seek shelter | day 5 { sacha/ansgar/rolf }

He actually slept last night, wrapped in dreams of fur and hairless paws. The rat crawled up to sleep in the hollow of his collarbone, a warm weight on his chest. Together the two let their souls drift for the night to the safety of Ripred's care. In that moment he wouldn't have minded if Ripred hadn't let him return to his body. That hadn't been the case, though, and in the morning both servants of Ripred woke in the same moment and shared a quick look. Stretching, they rose and assumed their positions for prayer. The rat lingered on his shoulder, small nose tucked against his neck. Fingers touched to forehead, head bent, knees grinding into hard ground. In the distance the sound of water is the only thing to disturb the silence.

Riped, once more I wake in this place of death, surrounded by the silence of all of the breaths that should have come. I am alive, as are my two allies. Our survival yesterday can only be attributed to you. Your protection allowed us to recover from the few strikes that got through our armor and past our defenses. Each of us suffered wounds, though my own were minor compared to those received by Hyacinth and Bolts. In my small way I did what I could to aid Bolts' healing. Stitching his wounds and bandaging them, I hope what help I could provide will protect him in this day. Ripred, this day is dawning dark. I sense a terrible weight in the air, as though I am breathing water and not oxygen.

In this moment a light bursts through his eyelids, the rising of the sun. The red glow is piercing and he wouldn't be able to open his eyes should he want to see it for fear of being blinded. On his shoulder, the rat drives her face further against his neck, shielding her eyes with his form. Father, you provide me with light, but I sense how the demons twist and taint it. The light is corrupt, red like the blood that has and is yet to be spilled. I take comfort in your gift of guidance and will seek to drive the devils back. I will not succumb to their influence, I will remain true to you as always.

But Ripred, Father, I sense the weight of this day settling on my shoulders and I wonder if I am ready to face it. With your light, guidance, and love, I have managed to get this far. However, do you believe I am ready for this? If so, then I shall face what is to come. You know me in ways I will never know myself, you are the holder of my life and soul and I have the utmost faith in you. At your word, Ripred, I shall stand before the onslaught and fight until you come to claim me eternally.

His companion butts her head against him, a small force of affection and the signal that he is free to begin his day. He rose, stroking her head, and turned to face his allies. Only they weren't there. The small camp site they had created last night was abandoned of everything except for himself and his stuff. He felt a small ache in his chest. They had left him, whether on purpose or not, and he had no idea why. He had Ripred still, and his companion, but his two allies were gone. He had granted them the use of his body as a shield, the use of his words as a comfort, and the use of his hands as healing. Now, they had left him without word. It surprised him how much that hurt.

The weight on his shoulder shifted and brought him back to the present. He could not spend time worrying about the vacancy around him if he was to fulfill the promise he made to Ripred in those moments just before. To keep the promise he had been giving from the beginning he would have to keep moving, keep going forward. He packed up in silence. The rat shifted to his pocket, the only company in this empty rift.

When they set out they left with only Ripred to lead their way. He would make the movements, continuing on forward in whichever direction he was guided. A flicker of silver scampered before him, creating a trail that shimmered a few feet behind the shape before dispersing into the morning air.

Eventually they came upon movement that was not their own. The rat peeked above the top of his pocket, nudging against him a couple times to catch his attention. The flicker of silver by his feet screeched and rat forward to fling itself at one of the two figures. He did not have to think at this point, just follow. Spear in hand, he ran forward to confront the foes Ripred had placed before him. In this moment he would purify and bless the land with the blood he would shed today. By Ripred's will he would be the spear the god had shaped him into.

They continue to speak, continue trading blows in words as they struck at each other with weapons. He was no longer the silent judge, but he remained quiet. Impartiality had been abandoned, but self-control had not. He held to the matter of principle, the belief that it was Ripred's will that would guide the fight and not his own.

No sooner had he offered the control of his body to Ripred again that a loud smack sound met his ears. Something was very wrong with the sound, a wrongness that went beyond the breaking of bones or the rending of flesh. In this blow there was a finality and an absence of life that left him sweating. As he turned to see what had lead to the noise, Rolf's body fell limp.

There was no hesitation, there was only the knowledge that this boy's time was over and Ripred had decreed that this last second was the moment when he would expire. Ripred, I commend this soul to you in his time of dying. Let the weight of his sins fall on my shoulders so he is light enough to soar into the sky and join you. I, bound to the earth, shall remain tethered here so the others might go free. Father, your wish is to test me, and so I shall prove to you the strength you have granted me. As the numbers dwindle, my faith in you remains as strong as ever. If I should die with the rising of tomorrow's sun then I shall die knowing it is your wish. Ripred, as I give this soul to you I have already given you my own.

Show him peace, Father, show him love. In the face of such travesty as he has been exposed to the presence of such comfort is a well-earned rest. Should I have to sacrifice my own place by your side to provide such a space for him I shall do so. My life is not about earning riches and glory but preserving you and finding the lost. So, Ripred, I offer you the latest of the lost children.

--This part involves input from Ems and thus can not be written just yet--

He kneeled a ways distant from the blood stained ground, head pressed to his hands in prayer. For all of the days he had gone hungry before, offering his food to the rats that lived in their home rather than eating it himself, he had not felt the pangs of need as strongly as this. Now, he prayed to Ripred that his days of fasting had been sufficient to warrant the gift of food.

A short way away, a small bird landed lightly on the side of the stream, dipping its beak to take a drink of the rushing water. This was his prayers answered in a matter of seconds, and he thanked Ripred profusely before slowly shifting his position. He would have to catch the bird. His training would have to serve him well here if he were to eat. With the utmost quiet and slowness, he made his move.