Lou’s eyes flutter awake. 

She groans uncomfortably after her long rest through the night. She shifts her bedroll to the side and finds something that was seemingly digging hard into her spine from underneath the tent’s floor. 

 “Crap that's sore.”

Filtered light blooms through the tent’s beige walls as her nose picks up a satisfying aroma that's lingering in the air. It takes her a moment before she places the smell.

 “Honeyed ham?” 

She slips on her leather sandals and opens the tent door to the camp. Birds flutter by and an obnoxious squawking is coming from somewhere afar off.

 “Mornin’ Lou!” Aldin exclaims from over by the roaring fire.

 “What’s that smell?”

Aldin holds up a small tin plate and sets it down on the log next to a very groggy-looking Tabaxi and Minotaur. 

 “Is that what I think it is?”

 “The one and only! Honeyed ham with eggs and hash. Come sit.” Aldin’s little face looks up at her with such familial kindness and he begins to take his seat by the fire. 

Lou goes to join them and happily picks up the meal. 

 “No way,” She thinks to herself, looking down at her meal.

 “I remember it used to be your favourite, so I thought I’d bring just enough to make a nice breakfast for us.”

 “I can’t belie-” She goes to speak but is interrupted by Jorasko coughing and wheezing to her right.

 “Ack!” Jorasko hisses, “It’s... sweet. Why is it sweet? You’ve ruined the meat!” He spits, clearly disgusted.

 “W-Well I marinated it in a honeyed-sauce and cooked it slowly until it caramelized,”

Jorasko shoots him a disapproving look. Mini, on the other hand, hasn’t said a word and just seems to be looking down at his meal, perplexed.

 “If you don’t want to eat it, um... that’s okay! I added cheese to the eggs, so maybe you’ll like that better?” Aldin says, somewhat flustered. 

She always found it funny when Aldin would get agitated. He always shakes his head in this odd way and looks down at his knees when he can't quite figure out what to say. It's been nice seeing him again. 

She looks down at her plate once more. The ham is cut into thick slices and glistens with a golden hue. The eggs too are cooked-well to a thin crust and folded into cute little hexagons, the hash, however, looks a bit overcooked but he seems to have done quite a good job making it all.

 “You’re the one missing out Jor,” She calls over to Jorasko. Turning her attention back to Aldin, she laughs, “I can’t believe you made this out in the woods.” 

 “Well, I thought you might enjoy something you haven’t had in a while. I hope you like it.” Aldin smiles cheerfully.

 “I don’t even know what to say, I haven't even had a bite yet and I already love it,” Lou returns the smile.

In the moment, it seemed like he knew exactly what she was feeling, it reminded her why it was so hard for her to leave Boulder all those years ago. 

 “Well, dig in! You don’t want it to get cold!” Aldin exclaims.

Stabbing in her fork, Lou does just that. She digs into her meal and as she does, her mouth comes alive with a sweet array of flavours that twirl and dance on the tongue. 

Honeyed ham had indeed been her favourite. Whenever she was sad, or whenever she was sick, Marion used to make it for her. It always seemed to brighten up her day. The meal brought her right back to those memories: Laying in a little bed, with Aldin sitting next to her, playing for her “Bentle’s Boons” on a little ukulele and laughing at him as he got the words wrong. 

From the other room, she would hear the sizzling of meat and shortly after, Marion HillCarver would walk into the room, carrying a tray of food. She didn’t think Aldin knew how precious those moments were to her... but maybe he did. 

 “Lou?” Aldin’s voice cuts through her thoughts, “Are you okay? You’re crying.” 

 “What? No, I’m not.” She says confusedly. Lou instinctively goes to wipe her eye and feels something wet touch her hand before bringing it to her sight. A single tear rests on her finger. She looks at it for a moment, puzzled.

 “See! Your meal was so disgusting, you made her cry!” Jorasko chastises Aldin.

 “What? Really!? I-I’m sorry!” Aldin begins getting upset, “My mom always used to make it! I found her recipe and thought it wouldn’t be hard to make. I’m sorry. It was stupid.” 

Aldin looks down at his knees and Lou can’t even react before Jorasko turns to Mini and pipes up again. 

 “Exactly! Come on Mini, we shouldn’t eat such...” He trails off as he looks at Mini, who's mouth is bubbled and filled to the brim with delicious honeyed ham. Still halfway through chewing, he freezes in place and stares at Jorasko like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar. 

Jorasko scowls and glares at him with an increasingly disgusted look. 

 "Whaht?" Mini says to Jorasko with his mouth still full.

Lou sees the look on Mini’s face and can’t help but begin to laugh loudly. 

All eyes turn to her.

 “What's so funny?” Jorasko sharply asks.

 Still coming down from her bout of laughter, she wipes the tears from her eyes and says, “I’m just surrounded by a bunch of buffoons.”

A smile hits Aldin’s face across the campfire while Jorasko stares at her in offended confusion.

        • • •

When everyone is done their meal, they quickly pack up camp and head out north towards Hollow Pine. After half an hour or so, they exit the forest and arrive at a simple intersection. 

In front of them, large fields of corn flow and wave in the wind. A Halfling man riding a boar-bound cart tips his straw hat at them while he passes. 

Lou leads the group left and she stares in the distance where rolling hills rise to meet the dark Tegesian mountains. The sky is expansive and billows with thick white clouds that occasionally drift by, offering them momentary shade.

 “I haven’t been to Hollow Pine since I was a kid,” Aldin comments as they begin to near the city in the distance.

 “What? No, you’ve never been to Hollow Pine,” Lou states dismissively.

 “Yes, I have! We’re you not-? Oh, I guess you weren’t... Dad and I must have made the trip before you came to Boulder,”

After a short time, the party enters the township of Hollow Pine. True to its name, standing near the centre of town is a large pine tree that seems to be cracked and grey. The base of the tree is mostly missing and is replaced by a glaring empty cut that runs along its length.

Most of the homes in town seem to be built into a large crescent-shaped foothill surrounded by trees to the west. The tall pine tree sits at the bottom and is surrounded by a roundabout that leads to a few small standing homes. 

Southward, the forest can be seen growing denser and more green. The town seems to be lively and has multiple Halfling men and women who are currently out and about, mingling amongst one another. Lou looks up as she sees a woman over by the hill notice her, slowly grab her child, and beckon them inside their home.

  § Lou: Insight: 11+4

As Lou has unfortunately come to realize, It doesn’t matter if you’re a Hovelkiin. In her mind, it’s all a big farce. Hovelkiin was just some title the HillCarvers gave her to stop the comments around town. But it could never stop the stares... 

The incessant staring by the Halflings was a constant reminder that she simply didn’t belong.

 “Alright guys, why don’t you head over to the general goods store.” Lou points over to a sign that reads, “Gegiam Felds”. 

 “Aldin, you go with them. It might be a while before we see civilization again. Oh! pick up a tent too... I’m going to head over to the bar and ask around about some stuff.” She waves them off as Aldin meekly begins to walk over to the store, looking up at his two giant compatriots.

Lou walked into the humble-looking saloon. The wooden interior was mostly lit by candlelight and the sun that came in through a small window in the corner. Halflings laughed and gambled at its few tables.

While she took a step inside, the room fell deathly silent. 

The Halflings here we’re so unused to outsiders that they couldn’t even be bothered to try to look like they weren’t staring at her. 

The barkeep, however, seems to be in somewhat of a daze as she walks in, he quietly hums a tune and looks like he's enjoying his work. 

 “Ee’v yaust un gla,” She says to the barkeep in Halfling, who still hasn’t quite noticed her. 

Whispers begin to fill the room behind her.

 The barkeep replies in Common, “Of course I can get you a glass! It’ll just be four copper...” 

His eyes move up and stop at her chest level. A perplexed look hits his face. He slowly looks up at Lou and then looks around the room for someone else who might have spoken to him, until gently realizing the odd circumstance he’s found himself in.

Lou imagines from his perspective, she must tower over the room like a giant.

He hesitantly makes her a drink and slides it across the bar.

 “Guten,” Lou thanks him, handing him a few copper coins.

With Halfling glasses being much smaller in size, she downs the whole thing in one go like a shot. The old volume and noises of the room begin to softly filter throughout the bar once more.

 “So you’re a...?” The barkeeper goes to ask before trailing off.

 “Hovelkiin, yeah,” She answers in annoyance. “I wanted to ask you about the foothills to the west.” 

  § Lou: Persuasion: 3+3

 He looks hesitantly at her, “Um, why do you want to know?”

Lou looks at him unblinkingly for a moment, fully understanding that this little man has probably never spoken to an outsider before in his life. 

 “...Because.” Her words thrum harshly in the small room and she stares down at him menacingly.

  § Lou: Intimidation: 19+1

 “Um...” He gulps, “a few Troll sightings have been reported lately, Is that what you’re looking for?” 

He seems to be shaking like she's about to hurt him. Not wanting to escalate the scenario, she just rolls her eyes and waves her hand, beckoning for him to keep talking.

 “Right! Well, guard Grimsby had to chase the Troll back with a torch a few nights ago. It really spooked the whole lot of us... He said the thing has been living out in the hills, even the Banderville hunters say they once caught it stalking them up there. Luckily no one was hurt. Oh, and Mayor Quim announced that if any hunter could bring it down, he’d offer them a pretty penny! Is... Is that what you wanted to know?” 

She just slides a glistening gold coin across the counter and turns toward the door without saying another word. 

 “Um...Thanks!” The barkeep yells confusedly as she exits the bar.

Walking back out, she’s greeted by Aldin, Jorasko, and Mini. They seem to have just finished up in the shop. 

 “What did you get?” Lou asks.

 “Provisions, a tent, twine, tinder, a few tools, enough to last us a week.” Jorasko answers.

 “Hmm, It probably won’t be enough but I’m sure we can salvage something up there,”

 “Wait... ‘Up there?’” Aldin questions, “Up in the foothills?!?” Aldin’s face turns white as a ghost as he realizes their route.

 “Yeah, we’ll be fine,” She dismisses him and starts walking through town.

 “But-But what if we come across an Ogre or an Ettin or something!?” 

             Even = Tell him about Troll      §     Odd = Keep the Info:   17

Lou stops and quickly turns around into a squat. 

 Looking at Aldin at eye level, she speaks to him slowly, “Aldin, I’m not going to lie and say that the world is some safe and happy place like Boulder... because it isn’t. Every time you step outside your door, there’s the possibility that you won’t make it back. But if all you did was worry about what may or may not happen out here, you’d spend your whole life locked away without actually living. I need you to be strong okay? I gave you a promise and don’t think I’ve forgotten about it. I’ll keep you safe, okay?”

  § Lou: Persuasion: 2+3

There’s a glimmer in Aldin’s eyes as a humble little smile unfolds along his cheeks and he nods his head lightly... It almost seems like he was calmed by her words before he forcibly bolts off back toward town in terror. 

 “I’M NOT GOING!” Aldin screams in fear.

 “GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT!” Lou yells while she chases after him, “Your little legs might be good at hiding but they ain’t good at running!”

Aldin gets maybe 40 feet before Lou catches up to him and tries to scoop him up like a ball.

  § Contested: Lou's Strength: 13+3 VS Aldin's Dexterity: 12+3

Just as she catches up, Aldin attempts to make a quick right turn to throw her off but is immediately caught in her grasp. Before he can even say another word Lou wraps him up in some rope she keeps on her side and throws him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. 

 “You don’t get to turn back now! You said you’d come with us, so you’re coming!” A loud muffled sound comes from Lou’s left shoulder but she disregards it and leads the way into the foothills toward Tegisi.

After about twenty minutes of travel, Aldin calms down. He was surprisingly light the whole way, similar to a small bag of flour, or a medium-sized pumpkin. At this time, Lou decides to put him down and unwrap him, but it seems Aldin was a little grumpy after his time-out. She just chuckles at his various angry comments and stares at him while he fixes himself to look presentable. He cutely huffs and goes to walk with Mini near the back.

The journey is long. The trail whips left and right around the hills and passes in and out of small thickets of trees. 

After about 6 hours of walking, Lou hears Aldin panting and complaining in the back.

 “We’ve been walking for HOURS! When are we going to be able to sit down and have a meal, or maybe some water?!” 

Lou pretends she couldn’t hear him but after 30 minutes, he still wouldn’t let up. 

 “Alright! Let’s give the Halfling a break,” She yells back to the rest of them.

While everyone drops their backpacks, Jorasko walks up next to her and begins speaking quietly in Tegesian. 

 “Are you sure about this ...about him?” He looks back at Aldin who is currently being consoled by Mini as he breathes heavily with sweat glistening off his brow.

 “Why don’t you leave the planning to me. I know he’s a little...” She stares at Aldin for a moment, “...you know. But he’s the best damn historian I’ve met. He’ll get us in that ruin... I know he will.”

 “As long as he doesn’t die before then,” Jorasko snidely comments and heads out to find somewhere to rest.

Lou takes a look around and searches the nearby tree line. 

  § Lou: Perception: 20+4 [CRITICAL SUCCESS]

She notices as something large a few hundred feet to the left darts silently into the brush nearby.

 “Alright! Enough of a rest! Let’s get moving people!” Lou yells commandingly.

 “But-” Aldin lets out.

 “No, Aldin. Mini!” She commands, snapping her fingers to the Minotaur. 

Mini, without a word and without question, picks Aldin up by the scruff of his shirt and sits him atop his shoulders.

 “Woah!” Aldin jostles in reprisal.

 “Sorry,” Mini says.

 As Jorasko stands up, Lou grabs him by the shoulder and whispers in his ear, “We’ve got a follower. 200 feet south. We gotta shake him. You know what to do.”

Jorasko obediently nods and bolts off into the hills to the north with lightning speed.

Her time in the Tegesian Military trained her for situations like this and now that it’s come time to use that training, she feels resolute. 

 “I won’t let anything happen to Aldin,” She promises to herself.

 “What’s going on Lou? Why’d Jorasko just leave?” Aldin asks her, peering over Mini’s pointed horns.

 “Don’t worry about that. I just realized you were a little bitch and had stumpy little legs,” Lou jokes while Aldin’s less-than-amused face glares down on her. 

 “No offence, but you’re kind of slow. I’m faster than most, Mini is even faster, and Jorasko can be faster than the both of us when he wants to. We’ll cover more ground this way.”

  § Lou: Deception: 18+3

 “Mini, double time!” She yells as they take off running through the hills.

After many hours of their newly quickened pace, the sun droops down below the mountains and the light begins to diminish. Lou looks back and sees Mini. The hulking Minotaur snorts and stomps through the path and Aldin can be seen bobbing up and down on his shoulders. Looking forward, she hears a high-pitched and muted “Thwack” that comes from lower in the valley.

  § Jorasko: To Hit: 14+7 Damage: 4+3 (+5 Sneak Attack)

 A half-second later, a deep guttural shout echoes farther back down the hills, “GRAAAAAAAGH!”

 “What was that!?” Aldin yells.

 “Probably nothing,” Lou says, no longer sounding very compelling.

An hour and a half later, almost all of the light in the valley has disappeared. 

 Lou sees a nice place to set up camp in the brush and calls back to the group, “We’re camping here. We won’t be staying long, so don’t set up your tent.”

 “But... where’s Jorasko?” Aldin asks.

 “Here,” A voice echoes from the right and a familiar grey-mustached feline crosses over the top of the nearby hill to meet up with the party. He seems to be stowing a large bow onto his back.

 “Oh, hey! Looks like we beat you... in the race,” Lou says to Jorasko, clearly lying.

 “What race?” Jorasko asks with a blank expression. 

Lou gives him a heavy glare.

  § Jorasko: Insight: 6+2

 “I have no idea what you’re talking about...” He says dimwittedly. “I was able to wound the Troll, he should take a small while to recover before hunting us again.” 

 Lou grimaces and Aldin immediately blurts out, “There was a TROLL?!!”

 “Yes, did Lou not tell you?” Jorasko asks, befuddled.

 Lou yells in her mind, “You fucking idiot!” 

Lou’s shoulders raise to her neck and she turns around to look at Aldin.

 “Lou... A Troll!?! THAT’S WHY we’ve been running for HOURS?!” 

 “I didn’t say there wasn’t a Troll. I just knew you’d get all cowardly the moment it was mentioned, so I thought I’d omit it.”

 “I could have helped! I’m sorry I got a little scared earlier but if you want me to be a part of this party, you have to trust me, Lou! You can't keep important information like that to yourself! I’m not a little kid anymore!”

  § Aldin: Persuasion: 12+2

Aldin’s voice is harsh and exasperated. Lou remembered Aldin was always so timid when they were growing up together, she hardly ever heard him yell; especially at her. That’s why his words felt like a punch in the gut.

 “Now is not the time, you two! We must be very quiet. No fire. Leave no trace. We leave early in the morning,” Jorasko pointedly breaks up the fight. 

As Aldin fumingly goes back to set up his bed, Jorasko walks by Lou and puts a hand on her shoulder. 

 Speaking in Tegesian he says, “If you don’t think the boy can handle a beast with an entire party surrounding him, he shouldn’t be here... He’s going to get himself killed.”

Lou doesn’t like the comment but she knows he’s right. Without looking him in the eye she goes to set up her bedroll for the night.

The clear night sky rests above them in the air. The multi-coloured stars twinkle and shine in the firmament while the twin moons pass overhead.

 “I just wanted him to stay safe. He’s always been running away from people, how could I pit him against a Hill Troll?” Lou thinks to herself. “Wait... No...” 

Imagery begins to form in her mind, an old memory starts to play. 

At the time, Lou and Aldin we’re young and the red cherry trees were blooming in the meadow. Aldin thought it would be a good idea if they went up to Mr. Bevil’s orchard. His plan was for them to gather up cherries in some baskets his mother Marion had made. He seemed really excited about it and the thought of climbing trees with Aldin put a smile on her face. 

But when they got to the orchard, a few of the kids who had seemingly had the same idea were sitting in the trees eating cherries with their faces covered in jelly. 

As they arrived, the boys were aggressive, it’s hard to remember after so long but she thinks she can recall them claiming, 

 “The trees are ours!” 

 One of them even said, “This ain’t no place for fancy elves!”

She could remember the deep ruby splat of something hitting her face before the valley became littered with cherries thrown from the trees. 

She remembers the boys coming down from the tree and Aldin yelling at them. One of the boys seemed to double over in pain as Aldin spoke. She vaguely remembers falling to the ground but doesn’t remember exactly why, before Aldin began waving his fists at the boys. She watched as one of the older boys punched Aldin so hard in the gut that he puked but Aldin still stood there, trying to protect his friend and keeping them away from her. In the end, the boys left and Lou helped Aldin back home.

As the final piece of the memory plays out in her mind, her eyes close and she finally drifts off into a peaceful slumber.