His previous sessions had been uneventful vigils, perhaps his hair tousled by wind, but nothing substantial had happened—nothing that wasn't more than just a quiet night, undisturbed and uninterrupted by other humans. This one was slightly different: shadows rushed in, tangible and unreal and not cast by anything his eyes could see. They swarmed onto the apple, a chunk of it suddenly missing like the darkness had taken a bite out of it, leaving yellowed flesh in its wake.
And then...
Nothing.
The shadows pulled back, leaving only the apple with its odd bite, and the silence with Rory's heart thundering in it. Was this-? Was Ludo here? Was—
The minutes passed in uneventful silence. Rory's heart calmed down. His brain caught up. He would not be heard today either. So he remained a little longer, before bowing his head and touching his forehead in quiet salute, and leaving the shadows and their apple behind.
And then...
Nothing.
The shadows pulled back, leaving only the apple with its odd bite, and the silence with Rory's heart thundering in it. Was this-? Was Ludo here? Was—
The minutes passed in uneventful silence. Rory's heart calmed down. His brain caught up. He would not be heard today either. So he remained a little longer, before bowing his head and touching his forehead in quiet salute, and leaving the shadows and their apple behind.
