For all he had been through, nothing had quite prepared him for seeing Virgil age so quickly. Looking at him was like facing his own mortality; his friends grey nose and tired face an example of what is to come. They stood beside each other, Dag holding his head across his friends back and supporting the weak ankle Virgil had come to suffer from. His whole body was warn, but in a wild way. Not tired and broken, but weathered from places Dag could only dream of and never tread.
He had lived.
And for just one more time, the two great stags climbed Red Hill to spend time with each other. Though Dag didn't know it would be the last time. Surely the reason he had come home was to live out the rest of his days among friends.
Let him be with us a little while longer.
The sun set...
And the brothers sat next to each other side-by-side.
In the comfort of his friend, Dag fell asleep.
When he awoke, it was the dead of night, and he was alone. He scanned his surroundings, but nothing.
Not a soul.
"... Virgil?"
"... Virgil! Answer me!"
He could hear his heart in the unforgiving silence. Not a thing moved. Not a single living thing answered his calls.
"Virgil!" His voice barked, pleaded as he ran in short spurts, changing direction and not knowing where to go. He looked to Red Hill and leaped down into the valley.
"Virgil! .... V-"
He stopped.
An area of pure blackness darker than the landscape caught his eye and had him frozen to the spot. He could just about see the pattern of a body, then of antlers. The giant swallowed and went to call again, taking one step forward, but stopped himself and shook his head.
"Not now."
It couldn't have happened now. He'd just come home, and not everyone had come to see him yet. Virgil wouldn't be selfish and just leave without seeing them - he's not like that. He's just sleeping... he was tired and didn't have the energy to get up the hill, that's it.
"... Virgil." Dag drew closer to him and took command over the Red's name, "Virgil wake up... Y-You can take me on your patrol, remember your route?"
No answer, and Dag's eyes well and shine in the moonlight of the clear star scattered sky.
"No." His voice cracked as he shook his head again, a heavy heart sinking lower until he came to his knees at the body of his dear friend.
He repeated this word over, and over... and over. Tears streamed down his ashen, grief-stricken face as he leaned forward, burying the bridge of his nose into Virgil's mane before letting go and crying for solace. For Gods to have his heart beat again. For his brother to wake up and make fun of him for crying, because it's all a big, cruel joke. But all he could do was move closer and cradle him... the warrior looked and felt so small. It was like it wasn't him. Dag didn't know what to do, how to process the death of someone so close to him. The closest. A face he had once seen every day, a statue on the hill that was part of the landscape. He couldn't bear the thought of not seeing him anymore, not hearing his call.
Please come back.... Please... I'll do anything.
When the broken giant had calmed down and the quiver in his voice had settled, he spoke in whispers to his friend. At first nothing came out, words here and there that made no sense only to describe how heartbroken he felt. Like the world had been taken from under him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't always there for you... Brother. I'm s-"
He closed his eyes to let the last tears roll, and embraced the fallen stag for the last time before standing up.
Iaurdagnire climbed Red Hill and looked up at the stars, then out into the forest.
He roared. Howled. Sang until his throat was sore and until every note of pure, unbridled sadness and fury at his Brother's fate had ripped from his throat and woken everything in the forest. The haunting sound of a Fortress demolished.
The forest would know what it had lost.
The forest would know how that loss brought a war-torn beast to its knees.
The forest would know his name and never forget it.
I'll never let him go.
Do you hear me, old man? You will live, because you are loved.
It's not much... but I don't
Cue more crying! ._.' Argk.
Argk. That is so sad. So well brought though..
I lack the proper words..but
In a heart-wrenchingly wonderful way.
I really love how you told the story - and the music fit right into all of it.
I'm in tears, once more. ;_; ♥
The emotion in this is so
I'm glad we knew Dag, Dag was a very significant figure to Vir too, a very dear friend and brother.
Thank you so much for this. ♥
Oh my goodness, Dag. I was
Fuck man. I didn't cry, but
Emotional story, Dag. Seriously. This is amazing. I feel so horrible for DeerDag.
Such strong emotions.
God..your writings make me
I feel so bad for Dag; but this is so fitting for Virgil.
I wish I had more words to say about this amazing work. Hng...
Again, may Virgil rest in peace. ♥
Thank you very much everyone,
I know I'm super late for
It was written so strongly. It was surreal, how the music ended, the moment I finished reading that very last word. What a beautiful tribute, Dag. <3
I think I died inside TT_TT
You're a really good writer, and I know I'm late on commenting on this as well, but I'm happy I managed to come across such an epic piece of literature.
Awh thanks you two! I had to
Thank you for reading it - late or not, I appreciate it! (:
No words, my heart hurts.