"The night and the dream were long"
He said with a smile on his face, finally the burden was released from him. Unable to stand from the countless wounds he'd sustained during the battle with his pupil, his friend. The only one he have had in a very long time. The events replaying in his mind that had led to this.
He had offered him mercy, and the hunter, had refused. Such a brave lad. However, there is a thin line between foolishness and bravery. Gehrman would never say it, but he liked him, he reminded him of himself back in younger days. Filled with life and energy, curious about the world around him, inquisitive yet not knowing the impact his actions would bring, and the consequences. It came as no suprise to Gehrman that this would happen. Feeling the ground now, the wounds, did not hurt anymore. Suddenly he felt a hand on his shoulder, sluggishly turning towards the source of the hand he saw his pupil. He looked sad, regretful. No words were needed between the two but Gehrman needed to say something. Now with his mind cleared from the shroud of the night he grabbed the hunters shoulder and with his remaining energy Gehrman breathed out, before losing consciousness.
"I am proud of you"
Darkness was what greeted him next, it was all he saw. All he was, opening his eyes and what met his sight made him question what little sanity he may have retained. It was a forest unlike any other he'd seen. But something was different about it, it did not hold the malice that seemed to permate every inch of the waking world, of yahrnam. No, it felt natural and bustling with life. If he had indeed finally woken up from the dream, where had it deposited him? There was no signs of civilization anywhere, no roads nothing. deciding that he'd have to find out where he was and fast before anything could jump out at him, Gehrman stood up.
Or at least tried to.
Immidiatelly he tumbled down on his stomach and with a suprised yell from suddenly losing his balance. Deciding that maybe laying down was not such a bad idea after all. Being old and getting pierced by one of the churches huge weapons tends to knock the wind out of you.
After a short rest he listened to the sounds of the wilderness around him. The chirping of birds and the cries of some bigger animal sounded trough the forest. Deciding that his breather was over he once again tried to rise to his legs, something was different however, the balance was..off.
Looking down he supressed a startled cry from escaping. His legs while still clothed in his attire, was now hooves. Another quick check of the hands confirmed the same thing.
That's..different, and unpleasant. How did this happen, and why in the name of the great one's do i have hooves like a horse?
Closing his eyes and slowly breathing in and out to steady his heart and to not let the any composure slip he counted to ten. When that was done he opened his eyes once again and now finally standing examined his surroundings. Seeing a lake not too far off he began slowly walking towards it. His mind working overdrive to process what was happening aswell as finding the balance and adjusting to his seammingly new body he carried on. Finally reaching the edge of the lake he looked down into his own reflection and his new interesting appearence
Looking back at him was some sort of equine, although the measurments was all wrong. His eyes were the biggest feature and they glowed softly in the moonlight, giving of a pale yellow glow, accompanied by slits for pupils that fascinatingly enough dilated and focused on their own accord. Next thing he saw were a white mane poking out from under a worn top hat. The ears were also quite big and had small tufts at the end of them. He also noticed two small canines poking out from under his muzzle. And at a further glance at his body it seemed like he still had his normal attire on him although it was different, more in tune with his new body. Under the torn cape he spotted what he thought looked like bat wings?
Sitting down he closed his eyes once again and breathed deeply, to calm his nerves. Why was he here, why was he even awake to begin with and why did he look like some sort of creature from a childs storybook? Was this a parting gift by that damnable dream, a final joke. Had he not suffered enough? Why could he not get the rest he so desperately yearned for.
Years of hunter training and centuries of eldritch knowledge told him to not question this reality, but rather accept it for what it was, otherwise he'd go mad. Sighing to himself he stood up, having figured out the balance for this new body of his. Feeling a light weight on his back he looked and saw the all to familiar handle of his weapon and a weight on his left side alerted him to the deadly curved blade holstered there. Looking around what else he might have gotten with him he quickly located his musket and the pistol. Immidiatelly feeling a bit safer he drew the blade And gazed upon his lifelong companion.
The burial blade, the first weapon made in the hunters workshop, forged by siderite, a metal from the heavens. The blade still as sharp as when it was first made. Suprisingly enough the hooves had more flexibility then what he expected. Gehrman was suprised by the least. It almost seemed like he still possesed fingers or something of the kind. Moving his sword to the right and in one quick fluid motion it clicked in place on the stave that made up the schyte component of the weapon, as his left hoof went towards the handle. Smiling to himself that he apparently still retained most of his skills he took a deep breath and holstered it on his back, the cape hiding his firearms from sight and he looked around wondering where to go next. After some inner debate he decided to head north or what he thought was north, assuming the stars and the moon worked as they should wherever he was.
After wandering for what seemed to be several hours with no signs of any civilazation except for a dirt path the hunter decided to rest by the roadside for a bit. Looking up towards the night sky he saw the beginning of dawn break in the horizon. Smiling to himself that the night was coming to an end he leaned back against a boulder to watch the first sunrise he had seen in a very long time. Feeling the need to express his joy at finally being in control of his own fate again he laughed and thought to himself.
No matter where, seeing the sun rise. It's beautiful, i've forgotten how warmth even feels like. Maybe being stuck here is not turning out to be as bad as it seems. Still if i am in another reality, i wonder if my skills will be of any use anymore.
Calming down after the impromptu laugh session. He watched intently as the sun rised over the horizon and for the first time in ages he felt the warmth of the day upon his skin or rather fur.
"This is all gonna take some time to get used to"
Stifling a yawn, Gehrman Leaned back against the boulder and tipped his hat over his eyes and felt the embrace of sleep claim him and throw him into a dreamless slumber.
