Goodnight, goodnight

*Sota* · 10-30-2024, 10:34 AM

Sota was tired. He felt it deep in his bones, a sort of all-encompassing fatigue that he could no longer shake, no matter how hard he tried. Auster's cold season had grown far too miserable for the tiny wolf- no amount of fur blankets seemed to help stifle the cold. Slowly rousing from sleep, his body fighting him every step of the way, he lifted his head and looked to the window. Sun streamed in through the dirty window panes, just barely beginning to melt away the layer of frost that coated them.

For Sota, it'd never been hard to find the beauty in even the smallest things, and he laid his head back down and watched for a while, noting the way the frost melted into slow droplets and finally disappeared as the morning sun rose higher, fighting to warm these frigid lands.

Trying to muster up some strength, the Songa was slow to move, stretching out his limbs slowly as he embarked on one final task. Kaito dozed peacefully nearby, sleeping in a soft fur bed, and Sota crept about quietly so as to not disturb his dear friend.

He'd acquired an old piece of tapestry, and he set about his room gathering objects he'd been slowly collecting over the last few months. Everything was exactly where he'd left it, his belongings sparse but laid out methodically. Unlike some of the Hallows wolves, he'd never cared much for physical things, and his room was still rather bare bones. Just the way he liked it. A small bed lay in the corner, piled with soft furs, and a storage chest that lay open, just barely small enough for him to reach into.

He'd never even wanted a room when they'd first moved here, not really- but over the years he'd grown to love the little nest he made here, even if he didn't spend much time here until lately.

Climbing up to reach the windowsill, he grabbed a few objects from there before collecting the rest from the storage chest. Bundling up the makeshift bag, he set off, dragging it almost comically down the hall behind him.

Once he reached the staircase, he grabbed a bundle of flowers and branches as well as a piece of rolled parchment, and slowly made his way upstairs. Outside of everyone's door he left an arrangement of dried flowers, each picked carefully for each wolf.

For Bramble and Ember he left some pretty blue flowers, while Clove was left with a more personalized gift. He left a small section of old parchment he'd instructed Kaito to scrawl on, using ash from the most recent bonfire to loosely sketch out a map. He'd not forgotten she had a friend down in southern Auster, and had wanted to map out the journey there- he added a few places he wasn't sure she'd ever gone, trying his best to recall some of the places he was most familiar with. The canyon to the east, the volcano below, and the vast stretch of woods that lie between. He didn't expect her to improve upon this map, but he hoped it'd help lay a foundation for one she might make herself.

For Thorn he left a few loose twigs, wrapped up in a bit of dried vine with flowers laced between them. A symbolic gift, a reminder of the little lesson he'd given the now-fully grown wolf once he'd been but a boy, when he'd taken him to Aspen Dam.

The other inhabitants of the fourth floor received flowers, and some other dried plants he thought looked quite nice.

After some time, he made his way back down to the floor he'd always lived on, leaving similar gifts there as well. Nobody was forgotten, his efforts careful and deliberate as he arranged the gifts just outside the corner of their doorways. He was quiet, not wanting to draw attention to his little task.

Making his way slowly down to the second floor, dragging his bag behind him and down every step, he started to feel even more tired- but he wasn't going to give up yet. He wasn't done, even if these gifts felt even harder to live. For a long time he lingered outside of the room that belonged to Artorias and Briar, wondering if he ought to say goodbye to them properly, to thank them for the home he'd had here.

The truth was that he was far too tired for those conversations. He didn't want them to cry for him, nor try to dissuade anyone from finding a way to prolong the inevitable. Not when he was happy, and so deeply at peace. He hoped this display of gratitude would be enough for them especially.

Outside of their room he left a few gifts. For Artorias, a crown of thorns and flowers, woven with Kaito's help. The project had been a meticulous one, and he'd practically sensed his companion's annoyance as he asked him to so carefully weave and unweave bits of grass and vine until it was just perfect. It was a gift fit for a king, and Sota had known no greater ruler than Artorias.

For Briar, he left one of his favorite possessions, an iridescent seashell he'd collected one day exploring Hermit's Cove with Audra. Maybe she'd see that she'd left behind a matching one, and know where it'd come from. Hopefully it'd make her think fondly of the both of them.

Other rooms received more flowers, some accompanied by twigs and vines, all carefully crafted and arranged.

The last room felt the hardest. He lingered at the door to sweet Bowen's room, trying to remember the first time they'd met. She'd been so young then, so hungry for adventure- and treasure, he remembered quite clearly. He felt tears prick sharply at his eyes at the memory, though they were happy tears rather than sad ones. Here he left his most prized possession of all, an old piece of stained glass. It was sea-green, though cast a lovely array of colors when the light hit it just the right way. He'd kept it on his windowsill for so long, another trinket he'd acquired with Audra when exploring The Forgotten Isle so, so many years ago. Another gift was left there too, a piece of concrete that he'd extracted from one of the tallest towers in the castle so long ago. It was a place that he hadn't gone in some time but had often escaped to, years ago. He remembered fondly how peaceful he'd felt, looking out over the castle grounds and the plains beyond.

He never thought he'd feel so happy in all his life.

Fighting the urge to see if she might be inside, he headed back upstairs. The journey was slow, almost painfully so. By the time he reached his room he was pleased to see Kaito was still sound asleep. Sota had never felt quite so peaceful in all his life. Satisfied, he slipped back beneath the furs that lined his bed, drifting into a deep and endless sleep.

-exit via death-

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