Niwen is ailing, an ancient land succumbing to the Decay with the certainty of the sun's passage. The colossal waterwheels of the Wellspring lay unmoving as it rots beneath its weight, a once-vibrant world lays reduced to a wasteland of biting dust and greedy sludge, choking out the petrified remains of what once was; the Light of the Spirit Willow is fading, split apart into Wisps and starved for new life. Its inhabitants have grown jaded and fearful, and spirits from across the world fight with their all, only to fall victim to Decay's gnashing jaws. Ori and Ku knew none of this when they took flight to the east. Neither did Naru and Gumo, nor the several spirits who followed after them. Now stranded in this strange and perilous land, all they want is to flee from its dangers and find their way home before it consumes them outright. Niwen itself is a few steps short of becoming doomed - everyone knows it deep in their hearts - but as the Children of Nibel fight for their lives, they discover that there are things within that can still be saved. (Co Written by TheIronWaffle from Archive of Our Own)