Keep marching forward // Dnd stories/oneshots

His name.

They scoffed as he walked through the town, earning odd glances and suspicious looks from passers-by.

He didn't even know where he was.

He didn't know who he was.

They have been staying in different towns since he was a kid, alone and afraid, walking around helplessly.

It hadn't taken them long to find out the places where they weren't wanted, he didn't like changing his race – he just wanted to be himself, however, towns around him had a certain distaste for changelings.

He continued walking through this town, hoping to find somewhere to crash for the night, maybe even a few days if they were lucky.

He had no money, no family, and nowhere to stay. They felt pathetic. Their clothes were thin and rags, certainly not acceptable for the cold weather.

The people around here seemed to be in a similar position to him, nobody looked like they were anything other than poor. They certainly couldn't steal from people, not when those people were hardly getting by. So he kept walking.

He wasn't that tall, he wasn't even 18 yet, a lonely teenager walking the streets – that's all they were.

They found a little alley not too far from the centre, he supposed this could be his home for the time being.

Either he would freeze to death or starve, and he wasn't sure which option was better.

A day or so passed, they couldn't tell – their days had been blending together for years, and a woman approached them.

This woman was a tiefling, with an odd accent and her clothes looked far too nice to be from around here, turns out she lived here.

"You like this alley, hm?" her voice was smooth, modest, and a bit sarcastic but she didn't seem to want to harm him.

He didn't respond.

"Ah, you don't talk? That is alright my dear, here, come with me, it's a bit cold is it not?"

He wearily stood up and glared up at her, before following her. She took him to her house, it was... far more run down than expected from her appearance, she let them inside and gave him some food.

It wasn't much, she lived here for a reason.

But he was appreciative, she was kind.

"Ah if you could give me a moment, I must go check on my daughter, I shall not be long" She quickly got up from her seat and left the room, going into another one.

He couldn't hear their conversation – she seemed a bit young to be a mother. She left the room with a smile on her face. "She is asleep at this moment – you may meet her in the morning."

They tilted their head, unsure of what this woman meant.

"I will see if I can find some clothing for you, you will stay here tonight, yes?"

He was surprised, but he nodded. Somewhere to stay was good, he just didn't expect it to be with a kind woman and her daughter.

The woman was quite a motherly figure, not that he knew how a mother was meant to act.

"I am Zardos, do you know your name?"

He shook his head.

"Are you able to talk?" she asked, but it seemed as though she wasn't expecting a voiced answer.

He smiled a little, looking down at his hands "Yeah..."

"oh! You speak! What should I call you mystery boy?"

"..."

Zardos smiled kindly at them, he glanced up at her.

"Ax... call me Ax." He didn't know why he chose that name, it felt right somehow.

"Ah, very nice to meet you Ax. Welcome to Devreka!" she smiled as she left the room, presumably to go look for clothing.

Ax. That's who he is. That's who he'll be.

And this seemed to be his home now.