With or without you [cont]

For a single perfect moment, Caiside feels whole, his body weightless, floating. He is where he belongs, beloved and powerful. Then his body, and his heart, drop from the sky. His wide eyes stare at the water, rushing up to meet him, and he desperately tries to turn, to catch sight of the creatures who have tricked him. He doesn’t twist fast enough, hitting the unyielding water like a stone and- Snapping up, moving so quickly he feels his body cry out in protest. For a moment, he can do nothing but grab, a frantic hand grabbing at his chest to ensure he is still in one piece. The other hand is full, Caiside furrowing his brow and looking down at the mushroom clutched in his fingers. Why does he have a mushroom? The memory of the shrine, and the strange blooms at his feet come back to him, a wordless rage growing in Caisides chest as he stares at the fungus. He was supposed to be getting somewhere. With a scream of irritation, Caiside rises to his knees and throws the mushroom as hard as he can, doubling over afterwards and pressing the butts of his hands to his eyes. He stays like that for longer than he would ever be willing to admit, then slowly rises to his feet again. Leaning down to grab the broken wreath of thorns, he looks at it blankly, then gently puts the mess of stick on his head. Choosing a direction at random, Caiaide shifts into his elk form and starts walking, hoping to find some kind of civilization before too long. Caiside You know how it goes, this story’s been told again and again A love, pure and light, that makes stars align Well that’s not the case here