Chapter Text
The flames from the campfire warmed the air around the little campsite that had been set up. It was quiet for a while, save for the crackling sound of the fire, the gentle sizzle of meat roasting over it, and the natural sounds of the forest outside surrounding them. Crickets chirped, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees. And, thankfully, the wolves were gone now.
Pyro watched the campfire diligently, being mindful of the slowly roasting a wild pig he'd brought back to share with the stranger he'd helped earlier that night.
The poor guy had looked so out of shape, shaking like a tree in the wind. Luckily, the wolves hadn't done too much harm to him by the time that Pyro had gotten there. But even with the appreciation for the help the half-elf had given him, Pyro could tell there was something still bothering him.
Grief was not an emotion that was easily hidden, and Pyro couldn't help but notice the way it had practically all but consumed the young mage.
"So, friend," Pyro said as he sat back from the fire a bit, being mindful of keeping his voice gentle. It still seemed to startle the elf sitting on a log on the other side of the fire. "Not many travel this far off the main path into the woods. What brings you all the way out here?"
"Oh," The elf, Scott, cleared his throat, the vine covered staff he clutched in his hands being gingerly set aside in favor of pulling the edges of his cloak tighter around himself. "I was just leaving my hometown, Barrowhill, actually. I, um… I was only there to visit for a few days."
Pyro hummed, nodding as he tried to recall everything he could of the mentioned town. It wasn't a place he visited often, but it was a decent enough pit stop in his travels. "I know of Barrowhill. It is a quaint little town, I've passed through a number of times to and from jobs. Lots of good people there."
A small smile crossed Scott's face, his gaze falling away from Pyro and to the fire between them. "Yeah, it's nice… I already miss it," He said, a saddened tone clear in his voice despite the attempt to hide it. The flames crackled, sparks gently flying off and fading away before they could hit the ground.
"Where are you headed then, if I may ask," Pyro prodded gently, his head tilting to the side a bit in curiosity. He still maintained that gentle expression, keeping a warm, non-threatening demeanor. It didn't seem like the elf was scared of him, which was good. Pyro prided himself on maintaining a friendly air despite his size and strength. "Barrowhill is quite a ways away from here."
Scott kept his gaze to the crackling fire, frowning slightly. A sore spot, then, Pyro figured, more than willing to back off if need be. "The Blue Kingdom," He replied quietly after a moment, "It's to the north of here, if I remember right. Admittedly, I… I don't quite know the way back…"
"Hm," Pyro nodded, falling quiet as he glanced towards the entrance to the cave where they had made camp for the night. It was hard to see the stars, especially with a fire lit, but Pyro knew these woods like the back of his hand. "The northern path is a ways from here as well," He said, "It's quite the feat to stray this far from the path."
He paused for a moment, eyes falling back to the elf across from him. Scott seemed to fidget in his seat, the heel of his boot digging into the toughened dirt beneath him and refusing still to meet his gaze. He stared instead at the staff that laid at his feet.
Pyro was many things, but dumb and unobservant he was not. "Is it just that you do not know the way…" He pushed gently, treading lightly just in case he crossed a line, "Or are you trying to avoid making it back?"
Scott's breath hitched, hands gripping his cloak tightly at his sides. "I…" His shoulders fell as he sighed, "It's complicated."
Silence fell between them for a moment, save for the soft crackling of the flames and the quiet sounds of the meat still cooking. Pyro took a moment before he got up from his spot and moved around to the other side of the fire. Scott seemed to watch him carefully as he sat down on the ground in front of the log and beside where the elf was sitting. Even sitting on the floor, Pyro was about the same height as the other.
"Well," Pyro started, "I make a good listener. If you would like to talk about it."
Finally, Scott met his gaze. Pyro kept his ever present gentle expression, softly smiling. The poor elf looked in desperate need of a friend. Whatever had been, or still was, troubling him enough to be nearly lost to the woods could not be easy to hold in.
"Why?" Scott asked, his voice small, quiet. Almost as if he was in disbelief. "We've only just met. I appreciate you saving me from the wolves, but you don't have to do all this," He gestured vaguely to the campfire, the dinner still cooking. The edges of the bandages where Pyro had tended to his wounds were visible from the edges of his sleeves.
Pyro hummed, giving Scott a small nod to meet his gaze again. "You seem troubled, friend. The kind of troubled that could use someone to talk to. I'm more than willing to lend an ear if you so wish. No one deserves to be alone."
Silence fell once more as Scott looked away again, staring ahead at the fire in front of them. He seemed to mull over the answer to the question, and Pyro waited patiently for the other to respond.
It was hard to miss the welling of tears in the elf's eyes. "I just…" Scott sighed, a slight shake in his voice, "I'm lost, Pyro. I just lost my home, my dad, and I don't know what I'm meant to do now that I've lost… everything."
Pyro nodded a bit, slowly exhaling as he took a second before he gingerly put a hand on Scott's knee, trying to be as comforting as he could. When the elf didn't lean away from the touch, he let his hand settle completely. "What about that place you spoke of," He asked, "the Blue Kingdom, was it?"
"Blue isn't really my home," Scott wiped his face of stray tears, hiccuping a breath, "I'm forced to fight in a war I do not understand, for and with people I barely know. I want to go home, Pyro, but there's no home for me anymore."
Falling quiet for a moment, Pyro took in the elf's words. It certainly sounded as complicated as Scott warned it would be. But, he still wanted to help his new friend however he could. Hesitantly, he considered his options before he asked, "Would you like some advice on this? Or just some comfort instead?"
Scott didn't move for a moment, but Pyro could tell he was weighing the offered options to himself before he nodded. "Advice would be… great, actually.
Suddenly, Pyro took his hand off of Scott's knee as he moved, getting to his feet before he sat beside Scott on the log. The wood creaked slightly beneath his weight, but settled just as he did. "This Blue Kingdom," he started, "do you have people there you care about? Friends? Loved ones?"
With a shaky breath, Scott seemed to take a moment to think. He glanced down to the vine covered staff on the ground at his feet. The elf muttered something under his breath, eyes darting back and forth for a moment. Pyro noticed that for a moment, Scott seemed to flicker out of existence momentarily.
Patiently, Pyro returned his hand to Scott's knee. A grounding presence, he hoped, and as the elf turned to look at him again, it seemed to work. Scott shrugged with a small sigh. "I mean. I think I have friends. There are some people I… I care about, who helped me start to get used to being there."
Smiling, Pyro offered a firm nod. "Then that is all that matters. Home is… often not a place, but rather the people you find yourself with. If you have that… then you are not lost at all. I would say you have found your place."
Scott inhaled sharply, quickly wiping his cheeks of more stray tears. "But what if I'm not good enough, Pyro?" Scott asked, voice small, timid. "I'm supposed to be this great mage, but I have… no idea what I'm doing."
"Every great mage has to start somewhere," Pyro said gently, squeezing Scott's knee reassuringly, "It is a learned skill not many can master. And if what you say is true, about having friends in this Blue Kingdom of yours, then you are not alone. Your friends will surely help support your training. Trust in yourself, Scott, as well as them. You are stronger than you think you are."
A soft smile made its way onto Scott's face as he sniffled. A hand fell to settle over Pyro's on his knee, despite being half the size as the orc's. "Thank you, Pyro," He said, looking up to meet Pyro's eyes. "For… everything."
Pyro's own smile widened, giving the elf a single nod. "Of course. I'm happy to help a new friend in need."
"I really appreciate it," Scott said, wiping his face of the last of his tears with the sleeve of his free hand. The elf seemed to hesitate for a moment before he met Pyro's gaze again. "Would it be wildly out of place for me to ask for a hug?"
Surprised, Pyro blinked a bit before he smiled brightly at Scott. A thought occurred to him as he went to answer, sheepishly shrugging his shoulders."Not at all! But I do have to warn you, I do not… smell the best, my apologies."
Scott laughed, a light sound that didn't feel forced. A break from the grief, Pyro thought, happy to see the weight lifted from his new friend's shoulders if even for a moment. "Well I've been told I always smell like flowers, so maybe it'll balance it out."
"If you're certain," Pyro couldn't help the light laugh in return. With only a small bit of hesitation, Pyro scooted closer to Scott in order to offer the elf a hug, arms out a bit. Scott didn't hesitate, leaning into Pyro's space and wrapped his arms around him.
A small sigh escaped the elf as Pyro put his arms around him in return, being mindful, as always, of his size and strength as he gently squeezed Scott close. The smell of flowers surrounded him as Scott rested his head against Pyro's shoulder. "Thank you, Pyro," he mumbled, "You're… you're a really good friend."
Pyro smiled warmly, speaking softly in the comfortable air around them. "You're very welcome, friend," He patted Scott's back gently, letting him take as much time as he wanted in the embrace.
They sat together for just a moment longer before Scott pulled away, and Pyro let him. "So," Scott cleared his throat, the held tension from before practically gone, "is the food about done?"
"Oh!" Pyro got up immediately, rushing towards the campfire. "Yes, it should be."
The rest of the evening was comfortable, the food was eaten and Pyro even made sure to prepare the leftovers for Scott to take on his journey back to his Kingdom. As they settled in for the night, the flames of the campfire dying down into embers and smoke, Pyro kept watch over Scott. In the quiet peace of the cave, he was glad he was able to help his new friend in more ways than just rescuing him from the wolves.