>>406043
>[] Go get some breakfast
> [] Other
Gotta feed our pet rabbit!

>>406043
>> [] Go get some breakfast
>>406172
This too

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>>406043
>>406172
>>406890

Your stomach grumbles at you noisily as you lie there breathing in time with Mama. Despite that it’s really tempting just to ignore everything and sleep a while longer, but in the end, you find your small limbs pushing and legs squirming to get free, gently wriggling your way out of Mama’s grasp and putting your feet on the cool stone outside of the bedding area as you start your day.

The blanket Uncle Gal had made for you a while ago had made sleeping feel a lot better than the straw. So much about home had changed around that time, Mama getting sick then getting better, Uncle Lee taking care of you and then going away. You’d even gotten a pet, whose little wicker house you were even now crouching down next to.

“Din-Din…” you call softly, playing with the flap on the small woven hut. “Din-Din, it’s morning… Time for breakfast.”

At first there’s no response, but as you call a second time, you hear the sound of rustling straw tell you he’s awake. Soon enough, a giant, fluffy nose sticks out and begins snuffling around expectantly.

“Din-Din!” you giggle as he begins trying to nibble at your fingers. “I’m not food. Come on, now. Time to get out of bed.”

In response, he pulls his snout back, clearly uninterested in your games, but you aren’t going to let him be a lazy bones today. So, with a groan of effort, you shove your arms in after him and slowly pull the hare from his hiding hole and into your arms, the giant ball of fluff gently wicking as you clutch him to your chest, but otherwise not struggling as he settles into your arms.

With your fuzzy companion in hand, you begin making your way out of you and Mama’s bedroom, past the study and out into the main hall, the stones getting colder the further away you get before you remember to slip on your socks and boots.

You remember how upset Mama had been when you lost one of the ones you had before out in the woods that day. She’d been upset for lots of other reasons as well, you think, and started crying after Uncle Lee was gone and she thought you were asleep. You hadn’t seen her cry that much since you asked her where Papa was so long ago.

Still, things had been better since then. Mama hadn’t been crying. The skeletons didn’t have to fight anyone else, and day-by-day, your home was getting bigger. The halls went on a long way into a bunch of new rooms. Mama had even talked about letting you have one all to yourself to play in.

That sounded nice, but not nearly as nice as the chirping of the birds you hear as you climb the tower outside, the morning sun shining bright as you wandered into the garden and began snapping off a few things for breakfast. Peas, carrots, berries, celery, and a soft roll you had grabbed on your way out, you lay them all out in a flat bowl after cleaning them off and sit down next to Din-Din for your morning meal.

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>>407340

> Do you want to try to make Din-Din do tricks for his?
> [] Yes (1d100/High DC)
> [] No

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>407355
>[] Yes
Gotta get that rabbit to evolve.

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>407355
>[] Yes (1d100/High DC)

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>407355
> [] Yes (1d100/High DC)
why not

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>>407355
>>407360
>>407381
>>407621

Mama kept telling you to teach Din-Din some tricks other than pooping everywhere. Still, it seemed like no matter what you tried, he just kept looking at you and begging until you gave him the treats. Maybe that was his trick…

Anyway, you feel like today is the day as you take a carrot and a few sprouts and waggle it in front of Din-Din’s face, getting him to nibble at the tips of it before you gently pull it just out of his reach to wear he has to sit up straight.

“Sit, Din-Din,” you command, holding him down as you lift the food further up. “Sit.”

It seems to be going fairly well, that is until he ducks his head and starts munching at the food plate already on the ground.

“Din-Din, no!” you correct, booping him on the nose and moving the food dish out of the way. “This is your food, and you aren’t going to get any until you sit. “Now, sit.”

It takes a little while to make Din-Din get the idea and no just stand on his hind paws or hop up to get at the food or wander off into other parts of the garden to get an easier meal. Still, eventually you manage to get him to sit once or twice on what you’re pretty sure is your command. You even manage to get him to roll over, sort of. In truth, he only manages it halfway before just lying flat on his back and looking up at you sadly. At that point, you finally just fold and give him the rest as you turn toward your own empty belly.

As always, it tastes wonderful, everything fresh and juicy because of the care Mama takes with the plants. The roll just makes it all that much better, sweet and salty as you pull it apart with your teeth. It was nice of the village people to have given these to you and Mama after everything that happened, that and a bunch of other stuff that she had packed away for other days, jars and boxes of various stuff that was probably more important than food.

What those things might be, you aren’t really sure, but maybe that’s because you’d never really had much more than clothes and food, a blanket to keep out of the cold and books so Mama could teach you all the things you’d need to know when you were bigger. At this point, you were pretty good at math and could even write your name with a quill.

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>>407890

Speaking of bird feathers, was that a harpy flying by? You look over the lip of the broken tower and into the forest beyond as a large mass of feathers goes flapping along, seemingly struggling to keep something pretty heavy in its claws as it tries to fight off a bunch of smaller birds. It’s kind of funny looking, really, seeing the big, black feathered bird arguing with the little ones, trying to shew them away.

Maybe she had bird seed with her. That’d explain a lot. However, things become a lot less funny when you see the package the girl is carrying suddenly swing to the side, her wing tangling in something you can’t see before she goes plummeting out of the sky and into the tree line with a crash.

Your stomach twists and turns as you realize she’s probably in danger, your breath coming a bit short as you stand up and try to think of what you can do.

> What do you do?
> [] Get over there as fast as you can. She needs help.
> [] Wake Momma up. She’ll know what to do!
> [] Other

>>407895
>[] Wake Momma up. She’ll know what to do!

>>407895
> [] Wake Momma up. She’ll know what to do!
dont want a repeat of last time

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>>407895
>>407921
>>408015

Mama will know what to do. She always does. With that matter settled in your mind, you leave Din-Din where he is, rushing down stairs as fast as your legs can carry you and back into the bedroom.

“Mama! Mama!” you shout, shaking her shoulders before her hands find yours.

“What’s the matter, sweetling?” she inquires gently, groaning as she pulls herself up off the ground.

“Mama, someone fell!” you say. “A bird person!”

“Wait, fell down? You mean from the sky?” she asks, eyes shooting open in shock as you nod. “Oh dear! That’s not good at all. Cecelia, I need you to wait here, okay? But first I need you to point me where you saw them fall.”

With an adeptness that only a mother could have at picking up a child, you find yourself in the air and climbing the tower in Mama’s arms in a heartbeat, the large Gorgon setting you down gently before she asks you to point her in the right direction.

“There, Mama,” you say, pointing to the big tree you’re sure marked the spot.

“And you’re sure it’s there?” You nod. “Oh god. Stay here. Just-“

Next thing you know, Mama’s flung herself off the roof of the tower and is racing off through the forest like one of Uncle Gal’s arrows.

--

Damn it! You hiss internally as you fly off the roof of the tower, first in frustration, then in pain as your stomach jerks when you hit the ground. Fresh scar tissue creaks uncomfortably as your body rolls with the impact, lungs straining as you then struggle to get it back up to speed.

Anyone viewing this from the outside would probably think you’re a crazy woman, but you don’t have time to think about modesty at this point. If Cecelia was right that meant the girl had landed right in the middle of that thing’s lair. And if that was the case, there was no time to worry about a little pain or how it feels like you’ve put on a hundred extra pounds since the last time you did something like this.

> Roll 2d100 to chase

to chase

Rolled 62, 32 = 94 (2d100)

>>408161

Rolled 14, 71 = 85 (2d100)

>>408188

Rolled 64, 70 = 134 (2d100)

>>408161

Rolled 67, 58 = 125 (2d100)

>>408161
>>or how it feels like you’ve put on a hundred extra pounds since the last time you did something like this.

well, you are a giant snake lady, so you actually might have. But its probably healthy! Snakes dont get much fat, so its probably muscle!
Probably!

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>>408259
>>408247
>>408191
>>408189
>>408161

> 64, 71

Your muscles ache and your bones creak, tail joints popping as you continue to gain momentum, sweeping around trees and old brush, scattering birds and small animals in your wake. Just how long had it been since you’d gotten a proper round of exercise other than weeding the garden, you wonder. The sweat gathering along your brow seems to say “too much”, but then again, you could hardly take Cici with you, now could you?

She was still so small and defenseless. All it would take is one spider, one snake, maybe a trip over a rock, and- You don’t want to think about it anymore, instead pushing all of that anxious energy into running as you strike into something resembling a rhythm, scaled flanks zipping over tree trunks, pushing off of them to propel you faster.

In the end, your breath comes more quickly than you would like before you reach the correct neck of the woods. However, it doesn’t take long from there to find the scorch marks. Burnt and blasted earth, uprooted trees, tell-tale signs of vultures feasting recently. It only grows more pronounced as you draw further into the beast’s territory and closer to its lair.

That monster certainly hadn’t been making your life easier since it moved into your territory, that’s for certain. From starting small wild fires and poisoning water supplies to killing random game for sport, it was a disease on this land that just happened to be shaped like a bear. And it seems that it’s just far enough away from any human settlement that no one else was about to deal with it for you any time soon.

Perhaps a few years ago, you would have taken care of it yourself, with your husband and his friends… But then again, it wasn’t a few years ago, was it? You try to put the sudden, unwelcome thoughts out of your mind and focus on what’s in front of you instead, namely a raised plateau of rock with a large, blackened tree’s roots piercing into it.

Amazing that the beast hadn’t managed to kill it yet in all of its fits, it’s leaves still a lustrous green, but you haven’t exactly got the time to stand around and marvel at the silent resolve of nature. You need to find the girl, who by the looks of things clearly fell nearby. There’s no signs of the beast, thankfully, but plenty of a failed landing, scattered parcels all about from what you suppose must have been a mail run. Now to find the messenger.

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>>408487

With a deep breath, you scan first with your normal sense: sight, smell, hearing. And when that fails, a pressure in the back of your head forces your eyes into the infrared spectrum. Suddenly, the world becomes a thing peculiar to explain, sensations of sight replaced with something similar yet altogether different, a field of intensities both great and small. And thankfully, amidst the cloud of information, you can see a trail flowing through it all, little four toed feet having left traces in the mud.

There’s no time to waste. With that in mind, you begin slithering down the trail, closer and closer toward the cave entrance with growing apprehension. If it was down there, if you were wrong… However, as you turn the corner at the cave mouth and peer within, you can see a very, non-ursine shape at the bottom, one seemingly scrabbling to pick up a lost piece of cargo before it begins hobbling back toward the entrance.

Of course, then it sees you, and it drops what it was holding.

> This might end poorly. What do you say/do?
> Also, roll 1d100 to control the situation

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>408488
"Shhh...you have to be quiet, and fast! There's a demon bear around here and we have to get going before it comes back!"

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>408488
Hold up a finger to your lips, and then point out of the cave to tell her to go. keep your eyes peeled for bears.

Rolled 11 (1d100)

>>408488
"I mean no harm."

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>>408498
>>408519
>>408617
>>408488

She’s panicking. You can tell from the way her knees are threatening to buckle as she looks between you and the exit you’re presently blocking. And why wouldn’t she be afraid? You are a massive half-snake woman with hair made out of more snakes suddenly blocking the only way out.

“Shhh…” you whisper in lieu of an explanation, putting a finger to your lips. “Everything’s going to be fine, but there’s a bear around her who’s going to be back soon. We need to go.”

She looks at you, still shivering and still very uncertain.

“I live nearby,” you urge, gently extending your hand down into the burrow, “and I mean you no harm. However, we need to go before-“

A deep growl interrupts your thoughts and confirms your worst suspicions as she teeters there on the border of trust. Like thunder on the horizon, it echoes off the rocks and in the pit of your stomach as you turn toward the tree line. And there, much as you dreaded, you find the beast already waiting for you.

Towering even with all four paws on the ground, the red and black behemoth stalks casually toward you, battle-grizzled hide mottled with countless scars and laden bony spikes, the latter erupting in a hellish red light as he roars your impending destruction.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can see the girl is running toward the exit. However, you can’t help but question what the wisest course of action is here.

> What do you do?
> [] Fight the bear. This problem ends now. [Roll 5d100]
> [] Run away and take the kid. [Roll 2d100]
> [] Other

Rolled 78, 49 = 127 (2d100)

>>408678
>[] Run away and take the kid.

Rolled 6, 42 = 48 (2d100)

>>408678
>Run away and take the kid. [Roll 2d100]

>>408678

I'll continue writing tomorrow when I get up and about. Until then, I'll leave this one open.

Rolled 88, 93 = 181 (2d100)

>>408678
> [] Run away and take the kid. [Roll 2d100]
> [] Other
Set up some interference. I dont know the terrain nearby, but if theres any streams or other problem creatures nearby, it might get it off our tail.

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>>408855
>>408692
>>408685
>>408678

> 88, 93

In the end, it takes one look at those flaming spikes to well and truly settle your mind. Without a weapon or armor, you’d practically be asking to be roasted alive. And that’s about all the time you have for spare thoughts before he’s charging full tilt directly at you. Out of your peripherals and with a quick snap of your arms, you take the squawking harpy in hand before, with a practiced flourish, you sweep your entire body out of the line of his charge.

A horrible bellow sounds within the cave, accompanied by the sound of snapping branches and cracking stone as the beast flies past its mark, but by then you are already well on your way, bolting for the tree line while trying to stop the girl’s struggling in your arms. There isn’t time for explanations, no time for words. You just stuff her into the crook of your arm and give her a stern look as you pick up speed with all the effort you can manage.

Unfortunately, your act as a matador has a shorter lasting effect than you had wanted, and it doesn’t take long before you hear that heavy form crashing through the trees behind you, a maddening roar erupting from the beast’s chest as it bowls over the obstacles you were busy maneuvering around.

This was not going to end well, not unless you thought of something quick. And so, your mind races along with your body to try to find something to throw in his path to keep him off your trail. Finally, as if the gods of fortune were smiling on you, you spy something.

“Heeya!” you shout, as you flex your spine for all its worth, tail snapping against bark with a flash of pain once, twice, until you hear a snap on the other end.

And not a second too soon, as the beast comes storming in behind you, maw open wide and ready to take a bite of you or the girl before a massive, vine laden tree comes slamming down on top of him. Against the flames erupting from its hide, they weren’t going to last long, but hopefully long enough. That’s all you can hope as you choke down the pain surging in your abdomen and where you had forced your body to play the part better suited for an axe.

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>>410150

It didn’t matter now. The tower was in site and you’d be able to manage matters once you got safely within its walls… But how? Was it simply going to retreat? Were those walls or the skeletal workers even going to be enough to slow it down? Was Cecelia still on the roof? All these questions seemingly come too late as a triumphant roar approaching from your rear lets you know the beast has found its escape.

You were going to have to think fast and make some hard decisions now, to grab Cecelia or leave her there while you distracted him, whether it was worth diving back into your room for a spear or leading the creature further into the dungeon to let the skeletons try to take care of him. That is, if the skeletons weren’t already out on the field waiting for you as they seemed to be.

As you burst through the tree line at full sprint, you see them all out and arrayed for battle, even the giant skeletal boar, eye sockets burning with a violet light and a familiar form riding on top.

“Hi,” Yesh offers simply, eyes still focused on the tree line as you cross the defensive line.

> But what now?
> [] Let Yesh and the skeletons fight it out! [Roll 10d100]
> [] You have to help them hold the line! [Roll 15d100]
> [] Other

>>410159
>[] Other
Have Yesh and the skeletons buy us time while we go to our room to get weapons and armored up.

>>410170

It may not have been clear, but that's the first option. They hold the line while Cassandra ducks in and gets her armor.

Rolled 66, 31, 5, 66, 52, 24, 63, 33, 15, 91 = 446 (10d100)

>>410184
Oh.
Then going with that and rolling.

Rolled 92, 20, 53, 10, 57, 52, 31, 53, 43, 99 = 510 (10d100)

>>410159
> [] Let Yesh and the skeletons fight it out! [Roll 10d100]

Rolled 94, 11, 60, 59, 88, 40, 21, 100, 37, 38 = 548 (10d100)

>>410159
> [] Let Yesh and the skeletons fight it out! [Roll 10d100]
I hope we got a bow or some magic to cast, because getting into a melee with this thing if youre not already undead seems like a poor idea for us.

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>>410483
>>410311
>>410212
>>410170
>>410159

> 94, 31, 60, 66, 88, 52, 63, 100, 43, 99

“Hold him off for as long as you can!” you scream at Yesh, rushing through with cargo in hand.

“I will do what I can,” he assures you, before with a wave of his hand, he sends a wall of bleach white bone charging into the fray.

You hear the beast roar and the sound of metal ringing in the air behind you, but you can’t stop to look back as you skirt around the tower with all due haste, nearly bowling over Cecelia as you turn a sharp corner and duck inside.

“Mama!” she calls.

“Sweetling,” you try to keep the desperation out of your tone as you grab her with your coils and tug her along for the ride. “I need you to be a good girl and stay in the bedroom for a little while, okay?”

“But Mama!”

“No butts, Cici!” You’re already gently setting both of your juvenile packages down on the bed, and flinging the lid off of your chest. “It’s dangerous outside, and Mama doesn’t want you getting hurt.”

“But-“

“Be a good girl and take care of Ms. …?”

“V-V-Vivienne!” the little one cheeps nervously.

“Take care of Vivienne, and I’ll be back soon.” As you tug your armored shirt down over your head and yank your spear out from under the bed, you give your little one a light peck on the cheek. “Promise.”

With that taken care of, you’re out the door and on the move, taking only a spare second to pick up a bow from a nearby rack before you’re once more outside of the tower and awash in the heat of battle. And in this case, the heat is quite literal. Even from here, you can feel the scorching warmth of the beast’s flesh as it blazes in the midday sun, hear the snap of bones as it throws your skeletons around like ragdolls, shattering them to pieces. However, as you draw close enough to see the field, you can also note glowing rivulets of blood flowing down its visage as it continues to slash at anything that gets too close.

> What to do?
> [] Charge in with the spear. It’s hide is too thick! [10d100]
> [] Hold back and try to engage at range. [8d100]
> [] Other

Rolled 93, 100, 52, 61, 40, 38, 47, 65 = 496 (8d100)

>>410595
>[] Hold back and try to engage at range. [8d100]
Aim for the eyes and mouth! Go for the eyes, Cass! GO FOR THE EYES!

Rolled 49, 49, 87, 24, 59, 52, 18, 86 = 424 (8d100)

>>410595
>> [] Hold back and try to engage at range. [8d100]

Rolled 16, 63, 49, 63, 28, 95, 33, 85 = 432 (8d100)

>>410595
>> [] Hold back and try to engage at range. [8d100]

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>>410764
>>410694
>>410605
>>410595

> 93, 100, 87, 63, 61, 95, 47, 86

Arrows may not do much good, but you can’t afford to burn yourself to a crisp fighting this thing either. So, with a quick sigh, you leave the front line fighting to Yesh and round the tower stair case to get a good sniper’s position, stringing your bow before firing a few well-placed shots into the fray.

And it would seem that however far your stamina may have gone down, you still have a steady hand from the hunting that had been keeping you and Cecelia fed all these months, an arrow slashing against his snout and getting him to rear long enough for the skeletal boar Yesh is riding to smash into its exposed chest and take it down into a death roll.

It doesn’t last long, of course. It’s less than half a second before it’s back up again and doing its dead level best to bash the other monstrosity’s tusks into powder. However, in its unstoppable rage, it leaves you a clean shot to plug an arrow in its right eye. From hand to final location, it’s done in a flash, a quivering stalk sticking out of its face as it screams something equal parts pain and fury.

At first you hope it might retreat, that it might at least stagger from the blow, but those are quickly dashed as the flames only seem to burn brighter with its anguish, the beast grabbing the boar by the head before flinging it clear away and commencing to swat the remaining swordsmen about it like flies. All this happens while Yesh struggles to pull himself up off the ground, regaining his feet right before the bear comes rearing down on top of him.

You can barely hear the scream in your throat over the sound of the beast’s continued rancor, but it’s just as well as a tremendous claw of searing violent light slashes into the left side of its and sends it tumbling. Once, twice, Yesh’s tiny form moves in a blur of motion as it rakes deep gashes into the beast’s flesh, but he’s equally quick to flee as it once again takes its feet, blood pooling all around it as it surveys the wreckage of the skeletons all around it, huffing as its eyes flash between you and the tiny lizard.

It seems to come to a realization in that moment, one born of its near death straits as it sounds a fierce retreat and begins backing away, slowly moving in reverse while eyeing you with all of the hatred one eye can muster. The question is, will you let it flee, at this point?

> What to do?
> [] Try to finish it. [5d100]
> [] Let it go.

Rolled 70, 17, 27, 92, 5 = 211 (5d100)

>>411002
>> [] Try to finish it. [5d100]

Rolled 18, 76, 43, 52, 4 = 193 (5d100)

>>411002
>> [] Try to finish it. [5d100]

Rolled 39, 43, 24, 95, 45 = 246 (5d100)

>>411002
>Try to finish it. [5d100]

Rolled 17, 19, 4, 62, 77 = 179 (5d100)

>>411002
>[] Try to finish it. [5d100]

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>>411002
>>411069
>>411194
>>411220
>>411272

> 70, 76, 43, 95, 45

This thing tried to kill your daughter, you remind yourself. It’s been poisoning the land, mutilating the game you need to live off of, and has been starting fires every other day. No, you aren’t going to wait for another opportunity like this.

Thus, with stern resolve, you ready a few more arrows, take aim, and resolve yourself to see this through to the end. However, no sooner has the twang reached your ears once you’ve loosed the first arrow than the beast is already a blur in motion, the barb skidding off his hide as he bounds at you in one last charge. It will be him or you now, and you hedge your odds by putting another fresh bolt through his neck.

Still, no surprise that that isn’t enough to stop it. Neither is Yesh’s strike from beneath as he practically guts the beast in one fell swoop. It must know that it’s past the point of survival anyway, past the point of returning to its lair, and having made peace with that, it’s throwing every last ounce of its strength at taking you with it, bounding up the wall of the tower like it were flat ground as it makes its way up to you.

Arrows won’t slow it now as the smell of sulfur and smoke draws near. Neither will harsh language as you scream indistinguishable threats and curses into the face that is now level with yours. Instead, you simply let the pressure behind your eyes build and then unleash everything you can into your petrifying gaze.

Of course, you aren’t a legend. You aren’t the Queen of Gorgons who could turn enemies to stone with just a thought and a wink. You’re just a young mother with plenty of reasons why she can’t die today. Maybe that’s enough from the way everything seems to go into slow motion as you flip your spear up in two hands and ram the pointy end down that bastard’s throat, finally silencing that monstrous roar of his as the light somewhat fades from its eyes.

However, it isn’t done yet, not while there’s still a chance it can take you with it. While the world moves slow, one massive claw swipes in at you impossibly quick, aiming for the back of your head before you can fully duck out of the way. There’s a flash of pain as it hits the side of your face instead, agony leaving you blind before what you suspect is blood does the rest. Still, it falls and you don’t, tumbling to the ground where Yesh is already waiting to leap down on it, his magic flashing as he rips even its soul to pieces.

In that moment, ou aren’t even sure if that will stop that monster, but at this point, there’s little else you can do. Your head feels heavy, your body strangely light as you sway atop the tower, and as you push your back against the rafters, you feel like a nap would be lovely.

> Still, do you really have time for that right now?
> [] Just wait. Let Yesh handle things while you rest.
> [] Go bandage yourself up.
> [] Check on the kids.
> [] Other

>>411333
>Go bandage yourself up.

>>411333
>[] Go bandage yourself up.

>>411333
>> [] Go bandage yourself up.
>> [] Check on the kids.

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>>411455
>>411377
>>411345
>>411333

You have the feeling Yesh can handle a corpse. As for you, well, you should probably check the wound and bandage yourself up before the kids can see. No sense worrying them over a few scratch or bruises, after all. That wasn’t supposed to be their place in this world. Honestly, though, it made you wonder what kind of parent you were to even be raising a child this close to danger.

It seemed like every day the shame became that much more difficult to bear, to think of just how different of a childhood you were offering your only daughter living here as opposed to the one your mother had provided to you back on the Stone Isles. Beneath the eves of your ancestral home, could you honestly say that you had ever seen the sight of spilt blood or ravening beasts at your door? No, of course not, those days had always been peaceful, serene, ones where you had never found yourself hungry or wanting for anything that money could provide.

That comfort had come at a terrible price, of course. Yet here you were now, raising Cecelia like a wild animal in the woods, living out of dilapidated ruins like a monster or a vagabond, and praying no one came in the dead of night to take everything you held dear away from you.

You feel like an insane person as the post-battle high crumbles into this pitiful lump of dizzying distress lodged in your chest and your swaying grows worse. Maybe you had gotten a concussion during the course of the fight… or maybe you were finally just being honest with yourself. Whatever the case may be, your eyes are already moist as you pull around a small mirror and begin shakily examining yourself in its depths.

The blood will have to go first, you realize, dipping a rag in disinfectant before gently brushing at the red now sticky on the side of your head, serpents hissing on your behalf as what feels like fire burns away the gunk surrounding your eye. It proves stubborn, but as your crude ministrations continue, the form of four red lines emerge among the red. Burning across your eye socket, you can’t say you are a fan of the change in your expression, but you still breathe a sigh of relief as the eye itself opens unblemished then his anew as the aggravated marks begin hissing in the fresh air.

Bandages are quick to hand afterward, and ointment to keep the wound clean and hopefully minimize the scarring soon after. From there, it’s simply trying to find a way to wrap the entire mass around your head of writhing serpents to secure it in place before you can be done with it. Now, for the much harder part, facing your child with a new set of injuries.

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>>411588

However, before the grief can settle in too heavily on that, you hear the familiar sound of clattering and marching feet making their way through the entrance hall, Yesh ushering in the skeletal troops from the field in various states of disarray still held together by his magic. The boar, the archers, the warriors, and to your abject horror, the spiked, still flesh-clad behemoth lumbering behind them, eyes blazing violet as it obediently follows the small lizard further inside.

There goes any attempt on your part to calm your pace.

> Now, what to do?
> [] Speak with the kids. Saying what?
> [] Chase after Yesh.
> [] Other

>>411590
> [] Chase after Yesh.
Make sure everythings ok then
> [] Speak with the kids. Saying what?
That everythings ok and see if the harpy girl is doing alright

>>411590
>[] Chase after Yesh.
Make sure that the demon bear is kept out of sight as he salvages all the reagents he can from it; such a highly evolved monster should be able to provide plenty of rare and powerful materials.

>>411590
>Chase after Yesh.

>>411590
> [] Speak with the kids. Saying what?
Make sure theyre alright, and find out what your daughter was wanting to say before.

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>>411590
>>411601
>>411603
>>411627
>>411685

The children are important, but first things first.

“Yesh,” you call softly, slithering after the parade of corpses. “Yesh.”

“Yes, Cassandra,” Yesh returns pleasantly.

“I just wanted to make sure that you weren’t hurt and ask if you could kindly keep the undead hidden while I try to calm down our guest.”

“I can do that,” he nods, cupping a slightly charred hand to his chin in thought. “As for my wounds, time will heal them, I believe. As for now, they are not severe enough to deter me from dissecting a valuable commodity. Unless I miss my mark, its burrow would also be worth checking for gathered treasures. I suppose I could check it myself when I’m done, though, if you would prefer.”

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” you insist.

“And I wouldn’t feel imposed upon,” he replies. “Just let me know once you’ve calmed the children.”

With that said, Yesh turns and leaves, wandering the rest of the way down the hall with no particular haste before entering the chamber near where the book resides, leaving the skeletons to sort it among themselves who gets reassembled first.

Truth be told, his demeanor worries you in times like these. Bloody hands, bruises, and burns, but by his tone you’d think you’d just come from an average breakfast. Still, if he need the help, you don’t suppose he’d hesitate to ask either. Anyway, you’ll make sure he’s going to be well and truly alright after attending to the younglings.

So, taking one last look in the mirror to make sure you look as best you can, you ease yourself in the study and slowly open the door further in.

“Mama!” Your little one knows it’s you before the door is even halfway open, already running to hug you about the trunk with those tiny arms of hers. You just wish her smile didn’t immediately crumble when she gets a good look at your face. “You’re hurt again…”

“Only a scratch,” you promise, ruffling her serpentine locks gently until you see her smile come back. “And now we won’t have to worry about the bear anymore.”

“Does that mean I can go exploring?” she asks hopefully, and you chuckle hopelessly as you’re once again stuck as the bearer of bad news.

“No, sweetling,” you correct. “The woods are still a very dangerous place for you to be wandering around.”

“Even with Din-Din?” she begs, big eyes shining.

“Even with Din-Din,” you assure her. “In fact, I think you’ll have even more attention from nasty wolves and snakes with such a delicious guardian with you.”

She gasps as she hugs her pet rabbit defensively to her chest for fear of lurking predators.

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>>411773


“Even with Vivi?” she continues, pointing to the frazzled black bird in the corner.

“I don’t think Vivi is any condition to be going anywhere right now,” you say, but you see the girl cringe. “You most likely twisted a wing in your fall, or am I wrong?”

“A l-little…” she admits, rubbing one wing gently with the other while still avoiding your gaze. “B-But I can probably still make it where I’m going! Besides, I just can’t be late! I can’t be!”

From the way she’s shuddering, even a little bit of motion caused by talking is enough to upset her wing sockets, let alone flying. Honestly, by the look of her, you have no idea why she’s even traveling alone at this age. She’s barely taller than Cici.

“Tell you what,” you say. “How about you sleep here for the evening and see if you feel well enough to travel in the morning, okay? Worst case scenario, I can take you to the human settlement or the Aosh clan for a healer.”

“But that’s where I’m heading!” she objects.

“Where?”

“The Aosh Clan!” she clarifies. “We wanted to f-foster better relationships between them and the humans, and so they sent me… But then I fell with all of my stuff…”

Seems she’s feeling crestfallen.

> What do you say/do?
> [] Best not to worry about that. Let’s get you something to eat.
> [] Maybe I could help you pick up some of what you lost.
> [] Other

>>411794
>[] Maybe I could help you pick up some of what you lost.

>>411794
>Other
Let's first eat, then talk about helping.

>>411813
>>411798
>>411794

Sorry folks. Looks like we are at a bit of standstill with voting. I'll pick up writing again tomorrow.

>>411794
>> [] Best not to worry about that. Let’s get you something to eat.
and after that
> [] Maybe I could help you pick up some of what you lost.

> [] Best not to worry about that. Let’s get you something to eat.
> [] Maybe I could help you pick up some of what you lost.

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>>413110
>>412212
>>411813
>>411798
>>411794

“You’re safe now and that’s all that really matters,” you assure the tiny harpy girl, leaning down slowly so that you can put a reassuring hand on her good shoulder and look her square in the eye. “Things can be replaced or found when they’ve been lost, but people are far more precious, especially the young ones. Remember that.

“Come now. I imagine at this point you must be starving.” Truth be told, your own stomach is already grumbling from the heavy exercise while empty. “So how about you, Cecelia, and myself sit down for a nice bit of breakfast? Then we can discuss what to do next.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m no-“ A loud growl from her own stomach catches both of your ears as she stops. “Well, maybe just a little.”

“A girl your age shouldn’t be skipping meals,” you tut, leading your little lambs to the pantry and gathering a few jars before proceeding to the roof. “or running deliveries last I checked.”

“Well, I-“ she seems a bit flustered trying to come up with an adequate response. “There was just this new post opening not far from home, and we both thought it would be good for me to get some experience.”

Her nervous chuckles tell you more than her words, but you decide it’s best not to pry.

“Well, then. So long as your mother knows,” you confirm. “Though if possible, you should really send her a letter to know you’ve been delayed. You wouldn’t want her to worry.” She gives you a weak nod in response as she rounds fully into the garden, eyes popping open wide as she sees the cornucopia surrounding her.

“I’ve been growing this garden since I moved in,” you explain, laying out a few items and getting a plate ready for your guest. “And you are welcome to anything that’s ripe. We have berries, peppers, tomatoes, and…”

“C-c-corn!” you hear her cluck to herself, eyes sparkling as she slowly walks, zombie-like toward one of your stalks.

“P-Please… help yourself!” you offer, trying not to make her self-conscious as she tenderly plucks a couple of ripe cobs with one foot and begins hobbling back toward the plate of preserves you already have laid out for her.

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>>413638

Pepper relish and preserved meats, soft breads, and some cheese. It was amazing how hospitable the townspeople could be when they weren’t actively trying to kill you. Most likely, they were simply trying to cover their involvement in everything that happened up until now, maybe assuage a bit of guilt from their consciences in the process. Whatever their rationale and however long this fortunate wind was going to blow, you weren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth in the meantime. You nod sagely to yourself as you spread some cheese on a roll and grab a far too dainty bite given your ravenous appetite.

Truth be told, your appetite for anything not made entirely of meat was usually rather small. Your body being that of a predator, a carnivorous diet made ample sense. Still, it didn’t necessarily help matters that you were charged as the sole teacher for your child’s introduction to proper table manners. When your own natural instinct in the matter had always been just swallowing whatever you could cut up in one fell gulp, you’d since had to learn to chew, to make a show of it all for her sake and, yes, even eat your vegetables as the situation called for it, like right now.

Still, for all that effort, you don’t imagine your guest is taking much note of your painstaking table manners. No, her eyes are only for the food in front of her, which she tears into with almost embarrassing gusto. Peppers and cheese, bread and meat, and of course the corn disappear with a lightning speed you’d never have expected from a girl who could only eat with her feet, bits of food flying free as she tears and picks down to the bone, cob, and crumbs of everything set in front of her.

“Not hungry then?” you question slyly, gathering a bit more food for the famished harpy while she struggles with a mouthful.

“It’sh just sho good!” she chirps, already grabbing another claw full to bring to her mouth.

“Mama’s good at gardening,” Cecelia agrees, nibbling on a stalk of celery as she eyes the other girl with awe.

“Mhm!”

“Come now,” you insist with a blush. “Less talking and more eating.”

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>>413647

Thankfully, it takes less prodding than you would think to get them quietly eating their fills again, munching away happily while you try not to let your stomach’s growls get out of control. You were going to need something more substantial for your appetite, like a deer or a couple of wolves. Come to think of it, you wonder what that bear would taste like…

And as if in answer to your thoughts, a heavenly scent begins wafting up the stairs at just that moment. Thick and heady with a tinge of spice, you can feel your mouth watering long before Yesh turns the corner with a mound of steaks piled high on a plate.

“It would seem that this is edible,” he notes, setting the food down before plucking himself a few vegetables and grabbing a plate. “Best we not let it go to waste.”

Patience. Wonderful, horribly painful patience. It forces you to grab a knife and fork rather than spearing it with your claws as you dig in to the supple flesh. Surprisingly, though, it is supple, supple and flavorful, like it had been seared with a peculiar spice all its own. It tastes like smoke and peppers, saffron and vinegar. What it is, it tastes amazing, and you definitely have more than anyone else’s share as you finally fill the void in your stomach.

Still, you can’t forget that there were other matters to deal with.

“So,” you begin, after taking a deep drink of water. “Vivienne. You said that your supplies were scattered around the beast’s lair, correct?” She nods as she continues chewing on a mouthful of steak. “Well, I plan on surveying that area while the sun is still high now that the beast is gone. I could probably get most of it and bring it back here for you. So, what do you say?”

“I want to go with you,” she responds automatically.

> What do you say/do?
> [] Agree
> [] Disagree
> [] Other

>>413655
>[] Agree
Can Yesh set her arm-wing? We really should not let that heal wrong.

>>413655
>> [] Agree
>>Tell her to avoid using the injured wing

>>413655
>Agree

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>>413655
>>413717
>>413724
>>413862

“I suppose it won’t hurt,” you agree, “but I want you to stay off of that wing while we’re out there. Speaking of, do you think there’s anything you can do for her Yesh?”

“Hmm…” he murmurs to himself, getting up and dusting off his robes as he looks at the child, gentle hands rolling her shoulder back and forth. “I believe I may be able to be of assistance, but first-“

With a sudden but gentle series of motions, Yesh swiftly rotates her wing and forces it back in socket in one fell swoop, the girl now screaming in pain.

“Don’t hurt her!” Cici begs, desperately looking between her friend and her uncle.

“No need to be afraid,” Yesh coos softly. “The setting is the only painful part. You’ll have bruising and swelling, but nothing compared to what you just experienced. Now let me get you a sling.”

With a gentle pat on the now crying girl’s head and Cecelia’s for good measure, Yesh is quick to vanish and then reappear with bandages in hand. With tenderness, he then wraps the wing with wide bands, tying them together via loops at the top before draping some about her neck.

“You need to rest to recover,” Yesh reminds her. “At least a few days off the wing so the muscles and the bruising can heal. I can make a tea to help with the pain, but at that point, you will want to be sleeping rather than out combing the woods. Would you like me to make some now?”

“N-No,” she finally manages to squeak, face still relatively pale. “I’m responsible…. I have to take care of this…”

“Can I help to Mama?” Cecelia begs, looking between you and the harpy while hugging Din-Din in her lap.

> What do you say/do?
> [] Agree
> [] Disagree
> [] Other

>>414087
>> [] Agree
Group size might discourage certain predators

>>414087
>Agree
I guess working working with skeletons teaches a thing or two about first-aid assistance.

>>414087
>[] Agree
Better make sure to bring our weapons and armor, just in case.

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>>414135
>>414110
>>414087
>>414375

You let out a deep sigh and look to Yesh, his bandaged hands a little red beneath the white as he finishes his morning meal.

“I’ll go as well,” he confirms. “Best not to take chances.”

The rest of breakfast passes quickly as dishes are washed and put away, travel clothes donned, and Din-Din safely stowed back inside his hutch, much to your daughter’s dismay. Deciding to go armed and armored, you retrieve a fresh brace of arrows and a few extra pieces of armor while Yesh no doubt goes fishing for whatever skeletal soldiers might still be about. In the end, however, he only brings one, coming out of the tunnels riding on the skeletal boar.

Of course, one is more than enough to terrify the young harpy.

“A-Are you a n-necromancer?” she asks quietly, moving away from the skeletal beast on shaking talons as it approaches.

“Spirit shaman,” Yesh corrects, though by the way she still looks fearful, he knows that isn’t enough. “This creature was brought back by different magic, not necromancy. It’s actually more like a golem.”

“A g-golem… made of bones?” she demands.

“Yes. That’s correct. Now, you can ride it or you can walk. It makes little difference to me.”

That’s all Yesh will offer before he himself is climbing up top and fanning a line of padding along its spine, securing it with rope before taking his own seat at the neck. By then, it seems that Vivienne has come to terms with this whole situation, and while still hesitant, she asks for your assistance to seat herself to where Cecelia has already scrambled up.

“Alright,” you sigh. “Let’s get a move on.”

And with that, you take a familiar, if not so labored route through the woods for the third time today, navigating around trees and vines, then scorch marks and charred bones as you make your way back into the beast’s territory. It’s not terribly long before you once again find yourself at your destination, staring down that familiar burrow and the packages that have been strewn about.

“I will examine the burrow first,” Yesh offers. “I have business to attend to.”

Before you can ask what he means by that, the enigmatic lizard is already out of sight, leaving you and two children alone in the scattered clearing.

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>>414404

“Don’t go far,” you instruct the two of them, “but gather whatever you can that looks like it belongs to her.”

That’s all it takes to have the pair off and sprinting through the clearing with all due haste, scrabbling to pick up letters and bottles, scraps of cloth, and stamps. Frankly, you’re impressed a girl her size could fly with so much on her back, but of course, that’s also probably why she fell. For your part, you simply open up a bag and begin stuffing its contents inside, whatever you can pick up and whatever they hand you gently being deposited into its depths.

By the end, you have a hefty sack sitting in your hands and two exhausted children lying against your coils. You’re even a little winded yourself from having had to climb a few trees in order to get some items down safely, because gods know you wouldn’t want the children doing it themselves. Either way, that only left the burrow left to explore, but you are content to take your time resting until Yesh has finished whatever his “business” might be.

Sure enough, as soon as the thought has crossed your mind, you see the little man appear from amidst the cave opening with a large, freshly woven basket strapped to his back, one that he seems eager to set down once he’s found your group. And as the basket rustles from within, the rest becomes clear.

“It would seem that we were incorrect about its gender,” he states simply, sliding the lid away to reveal the large, beady eyed lump presently curled up inside. “It would explain much about her increasing aggression.”

“Aww, it’s a baby!” Cici coos excitedly, nearly sticking her hand in there before you can stop her.

However, the beast doesn’t burst into flames or anything of the sort at her sudden approach. It merely yawns, and tucks its head further inside before going back to sleep with a tremendous yawn. You still have your reservations of course, but with a nod from Yesh and Cecelia trembling like a leaf with her excitement, you finally relent and just let her have at it, fingers combing through the fuzzy mass for several minutes before Yesh can finally separate the two and replace the lid.

“So I take it you’ll be wanting to keep this one,” you ask Yesh, who nods in return.

“It was part of the agreement,” he explains.

“What agreement?”

“A service for a service,” he says, as over his shoulder you see a massive spirit form take shape. “Though she was in great pain before we helped her to pass.”

“Does that mean we get to keep him?” your little one asks excitedly, and all you can do is sigh.

“He should not prove much trouble,” Yesh assures you, “and he will be grown rather quickly.”

“If he sets my home on fire…” you warn, but Yesh merely laughs.

“Bricks don’t burn so easily.”

--

Once again, you are Cici, and it looks like your family has once again grown.

> What should you name him?

>>414414
Okku

>>414414
Aku

>>414470
>>414426

Hmm... So a tohou or the shapeshifting magic of darkness? Not that either is a bad suggestion, but I might leave this one open a little longer.

>>414414
Fuzzy

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>>414685
>So a tohou
No, not Okuu, Okku.
The bear god from Neverwinter Nights 2.

>>414685
If it takes long then we could always roll a dice

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>414691

Well, I imagine that he'll be called this frequently, regardless.

>>414426
>>414470

As for a name, I guess I'll roll between these two? Any idea of how to justify Cici having heard these names would be appreciated, though.

Also, I'm shocked that no one thought of Smoke/Smoky. Anyway:

> Okku
> Aku

>>414845

Alright, Okku it is. Again though:
> How would Cici come up with this name?

>>414861
>>414845
Because it sounds funny?
I mean, she called the rabbit Din-Din. Coming up with a near-nonsense string of vowels into an approximation of a name seems viable.

>>414932

Din-Din is actually a pretty morbid name. She decided to call him that because she originally brought him back for dinner. Anyway, guess we'll go with a generic name for a forest guardian in one tale or another. Was just meant to be a fun chance to add a legend or myth to the world.

>>414845
>Also, I'm shocked that no one thought of Smoke/Smoky
He's not smoking now.

>>414947
Oh, you wanted backstory? Why didn't you say so?

Okku, iridescent Rainbow Bear of the Far North. His fur, shining and resplendent as the aurora borealis as it shimmers across the night sky.
He stalks and guards the eternally snow-covered forests of the North, a watchful guardian of nature.

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>>414845
>>414414

You remember Mama told you a story once, about a big bear that lived in the snow. It guarded the woods so the other animals didn’t have to be afraid. So you figure that’s as good a name as any.

“I’m gonna call you Okku!” you pronounce proudly, the adults looking at you funny for a second.

“Not a bad name,” Uncle Yesh finally agrees, patting the basket lid gently. “This forest could use a protector.”

“Good job, Cici,” Mama compliments, and now your cheeks feel terribly warm. “Now, was there anything else in the burrow that needed to be recovered?”

“See for yourself,” he insists, nodding in that direction before Mama takes off and out of sight.

Thankfully, it doesn’t take her long until she’s back, and carrying lots of shiny things in her arms. Glittering metal and what looks like fancy bracelets, even a shiny crystal on a stick. She lays it all out for you all to see, though you think Vivi is the most impressed from the way her eyes sparkle when she looks at the treasure.

“They’d likely fetch a decent price in town,” Uncle Yesh points out.

“And they’re almost certainly magical,” Mama agrees. “We’ll just need to figure out what they a-“

“Mithral, basic protective enchantment with anti-rusting and anti-heat protections!” Vivi chirps, poking the shirt with her foot. “And this, this is a staff for abjuration, apprentice tier but really well made! And this…” She sucks in a deep breath as she holds up one of the bracelets. “An Amulet of Whispers! The other is a Bracer of Shielding, but th-this… I never thought I’d see one of these in person!”

“Vivi…” Mama says, looking concerned. “How do you know all of this?”

“P-Papa was a wizard,” she says quietly, “and I had a t-talent for this sort of stuff since I was real little. So did all of my sisters really... Bibi and Lulu and Bonnie…There just wasn’t room for all seven of us in the nest, so… so I…. so we…”

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>>415229

She stops, as if thinking about what she’s saying for a moment, and then she starts to look real sad. You even see a couple of tears in her eyes as she steps back from everyone and starts sniffling into her wings. Meanwhile, Mama and Uncle Yesh look lost on what to do. You know what to do, though. And so, without waiting or asking for permission, you give her a big hug around the neck, squeezing tight while being careful not to touch her hurt wing.

“It’s okay,” you promise softly, feeling the hiccups grow. “Everything’s gonna be fine.”

And maybe it would be, but not right now. Just like you when you were upset, it seems like a hug can hurt as much as it helps, and Vivi was no different. She may be a bird person, and you may be a snake person, but she cries just the same when she’s sad and upset. And right now, she’s both.

Away from her Mama and Papa, her sisters and brothers, hurt and lost, she was scared. You think that’s what she’s mumbling through the tears as she hugs you back, but you can’t be sure. You just squeeze a bit tighter and encourage her to let it all out, just like Mama did for you when you needed it. And there’s a lot to let out, so much that your arms are tired before the sadness is all gone. Still, though your back is wet by the end, you know she must feel better as she leans against you, tired and dizzy.

> What do you say?

>>415233
Tell her that we've got all the things back, and she just needs to rest before she goes to finish her job. So let's go back and have some tea.

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>>415233

I'll give this one until tomorrow, then probably try to finish up the thread before DND.

>>415244
I'll second this

>>415244
Supporting

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>>415664
>>415244
>>415448
>>415233

“We got all the things back.” You don’t really know what to say, but you try to sound cheerful. “And I’m sure once you’re all better, you’ll do a great job delivering the mail. So let’s go home and get you some tea, okay?”

“I j-just want…. Just wanna go home,” she whimpers quietly.

“But you have to deliver the mail!” you remind her. “You said it was important!”

“I d-did,” she confirms. “It’s j-just, I…“

“That’s enough, Cici,” Mama says, lifting both you and Vivi up and putting you on the skeleton. “For right now, I think the best thing you can do for her is to let her rest. Things will be clearer in the morning.”

“Beneath the effects of the medication, maybe not,” Uncle Yesh warns, “but you have time, little one. The mail can wait for you to heal.”

“Y-you’re smaller than me,” she murmurs sadly.

“And that’s the punch line.”

For the rest of the trip, everyone is pretty quiet, Vivi, especially. She doesn’t seem to want to say anything to anyone, even once you arrive back home. Mama doesn’t seem to mind, though. She just helps you and her inside as soon as you arrive, serving lunch while Uncle Yesh makes Vivi’s tea.

Even from where you are sitting next to her, you can smell how bitter it must be when it arrives. It makes your nose crinkle in an unpleasant way, and she definitely doesn’t make a happy face as she slowly drinks it all down. Still, somehow she manages it, and by the end, she already looks really sleepy and maybe a bit less sad.

Mama’s quick to rush her downstairs after, tenderly getting Vivi ready for bed as her head starts lulling side to side before tucking her in. Of course, you’re not far behind her. After all, lunch time meant nap time soon after, and naps made everything better. So with a hug and a kiss, Mama lays you down right next to your new friend, tucking you in with care before slithering away and shutting the door behind her.

It’s quiet now and completely dark, and dreams aren’t far behind. You can already feel the room spinning away as you just lie there. However, before you are completely gone, something soft and feathery lands on top of you, a quiet voice whimpering in the dark to know if someone is there.

Of course, Vivi probably wasn’t awake. She probably didn’t mean to be saying anything, but from the way her voice is cracking and afraid, you know she needs someone all the same. So, with a careful wiggle and a bit of patience, you bring yourself slowly closer to her by inches, letting her wing close around your back and steer you against her waist so that you can wrap your arms around someplace you won’t hurt her anymore.

“Tomorrow will be better,” you promise, and that’s the last you know before you drift off into the land of dreams

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>>416576

And, I think that's where I'll leave it for the week, you guys. A bit of a slow run this time, but I hope you had fun. Also, since I forgot to put it nearer the OP, my twitter is:

https://twitter.com/bananon_QM

And the archives for the quest can be found on suptg at:

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=RE:%20Animated

>>416591
Nice thread, bananon.

>>416598

Thanks anon. I imagine next time, we'll pick back up with Lee and the gang.

>>416614
I thank thee of this gift of comfy.

>>416626

You're welcome anon.

>>416576
I like cozy time with Cici