Protect her

"Protect her."
That's the one command he gave me. And when I found this elven toddler in the woods, I understood why.
She's hopeless.
The only thought that went through my head as I approached her.
She looked at me with large, fearful eyes. "Kitty?"
"Oh yes, kitty. Good day, little witch. My name is Droran. I was sent to help you."

"Can you help me get home?" She held her little hands out towards me, and when I got close she pet me as gently as uncoordinated hands could.
"Of course I will."
And that's where it began.

I would follow this little witch to the ends of the earth if need be. I didn't care where we were going, I'd help her get there. We wandered that forest for hours and found no sign of the people she came from. So I decided I'd keep her safe myself.

The very first thing we did was set up a little home. Having paws made things very hard to work, but together we made something. That's when I noticed the horns.

Time goes by and we're learning spells together. The horns start to grow.
Time passes again and by me testing them, we're learning what foods are safe. I'm changing from vessel to vessel. A mouse, a frog, a goat, etc. And now her ears are starting to change.
In the 10 years I've known Little Witch I've taken many forms and she's grown closer to The Green Man. As she learns, he gifts her with antlers and deer-like features. She doesn't seem to think of herself any differently.
We encounter many things together, and through it all, I'll give my life to keep hers going.

I've known many people, and met many friends, but for some reason she's different.
She's never seen a society. She knows no one, and still she's the most selfless being I've ever met. She loves everything and everyone, even if she's never seen them. As much of an asshole as I am, I think I can deal with her.
If I'm destined to be someone's guardian for the rest of their days, I'm glad it's her. She deserves the love of a friend more than anyone I've met before.
But nothing would prepare me for our final adventure.

Sucked into a portal. A fucking portal. I can't protect her from this. I'm in the body of a fucking goose. A goose. How am I supposed to keep her safe from a portal?

"Oh, well, who are y'all?"
We landed on solid ground, but when we came to our senses, we noticed a group.

"Don't speak to any of them, Little Witch. They could be dangerous."

She doesn't listen.

They introduced themselves. She said I was named Honk.
Honk? An appropriate name for a goose, I guess but that's not my name. I guess she may just be simplifying for them.
She revealed she's unnamed except by me. I'd never thought of this before, but she doesn't know they can't hear me. She hadn't a clue that they wouldn't hear anything but a honk.

Even still, I told them her name was Little Witch.

After a short discussion, they decided to name her Klora. As in Chlorophyll. She seemed ecstatic about the name.

Wandering this town, I felt no reason to be worried. No one looked at her strangely, no one seemed aggressive. She seemed...happy.

Have I been ruining her life?
By keeping her from people, maybe I haven't been protecting her. Maybe I'd been hurting her.

Even in the small disagreement they had, she seemed so happy and confident. Granted, I had to tell her to get help rather than fight, but she listened and she stayed safe and happy. Our guide paid for our room. The first bed she'd ever slept in. She was so amazed at how soft beds were.

The next day, however, was not so grand. The group had taken up a task to help the town. She was excited to help.
Selfless little fool.
They got to the group and used me to find out what they were against. It seemed to easy. She shouldn't have failed.

The fight went by in a flash. The dwarf absorbing the most damage, everyone else dealing it. Klora only helped a little, but she was so happy to do so.
I tried so hard to protect her. I was attacking as much as I could. Anyone who got close I tried my best.
And then it happened.
The one far enough off that I had stopped counting him in the battle.
He fired one shot.
And I heard her gasp.
Looking over I saw she'd been hit pretty hard. She'd be fine if we got her out of here, she was only banged up.
And then another. An arrow fired into her arm.

"Save yourself, Klora. I know you're more worried about them, but please. Save yourself. Do something, I know we've learned spells that will help you, please. Heal yourself, get armor, anything."

She glanced over at me and looked at the elf beginning to take damage.

"Stop it, Klora. Don't heal him. You need this more than him."

I watched her sprint to them, and laying a hand on their arm, their wounds reversed.

"Now yourself, Klora. You need help.  They have nothing for you, save yourself."

By the time she had listened, it was too late.
A final shot rang out and she collapsed to the ground. She looked so beat up. Tears filled the eyes that used to brim with childhood innocence. Blood stained her ragged clothes.
I ran as fast as I could to her.

"Please, Little Witch, please don't go. You have the time, please just help yourself."

I reached her just in time for her to touch my feathers and go limp. She didn't have the focus to help herself, she was dying.

I watched the little girl I'd kept safe for so long die. I knew she was weak, why did I let her fight? Why didn't she heal herself? SHE COULD HAVE BEEN FINE, WHY DIDNT I HELP HER?

"YOU LET HER DIE!" I screamed at the victors of a now finished battle, "YOU KILLED HER!"

They didn't understand me.

"SHE LOVED ALL OF YOU SO MUCH AND YOU DIDNT PROTECT HER!"

They watched a strange goose honk angrily at a group of lone adventurers who didn't even know why they were here.
They had no attachment to her, they just wanted to survive.
But she didn't care. She protected them as if her life depended on it.

And I was supposed to protect her.
And I failed.
She was so young and so ready to learn so much more.
And I failed her.

Protect her.
That's the one command he gave me.