Vesper's Song

It was an injured bird. His mangled body splayed out in the snow, limbs bent in unsightly angles, the once colorful feathers were dyed thoroughly red. The surrounding snow reflected a similar scarlet glow, though you are unsure whether it was from the [[sun.|3]]

You hurriedly dropped your baggage and rushed over. [[Check his vitals|4]] [[“Hey are you alright? Are you awake?”|4]] [[Grab and shake him|4]]

The creature awakened violently, pure terror in his eyes, “Bandits...the fox bandits!" he wailed, "they attacked me...and, and--" The old bird sobbed as you examined his wounds: a fractured wing, punctured guts, a bruised beak, broken legs. You watched as a pool of vermillion gathered beneath his fragile body. *We are running out of time.* [[I will run back to the village to seek help|5a]] [[I will attempt to save him in whichever method possible, right now, with what I have|5b]]

“I will get some help from the village,” you assured him confidently, yet the bird looked at you with concern. Without hesitation, you continued down the snowy path. You looked back just as his silhouette was about to disappear, the bird [[unmoving from his glance.|6a]]

“Don’t move, I-I can stop your bleeding,” you assured him, though he saw right through your wishful lies. He waited calmly, as you rummaged through your bag: [[Grab the leaf patches,|6b1]] to layer on as bandages to slow the bleeding [[Grab your winter scarf,|6b2]] to use as a tourniquet, to cut off the blood flow completely

Upon entering the village you: [[Knock on all your neighbors doors|7a1]] [[Yell out: “Help! Help! I need a medic! Someone out there was attacked by bandits!”|7a2]]

Despite your desperate pleas and their fake empathetic responses, everyone was too afraid to leave the village after dark. Their cowardly responses did not discourage you. [[You need to save him, it's who you are.|8a]]

Animal-folks quickly gathered around, yet once you mentioned the presence of bandits, everyone quickly retreated back to their houses. Their cold responses did not discourage you. [[You need to save him, you are not like them.|8a]]

(set: $firstChoice to "") After your persistent attempts, it was finally met with an answer. The village medic rushed out with his supplies, and the two of you sprint out of the village. While running along the path, you heard a quiet yet beautiful song. A melodious call from somewhere within the forest. Despite the hauntingly captivating tune, it was quickly drowned out by your panicked breathing, and the muffled sound of snow crunching under [[your boots.|9a]]

The ensuing twilight brought on a (text-style:"blur")[heavy snow storm. Upon running into a forked path, you couldn't help but wonder: which way did you come from?] (link: "The Left")[ (set: $firstChoice to "left") (goto: "10a") ] (link: "The Right")[ (set: $firstChoice to "right") (goto: "10a") ]

(text-style:"blur")[You pursued the correct path in your head. It *had* to be this one.] [[*We are running out of time.*|11a]]

(text-style:"blur")[Yet, you were met with a dead end. The path seemed to trail off into a small pond of some sort. You quickly] (text-style:"blurrier")[[[retraced your steps|12a]]] (text-style:"blur")[back to the forked path. ] *We are running out of time.*

(text-style:"blur")[Upon returning to the same path, now even darker, the snow seemingly made the choices appear brand new.] (text-style:"blurrier")[Which way will you go?] { (link: "The Left")[ (if: $firstChoice is "left")[ (goto: "10a") ](else:)[ (goto: "13a") ] ] <br> (link: "The Right")[ (if: $firstChoice is "right")[ (goto: "10a") ](else:)[ (goto: "13a") ] ] }

(text-style:"blur")[Finally you arrived at the scene. All of the blood seemed to have been covered by the fresh snow. The bird laid peacefully. He did not respond to your calls. Upon inspecting his body you found him tightly clutching to a delicate sword trinket. You knelt down beside him, the world had never been so silent.] *Oh, only if you had the power to (text-style:"blurrier")[[[redo it all.|4]]]* [[[But you don't.|sources]]]

You returned along the usual forest path to the village at sunset. The snow arrived early this year. With the white blanket all the way up to your knees, you trotted as quickly as you could. It’s dangerous to be out past sundown, especially for a small animal-folk like you. You noticed a hazy figure in the distance, [[half-buried in the snow.|2]]

You wrapped the leaf patches around the bird’s torso over and over, as tight as you could. Though, blood continued to (text-colour:red)[seep through]. [[Reach into the bag for more.|7b1]]

You wrapped the scarf around his leg and tied it as tight as possible. The tourniquet would only work when the circulation is cut off completely. What was once a pale blue scarf, now resembled the color of a (text-colour:red)[poppy field in spring]. [[Tighten the tourniquet.|7b2]]

The bag was empty. You turn back to see the bandages completely seeped through, droplets of blood dripping off the edge onto the snow. Your frozen bloodied fingers fumbling, [[you cry out in dismay.|8b]]

“I am so sorry,” you knelt down beside his fragile body, soaking in the silence as the snow fall became heavier. You watched as the snowflakes melted into the pool of [[blood.|9b]]

*(text-colour:red)[Crack.]* Your face twisted in horror as you felt his limb give away, you looked down to see his disjointed leg yet still connected by a thin layer of skin. The bird made no noise, he was already overwhelmed that this made no difference. [[You cry out in dismay.|8b]]

[[Tigher...|7b3]]

[[Tighter.|7b4]]

“T-thank you,” the bird croaked, “for being here.” “Please, don’t thank me… I couldn't help you, I–” the rims of your eyes started to sting, the weight of the guilt heavier than anything. “If I could please request one more thing…stranger, would you be willing to listen?” the creature pleaded with his gentle voice. [[“Please go ahead, And it’s Xiomara.”|10b]] [[Say nothing.|11b]]

“My grandson, back in Fernwood, he is my sun and stars.” His monologue was interrupted by another series of grisly coughs, you couldn’t help but focus on his dwindling condition. “The kid was a fiery one, always wanted to join the militia, to protect others from the war.” [["What happened to his parents?"|12b1]] [["Why does he want to join the militia?"|12b2]]

“Xiomara.” he recited the name quietly to himself, “Ah, the famously kind-hearted Firelight. I’ve heard of your wonderful deeds, even in our village." [[Continue to listen|11b]]

"To follow the paths of his parents. Though it didn't end well. Now, he's with me, this broke old bard." (text-style:"blurrier")[[["How did you end up here?"|13b1]] [["You must have been a hero to him then, you cared for him so well."|13b2]] ]

"They sacrificed themselves as soldiers of Haeth, in the war. Now the fledgling is stuck with this broke old bard." (text-style:"blurrier")[[["How did you end up here?"|13b1]] [["You must have been a hero to him then, you cared for him so well."|13b2]]]

"This," he unclenched the feathers on his wing to reveal a tiny sword trinket, completely unsullied, emitting a stunning silver gleam. You have never seen such fine craftmanship before. "It's for my fledgling," he flashed a quick smile before wincing in pain. "I refused to give away my life worth to some foul bandits, though I guess they took the next valuable thing instead." You gently took the precious trinket from his wings.(text-style:"blurrier")[[["You must have been a hero to him then, you cared for him so well."|13b3]]]

"As a useless old bard who barely makes a living? Making a fool of myself to scrap up some coins?" he let out a raspy wheeze, "No matter." he allowed himself to relax, releasing a long sigh. (text-style:"blurrier")[[["How did you end up here?"|13b4]]]

"As a useless old bard who barely makes a living? Making a fool of myself to scrap up some coins?" he let out a raspy wheeze, "No matter." he released a long sigh while shifting his body, though only half of it moved in accordance, the rest completely limp. (text-style:"blurrier")[[[You frowned.|14b]]]

"...though I hope he remembers me," the tone of his voice lowered in sorrow, "after this, after everything, oh my precious fledgling...how I wish to see you all grown up..." (text-colour:red)[ splat.] (text-style:"blurrier")[[[splat.|15b]]] (text-style:"blur")[*"would anyone remember me?"*]

The snow storm picked up as the night fell, frigid wind hollering at your ears, snowflakes resembling tiny knives slicing open your skin. The creature began to sing a wistful song, a fierce dance of sounds, a (text-style:"blurrier")[[[defying cry against the omnipotent storm.|16b]]]

His breathtaking melodies trembled the earth, pierced through the canopy, shattered frozen waters, and buried itself (text-style:"blurrier")[[[deep within your heart.|17b]]]

It ended in an off-tune pitch, freefalling into silence, quickly over taken by the wind. *No trace left behind.* His body laid in the snow, as you sit alone with him. You realized you never asked for his name. *You wonder if things could have turned out (text-style:"blurrier")[[[differently.|4]]]* (text-style:"blurrier")[[[They never do.|sources]]]

"This," he unclenched the feathers on his wing to reveal a tiny sword trinket, completely unsullied, emitting a stunning silver gleam. You have never seen such fine craftmanship before. "It's for my fledgling," he flashed a quick smile before wincing in pain. "I refused to give away my life worth to some foul bandits, though I guess they took the next valuable thing instead." You gently took the precious trinket from his wings. He shifted his body, though only half of it moved in accordance, the (text-style:"blurrier")[[[rest completely limp.|14b]]]

(text-style:"expand","fade-in-out")[Vesper's Song] Created by Maggie Jiu (text-colour:grey)[Inspired by: Wanderhome (Jay Dragon) Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (David Slade) Queers in love at the End of the World (Anna Anthropy)]