When Christol vanished with Haldore, Artuck knew that there was very little he could do. He knew Christol had the know-how to escape, but that was only if Haldore decided to be merciful to Christol, and allow his final days to be spent in peace.

After Haldore had vanished, the rest of the group crawled out of their respective places before they went deeper into the forest, looking for a good place to set up camp for the night. They were all exhausted, after all. The stress, the running, the hiding, and the grief of losing a friend so early in their quest.

The group trudged through the forest, hoping to find an open field, a house, or just anything that would provide shelter, but there was seemingly nothing. The endless dark had no short supply of worry in store for them, and Artuck’s thoughts began to wander. 

He thought of the time he spent in hiding, those two hundred some years of waiting. Waiting for someone or something to come along to give him hope. And just when he thought he had found his hope, he’d lost it. 

Was I never allowed to be happy? Is this how my story goes? Nothing but eternal suffering, endless pain? At least my brothers were allowed the sweet embrace of death. Am I not even deserving of that luxury? Why couldn’t Totto be here instead of me? He was so much more powerful, and he had so much more heart than I. Was I destined to become Haldore’s final display of power? Before he simply annihilates everyone for some ‘glorious purpose?’ 

No. Wait. Haldore wouldn’t simply let his kingdom be. There has to be a reason for him wanting an heir. He’s boasted to me, and my brothers about how he would never die. That he was simply ‘unkillable.’ What’s changed? Why does he want Christol?

A branch’s snap reeled Artuck’s attention back. He swiftly turned his head in the direction of the noise, and Mitrax, about a solid ten feet away, stood over a now broken twig, his large dragon feet staying still as stone.

“You think any monsters heard that?” Mitrax whispered. Artuck had to strain his mind to hear his words, but Flim approached Mitrax without as much as a whoosh, and laid a hand on him.

“We’ll be okay,” Flim whispered, trying his best to smile, though it lasted for a brief moment, and as quickly as it flickered, it was gone.

Cruu simply kept moving, taking a look at Flim and Mitrax as they stood still before moving past them and further.

“Don’t you know,” Cruu said normally, his voice echoing off of the trees around them, “that there’s no monster’s on this side of the continent. Cruu has seen all kinds of monsters, so Cruu knows that they mostly live in the thick forests, like Pointe’s Forest and the like. But Cruu thinks it’s still a good idea to seek shelter. Cruu would not like to fight any bears right now. It’d be an easy fight, but Cruu doesn’t feel like fighting. Not right now.”

The small goblin continued crunching his way through the forest, and seeing the goblin confident in his own knowledge, the rest decided that Cruu was probably right, so they followed.

“Wait. Artuck, can you turn into a bird or something and scout the area?” Flim asked, his voice just above a whisper.

“Oh yeah,” Artuck chuckled. 

I was so lost in my own thoughts I forgot to worry about the here and now.

Artuck jumped into the air, and felt his arms feel the wind, and as he looked at the trees, he saw them falling below him, and he went higher and higher into the sky. Artuck began to fly around, in search of shelter. His wings felt the cool nighttime breeze as he soared, his eyes searching and scanning the trees below.

How beautiful this is. To be up here, free from the burdens of regular life. Ha, if only I could stay like this forever. Freedom and tranquility at its finest. And not a care in the world. How beautiful this is.

Artuck’s owl eyes caught a glimmer from below him, and as he looked, he saw what appeared to be ruins, and a now destroyed metal gate reflected the moon’s light. As Artuck swooped down to get a closer look, he realized he was looking at a temple, or a tomb of some sort. A somewhat larger building in and of itself, parts of it looked as though they had collapsed, and bodies, now skeletons, lie scattered around the small complex.

Found it.

Artuck turned around and flew back towards the party, only to realize he had no idea which direction he came from.

Damn it. Me and my own thoughts. Again.

As Artuck continued to curse to himself, a voice entered Artuck’s mind, and it sounded exactly like Mitrax’s.

“Down, Artuck! We see you.” 

Following the simple instructions, Artuck dived towards the ground, where he wanted to walk again, and he landed on his own two feet, right in front of Mitrax, who was holding a bloodied and unconscious Flim, and next to him stood a panting Cruu, sword drawn.

“What the hell happened while I was up there? I was gone for like five minutes, and already you all are hurt?” Artuck asked, concerned.

“Well,” Mitrax said plainly, “we were attacked by a wild boar as soon as you took off. Caught Flim by surprise, and the boar picked him up right off his feet and flung him against a tree. Cruu jumped in, and killed the boar in one fell swoop, but Flim had already been hurt. Cruu went to go help, but Flim was already in bad shape. He managed to wrap Flim’s wounds, but another boar appeared, and attacked Cruu, who attempted to jump out of the way–”

“That’s enough out of you. Cruu is fine. Flim’s the one Cruu’s worried about. We don’t need to lose two good men in one day.” Cruu stood tall, took a deep breath, and sheathed his sword.

“It’s just Cruu’s tunic. It’ll be fine. Cruu assumed you returned because you found something. Am I right?” Cruu tied a belt into his tunic as he spoke, the spot red from his or Flim’s blood.

“Yes. I found a ruined building. About half a mile that way,” Artuck pointed in the direction he just came from.

“Well let’s get moving, then,” Cruu said, beginning to walk away.

“Hold on, I think I can help Flim.” 

Artuck took a step towards Mitrax, who didn't move, but instead offered Flim’s limp and wounded body to Artuck.

Artuck looked at the young man. A fine elf, he was. Long, straight, brown hair, now caked with mud, and blisters on his hands and arms. Semi-dried blood stuck to the places where he had been hurt, and a massive red circle in his waist revealed to Artuck where he had been hurt.

Artuck lay his hands on Flim, and looked at Mitrax, who simply returned his gaze.

“You might want to remember the words I will speak.”

Mitrax nodded, and Artuck closed his eyes as he remembered Totto’s prayer.

“Arya dou nistek allve tien.” Artuck said, and opened his eyes to find Flim’s wounds healed, but his clothes still ripped. The blood that had once stained his clothes was now gone, the mud in his hair cleaned, the blistered skin now soft like that of a newborn child.

“That’s… impressive,” Mitrax said, obviously surprised. He looked up at Artuck.

“Where did you learn that?”

Artuck looked up at Mitrax, and for a second, he could see Totto’s caring eyes in the dragonborn, as if Totto’s soul were speaking to him.

Artuck felt a tear begin to form in his eyes, and he quickly rubbed them and looked away.

“It… was a spell my brother taught me. Totto… showed me how to restore life where one had taken it. All it required… was a small amount of the user’s life force. The larger the wound, the larger the cost.”

Artuck sighed as he remembered watching Totto save Percel in a battle, where Percel had been stabbed through, and was on the brink of death. His breathing staggered, the blood pouring out. Yet Totto saved him, with tears in his eyes, and a  desperate plea to Allys to keep his brother alive.

“It can even cure death itself, though the price is heavy. Totto taught me that this spell was to be used in desperate times, as it could potentially kill the user. He also taught me that it takes heart to cast that spell. A gift from the goddess Allys, he would always say. ‘The goddess of life and fertility, to whom we all have to thank for being alive.’” Artuck chuckled softly to himself as he recalled how Totto used to speak.

Mitrax set Flim down on the ground gently before hugging Artuck, catching the shapeshifter off guard. A moment later, Artuck was holding the large dragon as he wept into his scaly shoulders.

“Sounds like your brothers really cared about you, Artuck. Being their youngest brother, they must’ve known you were destined for greatness. That must be why they taught you so much.” Mitrax gently rubbed Artuck heaving back as he continued to cry.

“You’re... Right, Mitrax,” Artuck squeaked, his voice breaking.

 “Percel taught me how to be strong. Strong minded, strong willed. I… still have much to learn there. I gave up so quickly when I saw him get killed. Marll taught me how to watch and listen. He was always one with nature, and I envied him for it. He showed me what it meant to be kind. Obviously, I told you about Totto. He showed me how to have heart. Compassion, empathy, and love. Krim showed me the power of optimism, though I doubted him. Even now, I realize that I have a long way to go to get to that point.”

Mitrax ended the embrace, but still held Artuck at arms length. He looked Artuck in the eyes, and once again, Artuck saw Totto’s soft grin, and his gentle soul in Mitrax.

“And you have no idea how proud they would be of you right now. To see that you are continuing their legacy, in their name. Hell, I’m proud of you. We’re proud of you, Artuck.” Mitrax looked to Cruu and Flim as he spoke, to which Cruu nodded, smiling, and Flim still lay unconscious, but smiling now.

“So let’s go get that bastard, Artuck. What do you say, huh?”

Artuck smiled as Mitrax finished speaking.

“Of course. For now, let’s get somewhere safe where we can lay out our next moves.” 

Mitrax beamed with pride as he scooped Flim back into his arms and Cruu patted Artuck on the back, and gave him a knowing nod.

I realize it now. I waited, not to find hope, but to find my brothers again. Though not the same, my brother’s ideals live through them. To Flim, our Marll. And Mitrax, our Totto. Cruu, our Percel. And also Christol, our Krim. To all of you. Thank you. For bringing me peace.