A young hunter, nervous and jumpy, was out in the woods with their new crossbow. At the rustling, they suddenly let a bolt loose and almost hit Gikka. They apologize profusely for the accident. -- The New Guy
"Ohmygosh, ohmygoodness, ohno! Are you hurt? Is anyone hurt?" Vance Randosca tumbled over the brambles and into the path where the travellers were all readying for combat. "Nobody told me there was a hair trigger on this thing, I swear. Is everyone all right?"
He found himself face-to-faces with an Elven Wizard, a Kobold Rogue, a Hellkin Warlock and a Human Fighter. It was almost a cliche. The arrow had buried its tip harmlessly in the path, right between the Kobold's toes. Vance wisely put down the crossbow and showed his empty hands to the group. "I didn't mean any harm. I was... I was trying to find a Dire Wolf that's been going after the kids in my village. I heard a noise and..." He plucked the bolt out of the ground. "...and I missed a squirrel."
"You're like five," said the Fighter.
"Eight and a half," defended Vance. "And I am tracking it pretty good."
"...pretty good," muttered the Rogue. She looked up to the Wizard.
"All right. Yes. We can assist you, young adventurer," the Wizard sounded like ze was reciting from an old script. "You lead the way."
"And keep your finger on the trigger guard," said the Fighter. "You shoot less people that way."
"Thank you," mumbled Vance. He found a less injurious way back to the tracks. Honestly, he was feeling a lot better about his crazed mission with some actual grownups on his side.
He felt like he actually had a chance to make a difference, rather than throwing his life away on a damn fool quest like all the others had said.
What they found was unexpected.
The Dire Wolf had been gifted -or cursed- with intelligence. She had lost her pups and noticed that certain children in Vance's village were... under-appreciated. She took them, and took them in. Hunted for them. Helped them grow and gather fruits and vegetables. Kept them warm in the winter.
Every child that had gone missing in Lower Belvale was here. Healthier, happier, heartier. The littlest ones cried because they feared Vance was going to take them back.
"I've been aiming my bow the wrong way," said Vance. "The real monsters are back where I came from."
[Photo by M. Zonderling on Unsplash]
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