During the day, they quietly shadowed Wraithvine's party where-ever the group went, the desire was only to protect them. During the night, they stayed up all night, guarding against any potential dangers. But it was not long before they collapsed from exhaustion. Sometimes, a person could care too much. -- Anon Guest
Wraithvine found Gruhaag on the second night. It wasn't as if she was trying to hide. Then again, it's difficult for a Bugbear to hide in most places when they wear clothes.
Gruhaag wore armour that was mostly salvaged from other creatures. Judging by the patina, it had been scavenged from old battlefields. She hadn't defeated others to get it. Well. Most of it. Some people still saw Bugbears as vermin deserving eradication.
"You are the wizard who does good," she said. "The one who makes others see people in the monsters. I shall guard you when you are in need. I shall protect you from danger. For the better world."
Bugbears and all of the Gobeliin branch of the Faekindred didn't live long. Eighty years, if they could perish of old age. Most of them fell to Adventurer's aggressions. This young lady was full-grown, but not yet showing any grey in her fur. She couldn't yet be eighteen.
It was supremely unfair that some lived so long whilst others withered with barely a lifespan. And she was talking to Wraithvine, who the gods would not allow to age. Who the gods might not allow to die.
"You need to rest as well. Staying awake for my wellbeing will do yours no good."
"I'm a monster," she countered. "It is my destiny to be some adventurer's victory so they can get a free beer and maybe a bedmate. My wellbeing is nobody's interest but yours."
"That's a sad thing to say," said Wraithvine. "I hope to help you realise that in time." Ze gestured for Gruhaag to join hir fire.
"I will stand watch and guard you," insisted Gruhaag. "I will protect you from your enemies."
Wraithvine stifled a sigh. Bugbears couldn't fathom a world without enemies ready to attack from every angle. "As you wish," ze said. "And when you rest, I shall watch over you."
This gave her pause. "I will guard you. I have sworn to your protection to the gods and I will see it through!"
Paladins... "This is an oath that will defeat you. The gods will not fault you for needing to rest, eat, and so on."
"I will guard you."
She made it five days.
On the fifth day, Wraithvine activated hir Portable Sanctuary, and carried the young Bugbear into the dimensionally-transcendant humble cottage within.
She would wake to a warm fire and some hearty soup and perhaps the realisation that the Eternal Wizard didn't need that much in the way of guarding.
Then ze would give her some lessons on making a better world.
[Photo by Joshua Newton on Unsplash]
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