Hush

Jack: To Requirden with courage

'Quiet now boy.' Gypsy urged in her old frail voice. 'You and that lizard just keep watch.'

'Where are we?' Jack whispered.

'We are in the village of Sumoset, where fate has tied together two souls.' Gypsy explained.

They watched as a young elf like girl carried a basket, a baby gurgled inside it, wrapped in blankets. She quietly put it by the door of one of the homes, looked around and ran away. 'She wasn't a local.' Gypsy said quietly, 'wait here.' She hobbled out of the ferns and towards the basket, the night sky above shining moon down upon them. The village was quiet.

'What is she doing?' Jack asked.

'Watch.' Nygn replied.

And they watched as Gypsy hunched over the gurgling child and with a glowing light in her hands she pushed it gently into the bundled child, the light fading into the child, just as it had done with Hush.

'Was that...?' Jack's voice trailed off, still memorised by the scene.

'Shaya.' Nygn nodded, 'that child was dying, the girl left it for the elders to dispose of, but now, the dying soul will mix with Shaya and survive.' Nygn nodded in approval. 'A nice gesture, but can cause the soul to be divided.'

Gypsy prodded the baby in the basket hard and, as soon as it began to wail she moved quickly back to them, moving quicker than her old frail form really ought to be capable of.

'There, one done.' She smiled victoriously, then cringed as the wailing child got louder and the sound of the elders stirring followed. 'Come, we have one more to prepare.' Rather than knock her staff to travel, the old hag had them follow her through the woodlands, not far from the village.

Jack heard the sound of rushing water, at first dread filled him, was it going to be part of Requirden, perhaps the ocean of blood was here too. But as they approached, Jack could see only a beautiful waterfall, vast and so pure the air was refreshing to breathe. Jack looked around, there was nothing here.

'Over there.' Nygn pointed, it seemed even Gypsy hadn't seen what she had been seeking either, but at Nygn's direction by the lake she hobbled over and knelt down carefully over what appeared to be a rag.

'Poor thing,' she sighed, 'so young you are. How foolish to drink from the Lake of Souls.'

Jack squinted, he couldn't make out what she was holding and made to approach, only for Nygn to hold him back.

'Wait.' He insisted.

'Well you can't stay in this state can you poor thing.' She said holding the thing in her arms now.

'What is it?' Jack asked.

'A wolf pup.' Nygn said, 'and I think I know what's about to happen, so keep back or you might end up with more than just your thoughts in that head of yours.'

Jack laughed at that. 'Yeah, the irony.' He made no attempt to move though, and they watched as the hag repeated the same process she had done with the child in the basket. A light filling the wolf puppy's body and bringing life back into its form, and as it did, the form of the pup began to change in Gypsy's arms, as it's fur began to fade and human skin was left in its place. Where the pup had let out a low whimper, a child's quiet gurgle now came from its voice.

'She, she just made that into a human.' Jack said in wonder.

'Actually he's an Elfane, but its a temporary hold and it's common for the Shygurn to have wolf guardians if you remember.' Nygn explained. 'Some are gifted the ability to shape shift from their wolf form to their human form.' He hesitated for a moment, watching as Gypsy carried the baby away from the lake enough to be out of danger, before setting him down with a pendant over his neck.

'This to keep you safe until you are found tomorrow by the village.' She said to the now quiet baby. 'You are going to be very special.'

Nygn nodded, as if he too could see the baby's future.

'Who is he?' Jack asked.

'He will be called,' Nygn paused, looking deep in thought. 'Sash, and his soul's father is actually still alive, a lone guardian with a broken bond.'

'With a Shygurn?' Jack asked, watching as Gypsy pressed her finger to her lips then brought it to the baby's head, before returning back to them.

Nygn nodded, saying no more.

'Will Shaya be alright?' Jack asked, concern in his voice.

'Oh,' Gypsy said, 'she will be absolutely ridiculously hopeless.' She smiled, 'but we all must start somewhere.'

She looked meaningfully at Jack.

'You're going to send me back aren't you, to Requirden.' He wasn't asking, but he couldn't hide the anxiety he felt at being alone in a place he had to learn to call home, that was Hell.

'You must find courage, this role was meant for you. Besides, was there really anything in London for you?'

Jack hated to admit it, but she had a point, he looked away, but he couldn't stop himself from saying 'I'm scared.'

'You would be a fool if you wasn't.' Nygn offered. 'Fear will keep you focused, but you cannot build anything good from fear alone. Have courage to get through it and all will be well.'

Gypsy nodded and spoke not a word.

'Perhaps,' Jack said quietly, 'I will start by trying to create a home for me to be safe in, like what Shaya had.' He turned Hush in his arms and looked at his teddy, 'and I won't be entirely alone.'

Gypsy smiled then, her rotten teeth on full display. 'Now you're getting it, boy.' She looked to Nygn who in turn nodded and she gave one harsh stomp of her foot and staff, and Jack found himself alone, not in Enchanten but in his new kingdom. He stood holding Hush, the land before him looked like a piece from Enchanten, it was a plot of fresh green land with a scattering of ferns and a tree, so vibrant against the dull colours of Requirden, a gift from above he thought to himself as he thought of the possibilities of finally having a home. He looked down at Hush and smiled.

'At least I still have you.'

And just before he was about to turn his gaze to the land.

Hush blinked and his voice whispered in Jack's mind.

End