An Unexpected Awakening

[silent_sheikah]

[Dawn spreads slowly over the Kakariko graveyard, the pale light filtering over the headstones as it always does, bringing illumination to the places of rest. It is a quiet, misty morning, the clouded skies impeding the progress of the sun to a sluggish crawl

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[forest_inexile]

[Dark Saria arrives in the graveyard, appearing much less paranoid than usual. Such places reminded her of home, and were soothing to her, definitely more preferable to the bright and lively atmosphere of the rest of Hyrule. However, as she walks among the graves, she freezes suddenly, spotting the Sheikah as he walks.]

[Of all the places for other people to be... Could she not at least find isolation in a place like a graveyard? But there's something intriguing about him. For what reason would he be wandering here? Curious, she speaks to him, though her voice is meek.]

...What are you doing here?

[silent_sheikah]

(Goddeses and Sages!)

(He should have been more on guard to be startled by something as simple as a voice, but he could not help the instinctive turn towards the threat, a knife in his concealed hand ready to throw. He stops almost at once, however, when he locates the speaker.)

(The Sage of the Forest? But, what has happened to her? Perhaps the sages had representatives in the land of the dead as well as the living?)

(Sliding his knife back into concealment, he bows low with a hand to his chest as is fitting to one of her rank, and then straightens. He may have interrupted her task in the graveyard or temple.)

(My apologies, sage. I did not mean hindrance.)

(Sketching another low bow, he backs away silently, intending to exit out the back.)

[forest_inexile]

[She stares at him, bemused by his behavior--and startled at the appearance of the knife. But what is most curious is how he says absolutely nothing. Why doesn't he? She wonders. And why did he bow? She had no rank, no title; there was no reason to.]

[She notices that he is leaving, and raises a hesitant hand.]

...Where are you going?

[silent_sheikah]

(He pauses, not knowing quite how to respond to that. He wasn't exactly going anywhere, he simply wished to be out of her way. Slowly he meets her eye and shakes his head, figuring some kind of answer was in order.)

(Perhaps the first question was really simple curiosity. The sage of the forest is a child after all, it would make sense that her demeanor would pass on even to... this form. He tilts his head at her a little, signaling curiosity.)

[forest_inexile]

[He doesn't answer her question in words, but it is still an answer. Though she wonders why he doesn't speak. Did he simply dislike speaking? ...Or was he unable to? She notices the tilt of his head, wondering what he was thinking.]

...Can you talk?

[silent_sheikah]

(He is mildly surprised at her perception, but he supposes it to be expected from a sage and a child. Both have ways of getting to the point. He closes his eyes and shakes his head, then stares absently at the ground.)

(No, I cannot. I am sorry.)

[forest_inexile]

Oh...

I guess... not everyone can?

[She wants to ask why not, but supposes he wouldn't be able to express an answer to that. She pauses, wondering what to say to this intriguing person. Was there any way he could tell her his name? Did he even have a name to tell her?]

...I'm... Dark Saria. Do... you have a name?

[silent_sheikah]

(Unable to help himself, he gives the girl a small smile at her observation.)

(How true.)

(The addition of 'Dark' to her name is both surprising and not, it did fit her appearance. At the question he pauses and nods, then crouches down and uses one bandaged finger to write 'Sheik' in the dust of the path.)

[forest_inexile]

[She takes a moment to read what he’s written, then saying the name aloud; just for the sake of hearing it, as he could not speak it himself.]

...Sheik...

It’s... a nice name...

[She stops to think, her mind again wondering why he would bother to spend time in a graveyard of all places. Light dwellers didn’t seem to like places like that... But perhaps he wasn’t a light dweller? There's a brief pause and then she asks, regarding him curiously,]

...Do you like the graveyard?

[silent_sheikah]

(He nods again when she says it, her pronunciation is perfect. Catching the little compliment, he smiles again at her, inclining his head in a short thanks.)

(I've always liked it.)

(He stays crouched down to speak to be at her eye level, giving the graveyard a look. He wouldn't say he enjoyed the graveyard, but it was not unpleasant either, and it made for a quiet place to think in his living years. Looking back at her, he shrugs and lifts a hand, palm facing towards the ground, and tilts it back and forth to the side in a so-so gesture.)