There's No Place Like Home

As Fern lays on the border in the soft grass, her eyes keep trying to drift closed. Her body is exhausted as it tries to heal from the strange illness that had gripped the land and now has to divert resources to the open wounds on her shoulder. It is a losing battle as her eyelids once more slip downward as the pull of sleep calls to her. It promises to take away the pain and calm the chaotic thoughts that clutter her mind. With Kione staying close, Fern feels safe and she decides to sleep... just for a few moments. Letting out a soft sigh, Fern allows her eyelids to close.

However, the sound of running paws pulls her from the brink of sleep and causes Fern to blink open blurry eyes. The tired girl lifts her head from the ground, blinking rapid to clear her vision as she sees a form rushing toward the pair. When the form resolves into the Aegis of the Hallows, Fern huffs a sigh of relief before fear quickly seizes her heart. Thoughts tumble and turn as Fern how angry Artorias will be and if hates her for running away. As the Aegis approaches, the panic is quickly dashed as Fern sees concern in his fiery eyes.

Confusion settles over the wounded wolf as she tries to understand why he is not upset with her. When the giant wolf says her name, a feeling flutters in her chest briefly. Something she thought she would never find again… a sense of belonging. The questions are fired at her rapidly and her pain muddled mind tries to keep up as her jaw drops open. He… he really cares about her. When Art turns to Kione to ask who he is, Fern takes the opportunity to try and collect herself, closing her hanging jaw and contemplating exactly what to say.

For so long she hidden how she truly feels, used masks to divert attention from the open wounds on her soul. Her first instinct is to slip the mask of indifference back in place but Fern realizes she cannot hide her feels from Art. For the first time, in what seems like ages, Fern allows him to see the true Fern. Tears pool in her eyes as she looks up at the leader, hoping, yearning to be allowed to come home. With a tremble in her voice, Fern begins, “I was attacked by a grizzly bear. Kione saved my life.” Nodding her head toward the wild dog, Fern drops her gaze as she continues, “I… I had to leave Artorias. When I was watching over your brother… well the illness made me say things that I didn’t mean. He got mad at me and when I tried to stop him from hurting himself… he bit me.”

There is more to the story and Fern cannot say fill in Rudyard’s part as to why he bit her but it is a start. Fern’s left paw absently raises to rub her left cheek, remembering the stinging wounds and her stinging eyes as she fled the infirmary in tears. The wounds have healed and fur covers the light scars on her cheek, hiding away the signs of the bit. However, there is a thick scar on her left upper lip where one of Rudy’s teeth had split the delicate skin. The scars offer no physical pain, only serving as a mental reminder of her short comings.

The paw falls back to the ground as she pulls in a large breath, her panicked aqua eyes once more searching for Art’s fire-kissed gaze. Fern rushes through the next part, “I… I was very sick and I thought I was useless to the Hallows since I don’t know how to fight. I left because I thought I was going to die and didn’t want to bother anyone. I… I…” The tears that have been pooling slip free to slid down her gray cheeks as she fumbles with her words, trying hard to think of what Art wants to hear from her. She had messed up, that much she knew, but what magic words does she need to say to be allowed back in?

With tears falling from her eyes, sadness and shame written plainly on her features, Fern feels the pain in her shoulder flare. A small whimper escapes as she says, “I’m sorry. Can… can I please come in?” The last words are pleaded to the Aegis and, while Fern is asking to be allowed aid, there is also a deep, unspoken, longing to be allowed to come home.


"Fern"