Adventures with the Witcher(s): A Multi Witcher Story

Chapter 3 (Lambert): the Trap

The next few days of riding alongside Lambert was fairly uneventful. You and him would ride as long as you could, then stop as the sun started to set, and then proceed to make camp for the night. The two of you would split a sandwich and some dry berries.

Your food supply was getting low so there's a chance you'll need to find some more, whether by stopping at a nearby village or hunting for food on your own. You noticed a bit of a change in Lambert's demeanor during this time, it was something you've noticed after that debacle with the cave trolls. He didn't seem to be all that in a rush like he was at the beginning of the trip, he would actually start conversations with you, and his attitude all around was actually pleasant for a change.

While you didn't really garner too much of his life before Kaer Morhen, he seemed willing to regale some semi-pleasant memories of his life there during his witcher training. You, in return, entertained him with memories of your life on the ranch. During these little talks, you would notice small smiles coming from Lambert, a nice change compared to his usual sour mood.

"What are you going to do once you go back home?" the witcher asks you one night. "Well," you begin, "When I get back home, I guess I'll have to plan for my trip to college on the East Coast. New York to be exact." "Is it far from where you live?" "Oh, you have no idea," you tell him, "At least I hope that'll be the case. I don't know how much time has passed since I came to this world. I have a feeling I'll probably have to reapply and start in the spring semester." "

What exactly do you want to do?" Lambert asks. "You're awfully talkative tonight," you state. "What, is that a bad thing?" Lambert sasses. "No, it's just...you've never bothered to ask me those kind of questions before," you point out. "Well...I wasn't interested then," Lambert admits, "Now I am. You're interesting to me now, (y/n)," "Okay," you say, deciding to take that as a complement, "that being the second nicest thing you've said to me, I guess I'll answer that question. I'm thinking of becoming a veterinarian."
"A what?" Lambert frowns. "It's uh, a doctor, but for animals," you explain. "So an animal doctor?" "Yeah."

"Pfft, why?" Lambert scoffs. "Why? What, you don't like animals?" "They have their uses," Lambert admits, "Doesn't mean I want to be around them all the damn time, especially if it involves cleaning up their piss and shit." "Well being a vet, I'll admit isn't all puppies and kittens," you say, "and yes, that is one of the more...un-glamorous aspects of the career, but I've helped my aunt and uncle shovel out horse stalls on a near daily basis, so I'm used to it. And I've worked in clinics before as uh, assistant, and as messy as it was I found the job to be rewarding. I want to do more. Maybe specialize in equine medicine." "What do horses need a doctor? Lambert scoffs at the thought. "Horses are prone to a lot of things," you point out, "lameness, colic, pneumonia. This one vet I worked with said one thing about horses is they love to die." "...that's true," Lambert shrugs, recalling the few horses he's lost over the years, whether by monster attacks or some random mishaps on the road or whatever stables he'd place his horses when staying at inns.

"And what are you complaining about piss and shit for?" you point out, "I may not know much about the witcher trade, but it involves killing monsters, and that requires a particularly strong stomach to handle blood and guts. And if those guts happen to be filled with excrement when the killing blow is dealt with..." "Where are you going with this?" Lambert narrows his eyes at you. "Well Geralt and Eskel may have regaled me with a tale of your encounter with of this giant troll in Kovir a while ago," you tell him, "came charging at you, you stabbed it in the gut and then..." "They swore they would never say anything about that part of the story!" Lambert groans which made you laugh.

"If you didn't want anyone to know about that part why did you tell them?" you ask. "I was drunk at the time!" Lambert gets defensive, though he didn't stay mad for too long. Seeing the way you were doubled over from laughing stirred something in him.
The witcher had never heard you laugh before, and at this moment, all he could think about was trying to get you to make that sound again.