losthunter | The Stories We Keep Secret

"It would help delay the poison from growing stronger..."

Kendra pauses at one of the wilted flowers. "They say plants can hear you. When you talk to them. Remember that he can hear everything we say right now."

For Jim, it's a strange parallel. All those days where he lay in a coma, he still sometimes remembers things that people said to him, when he was out. Not necessarily whole conversations, more like vague impressions of topics and emotions, enough that he remembers he wasn't alone.

And now they're inside Hunter's head, and it's almost like the script has been flipped.

Faris knows little about that, but he knows at least one thing that he can say that might help. "Hunter, you would not be the person that you are without your struggles and hardships. You have spoken to me of the man you once were. Regardless of why you were chosen, you have grown into a better person than you would have been."

A small trail of flowers seem to flourish at Faris' feet, as he says those words. Kendra smiles a little.

"Just the fact he was chosen makes him special." She whispers.

Jim can take a guess as to what Kendra means by 'someone special' that the others found. Hunter's ordeal may not have found him his one true love, but that doesn't mean he hasn't met anyone new because of it. "From what you've told me, I don't think we would've met if you hadn't been chosen," he says, with a glance at the flowers under Faris's paws. "You have a lot of friends you wouldn't have met. And it's pretty obvious that they care about you. I know I do."

More flowers appear underneath Jim's feet at his words. There is a slight warmness that spreads, reducing the amount of ominous thorns around them.

"There is more than one kind of love in this world. I am so glad he found friends, who are there for him when he needs it most."

"He still fears being rejected... even after all this time."

"Rejection says a lot more about the person turning you down than it does about yourself," Jim says, and though he doesn't know if it works that way, he focuses on the affection he has for Hunter. The way they've become friends, more than just occasional bed partners, and even though Jim is not open to making it anything more permanent or romantic, it in no way reflects badly on Hunter himself. "If someone isn't willing to get to know you just based on how you look or how they assume you are, then that's their loss, not yours."

When Jim focuses his affection for Hunter, there is a warmth in the air. More and more roses appear on the path behind them now. And they seem to be blooming all over now. Even in the twists and turns of the path they are following. There is still a darkness ahead of them, but the path they have traveled is filling with light and hope.

"He has become so much stronger since meeting all of you. His friends give him such confidence. It was why the poison couldn't directly infect his heart." Kendra smiles. "His love for his friends was already there, protecting the most important part of him."

They turn a corner and are faced with a thick patch of the dark thorns. "Love and friendship are the only things that will end this poison."

Jim doesn't really understand how, but he doesn't have to understand to believe it. He can see the proof in the roses that are blooming around them, in direct response to the words that are spoken.

"There is strength in a multitude," Faris says. "A single twig alone can be easily broken, when many together cannot. So it is with living creatures. Lifemates may strengthen one another, however, if their focus is solely on each other, they are lacking the potential strength they could have. While I am bonded to my beloved host, there is strength also in forming bonds with others, or I would not now be here. Hunter, you have many such bonds, many who care for you and you for them. Your lack of lifemate is not a weakness."

The thick path of dark thorns starts to thin out, as more words of support are broken. In the middle of the dark thorns is a bed. They can see that Hunter himself is laying on the bed, fast asleep. The dark thorns are wrapped around his body.

"Careful..." Kendra notes, as some of the dark thorns try to twist around their legs and arms. "Don't let the poison touch you."

Jim takes a step back, out of reach of the thorns. Faris brushes up against Jim, transferring himself seamlessly onto the captain's skin as easily in the dreamscape as he does in reality, giving the dark thorns less of a target.

"How can we get to him?" Jim asks, his gaze fixed on Hunter.

"We have to keep breaking apart the negative thoughts. Your words and support have done a good job so far..." Kendra herself is being careful not to allow the thorns to attach to her either.

"But it's not enough," Jim says, eyeing those dark thorns that are so cruelly wrapped around Hunter's body. Even though he knows this is just a representation, a metaphor translated into visual imagery so he can understand it, it's an alarming thing to see regardless. "Not yet. What else can you hear that we don't?" She told them of Hunter's doubts before; maybe she can do it again.

"We are close enough to the source, that I can make the whispers more audible, so you can hear them..." Kendra suggested.

"But you must be prepared for what you might hear. And understand, that these are a darker version of Hunter's own thoughts. Many of the doubts have been implanted by the poison... and are in fact, something he wouldn't ordinarily be concerned about."

"And that some of these doubts... speak of his friendships."

"We didn't come this far just to stop now," Jim answers. He's no stranger to dark thoughts that whisper illogical fears to a person, thoughts that keep you awake at night even though you know that there's no rational reason for them, your mind taking a small thing and twisting it into something it's not. And while whatever demons are threatening Hunter are new to Jim, the struggle is not.

"It is difficult to fight that which one cannot see," Faris agrees, his voice coming out from Jim's chest. It's not even a dilemma for a symbiont to share the burden of another.

"Please, make sure the thorns don't attach to me, while I do this..." Kendra asks. Then she closes her eyes, stretches out her arms, and tilts her head to the sky. At first, they will just hear a rush of sound, like the ocean.

But soon, the waves of the ocean become voices. One voice in fact.

"She is only your friend because she pities you. If you weren't such a loser, there would be no reason she would stay in your life. She found her true love. She will leave you behind..."

"He will leave you... just like the others have left you. He doesn't need you anymore. He has his connection back to his world... it is only a matter of time before he decides not to come back at all..."

"Your work is not a legacy. It is not powerful enough to be kept in museums so that future generations will see it. You are forgettable."

"He will find someone better than you. And then you will be left behind. You are only a fling to him. Nothing more..."

Neither Jim nor Faris know who 'she' is, in the first doubting thing the voice says. But the second... Faris isn't sure if it's referring to himself, or if it's some other third party, but it certainly fits their relationship. "I do not need you," the K'da says, but he says it with conviction, not scorn. "However, a friendship that is based solely on need is no friendship at all; one must enjoy the other's company and desire to see the other succeed. You are an interesting and valued being, and I have returned several times since you assisted me in finding my way home. Had I been so callous as to care only for your utility to me, I would not have done this."

Jim can answer for the other points, and he addresses the third first, better able to frame his thoughts and feelings on the matter. "Lots of artists don't get famous during their lifetimes, and get remembered across entire planets. But that's not the important thing about your art. Your art is a part of you, done because you have something to say. And if even only one person is changed by it, isn't that worth it?"

The last part... it twists inside of him as he tries to figure out what to say. "It's true that I'll probably meet someone different. A lot of someones. But that doesn't mean they're better or that I'm trading up, or that meeting them means I wouldn't still care about you. I don't give up on people, especially not when they haven't given up on me."

More and more of the dark thorns around Hunter thin out as both Faris and Jim speak up against the doubts. There are a few flowers here and there, starting to bloom. The biggest difference is that there is now a big enough opening that they can move closer to where Hunter sleeps.

The dark thorns are twisted tightly around him.

"This is where the poison starts..." Kendra speaks.

"She was never meant to change your life. You forced her hand. If you had kept out of her life... she would still be alive."

"That is not true..." Kendra moves close to where Hunter sleeps. She tries to reach out to touch him, but one of the dark thorns attempt to attach to her and she has to move her hand away. "He was chosen because I knew he could be a better man. And he is now..."

With the retreat of the thorns, Faris finds it safe to leave Jim's skin again, landing on all four paws. "No one can force another to do what was done," he says, padding closer to Hunter's sleeping form, stopping short of the reach of the dark thorns. "It was Kendra's choice to aid you, not her obligation. And your behavior has little to do with her end."

Around them, there are more and more flowers blooming, and less and less dark thorns. Soon, the only dark thorns that remain are the ones around the bed, and attached to Hunter's sleeping form.

"The doubts have been eased... but the poison remains." Kendra doesn't hear any of the whispers anymore.

Jim's not sure what else they have to give. If all they've said hasn't made in impact on the root of the poison, then what comes next? "Now what do we do?"

"It is a magical curse..." Kendra approaches Hunter again. This time none of the thorns try to attach to her. She is able to touch his face, gently.

"We need to find a magical cure."

"I don't know that much about how magic works," Jim admits. He can think of a possible fairytale solution for Hunter being asleep, but it doesn't solve the thorn problem.

"Don't you?" Kendra turns to him, as if sensing where his thoughts went.

"My original spell on him, when we both thought it was a curse, was supposed to end with a kiss." She speaks it out loud. "But because Hunter was meant to be more, the kiss didn't break that spell. A kiss could break this one."

"What is the significance of this kiss?" Faris wonders.

"It's an old story from ancient times on Earth," Jim explains. "A woman was cursed to fall asleep until her one true love found and kissed her. But I'm not Hunter's one true love or anything," he adds, directing the last part towards Kendra. "Would it work?"

"That one true love bit is a little exaggerated." Kendra answers. She takes Hunter's hand in her own. She is very careful not to touch the thorns in the gesture. "It only has to be someone who has that affection, that concern, and has a level of attachment."

"It could be anyone he feels close to. That he holds in his heart."

"If I were real, and not a mental representation of myself, my true self would have worked. But I am not her."

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