Air rushed up and whipped about Egfor, pulling on his hair and clothes, biting his skin. He clawed out in the absolute darkness, trying to find something to purchase on, something to try and orientate himself. All he knew is that he was falling, and he wasn't sure in which direction. After what seemed like an eternity, Egfor impacted the ground. He fell into a heap of limbs and furs on the ground.
He lay there for another eternity, trying to get his bearings. The cold from the ground seeped up through his clothes and into his body. His breath was slow and rhythmic, the earth below him seemed to breathe along with him and his heart beat in time to the earth's pulsing that supported his body.
From somewhere unseen, the silence was broken by a peculiar rattling sound. He couldn't tell if it was rock, bone, stone, metal or a rattle... He strained to hear it, lifting his head and looking around. No, that was bones, definitely bones.
He sat himself up, closing his eyes and straining to listen. He furrowed his brow to hear more noises around him that he started to notice. At first it sounded like rocks tumbling down a mountainside, but it shifted to a more earthy sound, like shifting and moving trees. He opens his eyes, still unable to see anything in this darkness. He does not remember this place, he has never been here in his dreams or journeys before.
He jumped quickly to his feet, starting to hear wordless and formless voices all around him, singing and chanting in a slow, ethereal way. He tensed, hearing a drum beat that seemed to emanate from his very being, his heartbeat.
He reached out blindly, trying to find something to grab. He gasped, his hands wrapping around what he felt to be a spear. The moment he grabbed it, his dreamscape was suddenly illuminated with the moonlight, though things remained dark still. He could discern he was in a forest, but not much else beyond that.
He looked over the spear, strange runes and markings were inscribed all over it and glowed faintly. It was fashioned entirely from bone and seemed to give off it's own faint light. He held the spear firmly and looks around. He heard what sounded like a rattle being shook. When he turned his head to the sound, it moved. Egfor was unable to follow the sound, letting an agitated growl. He hisses out, "Why am I here? What is this?"
All at once the rattle and strange voices ceased and Egfor could only hear the drum heartbeat once more. Egfor tensed, feeling a presence behind him. He spun around and lunged forward with the spear, gasping in horror as the spear sank into Nimraph's chest. The man collapses at Egfor's feet, his blood staining the bone spear, the word on his lips, "Brother..."
Egfor quivered, shaking his head quickly, "No, no..." He heard a footstep behind him and spun around, unable to control his own actions as he sunk the spear into Syllea's chest, crying in fear and anguish with his daughter. Egfor trembled, unable to let go of the spear as it made Ella, Ric, and Em joined Syllea's fate. Egfor cursed and spat, trying to let go of the spear, but it pierced the heart of Eira of it's own accord, the man wailing, "I was supposed to help you!"
He howled in pain, Ris crumpling at his feet, a look of grief in her eyes. Each person Egfor cut down stained the spear more, the red crawling up the shaft of the weapon to his hands. Egfor could only watch and sob wretchedly as his friends and loved ones charged at him, the spear moving on it's own and cutting them all down. Egfor saw Lheuwen come at him, screaming at her, "Please! Fight me! End me! Stop me! Don't come near me! I'm... I'm a monster! Don't-" He chokes on his words as he cuts her down too. There was a long moment of stillness and silence, enough so that Egfor could stare at all the faces of those he held dear, lying dead at his feet, faces showing pain and betrayal at Egfor cutting them down.
Egfor tensed, hearing footsteps. He whipped around, sinking the spear into the heart of his husband, his beloved. The blood poured down the spear and up Egfor's arm, pulling him down to his knees. Dem smiled faintly, "I said I would love you, even into death..."
Egfor shut his eyes, body wracking with sobs, finally able to let go of the spear. He opened his eyes and blinks through the tears, feeling the spear turn on him. held by his mother. Egfor choked back a sob, whispering, "Just end me, please, I am a monster."
She stared long and hard at her only son, weeping bitterly amidst a pile of bodies and a coated in blood. She lowered the tip of the spear to the ground, sighing softly, "My dear son... Look at you. Get to your feet, take the spear..." Egfor staggered to his feet as told, hesitantly reaching for the spear. She hands it over, nodding, "Even the soothsayers need help."
One by one, everyone Egfor had slain pushed themselves up, as if nothing had happened. His mother continues, "You have a net supporting you... Use it, don't be afraid to fall. They will catch you. Each of these faces is part of your net." Egfor looked around at all the faces, some he didn't even remember cutting down were there.
His mother spoke again, "Hand the spear to your lover." Dem steps forward, reaching expectantly. Egfor hesitates before handing it over. His mother says, "You two are star-crossed and destined, yes... But you still need to learn to let him into the deepest, darkest, most horrific parts of your heart. Let him see the parts you cover up from even yourself. Where even you can't love yourself, he will. Pierce your heart open and bleed out for him."
Dem lifted the spear and sunk it right through Egfor's heart.
Egfor woke up with a strangled sounding scream, bolting up in bed and clawing at his chest. He howled in pain before falling back against the bed into hysterical weeping. Dem was up in an instant, wordlessly pulling Egfor to him for comfort. Egfor curled up into his love's arms, the one place he has always felt safe and secure.
