The Plucky Paws Guild Issue #9

Theo was crushed in the giant raccoon’s strong embrace. The mighty arms held him like a vice, and the young mage found it hard to breathe. But truthfully, it was not just the warrior’s iron hug that was robbing him of breath. Had he heard Reginald correctly?  For a second time that night, his mind reeled in shock. 

Well done? Surely this was a cruel jest. But the kind-hearted fighter did not seem the type for such mean-spirited games. Did he say that Theo had saved them? That could not be; Theo had shamed himself that night. He had shamed his family. Maybe he had been struck on the head and was delusional? No…he had not been part of the fight at all, that had been the problem! That had been the cause of his deep shame.  Perhaps the warrior had been struck on the head and was the deluded one? But as he looked at his fellow companions, he was amazed to see not accusations, but looks of gratitude.

“Reginald,” Sylvan said, drawing closer. “I think you are going to crush our mage if you are not careful!”

“Oh yes!” the gigantic raccoon replied, gently setting Theo back on his feet. “I often forget my strength! My apologies, Theo.”

“But..” Theo began, his guilty conscience demanding he beg the band’s forgiveness. 

His apology was cut short as Sylvan stepped in to hug the startled wizard. “Thank you, Theo! That foul badger would have killed me if not for your timely spell.”

“Indeed!” agreed Melodus, his rapier sifting through the remains of the dark knight. “I could not see a thing in the darkness that accompanied those cursed creatures. I was fortunate to have avoided the initial charge of the rider’s mount! Without your spell, I would have been gored.”

“It was not just the visibility that the light brought,” added the priest, sliding his mace back into the loop at his belt. “I struck several in the initial onslaught, and my blows did nothing to them. They were strengthened by the darkness and your light robbed them of that strength.”

Reginald nodded, still standing beside the young wizard. “That is true! Their blows had far less power once the light dispelled their evil power. I suffered several wounds before Theo’s intervention. I must admit I feared my end had finally come! But not today! Not Today!” The final statement was a joyful cry that echoed in the grove.

“Well, Melodus?” Brother Fulce asked. “Will you now compose a ballad about our good wizard?”

Melodus smiled in reply, “I’m sure I will. And I’m sure I will be making a ballad about all of you before this adventure is over. For there will undoubtedly be more opportunities for brave deeds before we are through!”

“But..” Theo’s brain was still trying to process the turn of events. Had they not seen his cowardice? Brave deeds? Surely that could not be. He had to correct them. He could not let the bard sing a lie!

“But,” Sylvan interrupted Theo’s thoughts. “How did the necromancer learn so quickly of the quest? How did he know to attack us so close to our start?”

“That is a good question,” Melodus answered, finally returning to the disarrayed camp. “I fear I owe you all an apology. Clearly, I was not as circumspect as I should have been in my plans. I was too confident that we were safe within the Crooked Hollow. I was too bold in declaring our quest before all the patrons of the Dancing Ferret. And you may recall, we did not exactly leave the city quietly. My love of an audience endangered us all.”

Wait! Theo thought in shock, Melodus was apologizing?

Fulce laid his hand upon the minstrel's shoulder. “Shadowfell has spies, not only in Crooked Hollows. His eyes and ears are many, and it is impossible to know when and where he learned of our venture. It could have been long before we arrived in Crooked Hollow, Melodus. There is no need for recrimination. While we did not expect him to strike so quickly, we all knew he would seek to thwart our aim. We will not be so unprepared for future attacks! Come, friends, let me pray to my Goddess that her sacred power may heal your wounds.”

As Theo watched, still debating how to reveal his failure to his friends, the holy priest laid his paws upon the shoulders of Reginald. He bowed his head and began a low prayer, beseeching the aid of his deity. Theo watched as the wounds on the large raccoon closed and the look of pain passed from the warrior.

“Ah! That is very nice,” Reginald smiled. “I have had worse in my life, but I will admit I was not looking forward to the road tomorrow with those wounds.”

Sylvan stepped up, and Brother Fulce repeated his action with similar results answering his earnest prayers. 

“It is well we had the blessings of the Sheppardess, mighty warrior,” the priest commented, stepping away from the thief. “For those wounds were made by blighted creatures, and they would have infected your body and soul with time. Though you might have had greater wounds in your life, you have not had worse, else you would no longer be among the living, my friends.”

Reginald seemed shocked at the implications of the priest’s words. “Well then, twice my thanks! Three times even! It seems I owe you my life as well. I am racking up debts quite quickly, it would seem. At this rate, I will be a pauper before this venture ends!” He laughed heartily, and the other could not help but share in his mirth.

The prayers completed, the fighter and the rogue healed, Melodus began to bandage the wounds on the priest.

“Aren’t you going to heal yourself?” Theo asked, feeling stupid after the words left his mouth.

“I can not,” the cleric answered, shaking his head. “That is not how my wise Shepherdess’s power works. I heal others. My power serves others. The shepherd watches over his flock, not himself.”

“But you were wounded too, won’t your wounds fester as well?”

Brother Fulce laughed, a rich, warm laughter of joy. “Ah, well, I did not mean to say I would not be healed, merely that I would not be the one to heal myself. I trust in my Goddess. She will heal me as she sees fit. I trust she did not send me the visions only to let me succumb to the foul poisons of the necromancer. She will heal me when she will.”

Melodus nodded as he finished the bandages. “Brother Fulce will be fine, Theo. You will see, his wounds will completely heal within a day or two. The Goddess may test her followers to teach them patience in their afflictions, but she does not abandon them.”

Theo nodded in understanding.

“Well,” Reginald said, looking around the mess that had previously been their campsite. “By my reckoning, it is only a couple of hours till first light. I can not speak for you others, but I will not sleep well in this place now. Shall we pack up and move on?”

The priest, bard, and rogues nodded their agreement. 

“Yes,” Melodus agreed. “There is a waypost about an eight-hour walk from here. It is simple, but it will offer more safety than this clearing. There may even be a patrol there as well, or other travelers. As they say, there is safety in numbers. Let us reach that haven and rest there.”

The raccoons gathered their belonging in silence, Theo’s spell still illuminating their preparations.

“Theo, can your light move with us?” Melodus asked. “I think I speak for all when I say we would feel better with it accompanying us.”

“Yes,” Theo nodded. “It will go where I direct.”

“Excellent!” the bard replied, raising his pack to his shoulders. “Then let us begin our journey. The sooner we begin, the sooner we rest.”

“That sounds good to me!” Reginald smiled, taking the lead.

Theo trailed behind the other raccoons, commanding his light to hover above them. His soul was wracked with guilt and shame at his deception. Should he tell the others? Could he tell the others? Surely he could not let them believe the lie that he had somehow saved them all? His cowardice had almost killed them! He had to tell someone. But who? 

Reginald! Surely he could confide in the warrior. The bold fighter had shown him nothing but kindness and respect from their first meeting. The raccoon's great size and fearsome visage belied a kind heart and a gentle soul. And besides, if anyone could teach him to be brave, it would be Reginald, wouldn’t it? 

Stealing his courage, Theo ran to the front of the line, one paw holding his hat to his head to keep it from flying off in the shuffle. “Reginald,” he began as he neared the larger raccoon. His voice was low, and he was sure the others were far enough back they would not hear. In time they would learn of his shame, but he could not quite bring himself to tell everyone right now. He would start with the kind warrior.

“Yes, Theo?” Reginald finally responded when the wizard remained silent.

“I,” Theo began, but then once again his fear stopped him. His heart was racing, and his mouth was dry. Could he bring himself to admit his cowardice?

Reginald looked down at his smaller companion, waiting for more words. When none seemed to be forthcoming, he laid his large paw on Theo’s shoulder. “That really was well done. We would have died had you not intervened. I truly owe you my life.”

“I’m a coward!” Theo blurted out, interrupting the warrior’s praise.

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