sagesurvivor | songerein inbox / overflow

[Link's been living in the dream world for nearly a year, and one might think that coming from a forest, he'd be more or less at home in this one. He kinda is, but this is a different season and while the landscape doesn't change drastically or frequently, he's managed to wander into an unfamiliar area and gotten himself lost.

He's not so worried about being in potential danger from the local fauna--he's got a sword, after all--but he didn't tell anyone where exactly he was going and isn't especially eager to find out how possible death is.

His first thought is to send out a general call for help, but quickly changes his mind and pens a message to a single person:]

Sheik,

[There's a pause after he writes the man's name while he thinks of what words he wants to put down.]

You know the wilderness outside of town pretty well, right?

I got a little

lost. Help?

[...

...

... tfw you go through the five stages of grief in just as many seconds.

Fortunately, Sheik hits "acceptance" before writing a response. This is possibly the worst possible timing for this to have happened, but there's nothing to be done for it. He can't very well leave Link out there, now, can he? (Navi you are so dearly missed.)]

stay where you are. start a campfire if you are able. i will come find you, and the smoke will make it easier to do so.

do you recall which direction you set off originally from town?

[That makes two people who miss Navi. He has tried to get her from the wishing well, but all he received was a refunded bauble and no fairy companion.]

West, I think. Opposite side of town from my house.

I've got a fire already.

good.

[That means Link probably has enough supplies already, so Sheik can travel light. He throws a canteen of water and some food in a bag anyway just in case and sets off westward, his lettering taking a turn for the sloppy as he tries to walk and write at the same time.]

i'm on my way. how long have you been out exploring, do you know? [Just how far out is he...?]

Three days almost

I shouldn't be more than a day away from town but I think I got turned around in some fog.

[He's correct, but he's been heading south instead of east, around the perimeter of the town instead of towards it.]

[oh my god—]

i believe in the future you should take a friend with you on excursions you think might last longer than a day. the link of the future would no doubt be willing, as would i.

[Look at that, he obliquely implied he's Link's friend. Isn't that something.

But Link being a day or more's travel away does increase the search area quite significantly. He doesn't revel in doing this, but... there will be a lengthy pause between this response and the next as he quiets his mind, focusing on Wisdom and listening for the ever so faint resonance of it calling to its sister.

...

... There. To the southwest, some fair distance away. Sheik should be able to get there before nightfall, at least. ... Though that also means likely a full night and then some of trying to control these damn bubbles around him on their way back to town.

Great. Just... great.]

[Sheik is most definitely a friend. Maybe not a best friend, but definitely a friend nonetheless.]

Didn't want to bother either of you. Besides, I'm used to doing this kind of stuff by myself.

[He is not, actually. Navi would be offended.]

I'll take someone else with me next time, I promise.

[He doesn't notice the locating trick, but the faint brand on his hand emits a brief pale glow in response, one he doesn't notice as he's preoccupied with collecting some branches to keep his fire going.]

think of it less as a bother, and more of an invitation for either of us - or any other friends you have made - to spend time with you. at worst, i would ask if we could plan for it on another day, if i were otherwise occupied.

[Not that he has a whole lot taking up his days here. For all his complicated feelings about how close he should really allow himself to get with Link, he cannot deny how precious he considers the time they've been given in this dream realm. That Link has the opportunity to live a relatively peaceful life... if only they could remember it when they wake.

... Focus. Now is not the time for sentimentality.]

i won't be able to write as much from this point, but i'll be there as quickly as i can.

[Parkouring through the trees unfortunately occupies both of his hands, and so his journal has to be slipped into his bag as he makes a beeline for the southwestern wildlands. Please do not get into any more trouble before he gets there, Link...!]

[This is what happens when you can count the number of Real Friends you have on one hand and also you're bad at talking to girls, many of whom you count in that small circle of friends.]

I

actually, I'll wait until you get here. Be careful.

[Fortunately for Sheik, he won't get in any more trouble (unless you count almost stepping in his fire on accident once), though he might be attempting to change the bubbles that keep appearing around him, either by trying to pop them or make them bigger. Neither is really working.]

Edited 2024-02-27 03:34 (UTC)

[Well, that's ominous. Sheik hesitates, a desire to argue the point prickling in the back of his mind, but he decides against it. If Link thinks it can wait, then... it can wait.

And wait it does, because even moving as the crow flies, it takes Sheik a few agonizing hours to reach Link's camp that far out into the wildlands. The sun has yet to set by the time he does, but the shadows are growing longer and the air colder as it slowly falls towards the horizon.

He drops from a nearby tree upon reaching the camp (on purpose this time), mildly out of breath but relieved by the sight, an apparent shower of confetti bubbles falling around his head before popping a moment later. Obnoxious, but... harmless. This is fine. He can handle this. He looks Link over as he approaches, checking for injury.]

Link, I'm here— are you alright? Do you have food? Water?

[FUSS.]

[Don't fuss over him he's fiiiine aside from being lost. No fresh injuries, but there's a small bandage over the bridge of his nose from a minor accident at his home prior to this excursion. Sheik's arrival also causes several small, very bright bubbles to suddenly appear around Link, making him briefly look like he's just stepped out of a fairy fountain.]

Hello! I'm alright--food, yes, but I'm running low on water.

[Though he should have, considering how Sheik manages to appear the second he sets foot anywhere important. At least he didn't land on Link's tent or anything.]

I wasn't expecting you until nightfall.

[It's... harder than expected to not take note of the bright bubbles that appear around Link when he sees him, a nascent curiosity for their meaning itching at the back of his mind, but— no, the less weight Sheik gives them, the better. They'll be easier to pass off as nonsense that way.

He breathes a second sigh of relief with Link's confirmation that he's okay, though he does end up staring at that bandage on his nose no small amount. What in Nayru's name...?]

I traveled light to get here faster.

[He explains, and it's not entirely untrue. It's just this is neither the time nor the place to tell Link about the shard of a god he's carrying around with him. He reaches into the bag slung over his shoulder and produces a sizeable bottle of water, which he then holds out to Link.]

Though that also means I don't have much in the way of relief. We'll need to head back towards the city proper sooner rather than later.

[Antsy as he might be to get moving, though, he... did just run for several hours straight. His legs are definitely going to feel like jelly tomorrow.]

[Listen, sometimes you just mesh badly with kitchen equipment, even if it isn't sharp or hot. At least he was successful in making food and not burning down his treehouse, that's the important part. Also important is the bubbles around him might be bright, but at least they dissipate fairly quickly, slightly to his dismay.]

Makes sense. [And he accepts the water bottle, contemplating it for a few seconds before putting it with his own satchel.] Thanks.

[It's getting darker, and he wonders if Sheik means for them to turn back right away. If they do, they'll certainly return sooner, but it also means they'll be making their way in only darkness for most, if not all, of the trip.]

Yeah...but we should probably wait until morning to go anywhere. You should rest at least a little and I think we'll be fine here for a few more hours.

[Sheik hesitates at that suggestion, a bubbly crescent moon accompanied by a couple of cartoonish pillows appearing to bob around his head as he simply stands there, quiet and considering. As they pass in front of his face, he waves them away with a mildly annoyed huff before taking a seat next to Link.]

If that is what you wish to do, then... very well. We'll leave at dawn.

[He'd like to argue that he'd be fine, Link doesn't need to worry about him, but... he'll let it go for today. Triggering more guilty feelings is about the last thing he wants to do while these damn bubbles are a thing. Sheik holds his hands out to the fire, trying to focus on the warmth seeping into his chilled fingers instead. The worst of winter might be over, but it'll still be a few weeks before it can truly be considered "warm" in any sense of the word.]

What was the purpose of this excursion, might I ask? Was there something you were looking for in particular, or were you simply exploring for exploring's sake?

[If Link was sent out here for a purpose, Sheik would like to know who exactly he can send his medical bills for the new stress ulcer he's gotten from all this.]

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TMW you see a typo in your previous tag

shhh it's fine