Plopping down on the small cot, in the tiny hut, I start to sort through the mass of things we have to work with. My bags grow heavier from our endeavors but the heavier my bags grow, the lighter the burden on my heart feels. Its in these moments, watching him curse at the cauldron, or destroy a table because something is not going to plan, that I can breath. I laugh, I joke, I smile. Remembering these moments helps keep the pain at bay. For a moment I am free from the burden you left me. I was not sure if peace was the right choice of words, and now I am certain that it is. Salen Adon. He may never know how much he has been helping me, but I intend to do whatever it takes to return his unintended gift. Woe betide any who would threaten my peace.
And the threats do come. The nights have been more alive as of late with vampires, wolves and mist that moves with a mind of its own. Adon and my halfling friend have both ran into a vampire in the night on separate recent occasions. Thankfully they were unharmed but just the thought of something happening to them has my fingers aching for the safety of my claws. I had not realized when they told me about their brushes with vampires that it would only be the beginning.
Only a few nights later I would have my own run in, luckily it was not face to face and alone. We held up in the Lady's Rest while the vampire and her minion attacked all who were unlucky enough to be outside. We took refuge in the basement hoping that the rumors, that the vampires could not enter, were true. We made it to dawn and with tired eyes we embraced the sun and what those warm rays meant for us.
Another night would prove even more terrifying. Adon, my new elf 'friend', and another would enter the keep to the west. It was to be a training experience for us and for them. We knew we would be fighting to protect them from the horrors that waited inside but we had done this before. We knew what to expect inside and we were well prepared to take them on. Or so we thought... When we reached the end of the corridor, opening the last door before we ascended to fresh air, we walked right into what I believe was the lair of a vampire. The coffin rested in the corner, a sturdy coffin made of stone. We were not prepared for this fight. As we all agreed that we would need more help, stronger allies, we ascended the roof and headed back to the outskirts to find them.
Quickly I was able to find two friends of mine who were fierce allies. Strong and capable in their skills. I thought we were set, I thought this would be easy now. The thought of something happening to any of us made my stomach turn but I ignored the feeling because I knew what we as a group were capable of. I knew it would take quite a force to stand in our way. Adon and I had fought so closely together for so long now we knew how to cover each other, how to protect each other. I did not however plan on our foe preparing for our return. And I did not plan on there being more than one. Had I known then what I know now, I would have never let them return.
We prepared as best we could, then descended back into the dark depths of the keep. The last moment of silence before the impending chaos would begin. Our arrival did not go unnoticed, or unexpected. Within moments of returning we would be beat back by a small army of vampire warriors. But we were doing well. With claws and fangs I ripped them to shreds with my allies cutting them down beside me. I did my best to keep myself between the small elf and the vampires. These were far too strong, they would kill her in seconds if given the chance. We finished them with no casualties but not without wounds. While Adon prepared to destroy the coffin, we all tried to bandage our wounds and prepare to leave, but we would not have time. As the blast crumbled the coffin to a pile of rubble, the sounds of many footfalls racing down the corridor could be heard.
They were coming for us and this time they would be stronger than before. This time they would bring a few very powerful mages with them. With our lives at stake we did the only thing we could. Fight. In the chaos somehow we were separated. Two of our group had fallen, there were three of us left but as Adon ran toward what I could only imagine was going to be his death he shouted to get out. Leaving and staying had never been so hard. To walk out when I knew what he was about to face, but he is strong. I had to believe he would make it back out. I do not know how he did it, and I do not care, I had never been so relieved to see someone return. With the two fallen we made our way out of that wretched place.
One of the fallen had an orb on them and I was able to bring her back. The others wanted to take the small elf to the Ezrites. So many emotions swirled through my head. I would not be able to explain the reasons behind why I would not raise her there. For one I was certain it would not be safe for her there if they found out what she was, but maybe it was more the disgust I had for Ezrites that kept me from allowing it. It did not matter which it was, neither were something I could explain to them, so if they found me foolish for wanting to carry her all the way back to the outskirts then so be it.
Encumbered with the burden of her body, Adon and I stopped to catch our breath as the others hurried back. It was a mistake. We should have known better, the night was young and we were not safe from the horrors we faced until the sun would rise. Adon always told me of the wolves out there, how dangerous they could be. The fear or respect for their strength that he had was enough to make me believe him. So when the wolf, the wolf that towered over us, emerged from the trees I thought this was it... We were not going to make it. He yelled for us to run and we did, but he stopped. He took on the enormous beast, I would not leave him to die, not after what we just survived. I ran back to help him but he again yelled for me to go. I have learned not to question him in moments like this but he is testing my will to leave him behind. If I hadn't had the elf burdening me I would have ignored him this time. Instead I headed for the temple, forcing my paws to push me toward it, further away from him and not knowing if there were more.
Shifting just before reaching the outskirts, I lugged her lifeless body to the priestess. Thankfully she was able to bring her back, and as I helped her in that moment, my eyes were trained on the door. Pleading with a god I have not spoken to in ages to let him walk through it alive. And he did. We were all back now, all safe and our wounds bandaged or healed. It was over. But just as that thought and the relief entered my mind, a thunderous, murderous howl rattled the temple. The sound was loud and painful to hear. We were not finished yet. What in all the hells had we done by returning to that place. It seemed whoever we disturbed was not going to let us leave this night with our lives.
As quickly as I could manage I warded us, and we prepared to put an end to the evil once and for all. But none of us were prepared for what was waiting for us. Upon leaving the temple we were under attack by an army of wolves, but it was not the army of wolves I was worried about... it was their leader. The wolf towered over the temple, it was warded with magic of it own. How could we survive this? We fought with everything we had left. I think the fury I had in me at this point, watching the ones I cared about fight for their lives, gave me the strength I needed to continue. My claws were longer and I would tear into them deeper than they could me. This was going to end now and we were not going to be the ones to lose. We chased them back into the night, catching up to each of them and finely putting an end to a night none of us will soon forget. I just hope that it was the end.
I followed Adon back to the outskirts. Both of us battered and bruised but alive. He asked for a moment with me so I followed him into the cemetery. He held something in his hands and before I knew it he had fastened it around my waist. When I realized what he had just given me I was at a loss for words. What do you say to someone who has given you a gift that could never be repaid. I stumbled my way through a terrible thank you in comparison to the gift but it meant so much more to me than I could describe. He said it was to keep me safe, and when I asked him why he would not use it to keep himself safe, his response made me laugh. But nonetheless it was true. I would do whatever it took to keep him that way.
One of our friends asked to speak with me for a moment when we returned. She knew something was off about the way I had acted earlier in regards to the Ezrites raising the small elf. She wanted to know what it was about. I could not tell her everything. I had given my word to the elf that I would not say anything. And the latter was telling her about you. Neither of which I could do but she would not stop without an answer. I asked her as a friend to give me some time to answer that question. To trust me and understand that I could not answer at that moment. Thankfully she understood.
After everything that had happened I can not escape reverie. My body is tired, my soul is tired and I will not heal without it. Please let the memories that flood my mind be far from any of you.
Locking the door, she tucks her journal away deep in her pack. Pulling out something smaller, she climbs onto the bed. Crossing her legs under her, she leans back against the wall; with a deep sigh she rests hands that are clasped about a doll in her lap and closes her eyes.