It was a longer walk than Hope had anticipated, but she was sure it was because they were all growing tired. She could feel it in her bones… in her jaw. It reminded her of the last time she'd had a truly sustainable meal. She shouldn't have gone this long without one.
The sun was beginning to set already, and she was close to calling it for the day when a shout from ahead stopped her for the second time that day. This time, everyone heard it. Swiftly, they moved forward in time to listen to the desperate cries for help.
"Goblins! Close the gate!"
"Wait! WAIT!"
"You've led them right to use! Close the gate! Quickly!"
"You can't leave us out here!" A man shouted at those perched atop the gate where he stood with a small group below, all brandishing weapons. An arrow glided through the air and pierced the wooden frame of the entrance.
Hope could only assume the grove lay beyond. All they could do was watch as the stone gate fell to the ground, closing off those who sought refuge.
"Looks like it's come down to a fight," Gale said and surged forward, "Brace yourselves."
Lae'zel moved ahead and pushed past Hope so forcefully that she stumbled to the side, barely catching herself before she could slam into the rock formation they were sandwiched between.
Turning on her, Lae'zel bared her teeth in a repulsed snarl. "Are you even capable of fighting?"
Before Hope could respond, she spat out, "Useless!" Turned and lurched forward.
A simmering anger flashed white hot in Hope's chest, but she dared not let it reach past her lips. No matter how she felt, she had to think strategically, and right now, the less anyone knew about her, the better. At least, in her own mind, that made sense.
As Shadowheart followed Lae'zel and Gale, she watched Astarion scale the boulder formation to the left, readying his arrow to take deadly aim. Hope moved then, moving to the left as Astarion did, but instead of climbing, she crouched and crawled much like a spider around the formation to see around without being seen herself.
Above, from the secured grove, a soldier dropped to the ground. He swung his sword expertly. There was something said about the Sword Coast. Whatever that was.
Just ahead of her stood the group of goblins and…what was that thing? It looked almost like a wolf, but most decidedly not. Either way, it was a beast trying to chew off the arms of the people trying to reach safety.
Gale, with his glowing staff and swift tongue, conjured spells Hope had never heard before, but with it came the downfall of two goblins, turned to nothing but ash before her eyes.
Was her magic even capable of such a feat?
Perhaps not, but she could still offer something, even in secret.
Five goblins and one of the twisted beasts had gathered, forming a stronghold where they blocked attacks and lunged at anyone who drew near. Their arrows landed a hit on Shadowheart, who cried out in pain before pulling back not to be so close.
In a soft, voice-controlled voice, Hope set her focus on the group and recited, "Phasmatos motus incendiamos." She let her focus do the rest of the work, expanding the fire that erupted within the group to contain them in a tight ball of flame. One that did not spark outwardly and singe anyone nearby.
Their screams of torment were subdued to silence a moment later, but Hope remained where she was.
"I'm impressed, Gale," Shadowheart said.
To which he replied, "It wasn't me."
Hope pulled back around the rocks and nearly slammed into Lae'zel, who snarled in her face.
"Hiding, are we? While the rest of us risk ourselves under the direction you gave?"
Steeling herself, Hope stayed still. Honestly, the worst thing she could do to her right now would be to draw her sword, but before that could happen, the others approached.
"Easy, Lae'zel," Gale offered, his voice in the storm of her wrath, "Not everyone is as equipped to fight as a Gythyanki Warrior."
Hope did her best to keep her gaze down, something that felt so foreign. She was used to exerting her power over anything and anyone she pleased. Now, she acted like a whipped pup.
"Perhaps you're right," she hissed, "She likely would have gotten in the way anyway, as most humans do."
Refraining from clenching her fist, Hope waited until Lae'zel had turned and returned to the bloodshed of the valley before she looked at Gale.
"Think nothing of it," Gale said gently, eyes earnest, "Goblins and gnolls are nasty creatures to fight against. You were right to stay hidden if it jeopardized your safety or anyone else, for that matter."
Staying silent, Hope nodded slowly. She didn't particularly like the idea of lying to Gale; he seemed nice enough, but she wasn't quite ready to divulge herself to this group. To their world.
"Are we ready to go then?" Astarion asked with an irritated sigh. "I need a bedroll."
"You shot three arrows," Shadowheart rolled her eyes.
"Yes, and it was exhausting."
Finally, Hope broke her silence, "We need to find Nettie first."
"Right then, let's get to it."
Inside the grove, Hope discreetly curled her lip at the blood that stained her boots and tracked beyond the stone wall. It was there that another argument was taking place, between a tiefling (as Hope understood they were called now) and a human.
"There are children here — what were you thinking?!"
"What was I thinking? I was thinking of getting here alive, that's what I was thinking. We were ambushed. We did what we needed to!"
"You let them take the druid! Unbelievable!"
It was Gale who intervened, "Too much blood has been shed this day. There need not be more."
They turned to their group, and the tiefling took a deep breath before nodding, "You are right, but it isn't as simple as that, unfortunately. We cannot afford a breach, not now. The goblins have found us, and we need to get everything packed and leave immediately."
Hope frowned and quickly spoke up, "If you leave now, you'll be defenseless on the road. At least here you have some advantage, even if they know your location."
The tiefling set his eyes on her and pursed his lips before nodding slowly, "You are…right," he sighed, "my apologies for the outbursts. You're right. Squabbling will do nothing productive for us now." A moment of silence, and he continued, "I am Zevlor, and you?"
"Travelers," Hope supplied, "In search of a healer named Nettie."
"Ah, yes, she'll be in the Inner Sanctum…" Another pause. "Thank you all for your help today. We owe you a great debt for keeping the grove and everyone inside safe — the Sanctum is just that way." He pointed behind himself. "You'll find your way, I'm sure."
Without another exchange of words, they walked together further into the grove. Rich with the sounds of children laughing, steel against steel, and bubbling chatter from people and animals alike, they continued.
Astarion was right in his thinking; she, too, was ready to rest.
Descending the stairs into the Sanctum they paused at the top, where yet another argument was taking place. What was with this place and their disagreements?
Hope, with every intention to bypass more confrontation, continued around them only to fall backward as the person before her transformed. From skin to fur, a massive bear, its head as big as her torso, stood now with a grunting growl.
She landed on her ass, but froze, too stunned to move forward or back. She could only stare at the now animal in front of her. Yet, what she felt wasn't fear, but excitement. There weren't many she'd met that could phase into an animal, and never a bear.
"Give her back! Give me back my daughter!" A woman next to her cried out, her blue skin glistening with tears of distress.
Hope wasn't sure who helped her from behind, only that a strong set of sure fingers pressed against her sides and carefully lifted her to her feet. She was sure it would be Gale, but she didn't check over her shoulder as she moved forward again, only to be confronted by a growl as the bear stood on its hind legs. The same hands that had helped her up gripped the back of her shirt and pulled her backward.
It was then she realized she was pressed against Astarion's front.
"No one moves forward! Kagah's orders," A guard shouted and turned a fierce gaze on their group. "That means you, too."
"We're delivering information to Nettie," Hope replied without skipping a beat. Her pupils dilated discreetly, "Let us through."
Blinking, the guard furrowed her brow and slowly nodded, "You may pass, but these tieflings stay back. They are not welcome."
"Release my daughter!" The same woman cried out again, but Hope didn't get a chance to address her with her own questions as Astarion pressed his knee against the small of her back, moving her forward.
Moving forward, Hope sighed as he finally loosened his grip on the back of her shirt as they passed the bear guard.
"Was that necessary?" She hissed in a hushed whisper.
"Entirely," he chuckled close to her ear, "seems to me the lamb needed some guiding through the bear den."
Grinding her jaw, she didn't need to turn to know that coy smirk of his was in place. Doing her best to ignore what felt like a soothing jab, his tongue a dagger coated in honey, she continued forward and, with her company, entered where directed.
When they were inside, Hope was greeted by a somewhat familiar presence. Her sights settled on a large wolf, gray in color, that stood just off to the side of the entrance. It began to bare its canines at their group, until its eyes locked on Hope.
The growling stopped, but Hope walked past, as if oblivious to the change in the animal's demeanor. When they found Nettie, patching up a bird's wing on a stone table, they stopped and watched.
Almost instinctively, the short druid looked over her shoulder and stared at them.
"A moment, please," she said, before continuing to work on repairing the bird's injuries. Only when she was finished did she turn fully toward them. "Thank you for your patience. What can I do for you?"
Hope steadied her voice and said, "We're in search of a healer…"
"Are you sick?"
Pursing her lips, Hope didn't know how much they should reveal to this stranger, but she supposed if they'd come all this way and weren't honest, it could all be for naught—a waste of time.
"There's a parasite…in our heads."
Nettie's eyes widened to the size of saucers, "Another?"
Frowning, Hope watched her move swiftly across the room.
"Come," was her only response.
Hesitantly, they followed her, but Hope paused when she noticed the lifeless body sprawled across the table nearby, where Nettie had gone. She didn't dare draw closer, every instinct inside screaming at her to stay put.
"Was he infected too?" Shadowheart ventured the question.
"I'm afraid so…"
"So, then can you help us?" Hope asked, still staring at the body. "Because if that's any indication of your ability to take out a parasite, I'd rather take my chances outside of this place."
Nettie paused, "I…well, I can try. How long have you been infected?" She asked, holding in her hand a stick where protruding thorns threatened Hope's unmarred flesh. She imagined herself being held down on the table as that rod was shoved into her eye to retrieve the squirmy thing that resided behind.
She shuddered.
That wouldn't be happening.
Sighing, Hope shook her head. "I don't want try. Can you or can you not?"
"Answer my question, and I will answer yours."
A flash of anger stormed Hope's eyes, but she quickly stored it away as she sighed and relented. "A few days now. I guess."
Nettie's brow furrowed, "That's impossible…you should have turned by now."
Shrugging, Hope held her palms up, "I answered your question, now answer ours. Can you help us or not?"
With a soft sigh, she shook her head, "I'm afraid I cannot…Master Halsin is your best chance, but he's not here, I'm afraid. He left for the goblin camp some time ago, and he…well, he never returned."
It was becoming increasingly more challenging to withhold her exasperation.
"So, you can't help us, but someone named Halsin can, and let me guess," Hope ran her fingers through her dirty hair, "we need to retrieve him from the goblin camp to do that. It never can be simple, can it?"
"Apparently not," Gale sighed softly, "Alright. Then I suppose it only makes sense that we find Halsin. You're sure he can help us?"
Nettie nodded, "If anyone can, it's Halsin, I assure you of that."
Glancing down at her hands, Hope took notice of another item she'd acquired at some point, "What exactly are those supposed to do if not heal us?"
With a soft sigh, she quietly admitted, "It was my last resort if I couldn't trust you. And this?" She held up the green bottle that sloshed with a strange-looking liquid. "Wyvern Poison. Here," she offered the vial, "I can't offer you a cure, but I can offer a way out."
Hope's brows rose, "You expect us to ingest poison?"
"I do," Nettie replied, her scowl severe. "Take it. Promise you'll use it if you find yourself starting to turn. If you turn, especially while you're here, you'll kill everyone in the grove. I can't let you leave without your oath."
Narrowing her eyes, Hope glanced down at the poison — it was no more than a simple lie for herself. Then again…perhaps this could be a way out of, well, everything. Chewing her lip, Hope finally took the bottle.
"Swear it."
Hope sighed, "I swear…"
Astarion grunted in disapproval.
"Where's the goblin camp?"
Nettie nodded, "Continue on the road Northwest. You'll pass the Blighted Village and over the bridge. It isn't far from there, but it is dangerous. Stay on your guard."
Alright then, Hope sighed to herself.
Another day, another quest, but first they needed to rest.
"We'll leave in the morning?" She glanced at the others, who all agreed, aside from Lae'zel, who continued glaring at her.
Hope rolled her eyes and walked past her. Best to ignore, she thought. At least for now, until she could wake up from this horrific nightmare. She could imagine herself waking in her trailer bed in the dead of night with sweaty sheets clinging to her while crickets sang just outside, and reality returned.
The Wyvern Poison was sounding more and more tempting.