Sojaveña Wilds Brisa's Cabin

[Weazel]

“Power I couldn’t control?” Archie repeated.

He took a few steps to the side, to better get a look at the plant Nova was watering. The Dewott held out a paw, and called some of the sprinkled water to him. It collected into a sphere above his paw, and he focused on holding it there for a moment. He’d known other Water Types who were much more adept at focusing the energy for their attacks at places other than their mouths. He more or less did the same with his Scalchops. But without his shells for a focus, it was much more difficult to hold it in place without firing it off. Even focusing as he was, the little ball of water shivered and writhed. Every so often, a little bit of Shadow energy coursed through it, dark shapes within the ball.

“I guess, eventually, I’d die,” he admitted, overturning his paw and releasing the energy holding the water in place. It splashed down between them. The Dewott realized he didn't really have the energy to work himself up anymore. Instead, he just felt so very tired. “Either from the loneliness of isolating myself, or… Someone else, would come to put me out of my misery.”

 

[Ambyssin]

Nova saw the shadowy flecks and tried to keep his expression neutral. "And if you couldn't isolate yourself? If some... primal instincts drove you to places where there are people?"

 

[Weazel]

“Then I’d kill myself,” the Dewott said confidently, “Assuming someone else didn’t kill me first.”

He stared into the Graydian’s eyes, wonder if that was the answer Nova expected, or wanted.

“I hear the screams in my nightmares, Nova. Even now, after all this time, and every memory regained is a fresh horror. Being the sole survivor is a fate I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” he shook his head, “I won’t do it again, I can’t. If the option is me or the world, I’d rather die to preserve the world.”

 

[Ambyssin]

"I see."

Nova continued to quietly water the shrubs. Dribbling water across dried out branches and leaves.

After several seconds of this, Nova spoke again.

"I'm going to die when we return home." He sprinkled more water over the shrubs. "That's what the Comb showed Mhynt." He brought his leg back down. "The option... was me or the world. And I chose the world."

 

[Weazel]

“… I see,” Archie said.

The Dewott’s shoulders slumped. What else could he say? Nova didn’t need reminded of the unfairness of life. The cruel joke of it all. They were all going to go home and forget about this whole adventure, except the people who were going home just to die. Why did this keep happening?

“I’m sorry,” he said, simply. “I guess, I’d hoped that maybe fate could be changed. These days I’m not so sure it’s possible.”

 

[Ambyssin]

"No."

Nova gently rested his right claws on Archie's shoulder. "It's the exact opposite." His expression sharpened. "I'm doing this to change fate. To help someone who can change my world's fate."

He pulled his foreleg back. "I wish it didn't have to be such a drastic move." Nova sighed. "But I'm tired. I've been shadowed for so long. This... reprieve is very strange." He glanced skyward. "Probably a 'gift' from the guy who directed Betel to me in the first place."

 

[Weazel]

“I guess I understand,” the Dewott nodded, glancing down at the talon on his shoulder. “If I was in that situation, I’d gladly give my own life to save my world’s.”

“Still,” he added, looking back at Nova to find the Graydian contemplating the sky, “Call me selfish, but… I’m tired of all my friends dying.”

 

[Ambyssin]

"It's not selfish," Nova said. He went back to watering the shrubs with a held Multi-Attack. "It's... tragic. And some people are magnets for tragedy." He squinted. "Betel sure seemed to grab a lot of folks like that. I wonder if he misinterpreted 'heroic' for 'suffering.'"