#we’ll see if I can post the first chapter before Christmas; that’s my unofficial goal :)

[skyward-floored]

Campfire

This is a snippet of an AU I’ve been working on for a pretty long time now, almost a year at this point I think. It’s your typical “all the Links meet” AU, and this is just a small scene during it. (only around 500 words) But I finally got to the point where I’m comfortable posting some bits of it while I work on the main story, so here it is. (Under the cut)

There’s also a crash-course on nicknames so you know who is who. Subject to change because I’m a fickle person. (Also yes I know some of the names are the same as other people’s, but I didn’t intentionally copy anyone.)

@telemna-hyelle here it is :D

Botw- Slate

Tp- Gloam

Oot, (mm, hw)- Sprite

Zelda 1/2- Brownie

Fsa- Light (And Shadow)

Sksw- Cloud

Tmc- Mini

Albw (triforce heroes)- Hue

Alttp, Oracles, Awakening- Hibisicus

Ww- Windy (or sometimes Crawfish)

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Gloam always enjoyed being on watch.

He didn’t mind the dark—his night vision was excellent after all—and watching out for his fellow heroes as they slept always put something in him at ease. It was either the wolf or big brother in him, but keeping his teammates, his pack, his family safe... it always felt right.

Getting to see them all cuddle on cold nights like tonight was just a bonus.

His favorite part of the watch was always when he would take a minute or two and walk (or pad) around the perimeter, and while making sure nothing monstrous was nearby, he’d check on each of the heroes and see how they were sleeping.

He’d occasionally wake someone from a nightmare, but that was a relatively rare occurrence. He usually just pulled a blanket or two tighter around someone, and gently rearranged some limbs that would have been stiff the following morning.

That was definitely the big brother in him.

Most of them tolerated his big-brothering, a few of them loved it even, but it drove some of the more testy Links crazy. But he couldn’t help it! Almost all of them were kids, barely old enough to be holding a sword, not to mention be killing anything with it. The least he could do was coddle them a bit and make sure they had a good night’s sleep.

Gloam stood up with a small pop as he stretched, then stoked the fire a bit before he began his rounds.

Tonight the two closest to the fire were Mini and Light, the small heroes pressed tightly against each other. Warm shadows were draped along their shared blanket, and Gloam smiled at the third hero he knew was there as well.

Windy lay on the other side of the fire, almost as close as Mini and Light, but wrapped up in considerably more blankets then the two. Surprisingly enough, Sprite of all people was pressed against his side, curled tightly into a ball. Gloam raised an eyebrow at the unusual sight. Sprite almost always slept alone, near the very edge of camp. Maybe the kid was beginning to lighten up a bit?

...That or he was just chilly. Either way, it was good to see him somewhere other then the outskirts of camp. Gloam continued on, but not before adjusting Windy’s many blankets more tightly around him. (And carefully tucking in Sprite’s).

Farther away but still close enough to garner warmth from the flames were Cloud and Slate, the two a pile of seemingly random limbs tangled up in the sailcloth. Faint snoring emanated from under it, and Gloam tried not to laugh as someone’s leg twitched at the noise. He attempted to untangle them a bit, but ultimately gave up and let them be. They were knotted up tighter then a burr in goat hair, and Gloam couldn’t even figure out who’s limbs were who’s.

Moving on, he came to where Hibiscus lay flat on his back, the creases in his face smoothed for once as he slept. Hue was pressed up against his side, with Brownie somehow squished in between them both. They looked so calm all smooshed together, and Gloam felt the urge to turn into a wolf and join them.

He shook it off with a sigh. Somebody had to keep watch.

A small noise came from the pile, and Brownie suddenly twitched a bit in his sleep, his face pinched. Gloam frowned and leaned over to run a gentle hand through his hair, and he stilled, sighing as whatever dream was plaguing him faded away.

Gloam sighed and walked back over to the log he’d started at, settling back in to finish his watch with a yawn.

It wouldn’t be long now til morning, but until then, he’d make sure they all slept in peace.