The legend of Zelda

The Whispering Woods. A name that usually promised quaint rustles and perhaps a particularly bold robin. Today, it promised... something else entirely.

“(Grinning, hand on sword hilt) Told you this shortcut was perfectly safe, Pip. Whats the worst that could happen? A grumpy dryad? Maybe a really aggressive squirrel? PIP: (Eyes wide, pointing with his staff, voice a little squeaky) Kael, I think we just found out the worst that could happen is a new, inconveniently located reality-leak. KAEL: (Stepping back, a flicker of genuine surprise) Oh, come on. Thats hardly a reality-leak. More of a... a really rude divot in reality. Still, good thing I wore my running from existential threats boots today.”

The 'divot' wasn't content with just a corner of the woods. It seemed to have an appetite for everything, including a perfectly good set of running boots.

“(Grabbing Pip by the collar, dragging him backward) Alright, Pip, less staring, more *scampering*! This divot is starting to look less like a rude spot of erosion and more like it wants to redecorate the entire continent with existential dread! PIP: (Eyes wide, struggling against Kaels grip, pointing a shaking finger) Kael, its not just growing! Look! Somethings... forming inside it! A shadow... with teeth! KAEL: Teeth? Oh, perfect. As if a gaping maw in reality wasnt enough, it has *dental hygiene issues*. Just keep running! Wait... is that a claw?!”

The 'redecoration' was proceeding apace. And it seemed the new tenant had very little regard for existing structures, or, for that matter, existing heroes.

“(Leaping backward, narrowly avoiding a massive, shadowy tendril that lashes out from the tear, kicking up dust) WHOA! Alright, new rule: less existential threat I can vaguely outrun and more tangible giant shadow-fist actively trying to turn me into a fine mist! Pip, any chance your fancy staff has an abomination-repellant setting? PIP: (Scrambling, staff glowing brighter, eyes wide with terror) Kael, this isnt some particularly aggressive squirrel we can outwit! Thats a SHADOW-GAUNT! They hunt by scent, by fear, and by... by *reality-instability*! Itll pursue us as long as the tear persists! KAEL: A Shadow-Gaunt, eh? Sounds like something that needs a good poke in the eye! Or, failing that, a good run-around. Can your staff poke a giant shadow-fist in the eye, Pip? PIP: No! But... but if we could destabilize the tears anchor point, it might recoil! KAEL: Destabilize an anchor point? You make it sound like its holding up a clothesline! Alright, then. Looks like its time to teach a Shadow-Gaunt that not every meal comes pre-packaged! Pip, find your anchor point while I give this thing a chase!”

Kael's dance with death was quickly becoming less about finesse and more about sheer survival. But Pip's frantic search was finally bearing fruit... or rather, roots.

“(Dodging a shadowy swipe that leaves a smoking crater) Alright, you overgrown inkblot, chasing me is one thing, but can we agree to disagree on my choice of running shoes?! Pip, any breakthroughs on the destabilize the clothesline front?! PIP: (Stumbling, staff glowing violently, frantically scanning the ground, muttering) Reality-stress... energy signature inversion... yes! Kael, the Ironwood! The ancient Ironwood just east of the tear! Its not just dead, its *siphoning*! Its roots are an anchor point! KAEL: (Vaulting over a rapidly crumbling section of earth, landing hard) Siphoning, huh? Sounds less like a clothesline and more like a very rude, reality-munching straw! So, how do we unplug a cosmic straw, Pip?! (The Shadow-Gaunt lets out a silent, terrifying shriek as it suddenly lunges, not directly at Kael, but in a wide arc towards the Ironwood, its massive form accelerating with unnatural speed.) KAEL: WHOA! It heard you! And now its going for the tree!”

The universe, it seemed, wasn't content with just a gaping maw and a hungry beast. It also decided to throw in a rather inconvenient ethical dilemma: Kill the tree or let reality unravel?

“(Drawing his bow, firing an arrow that dissipates harmlessly into the Shadow-Gaunts form as it surges) Pip, if that thing destroys the tree, does it stop the tear or make it worse?! Spill it! And fast! PIP: (Voice trembling, staff light flickering wildly as he scrambles to keep up) Worse, Kael! So much worse! The Ironwood isnt an anchor *point*... its a *containment seal*! Its siphoning reality to *mend* the tear, to hold it back! If the Gaunt destroys it, the tear wont just unravel, itll *burst*! KAEL: (Skidding to a halt, eyes wide, abandoning his bow as he draws his sword) A containment seal?! And I was just about to unplug it?! Oh, perfect! So now were protecting the thing we thought we had to destroy, from the thing we thought we had to distract?! This day just keeps getting better! Pip, any chance your staff has a containment seal repair setting?!”

The definition of 'better' had apparently been lost somewhere between 'reality-divot' and 'existential cataclysm'. Now, it was just a matter of how badly things were about to get worse.

“(Charging forward, sword flashing, aiming for the Gaunts form) Repair setting? Pip, Im pretty sure Stab It In The Face With A Shiny Bit is my only setting right now! Try to keep that tree from falling apart for five more seconds! PIP: (Staff blazing, hands pressed against a root of the Ironwood, eyes squeezed shut in concentration, straining) Im trying, Kael! The Ironwoods energy is... its like a frayed rope! It needs to be rewoven, but I dont have the power to do it alone! I can only... *bind* it, temporarily! Its draining me! KAEL: (Sword passing through the Gaunt with no effect, forcing him to dodge a crushing blow) Well, *bind harder*! My shiny bit isnt having the desired effect on this walking nightmare! Its like trying to stab fog with a butter knife! What does it *want*?! PIP: (Gasping, as the Gaunts shadow stretches towards him, momentarily distracted from Kael) It wants to feed! The Ironwood is a nexus of raw reality-energy! If it can tear it open, itll consume everything! Kael! My binding wont hold if it strikes the tree directly! You have to stop it!”