Shreds of an Archive

Lost in Despair

A fire lay, smoldering in its embers, like a sun taking its last breath before perishing and leaving the surrounding planet's landscapes forsaken and lifeless. Reflections of firelight against iron now just memories instead of reality, replaced by a damp cool that seeped into the ground. Vendrick, the leader of a vanguard of soldiers, went on a mission to track down and murder the last of the red wyverns from the nest they had raided just a few nights before. The seasoned veteran woke up, cracking his eyes to find them blinded by sunlight reflected by a pure white blanket of frost, which had slowly been overtaking their camp as the fire died out. Shaking the ache from his bones he got up, sword slapping in its scabbard on his hip. He and his surrounding vanguard had slept only little, the red wyrms had set a respectable pace forcing them to ride through the night more often than desired.

"Shall we ride, Vendrick?" One of his soldiers inquired

"Aye." He grunted in response, doing his best to hide exhaustion from his voice. He and his soldiers had already had several encounters with the red wyverns, each one costing more blood than the last, he lost many a sword brother. Regardless, that was ever the more reason to avenge them, and his family. Who had lost their lives in the chaos of the dark moon.

As they were riding, following large talon prints and dung piles, a dull rumbling could be felt, as if they were approaching a distant waterfall, crashing down in its splendor.

"Look up! At the Sky!" one of the rearguards called out, pointing upward with a shocked face.

"Dear god" Vendrick heard himself say. He gripped his reins tightly forcing his mount to do a full turn, causing it to whinny and rear back in surprise, it nearly threw him off but he managed to grab the horse's mane and got low to his mount, digging his heels in, riding hard. They were being chased by adult wyvern's most of their scales had already turned fully white from aging, their wings flapped powerfully, creating a roaring that could be heard clearly from leagues away.

"We must ride back to Favern, NOW!" Vendrick called out, his men didn't need to be told twice as the wyverns drew closer, all of them riding hard in the opposite direction.

As they rode, it became clear that the wyverns were clearly outpacing them, now only a league or two away and drawing closer by the minute. He also knew that their mounts wouldn't be able to keep pace like this all the way back to Favern. He tugged on his reigns, prompting his steed to a sudden stop. He called back to his men.

"With the way things are going not a single one of us will make it back to Favern" His soldiers' faces were grim, Ogrin spoke up "Well, it's not like we can fight em aye? Are we supposed to just stay here and die?"

"Nay, Misant's forest is only half a league or so ahead, if we continue riding hard we may be able to seek cover there"

"Have you lost your mind? With all due respect sir, I'd prefer my odds with the wyverns over those cursed woods" Ogrin spoke up, he saw a couple of his soldiers nod in agreement.

"If those wyverns catch up to us and we're on open land it will be a fate worse than death." Vendrick said, deadly serious. "The forest is our only chance, we will go there, and pray that the wyverns will leave for greater prey. Is that clear?" A wave of grumbles and faces filled with hopelessness was his only response. "Let's ride!"

By the time they were close enough to see each distinct leaf on the trees of the forest, the wyverns were close enough where they could feel the gusts of wind from their wings blowing hard onto their backs. Vendrick ushered his mount on, trying to push it as hard as he could to reach the forest. Then, there was a flash of red and white to his right, as one of his men- horse and all- was scooped up in the talons of one of the wyverns, and carried into the sky, his screams growing distant quickly. Everything turned to chaos. Men were killed left and right as wyverns picked them off one by one. Deep fear and despair wrenched his stomach but he kept riding

"Keep moving! We're almost there!" He yelled, not knowing how many from his company were left to hear the words. The moment he thought he was going to be mauled or crushed by a wyvern, a cool shade passed over him, an unnatural dark that shouldn't have been able to be achieved at this type of day. He had entered the forest.

After a while he realized that the sound of wyvern wings and screams around him had stopped completely, replaced by a deadly silence making him uneasy, the forest seemed to obscure his sense of direction, despair emitted from the very roots of trees themselves, supernatural and unearthly. A rustling erupted from the bushes next to him, he quickly drew his sword ready to chop whatever would be in this unholy forest. But then, a silver head popped out, the familiar one of Ogrin.

"Well met" Vendrick couldn't couldn't help but grin widely, relief washing over him.

"Well met" Ogrin responded, returning the grin.

"What of the men?"

"Lost to the wyverns, I saw a couple others enter the forest but they quickly dispersed, most likely taken by the creatures of this evil place. Vendrick grimaced, sadness replacing his relief as he reminisced riding with his sword brothers, sharing mead. Ogrin spoke up "Can I borrow your sword? I need to check something" Vendrick raised his eyebrow.

"What for?"

"It's said that some creatures here can copy the faces of your friends, I want to make sure It still has the engraving you marked on it in Dun Tellas."

"I am Vendrick, Ogrin, but if it will put you somewhat at ease" Vendrick unsheathed his sword and handed it over. Ogrin began inspecting it flipping it over to read the engravings

"What's it say?" Vendrick questioned.

"Shouldn't you know?" Ogrin replied, flustered.

"What does it say, Ogrin?" Vendrick asked again, worry blooming in his stomach. Ogrin snarled, slashing forward inhumanely fast, but he was ready for it, managing to mostly sidestep it, the edge of the blade grazing his side. He grabbed Ogrin's wrist tightly, and punched him in the face, Ogrin fell over, letting go of his weapon as blood gushed from his nose. Vendrick leaned down and gingerly picked up his blade.

"What do you think you're doing in that body?"

"Vendrick it's me! I swear, I thought you were a creature of the forest"

"I've known Ogrin for many summers, he would never draw a blade on me. Where is he?" The thing wearing Ogrins face snarled and spat at Vendricks feet. Vendrick swiftly plunged his blade into the creature's neck. Its body squirmed for a moment, kicking out and spasming in protest, then it lost strength and lay to rest. Becoming empty and still, Ogrins features dissapearing from its body until it had become a husk, something trying to recreate the complexities of a human. At that, he was completely, alone again. All of his sword brothers were either dead or lost to the forest, Favern might not even survive the wyvern attack, and he had no idea where to go. He had no purpose in life any more. Slumping to the ground, Vendrick cried a silent tear, knowing his life was over.