_{by jaymamma.}

I felt the spear pierce my armor into my side.

It hurt but the fear overtook the pain.

    The snarling of the dogs reminded me of my time in captivity. The hobgoblins loved unleashing their wolves on me. I always outran them suffering minor to moderate thankfully never fatal wounds.

    Lilvari promised she would protect me. She meant it and did not lie, but I realized she couldn’t always. The fight came from nowhere without warning, and we immediately were surrounded. The party began to come together back to back. Mercarri held off many alone. Impressively between her armor and mobility she held gracefully. She winked at me as she sent healing magic my way.

    The wound in my side closed as I shook of Hyena attacks. Something I had gotten good at on the pointed fangs of wolves. Lilvari fought but was distracted. I realized it was my fault. She was to busy watching over her shoulder, making sure I was ok. I whipped together a cannon and took aim, and missed repeatedly. Addled and afraid, I had always focused on surviving not fighting back. Boof hovered dodging incoming attacks, as I could not issue coherent commands. I retreated, firing, missing.

    Lilvari yelled something in demonic, I only recognized one word. She looked at me, winked and cursebringer dismembered a gnoll. Then another. Dare felled another, gnolls began to run. The tide was turning. I didnt want to let my friends down, I didn’t want to die, I didn’t want to let Lil down she had faith in me. I didn’t want to be a victim. No more.

    I raised the cannon again and felt a moment of calm, of clarity. I squeezed the trigger gently. The projectile explode into one of the gnolls by Mercarri. It staggered and fell dead. I felt not horrible at ending its life. As she commanded her shit hammer to fell another, she smiled and winked. Lilvari yelled. “I knew you had the murder in you.” She then spined the obvious leader of the gnolls warband. Immediately flashing eldritch energy filled her blade and ran across her. The profusely bleeding wound in her neck sealed and closed and the enrgy streaked to a hyena which she cut down next. Shortly after it was over.

    Lilvari knelt down and looked me over. She smiled. I knew you would be fine. Theres a learning curve to it Droop. You did well, you are a survivor. “So I ask, Do you want this?” I thought about it the initial rush of combat subsided and then the I don’t know feeling of Pride?” I Smirked. “I can improve yes” She squeezed my shoulder. “You will, better armor maybe a staff or wand to ward off blows in close.”

    I surveyed the carnage. I had seen such things before, usually I was on the losing side. I remembered the piled bodies of my kin when my village was taken, and all the dead goblins at the hands of various, torturous masters. It was better on this side. How would I improve? I looked to boof my previous thoughts on his effectiveness would have to be rethought. My cannons as well. A staff or wand Lil had said. Boof brought me great comfort, and I would have him close. I felt my cannon in my hand. I was holding the wrong thing, and as I scratched Boof, I knew what I had to do.