*Bryna's POV*
As disorienting as it was when my mind clicked into place that I knew where I was and who I was, and that it wasn't who I was called, I'd gotten used to it. It's not even fully accurate to say that I'm not Bryna. I was born as Bryna, but this was my second time living. I don't even know for how long I was dead. I barely recalled my death. Just remembered being snatched and flung far away from my companions who'd practically raised me.
No, they had raised me. I'd been a little nothing following them around and being a pain. The one of the men was a little more patient with me, he made things. The other was an elf that I often enraged. But he never hurt me. Damned anyone to agony who did, though. As I was dying, my companions had wept, at least I think they did. Maybe it had been raining. Mostly, I remember telling them how tired I was, they'd said it was ok to rest, and I'd said I'd join them later.
I don't remember what being dead is like, it's all just a blank until I was Bryna. That's probably some sort of mercy. Thing is, the gods saw it fit that I lose my parents early again. They'd been kind people. In spite of their curse, they never harmed anyone intentionally. A monster slayer still murdered them, though. I'd been hidden away, and thus avoided their fate. That was when I was two. My old self remembered this, whereas the new me hadn't. Until I remembered being her, I was just an oddly calm baby.
I remembered my past life when I was five. I'm nearly eight now, though if you add my previous life, I'm twenty-four or twenty-five. It's a little bothersome, cause I really don't remember their names, even if I remember their actions and the fun we had. The lessons learned. I think one may have been a goblin?
Bah. Anyways, for the last five, six-ish years I had been living with a wolf pack. They hadn't minded my oddness much. Since my parents were both lycanthropes, I'm a Wolfborn. This means I can run around as a wolf quite contently. The annoying part is since I look like a puppy still, they treat me as such. Thus, when a rogue wolf took over the pack, I was chased off, since he couldn't kill me.
It's fine. I should hunt for people anyways. Plus I was sorely bored of living as a pup. I've been traveling around for a while now. I help as many people as I can on the way. It's what my old friend's would have wanted me to do.
There was an elderly couple that needed their trees picked of fruits, I did that for them. Then there were some lost kids. The brats were pretty cute. I also found some bandits that I was able to handle decently easy for my size and being alone. Keep 'em at a range and hide. 'Course they wouldn't expect a pup of shooting at them. Heh. There were other odds and ends jobs and helpful things I did, like herb gathering and hunting. Only small game, this body has some serious physical limits.
Currently, I am delivering some things to a place called 'Tibin's Shop' in Dueling Rivers. Dueling Rivers used to be little more than a farming district. I was surprised it was now a town enough to have shops. Carrying things around in my wolf form is amusing anyways. And I'm faster this way. Of course, I do know I need to mind who I shift around. People don't like Lycanthropes, after all.
I found Gold Lake today, so I was close to where that farm land was set up. There was a tavern cropped up there with tons of people lined up outside of it. As much as it interested me, I knew I wouldn't be permitted inside. Besides, it'd just make me miss my friends more. Besides, in less than another half a day I'd reach Dueling Rivers. That'd get me there round four-ish in the evening.
I noticed after another hour of traveling just off the road, that I was being followed. Noticing this, I turned and looked. Sure enough, some drunk humans were curiously trailing after me. Well, probably more then curious.
Seeing me looking at them, they whistled and did a 'come here' motion, while saying, "'Mere pooch. 'Mere puppy, puppy." I took off to the left, through some bushes. I couldn't let them get ahold of the goods strapped to the puppy vest I'd made and tucked my hand written note into. I veered back into the direction Dueling Rivers is supposed to be still.
After running for three and a half hours, I reached it. Dueling Rivers. It's got a massive stone wall all the way around it, as well as guards at each gate. I'd just go in. They wouldn't stop a busy puppy, would they?
I hesitated. Unsure. They could assume I'm a Druid, after all. So, I decided to sneak in. It's be fine. I approached the side of the wall, then skirted it, staying low and making sure my steps wouldn't jostle the bags. It took a painstaking while to get inside this way. Keeping my small child's attention span was hell. Plus, I usually napped around now. My little body was still growing and tuckered out easily.
As soon as I got in, I started to celebrate with a little dance, but realized I was next to the guard house. With that realization, I ran through the streets. Reaching another gate. Feeling lost, I whimpered and circled a house. There was a huge man sitting outside. He both looked like a guard and not. Like clearly, he was guarding something, but not the town. Probably just the house.
Pretending to be pitiful, I approached him. Good thing I wrote the name on the outside of the envelope. 'Tibin'. I took it out once he acknowledged me, putting on the happy puppy routine. He couldn't read it. He was greatly surprised when he spotted my spider friend, Silkrend, who'd climbed up on my head from his pocket on my vest.
When he reached for the spider, I thought he was going to smash it, I growled defensively, backing up. He was surprised and paused. He then told me to wait, went inside for a moment, then came back out and told me where Tibin was, giving me back the letter. He asked to see my spider friend, then. Cautiously, I nodded and held still while this giant man picked up my tiny spider and cooed to it. I tucked the letter back away.
Silkrend, this man says, is a boy spider, Not that he knows Silkrend's name. And very cute. Of course I know he's cute. He's my spider friend. When Silkrend wished to return to me, telling him by pointing to me, the giant placed Silkrend ever so gently onto my back. Then he ruffled my head and told me to visit again with my little friend. I woofed and playfully wagged my tail in response. Then trotted along the way following his directions.
My next hurdle was the door wasn't a push open stall like door. It had a handle. Maybe my plan wasn't so well thought out. I saw a guard patrolling and thought I'd be caught. He had look at me confused, but a tail wag dissuaded him from further action beyond calling me cute. I was still stuck not being able to get inside the building, though.
Some adventurer happened nearby, shooed me away, and opened the door to go inside. Seeing my chance, I darted inside. I waited politely while they did business. Tibin had told him to, 'take his dog' outside, too. I woofed and took out the letter, wagging my tail for him. The adventurer took the letter, saw it was addressed to Tibin, and handed it to Tibin.
After reading the letter, he came around and got the stuff from my vest. I waited patiently for him to finish. He gave me the payment, and they let me back outside. Super easy. Proud of a job well done, I wondered around and eventually came to the square of this town.
This is where I got the oddest sense of deja vu. There was a tall elven man with long black hair walking through. His back was to me but I just knew that I knew him. Who was he? As I stared, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Silkrend jumped down after a bug, then he turned around and started in my direction-ish.
And I was floored. This was my companion! I still was hazy on his name, but I knew him! Excitedly, I ran forward nipping at his legs and jumping around at him, yipping and carrying on like any over excited pup. And it wasn't an act. I rolled, hopped and flopped at him and he seemed very stiff with the actions.
Using a spell called Speak With Animals, he said, "Little wolf, unless you plan on being on someone's wall, I suggest you go home. And STOP circling me."
I replied in my wolfish brogue, "What, no way! You have to play with me. Those are the rules."
"I do NOT have to play with you. And I can and will launch you back over my walls." He said.
"What? You rapscallious troll toe, how could you say so. I found you! Those were the rules!" I barked at him.
"Listen here you little whel- wait.. What did you say?" He began to give a scathing comeback, but cut himself off, confused.
"I've said lots of things, Trouble-making-troll-appendage." I told him, waving my tail triumphantly. "You lose, so you have to do as I said."
"Only one whelp in all the realms has ever gotten away with calling me that." He replied looking down on me.
"Oh? You aren't scary. The..." I trailed off, the memory of the other person not clicking fully still. I still my motions, sitting and cocking my head. "Was the other one a goblin? I think he may have been. The memories aren't clear."
Suddenly, I wasn't on the ground anymore. He'd snatched me up from the ground, "You are coming with me." He was carrying me under his arm and walking very quickly.
He took us around to where the giant man-guard was still seated. He'd had his arm between my front legs where I couldn't really escape. But that was ok, cause he was never a mean guy. Just grumpy sometimes. I snuffled his hand.
The giant looked at my friend confused and said, "Hello. You've brought Kershka's friend back."
"No, Silkrend is over in the square still." I woofed to my friend. "This guy likes spiders."
He looked down at me and said, "I don't know what a 'Silkrend' is and at this particular moment, I don't care. Kershka, we're going in. Open the door."
"Silkrend is my spider pet. I don't know why it likes me. It's weird." I yapped at him. I was almost sure I could vet my teeth on a finger, but he'd probably drop me. He's got a mean streak like that. Like a kid with a magnifying glass at an ant hill. Then again, he'd probably bully such a kid.
Kershka opened the door like he was told. What a nice fellow. We went inside to a tidy and sweet little house. I yawned, not being able to contain the sleepiness I was starting to feel. I really did need that nap.
"Bibs." My friend called. After a moment, he called again, louder. "Bibs, you are needed now!"
I twisted my head around and told him, "Our friend used to scold you for that tone."
'Bibs' came to the top of the stairs and slightly angry said, "Tilton, you will not speak that way in my home."
"Yes, you have told me. And I still will not listen. Now then. Inspect this wolf pup." My friend.. Tilton said.
I was peering at this 'Bibs'. He's the other friend? Or no? I kept tilting my head to the side, watching him. Trying to see if he is the friend I remembered.
"Hah. You realize I am not a veterinarian, right?" the goblin Bibs sighed.
I whimpered, frustrated at myself for not remembering. But maybe it's the wrong perspective?
"The one we lost all those years ago... I believe this wolf pup is tied to them. Don't know how." Tilton replied.
I started trying to explain to him who I was, but I'd guessed the spell had ended. Lacking the ability to communicate without his spell, I started squirming.
"That is a.. mighty leap in logic. They have been gone a long time." Bibs said.
I yawned again. Then, with a popping and creaking of bones, began to shift to my human form. It was made quite uncomfortable by the way I was being so firmly held. Tilton reacted quickly and put me down on the table. I was able to shift more quickly since he put me down. Once I was in my human form entirely I gave the men a wry grin. "Now I can talk to you."
"And now it shapeshifts." Tilton said.
"My parents this time were werewolves." I replied. "They died a while ago. I remembered that you were an elf. I still don't quite remember you, Bibs. Are you different?"
"You see? It speaks as if it knows us." Tilton said.
"Yeah 'cause I died." I told him. "And you were told not to do that 'it' thing."
Bibs raised his hand towards Tilton and looked at me and said, "What is your name?"
"I don't remember my name from before I died. I was named Bryna this time." I answered, frowning. "I thought you said goblins don't live long, but there's an entire town here now. It used to just be farming here. Actually, I didn't see any signs of that. A lot os different. But Tilton isn't."
"So you say you remember nothing of who you were but somehow remember us?" Tilton summed.
"No. I remember a lot of stuff we did and I remember that my family back then were killed unjustly. You took the ... what was that.. stone?" I frowned confused, shaking my head, "Rubble off me. And I guess it was Bibs that fixed my arm. It was mostly disconnected from the elbow, remember? And then I followed you all around and we argued lots. I just don't remember names."
Bibs gave a big and toothy grin and said, "I believe you."
"You should, cause I've been listening to you still. Helpin' people when I can and such. I delivered stuff to Tibin today for an old lady. She hurt her ankle and couldn't bring it." I told him.
Bibs laughed and said, "How is this possible?"
"I'm not the answer person, like you." I replied, rubbing my eyes. "Tilton's the asky person. I'm the listnin one. But sometimes it's opposite."
"Well, little miss 'listen' one. It seems someone missed their nap." Bibs said.
"Yup." I said. "It's 'cause I'm still a little kid."
"Well, little kid or not, it seems to me you need your nap. There's a room upstairs I can let you use." Bibs said.
"Okies." I said. "If you say so." I moved to get down from where Tilton put me and pushed his hand on purpose. Trying to antagonize him. "Silkrend's eatin' bugs in the square. That big guy, Kershka, said Silkrend is a boy spider." I teetered for a moment, then straightened my posture and smiling.
"The gender of your pet is not something I'm concerned with." Tilton retorted.
"You like senseless facts." I said. "Stuffy bottom."
"I enjoy facts, yes." Tilton said, "I would not say any of them are senseless."
I shrugged and went to Bibs. I hugged the goblin and said, "Tilton's gots lots of big feelings with little rooms for them."
"Indeed, I don't think he knows how to handle them well." Bibs replied, patting my back and then leading me to the room he said I could nap in. I fell asleep pretty quickly. Tuckered out from the excitement.
I dreamed of my death. How I'd been close to them one moment and ripped to shreds the next and flung away. That was the difference, Bibs' hair used to be wild, and he didn't have glasses. I woke when my name was about to be said. I was gasping and in shock, like always when waking from that memory. It was still hazy, I didn't know who'd killed me or why, I just knew that I'd found those precious friends again, who'd been there when I'd died.
I got out of the bed and made it back up. Then I headed back down to see my old friends. I slipped going down the stairs and shifted to my wolf form so I wouldn't be hurt in the fall. At the bottom of the stairs, I shook myself and shifted back to human form. Seeing them both I tilted my head and said, "Did you know that Tilton was right? Wolves are jerks unless you're the boss."
Bibs smiled softly and asked, "Do you know how long it's been since you were taken from us?"
"No, I don't. I remember being born again, though. And yes, that is as disturbing as it sounds." I answered him, "But you were glasses now and grease back your hair."
"As the years do go on I have to change some things to show my progress with maturity." Bibs said. "Whereas the glasses are well, glass, I did have to tame my hair at some point. It's been three hundred and seventy-four years. I don't wish to dredge up terrible memories, but, do you remember what happened?"
"Enough for nightmares, but not really. I remember I was with you both and then I wasn't and it was agonizing. I was tired and you said I can rest and I said I'd join you later." I said, swallowing at the memories.
"Well, you certainly found us later." Bibs agreed.
"Yeah, I wasn't sure if you all were alive or not. I missed you." I said.
"It'll take far more than time to bring us down." Bibs said.
"Maybe for you, old man, but it will claim me eventually." Tilton commented.
"Has that rapscallion been harassing you always, Bibs? I'm too small to give him a what for." I asked.
Bibs feigned distress and said, "Yes, he has tortured me for years on end."
Tilton looked down his nose at Bibs and said, "The only torture that's been happening is your influence on my town throughout the years."
"If you ever stopped complaining, grabity would lose it's pull." I said.
"That's alright. One so small shouldn't have to worry about gravity much." Tilton quipped.
I blinked slowly and said, "Ahm. But you said grabity affects all sorts of things, whether big or small. Don't you remember that lecture?"
Tilton rubbed his temples and said, "Bibs, I leave this to you. I must get back to work." He turned to leave but turned back to me and continued, "It is good to see you again, Ashtar." Then he went out the door.
"Ashtar..." I repeated to myself when he left. Pain split through my skull and the things that weren't clear before snapped into place. I clutched my head as the information strained the boundaries of my child-like mind's capabilities. But I also refused to let the memories go.
Bibs had approached me, "Are you alright? What's happening?" He asked.
I couldn't respond yet, tears began to fall down my face. I hugged my friend tightly until the pain subsided. "Memories. I remembered what I'd blocked out." I told Bibs. "There was a lot."
He was holding me and telling me, "It's ok. Take your time. Breath."
I listened to him. "I am Bryna, but I remember Ashtar's point of view and life. It's confusing to shift the knowledge."
"If it helps, think of it as a long story that someone told you." Bibs suggested.
I nodded. "Yeah. A little bit. I don't feel like there is a difference between then and now, though."
"I would recommend, taking maybe an hour or two in a day, and sorting through what's in your mind." Bibs said.
"You're reasonable, still." I smiled. "It's a lot on a kids mind. It's usually good to listen to you."
"As someone who had to sort out the mind of a feral ravenous goblin to what you see before you, I am someone used to dealing with the mind." Bibs said.
"I remember you saying that. That you weren't proud of who you were, but you were looking forward to the good you can do." I said.
"I have several bits of that good in the works at the moment. And I feel, I still have much to do." Bibs said.
"I can help, Bibs. I'm little but I'm growing every day." I told him, cheerfully. "I been planning on exploring and helping people."
He patted my shoulder and said, "That's the best thing you can do right now, grow. Become strong. We are still in an era that might makes right."
"I should join the adbenchewer guild, then. Is there still multiple?" I asked.
"There are still a few different guilds, but the one here in town is called the Sleeping Ox." Bibs said.
"Do you recommend that one?" I asked.
"I do. It's actually run by a friend of mine." Bibs said.
"Oh, that's amazing. I bet you have tons of friends. You're very lobable." I smiled again. "Tilton, too. Don't tell him I said so. I got lotsa training to do."
"The guild will certainly be a good place to do it." He agreed.
"So why's Tilton got the town now?" I asked.
"He claims it's his retirement plan." Bibs said.
"Eh? But he's not even old." I pointed out.
He laughed and said, "He feels old. A lot can happen in three hundred and seventy-four years."
"Yeah that's true. A lot had already happened before I met you both, too." I said. "And we did quite a bit back then, too."
"Indeed we did." He nodded. "How about Kershka and I show you around?"
"That'd be good. Kershka helped me with directions earlier." I replied.
"Ah, that's what he was asking me about. Then you've already been to Tibin's." Bibs replied.
"Yup! An adventurer opened the door for me. 'Course I coulda shifted, but that's how you get hunted like a dog." I said, grinning.
"Yes, people tend to jump at the thought of taking out lycanthropes." Bibs nodded.
"Yeah, it's how my parents died this time. They was cursed and forced to shift with the moon or stong emotions. It's cause of them that I'm a Wolfborn." I nodded. "That monster hunter didn't need to kill them. They never hurt more than a deer or bear. Even lived out in the woods away from people. I wasn't really attached to them, I was two, again, when they passed."
"It is unfortunate that prejudices like that prevent conversation." Bibs said his tone a little tired and a little sad. He led me over to the door and opened it, letting us out and looking at Kershka.
I laughed and said, "You're still really big!" And flopped against the giant man's knee. "Oh, I gotta find Silkrend."
Kershka slowly extended a finger and said, "He came to see me, and wait for you."
"Silkrend!" I laughed, "You sly devil, look at you gettin' all chummy with someone else. I'll get jealous." Silkrend cleaned it's fangs, turning back towards Kershka. I gasped and said, "Snubber."
Kershka chuckled and said, "He likes you very much."
"Yeah, he's got odd taste. He's been with me a good while for a spider, you know? What's it been Silky, a year or two?" I blinked. "You can talk to him!?" I stared at him in amazement.
Kershka gave a big grin, "Kershka learned talk to spiders. Very friendly, very fun."
"I used to be scared of spiders, but Tilton taught me all about them, so they weren't really scary anymore. And Silkrend's cute." I told him.
"Tilton is good teacher." Kershka said.
"Yep. Good and trouble makin'." I replied.
Kershka looked at me confused, "Tilton good at resolving problems."
"He oughta be. Bibs said it's been a real long time since I seen them last, so he's had lots of experiences now." I told him.
"You real small for long times." Kershka said.
I nodded and said, "I died long time ago. I'm just a little brat now."
Kershma was looking very confused and then shrugged.
"Kershka, we're heading to town. We're showing her around." Bibs told him.
"Ok." Kershka said. "Kershka carry?"
I jumped at the arm he'd raised, catching it and barely holding on, I squealed like the child I currently was and said, "Your arm's huge!"
He grinned real big again and said, "Yes." Then he scooped me up and put me on his shoulder. He angled himself a little, and Bibs walked up his arm, sitting on his other shoulder.
I giggled and kissed Kershka's head and said, "Look, Silkrend, you can see a lot more from a high up view."
Kershka got up and started heading in a direction that Bibs indicated. The men together showed me the town. I got to see the bakery, the stalls, the guild building, and we walked through the Dwarven district. They pointed out Tilton's home, too.