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“Can you try to keep quiet, please?” felt like a simple courtesy to take part in. Mato had already nodded, but Ogrim kept talking.
“I’m sorry for asking this of you in your own home. I just really need some more sleep right now, and-”
“Ogrim. I understand. Do not apologize! Rest, my friend, I will keep quiet.”
Ogrim was quiet for a second, obviously thinking. Mato could understand his plight just enough.
He had been staying at Mato’s hut for a while after they met. He planned to make a new burrow in the cliffs but that was not done overnight. Ogrim needed to wait for proper resources to be collectable.
There was also the added element of lack of motivation after they had gone on an expedition to bury the remnants of the Great Knights. So Mato was not going to fault him for needing extra sleep and wanting quiet.
“Sleep, Ogrim. I know it’s not the most comfortable, but I do hope you can feel rested soon. You do not have to feel bad for wishing for peace.”
Ogrim sighed and nodded. “Thank you.” He was sitting on the floor on a big bundle of blankets. It wasn’t the same as his comfy home in the waterways but it wasn’t nearly as lonely. Ogrim turned away from Mato, laying down on his side. “Wake me before you make food. I would-” Ogrim paused to yawn a bit. “I want to help cook to repay you.” Ogrim hummed, shifting a bit to find brief comfort in the arrangement. “..For all your- mm- kindness…”
“There won’t be a need.” Mato thought to himself, watching Ogrim attempt to drift away.
Mato boredly picked at the nail he was holding and put it down gently. He sat on the floor and began to meditate. Calm. Silent. He could sit like this for hours while Ogrim got plenty of sleep.
Peace…
Calm…
Quiet…
Mato took a deep breath, feeling tension leave his body. This was nice. After the past while, they both needed this little slice of-
Snore…
Mato was startled, eyes bursting open. He quickly looked at Ogrim, the meditative state leaving him in a flash. “Snoreee, tch..mm..”
That's right, how could he have forgotten…
Mato took another deep breath. Both men apparently snored but when they were both asleep it wasn’t a bother.
It shouldn’t be a bother to Mato right now. He’s meditated through worse before! He could ignore any outside source of noise if he put his mind to it.
He closed his eyes and tried again. He let thoughts of quiet flow through his mind.
He thought about the winds and their grounding nature despite their thrashing attempts to dismount him.
Endlessly trying.
Endlessly pushing.
Endlessly-
Snore, klch...snoreee...fffm..
Snoring. Endlessly snoring.
Mato groaned under his breath as softly as he could. He put his hands together over his mask and opened his eyes. He eyed Ogrim shuffling around.
Okay. Scrap meditating. Mato gave the ground a pat, trying to think of other silent activities.
He could do extra training with his nail. That was quiet! Mato moved to clap to himself but stopped himself when he heard Ogrim snort.
He stood slowly, grabbing his nail. He pulled it up and cringed to himself when it grated against the hard floor.
“Oh-” He pulled it up and looked at Ogrim. No stirring, still snoring. He sighed, relieved.
He swung his nail without much force, spinning around. He was going to move and take on more force but he was far too aware of the sound of his feet moving on the ground.
He looked down at his feet, listening to his shuffling while he spun. Was Ogrim hearing him? He hoped not. Should he take this outside?
Mato tried to look towards his dozing friend without stopping his motion and quickly regretted it. His loss of focus led his spin backwards and his nail collided into one of his skeletons.
He tried not to call out in alarm, letting go of the nail. His nail was stuck inside the skull and all Mato could do was quickly look between Ogrim and the skull while moving it all to the floor. “The clambering surely woke him, Mato you inconsiderate oaf!”
Mato mentally prepared an apology, walking over to Ogrim but before he could speak he realized he was...still snoring.
Mato put his hands together, tapping his fingers lightly. He was stressing himself out trying not to stress Ogrim, where has he heard this before? He gave his arm a rub, looking down.
Maybe he really should go outside. Clear his head in the winds and let Ogrim sleep.
But what if Ogrim wakes in his absence and gets scared because he’s gone?
He could write a note, but he was unsure if he had any paper. A stone note would make noise in carving…
Ogrim’s an adult and while he has dealt with terrible irrational fears, he can certainly handle it.
Even if he could handle it, Mato wouldn’t want to put that sudden pressure onto the bug.
Mato crossed his arms, deep in thought whether to stay or go. All the while, Ogrim snored and muttered incoherent noises.
He looked at the empty doorway, then to Ogrim, and back to the occupied doorway. He blinked hard in surprise, reeling a bit at the new presence. Stealthy as a shadow, the little knight’s eyes bore into him.
Those eyes immediately filled him with glee and made him want to exclaim “Oh, welcome, my child! Hello!!”
Mato composed the joy in his heart by putting his hands to his side and bowing to the little one.
“We must go outside to speak, my pupil. Now.” He whispered, straightening and leading the child outside.
Through the curtain and teeth like door the two stepped, they didn’t go much farther because Mato couldn't contain the happiness any longer.
“Hello, my child!!” He beamed, opening his arms to the small shadow. They accepted the hug but still hesitated to move into it. Mato scooped them up, giving them a strong squeeze.
He put the small one down and crossed his arms contently. “What do I owe this visit, my pupil? It’s fantastic to see you again!”
The small knight nodded, and took a small step forward. They gave his stomach a touch and pointed to the door.
“Are..are you hungry?” Mato said as they started their game of charades.
A shake of the head, another point to the door.
“Do you wish to go inside?” Another shake.
They looked left, right and down for a moment. Their head raised fast when it seemed like they had an idea.
Mato watched them reach into their cloak and from gods know where they pulled out a charm. It was a deep blue with a violet-pink shell shape making up the base. They pointed from the charm to Mato to the door.
“Let me see that.” Mato asked, holding out his hand. His pupil obeyed, giving it without hesitation. Mato looked closer at the charm, noting a few things.
It was quite pretty.
It smelled rancid .
And it had metal engravings on the bottom that looked like...fluff.
Oh.
“Ohhhhh!” Mato began to chuckle. This charm looked exactly like Ogrim!
“You know Ogrim? I shouldn’t even be surprised, the world is so small sometimes!” Mato turned the charm over in his hands. The child nodded.
“You two are friends, yes?” He had a smile in his eyes when they nodded, again.
“So you wish to check on how Ogrim is doing then, I assume?” Mato asked, a giggle still in his breath, handing the charm back. The little knight nodded with exuberance. They put the charm away while Mato finished having his laugh. It ended with a sigh.
“Our friend could be...better. He’s been a bit downtrodden..with good reason.”
He was sugarcoating for his child, even though he knew full well they were strong and able.
It wasn’t his place to vent for Ogrim. Mato clasped his hands together when his child walked past him to go back inside.
Mato followed, surprised at how fast they could walk. “Oh, my child, wait a moment!” He called, trying to keep his voice hushed as they made for the curtain. “Hold on!” He reached out for their shoulder but they already made their way through.
“Ogrim has been having trouble sleeping, so please do not bothe-”
“..Mato…” Mato’s voice halted, pulling his hand back. Oh my. He’s awake? He swiped the curtain open and stepped in.
“Yes?” He asked but he merely saw Ogrim had shifted to his back. His child was staring at the sleeping beetle. Mato held the curtain, confused.
“..mmado…” Ogrim breathed. “..tell me more..mmm..” He stretched and turned back to his side. Mato thought for a moment, before a blush burned his face beneath his mask. Ogrim was dreaming of him and calling for him. Mato shook his head, covering it with one hand.
He crossed the room, putting his hand on the child’s head with a chuckle. “Our friend is going to be just fine.” His voice was soft.
They pulled away, not surprising Mato on that front. Mato watched his little shadow circle around Ogrim, dark hand reaching into their cloak like they were about to strike prey. They did not have any malice behind their movements, however. They straightened and from behind Ogrim they made a cup with their hands and pretended to sip.
“Do you want some tea?” Mato asked. The little one nodded. “That we can do.” He smiled, pointing to a closed bin in the corner of his hut.
“Please, grab the kettle while I get the fire started.” They obeyed his order, opening the bin. They attempted to reach in but the bin was so large and they were so small so they fell inside it. The lid closed over them. There was no distress, only the soft clinking of kitchen wares.
Mato laughed under his breath, kneeling to start the fire. “What a silly child..” The room became brighter and warmer with the crackle of fire.
Mato stood to get the water and herbs, and when he got to the curtain he turned to look at the fire. He took a deep breath and the smell was strong but pleasant. He smiled a bit, closing the curtain behind him.
“Mmm..” Ogrim’s expression shifted to confusion, his claw wiped at his face and it seemed like he tried to keep asleep.
“Mmm..?!” Then Ogrim realized the smell of smoke. He sat up, slightly alarmed. This alarm died down when he saw the fire was controlled. He rubbed his eyes with a yawn. He laid back down, staring at the ceiling light. He simply contemplated his dreams and considered going back to sleep. He heard Mato’s steps and decided “Not quite yet.”
Mato placed the bucket of water down next to the fire and sat on the floor while waiting. He opened the glass container of herbs and gave them a small smell. He didn’t acknowledge Ogrim in favor of separating the herbs.
“Hello.” Ogrim broke their silence, startling Mato. Mato nearly dropped the jar but caught it as quickly as it left his hands.
Mato held the jar tightly, looking at Ogrim’s tired yet amused eyes. “I didn’t see you were awake! What woke you?”
Ogrim gave a short but righteous laugh towards Mato’s fumble. “The flame. Didn’t I ask to be woken to help with supper?” His claws crossed, not mad in this accusatory tone.
“Oh, I’m not preparing food, my friend! Actually, my child is visiting and we’re making tea!”
Ogrim’s face fell, confusion immediately filling his half-awake brain. “Your..your what?”
“My child? Surely I’ve told you about-”
“No! No you haven’t!!” Ogrim laughed a bit more, horrifically confused. Mato was a father? How had he not guessed?
“When?? Who?? Where are they?” Ogrim gestured out to Mato, looking around while begging for some sort of explanation.
Mato waved his hand down, easing Ogrim. “They’re getting the kettle.” He pointed to the soft clinking of the bin.
“My child, do you have it?” He called across the room. The lid of the bin was slapped open, and the small wanderer hoisted a large kettle over their head. Their large eyes met Ogrim’s as his confusion grew even louder.
“Ohhh???” Ogrim’s claws covered the lower part of his face as the child silently strode by him to hand Mato the kettle.
“Thank you.” Mato filled it with water and put it over the fire. Ogrim looked quickly between father and child.
How could this be…
How much did Mato know…?
Mato saw Ogrim’s deep confusion and put a hand on his claw. “I took them in as my pupil, determined to pass on my knowledge of the nail arts to them. As we were training, I felt so...so proud! I immediately began to see them as my child and while they haven’t spoken a word, through action I feel they feel the same!”
“I see…” Ogrim nodded, staring at the child. He hasn't seen them since they visited him in his dreams.
“How about you show Ogrim what you know?” Mato encouraged the little wanderer. They made their way to the center of the room. They drew their nail, spun it and held it tightly.
“Remember: keep your gravity centered as you move forward!” In a flash of white, the child rapidly spun in a circle making their nail become an all encompassing circumference of damage.
“Fantastic!” Mato gave his child an applause. Ogrim copied, “That’s certainly all you, Mato.” Mato chuckled, grabbing the herbs. “I cannot take all the credit. The little one is quite a prodigy.” He stuffed the herbs in the kettle to seep. The shadow sheathed their nail and sat back down next to Mato, legs crossed.
“That will be done in a moment. Say, when they arrived, the little one showed me this absolutely endearing looking charm shaped of you. How did the two of you meet?”
Ogrim smiled, looking down at the child.
“When I lived in the pipeways, they came along and bested me in combat. They proved themselves honorable to me, and I..found them quite knightly..They…” Ogrim's mind always tended to get floaty if he looked at their eyes for too long. He shook his head. Don’t fall Ogrim. Look at them as they are and not what they represent. Don’t you dare fall.
“You really are something else, little one.” Ogrim gave their head a pat. Mato smiled.
The three of them enjoyed the smells of the herbs. The tea was finished and poured in no time. They sat in a mini circle, the kettle set in the middle of them. Mato poured Ogrim’s tea into a shallow bowl because he knew it made it easier for him to hold.
Mato sipped his own tea, talking to the little wanderer. “So: where will your adventures be taking you next, my little one?”
They put their cup down, neither of them understanding how they drank. They pulled out a map and opened it, sprawling the parchment on the ground. Ogrim looked over and saw it was a map of the Fog Canyon. They pointed at its heart, where a gold pin laid.
“The Teacher’s Archive…” Ogrim thought to himself. He had a vague idea what business they had there but he didn’t want to say it to Mato.
Not yet. Not now.
“I wish you safe travels there, little one! That area can be quite dangerous to the untrained explorer.” Ogrim tapped on the map. Mato nodded in agreement.
They rolled the map up while Mato said, “Before you go, maybe the three of us could have a spar. See if you could handle two on one, hm?”
They gave him a look, face blank in a way that indicated that they would both go down.
“Hoho! I was merely joking! I would never fight you in an unfair environment after all!” Mato laughed while shooting Ogrim a playful glance, making Ogrim chuckle too.
“They’d be completely outmatched!” Ogrim joked as well, flexing. The child waved their hands, annoyed with their antics.
The two men laughed together for a bit. “It’ll be fun, we’ll play fair if you do!” Mato gave them a pat on the head. When they pulled away, Mato put his hand back on and rubbed in between their horns and gave them a gentle shove back. “Gods knows we’ll need the advantage when you show us exactly what you’re made of!”
Ogrim nodded along. Exactly what they’re made of. Once Mato finished teasing his pupil, he remembered a small thing.
“Oh. But wait. Ogrim, are you going to need more sleep..? Or are you feeling okay now?” Ogrim’s eyes were still quite sleepy.
Ogrim hummed, picking his tea up and taking a gentle sip. “No. I think I’m awake.”
“That’s good.” Mato finished his tea, turning the cup over. He stood up and pointed to the two of them.
“What say we seize the chill of the winds and go now?”
The child stood slowly, seemingly ready to enact revenge for the teasing. Ogrim thought for a moment before downing the rest of his warm tea quickly. “Let’s go!” Mato held out a hand for Ogrim and he gladly gave his claw. He hoisted the bug to his feet and went to grab his main nail that was still stuck inside the skull of a waste beast.
“Oh...how...Nailmaster, how did your nail get wedged inside a skull??”
Mato yanked it out and threw it over his shoulder. “If you don’t mention it, then I will not mention you talking about me in your sleep.” Mato hummed, walking to the curtain with the child in tow.
“Alright alright!” Ogrim followed the two, before thinking for a moment.
“...I did what now?”