#ghost doesn’t really understand what dung defender means to tiso but when they hug stops they see a smiling tiso so

[thehappiestgolucky]

Once again thinking about Tiso n the oof of his aunts and uncles of the Five Great Knights.

More accurately - it eventually getting to much for him and him cracking. Tiso, as far as I remember in doodles, hasn’t cried around Ghost yet. Makes sense. Parents don’t usually cry around kids for multiple reasons - one being not wanting to stress or upset the kids because their guardian can’t handle something that the kids also can’t handle. Last thing Tiso wants is to shake Ghost’s determination.

But it eventually starts getting too much.

Learning about Hegemol when he first travels after Ghost to see where they go was harsh. His empty armour on display in the middle of a hollow arena. He never even knew Hegemol was missing or in danger. Now he’s not even sure he’s alive - yet all signs point to no. Hegemol had been jolly and upbeat, it was easy to crack a smile around him. It hurts, thinking that in some way Tiso could’ve saved one of them. That Hegemol’s fate was sealed because Tiso simply didn’t pay attention. He liked Hegemol.

It’s then Ze’mer. He didn’t even know she had holed herself underneath Seer’s home - amongst the buried dead. They have the briefest of talks - like Ze’mer simply doesn’t want to confront the ghosts of the past (hehe metaphors) and Ghost themselves is very determined to deliver these flowers. She seems to light up only a bit when they come back to tell her they have a flower to Elderbug. When they come back to inform her of the grave now being decorated in flowers, Tiso has only a bit of time before realising she’s going as well - and only getting a short moment of shock and horror and grief before she’s gone. It’s a small crack, when he tries to grab her in a feeble attempt to stop her, but it’s a crack.

He misses Ogrim. He next sees the corpse of Isma, with her tear that protects Ghost from acid. Tiso had went to clear out enemies in the waterways and by the time he caught up with Ghost, Ogrim has already been bested in battle and as such - not available to see him. Isma’s passing stings, she was always so lovely and generous. He doesn’t even know what happened, how she was driven into her grove and stayed there to be immortalised as simply one with nature there. But the sudden confirmation of death hurts, and it’s enough to stun him for a bit before continuing. Each moment a dwindling hope for any other one to be ok.

Dryya’s corpse was devistating. Tiso wasn’t even sure why Ghost was visiting the White Lady again, after he had to drag Cloth back to save her life the first time. He didn’t see that Dryya had perished. Seeing it now hit hard. She was one of the finest warriors, the strongest of the Five Great Knights. Her skill was unmatched, her fierceness in awe, stoic and unmovable. It didn’t stop her from caring, not at all. She was simply in a class of her own. Yet here she lay, almost discarded. Overrun. Nobody even knew. There’s a massive lump in Tiso’s throat. He had hoped, wished even, that one of the Knights were around. Dryya being dead didn’t set his hopes for Ogrim very high.

So when Ghost goes to the waterways again, he’s confused. Because they’re not heading towards the flukes, no. Ghost wanted to visit the Dung Defender again, but not that they told Tiso that. They just did. So when Ogrim pops his head up, to see the little visitor arriving and bearing them a jolly smile - Tiso’s in shock. He stops moving because he can barely believe it. Ogrim spots Tiso after greeting the little vessel. He’s just as shocked. He heard no word about the son of his friends for a long time. He’s delighted to see the ant in one piece and moving.

Ogrim gets out of the ground. Maybe to confirm to himself. Maybe to help Tiso confirm it’s actually Ogrim. Tiso’s still too stunned so Ogrim approaches him and just, gently wraps him in a hug. He’s got really strong, soft and secure hugs. Yknow that trope, where someone is not doing ok but the hold their emotions in until someone just gently says their name and they just break? Ye ye that’s happening. Ogrim just gently says Tiso’s name and he can feel him begin to shake. The relief, the happiness, the sheer release - of seeing one of them survive. It gets to Tiso. Luckily, hidden away from Ghost’s confused eyes - he gets to break. Just for a bit.

Because one of them survived.