Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Remind me why we have to forage food again?" Scanlan griped as he stumbled over the umpteenth gnarled tree root in his path, arms waving wildly as he struggled to regain his balance before he could faceplant into the softish but still entirely unappealing dirt below.

Vax'ildan shot Pike an exasperated look, "Remind me again why we didn't just leave him back at the camp with Grog?"

"Because the last time those two were put in charge of the campsite, they managed to light everything on fire—including the nearby pond." Though she tried her best to mask her own annoyance, some of it still crept through in Pike's voice as she carefully surveyed their surroundings for anything that looked edible.

"Riiiight, I remember now." Vax muttered, his eyes briefly flitting up to the leafy canopy overhead as he silently cursed his sister for snagging Percy and Keyleth for her foraging party. "Still don't know how they managed that."

"Well as much as I would love to share the story, what happened that night stays in that night." A cheeky grin stretched across Scanlan's face, but a moment later, it had already disappeared as he resumed his rant, "Seriously though, I know we're broke and all, but why do we have to go scrounging through the forest for some grub? Can't Keyleth just use a berry-growing spell or something like that-"

Scanlan's words dissolved into an incomprehensible yelp as Vax lunged at him without warning, grasping the gnome by the ankle just as he was lowering his foot.

"Keyleth learning a berry-growing spell later doesn't help us now, so why don't you shut your trap and start paying a bit more attention to your surroundings?" As he spoke, the rogue glanced up briefly at the bard's face before shifting his attention back to the small bag that sat innocently on the ground in the shadowy cover of the gnome's still hovering foot and a nearby bush. His free hand already at his belt, Vax'ildan unsheathed one of his daggers and cautiously prodded the small drawstring pouch with the very tip of the blade, his tensed muscles already buzzing with building energy that would send him flying backwards faster than one of Percy's bullets if the need presented itself. However, as the point of the dagger probed the bag, it only emitted a soft, crisp clinking sound as its contents shifted about.

In that moment, Scanlan's entire face lit up brighter than the morning sun, and Pike could've sworn she saw a tear welling in the corner of his eye.

"I know that sound! Oh and what a sweet, beautiful sound it is!" the bard sang with pure elation, his hand already reaching for the coin purse. "Forget nuts and berries! Tonight, we eat like kings-"

Acting again with inhuman swiftness, Vax flipped his dagger around before slamming the hilt against the back of Scanlan's hand, prompting the gnome to yelp again as he sharply withdrew it after pulling his foot free from the rogue's grip.

"Use your head a little, Scanlan." he chided, shrugging off the glare the bard shot at him. "A bag of coin just sitting in the middle of the woods? This has 'trap' written all over it."

"And even if it's just a purse, it's not ours to take." Pike cut in pointedly, giving both of her party members a stern look. "Someone probably lost it while traveling through here; they might be looking for it right now."

"Oooor-" Scanlan cut in with a singsong tone, "-and just go with me on this, you both are overthinking things and not seeing this for what it actually is."

Vax'ildan raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Oh really? Perhaps you would care to enlighten us then?"

"Why, it's a blessing from the gods above, of course!" the bard trilled, gesturing showily to the sky as he lifted a beaming face of superficial adoration to the heavens above. "I mean, think about it. Anybody could've found this pouch out here, but who discovered it? Hungry, battered and bruised, down-on-our-luck us. I'd say we've earned a little charity, and whoever this pouch used to belong to has learned a valuable lesson today about keeping better track of their belongings."

Her arms folding over her armored chest, Pike continued to frown at the little bag while trying to ignore the dull aching in her stomach. "It still feels wrong to just take it without even trying to return it first."

Also still eying the pouch with an air of suspicion, Vax cautiously prodded it a few more times with the tip of his dagger, achieving the same results as before. "Our chances at finding the owner are very slim though, and if we don't take it, someone else surely will."

The rogue lifted his gaze to meet the cleric's, carefully deciphering the mixture of emotions that swirled in her pale blue eyes until she turned her head from him. This hesitation and guilt went deeper than pocketing funds that weren't inherently their own, but judging by her demeanor, she was not yet comfortable with broaching this greater dilemma just yet. He could understand and respect that. Even so, they ultimately still had a choice to make, and he had a feeling that if they didn't decide soon as a group, Scanlan would make the decision for them.

"Pickle, this isn't going to do anyone any good just sitting out here in the dirt." the rogue crooned gently, tilting his head slightly to one side as he tried to catch Pike's eye once more, "We could put it to good use. There's still a dragon we promised to fight, and facing it with empty bellies and low spirits won't do us any favors."

Though she didn't want to admit it, Pike knew he was right, and after a lengthy pause, the quiet sigh that slipped from her lips as her arms dropped back to her sides told her companions that she had relented. Grinning from ear to pointed ear, Scanlan hastily snatched up the coin purse and gave it a little shake so the sweet singing of the clanking coins could grace his ears once more.

"Now, lets see what we're working with here-"

Hardly had Scanlan's fingers brushed along the leather cord sealing the little bag when a deafening crash like thunder pounded against the group's ears, the earth shuddering ever so slightly beneath their feet. Fear stealing through each of their hearts as their minds were flooded with fleeting images of muted blue scales and gleaming white fangs that could easily bite any of them in half, Vax'ildan instinctively grabbed hold of both gnomes and darted beneath a small overhang tucked against a slope not too far from them, seemingly a den long since abandoned by whatever had created it. Peeking his head out only as far as was necessary in order to get a clear view, the rogue carefully scoured the sky for even the faintest hint of a foreboding shadow, but not even a stray stormcloud flitted across his vision as the pockets of light blue winked at him through the leafy canopy overhead.

"I don't see anything-"

At that moment, another booming rumble, louder than the first, pulsed through the air accompanied by a stronger tremor that sent a little cloud of loose dirt raining down on the three adventurers from the little hollow's ceiling. Vax swiftly ducked his head back beneath the overhang as Pike tightly gripped her holy symbol, muttering a silent prayer under her breath.

"Okay, that was definitely closer this time! What do we do?!" Scanlan whispered while pressing his back as flat as he could against the dirt wall behind him.

Pike nervously massaged her holy symbol between her thumb and forefinger, yearning for a hint of warmth or some other sign that her goddess had heard her. "Maybe it's something other than the dragon?"

"With our luck? Yeah right." Scanlan grumbled.

"Both of you, pipe down!" Vax hissed, still lurking along the edge of the little hollow as he strained to listen. Though the dull ringing from the thunder created some interference, his ears eventually detected the rustling of leaves combined with the shallow, rapid panting of something moving quickly in their direction. From what he could tell, the source was hardly large enough to be a dragon. Could it be someone else was out there with whatever had made that noise? What if it was one of their friends? What if it was Vex?

As the snapping of disturbed underbrush rang out from just beyond the mouth of the overhang and a vaguely humanoid shape darted into view, Vax sprang forward and clamped down on their wrist without a second thought, urged forward by the dribbles of icy fear that had leaked into his veins. However, rather than familiar hazel eyes, he found himself gazing into wide, pale blue ones framed by thick, dark brown bangs and the embroidered edge of a dark gray hood. At first, fright danced across the woman's face as she was jerked back towards him, but after a split second, a small spark of fire managed to shine through. As she raised her free hand, faint wisps of pale bluish silver light curled and weaved around her fingers before coalescing into bolts of crackling turquoise energy in her palm, which she slammed into the rogue's chest before he could react. Grunting in surprise and pain as the pulse of lightning coursed through him, Vax's grip on the woman slackened, enabling her to wrench free as he fell back. Not even sparing a glance behind her, she whirled around on her heels ready to sprint off, but she had barely taken a few steps before Scanlan's dulcet voice pierced the air.

"Hey, where you think you're going, baby?" he belted, magical energy dancing around his own fingertips now. "Scanlan's Hand!"

In a flash of brilliant purplish light, the phantasmal hand materialized directly in the woman's path, leading her to barrel right into its grasp. Large, translucent fingers curling snugly around her, the woman squirmed and writhed to no avail as she was raised aloft, her feet flailing helplessly a couple feet above the forest floor.

"...Well, this is a shocking new development." Scanlan chirped, earning himself a sharp jab in the ribs courtesy of Pike's elbow.

A long, pained groan slipped from Vax's lips as he slowly staggered back to his feet, his body and the air around him still buzzing with residual electricity. Shifting his attention to his attacker, he observed the ornate staff she had accidentally dropped upon being snatched up by Scanlan before trailing his gaze up her form, making note of the sheathed dagger strapped to her thigh and the medium-sized satchel hanging at her side. Upon reaching her face, he could practically picture the gears of her mind turning as he watched her eyes dart about, analyzing as much as she could while she tried to calculate some solution for her current situation. However, the minute he reached for her staff, her attention snapped in his direction, icy blue eyes now fixed unwaveringly on him and him alone.

"Before you try anything else-" Vax stated just as the woman's lips parted, tongue already poised to spin another spell, "-keep in mind that there's three of us and only one of you."

"Is that supposed to frighten me? I'm not scared of you." she hissed in reply, the slight quiver of her voice undermining her words somewhat. "I won't let you drag me back there!"

Pike's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Yeah, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say there's been some kind of misunderstanding." Scanlan remarked.

"You were waiting in the shadows and tried to grab me! What's there to misunderstand?" the woman fired back, still straining against the vice-like grip of the massive magical hand to no avail.

Scanlan shot a glance in Vax's direction. "...Okay, she kinda has a fair point."

Vax was about to reply, but the words on his lips vanished as the crackling of more disturbed underbrush somehow managed to overpower the faint ringing that still echoed in his ears. The slight shift in his expression was all the indication that the woman needed, and as those familiar silvery wisps of light danced across her fingers once more, Scanlan's spell combusted at the flicking of her wrist. The second her heels hit the soft earth after a brief freefall, she dove for her staff, but before the straining fingers of her outstretched hand could caress the cool metal of the shaft, a long, slender blur stole across her vision and a stinging pain shot through her palm. Yanking her hand back to tuck it protectively against her chest, she stared warily at the arrow that had just sliced a deep gash into the curve of her thumb and forefinger. Had its trajectory been even slightly off, it would've either pierced clean through the back of her hand or missed completely. The arrowhead just nicking her wasn't mere coincidence or luck; it was a warning.

Not a second later, two more blurs tore through the air, a pained yelp springing from Scanlan as one of the arrows struck his shoulder while the other slashed at the back of Vax's knee. All eyes snapped in the general direction from which the projectiles had come, and after carefully scouring the foliage, they spotted their assailant tucked up in a tree. The aarakocra archer already had another arrow nocked and trained on the woman, his golden eyes locked on her in an unblinking stare. Even more troubling, however, was the fact that he was not alone on the branch. On his left crouched a halfling while a kenku loomed on his right, both of which were also watching the group very closely.

Glimpsing some movement in his peripheral vision, Vax lowered his gaze to the space just beneath the tree and found multiple pairs of eyes staring back at him. He noticed the hulking minotaur first, followed by a half-orc, a human, and finally an elf. Seeming to gather than they had been spotted, the elf smirked and took a few steps forward with his comrades following not far behind, catching the attention of Pike, Scanlan, and the woman. At the sight of them, the girl's expression immediately hardened and her eyes darted briefly to her staff again, her mind racing.

"Hey guys, I think I know why Sparky here was running." Scanlan called out, wincing from the pain in his shoulder as he shifted his hand to hover over the strings of his lute again before adding, "Man, our luck really fricking sucks."

Chapter Text

The tension in the air was palpable as the two groups remained locked in their staredown, limbs twitching as muscles tensed with building energy. Only the elf, seemingly the leader of the newcomers, appeared entirely at ease, an irritatingly smug smirk etched on his angular face.

“What have we here?” he drawled, the loftiness of his silky voice equally as irksome as his expression. “A few mangy mutts trying to steal our hard-earned quarry out from under our noses? You are quite brave—or quite stupid. I suppose the truly desperate are willing to risk anything for a little gold…”

“Your quarry?” Vax parroted with a hint of incredulity, only daring to risk a glance at the woman for a moment before snapping his attention back to the elf.

As he raised one well-manicured brow, the elf’s smirk twisted into more of a sneer. “And now you feign ignorance. You think us that stupid to fall for such a simple trick? You’re lucky we find your efforts amusing otherwise we’d have already struck you down. And you, little wizard-”

Sweat trickled down the back of the woman’s neck as the elf’s eyes flickered over to her, a shiver running down her spine. Her stomach clenched painfully as he peered at her so intently it was as if he was looking right into her soul.

“-have just proven exactly why you shouldn’t be out here. After somehow managing to give us the slip, you didn’t just thank the gods for your luck and put as much distance behind you as you could. No, you foolishly circled back to search for something you lost. Tell me, do you think that whatever you left behind was worth coming back for now?”

Though shame burned hot on her cheeks and in her chest, the woman did not lower her head but rather kept her gaze fixated on the elf. However, this apparently only amused him further as he just chuckled.

“I suppose it doesn’t matter either way. This little game of yours has come to an end, Reyen. Do yourself a favor and stop making this harder than it has to be.”

“No,” Reyen retorted firmly, though Vax noticed there was a slight quiver to her shoulders as she spoke. “Even if I screwed up, I made it this far on my own and that has to count for something. I can’t give up; I won’t!”

“My dear, it is adorable that you think you have a choice in the matter,” the arrogant elf jeered, his tone unquestionably condescending as he leered at her. “Now cease with these dramatics and come along quietly. No one else has to get hurt-“

“She’s not going anywhere with you.” Vax cut in sharply, surprising even himself as all attention suddenly snapped to him.

“Uh Vax, what are you doing?” Scanlan hissed through gritted teeth and a strained smile, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow as his eyes darted from foe to foe. “This chick’s drama isn’t our problem!”

Pike flashed her fellow gnome a disapproving frown, “So we’re supposed to just turn a blind eye?”

“Uh yeah, kinda! We already have our own little issue to deal with in case you’ve forgotten!”

“We were never getting out of this without a fight anyways.” Vax retorted, eyes flickering briefly back to Reyen as she stared up at him in disbelief, “Might as well make the most of it and knock these cocky bastards down a few pegs.”

With a loud, exasperated groan, Scanlan ghosted his fingers over the strings of his lute while Pike tightened her grip on her mace. “This hero crap is getting really old really fast.”

His body taut like a snake poised to strike, Vax lowered his voice to a whisper only Reyen was close enough to hear. “We have a better chance of getting out of this if we work together. Do you know any spells that are really loud?”

Her brow furrowing slightly, Reyen gave a subtle nod.

“Good. Use them.”

In that moment, Vax transformed into a blur. While the dagger in his hands soared from his fingertips in the elf’s direction, his heel kicked out behind him and collided with the shaft of Reyen’s staff, sending it into the air. Understanding dawning upon her in the nick of time, Reyen bolted to her feet and thrust her hand in the air, her fingers curling tightly around the rod as it collided with her palm. The memorized incantation already tumbling from her lips as the silvery light enveloped her hands once more, she shifted her attention to the halfling, kenku, and aarakocra perched on the tree bough and focused the magical energy she was summoning amid the three of them. The glowing silver orb that materialized in the air flickered for but a moment, hardly an intimidating sight, before detonating in a flash of force, light, and sound. Pained cries sounded from the three targets as they were jettisoned into the air, the shrill ringing of the spell still echoing in their ears as they tumbled, and their human compatriot hardly had time to utter a startled yelp before being crushed beneath them as they landed in a groaning pile of tangled limbs.

Any trace of the elven leader’s smug sneer evaporated as he ducked out of the way of the airborne dagger, his face now twisting into a snarl as his eyes darkened. “We were asked to bring you back alive, but nothing was ever said about you being unharmed. You wish to play rough, brat? Fine, we’ll entertain your delusions of grandeur for a little longer.”

While the somewhat battered halfling, kenku, and aarakocra crawled off of the unconscious human and staggered back to their feet, the minotaur and half-orc both charged with mighty bellows. While the half-orc made a beeline for the two gnomes, the minotaur set his sights on the half-elves, nostrils flared and horns lowered as he barreled toward them with building speed. The crack of Pike’s mace breaking bone and the half-orc’s pained howl greeted Vax’s ears just as he hurled himself out of the bull hybrid’s path, but a glance over his shoulder made his stomach drop when he noticed Reyen still rooted in her spot, her frightened eyes locked on the beast. However, before the rogue’s fingers could even brush against the hilt of his other dagger, the wizardess raised her staff high above her head as another string of syllables spilled from her lips before slamming the hilt against the ground as hard as she could. The raucous roar of thunder flooded her surroundings as the minotaur was flung several feet away from her before landing on his back with a thud, and as he tried right himself again, Vax sprang into action and sliced two deep gashes along the back of the beast’s knees before darting out of reach again.

A shrill screech echoing from above beckoned the half-elves’ gazes skyward just in time to witness the aarakocra descending on them, having traded his bow for a pair of gleaming daggers. However, before he could close the remaining distance between himself and his prey, a familiar shimmering purple hand materialized with the strum of a few chords by Scanlan’s skilled fingers and promptly backhanded the avian into a tree, where he stirred for a moment before falling still. However, just as the hand reared back in preparation of flattening the wounded minotaur, it stiffened for a moment before detonating in a burst of purple light and sparkles.

“Uh, Scanlan, is it supposed to do that?!” Vax called over his shoulder.

“No!” Scanlan squawked in reply as he barely managed to dodge a strike from the kenku that had snuck up on him. “That’s never happened before!”

“Someone counteracted his spell. I’ve witnessed some of my instructors do it before.” Reyen interjected, her eyes already surveying the clearing for the opposing source of magic as she already had a suspicion of just who was responsible. Sure enough, her eyes locked with that of the elven leader just as his grinning lips began to utter another spell, and though she summoned a fistful of crackling flames in almost an instant, hoping to strike before he could complete his incantation, her efforts were in vain. The world around her shimmered as a transparent dome of magical energy enveloped her, the blaze in her palm fizzling within seconds before sputtering out completely. Though her lips chanted frantically, not a sound was heard nor did even a trace of her magic’s silvery light manifest. Gritting her teeth in frustration, she sprinted for the barrier’s edge, but before she could break free, a projectile of sickly green energy rocketed past the border, forcing her to stop in her tracks to avoid getting hit. Her mind hurriedly filtering through her now fairly limited options, she waved her hands wildly to try and get Vax’s attention, and when his eyes shifted towards her, she began gesturing from her lips to the dome to the elf, desperately hoping he would understand. However, just as comprehension was dawning on him, Vax heard a heavy grunt, the shifting of dirt, and quiet chanting echo from behind him. He spun around just in time to witness the minotaur rising back to its feet as his halfing comrade knelt beside him, the wounds on his legs mending in mere moments beneath her hands as the healing incantation bubbled from her throat.

“Well that’s just bullsh-“ Vax began to groan, but his grumbling was cut short as the minotaur swung its warhammer down towards the rogue with a mighty roar. Springing out of the way with mere seconds to spare as the hammer collided with the patch of dirt where he had been standing moments before, the half-elf swiped at the halfling as she darted past him in Reyen’s direction, her handaxe clutched to her chest, but his blade only pierced the air. Detecting a flicker of movement in his peripheral, he rolled out of the way as the minotaur’s warmhammer came smashing down again near his head, realizing only too late that he had situated himself directly in the beast’s path. The hybrid’s hoof slammed into his chest as he cried out in pain, pinning him to the ground as it raised its weapon overhead one final time. Just as it was about to deal the killing blow, however, a familiar roar overpowered the other sounds of battle all around the rogue as something big and gray charged into view, colliding with the minotaur and knocking the hybrid off of its feet.

“NO ONE CRUSHES PUNY VAX BUT ME!” Grog bellowed ferally before embedding his ax repeatedly into the minotaur’s chest.

At first, Vax could only just stare, but eventually a tentative smile spread across his lips as a wave of relief washed over him, “That comment should not be as comforting as it is right now.”

As the rogue scrambled back to his feet, a deafening bang assaulted his ears, followed by the pained scream of the elf mage as he clutched his clavicle, blood seeping into the fabric of his shirt beneath his palm. To Reyen’s relief, the dome surrounding her rippled for a moment before dispersing, although she only had a moment to be thankful before the armed and inbound halfling yanked her mind back into the battle. A spell was already poised on the tip of her tongue as she wound back her open hand, but before she could utter even a syllable, her opponent yelped loudly as an arrow sailed seemingly out of nowhere and pierced her hand, forcing her to drop her weapon. Both the halfling and Reyen turned their heads in the direction from which the projectile had come, but rather than an archer, they were greeted by the sight of a massive brown bear clad in armor barreling towards them with the snarl. The halfling could only manage a squeak of terror before she was knocked off her feet, her eyes already rolling back in her head before she even hit the ground. As the bear’s large head swiveled towards her, Reyen froze, her breath catching in her throat as her heart raced. However, after staring her down for a few painfully long seconds, Trinket merely snorted at the stranger before lumbering towards Vax, the rogue affectionately scratching under his chin as soon as he was within arm’s reach.

Starting as a distressed squawk sounded behind her, Reyen spun around just in time to witness Pike slam her mace into the side of the kenku’s skull, the bird-like being’s body tethered in place by a tangle of long vines she swore had not been there previously. Her senses still on high alert and her nerves abuzz, the wizardess slowly surveyed the battered bodies of the defeated mercenaries until her eyes finally settled on the only one who remained conscious: the elven mage. Clenching her jaw, she slowly strolled towards him, returning his venomous glare with her own stony look as she reached his side.

“Well? Go on, little wizard. Strike me down and enjoy your delusions for a bit longer,” he snarled up at her through gritted teeth. “You’ve gotten this far because of luck and pity, but that won’t sustain you out here forever. Sooner or later, you will be forced to face the truth: that you are nothing more than a naïve brat who’s wandered too far from home-“

With a sickening crack, the bottom of Reyen’s staff smacked against the mage’s temple, silencing him. As the adrenaline finally began to taper off, a heaviness settled over her body and the throbbing of the wound on her hand grew more prominent. Digging through her pockets, she eventually found a small cloth that she draped over the gash before gripping it tightly in her other hand, grimacing slightly as the pain intensified.

“Here, let me help.”

A jolt shot through Reyen’s body as her eyes darted in Pike’s direction, her mind struggling to comprehend just how the little gnome had managed to creep up on her despite the clattering of her armor. Her eyes first analyzed the small hand innocently extended to her followed by the cleric’s kindly face, searching for even the faintest traces of ill intentions, and upon her examination yielding nothing, she hesitantly deposited her injured hand into the gnome woman’s palm. However, her trepidation soon evaporated as soft, warm light radiated from Pike’s fingers, soothing warmth permeating Reyen’s hand as the cleric murmured the words of the healing spell.

“Thank you.” the wizardess breathed as the light of the incantation started to fade, flexing her fingers in amazement while Pike simply grinned up at her.

“So, somebody want to tell us what the hell happened?” Vex proclaimed as she approached her brother with Percy and Keyleth in tow, her keen eyes swiftly scanning him for injuries. When nothing major caught her eye, her attention shifted to Pike and Reyen, her expression hardening towards the latter who flinched beneath her steely gaze.

“Vax and Pike wanted to play noble heroes and dragged me into it.” Scanlan whined, “Frankly, I think your brother’s brain got a little fried when he was hit by that lightning spell earlier.”

Vax shot the bard a disapproving glare before meeting his sister’s gaze, her lips pressed into a thin line as she waited for him to make his case. “She needed some help. She was being hunted, Vex.”

“And why is that? Who even is she and when did she become our problem? Last I checked, we have other rather pressing matters to worry about right now.” Vex retorted sharply.

Scanlan threw up his hands in exasperation. “THAT’S WHAT I SAID!”

“We were already caught in the crossfire because of some misunderstandings. Saving her meant saving our rear ends as well. Besides, I thought we were giving the ‘good guy’ thing a try now.” Vax replied coolly, adding just moments after as a thought crossed his mind, “Speaking of which…”

His hand disappearing beneath his cloak, Vax eventually withdrew the small pouch they had found, Scanlan’s mouth falling agape at the sight of the little bag in the rogue’s hand.

“Hey! When did you-” the flabbergasted gnome started sputtering, but Vax paid him no mind as he approached Reyen.

“I believe this belongs to you,” he cooed with a reassuring smile as he held the coin purse out to her, Reyen’s eyes went wide at the sight of the little bag.

“Thank you,” she murmured as she grabbed the purse and clutched it to her chest, her fingers stroking the soft material. Lowering her gaze, Reyen’s eyes momentarily grew glassy as her focus shifted inward, and whether she realized it or not, her lips quietly began voicing her thoughts, “He wasn’t wrong though. I should’ve just kept going rather than turning back. It was a stupid mistake...but it’s one I can learn from.”

With a sharp shaking of her head, a gleam of clarity returned to Reyen’s face before she met Vax’s gaze again, “How can I repay you?”

Vax blinked, caught offguard by the inquiry, “What?”

“You stuck your neck out for me, even though I was a complete stranger and I shocked you thinking you were another mercenary. I’d like to return your kindness.”

“There’s really no need-”

“Now hold on a minute.” Scanlan piped up as he sidled up alongside Vax, eyes twinkling in that way they always did when he was scheming. “The lady is trying to express her appreciation, and it would be incredibly rude to turn down her hospitality, wouldn’t it? Let’s see what she has to offer!”

Before Vax could protest, a gurgly rumble greeted everyone’s ears. All eyes turned to Pike, whose face flushed scarlet as she shyly hugged her grumbling stomach.

“Hmm,” Reyen mused thoughtfully, an idea forming in her mind, “I think I know just the thing.”

Chapter Text

Eyes wide like a pair of full moons, Reyen watched dumbfounded as Grog effortlessly downed yet another mug of booze in a series of large gulps before grimacing down at her noticeably lighter coin purse. Though she couldn't see the barmaid hovering over her shoulder due to her raised hood obscuring her peripheral vision, the wizardess could sense the woman's expectant gaze upon her.

"Just…let me know when this runs out." she sighed, fishing another small handful of coins from the bag and sliding it to the table's edge.

After the payment was briskly snatched up and carried off, Reyen dropped her cheek into her palm as her eyes did another sweep over the cozy little inn, absentmindedly tugging on the edge of her hood while her stomach twisted and churned uneasily. Perhaps she should have expected the only tavern for miles to be rather busy, and yet she found herself somewhat perplexed by just how many people had congregated here. There were so many faces to survey, so many expressions to try and decipher, so many eyes to hide from. Even amid the babbling of patrons, the barking of the staff, and the clattering of plates, cups, and platters, the low creak of the main doors caught her ear, a jolt shooting through her as her attention snapped to the newest group of strangers coming to join the crowd.

"Just another group of farmers. The worst they might do to you is try to sell you some produce before you leave town."

Reyen's heart jolted in her chest as her gaze shifted to meet Vax's hazel eyes observing her inquisitively from across the table, although his gaze contained traces of warm empathy intermingled with the keen interest. Her cheeks burned at the realization that in her vigilant surveillance of the numerous unknowns surrounding her, she had failed to maintain her guard against the scrutiny of the group of strangers seated at her own table. Yes, they had provided her much needed aid back in the woods, but they were still strangers, strangers whose favor towards her could change at any moment-

"So what is a noblewoman like yourself doing fleeing through the woods?"

-just like that.

Reyen's blood ran colder than the ale pouring down Grog's throat as her attention shifted to Percy, his gaze far colder than Vax's as it bored deep, searching, into her own. "I'm sorry?"

"Your attempts to be subtle aren't entirely abysmal, but if your clothing and mannerisms aren't already clear enough indicators, the depths of your coin purse is a dead giveaway. Not many people could afford to feed an adventuring party our size, especially not with a half giant on the roster, and the fact that you are only just now starting to show concern about the lightness of your coin purse indicates that worrying about money is not something you are accustomed to." Percy rattled off matter-of-factly, his eyes never once wavering from the wizardess as the flustered flush of her cheeks steadily paled to a more ashen hue. "So let me ask you again: why is a noblewoman like yourself fleeing through the woods all alone? Escaping from an ambush by bandits? Or perhaps trying to avoid an arranged marriage?"

Reyen couldn't breathe, her chest burning as her lungs shriveled to the size of raisins while her mouth ran dry. Her knuckles were turning white from how tightly she gripped the hem of her cloak, a garment she had mistakenly believed to be humble-looking enough not to draw attention. Her heart thundering in her ears only added to the noise of the dozens of thoughts swirling into a wild storm within her panicking mind, each shouting for her attention as she wracked her brain for the best course of action. Should she try to lie? Should she flee?

"There's no need to interrogate her, Percy," Vax chimed in whilst shooting his comrade a pointed look, his tone brandishing a cautionary edge. "She has been through enough-"

"In your haste to play hero, you failed to consider what helping her might bring upon us." Percy retorted just as sharply, sparing Vax only the briefest of glances before returning his attention to the wizardess. "This isn't personal, Reyen. I truly don't give a damn about who you actually are. What I care about is whether or not associating with you will come back to bite us."

"So what if it does, Percival? We did the right thing." The bite to Vax'ildan's voice was far less subtle now, drawing the attention of the rest of the table—well, except for Grog who was blissfully engaged in savoring the newest mug of liquor that had been brought to him.

"Good deeds can still come at a cost, a cost we can't afford to shoulder right now. We have enough on our plates as is at the moment. Demonize me if you want, but I'm trying to protect us by figuring out exactly what we've put ourselves in the middle of." Percy remarked sternly before adding, "You can understand that, can't you Reyen?"

She could. As much as she wished she didn't, Reyen understood Percy's reasoning perfectly. However, just as he wished to protect his team, she too had to protect herself. Perhaps if she revealed just enough, he would be satisfied and let the matter rest. "I-"

The crinkling of paper served as the only warning before Vex swiftly slammed something down into the middle of the table before moving her hand away. From beneath the words "RUNAWAY" etched in bold letters, a monochrome sketch of a somewhat familiar face smiled up at the group, albeit without the blunt bangs that now framed her brilliant blue eyes.

"Her name is Reyen Dubault, and it looks like Mummy and Daddy are offering a pretty little sum for whoever returns their wayward daughter home." the ranger crooned smugly. Observing Reyen's horrified expression, she added with a cheeky chirp, "Oh don't worry, love. I took down all of your other posters that were up on the notice board. Don't need you causing us any further trouble at the moment."

"Dubault…" Percy echoed, his brow wrinkling in thought for a moment before recognition sparked in his eyes. "As in the famous wizarding family of Abriven? Those Dubaults?"

Reyen didn't even notice that she was shaking until she felt a small hand tightly grasp her own. Meeting the gaze of the gnome cleric beside her, the wizardess didn't find judgment or greed boring into her but instead concern and reassurance reaching out for her from those soft eyes, a silent outstretched hand with no strings attached. Hesitantly, she curled her fingers around the cleric's own, bracing herself, before loosing the words on the back of her tongue with a heavy sigh. "Unfortunately."

Scanlan's brow arched as an incredulous smile stretched across his face. "'Unfortunately'? What's so unfortunate about living in the lap of luxury?"

"A life in a gilded cage surrounded by fools and cowards is no life at all." Reyen answered coldly, the sudden frostiness of her tone catching the rest of the table offguard. "There is nothing 'great' about my family. For generations, they've amassed knowledge and magical trinkets, but to what end? Do they use it for anything? Only bragging rights and occasionally showing off for the amusement of the public, that's what. What's there to be proud of in cowards who would rather hide behind their books and ostentatious performances than actually do something with their knowledge and skills?"

"So that's why you left?" Percy probed inquisitively, "To do something more?"

Nodding, Reyen's eyes fell to her free hand, and after a moment, faint wisps of silvery magic began to dance and coil around her fingertips. "What's the point of knowledge and power if you don't use it for anything meaningful? Maybe they're content to squander their gifts on trivialities, but I'm not. I want—no, I need to use my abilities for greater things."

"And let me guess, Mummy and Daddy didn't take that very well?" Vex purred, still leaning against the side of the wizardess's chair.

For the first time since setting foot inside of the tavern, Reyen laughed, the sound dry and acrid. "That would be an understatement. As far as they're concerned, my 'dreams of grandeur' are a death sentence."

"I mean, they're not entirely wrong…" Scanlan began to add, but a sharp elbow to the gut from Vax swiftly cut him off.

"I know there's risk in the life I wish to live, but to me, the possibility of making a difference is worth the danger." As the tendrils of light in her hand began to dissipate, she finally lifted her eyes to meet the stares of the table. "Surely you all can understand that? Why else would you help a complete stranger in her hour of need?"

Awkward silence fell over the table for a moment as the group exchanged uneasy glances before Vex broke the tension with a chuckle, "You're giving us a little too much credit there, love. You've got a lot to learn if you think we are an epitome of honor and heroics."

"Or perhaps you aren't giving yourself enough credit." The response came out a bit more cheeky than Reyen intended, but judging by the slight upward twitch she observed at the corner of the ranger's lips, her unintentional brazenness was welcome enough. "Whatever your reasons, I am grateful for your help. You've bought me a little time before another set of my parents' hired dogs come yapping at my heels."

"Dogs that might come looking for us as well now that we've helped you?" Percy frowned, his expression darkening again.

"I…can't say for sure."

Vax's brow creased faintly with concern. "And what will you do when you're found again? You got lucky this time, but fortune's favor is fickle."

"Well, my goal at the moment is to locate and reconnect with my uncle, Garett Dubault. He was my mentor for years and the only one who didn't dash my dreams—a choice that got him and his family exiled from Abriven. Assuming…Assuming he doesn't hate me, I plan on asking to stay with him and learn whatever else he can teach me. I had hoped to join an adventuring party in the meantime while I searched for him, but as you can imagine, a sheltered wizard with a bounty on her head is a bit of a hard sell." Reyen rambled, another self-deprecating scoff puffing from her lips. "I mean, I don't suppose you all would happen to be looking for an extra member and willing to take a chance on me, would you?"

Once again, awkward silence coupled with glances that spoke louder than words fell over the table. Vex's watchful eyes could practically see the gears turning in her brother's mind, and hardly had he opened his mouth before her response was already poised on the tip of her tongue.

"Absolutely not." She and Percy stated firmly in unison, slightly startling one another though they tried to conceal it.

"And why not?" Vax argued, his gaze shifting from his sister to the gunslinger and then back again. "We just got our asses handed to us; another person, a mage no less, might be just what we need to turn the tides in our favor."

"Vax, with all due respect to everyone here, we barely function as a team the way we are now. Throwing another person into the mix, someone without experience no less, will only exacerbate that problem, not fix it." Percy refuted bluntly, his resolve not wavering in the slightest beneath the rogue's steely gaze.

"Not to mention how easily she was neutralized by that silencing spell earlier." Vex chimed in. "She said it herself: what's the point of power if it isn't able to be used?"

"To be fair, Pike, Scanlan, or myself probably wouldn't have fared any better if we were hit by that kind of spell-" Keyleth began to say only to shrink back a bit in her chair when Vex's piercing gaze swung in her direction. "-I'll stop talking now."

"There's also the matter of not painting a target on our backs-"

"You already said it yourself that we might be targets anyways at this point, Percival!" Vax exclaimed in exasperation. "And the only way she is going to improve is if someone gives her the opportunity to learn! I mean, who are we of all people to cast judgment against someone just looking for a chance to prove themselves? Is that not why we took this damn job in the first place?"

"Why do you care so much what happens to her, brother? You don't know her." Vex scowled at her brother, her hands falling to rest on her hips.

"You hardly knew Percy when we met him and you didn't give him even half as hard of a time about joining us." Vax shot back, his glare perfectly mirroring his sister's.

Vex could feel her cheeks beginning to burn, a fact she hoped Percy wouldn't notice, "You little shi-"

Springing up from her seat, Pike swiftly stepped between the twins with her hands raised, "OKAY, I think we should all take a step back, maybe take a breather before we lose our heads-"

"You know what? Fine." Vex snapped bitterly, twirling on her heels and strutting back to Reyen's side to fix the apprehensive wizardess beneath her harsh stare. "If she can prove herself to be of some kind of use to us against a very real, very deadly dragon, she can join us. Happy?"

"I'm sorry, a…dragon?" Reyen echoed, eyes wide.

"Yes dear, a dragon. That's the shit we are dealing with. Why? You're not getting cold feet on us now, are you?"

Vax knew what his sister was doing. He could tell in the way her eyes were fixed unwaveringly on Reyen, studying her features for even the smallest of tells. Following his sister's gaze, he watched her as well with bated breath, noting the way her gaze grew distant and uncertain for a few seconds before focusing again with fortified clarity.

"What kind of dragon?"

Vex blinked. "Excuse me?"

"What kind of dragon was it?" Reyen repeated calmly. "What color was it? What size? What can you remember about it?"

Vex's tongue sat like a lump of lead in her mouth, her brows knit in confusion. Sensing her uncertainty, Pike spoke up instead. "It was blue and pretty big."

"How big?"

"Big and powerful enough to level a small section of forest without breaking a sweat…and to send Grog flying like a leaf in the wind." Vax clarified, head tilting to the side with piqued curiosity. "It also breathed lightning instead of fire."

"That fits with it being a blue dragon…When you encountered it, what were your surroundings like? Was it overcast or possibly even storming?"

"Something like that, yeah."

"So it's an adult at the very least to be able to affect the environment like that… It could possibly even be ancient." Reyen mumbled whilst one hand pressed pensively to her lips. "That definitely presents more of a challenge."

"What do you mean?" Keyleth grimaced, clearly already dreading the answer.

"The older and more powerful a dragon is, the more tricks it has at its disposal." Reyen explained, her gaze becoming distant again as she delved further into the depths of her own mind. "There are some ancient dragons who can even change their forms to conceal their identities, although there would still be indicators pointing towards their true identity."

"Indicators like what?" Vex prodded, clearly more interested than she was willing to admit.

"It depends on the skill level of the dragon, really. It could be anything from habits and behaviors to physical characteristics like skin tone or eye color."

"So in other words, looking for such signs would be an ineffective waste of time." Vex huffed, arms now folded and resting against her middle. "Anything else?"

Reyen reluctantly shook her head. "That's all I know…but I can find out more."

"Go on…"

"Being a wizard is about more than learning spells and rituals; it requires you to become fluent in the arts of study and research. If I don't know something already, I'm willing to put in the time, effort, and skill required to learn more in as quick and efficient a manner as possible."

"So in other words, you're willing to do all the hard work, meaning others of us won't have to?" Scanlan grinned impishly. "Well, she's got my vote."

Groaning, Vex pinched the bridge of her nose to try and suppress the non alcohol-related ache starting to assault her head. She could feel her comrades' expectant gazes upon her, waiting for her consensus though she wasn't sure for what reason. Clearly their minds were already made up.

"Fine." she grumbled. "For the record though, I still think this is a terrible idea."

"More terrible than fighting a dragon in the first place?" her brother crowed with a smirk.

"Depends on which one gets us killed first."

Perhaps Vex's words should've stung more, but at the moment, Reyen hardly cared. As she surveyed each face around the table in turn, some skeptical and others welcoming, as they all settled back into their nonchalant revelry, her gaze eventually found Vax's, his smile perhaps the warmest of all. She still didn't quite understand why he had argued so fiercely in her favor, but for now, she wasn't about to question his kindness.

"Thank you." She whispered, unsure if he would even hear her above the hubbub of the other patrons.

Chuckling, Vax took a swig of his drink before answering. "Thank me after we all survive slaying this dragon and prove your parents wrong, yeah?"