Chapter Text
There are many thoughts and considerations that Zaknafein had contemplated since leaving Menzoberranzan. Most of them centered around Drizzt, and while that boy had all the innate talent and potential skill that Zak did. He did not have one bone of self preservation!
It was difficult to travel with Drizzt at times, mainly because Zaknafein was unsure how he should react with him. It wasn’t like Menzoberrenzan gave parenting advice to males who steal their own children.
But the younger male seemed to blindly trust him, and never questioned him on why they were leaving. The boy also had such an innate curiosity that he seemed to believe everything should be investigated which led to Zaknafein having to give him first hand instructions on how to kill numerous monsters of the underdark that could slaughter an entire raiding party with only the two of them.
Fortunately Drizzt was a swift learner and they were able to make it to the surface relatively in one piece.
But that lived in another situation that Zaknafein had never considered; Drizzt’s reaction to the sun. The two of them emerged right as the sun began to set, and the boy had such a look of awe on his face that Zaknafein found everything seemed to click into place.
This was where Drizzt belonged, on the surface under the unforgiving rays of the sunlight. The underdark was no place for the boy and if they had stayed any longer it would have killed him.
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Zaknafein was grateful that Drizzt listened to him as much as he did, but he did not want to consider that it was because he was terrified what Zaknafein would do if he disobeyed.
It wouldn’t be until later that Zaknafein would realize just how much Drizzt idolized him until it was almost too late.
But the two of them were able to have a peaceful few weeks in the small cave they were using as a shelter. Drizzt had to be reminded multiple times that he couldn’t expose himself to the humans because Zaknafein understood what their skin and hair meant to those living on the surface.
The mere thought of Drizzt being discovered and hunted by those on the surface, was a fear that Zaknafein did not want to consider.
He knew his son though, and while he may not misbehave voluntarily it was only a matter of time before something would happen and he would get involved.
That is one of the reasons why Zaknafein had left the statue with Drizzt, it was a puzzle as much as it was a promise that the younger drow would be able to complete it once Zaknafein found them a safe haven.
Drizzt seemed quite taken with it and he knew better than to try and experiment with magical objects.
Which is why when Zaknafein returned from scouting for a safe place to live he was more frustrated than angry to learn that Drizzt had been seen by the human children and he had activated the figurine magic.
It was fortunate that the humans did not seem to believe the child at first, it was less fortunate that despite that, the child was still able to convince the parent to tell the rest of the town.
It was even worse when Zaknafein returned to the cave again, only to discover Drizzt gone, the homestead dead with one of his scimitars broken and footprints that were too heavy to be Drizzt’s, a bounty hunter missing an ear and a dead dog, and entire tracking party arriving.
It wasn’t difficult to track Drizzt down, the fallen spryte that appeared to be stunned at the bottom of the cliff signified that it had been thrown off.
Even if Zaknafein didn’t know what was going on, the spryte was too suspicious to leave alive, especially when it was holding onto a piece of Drizzt’s shirt.
A clean swipe of his sword took care of it, and Zaknafein rushed up the side of the mountain hoping that Drizzt did not do anything stupid, needless to say that hope was swiftly dashed.
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How Zaknafein sired the most reckless and idiotic drow in existence, he did not know. Drizzt was taking on what appeared to be two strange creatures that seemed to have some giant blood in them.
And they had the ability to shapeshift, wonderful.
Zaknafein was swift in joining in the fight, the panther had already drawn one of the creatures away outside, but that left Drizzt against the larger one with multiple goblin guards.
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It was important to note that the Barghest whelp was not expecting the older drow with vengeance in his eyes, and he fell swiftly without even realizing what had occurred.
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Zaknafein cursed as Drizzt toppled over and he hurried to catch him. Carefully Zaknafein settled the boy in his arms as he took stock of what injuries the boy had sustained from the fight. It appeared that he only had a broken leg and some potentially cracked ribs.
He did his best to bandage them, but he wasn’t sure how long they would hold, but they would do their job for now. Zaknafein carefully lifted the unconscious Drizzt onto his back and swiftly levitated down the cliff.
Guenhwyvar had done her job in killing the other creature, but it appeared that she had to return to recover her injuries.
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Drizzt was getting worse and they were being pursued, it was only a matter of time before the party hunting them were going to catch up, and there was nothing Zaknafein could do. Drizzt had a fever, and Zaknafein was moving during both the day and night.
He needed somewhere that Drizzt could rest and that he could rebandage his injuries.
The likelihood of that was practically impossible, the hunters were ever closer and Zaknafein was getting tired. The situation was terrible and Zaknafein just hoped that things did not become even worse.
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It was worse, everything was a thousand times worse.
How did everything just become worse? The whole point in leaving the underdark was to find a place for Drizzt to belong. He was supposed to be happy and not have to fight for survival, but now he was bleeding out on Zaknafein’s lap.
A small smile on his lips as he tried to reassure Zaknafein that he would be fine. Considering that there was blood on his lips it was not very soothing.
Zaknafein wasn’t even sure what he was yelling as he tried to get Drizzt to respond, but his precious son was already fading.
And Zaknafein stopped, he felt hopeless. There was no foe for him to fight and kill, no nightmare he could chase away when the memories became too much, no question that he could answer. All he could do was just sit there as Drizzt slowly started to slip through his fingers despite how tightly Zaknafein was clutching him to his chest.
He rocked him slowly as his gaze wandered past those around him who were clearly hesitating on what they should do. They weren’t important, all that mattered was that Drizzt’s breathing became more and more labored.
His grip tightened as the faeries appeared before him, but they murmured words of assurance and healing. Promises to help, as they carefully removed bandages and healing supplies from their back asking to look Drizzt over.
Despite the desire to turn away, to pick up Drizzt and run, Zaknafein knew that the only way that Drizzt would survive would be these faeries. It didn’t matter if they were mortal enemies, if they were willing to save his son then he would have turned himself into a drider if asked.
They let him carry Drizzt as they made their way through the dark forest, and Zaknafein did not notice anything until they tried to take him.
Zaknafein did not leave until he learned that Drizzt would be alright and that the king of the faeries wanted him. Even then Zaknafein was hesitant, but if he wanted to ensure that Drizzt was healed, he needed to stay in the faeries good graces.
The ensuing conversation was a blur, as Zaknafein spoke with the ancient ruler. The Elvenking’s power was not something to be taken lightly.
Learning that an actual dark elf was something else passed in a whirl, why should Zaknafein care if that damn spider queen did something to the Moriquendi to turn them into drow. All that mattered was that Drizzt was alive and getting better.