Blackfeather Woods Wait, so psych eval isn't a formality?

The ocean called to him next. He did not know the voice that sang on the wind, only that it was inviting him to cross the great expanse of wheat that rolled down from the red rocks; like a carpet, except every tendril was alive and reaching to grasp at him. As he tread along the hillside the earth evened out, except in his mind it was an ever-present undulation. He was made more dizzy beneath the glare of the sun; as there was not a cloud in the sky and his coat was eager to eat up the heat, Hypnos did not fare well in his travel.

He felt like he was on fire. Like his throat was full of gravel and that he choked on it, with every swallow cutting him. He was open-mouth panting by the time he saw the black smudge on the horizon and made way for it. His eyes were half-lidded, his face sagging as he sucked in air that tasted like ash. As he moved he picked up speed and soon enough his mind concocted a reason: that the tendrils of grass were whips of fire snapping at his heels.

The blackness of the forest was suddenly there, forming its way across his vision where it had been summoned. He must have traveled far, but could not remember the journey, as dreams were often incongruent. You were there one moment, somewhere else the next. 

No, but — he was awake. The fire, it was everywhere — No fire, he sighed. As Hypnos looked around he saw only the black spires of trees, the low hedges between them. He was surrounded by woodland that was so intimately familiar to him, because it was —home.

He did not know that Onyx Hollow was far behind him; he did not know how dangerous it would be to be found here, so deep within the woods.

Not me swooping in to grab this >:D

 


The corvids cawed alarmingly in the higher branches, and immediately, the Seer pulled her head up to sniff the air.

Intruder.

Eldritch took off at a slow run until she could see the man, as dark as she and Aerenys, and her footfalls returned to silence as she stopped, white eyes watching him curiously. 

As he looked around, the boy seemed confused and a little...far off.
Calmly, the Witch stepped out in front of him as a physical blockade to go further.

"Do you need something?" 

He spun on his heel but in a languid manner, as if someone had rung a dinner bell and he was just now noticing it. Behind him was more shadow but these shadows had eyes. Pale ones, like his own. It was not the first time Hypnos had been contacted this way by his own shadow and so he did not show any sign of surprise or fear; his smile grew a little bit, twitching at the corners, but that was all.

The boy murmured something incomprehensible. He spun again, and this time the shadow wasn't attached to him from beneath but standing before him, composed of the same slick shadows of the forest. Like a gathering storm cloud caught against the tines of pine wood.

Mis, she's around here somewhere. He said to himself. His voice carried whether he wanted to or not, as he could not regulate his volume. I told you I'd find her for us. The boy swayed forward, closer to the shadow, and nearly grazed the stranger's side as he sagged and then sank back again. He could not tell the limits of her body apart from the shadows.

"I'm afraid you are lost." The witch spoke calmly, watching Hypnos as he spoke of this....Mis? 
How he said he'd find her for...them...?

"This Mis, I do not know of her." El furthered, hoping he caught her hint to give an explanation. Her cunning white gaze scanned the rest of the forest for a moment before returning to him.

What do you know of being lost! He spouted next, unable to contain himself when faced with something so ridiculous. How could his shadow have any understanding of that? It followed him everywhere, it kept him company while his home burned, never to be alone. Clawing after him, drowning him.

The next words that fell from his shadow's mouth meant nothing; he did not hear them, or at least made no indication that he had heard them. Instead he was rambling and letting his own voice spill over again and again, overwhelming.

Come out, Mis! He shouted. We're home now! I told you I'd find her, she's here, and so is dad! He was pacing as he rambled, going on to lunge towards the claim's edge (away from Eldritch) and floundering a moment as vertigo swept through him. He almost tripped himself and lay flat on his chin, but at the last second swung around again, then planted his rear-end down and braced against the earth.

He looked a little green around the gills. The world spun around him — shadows, reaching darkness, everything growing white eyes. Spidering out at him with eager bark-coated fingers. Don't give me that look, he practically spat, without looking up.

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

With a slow exhale, Eldritch watched the boy, and it became clear that he was.... not delusional, but...out of touch.

Calmly she watched Hypnos fumble and land on the ground, dutifully walking over to a tree and pulling out a small bundle of poppy seeds wrapped in a leaf. Good thing she stocked herbs in random places and not just in her den.

She didn't think he'd cooperate in following her anywhere, so this was her compromise.

"Eat these. Get some rest." She ordered softly, a well-meaning yet small smile on her face.

The shadow produced something and when ordered to eat what was offered, Hypnos merely stared a moment. He knew what those were; he would have identified them in whichever reality reigned supreme. 

Eat these, get some rest. The shadow instructed of him. Those pale eyes stared and he stared back, only at the bundle of seed pods and bits of blossom. 

Eat those, get some rest. He repeated, more to himself this time, his voice closer to a whisper. Something reverent. He bowed his head close to them and gave a sniff before recoiling. Of course you'd say that. You always say that.

Hypnos' eyes slowly closed. He fought against the closing and yet that's what happened, and then slowly they opened again. It was as if he were falling asleep. He snorts a breath and his head jerks up like he's some kind of prized horse being tugged one direction or another.

Been there, done that. Try, try, try, and I go nowhere. Mother says no. He shakes his head again. Mother... isn't here, is she. Those pale eyes flick up to rest upon Eldritch's face, sharply focused there, as if lucid, finally. Mis, I didn't, I didn't find her. I didn't after all. Sorrow dripped from his voice.

She stood a silent sentinel as the youth had his fit.

The Seer was about to warn him to eat them before she forced him to, but by then he seemed to become fully lucid.

She could almost feel his sorrow as if it were her own.
Slowly, Eldritch eased herself to lie down with Hypnos.

"It's okay. You're alright, and you're safe. Maybe dehydrated, but we can take care of that." She spoke calmly, trying to sound more friendly instead of like she wasn't of this plane.

"My name is Eldritch." She smiled softly, trying to extend some sort of olive branch.

The lucidity was temporary. There would be no telltale sign of the boy shifting between the real and the imaginary, life or dream. The shadow advanced and settled beside him, he watched, but was distracted by a multitude of things. When named the shadow seemed more person than figment; the name itself made the boy chuckle as if he was in on some secret joke.

It didn't occur to him to say his own name. The darkness knew his name; it knew everything, always. While the stranger sat beside him and silence came weaving between, Hypnos finally felt his racing heart settle a bit.

I knew the fire was only in my head, Hypnos claimed. I knew the forest was safe. I knew it! But he was speaking of a different place. The boy drew in a deep breath and was quiet, studying what he found there. It wasn't the smell of ash and fire; even the shadow had a scent, a warmth. The gods wouldn't... wouldn't hurt us, they love us.

That last sentiment lacked conviction. He sounded more like a child pleading in favor of a concept he barely grasped. Those pale eyes watched Eldritch. Where is mother?

Immediately, the woman felt sad for the boy. 
He was clearly lost, in her eyes, and it pained her when she had to answer his currently last question. 

"Your mother isn't here...I don't know who she is, or where. I'm... 
I'm sorry." Eldritch sighed, looking upon the young man with sympathy.

Your mother isn't here— the shadow declared; the boy did not hear the empathy in her voice, did not see the look that crossed her face. He barely heard anything beyond those initial words.

He was shaking his head. He was shaking all over, actually; a rise of emotions that shuddered through his skin and down in to his bones, as if he might not stay cohesive in this physical world for long. He grit his teeth and ground himself in to the dirt, writhing there.

No, no no no — no— if mother wasn't here then where was she? Where was father, or sister? How could he be here but be alone? This wasn't right!

The boy didn't seem to take this news well. At all.

As he trembled and writhed, Eldritch felt pangs of sadness for him.

"Shhh, it's alright, you'll be okay. How about we got you something to eat, yeah?" The witch smiled softly, warmly, in an effort to make her newest guest feel better and hopefully more at ease.