In Blackened Maws

xi // confrontation

Archer didn't know how long he stood in the Lantern's light. All he knew is that he was crying, but felt nothing if not comforted. Blue light swam around his vision in gentle waves, the ground thrummed with a soothing rhythm, and the kind words of his parents danced around his head. It was paradise, that was certain. Standing before a tree unlike anything he'd ever seen or heard of, Archer knew he'd found paradise.

The gem  kept his mind from straying too far. With each pulse of the tree, he felt it glow in tandem. It burned his hand as it did so, but not harmfully. It was a push, almost, like it was telling him he had to move along before something even worse happened to Xena.

The thought of her was enough to jolt him from his relaxed state, whether it be the determination at helping her, the anger at what she did, or the guilt for how he hurt her. His feelings were mixed, of course they were, but his parents were right. He needed to help Xena, help her so she could return to her pack and help all other inks that needed it.

With a long exhale, Archer glanced back at the Lantern. His gaze traced its majesty one last time, treasuring the feeling, before he inhaled and turned back around. He had a friend to help.

The journey back through the woods took some time. Archer wasn't exactly sure how he even stumbled upon the Lantern in the first place, all he knew was that he was lost and panicked one second and then standing in front of it the next. Some fancy magic, he reckoned, but it's not like he could manipulate that.

Thankfully, that same magic spit him out somewhere besides the river he had been so desperate to follow. He felt his shoulders slacken when he finally encountered that rushing water, but tensed as soon as he realized just how dark it was. Nighttime.

Maybe it was because of the task ahead, but the shadows cut deep. In the distance, he could hear the rustling of the leaves, the sounds of animals scurrying across the underbrush, an owl from some distance. He was grateful that, overhead, the moon, full and beaming, could guide him. He needed that.

Though the path he had to take wouldn't be as bright. He turned from the riverside to the woods, shrouded, and gulped. He could save Xena, he knew that, he just had to give her the stone. But...how?

As Archer slowly crossed over the tree border, navigating his way with a delicacy that Xena specialized in more than he, he wondered what exactly he could do to even give her the stone. Hopefully, she was back to normal. All it'd take would be an apology and a mention of the Lantern and they'd probably be fine. If she wasn't, though? Archer already dealt with Xena's ink form once, he couldn't imagine combatting her again with nothing but a magic rock.

He had to do it, though, he knew he did. He could only hope for the best.

After making his way near but not at the campsite the two had taken up the previous night, Archer looked skybound and sighed. He'd need as much strength as he could for this.

With one long inhale, Archer surveyed the woods around him. With a loud call, he exhaled: "XENA!"

The forest stilled. Archer felt a chill down his spine that had him grip even harder onto the stone. He wasn't prepared, he knew he wasn't prepared, this was all so stupid-

The gem pulsed in his hand, as if offering him a comforting squeeze of its own. Archer clenched it back.

"XENA!" he called, turning to the trees and straining his ears for any sound. With nothing but the growing sound of wind, he shouted again, "Xena! Please! Show yourself! Wherever you are..."

Again, nothing but wind. Archer shivered as the breeze cooled his skin, adrenaline making his fingertips freeze. He took another breath in when he finally heard it, carrying across the breeze in such a way that he'd hardly notice it.