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Destiny 2

Discuss all things Destiny 2.
Edited by ShadowheartMC: 9/19/2022 6:13:52 AM
6

The Arrival

Pg 156 [b]Queen of Nothing XIX. The Arrival[/b] The fear is palpable. As thick and suffocating as the black pyramid hanging ominously overhead. Her first instinct is to go to him. Comms buzz and fade, the icy moon quakes beneath her feet. Panicked eliksni bump and jostle against her from all sides. She feels as though she’s wading through a swamp, the water slowing her, weeds tangling her legs and feet and pulling her down, down into the deep— Seeing Variks is like breaking the surface. Taking in a lungful of sweet, beautiful air. But she finds him unresponsive, withdrawn, hidden within himself. Her heart sinks once more. He can’t see her. Only the dark mass that splits the sky just as it did on Riis. Reaching out for him, she rests her hand on his, and feels him trembling. “No…no…no…” She barely makes out the words rasped hoarsely under his breath. Things could always get worse. But Shadow can’t imagine anything worse now. Was a second collapse imminent? Surely the guardians would stop this? Her fear sharpens when she thinks of Zavala, Ikora, the city that was her first family. [i]Could[/i] they stop this? As she watches the black ship cutting through wind whipped snow, she wonders if Mara’s plan is somehow still in motion and for a brief flicker of a moment, if Petra is with her. Funny how fear could conjure up such feelings. Shadow breaks her golden gaze away from the darkness to instead rest on Variks. What must be going through his mind? His eyes are more haunted than she’s ever seen them. Was he still hearing their screams? Smelling the smoke of burning villages? Was he seeing the pyramid blotting out the light of twin suns instead of a single one? Surely the looming darkness had re opened the oldest and deepest of wounds. He does not respond to her touch and she can’t listen to his labored breathing for a moment longer. “My love,” she chokes out, gently yet firmly turning him away. Though even as she breaks his gaze from the pyramid, he does not return to her. His eyes see horrors she cannot. Stifling her own fear, the cramping pains of anxiety twisting her belly, Shadow guides her distraught mate inside. It takes all of her strength. “It’s going to be okay,” she says. It’s what she wanted him to say to her. “The sun still shines,” she persists, recalling his story of the ships bringing a gale of destruction and darkness. Finally, he wheezes a distant response. “For now.” Shadow hurriedly retrieves a blanket of warm furs, wrapping it around the old scribe’s shoulders. She remembers how he watched the Great Machine disappear and swallows hard, so deeply agonized that she could not stop the memories. Stop the pain. She would give anything. “It’s alright,” she says again, soft, gentle. “I’m here. I will protect you and your people.” It’s a worthless promise in the face of the darkness but she knows she would go down fighting for them without hesitation. Blinking, Variks extends a hand for her now, his eyes wide, like he’s finally seeing her again. The hunter lets out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and throws her arms around him in relief. Her mate returns the gesture, his hands digging into her back and pulling her tight against him. Inhaling deeply, he draws in her scent, as if she’s the only thing keeping him from falling over the precipice of sanity. Her arms tighten around his shuddering body while she presses warm lips to his neck, tears stinging her eyes. She wants to ask him what’s next. What’s going to happen. Even when doubtful, Variks’s role in her life had always been one of leadership. Now, he has no answers. There is no calming, reassuring voice. No quiet thoughtfulness followed by a confident conclusion. Just an old man, exhausted and overwhelmed by the haunting memories of his past. Fearing what’s to come. “I’m here,” she says, it’s all she can think to say. “I’m here.”

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  • Edited by IronJak24: 9/22/2022 5:18:37 PM
    I’m just wondering when The Guardian is gonna show up and blow everything to hell. Sweet story so far

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    • The title reminds of the interesting story of a past season I enjoyed, you write wonderfully Shadow...

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      • Tried reading this from the bottom up. Surprisingly works well both ways.

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        RingLeader77
        RingLeader77

        Thus we came forth to rebehold the stars - old

        [quote]Panicked eliksni bump and jostle against her from all sides. She feels as though she’s wading through a swamp, the water slowing her, weeds tangling her legs and feet and pulling her down, down into the deep— Seeing Variks is like breaking the surface. Taking in a lungful of sweet, beautiful air.[/quote] This is one of my favorite parts. You mentioned how much extra study you did to make this scene accurate and you more than succeeded! The callbacks to the fall of Riis, Variks being lost while having to live the experience a second time, all very very good. It's all at once sad and sweet that Shadow has to be the one to drag him back from the brink.

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        • First! Your ability to write emotion and love is incredible! Two thumbs up!

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          • Great as always Shadow! Always nice to see your posts :)

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