Woven in Shadows (agatha x rio)

Echoes Of What Once Was

Chapter Thirty-Five: Echoes Of What Once Was

The group trudged back to the clearing under the weight of silence, the pendant glowing faintly from Nessa's grasp. The forest had grown darker, shadows twisting in ways that felt almost alive. The air was heavy, thick with a sense of anticipation and unease. Agatha could feel it in her chest, the pounding of her heart mirroring the faint hum of the pendant's energy.

When they reached the clearing, it seemed smaller than before, as though the trees had crept closer, their branches arching protectively above. The sky above was a deep indigo, stars winking faintly as the last traces of sunlight disappeared. They worked in unison to set up camp again, the routine now second nature.

Agatha murmured a quick incantation, and two tents materialized before them, their enchanted fabric shimmering under the faint light. She hesitated before crafting the third, her heart pounding as she intentionally left it undone. If Rio noticed she didn't say anything, focused instead on gathering kindling for the fire.

The pendant pulsed again as Rio knelt to light the fire. She struck a match with mechanical precision, her face lit briefly by the flare. Nessa sat on a nearby log, carving a stick into a point, her brows furrowed with determination.

As Agatha watched from across the fire, her gaze lingered on Rio. There was something mesmerizing about her how her hair caught the light, how her movements were steady and purposeful even as an air of detachment hung over her. It wasn't the Rio she knew, but there were flickers of familiarity, like watching someone through frosted glass.

"Dinner's ready" Nessa announced, holding up her skewered hotdogs with a triumphant grin.

The three of them sat in a loose circle around the fire, eating in relative quiet. Nessa tried to keep the mood light, chatting about how she'd never expected to spend her teenage years in magical forests with her mother and a literal manifestation of death. Agatha chuckled at her efforts, but her mind was elsewhere, stealing glances at Rio every chance she got.

When the meal was over, Nessa stood, stretching dramatically. "Alright, I'm turning in," she said, hugging Agatha first and then Rio. She lingered with Rio, who stiffened slightly before returning the embrace. Nessa gave her a knowing smile as she pulled away, retreating to her tent and leaving the other two alone by the fire.

The silence between them stretched, heavy and charged. Agatha sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, staring into the flames. She wanted to say something, to bridge the distance that had grown between them, but she didn't know where to start.

Finally, Rio spoke, her voice soft and uncertain. "I don't remember much" she said, staring into the flames. "But I feel... something."

Agatha's heart skipped a beat, her head snapping up to look at her. "What do you mean?"

Rio's hands clenched into fists on her lap. "It's like I'm hollow, an empty vessel. But when I look at you, it's different. There's something there. I don't understand it, but it's strong." She turned to face Agatha, her golden eyes swirling with emotion, her usual composure cracking. "I don't know who you are, but I know that you're important."

Agatha felt tears prick her eyes. "Rio..."

Before she could say more, Rio leaned forward hesitantly reaching out. "I don't know why, but I need this." Her voice wavered, vulnerable in a way that Agatha had never seen. "I need you."

Agatha's breath hitched as Rio closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around her in an almost desperate embrace. Rio's head rested against Agatha's shoulder, her grip firm yet trembling. For a moment, Agatha froze overwhelmed by the weight of the moment. Then she wrapped her arms around Rio, holding her tightly, as though trying to piece her back together.

"It's okay" Agatha whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm here. I'll always be here."

Rio exhaled shakily, her fingers clutching the back of Agatha's shirt. "It doesn't make sense" she murmured, her voice muffled against Agatha's shoulder. "Why do I feel like I've lost something that was everything?"

Agatha closed her eyes, resting her chin on Rio's head. "Because you have" she said softly.

For a long while, they stayed like that, the fire crackling softly beside them. Agatha could feel Rio's tension slowly melting away, replaced by a fragile sense of calm. She wished she could freeze this moment, hold onto it forever.

Eventually, Rio pulled back slightly, her eyes meeting Agatha's. "Thank you" she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what this is, but... thank you."

Agatha swallowed the lump in her throat, managing a small smile. "You don't have to thank me."

The fire crackled softly as the night deepened, and the silence between them grew comfortable, stretching like the stars above. Agatha finally stood brushing ash off her skirt, and nodded toward her tent. "I think I'm going to try to get some rest" she said softly.

Rio watched her for a moment, then stood as well. Her movements were hesitant, unsure. She glanced toward the other tent where Nessa was soundly sleeping before quietly falling in step behind Agatha.

Agatha paused at the entrance to her tent, turning to face Rio. "You're not... going to your own tent?" she asked, her voice cautious but not unkind.

Rio hesitated, her hand twitching at her side. "No" she said finally, her voice low and vulnerable. "I don't... I don't want to be alone." She looked down, her usual sharp demeanor softened by confusion and an ache she couldn't name. "Can I stay with you? Just for tonight."

Agatha's heart stuttered. She opened her mouth to respond, but the raw honesty in Rio's expression caught her off guard. For a brief moment, she hesitated, torn between what she wanted and what Rio might be ready for.

Finally, she nodded. "Of course" she said gently, stepping aside to let Rio enter first.

Inside, the tent was small, the air filled with the faint scent of herbs from Agatha's magic. Rio awkwardly settled down on one side, leaving a noticeable gap between them at first. Agatha lay beside her, her heart hammering in her chest as she tried to focus on the ceiling of the tent, willing herself to keep her distance.

But then Rio shifted closer, her body tense and uncertain. "I don't know why" Rio murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, "but I feel... safer with you." She turned slightly, her gaze meeting Agatha's in the dim light. "It's strange. I don't remember, but I know I need this."

Agatha swallowed hard, her throat thick with emotion. "It's not strange" she said softly, reaching out hesitantly to brush a strand of hair from Rio's face. Her hand lingered for a moment before she pulled Rio closer, her arms wrapping around her as naturally as breathing.

Rio tensed for a heartbeat, then melted into the embrace, her head resting against Agatha's chest. The warmth of Agatha's touch felt grounding, calming the storm of emptiness swirling inside her. "This feels... right" Rio admitted, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

For Agatha, the moment was monumental. She pressed her cheek gently against the top of Rio's head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're safe" she whispered, more for herself than Rio. "I've got you."

They lay like that, wrapped in each other's arms, as the night folded over them. Rio's breathing slowed, her confusion and tension ebbing away, replaced by the simple comfort of being held. For the first time in days Agatha felt a fragile hope take root.

As sleep claimed them both, the tent became a sanctuary fragile, fleeting, but filled with the quiet promise of something neither of them could yet name.