Summary: Sent to a different timeline to retrieve some ingredient not found in your natural timeline, you, your partner and your party come across the children of your counterparts in this timeline. Though they have been changed by endless years of struggles, they seemingly have been fending for themselves for so long, it feels almost sad to see them like this.
– Roles:
Major:
- Sam |S|: The parent of the listener, or rather a different iteration of the listener’s parent. The parent is from a different timeline and therefore isn’t the listener’s parent of their current timeline.
- Jordan |J|: The parent of the listener, or rather a different iteration of the listener’s parent. The parent is from a different timeline and therefore isn’t the listener’s parent of their current timeline.
Scene: Night, near child’s campsite
[The sound of a fire is heard, along with the usual fauna that are active at night, like bugs and owls, this along with the slight snapping of twigs, the sound of armor clanking as it moves is also heard; Joining it, is the rattling of a sword]
|S|: (Whispering) Do you think this is them?
|J|: (Also whispering) Maybe, I mean they do have your hair
|S|: (Whispering) Now that you mention it, they also have your nose
[The sound of the two people walking, twigs snapping underneath them, come to a halt]
|S|: Psst, kiddo, are you awake? I mean, I think you’re our kid, taking into consideration that you’re wearing my armor
|J|: And don’t forget that they’re using my sword (Pause for 3 beats) Hmm, looks like you’re fast asleep, best not to disturb you too much then; A child needs plenty of sleep to grow strong you know.
|S|: (Awkwardly) Uhm honey don’t they look eighteen to you?
|J|: Okay, so maybe they might not be exactly of kid age, regardless, they should still get plenty of sleep, it’s practically necessary for a healthy functioning body. (Slightly irritated) You know, kinda like what I tell you to get when I find you awake into the late hours of the night, and early hours of dawn.
|S|: (Nervous) Hey, hey, I can’t help it! I have a lot of stuff to think on; Besides….
[The snapping of twigs fills the air, this is also followed by the sound of plants being disturbed as something speeds through the underbrush]
|J|: (Tired) Please don’t be…
|S|: (Excitedly) Fox!
[Sam’s body moves faster than Jordan could anticipate, the sound of Sam’s armor being the only thing of them that grows quieter as they moved towards the distant outline of the fox]
|J|: And there they go, (exhausted) why do they do this to me? No matter where we go, they have to go night hunting; And here I thought that they wouldn’t do that here, in a different timeline than our own. I really hope your version of Sam isn’t like this one, cause they can be quite the handful otherwise. (sighing) Then again, I don’t think I would’ve fallen in love with them if they weren’t like this.
[Jordan sits down, their gear making some slight clunking sounds as they purposefully and softly thud down on the ground]
|J|: (Exhausted once more) Anyways, I know you’re not asleep, and you’re just pretending to be. You don’t have to reveal it to me, I noticed it as soon as we came over; Sam, uh Sam isn’t the most observant one of us, and honestly that’s probably for the best. If they were, you would be treated to some of their war stories; Which, depending on your personality, you may or may not love. Still, I’m pretty sure you have a lot of questions, so let me start with the most basic one; We may look like your parents, and it’s not our intention to get you guys’ hopes up, but we’re not your parents. Okay, yes, we’re technically your parents, we’re just not your specific parents…If I had to say what our relationship is; And by our relationship I mean the relationship my party, my partner, me, and you all have is that we’re all from a different timeline than yours. So for example, in this timeline, you might have only Sam or me as a single parent, or you might have Sam and another one of party members as your parents. Point is, time is weird and even more so when stuff like this happens.
[Jordan reaches over and removes the listener’s sword from its scabbard, making a low, but recognizable unsheathing sound]
|J|: Anyways, ignoring the whole time thing, I do like this sword, but it can be a bit cumbersome sometimes; Anyways, what was I saying? Oh right, yeah, the second thing I should probably address is the kid that’s keeping watch over you guys, well, was. We put ‘em to sleep. (Casual tone) Sandman dust, it’s a pretty great omni purpose item; The dust works for insomnia, or putting an awake guard directly to sleep in a prompt fashion. Don’t worry, Sam and I, along with our other party members will be keeping watch for you all instead.
[Sam makes their way back over to the group, humming a nice tune, while their armor makes the noise that lets Jordan know that they’ve returned.]
|S|: (Happy and excited) I’m back! And you will not guess what I got
|J|: (With a sigh) Is it a fox?
|S|: (Still happy and excited) Nope! I got two hares! The fox led me to this fine little field and I was able to make out the little nest of these two out there. So I snuck up on them and viola! Now we can have hare stew for dinner! I’m going to go drop this off with the rest of the party, then I’ll come back.
[The sound of Sam walking away fills the air, their armor making noise along with the snapping of twigs that comes with their heavy steps]
|J|: (Exhausted) Hares, they managed to get two hares for dinner. (Deep breath in, wait, then out) Don’t scream, don’t scream, you’ve got sleeping children you’re watching, so don’t scream. Okay, I’m nicely composed, we’ll just gloss over that, yeah? I wonder if your Sam drives your Jordan as crazy as they drive me? Well whatever the case, what was I going to say before we were interrupted? Oh right, we’ve set up camp not too far from here, I helped to set up an impressive perimeter alert system; I know my skills, and well, they’re worth bragging every now and again, still, I took extra precaution and set up a silent alarm, so only we’ll know if someone or something is stupid enough to disturb it. And before you say anything, yes, something could fail, thankfully we still have something a little low magic, but nonetheless as effective and as reliable as high magic; If you haven’t guessed it yet, I’m essentially saying that the last line of defense will be left up to our animal companions. So in light of that, we all have a chance to take shifts and watch over the lot of you. Don’t worry, we’ll be out of your hair before dawn, it’ll be like we were never here.
[The snapping of twigs returns, along with Sam’s familiar humming, they stop with the group]
|S|: Alright! I’m back, the party absolutely loved the hares, though the others were also able to forage some other ingredients so tonight’s dinner is going to be fantastic. Now uhm what did I want to say? Oh yeah! I don’t know where your parents are in this timeline, but if I ever find this timeline’s version of myself, oh man, I never thought I would say this, but I’ll strangle myself until they understand the number one rule of being a parent; You. Never. Put. Your. Child. In. Danger. (Still whispering, but slightly angry) I mean what kind of parent just lets their kid do their hard work for them! I mean you all are just kids! You shouldn’t be out here saving the world on your own, or at all for that matter.
|J|: Uhm honey…
|S|: (Unflinching) You’re all still kids, you shouldn’t have to bear the weight of the world yourselves. So for them to do that to you all without a proper excuse, it just makes my blood boil.
[Sam’s armor moves around, though this time, it’s due to the fact of them laying down on the ground along with Jordan; The thud of them hitting the ground being a bit louder due to their heavier weight]
|S|: I’m half debating whether I should stay here, I mean, at least one of us should, right?
|J|: Well that’s assuming that we can’t find this timeline’s version of us. Regardless, since we’ve first watch, we have plenty of time to get well acquainted with each other.
|S|: Yeah! Still though, when I look at all of these kids, I hate to admit it, but they’ve all grown so strong; Certainly stronger than any one of us. I mean Jordan, you can just feel it radiating off of them.
|J|: (Some playful laughter) Now that you mention it, yeah, I can definitely feel the power radiating off of all of them. I’d bet if any one of them tried to take us on one on one they would absolutely without uncertainty, lose, if by a miniscule margin.
|S|: (Slight chuckle) Ha! Sorry kiddo, but I think I’ll listen to the assessment of the brains of our little group; Yes, while you are all strong, that’s not the only thing that decides a battle’s victory; And I hate to say his to you, but, we have more experience underneath our belts and when it comes to combat, experience can be the difference between a fatal strike, or being fatally stricken.
|J|: (Amusement) Well would you look at that, you do pick up a few words of mine every now and again.
|S|: (Triumphant) Heh, well you know what they say, if you surround yourself with the people you want to be like, then you’ll pick up a lot of things from them.
|J|: (Flustered) Huh, well, even after all this time, you do in fact listen to what I say every now and again.
[Sam moves around, making their armor move along with them, in addition to that, the jingling of metal within a pouch can be subtly heard]
|S|: You know honey, it’s kinda strange seeing your trusty sword in the possession of our child, while it’s also resting right there on your hip.
|J|: Yeah, it’s something I have to come to terms with, it’s almost sobering to see it be used by someone other than myself; Even if that someone is our child…from a different timeline, sure, still our child though. (Slight release of breath) Make sure to take good care of this sword, if you can do that, then I know that it’ll take good care of you. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times this sword has saved my life
|S|: Uhm, honey, I love you and all, but I can already hear the incoming ramble about your sword. So maybe we should explain how it ties into the whole experience thing.
|J|: You’re very right, thank you, this sword has been by my side for as long as I can remember. And I’d say that your Jordan has spent the same amount of time with your sword as I have. This is of course a roundabout way for me to say that I’ve had a lot of time to get very well acquainted with it. I know just about every little bit of this sword. For example, did you know that the sword was crafted using a trace amount of Noma powder. Noma powder itself is a byproduct of smelting Inli Ore, eh, I can tell you more about Inli Ore some other time; What you really need to know is that when Noma powder is incorporated into weapons, the weapons don’t necessarily become sentient, but they do kinda become attuned to your being. The stronger your bond and reliance on the weapon, the stronger it will get in return. Until eventually it becomes both virtually indestructible, and with the ability to cut through just about anything you attack. It also has a tendency to adapt to your fighting style, though judging from how it looks, you’ve already got that angle covered. But there is one crucial thing that you must remember, any weapons forged with Noma powder become entangled with their user. Which means that when their owner dies, so does the weapon. Unless of course…well, I hate to spoil a surprise, so I think this is where I’ll end my explanation.
|S|: (Awkwardly) Uhm okay, well that’s a little abrupt, don’t you think? But yeah! Like Jordan said, experience beats strength in combat. If you’re not intimately familiar with your equipment and their limitations, then you’ll leave yourself open for a catastrophic fail. I mean, that particular set of armor you’re wearing, my armor, has a little slit, just below the chest plate, and above the abdominal plate, where a thin enough blade could slip through and strike you fatally. I mean the gap sits just above your diaphragm so one lucky hit, or one very keen eye and you’re gone. I do hope you decided to keep my little modification to the armor. Or that you took extra precaution and that you decided to reinforce my patch job with extra armor and padding. That is, assuming you can hear me in your sleep.
[There’s a couple beats of the armor, metal clanking against metal]
|J|: (Slightly irritated) Honey, please do remember that the children are sleeping, I don’t think we want to wake them.
|S|: (Nervous) Uh, right, sorry about that. I’ll try and keep quiet. So as I was saying, I think I did a damn good job at hiding the armor weakness. To circle this all back around, if you didn’t know about that particular flaw in my armor, then not only do you know now, you can also prepare on the off chance that you face that rare enemy that is both desperate enough to live, and perfectly attuned to their own body and all of its senses that they’re able to spot my little jury rigged fix. If you weren’t previously experienced enough to know that, then, I guess I may have just saved your life. (slight chuckle) Eh, it’s probably in poor taste for me to laugh at that. (Releasing sigh) That is assuming you can hear me in your sleep. I guess what I’m saying is, you have to be careful out here; I know you’re old enough to take care of yourself now, but can you hardly blame me? When I look at you wearing my armor, and see how much you look like Jordan, I have this urge to protect you.
|J|: (Flustered) Uhm I don’t know about that Sam, they look a lot like you if I’m being honest.
|S|: (Happily) Well, at least that’s what our friends said when we first saw the lot of you. And I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that whenever I see you, all I can see is that little baby that we left at home in their crib, waiting for us; I really hope that the maids are capable of handling the baby.
|J|: (Reassuringly) Sam, the maids at home are certainly more than capable of handling a single newborn. They’ll be perfectly okay, once we return to our own timeline we can go home and coddle and coo and dote on them for as long as we want.
|S|: I know, and don’t get me wrong I’m giddy at the chance to get home and do that, but like when was the last time that this timeline’s version of our kid had that? Will they be able to do that with their own child, this kind of stuff can affect them long into the future you know.
|J|: (Surprised) Hey, wait, that’s what I always say to…
|S|: (Slight smile and slight chuckle) I may not be the best at understanding everything you say, but whenever you say anything, I’m always paying attention; Especially when we’re talking about things that could hurt other people. (Cough) Back to what I was saying, who knows what will happen, maybe from how bad things have gotten and a lack of parental presence in their life. Maybe this version of our child won’t even want a kid after all of this. I just…I just want to keep them safe from any kind of harm, is all; And there’s a part of me that knows that this timeline’s Sam feels the same. But that’s enough rambling from me, I suppose we should just tell you why we’re here.
|J|: (Questioningly nervous) I don’t see how explaining our mission here is either important or relevant if I’m being honest…though I guess it wouldn’t hurt to just say it. If nothing else, it will be a fantastic way to review why we’re here so that we know not to deviate from the plan.
|S|: (Flustered) Uhm, why do I get the feeling that it was a jab at me?
|J|: (Slight laugh) Honey, I’m just teasing, you know that, though, yes, I would appreciate it if you would stick to the plan on this one. We don’t want to affect this timeline too much now, we have no idea the repercussions if this timeline doesn’t go as it was preordained.
|S|: (Embarrassed) I know, I know, I’ll try my best to stick to the plan, it’s just that…well you know how I get when I see things that just aren’t fair.
|J|: (With a slight chuckle) Honey, that’s the thing I love the most about you, heck it’s one of the things that made me fall in love with you and marry you. And I’m certain that the Jordan of this timeline married their Sam for the same reason. That doesn’t change the fact that we need an item, or rather an ingredient necessary for a ritual that would help us finish an ancient weapon that is said to be able to defeat our version of your world threatening evil. The unfortunate part is that the ingredient comes from a particular animal that went extinct in our own timeline. However we were able to meet and recruit a very strong magic caster from our own timeline; The best part? They specialized in time magic, they were actually the one who floated the possibility that the animal might actually not be extinct in other timelines.
[Once again there’s the snapping of a twig, which causes both Sam and Jordan to quickly turn in that direction. Sam’s armor sounds off as it goes along with their body turning]
|S|: (Dismissively) Looks like it’s just one of our party members, I think they’re looking for a place to uhm relieve themselves.
|J|: (Awkward throat clearing) Moving on, to cut an already long story short, the magic user did a ritual that then allowed us to move through time and space; That then allowed us to chose this timeline because it was the first one we found in which there’s still a sizable enough population running around that a few being gone wouldn’t be too much of an issue for the ultimate survival of the species.
[The sound of an owl hooting is heard, though it is joined by the sound of a couple pieces of wood banging against other pieces of wood, the crackling of fire subtly taking over the hooting]
|J|: (Startled) Sam! Could you have warned me before you decided to add more fuel to the fire?
|S|: (apologetic) Sorry, it’s been getting pretty chilly and I’m not really keen on the idea of freezing to death out here.
|J|: (Slight chuckle) That is a fair point darling, just a little warning would’ve been fine. Anyways, back to what I was saying, that’s why we’re in this timeline, to track down at least one of these creatures and well if we can’t capture a decent number of them, then we do the next best thing and hunt them.
|S|: You know, I’m going to be honest, I’m glad you took the lead on the explanation, I probably would’ve rambled on so much and I wouldn’t even know what to do after the explanation. (Regretfully) But yeah, there’s another reason we choose this timeline.
|J|: Sam, do you really think that revealing that secret is the right thing to do?
|S|: If not us Jordan, then who? Besides, they’re asleep, not like they can hear what I’m saying.
|J|: (Nervous laugh) Yeah, g-good point. P-please continue
|S|: (Suspicious) Right, anyways, the other thing that brought us here is the fact that this timeline is on its last legs; (Letting out a breath of frustration) Gosh I’m glad that you’re asleep, otherwise this would be very difficult for me to explain to you face to face. But yeah, there’s a very high chance that the same villain that threatens our timeline will win in yours. (Heavy sigh of frustration) And that’s the sad part, had we known who this timeline’s last hope was, well I know I would have, and I’m sure that everyone else in our group would’ve wanted us to extend our stay too. As it stands, we have enough of the magical seal left, that it lets us be in this timeline…maybe a few days. So I’ll float the idea with the rest of the party, but my hope is that, while we’re here, the least we can do is set you all up for success while we hunt for the creatures that we need.
|J|: (Surprised) Wait, you’re going to do what now!? I mean I’m not against the idea, it’s just that, well, what if they see us? What are we going to tell them? (Mockingly) Hey, I know we look like your parents, but we’re not actually your parents, sorry for making you believe otherwise. (Normally) Yeah, cause that’ll end well for both parties involved.
[There’s the sound of someone shifting in their bedroll quickly snags the attention of both parents]
|S|: (Relieved) Scared me for a second there, I thought you were waking up.
|J|: (Nervously) Yeah, definitely the same here, nearly jumped out of my boots.
|S|: (light laughter) You know, somehow I still can’t wrap my head around the set of circumstances that would lead your Sam and Jordan to be unable to save the world but still leave you with the burden to save it in their stead. I mean if your Sam is anything like me, the only way I can even imagine such a thing happening is if…(realization hits, then with progressing sadness) Oh…oh no, oh kid I’m so sorry. I should’ve realized it sooner.
|J|: (wistfully) Yep, that was the same conclusion I came to when I was talking about the sword.
|S|: (Pensively) If that’s the case, how long have you all been alone like this? A couple months? Years? Ugh, now I feel twice as disappointed in myself from this timeline.
|J|: (Slightly irritated) Yeah, I’ll join you on that boat, how dare this version of myself die and leave their child to pick up their slack. If I wasn’t already dead, I’d give them a piece of my mind.
|S|: Then, is it okay for me to include you in this promise I’m making, Jordan?
|J|: I’m fairly certain I know what you’ve got in mind, so, yes I’m all in on you with this promise you’re making.
|S|: (Confidently) Then it’s settled, even if the other party members don’t want to, Jordan and I will do everything and anything in our power to keep you all safe from the shadows.
|J|: Couldn’t have said it better myself my love; Speaking of shadows, judging from the path you’re all on, I’d wager that you’re all heading to the drowned pass; And if we continue on with that assumption, then your only destination can be…(with slight entertainment) Oh!? the burned forest, what business do you have heading over there, I wonder.
[The call of an owl cuts through the small amount of silence in the scene]
|S|: (Surprised) Wait! For real? That place is really dangerous! You all really shouldn’t go there.
|J|: Darling, (Slightly angry) I’m sure that the kids know what they’re doing, they wouldn’t go there without a proper reason or plan. Because if they did, that would be a very reckless and very stupid thing to do. So much so that it would make both myself come out of the shadows and their version of Jordan to come back from the dead and make them seriously regret the day they were ever born; But of course they would never do that because the sheer stupidity of said action has been properly thought through and weighted against the rewards.
|S|: (Anxious) Uhm love, uhhhh, your scary side is showing.
|J|: (Strained laugh) Oh, pardon me, I hadn’t realized that I was showing that side of me.
|S|: (Clearing throat) Well, uhm, if you all head on out there, all I’m going to tell you is to be careful. Despite its name, the burned forest is a real piece of work. I hear it’s prowled by all kinds of nasty beasties, like Evel Stalkers…if you come across one of them you’ll want to keep a three-sixty perimeter, they tend to be pack hunters; One distracts, while the others sneak up from the unguarded sides. My recommendation? Fight them, and finish them off, quickly; Oh! For some reason they really like to target elves first, so you can guess why they’re nicknamed elven hunters. Oh, you’re also going to want to watch out for the forest whispers, that’s not a type of creature so much as it is a funny little quirk of the forest. It tends to whisper into your ear, trying to separate you by using your greatest desires against you. They’ll keep leading you astray until you don’t know where in the forest you are. And the worst part? If you get lost, you’ll very likely die out there. (Nervous) Uh not because I don’t believe in your survival skills, but because well, it’s the burned forest, there’s nothing alive in there, no plants, no animals, even the soil has gone barren so even surviving off of bugs is out of the question.
[There’s some more movement from the bedroll once again]
|J|: Though the only question I have is, why in the world are you all heading to the burned forest? If it’s like the one in our timeline, then it’ll be twice as dangerous now; The burned forest may not look like it, but it is deeply connected with the darkness of the world. In our timeline, when we went there, it seemed to be true. Though to be fair, the world threatening evil hasn’t advanced as far as it has here, there are still nations standing, and a good number of those have gathered into a coalition to fight the big bad evil.
|S|: (Tired, with a slight yawn) Yeah, and while our allies are fighting the good fight, we’re here hunting down some animals whose parts are needed in a ritual. I know that it’s for the greater good, but like I just can’t help feeling useless you know?
|J|: (Slightly sympathetic) Darling, I know, but this is also an important job. It could even be the most important thing we do so far.
|S|: (yawn again) See, I know that, and yet, a part of me still feels like I should’ve stayed behind to fight alongside the coalition armies. You know, it makes me feel like I’m getting something done, even if it’s a small and ultimately useless act.
[The sound of Sam’s armor moving about is heard, as it stands, along with the sound of Jordan doing the same]
|S|: Jordan, do you ever think our kid gets like that? Like they have to be doing something in order to feel like they’re contributing to the overall objective?
|J|: Maybe Sam, though let’s be honest, they clearly inherited my smarts, I mean look at them, they even look like there’s a big brain behind that adorable face.
|S|: Nope, they for sure inherited my strength and martial aptitude
[Sam and Jordan laugh slightly at their little exchange]
|J|: Well regardless of what they inherited from who, they at least know which one of us gave it to them.
|S|: (Deep breath followed by a sigh) You know, I didn’t know I needed this little talk of ours, it’s doing me more good than I thought.
|J|: On that we can agree, it feels good to express our thoughts, as a family. (Pause for 2 beats) Well, mostly, considering that one of us is asleep.
|S|: We got to watch over the lot of you, and we also had a talk with our child from a different timeline; Even if that’s a bit odd, it’s a fantastic bonding experience. Uhm Jordan can I ask you a question?
|J|: Always my darling.
|S|: At the end of all this, I wonder what their answer would be if I asked them to come back with us.
|J|: (With slight surprise) That is definitely a question, hmmm, and yet, I also would like to know the answer to it.
|S|: I can’t stand the idea of leaving our kid all alone here without a single family member to watch over them. (Long exhale) But uhm, something tells me that they’ll be too busy making this timeline peaceful again.
|J|: (Slight chuckle) You know, a part of me wishes that your instinct was wrong, but yes, I think the same. Truly our work is never done is it?
|S|: Nope, you beat back one world threatening enemy, and suddenly another takes their place. I can’t even begin to imagine the crises our child and their friends will face after this. (With excitement) Oh! I know! If we’re ever in the neighborhood again, I know that everyone and myself included, would be happy to lend a hand. We gotta pick up the slack from this timeline’s version of ourselves.
|J|: Agreed, now that we know the truth, oh! We also have to make sure that they’re eating well, and that they’re also maintaining themselves. Oh! And grandchildren! I definitely want to see grandchildren, no matter the timeline, I know this Jordan would love that. But only if you want kids of course.
|S|: (Another deep breath is released) You have all grown up into amazing people and I know that if your parents were here they’d tell you as much. So in their stead, let us, your parents from another timeline tell you.
|S&J|: (Proudly) We are very proud of you, of who you’ve become, and we’re very excited to see who you will be.
|J|: There’s so much amazing potential in you, and I hope you see it in yourself as well.
|S|: We may not be there to see you in the future, but we know that you will do anything and everything that you choose to set your mind to. (With a slight yawn) Anyways, looks like our shift is up, I think I can see our Vaeril and Mize coming to relieve us of duty. Sleep well kiddo, trust your friends and together you all will get through this; But if you ever need some encouragement, remember that we’ll always be right behind you, making sure that even if things look hopeless, you’re never without help nearby.
[The sound of Jordan and their gear crouching down is heard, the slightly clanking of their equipment rings through the air]
|J|: (Whispering) I know Sam hasn’t caught on yet but it’s true you know, even if we’re from a different timeline, we do care for you; We want you all to be safe and uhm, if you could keep what you heard tonight a secret I would greatly appreciate it. Anyways kiddo, get a goodnight rest before I come back here and put you to sleep myself with sandman dust. Sweet dreams
[Jordan walks away, calling out lightly to Sam to wait up. The grass gets flattened by their boots underneath them. Though the sound of someone pushing up from their bedroll is heard, along with their armor, the child pushes up against the ground]
Divine Writings 
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