ACT 1: Apistefuan Sirenix

'Beneath the Stars, Before the Storm'

CHARACTERS IN THIS ONESHOT (EPISODE 3, 'Dream' PART 1):
Tiān Fēng, Human Ranger (Outlander)
Parvum Nebulonis, Half-Elf Rogue (Outlander)
Avangard-Miraille, Disembodied Fighter (Soldier)

CHAPTER: THALASSES DE MER
(1928 words)

(Note: This event takes place during part 1 of episode 3. It is not a direct continuation of episode 5.)


The night air is still, filled only with the quiet sounds of the forest; with smoldering embers casting a faint orange light on the surrounding woods. The gentle glow of twilight seeps into their campsite, casting long shadows around the flickering fire. The distant sounds of the night are filled with crickets and the soft rustle of leaves, as Fēng and Parvum sit a few feet apart, the silence heavy between them while the stars stretch endlessly above.

Fēng sits with his knees pulled to his chest, staring into the flames, while Parvum lies back on his bedroll, his eyes wide open. Both are restless after a long day of travel and their new companions' arrival; the weight of the journey ahead is heavy in the air. Parvum rolls over and notices the unease plastered across Fēng's pale face of exhaustion.

FĒNG: "I can't sleep.." Fēng whispers to himself, almost lost in thought.

PARVUM: "Fēng, you're still awake?!" Parvum whispers, only to receive a nod from him. He thought he was the only one staring at the stars above.

Fēng forces himself to give Parvum a weak smile, as he looks down at his hands.

FĒNG: "Yeah, can't seem to shut my mind off. Seems like tonight just won't let me rest.."

PARVUM: "Something on your mind? Tomorrow's trek maybe? Or WAIT! Maybe it's the fact that Zaya and Penillea kinda just vanished into thin air?" Parvum says with his curious, but low voice; before sitting up and scooting closer to him, rubbing his eyes.

FĒNG: "Nah, I'm not worried about them. They'll be back with supplies eventually." Fēng shakes his head slightly. "It's just.. something feels different, y'know? Like, there's been tension ever since they joined us."

PARVUM: "Like.. a shift in the air or something?"

FĒNG: "Sure.. almost. Like.. we're heading towards something big. Like a storm of some kind building up inside, and honestly?" Fēng turns his head to face Parvum and becomes silent for a moment. As if scanning for reassurance in his face. "I'm not sure we're ready for it.." he faces away from Parvum and stares back at the fire after seeing the concern that haunted the half-elf's face, as if he felt guilty for telling him such a thing.

Parvum began studying Fēng for a moment, before moving closer to him; his tone lighter to break the heaviness. Despite never meeting once before in the past, the two has somehow gained this unspoken bond between them. As if there were invisible strings attached to both of them, constantly pulling each other closer.

PARVUM: "You've been through a lot, haven't you? You don't have to tell me anything just yet, I get it. Well, sort of! I don't feel the whole 'storm' thing, but I've always felt that kind of.. anxiousness. The kind that makes your chest tight for no reason, right?"

FĒNG: "..Exactly. I keep asking myself, am I strong enough for what's coming? I've always had that feeling of certainty for every battle I've fought, every challenge I've faced; but now? It feels like it's slipping away.."

PARVUM: "I mean.. on the bright side, if this adventure is something big, maybe we'll get a HUGE reward out of it! More treasure, right? Maybe a crown or two? I wouldn't mind a castle, personally!"

Fēng doesn't smile at Parvum this time though, his gaze now broody towards the crackles of the fire's spirit. He can't help but think of this adventure and future travelers to be like it. Does he want the fire to respond to him? Will tears give the flames more fuel to keep burning? It illuminates the dark, and yet still dissipates with a gush of wind, despite the deeds it made in it's short-lived existence.

PARVUM: "Hey, Fēng? Don't get all serious on me now.." Parvum grins a little, trying to lighten the mood. "You've survived this long, right? And with the others leading the charge, I doubt anything's gonna knock us down! Besides, if something big really is coming, I'd say we're preettyy good and ready. Penillea's got those weird magic tricks, and Zaya.. well, I'm not sure what she does yet but she looks tough! :D"

The airbender laughs softly at his optimism, yet the weight in his voice still lingers.

FĒNG: "I wish it was that simple, bud. But it ain't the treasure, or the adventure that's keeping me up right now. It's like-" his words trailed off. "..I don't even know at this point. Like, I've always felt in control, y'know? Balanced even. But lately, I've been losing my footing; as if I can't center myself. To be honest, even I don't know why. I have no doubt Zaya and Penillea can fend for themselves, they've been doing so with their village for years. The skepticism lies in us. In me. What if I'm not strong enough to face what's ahead, y'know?"

PARVUM: "You? Not strong enough??" Parvum scoffs lightly with warmth. "Come on, you're the TOUGHEST guy I know so far! You don't just bend air, you bend FATE, man!"

FĒNG: "And how would you know that? We haven't even met before all this.."

PARVUM: "But I know you've saved SOO many people, I would've lost count! Yet here you are, still standing, still here. Kinda sick if you ask me! I mean, you literally move WIND with your MIND! And if something's really coming, if there's really bad danger that's gonna haunt us, then I know we'll face it together! And if ya start losing balance, well.. I hope you know I'll be here to pull ya back up!"

FĒNG: "You make it sound so easy."

PARVUM: "It ain't about being easy, it's about trusting the journey! We've come this far, haven't we? The world's full of surprises, sure. Some good, some bad, but isn't that what makes it worth fighting for? Where's all this doubting comin' from?"

Fēng's voice became soft, almost vulnerable.

FĒNG: "It's not just about bending air now. It's about.. feeling out of sync. I have a feeling there's a lot more to this journey than we realize. Something deeper at play, I know it! I just can't put my finger on it.."

Parvum pauses as he chooses his words carefully, his usual bravado now soft.

PARVUM: "Maybe.. maybe you're not supposed to know right now. Not everything has to be about control or balance, y'know? Sometimes, we just gotta let things happen. Trust in the journey, or whatever that saying is. Like I said, whatever it is, we'll keep facing it head-on! One step and battle at a time. And when we get to the end of this journey, we'll look back and laugh at how stupid and worried we were!"

Fēng lets out a short, bitter laugh.

FĒNG: "Yeah, that's easy for you to say, huh? You have a way of not letting things like this get to you, but I can't stop thinking 'bout all the lives we would change-some for the better, some.. not so much. What if we mess this up, Parvum? What if.. we're walking into something we can't fix?"

The half-elf's tone shifts to a more thoughtful one, frowning while doing so.

PARVUM: "Look, I'm not gonna pretend I have all the answers. I don't always think that far ahead like Miss Avangard, but you don't have to carry the weight of every decision on your own! That's why we're here, right? To share each other's load. If you're feeling out of place, then lean on us! Lean on me. I know I'm not as smart or as strong as you, but one thing for sure is that I'm not goin' anywhere. I ain't budging!"

They shared a moment of silence together. Fēng looks at Parvum, their gazes holding unspoken energy with each other.

FĒNG: "You're a better friend than I deserve, y'know that?"

PARVUM: "Damn right I am!" he exclaims with a grin. "You'd be so lost without me. And hey, we also got super-scary-but-also-cool-looking Miss Avangard with us! If things go south, I'm sure she'll have our backs. In fact, they all seem capable enough, even if we don't know their whole deal yet."

FĒNG: "I suppose." Fēng admits with a light smile, feeling a bit of the tension ease. "They do bring something new to the group, but that's what makes me anxious. I don't know what to expect from them yet. Or from any of this.."

PARVUM: "I get that. New people, new challenges. It's a LOT! But then again, maybe that's the point, right? We can't always predict what's coming, and ya can't always airbend your way out of everything. Sometimes, you've just gotta ride the storm and see where it takes ya."

FĒNG: "I never knew you  of all people are a fan of metaphors, hm?"

PARVUM: "I try." Parvum grinned widely, leaning back on his hands before his face changes into a more subtle one. "But seriously, Fēng, you're not alone in this. We're a team. We'll figure it out! Like we always do. One step at a time. And if it turns out we're heading into something crazy, then at least we'll be doing it together."

FĒNG: "I really hope you mean all that."

PARVUM: "Of course I do! ALSO, maybe Zaya and Penillea will bring back some incredible supplies that'll help us take on whatever's coming. I'm thinking super sick MAGICAL armour or ENCHANTED swords! Or better yet, some really good food! ;)"

FĒNG: "What's up with you and food.." Fēng laughs softly.

Parvum responds with a mock of the serious face Miraille always put on, earning a laugh from the airbender by doing so.

PARVUM: "Hey, don't underestimate the POWER a goood meal holds before a FIGHT! It's the real fuel for WARRIORS like us! >:D"

FĒNG: "Maybe you've got the right idea after all!" Fēng says, still chuckling.

Parvum gives him a pat on the shoulder.

PARVUM: "That's the spirit. Whatever's ahead, we'll tackle it like we always do-together. No matter how big the storm ahead of us is"

The airbender nods, feeling a bit of peace settle in his chest.

FĒNG: "Together." he says, watching Parvum head to bed before stopping him by grabbing his wrist. "And uhh.. thanks, buddy. I really needed that.."

He smirks at Fēng while nudging his arm playfully.

PARVUM: "Anytime, my man. Now, let's get some sleep before Zaya and Penillea comes back. I'm gonna need you at maximum airbending power to keep me alive!"

FĒNG: "I'll try; but no promises, aight?"

PARVUM: "Yeah.. plus, if they find us acting all emotional, they might start thinking we're soft! And I don't think anyone would want that.."

Fēng chuckles quietly at that.

FĒNG: "Right. Can't ruin our tough-guy image."

MIRAILLE: "These are moments I wish I lost my hearing." Miraille interrupts out loud for them both to hear, having no desire for anyone to commune at this moment.

FĒNG: "Ah- sorry, Avangard. We'll stop talking now." replied Fēng in a calm tone.

MIRAILLE: "Back to sleep. Lest you'll be down. For three. Whole. Weeks." she says with a threat that implied she might just be the cause of that.

As Parvum and Fēng exchange final laughs together while imagining their adventures, the weight on both hearts lightens. They settle back down as the fire dies to embers, crackling softly, casting shadows around them. For the first time that night, sleep begins to creep in, fueled by hope and camaraderie. Parvum closes his eyes, already half-asleep, while Fēng stares up at the stars, finally feeling the pull of rest. The storm may still be ahead, but at least now, it doesn't feel so overwhelming anymore.

Because for once, he knows he isn't facing it alone.