Chapter 5: Broken Mind of The Broken Hello

The sun had set. The only light that illuminated the dark sky came from one of the two moons. It’s twin resting slightly behind and beneath it with a dark black and grey hue. It shines no light on Erin & Sonn who had been trotting through the forest for hours now. Both of them were now completely void of the river they had abandoned behind them for hours and miles. Only crickets and the occasional owl could be heard. Along with their footsteps.

Erin was getting tired and handing to help Sonn walk wasn’t helping at all. She knew he was too injured to walk straight on his own but she doubts how much longer she can hold him up.

He could go unconscious at any moment and carrying him wasn’t an option due to the size of his larger and broader body. Up ahead she could see a wide dirt road that led off into the distance.

Sonn: “Do you think we could rest here for a moment?”

Erin: “No we can’t. We have to keep moving east. That’s what you said right?”

Sonn: “Yes but we won’t make it there if we don’t rest and regain our strength.”

Erin: “Alright fine we can take a break. You’re heavy as shit anyways.” They stop beside the road and she slowly helped him sit down on the ground.

“We can’t stay here too long alright? Because it’s getting darker and darker and we haven’t gotten any closer to getting to the Red Desert according to you.”

Sonn: “That’s because it’s not as simple as you’re making it sound. Not only do we have to go east to get around the river we’ll need travel equipment. I told you it’ll only take a day at most. I promise you.”

They could hear the sounds of something approaching them. A large and noisy , horse drawn wagon. At its front trotted a thin and brittle grey horse pulling along an old rickety wooden wagon filled with hay and 3 sealed barrels at it’s back, bonded by rope. A man sat on the wagon whistling to himself steering the direction with the horse’s reins. Upon seeing them roadside, the man slowed down watching as Erin quickly approached the wagon eagerly. The man was curious as to the situation but also weary. He hadn’t ever seen anyone dressed like Erin and she looked strange to him. He wore a brown coat over a dirty white shirt and a pair of ragged black pants and boots.

Erin: “Wait! sir please! Stop, wait!” She waved down the wagon and once it finally slowed down she came up to it looking the man in his face.

“Can you please give us a ride east sir?” She was desperate and the man seemed concerned. He opened his mouth to reply but his face quickly shifted to disgust while looking behind Erin.

“Does that thing need a ride with you?” The man asked with a grouchy attitude and curled frown

And lowered eyebrows. As he knows his head towards Sonn. He was completely displeased to see him walking up behind Erin.

“Cause if so, you can forget it.”

Erin: “Excuse me?” She responds back to him with an attitude in her tone, not understanding what the issue is.

“Don’t call him a thing! He’s a person, you asshole.”

Sonn walks up behind her and places one of his hands on her shoulder.

“Ma’am he’s an elf! And I don’t want some pointy-eared nipsey in my wagon or anywhere near me.”

Sonn: “Sir I beg of you, we only need a ride east. You can drop us off at the nearest town or village sir. We need somewhere safe to stay for the night.” Sonn was trying to be polite and show the man that he meant no harm. Displaying Nothing but kindness behind his big green eyes that also supplied the wagon man with comfort and relief.

The man lets out a deep sigh and nods his head signaling them to come aboard the back of his wagon. His face was still displeased but he wouldn’t leave these two out here in the forest at night.

Erin: “Thank you.” She helps Sonn up into the wagon and pulls herself up after him sitting on the opposite side of the wagon, facing him.

The man signals the horse to go on and the wagon rolls down the dirt road continuing its loud and rocky trot down the pathway.

Two hours since the two of them had hopped aboard the man’s wagon. Sonn seemed more awake and alert, he looked at their surroundings with a sense of awe and wonder in his eyes. He looked up at the starry night sky as the bright lights danced through the Black Sea in the sky. Erin watched him, trapped in a trance she stared at his face as a warm blanket of attraction washed over her. She stared at his handsome face. His long hair blowing in the cool night breeze.

He looks back down from the sky, retreating his eyes back to this realm before gifting Erin with all of his attention. They lock eyes. Erin looks away in embarrassment, diverting her eyes to the passing trees and thick forest brush. Sonn’s eyebrows curl in concern. Afraid he has offended her he decides to distract the both of them by engaging in a meaningful conversation.

Sonn: “Erin. Did you know I was of elven descent?” He leans in towards her. Honestly just curious as to her true intentions.

Erin: “Eh sorry are you serious? The man called you an elf as a joke okay. There’s no chance the guy was actually calling you a magical elf Sonn.” She chuckles at his ignorance. Shaking her head in disbelief as a healthy smile spreads across her face as she scoots herself closer towards him.

Sonn tilts his head in confusion. He gives her a smirk as to be polite. He didn’t understand what was so funny. He takes his hand and gently brushes the side of his head, lifting his hair and rubbing up the edge of his ear up to its pointed tip. Her eyes widened in shock.

Sonn: “My ears! They’re pointed?!” He asks her with a mixture of shock and betrayal in his tone.

Erin: “Yeah they are but that doesn’t make you an elf Sonn. Wait, how didn’t you know your ears were like that?”

Sonn: “I don’t remember what I look like.”

Erin: “So you don’t even remember what you look like either? Well I guess that makes sense. You didn’t remember anything when I found you.”

Sonn: “I told you I don’t remember anything other than the men that chained me to that stone. Since then I’ve had nothing but nightmares and pain. Woke up every morning hoping the night before was just another one of those bad dreams. Three days and two nights. Stuck there. Punishment for a crime I can’t even remember. At Least that’s what I was told.”

Erin: “I’m sorry. That must’ve been terrible for you. Wish I'd gotten there sooner.” She rubs his arm to comfort him. They had gotten closer. Neither of them remembered moving or at least didn’t notice. They say with their shoulders leaned against each other.

Sonn: “I’m just glad you arrived when you did. You saved me. You’re my hero.”

Erin: She stretches her arms out and with a smug look on her face says, jokingly

“Yeah I am pretty great aren’t I?” They laugh together this time.

“Had I gotten there any later, who knows what would’ve happened to you. All beaten and battered like this.”

Sonn: “Indeed. Not pleasant at all. Where do you come from again? The newest York?”

Erin: “What, no love. I’m from New York… Thunderlane, New York. Born and raised. But I have no idea where I am now. All this talk of dwarves, elves and red deserts. When you mentioned kingdoms earlier I thought all of this could’ve just been a very detailed fever dream.”

Sonn: “ New York? I’ve never heard of it. And you speak of dwarves and elves as if you don’t believe them. I’m an elf myself, apparently. Do you not believe I exist?”

She stops to think. Everything falls into place. The Red Desert, the short men, the knights, the pointed ears and old timey farmers riding wooden, horse drawn wagons. In all of the distress and constant chaos, Erin hadn’t taken the time to sit back and adjust. She’s been walking on a world with two moons suspended in its beautiful sky. They’re accompanied by hundreds of stars.

Erin looks up to see more stars than she had ever seen in her entire life. Except the stars were wrong. She couldn’t see a single constellation that looked familiar to her. The stars she grew up with and shared with her family were replaced. No Big Dipper. No Belt of Orion. Nothing at all.

Hundreds of thoughts, hundreds, crashed and raced through her head in an instant. She attempts to calm her mind and relax but she can’t bring herself to believe what she’s actually considering. Another world? How? How could that even be possible!? She’d been walking on this ground the entire time not knowing it was the face of a world she’d never known of.

She doesn’t look at him but instead drops her head staring straight ahead.

Erin: “Where am I? Where are we in the world exactly? What world is this?”

Sonn: “Gaia. The world we’re on is Gaia.” He gasp and whispers to her closely

“Are you from another realm? One parallel to my own. Is that why you’re dressed so strangely?” A slight hint of excitement could be seen behind his eyes.

Erin: “I’m from Earth.”

Sonn: “Earth? Like dirt?” He asks in all innocence. He’s never heard of a place named Earth. It wasn’t a realm he’d ever heard about in legend or even read about like the others.

Erin: “We have one moon and cities, buildings, cars and advanced medical technology! Not THIS!” She gestures to everything around her.

“Dwarves and mythical wars and magic elves and kingdoms are all fictional Sonn. You’re telling me that here..they’re real?”

Sonn: “Well yes of course it’s all real. I’m an elf. Which would explain why I was able to go that long without food or water in the forest now that I think about it.” Erin completely ignored him. Continuing her thoughts and questions like he wasn’t even speaking to her.

Erin: “How did I get here?! All I remember is the storm and then boom. Me and my brother were transported to another fucking world!?” She looks at Sonn who was speechless. He could tell she was finding all of this out for the first time and was just recently starting to come to terms with her current situation. Or predicament rather. Moved to another world. Void of the life she once knew.

“And how do you know so much about this place? Yeah you live here, but you can’t even remember your own name yet you know all of this?”

Sonn: “I-I don’t know.” he thinks hard, remembering everything about this world. It’s history, its lands, it’s people and beasts. For some reason he knew everything except for who he was.

“I can’t remember myself. I remember the kingdoms, the names of the seas but not my own name. Almost as if someone took it from me. Just like you were taken from your home I presume.”

Erin: “You think someone brought me here? Why?”

Sonn: “I have no idea. Perhaps you’re important? Someone may have needed you here. Hell, the only beings capable of traveling through realms are nothing but myth and legend as well. Yet you sit here beside me.” He smiles at her.

Just as Erin prepared another question the wagon slows to a stop and the man turns around to speak to them in his grouchy, scratched voice.

“Alright we’re here.” He grunted

“Now go and get away from me. I don’t want my business, or my wagon, associated with an elf and some strange girl.” He watches as the two of them climb down from the wagon. Sonn comes down after Erin as she helps him off the wagon before it speeds off leaving the two of them at the entrance of a large village. It was lively. Kids ran through the streets as women congregated near the village well. Men on horses and farmers exchange waves as they pass each other. Markets are still open and running, even during the night and torches and glowing lanterns light the streets and homes of the villagers. Erin couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Like something from a familiar book or film perhaps she was captivated. A world living in a different time under very different circumstances. She forgot about her panic and stress and was in this very moment. Fully submerged in this active environment.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Sonn: “we should find somewhere to rest here for the night. Oh look there’s a tavern there. Do you have any coin Or valuables?”

Erin: she feels around in her pockets only to pull out her broken phone and with great disappointment toss it over her shoulder and onto the ground.

“Nope. Nothing.”

Sonn: “Damn well- Argh!” He grits his teeth as his injuries start to become intolerable. He’s been trying to hold in and ignore the pain since they started their journey so as not to slow them down or worry Erin. But the pain is starting to get to him and even worsen.

Erin: “If they don’t have somewhere for us to sleep then we’ll just have to find somewhere else. To sleep! C’mon you need to rest.” She firmly grabs his arm and throws it over her shoulder again and pulls his waist towards him causing him to slightly frown in pain. She helps him walk towards the tavern doors.

As they approached, they got a better view of the building. Outside it looks humble, pleasant and peaceful. Bricks and wooden beams make up most of the building's structure. Through the stained glass windows, they saw movement. Lots of people inside causing the building to burst with passionate voices from within.

Approaching the entrance, they enter the tavern through the thick, wooden door. Instantly they were bombarded by loud men laughing and hollering one another. Each one is slightly drunker and bolder than the last. Erin looks around the room to see tables filled, with the only available seats being at the bar. A woman walks past the door holding a tray carrying pints of Ale, she turns her head and smiles at the two of them before tending to the nearest table of customers.

The barkeep is buried in orders, The tavern is packed, but still manages to move quickly behind the counter catering to everyone’s needs.

It's as alluring inside as it is on the outside

Erin: “Move Sonn. Hurry.” She says to him as they step inside. Her first step creeks the wooden floor loudly and grabs the attention of a nearby group of drinkers. They turn to her and Sonn all stopping their conversation along with the next table. Suddenly the silence spread like a sickness. Awkward silence flooded and stiffened the air. tension could be felt warping and swimming through the atmosphere. She continued through the bar. The only sound was their combined steps against the hard wooden flooring. She felt all of their eyes molded to her. They’re staring at her intensely, their faces riddled with confusion. She notices that the majority of them watched Sonn. Giving him dirty looks, like they were disgusted by his presence. She moves faster, her nerves running rampid underneath her skin. Helping Sonn sit in a barstool allowing him to rest against the counter and regain his strength.

Barkeep: He clears his throat as he approaches Ering from the other side of the counter.

“May I help you ma’am?” His voice is rough and worn like he’d spent the best of his years hollering at undeserving souls.

Erin: “Yes, can we please get some food and water. And could I rent a room for the night?”

Barkeep: “Eh yeah. You can get a room. Our special tonight is stew and bread so I’ll have it sent out to you soon. That’s 15 silver for the night. I’ll cut ya a break since there’s two of you and only one bed per room.”

Erin: Sharply she exclaims

“shit. I don’t actually have any money on me right now. Is there any way I could work for the room or trade you something?”

The bar had started up again. Returning to its loud and rambunctious setting prior to the duo’s entry. The waitress walked back to the bar pouring a pint for a sitting customer near Sonn.

Barkeep: “Well in that case, I’m sorry. You’ll have to go elsewhere ma’am.”

Waitress: “Ah-ah be nice Yoseph. can’t you see the girl’s been through a lot. Let them stay one night. They can stay in my room.”

Barkeep: Sceptical to her generosity

“Alright and their meals?”

Waitress: “I’ll cover them. Put it on my tab.” She smiles at him knowing he’ll cave in and let them stay in for the night.

Barkeep: “Alright Tilda. If they break or steal anything it’s on you! I’m serious! Tell the man to hand over his blade. Customers can’t have weapons here.” He snarls at them as his waitress walks off with a smirk on her face. She untrapped the sheathed blade from Sonn’s belt and handed it to the barkeep.

The two of them sat closely at the bar and talked all night. The lively scenery helped their chemistry grow in this warm and cozy space. Despite some of the rough faces and appearances there was an overall positive energy in the air. For hours they ate, drank and conversated. Telling each other about their worlds. Sonn, not being able to speak on his own life and experiences, told her of the great and epic legends of the world, Gaia. A large world with breathing lands. The green hills stomped on by giants, the red deserts matching with dwarves. And knights protecting every human village located near the tall and pretty kingdoms. The beasts that live in the sky and the women who walk beneath the sea. This world sounded beautiful to Erin, something she could only read of or watch in a movie. A world of whimsy, myth and spectacular history. An old world with real magic trapped in a cure of time.

Sonn shared the same level of interest. Erin told him about a newly developed world where everyone was healthier and buildings were taller. Magic didn’t flow through the roots of the earth but rather in the souls of the people who walked it. Everyone has the tools to live their own way and make their one decisions without the dictation of kings and queens. Well not good ones at least. Modern medicine. All of it sounded…inspiring to Sonn. A thirst for adventures darted against the walls of his heart yet he sat still and smiled at her. As she spoke, her words slowly drifted off. All of the outside sounds of the bar were smothered.

Sonn was alone with her voice. Her diction, her confidence and her unique choice of articulation was like nothing he’d ever heard before. He knew every language on these lands and had no idea how. Yet this woman, spouting on and on about a world missing a moon, had him hanging onto every word.

Erin: A wide, glistening smile cemented on her face “Okay so, all elves have either blue or brown eyes and pointed ears?”

Sonn: he finishes his drink and slams the cut on the face of the bar counter.

“Yes! Unless they’re a hybrid or mutant. But mutants are rare.”

Erin: “Hybrid okay got that one, that’s must be what you are because your eyes are green as hell. But a mutant? What’s that?”

Sonn: “Well a mutant can be anything really. Well it’s a little more complicated than that.” He sits for a second to think of the best way to explain it.

“Mutants can be part of any race or tribe. They’re simply beings who’ve been imbued with magic. Their mind and body corrupted. Becoming something different completely. Dangerous even. Yet they could look like you, or me, or him” he points at the man steering the wagon.

Erin: “Huh, interesting. And your second moon was ‘left there by a giant’? Just plopped it up there and walked away?” She laughs and he joins along.

Sonn: “Yes, ridiculous I know. But that is the legend. I don’t know how I know it but I do.” He shrugs and drinks again. His wounds and bruises, now treated thanks to the waitress Tilda, who mended him with wraps, bandages and stitches. Her delicious meal was also there to thank for his better condition. The two of them had full bellies and cheerful attitudes. But that was thanks to the ale.

“What incredible tales do you have of your EARTH?” He says mockingly.

Erin: “Okay, so there’s this man-.” Interrelated by a large man bumping into her. He shifted past with a limp dragging around his large and sweaty body. He was a tall man, maybe about 6’5” and 200 pounds or stanking meat. He was rude and didn’t even acknowledge Erin, bumping into her so hard that she spilled her drink once he had passed.

“Shit! What the hell man! Watch where you’re walkin bruh!” Raining her voice at the man, she grabs his attention.

He turns completely around and looks down at her, even walking back towards her.

“Maybe you’d be better off sitting outside, girl. Din ye won’t be in my fucking way again bitch!” The man was quick to anger. “How dare she?” He thought. This woman was challenging his authority and he wasn’t prepared. The bar went quiet after he finished yelling. All of their eyes are fixed on them.

Sonn: “ Sir I can promise you, we mean no disrespect.” Still sitting he felt no need to provoke the man. He hadn’t done anything too outrageous yet worth Sonn raising the conflict.

“Oh yeah?! Well how about you tell yer porcelain street whore to know her place and I’ll consider not turning her teeth inside out.” He leans towards Sonn. His breath and musk wafting up into Sonn’s nose and the heat of his gut against his shoulder. His buddies, sitting at a corner table, laugh. Encouraging their big friend and causing him to grin sinisterly. Taking pleasure in instigating a conflict.

Erin: “Excuse me?” Blunt. Cold. Sturn. She wanted to hear him say it again. Her face was still and her jaw was clenched. As if on cue, a loud roar of thunder could be heard from outside, far way. Seconds after rain starts to pour down, hard. Erin didn’t notice it. But a second strike of thunder comes again, rattling the village. She’s staring this man square in his lazy eye and gets out of her seat.

“Watch your fucking mouth speaking to me.”

The man’s friends oued in response, mocking him. how embarrassed he must’ve felt, this woman challenging him once again. The man’s face folded into a frown and he raises his arm to backhand Erin. Quickly swinging his hand towards her face. Then, in the blind of an eye. Sonn shoots his hand forward, cutting through the air like a knife through butter, grabbing the man’s arm.

“ARGH!” The man hollers in pain and his friends' faces all turn in shock. From across the tavern they stood quickly. Sonn’s eyes had gone cold, the green in his irises darkened into a sharp black. His pupils, red, a deep and heavy red. He was crushing the man’s forearm for a moment, before a loud, crunchy snap could be heard. Sending chills down the spines of everyone inside the tavern. A woman, cleavage fully exposed and glistening for some reason, leaps from her wooden stool and steaks in fear. The tavern erupts into chaos. The man who attempted to hit Erin felt nothing but pain and regret. His limb twisted horribly. He felt his feet leave the ground as a sharp pain emerged in his left side. Sonn had strikes him in his ribs. A powerful blow. One strong enough to lay a grown horse into unconsciousness. One strong enough to send this man flying across the room. Crushing and destroying a table he landed on. The man laid still.

“You’re dead, you Keeb-fuck!” Yelled one of the man’s mates. They charged over. Three of them bum rush Sonn, pushing and grabbing him. They violently slammed Sonn into the bar counter. He’s unimpressed, all the men grunting in physical strain as Sonn stood there with no visible reaction. The man’s skin was tougher than a steer’s, his muscles bulging. He slowly pushes back towards all three of them, effortlessly resisting their restraints.

Erin tries to help but is grabbed by another man. He firmly grips her arms as he pulls her against his fat rippling belly. His sweat drips and flings off of his oily skin upon contact with him. She screams in surprise. This grabs Sonn’s attention. His face, coated in disgust as his eyes pierced through the souls of any villager that dared look at them, even from afar. He throws his arms up freeing himself from the sweating mits of the aggravated men.

Again he punches. This blow was almost too fast, landing against the smallest man’s face. Like a twist a loud snap could be heard as his jaw slid out of place. His neck quickly jolted along with his body. The strike carried him into the air. Landing on an occupied table.

Now only left with two offenders he looks to them. The men were even more furious. Sonn stood tall, and they ignored their instincts. Every fiber in their bodies shouting at them to run and hide from his monster. Instead, they charge at him again. Sonn kicks the closest attacker in his knee, snapping his leg in the opposite direction, the man then falls and screams in pain holding his wound. Erin was no longer angry, she fought and tugged trying to get away from this obese grunt. Worried and scared she pleads for them to stop. The sight of this irks her heart. Watching Sonn year through these men was disturbingly poetic to her. And this feeling scared her more than anything.

The other man stopped in his tracks and started to slowly walk backwards away from Sonn. With a sense of urgency, he marches at the man, grabbing his collar, pulling him closer to him and with his free arm he strikes him in the face. Teeth shooting from his cheeks, the man started to bleed. Sonn didn’t stop. He followed with another blow, and then another and another. The man had collapsed to his knees by now and had gone unconscious from the second punch. Sonn didn’t care, he kept hitting him. Damaging his face beyond recognition.

Erin: “STOP SONN!” Desperately ahead screams at him. Begging him even. It was horrific. Sonn stopped. Now towering over this bloody pulp of a man, Sonn breathes heavily. His knuckles were coated and dripping with thick claret-colored blood. He looks back at her and they lock eyes. She watched as the black and red faded from his eyes, welcoming the warm and vibrant green that had resided in them before.

Sonn: Blinking quickly. Shaking his head. He winces in pain as he feels a sharp ringing in his ears. Cutting and pinching at his skull like a migraine.

“W-What? What did I-.” Interrupted by a stool. An average stool taken to his broad back. It broke against his back and sent him to the ground. The first man, with the broken ulna. Holding the stool’s severed leg, kicks Sonn in his ribs causing him to hurl his body.

“Gah!” Closing his eyes tightly. Sonn yells in pain. The man did not care. Infuriated he takes the wooden stake in his palm and jams it deep into Sonn’s side, stabbing him. He hollers in pain.

Erin fights harder. Her eyes watering and the veins in her neck and forehead bulged. The fat man felt uneasy. Holding this woman as she yelled and stomped didn’t feel right. For some strange reason he felt as if hundreds of eyes glared at him from all around, yet no one in the room was even considering him.

Erin: Once again enraged. She stomps her foot one last time and yells at the top of her lungs

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” her voice curling the ears of everyone unfortunate to get caught in it’s reach. Once again they heard another strike of thunder. It surrounded them. The sound. It shook the tavern and scared the inhabitants, it sounded as if they were inside of the thunderous clap. A stray bolt of white lightning crashes through the window. Blinding everyone with its blazing lineage, it danced across the atmosphere, too fast for any partner. And it strikes the man in the back. Once standing over the elf in victory, now laying motionless across the tavern yet again, sent far across the room. His backside smoked and sizzled as his clothing was blackened and scorched but the single levin. The large man holding her lets go and jumps back, barely able to comprehend what just happened. The room goes silent.

Everyone was in shock. The large aggressor who seized Erin dashed across the tavern. Each step echoing through the wooden planked flooring. The rest of the customers followed suit. They all ran out into the fierce rain that claimed their village. The only ones still awake to witness this. The barkeep and Tilda the surf hold each other while standing behind the bar counter. Reassuring each other with their embrace.

barkeep: “Shit! What in the holy hell is wrong with you?! Who are you people? Killers? Someone send you here to cause trouble?!”

Tilda: “Father, calm yourself please!” She moves from behind him and around the counter running over to help them.

Erin: “Sonn!” She runs to and drops beside him as he gathers himself on the floor. She grabs the stool leg and slowly pulls it out of his side. He, of course, yells again. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fist in pain as he shut his eyes.

“I know, I know! I’m sorry!” She holds him as he starts to stand. Wrapping her arm around his back and throwing his arm over her shoulders,once again, to assist him to his feet.

barkeep: “Get out! Get the hell out! Both of you!” He pulled a large dagger from beneath the counter top and lunged around it to get to them. Stopped by his daughter she puts both of her hands against his breast.

Tilda: “Father please no! They kill them! She travels with an elf! She won’t receive a trip father! They’ll kill her! We can’t leave them stranded.”

barkeep: He thinks. Looking around in distress. All these men laid out on his tavern floor. Blood stains the wooden floors as we speak. Teeth left astray on his counter. Despite that he can’t take himself to send these two through that door.

“Hurry up! Get up and go upstairs! I’ll handle everything down here. Somehow.”

Tilda: Relieved she runs to the two of them. “Come with me. Upstairs to the rooms. You both can sleep there and I’ll nurse your wounds.”

Erin: “Thank you.” She nods at the young lady and follows her upstairs as Sonn begins to doze off leaning against her. He’s barely able to walk and blood courses out of his wound and along his tunic and breeches.

Upstairs they were led into a small room. A single window rattling thanks to the wind and rain that plague its surface. The moons’ light illuminates the room. A small bed with a single pillow and wool blanket sat beneath the window and against the wall. Beside its headboard was a nightstand. Atop it was a leather bound journal and an empty lantern beside it. Tilda gestures for them to go inside. She raced to get her tools and material to mend Sonn’s puncture. The two sat there on the edge of the bed. The only sounds were that of the rain, going pitter patter against the glass frame behind them. And the thunder. Its roars, although still loud, sounded further away. Like they were leaving the area. Traveling to another territory to unleash its wrath upon.

Erin: Looking at him. He didn’t notice, his breaths were deep and slow. She worried for him, but after seeing the scene that occurred downstairs, she also worried for herself.

“Why did you do all of that? Those men were-.”

Sonn: “Swine.” He interrupted her, his face still and with sympathy hanging from the chink of his partially opened eyes.

“Pigs and entitled, facinorous men.” He turns his head to look her in her eyes.

“He was going to hurt you.” Shaking his head in disapproval “I couldn’t let him hurt you. Not after what you did for me. I owe you my life Erin. I’ll always protect yours.” He looks away from her, fighting his fatigue and staring at the blank wall, blankly.

Erin: she opened her mouth to say something. Nothing came out. Her mind was loud but with senseless sounds of her own voice mumbling and whispering to itself. He was unsure mentally but emotionally she felt protected and secure. She has nothing to respond with. She looks at the same wall as him and softly slides herself closer to him as they sit on the bed. Resting her head against his shoulder. With a fret stair plastered against her.

The two of them sat there until Tilda returned. She patched up Sonn and left the two of them alone in that room to sleep. Placing two cups of water on the nightstand and an extra wool covering and pillow at the foot of the bed . Sonn takes them and lays them on the ground, allowing Erin to sleep on the bed alone. At first unable to close their eyes, they instead stared at the ceiling as shadows from outside performed a serenading show against it. Eventually Erin drifted off to sleep and Sonn shortly followed.

Downstairs the barkeep, on his knees, scrubbed and scrubbed at the floor with a thick and wet cloth. The men’s bodies were gone and he was attempting to clean up the mess. Tilda swept the glass and wooden splinters up off of the floor. To their surprise the tavern door swung open, slamming against the wall. They quickly dart their heads to face the door. A large and imposing figure stood there, completely filling the doorframe and casting a shadow over the two of them as another thunder strike lit the sky behind him. For a slight moment only his silhouette could be spotted in the tavern. He steps inside with a dense and threatening weight.

From beneath their sabaton, to the peak of their helm their armor was massive. Their knight’s armor,bound to their even more massive body. Their stature was that of incredible proportions. The largest person either of them had ever seen. The armor was prestigious and pure. A thick white cape hung from their back, wrapped around the gorget of the set and dragging across the ground behind them. Gorgeously terrifying, they stood there. Water droplets from the rain rolled off of the large figure. They reach their arm, slowly across their midsection, placing their armored hand on the grip of their sheathed blade and setting it on a nearby table. Again another strike of thunder and lighting, far off in the distance, illuminates the tavern. The two of them are now…filled with DREAD.