Chapter Text
Something was bothering Illuga…
And he didn’t know what it was.
The feeling twisted in his gut, almost making him feel sick…
“Captain.” One of his squad mates ran up to him, papers in hand, “Here are everyone’s reports for the day.”
“Thank you.” He politely accepts them, “I’ll take a look at them.”
“Just don’t forget to rest, Captain.”
“I will, don’t worry.”
Illuga made his way through the Cliff camp, he’ll be leaving for patrol soon, with a slightly larger group than usual just because he can’t shake the feeling of something being off. However, he just couldn't tell what, everything was in order last he check, no one's brought him any concerns and everyone was accounted for...
Everyone else was in a good mood, they were calm, almost relaxed even as they went about their tasks. He’s trying not to dwell on it… At least everyone’s reports were good, nothing of major concern was reported.
This was his last day on the rotation at the camp before he would make his rounds to the other field camps, and finally back to Piramida to fill out all the reports before returning back here.
As Illuga read, he checked in with all the Ratnik who were staying behind to man the camp, check if they needed anything or if they had my concerns.
“No, Captain.”
“Only when was the last time you ate, Captain.”
“All good here, Captain.”
They would all say, making the frown tug at this lips more, the twisting in his gut growing worse and worse and him... growing more anxious… He was missing something but what?
What was it?
“Ready to go when you are, Captain!” An older Ratnik informs him, “Patrol group is all stock up and preparing as you prefer it.”
“Thank you, Sven.” Illuga told him, “Let me just-“
“You’ve already made your rounds.” Sven tells him, “Twice! I don’t think their answers are going to change the third time.”
“Right, yes, sorry.” Illuga balked a bit, not realizing he's already checked twice, “Let’s get going.”
“Are you alright, Captain?” Sven questions, “You seem more on edge than usual.”
“It’s nothing.” He placated a bit, unsure of how to explain, “I just… can’t shake a bad feeling.”
“We have your back.” The taller patted his shoulder, not dismissing his concerns, “And you have ours, we’ll face it together, what ever it is.”
“Thanks, but…” the words only make the feeling work, “If I order us to return, we return, no question asked, how about that?”
“We can work with that.”
Lightkeepers usually patrol in pairs, working together to keep the Wild Hunt numbers cleared from the area, beside Illuga who more often than not patrolled on his own, but this group today was a group of five. Sven and his usual partner, Jenny. And the other pair, Ingram and ‘Just Dan’ and finally Illuga himself.
He couldn’t help but double check all their gear… Everyone was good, they were all good.
So why…
Why was he feeling so… off?
“Let’s get going.” Illuga commands, heading the line, “And let’s be careful.”
The darkened purple cliffs were quiet, the wind was the only thing stirring beside themselves, quiet and gentle. No signs of Exiles or Hunters. No Fishers…
No… no nothing…
Illuga stops. Frowning. Thinking... Was he just being paranoid?
“What is it, Captain?” His patrol stopped with him, keeping their guard. “I don’t see anything.”
He... he didn’t know… but something was nagging him, in the back of his mind like a warning bell. There was nothing… It should be nothing but…
“There’s nothing out here.” Jenny comment in a steady tone, eyes sharp, “It’s been quiet all week.”
That’s it!
“That’s what’s wrong.” Illuga comments, preparing his spear, “The Cliffs are dangerous on a good day, not ‘safe'. Not 'quiet'. There's always something moving. Something’s... off.”
“We’ll follow your lead.”
“Let’s return…” Illuga orders, the bad feeling had him sweating and gripping his weapon with white knuckles, “We’ll need to keep an eye on this loc-“
The ground cracked, glowing magenta and dark purple, followed by the sound of hissing, the whispers in the wind were back, tickling his ear. His lantern flashing red all of a sudden.
It was an ambush!
Fear flooded Illuga, not for himself, no, but for the Ratniki who followed him here.
Not again…
“Run!” Illuga ordered, slamming his spear through a Fisher who got to close, “That’s an order! Get back to camp! I’ll cover you!”
“But Captain-“
“No!” Illuga cuts him off, spotting the approaching ghouls in mass, “I-I can’t- Retreat now! Get back out, alert Piramida… But I am not losing anyone today!”
They still didn’t start retreating, helping block and shoot the Fishers, who only called more to try and flank them.
“No question asked, Sven.” Illuga reminded him when they didn't move, “Retreat now! I’ll cover you, but… get yourselves out of here.
“… Of course…”
Together they broke the surrounding line, and the four of his subordinates got through.
He… he had to get them out, he can’t do this again…
“Go go!” Illuga urges, making sure they were in front of him as he blocked a charge from an Exile. “Aedon! Lead them out!”
His faithful golden bird chirps his sound and takes the lead, acting like a beacon for them as purple poisonous fog starts to roll in.
“Agh!”
Dan was struck down and Illuga’s heart all but stopped and he rush between him and the Fisher who downed him.
“Sven!” Illuga called, “Get them out of here, do not look back, I’m going to draw them away.”
“No!” The older man grabs his arm to stop him, "This is too much, even for you?”
“I- I know but I’m the Captain.” Illuga reminds him, “Just get them out, send Aedon back as soon as you’re safe and I’ll circle back.”
He and Sven blocked a strike from a Hunter.
“I’m not going to try and fight them all.” Illuga promised, “I’ll just lead them away and I’ll be careful.”
“Fine.” Sven agrees, not looking happy, "Just come back to us, Captain.”
…
Illuga didn’t respond, didn't make a false promise as he used his lantern to shine his light, drawing the attention off all the Wild Hunt before them. Jenny and Ingram grabbed Dan and started dragging him away.
He tried not to think about how he might already be dead… No, he needed to focus...
“This way!” Illuga shouted, drawing more attention away from the quietly retreating lightkeepers. “Over here!”
It worked as three Fishers charged, one swiping their talons at him that he twisted out of the way of. He needed to draw them away, Illuga started moving to the side, going around to guide them away, side stepping an Exile who lunged.
He’s got to move more.
He could no longer see far around him, the fog growing dense, obscuring the path. Dodging the strikes, blocking others he kept moving. Moving further and further.
Then he stumbled hitting the edge of a cliff, he couldn’t see the bottom so he moved along the edge. It was enough of a pause that when he reflected the axe of the Hunter his pole arm was wrenched from his grip, lost to the sea of fog bow then.
Time to run.
Skirting around the cliff edge, he got back around them, to more stable ground but another swipe from an exile knocked him off balance, right into a slam from a Fisher. It had him losing his lantern as he crashed to the ground. He didn’t think about it and scrambled back up and away from the next attack.
Illuga coughed, the fog now affecting him without the protection of his lantern. He didn’t know where he was any more, running into either a wall of stone or a drop of missing ground.
“Damn it!” Illuga curses as he stumbles, an Exile gripping the sleeve of his coat. “Let go!”
He kicked it away, only for the other sleeve to also get grabbed, making Illuga shed the coat to get away from them, exposing his arms to the air of the permafrost nation…
“Where…?”
The fog was whispering to him, making his head hurt. Did they get to safety? Where was Aedon? Did he fail again? Was he… was he going to be the only one left again? No…
Illuga took a stuttering breath, trying to get air into him amongst the creeping panic. No! Just a little longer…
Just… a little longer… Draw them away just a little bit more...
His lagging cost him. The Hunter slammed down next to him, slamming its arm into him and sending him fling into a surprise rock face, knocking the air out of him, leaving him gasping.
Move… Move!
He was too slow, the Hunter racked its claws at him and they caught on his side, dragging upwards towards his face.
He might have screamed as he once again flew, this time landing near the edge of a cliff. His whole side screaming and on fire, he couldn’t move his arm as he struggled to draw in air, scooting away as far as he could.
“D-damn it…” The Wild Hunt was upon him, moving closer but not in a hurry, like they knew they already won. “…”
Illuga scooted back more, sending himself off the cliff side. He bounced on the roll down a few times, but he was numb to it all at his point…
He needed to get away…
He was tired…
When he landed at the bottom he started crawling. It was hard when only one arm wanted to work and he couldn't with his vision clouded in purple as he pulls himself… somewhere?
He needed to move…
Something bright caught his eye, stark against the fog and dark whispers in his ear.
“A-aedon?”
He followed it, just as he reached it… It went down, and he followed, resulting in sliding down something, landing in near darkness…
It wasn’t Aedon…
But… it wasn’t the Hunt…
The light shined enough to show him surrounded by stone and more lights joined the first, moving in a weird way.
The stone around him shook, following a roar? Sending dust raining down. The lights spun, seemingly not liking either the sound or the shaking yet it continued…
Did it even matter any more? He thought as he laid there. Even if he survived it would mean nothing if he couldn't survive long enough to get the other to safety…
…
…
There was a big boom…
and loud roars...
Then the shaking stopped…
...
Everything was quiet now...
Illuga opened his eyes. When did he close them? What happened?
…
…
The air was still… and his eyes were heavy… everything felt heavy and numb… The lights were still there, lighting up the darkness a bit…
How long has it been?
Something shifted in the darkness as his eyes fell shut. A flicker of blueish purple, he barely registers... It made him think of Flins…
Hopefully he and the Old Man won’t be too sad when he doesn’t survive this time… falling to the darkness, something enclosed around his arm, tight but gentle…
It was… warm…