We bid farewell to the beastkin and the village at the break of dawn the next day. Solemn waves and warm smiles sent us off to the next leg of our journey. The wagon had been refurbished and the mules rested and fed. The feast had left a positive mark on the adventurers, none more so than the old dwarf. He still reeked of alcohol after an entire evening's worth of non stop drinking. Despite this, he confidently held the reins of the donkeys with a big smile on his face.
"You sure are something, Mr. Hermit!" He said, voice bellowing with loud amusement. I was walking beside the wagon, keeping pace.
"I'm surprised as well," said Redtail, "What compelled you to bring this young one along?"
This young one she spoke of was tucked between her and Gred, wrapped in a warm, fuzzy blanket. It was Zeal, the orphaned beastkin girl. I spent the rest of the night with the little beastkin, feeding her as much as she liked with the sausages and stew. Sparing no effort, I eventually won her trust through her stomach. We didn't talk. No words escaped from her lips other than the occasional muffled appreciation as she ate and drank. Eventually, she would fall asleep, but not before letting me sit next to her as she finished her last bowl.
She was tired, skinny, and dirty. The despair she held within herself would not be expelled, not for a long time, if at all. But she was no longer alone. Loneliness couldn't kill me, but it could kill her. I couldn't let that happen, not now, not then.
Never again.
The village chief did not raise much in protest, nor did the rest of the villagers for that matter. They were simply confused at my sudden request to take in the orphan. After all, in their way of life, who would want to take care of someone that would rather be buried with their loved ones?
I told myself many times that I wouldn't care. That I shouldn't. Whatever happened, happened. But alas, I could not stop myself even if I wanted to. Several millennia of my lonely torment was upended by a few adventurers and some little green monsters having a scuffle near my home. Only for me to stumble upon a threat greater than the one I had faced before.
Ignorance was bliss, yes. But only if death encroached swiftly and quietly. Yet the ones I would have to face neither moved swiftly nor quietly. They crawled between the cracks and crevices, gathering their numbers before sprouting forth from dimensions unseen. They would ravage this world and lay it to waste. A few weeks ago, I would have considered such a catastrophe a blessing. Finally I would be killed and find solace in the cold embrace of death.
But... the memories of those who had left me behind did not wish to be silenced. They clawed at my mind, whispering into my ears. They urged me, beckoning me to emerge from my isolation.
That I did, yet still I did not understand. Why must I care for the world that betrayed me? That betrayed them?
But as I would soon find out, the world was full of evil, but not everything or everyone was. There was still good in it. If the world really deserved to be saved, then I would find this good, and only then would I know.
For now, the adventurers and the little beastkin would show me the first steps of the way. If they led somewhere, or nowhere, remained to be seen.
"Pity, then?" Gred said, snapping me away from my thoughts. I had remained silent over Redtail's question, making it seem I was uninterested in answering. Truthfully I was, for my mind was elsewhere, pondering. But still, it didn't seem right to be silent, given that the little beastkin was awake and listening.
"She needs a new home," I said, gazing at Gred and Redtail, "She deserves as much."
The two adventurers nodded, quickly understanding what I meant. "Still, I didn't expect you to act this quickly or..." Redtail trailed off.
"Rashly?" I finished what she wanted to say, "I agree with the sentiment. But I would rather act now than let things fester."
Redtail nodded in acknowledgement, "It was honorable of you to bring her under our care."
Our?
"You don't seem to like suffering," Gred said. He quickly blushed as he noticed the carelessness, or naivety, of his words, "I mean! Of course only the heartless would not care for the suffering of others. But I'm not saying your heartless of course-"
Tov bellowed with laughter as his elvish leader panicked with his words. Gred was amusing, to say it nicely. I could feel that his heart was in the right place, and so were the hearts of the other adventurers. Was it really by chance that I encountered what looked like to be a noble party of would-be heroes?
"What's your name again, little one?" Redtail asked as she handed the little beastkin another skewer. The little girl's face lit up when she saw the treat. However, the beastkin hadn't spoken since last night. Not to me, not to the adventurers, nor even the village chief. All she did was nod or shake her head.
"Z... Zeal." She said sheepishly. Well I'd be damned. She finally spoke! And it only took Redtail one skewer.
Was my cooking that bad? Or was the skewer just that good?
"Zeal?" Redtail smiled, "What a fine name you have, little one."
"A good name." Gred said.
"Better than Gredance, that's for sure!" Tov said. Finally, someone acknowledged the ridiculous name of the elf. And of course it was the dwarf who would do so.
"Says the one named Tov!" Gred shot back.
"Tov means strength in dwarvish tongue, you silly little pointy-ear," The drunk dwarf said. It was ironic that the stout dwarf was calling someone else little, "A strong name compared to yours!"
"It means Light!" Gred fired back.
"Ah! Of course, how could I forget?" The dwarf turned to look at Gred. A big, mischievous smile was plastered all over his face, "Mr. Gredance Lightwood, or should I say, Mr. Light Lightwood! HA"
The dwarf lost himself to his laughter. Redtail couldn't help but muster a faint smile as well. The elf simply blushed, though I was unsure if it was from embarrassment or annoyance, most likely both. Zeal just sat there, confused.
Maybe I should have carried her on my back instead.
My eyes eventually landed on Dalinah at the other end of the wagon, leaning on some barrels and boxes. The mage had wrapped herself in her newly washed white robes. Though she didn't partake in the feast, Gred made sure to bring some of the skewers and meats for her to taste. She liked them. I saw the quiver of her lips and the gleam in her eyes as she bit down.
Her spirits seemed to have lifted, even if for just a bit. Still she remained silent, but I was guessing it wouldn't be long until she spoke again. After all, I had a lot of questions that I needed her to answer.
Though I think the appropriate time for such questions was still far away. Nevertheless, the plan was still to accompany these adventurers back to their current headquarters.
The town of Ylvalil.