ฅʕ´•ᴥ•`ʔฅ

Admin: Shocked?

〔 @HERPIETY 〕
            
            halsin shifted his weight slightly, testing the area where pain had once sat heavy beneath his ribs. now, there was only a faint warmth—the echo of healing, not the wound itself. he gave a slow, approving nod, the kind that carried more meaning than most words could bear.
            “you’ve spared me a long, uncomfortable night,” he said, voice gentler now, tinged with a quiet ease. “and possibly a limp the rest of the week.”
            
            he watched her for a moment. the way her breath stilled, the way her fingers twitched with spent magic. there was a tension in her—subtle, but present. not from the spell, but from the weight of something left unsaid.
            his gaze softened, and though he didn’t step closer, his voice did.
            
            “rest will do us both good,” he said simply, not pressing. not prodding. just offering space.
            then, with the faintest curl of amusement in his tone: “though i admit, i’m curious what wyll considers stew when wine is involved.”
            
            a brief pause lingered between them—quiet, but not uncomfortable. full of unspoken things neither of them quite knew how to name.
            he didn’t force the moment further. just inclined his head slightly, a quiet gesture of respect and acknowledgment.
            
            “come,” he said at last, nodding back toward the firelight. “let’s see what he’s conjured. before gale claims it all in the name of culinary critique.”

ID.  @WOODLANDDRUID
            
            it took some amount of silence in efforts to concentrate ,  but the spell worked && knit together burst vessels && marred flesh leaving only behind the feeling of absence behind it .  a goddess && her touch ,  brought forth by the daughter of darkness .  shadowheart let out a shuddering breath she didn't know she was holding ,  flexing her fingers after the spell did its' work .  
            
            halsin's words affected the cleric ,  but she wasn't entirely sure how to feel of them .  surely he was grateful ,  as all their companions are ,  but the inherent compliment .  shadowheart couldn't remember a time she was complimented so calmly && not based on abilities granted by blessing or training .  
            
            ❝  THAT WAS THE LAST SPELL I HAVE FOR THE NIGHT .  PRAYER && REST CANNOT COME SOONER .  WYLL HAS TRIED HIS HAND AT SOMETHING INCLUDING WINE ,  A STEW PERHAPS ?  ❞  shadowheart murmured ,  only half to herself before looking up at the large elf with a pensive expression .  there were words she couldn't say ,  words she didn't even know existed .  how can one verbalize a feeling so foreign ?  

〔 @HERPIETY 〕
            
            halsin inhaled slowly, steadying himself as her hand hovered near. the warmth of her magic pulsed faintly, like the first stirrings of spring beneath frost. her offer was simple, direct—but the care behind it was unmistakable.
            he nodded once.
            
            “alright,” he said quietly, the word rough in his throat. “i’ll let you.”
            he didn’t move away, nor did he hide the way the pain flickered behind his calm. her magic would reach deeper than the potion ever could. and, truthfully, he was tired of pretending it didn’t hurt.
            
            as her spell began to work, he let out a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. some of the tension bled from his shoulders.
            
            “you’ve a gift,” he murmured, glancing at her. “not just the magic—though it’s powerful. you notice what others choose not to.”
            a pause.
            “i’m grateful. more than you know.”

〔 @enimik 〕
            
            the druid couldn't help the short huff of air. half as a laugh and another to give in finally. managing to steady himself against the old ruined stones of this old place, he held firm. for once being the one cared for and no longer the default caretaker. 
            "thank you...I was careless. this never should have happened." ideally watching as the other got to work. placing unpleasant but vital pressure to a wound halsin couldn't attend to on his own right now. all his energy had been spent. a foolish mistake, no arch druid should ever make. 

〔 @THOUSHALTOBEY 〕
            
            ； I appreciate it. it sadly is just a situation where we're stuck on a cliff having to wait for big things to be sorted before ehearing the outcome 

@woodlanddruid * ⸝⸝⸝   always here if you need an ear <33 hope it eases up soon

〔 @servitudes 〕
            
            ； thank you <3

** late to follow back

〔 @HERPIETY 〕
            
            ； we can thank obsessive book reading and critical role for that. but I love your writing as well! it is such a pleasure so far. 

━ ⌗ ⠂⠄ continued in another chain 

he felt over the bark, reading its texture and committing the details to memory. his attention though was quick to return to the baby in his arms. bundled up as she was she still felt so small it was hard to believe she was real. but she was, he could feel the tiny but defiant little soul, the way she shifted slightly in her blanket. suddenly, the last few days were little more than a distant memory. this was all that mattered. he tilted his head up and smiled at the kiss. "be safe as well," he said, bidding his farewell as well as a quick word to the fox. "make sure he returns in one piece." having been peeking through the flap in the tent, the fox quickly slipped away. it stood outside, waiting for halsin. it's ears and tail perked up, and dancing upon its paws it was more than ready to run off into the woods again. it was no more than a sliver of orange red darting through the underbrush, leading him directly to the scene of the aftermath. it sniffed around as the bear surveyed, following a few scent trails. there were a few newer ones that hadn't been there earlier. 
            
            ... the minutes were long back at camp. even as he told the child all would be well he had fished out his knife from his pack, set it down beside him. he heard nothing beyond, felt nothing stir in the world about them. in his arms though, that was another matter. he heard the small grunts, a breath drawn and held before the first cry began. "calm, my love. everything is fine," he murmured, adjusting the way he held her, biting his lip before deciding to sing. the lyrics were hardly soothing but the melody itself was like a lullaby. it helped, she had calmed by the time halsin returned. "orcs?" he questioned, brow furrowing. /near/, the fox echoed, starting to pace. with a frown vel nodded, stowing his knife away upon his person before moving from the tent. "...did you find any sign of her people?"

━ ⌗ ⠂⠄ @heirslost 
            
            he gave a soft hum and smile, appreciating the comment and name. it gave some comfort to the situation. careful to look in the bag of foraging supplies. " green bark is often that very soft bark, you cut it and most likely it will pour out water and sap. " with vel holding the little one he at least offered a piece for vel to feel over. giving him a new way to find them other than the colour. " when I come back I'll grind down the roots and park for the sap. the little sugar in it would also help her recover. " and he was definitely proud of the growth vel showed with his magic. his healing was improving and the care he showed to the child was honestly heartwarming. as if he couldn't love this man any more than he already does. cupping his cheek he'd leave a soft kiss, agreeing to take the fox with him. " stay hidden and sade, my love. I won't be long. " with the need to know he hurried after the forest creature, resorting to his bear form to move a little easier through the brush of the forest and stay hidden from suspension. the hightened senses also helped once they arrieved. picking up tracks. ones he sadly recognised. and blood. too much for anyone to survive without. carefully he'd follow along, backwards. where the struggle started. finding the husband no doubt, cut down in cold blood with no supplies left. picked clean. halsin had no doubt the mother ran off, got mortally wounded and hid the child as she ran to draw the horrors away. they had to leave. immediately. waisting no time to return to the camp. " it isn't good — we have to pack and leave this forest. savage orcs live near here. we can't risk them finding us as well. " 

━ ⌗ ⠂⠄ @heirslost 
            
            ； will still reply! just a bit burnt out

"is gold all you give thought to? your friends lie dead, countless lives have likely been ruined because of your deeds, and you're worried only about being paid?" vel snapped back, naively believing he could get the man to see some semblance of reason. he let out a huff, shaking his head as he turned his attention to the druid. "he could follow him when we arrive as well. that might not trigger the spell," he offered, slipping away. "i'll go and get the map." he paused for only a moment, his expression blanking as he left himself. a small bluebird perched on a branch showed him the area, the burned and smoldering patch of forest. he pretended that he didn't see the bodies lying about. reoriented now, he returned to himself and to their campsite. he dug the map from his bag. he had dropped his staff somewhere in the tall foliage when he'd been attacked. his knife too. once this was said and done he would have to find where they lay. he pulled away the cord wound around his map, unrolling it as he brought it over to the man. his fingers ran over the ridges pressed into the leather, turning it the right direction before spreading it down on the ground before him. "tell me... show on this map what city it is you frequent most," he instructed, trying to keep the question vague lest it activate the spell. 

━ ⌗ ⠂⠄ @heirslost 
            
            " blind? gods ... that would have been a good way to lose gold – " it was all in self preservation. seems he had a way to cope with horrible tidings in a way to disassociate frlm the issue at hand. the druid would have a moment to think it iver. " I assume if we remkve it, the caster would notice. it would be the same as triggering it. but there are ways around it. like drawing a circle on a map, giving a vague location wouldn't count as directly showing or saying it. what of yiur leather map? " but he made it clear he didn't want this person coming with them. he will show them or be left to die. to free him and run off was also not an option, he could tell someone. notify that others knew about all of this now. it was far too risky. he couldn't trust this person not to talk. " we may set you free if you give a location, or the area around it. if you find a way to do another mission to conveniently not be around. to not tell anyone you work with either. " 

     vel couldn't help but laugh softly. "it was quite the magnificent sight, but alas..." he settled in his embrace, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. "its... different. far different than above. yet there is still so much life here, in everything it seems. i am glad to have come here with you. to hear you and see it through your eyes." 

they may have descended deep into the bowels of the earth and surrounded by all manner of danger, but the little hut had the almost undeniable feeling of a home. somewhat cramped for the druid perhaps, and lacking the luxuries that had been offered by their previous stay at the inn yet vel felt perfectly content and safe there. after a few more paces the fox finally relented, slipping into the shelter as well. its stomach grumbled softly as it sniffed at the food. it was then quick to scarf it down before gulping the water from the bowl. it set a pow against the rim of it, about to dig for more water when the bowl tipped, clattering over. it suddenly stepped back, ears perked high and head held in high alert. then slowly it returned to the bowl, turning it over again. 
            
                vel had undone one of the smaller wraps, slipping a crystal from his pouch and starting to wrap it up again. it wasn't anything of value, and unlike others it glowed only faintly though he hadn't noticed. it had felt nice in his hand so he had taken it. he had finished his task when he heard halsin moving, smiling as he felt the arms around him. he leaned back with a content hum, setting his hand over the arm about him. gently he traced small shapes over the skin, listening. "have you met another drow since?" he asked quietly, his movements pausing. there were many sides to the druid it seemed, though there was no judgment found in the wild elf. there seemed more he wanted to ask but he treaded lightly, waiting for it to be given freely and not forced. "do you know what became of those who imprisoned you?" the fox had sensed the shift in mood and had stopped its playing, rolling over to its front and looking to its companions. after a moment it rose, crossing over to rub its head against the druid's arm in its version of comfort. 

" but I am glad to have come back here. it does not feel so horrible as I imagined it to be. in fact, it hasn't changed at all. I thank you for also giving me the bit of strenght i needed to be here ... and for the adrenaline your curiosity has brought even if it scared me senseless at the time. " a soft laugh followed, holding no ill emotion for it now. yes he was a little upset at the time, but it was mostly from the worry it caused in the moment. he also felt bad for yelling. they both have been very careful since, thankfully. " but please, tell me. what do you think of this place? I want to know your first encounter with it all. " 

@woodlanddruid    †  ∖      understandable  and  a  very  good  end  <33

━ ⌗ ⠂⠄ @SANGUINETHRST 
            
            ； as much as I love these I might end this kne since we have 3 chains now and I am bad at keeping track, so —
            
            with the final idea in mind I believe halsin would notice, but not say a thing. he sleeps on leaves and a bed roll after all, so he wouldn't be one to judge someone's sleeping habits. he likes sleeping on the floor more than a bed as well. 
            they most likely only talked for a little while longer before halsin would excuse himself. satisfied in knowing the vampire was okay enough for him to leave and hopefully they both got some rest that night. finding good company and a relaxing atmosphere all together

݁⠀ ⠀.̲.̲.̲⠀ ⠀*⠀ ⠀@woodlanddruid ,   "/ i /   would   handle   something   / delicately /?   "   he   smiled   to   himself,   knowing   halsin   was   right   but   finding   humor   in   it   anyway.   flickers   of   uncertainty   rolled   through   him.   halsin   had   never   really   given   him   any   reason   / not /   to   trust   him.   and   yet   the   walls   he'd   built   around   his   heart   where   still   trying   to   keep   him   out.   "i   will   keep   that   in   mind.   "    he   agreed,   his   words   replaying   in   his   head.   as   he   thought   them   over —-   a   thought   occurred   to   him.   nobody   had   been   allowed   this   close   to   his   tent   before.   sure,  people   could   stand   by   it   but   he   was   usually   standing   in   front   of   the   door.   he'd   carefully   decorated   the   outside   with   luxuries;   a   mirror,   a   rug,   etc.   the   inside   held   the   truth   though,   with   jars   of   blood,   a   wooden   plank,   a   blanket,   and   a   pillow.   this   sudden   realization   had   him   sitting   up   a   little   straighter   to   hide   them.   "i   appreciate   this,   you   know.   i  ..   it's   / hard /   to   explain   this   to   the   others.   they   pity   me.   "   he   hated   that   feeling.   it   made   him   feel   small   and   weak.   sure,   assurance   felt   great,   but   it   walked   the   line   sometimes   if   being   babied.   he   could   take   care   of   himself,   he   always   did.   but   halsin   had   found   the   percect   balance   to   help   without   overstepping.