Andlátkyn; Vandr Sanses unin Alagaësia

Soul Affliction

Blue flopped on the floor, blinking awake. The wind screamed through the room, GB blinking awake while Saphira stared from her corner. He leapt to his feet only to land in a heap as the tree rocked violently. Grimacing, Blueberry crawled on his hands and kneecaps until he reached the window, grabbing at the membrane before glancing back.

Eragon had left to seal up the study, GB crouching at the base of the stairs in his humanoid form, glancing up to the study and back at Blue. Please close it before anything else gets wrecked!
Right, right, I apologise.

He ended up needing GB's help staying upright as they closed it together, collapsing side-by-side and leaning against the wall.

Then Blue scrambled to his feet again at the lone scream ripping out of Eragon above them. Saphira let out a roar of panic and frustration as she realized she couldn't reach him. Both skeletons had to cover their skulls from the sheer volume and vicinity.

Saphira jammed her face into the stairs, clawing frantically. GB desperately tried to calm her down, Blue forced to teleport upstairs- he hated using that- and rush to Eragon's side as the boy lay unconscious in a tight ball on the floor.

Blue picked him up and held him, not caring about how the human was bigger than him.
"Wake up. Please. Wake up. Eragon. I'm sorry. Just wake up." He kept muttering, scared when the human didn't awaken, surrounding him in healing magic in the futile hope that it would help.

Thirty minutes passed before Eragon finally regained consciousness. Blue held him carefully before letting him stretch out on the floor.
"You okay, Human?" He quested nervously.
"I'm okay… sore."
Can you come down? Saphira asked from the floor below.
Thirty minutes passed before Eragon finally regained consciousness. Blue held him carefully before letting him stretch out on the floor.
"You okay, Human?" He quested nervously.
"I'm okay… sore."
Can you come down? Saphira asked from the floor below.

Blueberry lifted Eragon and helped him hobble down the stairs, stopping halfway due to a dragon head in the way.
Little one. She addressed Eragon, tongue catching him on the hand he'd held out in front of himself.
They both smiled, and she bent her neck to retreat, but nothing happened.

"Saphira?" Blue asked.
I'm stuck.

GB broke down downstairs first, spluttering and shrieking with laughter as everyone else joined… except Saphira.
She just snarled and heaved, rattling the entire tree in her attempts to pull free, knocking them over.
She gave up, glaring and panting.
Don't just stand there grinning like a pair of idiot foxes, help me!

GB was still howling below, until he cut short and the sound of him hitting the floor and sliding could be heard.
She hit me! He cried out in outrage.
With her tail!

I will do it again if you don't help me. She snapped her jaws.
Blueberry kept laughing, cackling really, too humored by the situation.

They eventually freed her, getting a good look at the extent of the damage she'd left behind and a disheveled GB, a tear running from the upper left of his sweatshirt and ending near the bottom at the middle.
Tail spike caught on it. He explained.
I really liked this jacket.

He took it off, standing in only a pair of shorts as he put it in his inventory. They settled on the floor, Eragon leaning against Saphira as the other two sat across from them.

"How long do you reckon it is until we must meet Master Oromis?" Blue asked, glancing from Saphira to GB.
Several hours. Go on, sleep and recover. I will stand guard.

Eragon was already asleep. Blue snorted at the sight, then faced GB. "Do you need healing at all?"
GB touched his bare ribs. She scratched me a little, nothing I can't handle myself.
Blue grabbed his hand away, investigating the wound. "I won't have you walking around with injured ribs. I may let some other things slide, but not something as serious as your ribs or skull." He explained sternly, healing the cut.
Then he noticed GB's Soul behind his ribcage.

GB. He started, not trusting his voice.
What? The skeleblaster asked, tilting his skull.
Is something wrong with your Soul?
GB blushed. Why would there be? And why you lookin'?
Blue met his eyelights. This is serious. I think there's something wrong. It doesn't look right.

GB gave him a puzzled look, then slowly summoned his Soul, Blue arranging himself between his friend and Saphira, for this was a private matter.
The skeleblaster made a choking sound, his hands flying to his face as he saw it. Blue just blanked, eyelights dead.

I'm… I'm….
Blue wrapped him in a hug, comforting his friend. It's okay. It's okay. You'll be alright.
GB trembled violently in his grasp.
I can't… Blue, I can't.. I didn't mean to- He whined, tears slipping onto Blueberry's shirt.
Yes you can. Just remember: no matter what you do, you are not alone.
GB let out a reedy wail. I can't do this!
Blue just held him, rocking him back and forth in his arms.
Yes you can. I'm right here. And any one of the others are on call if you need anyone else. Now. Let me give you a few options. Do you want to continue training with Master Oromis or do we need to stop?

GB took several deep breaths.
I- I don't know.
Do you feel you can't do it?
N-no. We can't leave Eragon and Saphira alone. They're kids.
Alright, so we'll continue as usual?
… Yes.
Anything else?
GB clung onto his shoulders with sharp talons. Can...we keep it secret for right now?
Blueberry nodded gently. We can, but only for so long, my friend.
I just need.. time. I need time.
We have time.

They sat, hugging for several minutes. Then GB's claws tightened again.
Blue, what if I die?
He leaned back, holding GB by the shoulders and looking him hard in the eyelights. You are not going to die, GB. You hear that? You are not going to die.

A fresh wave of tears welled up in the other's sockets.
Thank you.