Me playing support: get the f back here so I can heal you!
Some dumbbutt: but dps go bam... -- Anon Guest
"WHY, in the name of the Living Light, do you keep forgetting that you're squishy?"
"I'm used to being strong. I'm used to fighting the world. On the plus side, I have a pretty good grasp of tactics, so I'm not squishy for long..."
Gaarsh snorted an aborted growl. Being a Cleric of the Light wasn't always easy, but being a Bugbear made it harder. Keeping a few spell slots for healing is always wise in battle. Or out of it, come to think of things. "It's my duty to protect you, damnit..."
"It's my duty to protect you," countered the apparently suicidal Monk. "Obviously, we need to have a good long talk about battle plans."
"A long rest would do that, and restore my ability to stop you dying," Gaarsh made himself comfortable. "By the Dawnlord, you are hard to keep up with."
The Monk, too, made herself comfortable. She claimed to not need sleep, and so far she hadn't. "Beats me why you'd bother," she murmured. "My death makes everything convenient for everyone I care for."
"The fact that you care for them is reason enough to stay alive. Someone you care for has to care back?" So far, the Monk had been tight-lipped about everything. She hadn't even given a name, not properly. You may call me Kudzu, she had said. That wasn't a name. That was a noxious weed. Someone must have loved her enough to see her to independence, if only some time past.
She scoffed. "Please. I was left in the woods to die by the woman who birthed me. It was only pure luck that Ama found me. Once I'm gone, I'm no longer an embarrassment to hir tree-mates. That, and ze doesn't have to watch me die of old age."
"You prefer hir anguish when a stranger comes to tell hir that hir daughter died in battle?"
"I'm a Tiefling. Dying young is natural causes."
"It doesn't have to be," Gaarsh soothed. "I, too, was left to die by my -ah- genetic donors. I was sickly and weak. I did not fit the model of a strong warrior-to-be."
That made her open her luminous eyes. Oh yes, I see you. Now see me. "I, too, was taken in. A Halfling Cleric had a camp near the place I was left. We... found each other. I call him 'Dad' now. He's more family than... well. Bugbears also seem to be destined to die young."
"Death by Adventurer. Yeah." She sighed. "I thought the curse would do it but you... You and your second fucking chances..."
"The new day brings better opportunities," Gaarsh recited. "Mercy and forgiveness are cobblestones in my path. If I wasn't given a second chance by my Dad, you would not have a second chance now. Thus is the way of the Light."
She sulked in Gaarsh's general direction. "You... You're not going to let me end things easily, are you?"
"There's no such thing as an easy end. Those who've come back from death have told their stories. It always hurts worse than anything you've ever known."
"Ugh. Fine. You and I will work together to break the curse. Then we'll see what fate has for us next."
"The Dawnlord will illuminate our path He has set for us."
"Whatever." She took some deep breaths, a prelude to her long meditations. Before she started reciting her Koan, she said, "Thank you. You're actually making me believe I have a chance."
"Use it well," he said. They were safe for now. Safe enough for him to curl up while she meditated.
"Ama named me Amber," said Amber the Monk. "A gem in the forest. Wood Elves, am I right?"
Already half asleep, Garsh muttered, "Pleased to meet you, Amber."
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Jochen]
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