i'm here in search of your glory

[sagesurvivor]

Who: Sheik & friends
Which: closed log
Where: various
What: a catch-all for assorted Sheik adventures during October
Warnings: Tears of the Kingdom spoilers likely

[If you want to hash something out you can hit up my pwm comment or pm me on plurk at jamizoid]

Comments

[sagesurvivor]

[Then the proper implement is the Megaton Hammer c'mon now--

Anyway, Sheik certainly has no intention of letting the Hero dash off into the darkness alone. It's easy to quicken his pace to match Link's; it's less so to stretch the arm holding the lantern forward as far as he can as he does while still being conscious of the arc Link's sword arm would take should he decide to swing in these cramped quarters. It's a lot to keep track of in the heat of the chase, his focus turning to what's immediately ahead of them instead of where they are going or what might await them past their quarry.

But their haste wins them a clear look at said quarry: the creature is a mole, far larger than any that has been seen in Hyrule in recent memory, a glimmering shard clutched in its mouth.]

It has a crystal!

[Sheik exclaims, and, now thoroughly spooked, the mole flees down the tunnel as fast as its legs can carry it.

... Which is not very fast, all told, but being able to actually see where it is going is certainly a boon...]

[timesensitive]

[He's going to get that back when he remembers all of his boobies baubles exist.

Fortunately for Sheik, he doesn't have to keep track of where Link's swinging his sword just yet, as he's focused on chasing rather than attacking. He's regretting not bringing his bow, even if he has yet to figure out how to properly make dreamotion arrows to shoot with it and even if he'd likely lose the mole creature by slowing down enough to get a decent shot off.

Especially in the dark. They're in unfamiliar territory and if he takes a turn Sheik doesn't spot, they've lost each other and he's lost a light. And a creature that may or may not be eating crystals.

That doesn't matter after a few more minutes of chasing, because in the dim light, Link takes a step onto what should be rock, not noticing his target has leapt over that particular area of floor. In reality, he's stepped into the mouth of a tunnel and promptly disappears down into it with a yelp, followed by panicked yelling as he tries to stop his slide with no luck. A barely audible 'ow!' follows.]

Watch your step! [In contrast, his voice is audible, but fainter.]

1/2

[sagesurvivor]

[One minute, Link's figure is in front of him, illuminated by the lantern's light. In the next, he's gone, swallowed up by the earth. Sheik watches in horror as he disappears, his voice pitching high and shrill as he lunges forward to catch him—]

Link...!!!

[—but all he finds in his hands is air. For one brief, burning moment, he kneels alone at the edge of the pit - his throat tight with terror, blood rushing in his ears, vision swimming in the dark - and seriously considers blindly jumping in after, memories of the spirit of the well's escape ringing in his skull, echoes of a tragic dream playing out in his mind's eye. But then...]

2/2

[sagesurvivor]

['Ow!'

And a moment later, a warning, echoing up the tunnel. Sheik practically shakes with the force of his relief, his heart pounding against his ribs as his body remembers how breathing is supposed to work. Goddesses, this place is going to make him go grey before it releases him, isn't it.]

Are you all right? [He calls down, the tremble in his voice likely masked by how faint it is by the time it reaches Link. He doesn't give him much time to answer, anyway, before:] I'm coming down now.

[Sheik's descent is far more controlled, in comparison, though the rattling of the lantern does dampen the flame inside significantly. And he lands, softly, on his feet, because of course he does. Now, what's the damage here?]

[timesensitive]

I am!

[Well, relatively. He's been through a lot worse than a cave slide and will mostly just have a lot of bruises to show for this adventure. Either way, Sheik can see for himself once he comes down, as he does a few seconds later. He's not at the mouth of the tunnel when his ninja friend arrives but several yard away, facing and backlit by a faint glow coming from somewhere opposite the tunnel. It's not nearly enough to sufficiently light the area, so it's still very dim without the lantern at full strength.]

We lost that...whatever it was. And I think we'll have to find another way back out.

[Like through where the glow is coming from. That's the best idea he has, anyway.]

[sagesurvivor]

Not ideal, but... I believe we can manage that much, at least.

[If all else fails, they still have the journals to call for help. As long as they're both upright and moving, it'll be fine. Probably. Hopefully. He has to tell himself that if he doesn't want to have another panic attack. Stepping forward to join him (and thank the Goddesses there's enough space for them to stand side by side down here), Sheik peers in the direction Link's facing, squinting in the dim light as he tries to coax the lantern's flame into functionality once more.]

That light... it's similar to the crystals from earlier, is it not?

[Though the colors are different— a little brighter, a little more vibrant, maybe. But there's also a somewhat musky scent carried on the breeze from that direction, in contrast to the cool, earthy smell of the cave system thus far.

... wait, why is there a breeze when they're this far underground...?]

[timesensitive]

[Link will just be covered in small bruises after this excursion, it's fine. Nothing's broken, at least. Not majorly, anyway.]

Yeah...so that means there are more of them...a lot if we can see their light from this far away. [Or several large crystals, but either would be a cool discovery.] Let's go check it out. That's the only way we can go right now.

[He's not as good as Shiek is at harnessing dreamotion, but he is excited about the possibility of Many Crystals, and that itself helps the lantern's flame burn just a little better. Unfortunately, it also means that he's going to head forward again--not running yet, though--with or without his companion.]

[sagesurvivor]

[Oh, it's definitely "with" said companion— Sheik is not about to be left behind again, and he'll nag as much as he has to for it to remain that way.]

Just— remember to watch your step, please.

[The lantern's flame gradually strengthens as they move forward, brightening with Link's enthusiasm (and Sheik's quietly fond observation of it). Oddly, the glow at the end of the tunnel also seems to grow as they get closer to it, perhaps reacting off of that same energy.

Then... the tunnel opens up. Kaleidoscopic crystals cover the walls of a large cavern, bathing the hollow in a rainbow of shimmering colors and utterly dwarfing the feeble flickering of their lantern. The striking sight leaves even the hyper-vigilant Sheik speechless with its fantastical beauty, and in the moment he takes it in, he wears his awe openly, a rare sight in and of itself.

THUMP.

A gust kicks up again, the source of it obvious from following the heavy sound that precedes it: there, on the far side of the cavern, a massive turtle that towers over them twice over, turning to face the ones that have intruded upon its personal all-you-can-eat buffet. It slowly grinds glittering shards between its teeth, and the crystals that grow from its thick shell glint in turn with its heightened wariness. Sheik's hand immediately finds the hilt of his dagger, for all that it feels like little more than a toothpick in comparison to the creature they've stumbled upon.]

That... may be one of the reasons behind the city's crystal shortage.

[But what in Nayru's name are they supposed to do about it...?!]