the blood running through your veins

[Halsin Silverbough]

You don't know what to expect when you get back - you don't know what happened. You hope, deeply, that everyone is alright and that none of the goblins have gotten to them just yet. You hope that you can get back to a grove still intact.
She would have told you if that wasn't the case, you think to yourself. She might have mentioned something, if anything bad has happened, if there was no more grove, if she has been there with the rest of her people. People you do not know yet, but you will thank later for rescuing you from that prison.

You didn't intend for her to leave the rest alone, by themselves, but then again - they seem capable enough to hold their ground. And there is nothing to be afraid of around here anymore, with all the goblins gone with all that blood spilled.
You nod at her, waiting for a moment for her to retrieve her backpack. Taking a quick look around, taking in the scene: all these people, covered in blood and bruises, patching themselves up or gazing at the loot left to no one. You have a feeling that you might see them again sooner rather than later; all of them.

Halsin

They won't miss you?

On any other day, you would have thanked them all, said your goodbyes, but for now - for now there is one thing on your mind, and it is to get back to the grove as soon as possible.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

A smile creeps on your face. You can't help it. Here's the thing: you're not very good at this. Not the part where you knock out a hobgoblin or topple someone with your staff. You're good with that because that's what your life's consisted of. Waking up, studying, training, studying, eating, training, studying, going to bed (or in your case: reading another book beyond your bedtime). There weren't many children at your sanctuary. Just a few you've grown up with. So you never really had to make friends. They were family. Now you're here and - you chuckle at the thought that they could miss you. You hardly doubt they'll even notice you're gone. There are so many people that know how to take up space - and those who don't and do so anyway. You're pretty sure you're just a thought slipping through every now and then.

Nouzin

It's fine.

You say softly then while moving towards the entrance. You mean it. It's fine. You don't want any more than that. And you certainly don't want to talk about it. You'd rather just get away. Not from them. It's the dead goblins on the ground. It's the pool of blood. The feeling of warmth dripping down your fingertips despite there being nothing.
You're not good at making friends.
And you're even worse at killing people.
The guilt's a heavy one to carry around.

After a while when you've left most of the noise behind you and it's just nature greeting you, birds chirping and bees buzzing around, you dare to break the silence.

Nouzin

Forgive me my curiosity, Halsin, I mean no disrespect. (brief pause) How did they manage to seize you?

You can't help but watch him from your side. He's quite big. Even bigger as a bear. Goblins - well, they are not. You try not to be obvious about it. Still not sure how well you're managing keeping your facial expressions composed. You've never met so many people who aren't well versed in carrying their feelings on their tongues. And more than once you've been met with amusement when you've let your expressions slip or your words tumble. Just another thing you're trying to adjust to.

[Halsin Silverbough]

You are rather glad about the company - since you haven't had any in quite some time. The only company you have had were the goblins and their kids, but none of them were great talkers. Neither were you, in your bear form for all that time, not wanting them to know about who you are and that you aren't just a bear. It was easier that way; safer.
Perhaps she - Nouzine - has seen a bear in you too, or what you really are. The question lingers on your tongue - the why. Why was she helping you? Why were they all helping you? Did they, in fact, know about you being that bear in the cage?

You move with her, walking with her towards the entrance of the camp, briefly recognizing the eyes of someone else on you and her - one of the tieflings who has been standing on the side for a while now, watching you two leave. Watching Nouzin leave, you believe. A silent question in her eyes, but none that she asks aloud.

You are out of sight of everyone after a while, moments passing, when she asks you how you got captured. You nod at her question, no offence taken.

Halsin

We were scouting the area, and one thing led to another. It was an ambush - too many for us to wield off.

It isn't the first time in all your life that you were captured, and definitely not the most unpleasant. Yet, you could have avoided that. You should have avoided that, with that many people relying on you.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

Really, it's a silly question to ask. You know what's happened. Aradin told you as much. Still the question keeps lingering. Aradin you might understand. He's hotheaded and selfish. Only thinking about where he'll get his next coin. It's really a wonder he's made it so far in life. (A thought you try to push out because it's so judgmental. That's not who you are.) His crew. Perhaps even that makes sense. They seem the kind to lose their heads like slaughtered chicken if they get rushed just the tiniest bit. But Halsin - everything about his aura says he's as strong as mountain and just as difficult to topple over. Yet he's found himself locked behind bars.

All you do is nod.
Not poking any further than that.
Instead you let the silence stretch on. It doesn't feel too awkward. Most of your companions can't handle the silence well. Some of them saying anything just to fill the air with noise. The man next to you seems the kind that doesn't mind silence nor sharing it with another. You can see why everyone's so infatuated with him.

Nouzin

They'll be relieved to hear their Master is in good spirits.

And maybe his presence will be enough to mend the parts that fell apart in his absence.

[Halsin Silverbough]

You do not think of yourself as mighy, as someone without flaws - you have them, a lot, and sometimes they do get you in trouble. Most of the times you try not to, try to control yourselves, try to control your environment. Not the people in it but the nature, the situations you find yourself in.
Sometimes, though, it gets out of your control. Sometimes it is not you, sometimes you let your flaws overcome you. Sometimes, like this time, you are not in control - and get captured.

And freed, too, from that prison you have been in.

You have been in that prison for a while, cannot even count the days because it has been so dark in there all the time. But the smell - not enough nature, too much of the rest. The sounds - too loud, not enough silence. No time to meditate, no time to get some sleep.
You are thankful for the quiet moment as it is right now, even when she speaks, even when she asks you questions. It is a different kind of quiet, some that is just as soothing.

Halsin

I am hopeful that they are.

And you are hopeful that they are all fine and well.

Halsin

When have you been to the grove the last time?

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

You're considering his words for a moment. Time's difficult to track when you lose yourself in the depths of a goblin camp trying to lead a revenge hungry bear out of the palace. You can't quite tell how much time has passed. But the sun's still shining and that alone's indication enough that not too much time has passed.

Nouzin

Must have been a few hours ago.

Nodding at your own words. Yes, you're sure of that. You might not know the exact time but you know it must've been a few hours ago. Which surely should cover enough times that possibly could've passed.

Nouzin

We've been asked by several folk to help search for you.

You reveal then. Something that's only been shortly mentioned right after you broke him out and he revealed himself to be much more than just a bear being tortured by hateful goblins.

Nouzin

But - I'm sorry to say - you fell short on the list of priorities. With the tieflings fearing to be banned from the grove. Left to their own devices.

[Halsin Silverbough]

You nod at her reply. Several hours ago - not days. This is a good sign, you think to yourself, it means that a few hours ago, everyone was still well and alive. Everyone was still there, at least you hope so. You will see for yourself in a while, talking to everybody and making sure they are safe. Making sure that they know that they are safe, druids and tieflings alike. No more goblins that they need to be afraid of; instead, a safe passage.
You are eager to get back.

What she mentions next, leaves a puzzled expression on your face when you look right next to you, at her.

Halsin

The tieflings are not supposed to be banned from the grove.

It is you who has taken them in, given them refuge for as long as they needed. A temporary home for them to settle in before their next journey. When you left the grove, you did not only do it for your people, for the druids there, but for them as well, to make sure that everyone is safe there. That everyone who would like to leave has a safe way to travel towards Baldur's Gate - or wherever else fate would take them.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

« The second he's opened his mouth and embraced you with a warmth you didn't know a voice could carry, you were sure he'd be part of the solution not part of the problem. »

You did not take that into consideration. That he could be the one responsible for the banishment of the tieflings. There was no reason to think so. Even Zevlor hoping for his return. Hoping that it'll bring sense into the Grove; that it'll stop them from completing the ritual. And you've had even less reason to think so. The second he's opened his mouth and embraced you with a warmth you didn't know a voice could carry, you were sure he'd be part of the solution not part of the problem.

Nouzin

Kagha wanted them gone.

You tell him numbly. There's no other way to put it. No nice words that could sugar the bitter truth until it tasted sweet on your tongue. It's as ugly as you say it.

Nouzin

Of course, she no longer holds those beliefs. She has come to her senses.

That surely is a little more euphemistic than the reality was. But eventually she did come to her senses. Acknowledging her cruelty for what it was. Now she's trying to do better.

Nouzin

I suspect the influence of the Shadow Druids may have impacted her in certain regards.

[Halsin Silverbough]

Something doesn't feel right, but you have yet to figure out what it is. It doesn't take too much time, though, as soon as you speak your thoughts out loud - that the tieflings are supposed to stay, that you have given them shelter, that they can stay for as long as they need to.
They have been a lot more things happening in the grove than you anticipated. A lot more things that seem to have gone astray while you were gone, and Kagha wanting the tieflings out - you do not know how to feel about it.

You have named Kagha First Druid in your place, while being away from the grove. You have entrusted her with not only the druids but with the tieflings too, and now hearing that she has gone astray with shadow druids being mentioned -

Halsin

What happened to the tieflings?

Because she hasn't told you yet about them; hasn't told you if they are well and alive. Kagha is on your list of people to talk to, since Nouzin makes it seem like she is still alive as well, speaking of her as if she is at least.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

It's only then that you realize that you've left out the most important part of the story. To those who feel empathic towards the tieflings. Something he seems to be. It surprises you although you don't like to admit it. Because that surprise implies you've judged him before he's got a chance to introduce himself and his various beliefs.
You've been raised in a sanctuary far away from big cities like Baldurs Gate. The few elves who studied there were adamant about their kind being not the one you'd expect to help others freely. Then again: a lot of the people in your sanctuary were outcast like you and your mother were. It's easy to believe in only the bad sides then. It's your job to make sure thoughts like those can't grow roots in your head. To keep questioning yourself.

Nouzin

They are fine.

You choose to reassure him then. No need to keep him waiting any longer. You can sense their well-being is important to him. So that's the information you'll offer him first. For the heart to rest. At least you'd assume so,

Nouzin

The rite was brought to an end. Kagha's granted them full amnesty.

Which isn't something the tieflings intend to do. Not all of them. A few want to stay. Feeling safer there than on the road. But most of them want to leave. Most of them want to head for Baldurs Gate.

Nouzin

All that remains — or rather, remained — were the goblins.