Perhaps Gaucho's one saving grace throughout his perpetual state of haze, was that he was a primitive and instinctual creature to begin with. His mind had never been his most prominent or strong faculty, and so as it gradually began to wane away, Gaucho remained able to function perhaps much longer than most would. For instance, as Ampere's body darted away, Gaucho's immediately followed. Others in a similiar instance might have asked questions of why, or what's wrong?. They might have lost themselves in these questions, pushing against the mental barrier that the parasite had caused. But not Gaucho. No, Gaucho merely tipped his brawny body forward to follow the blue towards the blood-stained sands. His only thoughts were ones which his senses brought in, and were largely left unfiltered by his mind.
Gaucho's steely gaze saw the boy on the sands as soon as their trajectory became clear. Now that he was thinking about more than just avoiding looking at Ampere too long, he could smell the scent of dried shit, blood, and the lifelessness that hovers over the dead. If he had been thinking, he might have initially thought that Ampere was merely excited to see her son. But Gaucho wasn't thinking, and as the understanding that the boy was dying or already dead registered in his mind, Gaucho instead focused on what was before him. This was most certainly a blessing, for dwelling on what might become of He and Ampere should their firstborn die, the guilt and corresponding discussion of perhaps whose fault it was that Zero found himself dying alone on the sands, etcetera, etcetera.
Fire flared in a wide arch from Gaucho's wings before his hooves even touched the ground. The dun knew from experience that every second could count, and so he wasted no time in allowing the flurry of healing fire release from his wings. Dark hooves touched on the sands and still the Wildfire forced the magic from his body. Sweat began to line his already dark eyes, and a haze swam before him. But how was that different from the state he had found himself in as of late? If anything, it was easier to throw himself into the brink, depleting himself for his son, given how tired his body already was. Like Zero, in that moment, death didn't seem so bad.
Gravity pulled at Gaucho's knees, bending them. His brindled legs happily complied, yielding balance for more power and duration to the magical blast of fire that still poured from his feathers. The dun couldn't tell whether or not he had stopped breathing, but he must have, for as his knees sharply hit the ground he heard himself distantly gasp in a large breath of air.
Shaking his antlered skull, he peered outwards as the flames finally stopped, revealing the body of the sunbeamed child beneath.
"Zero." Gaucho rumbled, and despite his obviously drained appearance, the word was strong and did not waiver on his lips. Nor was it a question. It sounded more like a command, as if the sultan was demanding that his son answer him, and in doing so, prove that he was alive.
Woohoo. Happy 1,000th post to me!
@Ampere
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