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Gwenival had been in the realm of shadow for little more then a few weeks and there always seemed to be one person or another she met at the sights of grace. She was never able to verbally communicate with them, but most seemed to understand. There was one individual she had grown quite fond of.
Moore, a gentle being who had found a few things for her. He was always willing and never refused. In a way, he reminded her of Boc, the demi-human she told to stay with Rodrika at what remained of the Hold. Thankfully the place had stopped burning, how or why she didn’t know, but she was glad the only safe place she knew of was no longer lit aflame.
Back on the topic at hand. Moore was gentle and kind despite his odd manner of speak, but Gwenival wasn’t one to complain. The older gentleman had told her to keep an eye out for Kindred of Rot, docile in their movements, friends of Moore’s. So she did and along the way she met one, cold and sickly.
She remembered her trepidations in Cealid a place accursed with the scarlet rot, was reminded of the pests that hurt her so severely back then and could not find herself comparing this creature to that of those in Cealid. Curled around itself in attempts to warm a body that grew colder in the night. An creature in need, not one seeking her demise.
Pulling a warming stone from a bag at her side, she gently placed it down before the creature. Waves of warmth emanated from the stone in pulsing, thrums of light. Warm and comforting. She sat down with the creature, keeping it company as it grew stronger.
Not long after it had gifted her a cookbook as thank you.
When she left, she gave the creature a few warming stones in case it got cold again and returned to Moore.
He spoke to her in a soft voice and had given her another cookbook as thanks for what she had done for the kindred.
Moore had fiddled with something in his hands, and sensing he was anxious about something, the warrior women tilted her head in question.
“I don’t know what to do. Our mother abandoned her brood. She did not love us. We are her children, what should we so? Must we be sad forever?
He waited for an answer and as he did so, Gwenival sat next to him in silence. Mothers should care for their children no matter what, they should be there for them in their time of need, they should never abandon their child, for that child is their blood, their very being.
The warrior had a thought then. She pulled out the parchment she kept with her, the ink well, quill and wrote.
When finished, she presented the parchment to Moore. She patiently waited as he read her written words.
“I apologize for the wrong done onto you and your brood. Im sorry that you feel unloved and forsaken by the one that should be there for you, whoever she may be I hope one day she will find it in her heart to love you. But in the mean time, perhaps I can show you some love, maybe not as a mother, but as a friend. Would you like to join me on my journey?”
The minutes passed, they turned into what felt like hours and Gwenival was starting to think maybe she had offended him in some way, perhaps he has misunderstood her words and was insulted. But before she could stand and move away to calm the outlandish situation she thought she must have created, the gentle giant spoke.
“You would be willing to have me along?”
She nodded, and quickly wrote. “So long as you wish to accompany me and don’t mind the silence of a mute warrior”
“Would we all be welcome?”
“I have no qualms. The foraging brood can come and go as they please” Gwenival put down.
“Then I will go with you, friend. We shall travel with you and find many things”
Gwenival smiled and sat with Moore for a while longer. She couldn’t help but chuckle silently at the thought of what Boc might think of their newest companion.
Although, she wasn’t entirely as prepared as she thought she was to have a few members of the foraging brood travel with her, Boc, and Moore every so often. And she could have sworn the demi-human seamster fainted out of fright the first meeting, leaving Moore to worry if he had perished.
One thing was for sure, Moore and his Kindred family were happy, and cared for.
-End-