Search Party (Open)

[Volkin]

Volkin frowned at Caramon's words. He was being made to leave but did not know why? He felt a brief moment of worry for his friend but he would let it go. Caramon did not need him worrying after him like some sort of nursemaid. He was grown man and could take care of himself, at least in that way.

He watched as Caramon flew off, his worry extending to his parents. Volkin was sure they had found cover from those creatures, assuming they were still alive, but he could not help but spend the night having nightmares of the sky falling and his mother and father being gobbled up.

It was just a little past dawn when Volkin awoke and looked upward to find Caramon floating around. He seemed to be asleep and Volkin, not knowing that Caramon had slept most of the night, decided to resume his search and allow his friend a bit more sleep.

He hopped down out of the tree and made his way over to the ruins again so that he could orient himself in the direction his family had last been spotted in. Once he was certain of the direction, he began walking with his eyes open for even the slightest sign of them.

[Caramon Zero]

I awaken as I spot Vee moving on his way and slowly follow.
Since he doesn't need me to carry him at the moment, I just watch out for him from above, on the lookout for any signs of danger.
I see something moving near him and I land next to him to inform him of it.

Vee, something's over there, on the right.
There's a chance it's your parents, but from up there, it didn't look like something from the races I've seen, but there's a chance your parents aren't in their human forms, isn't there?[/b][/color][/size]

[Volkin]

'It's worth a look' At this point he was willing to check out just about anything that might be what he was looking for. He doubted that they would find them now, however. If they were alive they were long gone by now.

As he stumbled upon the movements he found that it was several carrion fowl that had gathered together. "Shoo, get out of here." He swatted the birds out of the way and glared at them as they flew off.

Once Volkin looked down to the body that they had recently started pecking at, he froze in his tracks and his eyes went wide. After a few seconds his knees went out from under him and he landed on his elbows with his head to the ground, bowed in front of the body of an older male weasel. There was no sign of a female anywhere nearby and it looked as though the male had died at the hands of some sort of predator.

Although Volkin was visibly shaking he made no sound. He just stayed there with his head down and covered by his arms, curled as closely as he could be to a fetal position with his knees on the ground.

[Yeah, I've been rolling dice for every round of searching and this is what they came up with. The dice are jerks.]

[Caramon Zero]

I fall to my knees seeing yet another soul I was unable to save that I possibly could have.
I continually pound my fist into the ground so hard that it makes deep cracks start to form.

Dammit all to Hell and back!
If only I'd come sooner, this might not've happened!
I could've saved him!
Dammit![/i][/b][/size]

After I calm down a bit, I walk over to Volkin, pick him up, and set him on his feet, not even trying to hide the tears streaming from my eyes.

Hey little buddy, it's my fault we didn't make it, so if you're gonna blame someone, blame me for not showing up sooner.[/i][/b][/size]

I set my hand on his shoulder and try to make him feel better.

Vee, I'll help you bury him, then we can go search for you're mom, alright?
Your dad wouldn't've died for any reason but to defend his wife, so I'm sure she's alive somewhere.
I'm not trying to sound cold, but there's a chance we can save her, so we'd better hurry and give your pops a proper burial so that we can go find her.
Sound good little brother?[/i][/b][/size]

[Volkin]

Volkin shook himself away from Caramon, spinning around to face him as an unexpected anger welled up inside him. He was not angry with his friend so much as he was with himself and the one who had done the act but it was Caramon who was right in front of him at the moment.

"Don't even try to take the blame for this! I don't care if you're just trying to make me feel better or if you really think that you could have made a difference but it was me who sent him out this way, it was me who took hours to call for help, me who stumbled around the woods in a panic when I could have been doing a sensible search, do not even try to say that you had anything to do with this!" How was it that words that were supposed to comfort could sound so harsh? His throat hurt from screaming at him and there were tears welling up in his eyes.

Volkin turned his back on Caramon and walked over to his father, scooping him up in his arms and heading toward their old home. "He was really sick. If anything mother would be defending him. If she's not here that means she was either carried off or high-tailed it." To Volkin there was nothing wrong with the idea that she left her dead mate behind to save herself. What point was there to getting yourself killed defending a body?

When Caramon mentioned helping bury his father, Volkin just shook his head. "No, this is my responsibility."

[Caramon Zero]

I follow him on foot with my head hanging low, as I had only made matters worse for him, but I have an idea as to how I can make it up to him, yet even after we arrive at our destination I'm unable to say a word, just try to decide if I should go through with what I wanted to say, but didn't have the heart to say until he could have time to calm down.

[Volkin]

Volkin looked around the area to get his bearings before setting off in the direction of his old home. He knew that was where is father would want to be buried. It did not matter to him right now if Caramon followed him or not, the burial would be his responsibility and his alone.

As he was walking he stopped at one point to pick up a stick large enough to start a hole and further along the path, closer to his home, he found a long, flat rock that would serve its purpose nicely.

Once home, he set his father down gently and began using the stick to start a hole, placing the tip of it against the ground and dragging it toward him over and over again to make first a rut and then gradually start expanding it outward. The hole did not need to be too large, weasels were small creatures. All the while the tears still silently fell. He could not allow himself to give in fully, not just yet.

[Caramon Zero]

I decide that whether he hates me for it or not, I'm going to help him somehow, and when he's through, I'll tell him exactly what I've wanted to do since I saw his father's body laying on the ground.

I find some wood in our vicinity and I carve in down until it's flat on two sides, then i cut my hair and I begin fastening the pieces of wood together with it to make it into a makeshift box to fit his body.

As I'm working I talk to myself.
Well, since he raised such a kind-hearted child, he must have really been something, so the least I can do is help his son give him a proper burial.[/i][/b][/size]

I return after completing what I was working on and I set down the box next to the old weasel's body, then I go out and find some large stones to use as a headstone for him.

I can feel how Vee does, as I'd lost both of my parents around his age, so it might give me a chance to to say some words at his father's grave, and also make his old man a promise that I believe would be the best for Vee.

But it'll have to be his choice when that time comes.[/i]

[Volkin]

By the time Volkin had finished digging the hole there was very little of his own skin or clothing showing. Between the blood and the mud he was little more than shades of brown and red mixed together to form one very ragged looking Minish.

He looked over to his friend as he brought the box and nodded once. "Thank you." His voice was hoarse, strained from having screamed so much the day before and from having cried so much today.

Volkin carefully laid his father into the box before placing it in the ground and staring downwards. "I'm sorry." He whispered before getting ready to throw the first handful of dirt into the hole. "...I love you, father."

[Caramon Zero]

I nod as Vee thanks me, then after he sets his father's body in the box, closes it, and puts it in the hole he dug, I set the stones I selected at the head of the grave and I finally notice how Vee looks right now and I wonder if that's what I'd looked like when I'd buried my own parents.

I grab a handful of dirt after Volkin drops the first one in the grave and drop mine in as I speak.

I wish I'd gotten to know you, but I can tell from your son that you must've been a kind and loving parent for him to mature as he has, and I'd like to assure you that I will take care of him and protect him with my life.[/b][/color][/size]

I help Vee fill in the rest of the grave and stand in front of it, ready to ask Vee what I'd thought would allow him to understand why I treated him the way I did.

Hey Vee, you know I can be an idiot sometimes, and you know that I'm stubborn, headstrong, and too kind-hearted for my own good, but since I couldn't help save your folks, I thought I might as well do something for you.

Vee, I'm sorry, but now it seems you're just like I was so many years ago.
I did the same thing you just had to do, but this time, you don't have to go it alone, because I'm here for you.

What I'm saying is that we orphans gotta stick together, and just in case we can't find your mother, I'd like to adopt you.

I know it sounds weird, but you're a good kid, and I don't want you to go sour like I did.
I walked a road of Pain and Hatred for many years before I became a Pirate, and even then I had so much darkness in my heart, but now that I've grown up I can see the world in a different light, and I hope to allow you to avoid all the pain and hate by my being there whenever you need me.

I'm sorry if you're mad at me, or if you're thinking "This guy's out of his mind", but I just wanted to say both "Thank You" and "I'm Sorry", yet couldn't think of any other way to do so.[/b][/color][/size]

[Volkin]

Volkin took a step back, a look of surprise on his face whenever Caramon offered adoption. "Car...no...I can't." He shook his head and looked down at the grave. "He is the only father I will have and besides, I'm far too old to need anybody else in that position." Volkin turned to face the grave again and lowered his head with his eyes closed.

After a while he slumped into a sitting position and ran a hand along the top of it. With his father gone his mother would have likely fled the area. If she was alive she was far from here by now and he would just have to wait for her to find him. Eventually, after a good bit of thinking, he took a deep breath and spoke. "I have always wanted a brother."

[Caramon Zero]

It seems to me that Volkin finally understands why I even brought that up.

I sit next to him and I wrap my arm around his shoulder.

I wouldn't have it any other way... little brother.[/i][/b][/size]

I turn to the grave and set my hand on the other side next to Vee's.

Don't worry Dad, I'll take good care of him, and Mom too.
That way you can rest easy.[/i][/b][/size]

I stand and smile down at the grave while I cry the happiest and saddest tears I've ever cried in my life.

I turn to Vee with my crying smile, my voice broken up from not only the joy of gaining a brother, but also the sadness of losing a father again and seeing my little brother all muddy and bloody.

Would you like to stay here awhile longer little brother?
I'm leaving it up to you, since you need to decide what you're going to do from now on of you're own free will.[/i][/b][/size]

I walk over to a nearby stream and fill my helmet and armor with water and give them to him along with a small bag filled with some cleansing herbs I'd picked by the stream.

Vee, you're filthy.
Here, use this to clean yourself up.
You did a good job, it's what Dad would've wanted, and I'm sure he's proud of you, so the least you can do for him is clean yourself up before you get a bad infection, because I can't use my sword's healing magic right now.[/i][/b][/size]

I walk to a tree next to the grave and sit down against it, then I look back at Vee.

I've never told anyone else this, but I know I can trust you.

I left home right after I buried my parents and sought out my revenge, so I know what it leads to, and if I'm going to be like a brother should, then I should at least tell you some of the things that happened to me when I was your age, but if you want, I can share it with you some other time and we can stay here a bit longer.
Like I said earlier, it's up to you where we go now or what we do, I'm just going along for the ride.[/i][/b][/size]

I smile at him one more time before I lean my head back and close my eyes, the smile still on my face.

[Volkin]

Volkin handed the soap and water back to Caramon and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I'm not hurt." He remained sitting beside the grave and closed his eyes, just thinking back on the times that he and his father had spent together.

"I'm not going to look for revenge. He was killed by a predator, that's what predators do, they kill for food and to protect their lands. To hate them for acting on those instincts would be to hate myself; I'm a predator just as they are." He shook his head and looked to his new brother before looking back at the grave. "It is just a part of life. I am sad for him to be gone, but I cannot blame what did it for acting on instinct."

[Caramon Zero]

I understand Vee.
I was one once as well, long ago when I lived in the Faron Woods, killing to stay alive.
Looking back on it, it was one of the only times in my life I could truly say I was scared, the other being when I thought I'd lose those I'd come to call my family.[/i][/b]

I look down at my feet, almost crying from the memories, and then I feel a drop of water fall on my face and look up at the sky as it begins to rain.

Well little brother, do you want to take a flight around around Hyrule to clear our heads a bit?
This is the best weather for it if you're willing to come along.
We may even be able to find Mom someday, but for now, I'm your brother and your guardian, so just tell me where you want to go, and we'll head straight there.[/i][/b]

I smile at him as my hair begins to fall into my eyes, soon forcing me to resort to putting my helmet back on so I can be able to see.

[Volkin]

Volkin shook his head and looked over to Caramon. "I don't think you understand. There is a difference between being a predator because you are and being a predator because you have to be. I was born one, you became one briefly because you had no choice. It's different." He understood what Caramon was doing, how he was trying to relate, but it just wasn't the same.

He looked up to the clouds and smiled a little under his face mask. Volkin had wondered how long it was going to take for the sky to open up. "No, I think I'm going to walk. I'd like to be alone for a little while." He slowly got to his feet and clasped his hands behind his back with his head bowed as he began saying his last goodbyes.

[Caramon Zero]

Vee, I understand.
I'll wait here until you return.

I wanted to make something for Dad anyway, so you'll be able to see it when you get back.
I'll be under it after it's completed, so you don't have to go looking for me when you're ready to leave.

Oh, before you go, take this, I don't want you catching a cold, and I don't think Dad'd want that either.[/i][/b][/size]

I remove my helmet and hand it to him, not giving him a chance to protest as he leaves.

I go into the small thicket and begin gathering wood and stone to build a water shelter for Father's grave, just as I'd done for my parents when I'd buried them.
This time though, I take what's left of the old armor I'd made from parts of my old home, that I'd also used to make a water shelter for my parents graves, and incorporate it into his shelter as well.

After a while of working, it's finally finished, and I rest underneath it admiring my work.

This should hold for a good long while, and I guess I did better than I thought, since I don't see any leaks.[/i][/b][/size]

I sit underneath the shelter and sneeze.
I can't help but laugh as I jokingly talk to myself.

I guess I should've kept my helmet.[/i][/b][/size]

[Volkin]

Volkin walked away from his home and made his way down toward the lake with the helmet in his hands. He tried it on briefly but found it to be far too big to be able to see out of it properly and so he just carried it and let the rain run down his head and back. It felt nice, letting the rain wash the mud and the blood of the past day away.

About halfway to the lake he found tears coming though again. He had left home to get away from his parents but having lost one of them he was finally starting to see just how much they meant to him. Volkin had resented their guidance, as many young people do, but was now starting to see why they did the things that they would. This did not mean that he would live by what they wished for him, but it gave him a deeper respect for them. Once he was by the lake he took a seat and stared out over the water with Caramon's helmet beside him and his knees hugged to his chest.

[Caramon Zero]

I look up at the sky and decide that I'd best go for a flight while the storm's still here, and I fly towards the Lake, seeing Volkin below, but not saying a word as I fly overhead trying not to be noticed as I cry in the rain.

As long as I'm alive, I won't let Vee have to be alone.
I know he's popular with the girls and that he's a great kid, but I still feel worthless since I can't do a thing to help any more than I said I would.[/i][/b][/size]

I don't realize what I'm doing while I talk to myself, but out of the blue everything goes white as I'm struck by a bolt of lightning and crash into the water below.

[Volkin]

As he was watching the surface of the lake he happened to catch some movement out of the corner of his eye and he looked upward to see Caramon flying in. He began to slowly make his way to his feet, figuring that he had taken too long and the other had gotten worried about him.

Volkin saw the lightning just before it hit but it was too fast to call out a warning. "NO!" He dove into the water and started swimming with everything he had, heading for the location where he'd hit the water.

[Caramon Zero]

I look at Vee as he comes towards me and smile before everything goes black.

Luckily, I hit the water with Light in my hand, who absorbed enough of the wildlife's energy to keep me alive, but enough to keep from harming them.

I have a strange vision of a large building rising out of the sea.
As I come to, the building disappears.

What was that just now...?
A vision of the past, ...or of the future...?

I look over at my savior and smile.

Thanks little brother, I don't know what I'd've done without you.[/size][/i][/color]