They ran as fast as the wind toward Wraithvine and Bibrid, tackling both to the ground just as a magic arrow flies past the three. The arrow's power seared the being's back, the percussion caused bones to be broken. But, despite the immense pain, they said in a soft whisper to the two. "I'd tackle you again like this in a heartbeat, you're worth it." -- Anon Guest
Of all the strange powers to have from birth, Scramble's ability to freeze time around hirself for ten seconds seemed the most useless. Especially since ze could only do it once a day without hurting hirself. Ten seconds wasn't much time, so Scramble used it when relevant backs were turned.
It was enough to steal a stale roll or armload of unguarded apples. Enough to get food to keep hir alive for one more day.
Ze almost didn't believe that Wraithvine and hir Gnomish companion passed hir by on the street. A small handful of silver appeared in Scramble's begging cup, and ze looked up to see the famous patchwork Wizarding hat.
And someone who objected to what was just done, winding up a burning missile of magic to let fly at their unguarded backs...
Scramble dropped the cup as ze froze the world around hir, and had to freeze it a second time before ze reached the halted backs of Wizard and friend. One hand to the back of Wraithvine's head. The other to the Gnome's, just as time returned to Scramble.
Scramble's bones already felt like they were on fire before the missile impacted hir back. Every muscle in hir body snared into a tight knot and ze could smell hir own hair burning. Once again, ze felt like ze was starving. Once again, Scramble was jealous of all the other Hellkin who were more fireproof than ze was.
Ze fully expected to be dragged off to an execution for daring to lay hir hands on the famous Wraithvine. Scramble never expected four kind hands to pick hir up and begin to heal hir hurts.
Unfortunately, Scramble did expect the locals to make off with hir cup and the coins once inside it. Now ze was sore and hungry.
"There's almost nothing there to help them," complained the Gnome. "I can't do this the new way."
Wraithvine got hir shoulders under one of Scramble's arms. "Then we find another new way. Beginning with food and drink."
"Gentle food and drink," clarified the Gnome. "They feel like they've gone from malnutrition to starving in a second or less."
"Yeh," Scramble managed. "Speed'n' through time... does that..." Hir legs felt like painful stinging ropes of jelly. Hir lungs and back felt like they were burning. Further insult was the creeping feeling of nausea caused by being too hungry to eat.
It was true, the mortal realm simply hated a Hellkin for existing.
Scramble was dimly aware that the two were taking hir somewhere, but all hir hurts conspired to knock hir out. The next thing ze knew, ze was a lot more comfortable and The Wraithvine was carefully spooning broth into Scramble's mouth.
"Welcome back," cheered Wraithvine, living legend, undying mage, part-time deity, and all-around best of the official Good Guys. "You're still weak, so don't try to move. Just take in the broth as best you can. I gather you don't do... whatever you did, often." Ze waited politely for Scramble.
"Third time that day," said Scramble. "Never done three before," ze accepted the next spoonful, which made hir stomach sit up and beg for more. "I knew it was going to hurt, but it was worth it."
"Many would have let the spell land where it was aimed, knowing I would not come to harm."
Scramble said the words that would guarantee hir a better life after some Adventuring with the Eternal Wizard. "I had to act, because... I'm not them."
[Photo by Jimmy Liu on Unsplash]
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