She stands, patting him gently on the shoulder as she goes, “Braham, wake up. It’s morning.”
“Mmmmmwha?” the Norn mumbles a little, blinking blearily up at her, “What… ugh, morning already?”
“Afraid so.” Terra grins, stepping back so that he can stand, “We’d best get back before the others come searching.”
“I was having a really good dream, too.” Braham’s rubbing at the back of his neck as he stretches, rolling his shoulders, and she’d have sworn he was flushed for a moment before he clears his throat, “You end up getting any rest, Boss?”
“I did, actually. Maybe talking helped.” Terra smiles, motioning him to follow her back to camp, “Thank you again, Braham, for last night. It means a lot.”
“Hey, what are friends for? Now let’s wake the others up, I’m starving.”
Yes. Friends. Terra says nothing as she follows him, only sighing and pushing the thoughts away for the moment. You have bigger problems right now. Deal with it later.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It happens almost in slow motion - like the visions she’s been plagued with, the terrible memories that haunt her every night.
Faolain is dragged out of sight, and then Eir, wounded from the treacherous Sylvari’s betrayal, is too slow to dodge - pinned momentarily to the rockwall by it’s viney tail before falling limply to the ground.
Braham’s roar of anger is echoed by her own shout as they leap down to surround the creature, no longer worried about staying back - the damage has been done, and the beast needs to die.
Vinetooths are quick and nimble, and this one even more so then the others they’ve faced - strengthed by Mordremoth, most likely - but they take it down, together, bruised and out of breath in the aftermath, but victorious.
“Mother! Mom!... Spirits.”
And too late.
“Eir!” Terra casts her staff aside as she drops to the Norn’s side, water weaving around her hands as she reaches out, desperate - but the healing streams go nowhere, find no purchase, and she finds herself breaking just a little more.
“Eir… you can’t…”
“Commander, there’s a passage here - it leads deeper into the Jungle.”
“We’ve got to keep moving, or else we’ll lose Caithe’s trail.”
Terra nods silently, not moving, jumping when Braham is suddenly slipping his arms beneath his mothers still body and lifting her from the ground.
“Braham?”
“I… I need to... there are rituals to perform. Garm, I don’t even know if he was...” his voice is quiet, weary and broken, and it breaks her heart. “And her bow. If it’s in that camp… I want it. My Mom and I never… we didn’t have… I just…”
He pauses, takes a breath. “I just… need some time. I’ll join you once I’ve…”
“Of course. Take all the time you need.” she wants to stay with him - wants to help him, be there for him, the way a Soul Mate should be, but - “Rox, stay with Braham - keep each other safe, please.”
“Of course, Boss.”
Braham nods to her as she stands, face as neutral as he can seem to manage. “Thank you, Terra.”
Terra doesn’t trust her voice. She only nods in return, offering a watery smile, and watches him carry Eir away, chest tight with emotion.
We’ll avenge you, Eir. I promise. Goodbye, my friend.
“You ready, Boss?”
Retrieving her staff, the Sylvari squares her shoulders and turns to face the new opening, sparks surrounding her as she strides angrily forwards.
“Let’s find the egg, and find a way to kill this Dragon.” she snarls, fangs bared, “I refuse to lose anymore friends to this monster.”
So since I’m working on Tangled Paths again, thought I’d do a quick update just to show Terra’s progression and what she currently looks like, story-wise.
Yes, I know, there’s definitely newer screenshots floating around on my blog - but for anyone interested or curious, figured I’d go digging for some old ones. And I do mean old - that top screenshot is the first screen I ever took of her, ever took of GW2 period, back when I first started playing in 2012! Terra’s been around a long time, what can I say.
Top screen would have been just after Waking from The Dream.
Middle screen would be during the fight against Zhaitan/Flame and Frost, though she slowly starts adding layers. Terra had no set style for the longest time - I was so used to small mmorpgs I just kept throwing whatever new gear I got on her and switching colours. This outfit I chose, and… we all know, Elementalists gear doesn’t tend to be modest. It didn’t suit her personality, much as it looked good, so I kept it until I found a set I liked better…
Bottom screen is what she dons during Season 2 and Heart of Thorns - looking much like a dragonfly, if I do say so myself! (I didn’t get the carapace shoulders until later so I kept the winged mantle).
It’s weird looking back on short-haired Terra, even tho she had it until mid-way through Path of Fire.
I’ll update as I go with the fic to show different outfits/variations etc ♥ Cause why not.
In an attempt to not spoil things for other people... I forgot to post any screens from finishing the end of the last Season. Oops. So have my fave shots from Terra’s run! She matches her Dragon-daughter a lil too well and it was not on purpose but it works
SO because I’m a dork and I love these dorks too much, I again commissioned @mothblobs for some fluffy GW2 art! She may post it as well but said I could upload it, so in honor of Valentine’s, tada!
Essentially a follow up to my first commission from her over here! Because the Fern Pups are just to damn cute and I love it. So have some kissy action from Terra and Braham and some silly puppers ♥
I especially love the little put-out salad floof on the left who’s essentially like ‘Y u no pet me look how cute I am, belly rubs?? Pls??’ ♥ ♥ Seriously tho Moth is an awesome artist and she’s so quick! Go commission her gogogo!!! ♥
Sooooo may have started flailing when I just opened my email. Snagged a bust comm from @vjatoch when she opened up a bit ago and I am so flipping happy with this omg.
Stuck with her old hair for this one but ugh holy crap she looks amazing ♥ ♥ ♥
