Another roar, higher pitched than before. It’s close. As I’m wheezing my way towards the sound, I note that I’m heading towards Leona’s territory. A sense of dread shoots up my spine as I run faster, pushing through my screaming muscles.

You are Exhausted.Ability discovered: Willpower.

I arrive at the clearing in time to see a large pile of rocks slam into an insect the size of a car. All angles and jagged edges, it rises up on four rear legs to swipe away the debris with a club-like leg. A whimper draws my attention away from the creature. A few meters away, up against a splintered tree, lies a pile of fur and branches. I keep the combatants in front of me as I inch towards the impact site. It’s attention focused on me, the insect rears up again. I’m trying to guess whether it’s going to be a ranged attack or a charge when an arm reaches out from the pile of rubble, grabbing a rear leg and pulling. Unable to stop it’s leap, the insect pulls a fully reformed Stomp with it for a few metres before crashing into the ground.

“It was fighting that bear… thing over there. See if you can help it. Heal, dammit!”

Quashing a rush of annoyance, I turn towards the pile of fur. I find what looks like a bear, covered in bark with threads of thorns winding around and through it’s body. No question that nature magic is involved here. There’s definitely a real creature underneath, as the fur and blood attests to. A large puncture in it’s side is pulsing blood slower by the moment. I scramble to it’s side, pushing aside a weak paw trying to fend me off.

“Lie still, dammit.”

I don’t know if it obeyed my command or was just too weak to do anything, but it lay still afterwards. Inspecting the wound, I see several splinters, along with a puncture wound that seems oddly symmetrical. Like it was made by an over sized syringe. I put a hand on the bears shoulder as I look in it’s eyes.

“Brace yourself. This is going to be really unpleasant.”

The sounds of fighting behind me is intensifying as I start plucking out the splinters.

You’ve been stung for 5% damage

An undignified yelp escapes my mouth as I pull back my hand. In the fleshy part between my thumb and index finger I see a wriggling larvae. No more than a pincer with counterhooks and a tail for motion, it’s clearly trying to burrow deeper into my flesh. Shit. I squash it quickly before I dig back in, much more carefully now. In the centre of the crater I find a soft, squishy mass. When I palpate it, I feel it pop and crackle under the pressure. Carefully I dig my way around it, ignoring the stings as much as I could.

You’ve been stung for 5% damage

I’m down to below 60% by the time I’m certain I’ve gotten a solid hold of the mass. A weak mewling is the only indication that the bear is still alive, rising to a half hearted roar when I pull, yanking the entire lump out. A spray of vital fluids come with it, obscuring my vision, sparing me from the worst of the sight. I drop it to the ground, stomping it a few times for good measure, as I frantically remove the parasitic pests busy making their homes in my body. When I’m done, I turn back to the bear, noting a much slower flow of blood. It’s either a good sign or a terrible one. Checking my inventory, I realise there isn’t much I can do to help. I chew some of the bloodgrin I have left and mush it together with the cave lichen, pasting the result into the cavity. Then I grab some moss from a nearby tree to pack it all in, applying as much force as I dare.

Ability increased: Wisdom.Skill increased: First Aid.Skill discovered: Alchemy.

I sit still, wheezing from the exertion as the sounds of fighting starts coming closer. Turning to look I see stomp taking a heavy blow to the side, only to grab a hold of the claw. With a twist of his hip, he uses the giant insects mass against itself, smashing his skull into it’s triangular head. A growl from the bear brings my attention back to the matter at hand. It’s slowly trying to stand, having gained enough strength to ignore my attempts at keeping it still.

“If you go back to the fight now, it’s going to kill you. Again. I kinda brought you back from the dead, or something worse, considering those parasites.”

Turning it’s large head towards me, it gives me a look that tells me to mind my own business. I raise my hands in surrender.

“Fine, your funeral.”

As I stand up, it lumbers slowly towards the field of battle. I shake my head at the waste when I notice something new. A green glow in the forest, towards Leona's domain. Taking one more glance at the fight, I see Stomp taking a vicious pincer to the gut as the bear goes on the offensive. I head towards the light.

Skill increased: Perception.

I find Leona, weakly leaning against a tree right on the border of her domain. She looks at me with tired eyes.

“They’re so damn strong. Please, Tee, I need some water.”

I wave away a quest prompt to dig through my backpack. No water. I do have something else though. With a heavy heart, I hand her the fairyhome. She looks at it, first in confusion, then in awe, then with a tinge of sadness. She nods and takes it from me, tilting her head back and squeezing the contents into her mouth as a prompt tells me I finished the quest.

Your standing with Leona Cethi has changed to Gratitude.

She begins glowing, faintly green at first, then brightly emerald. Her feet leave the ground as she hovers for a moment. Translucent wings grow from her back as her features grow finer, more delicate. When she opens her eyes, the green orbs shine with a new intelligence.

“Thank you.”

She races forward, toes dragging a line through the dirt as her wings propel her directly towards the fight. I follow, hustling to get there before the fun is over. By the time I get back, Leona has already crushed the insects thorax, disabling it completely. Not a moment too soon, judging by the state Stomp is in. A large gash across his chest, and a large crater in his thigh. Sighing, I instruct him to lie down on the ground. He complies as soon as I tell him about the parasites, and I manage to dig them out in short order. As I squish them, I notice their blood gives off a dim glow in the darkness. Interestingly, the infestation stops all health regeneration. As soon as the mass is extracted his body starts healing itself as normal. The large bear is licking it’s own wounds, thankfully free of parasites. Finally we can all sit down and rest for a moment. I take the opportunity to introduce them.

***

“And that’s when Tee decided not to take point anymore.”

Leona laughs, an ethereal sound in her new state. I give Stomp a sideways glance. It’s not the worst story he could have told about me, but it’s right up there with bed wetting and calling the teacher mom.

“As I was going to say before so rudely interrupted.”

Stomp grins.

“What happened exactly?”

Leona looks away for a moment, her glow fading a little.

“At first the surge was good. My trees gained some new properties, the animals grew stronger and I enjoyed the sensation. Then the first of those things attacked. It must have been supercharged by the surge as well. That one was easy enough to dispatch, but as soon as I finished it my sentinels reported another two attacks. Both on the borders of my domain, far away from where I was. I rushed to one side and sent my guardian to the other, expecting a similar fight.”

She smiles a grim smile as Stomp leans closer to listen.

“The second attack was too far from my hearth tree. I overestimated my power, and barely managed to kill the second one. I was left with almost no energy as my guardian kept taking blows.”

Raising a hand, she touches Stomps hand gently. Another pang of jealousy runs down my spine, and I make a note to take a good look at myself later. What the hell is going on with me.

“You both arrived just in time, and thanks to your healing and his combat prowess, my guardian was saved. But I was still out of energy.”

Stomp nods, gently caressing her hand which is still touching him. Stomp replies.

“And I wouldn’t have been able to kill the thing. I spent all my daily abilities, even my racial attack, only to keep it at bay.”

I grunt at the mention of healing, and Leona continues.

“So when you found me, I begged you to get me water.”

Her eyes dim, a sadness on her face.

“You went above and beyond, Tee. And at the same time you doomed me.”

I sit up.

“What? But you’re more powerful now than before. I can feel it.”

She shakes her head.

“More powerful, but the energy from the fairyhome was too pure, too fresh. It’ll be enough to last me a few days, maybe a week. As soon as I’m out of the Essential power, I’ll die.”

Stomp looks at me with an expression of disappointment mixed with hope.

“Tee, how much…”

I wave him off as I bring out the rest of my fairyhomes. Easy come, easy go I guess.

“I have four more. If you’re careful they should help preserve you longer. By the time you’re out I’m sure we’ll be able to find a more permanent solution. Right Stomp?”

He nods, a new look of confidence on him now. Leona looks uncertain for a moment before the usual haughty bearing takes hold.

“Tee, as always your worthiness as a paramour is proven without a doubt. Sadly, I am no longer an appropriate mate for you. As a Dryad I was a creature of Magic. With these gifts I will be a creature of Essence, a minor goddess in my domain. Thank you.”

She leans over to kiss my cheek. When Stomp whoops, we both glare at him for a long second before we break out in laughter again.

When we finally calm down, Stomp sits up on one knee, bowing to Leona.

“Lady of the forest, if you will grant me the honour, I pledge my service to the cause of finding you a permanent source of Essence.”

She stands up, back straight and head high, producing a long wooden staff from the shadows surrounding us. With gravity befitting the solution, she taps each of his shoulders.

“Sir Stomp, I accept your offer. You will have at most four weeks before I will run out. Depending on what happens, I might run out sooner. Do not tarry.”

When the silence stretches a little bit too far, I stand up. With a blank look on my face I start a slow golf clap. They both look at me with raised eyebrows before we laugh again.

Afterwards, Leona sends us on our way back to the camp. The fire is no more than embers when we get back, with Tiene curled up against the cold. Stomp is about to lift her, but I stop him with a gesture. He nods sagely and heads to his tent as I pick her up. As soon as I stand up, she puts her arms around my neck. In a tired voice she whispers in my ear.

“Where were you?”

Her breath on my neck make shivers go down my spine. Carrying her to the shed, I use my back to prod open the door.

“We decided to sneak in a quick adventure in the dark forest before bedtime.”

She giggles sleepily as I lower her onto the bed.

“Now go back to sleep. It’ll be a long day tomorrow.”

She grumbles something and turns around. I spend a moment stroking her hair, making sure she falls asleep properly. Maybe there’s a chance after all. I turn to go to sleep, emptying my mind and letting the darkness claim me.

***

A rotten creature grabs for my shirt as I run through the puddles. Every time I get closer I’m diverted, but this time I’ll make it. The world around me is a blur of shadows and darkness. Out of nowhere an insect attacks, bowling me over. From underneath it I stab into it’s thorax, glowing blood pouring out as it aims it’s proboscis. I’m about to parry as everything stops. In the distance I can see her, collapsing to the ground, suspended mid movement. The outline of a person is standing next to her, admiring her red hair. It turns towards me, bright white eyes boring into my soul.

***

I wake up with a headache, sore muscles and a dry throat. If I didn’t know any better I’d think I was hung over again. A new icon is waiting in my hud.

You are suffering from sleep deprivation (mild).

Well that’s just aces.