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Setting down supplies, Tia observed the grove. She bought them all enough time, sticking her nose into others business just saved these people. It felt good, things had gone sideways since she woke up in that pod. But she could do this, she could help.
Lia caught her eye from across the camp, waving her over. Her older brother was a little nicer to her than when they first met. Rolan, Cal, Lia. Always nice to see other Tieflings.
“Slop’s gonna be, well, less slop. Found some carrots.”
”Found?” Rolan grimaced.
”They’re fine, I promise.”
He rolled his eyes accepting his fate as Tia settled in between his siblings. Funnily enough, she liked Rolan. He always seemed to have time for the kids running around like wild men. They liked him, so she figured he couldn’t be all that bad. Besides, Lia was his sister, and she liked Lia.
”Lia and Tia, back at it again,” Cal said.
”I just about gave up the foraging”, Lia held up a carrot, “though maybe I should’ve helped find something better than whatever the hells this is.”
”Trust me, I’m not like you city folk, I’ve seen a carrot or two.”
Lia burst out laughing, “what the fuck?”
She only shrugged, feeling proud Rolan actually smiled.
”So where are you from? I thought you were going to Baldur’s Gate?” Rolan never really asked questions.
She nodded, “yeah. But I didn’t grow up there, we grew up in the forest nearby here actually. My parents didn’t think they needed help from folks. Self reliance and all that.”
”What? Were they druids?”
She shook her head, “nah, more like end times folks. They didn’t want to rely on people who called them Hellspawns.”
Rolan frowned, “I thought the Gate was more welcoming.”
”Sure, sure. But, people are people.”
”What’s it like there?” Lia said.
”Overwhelming, smelly, crowded,” she noticed the slight mood drop, “incredible all the same. I love swimming in the ocean, eating food I’ve never had before, seeing people who know me.”
”And what about Lorroakan,” he couldn’t help himself.
She shrugged, “I don’t listen to wizard gossip. I’ve really only seen wizards do those light shows on corners, busking.”
He nodded, like he was embarrassed he even asked. Tia could tell he was nervous, she had a friend who would rip his hair out from the studying he went through.
”Always a pain in the ass sneaking in my dogs though. Some guards don’t like arguing about what is or isn’t livestock.”
”Dogs? They’re as big as wolves!”
”Same thing. Pookie and Scratch. They wag their tails when the same spot behind the ears are scratched.”
Rolan had a cute smile, it fit him better than a scowl.
”So it’s worth it, is what you’re saying?”
She smiled back, “I’m not gonna rain on anyone’s parade. I can’t even imagine what you’ve been though.”
He didn’t say anything at first, turning his gaze towards the children playing with swords, “Tia, can I speak to you alone for a moment?”
They walked toward the edges of the grove, Tia recently saved a child from harpies, it was like everything there was intent on killing them all.
”You…do have a way to deal with those goblins?”
She smiled, “they call me a ‘true soul’. I figure I can wing it.”
Rolan closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I should’ve left for the city.”
He got a jab in the ribs for his troubles, “oh, it’ll be alright. I’ve got a plan, and Lia told me-“
”-don’t involve my family. Swear to me that they won’t leave this grove unless it’s in the direction of Baldur’s Gate.”
The grip on her wrist was tight, Tia’s eyes scanned his face. He was about to break.
”I swear it. I’m not letting any of them near that camp. Not without you.”
”We’re staying here.”
”Well, Cal and Lia-“
”-don’t you fucking start. If these goblins come to the grove, fine, we’ll fight. I’m not letting some stranger’s business get my family killed.”
”They want to help.”
”And they will, here.”
Anyone else would brush his attitude off, let him bitch and moan alone. She liked him, what his siblings liked telling her about him.
”Tell me something, why did you listen to me? Why didn’t you just fuck off?”
He was quiet for a moment, “I…I’m not a monster. I just, you have a family right? Siblings?”
She nodded.
”You’d do anything for them, wouldn’t you?”
”My sister died. Died, uh,” she worried about worrying him, “protecting me.”
His eyes softened with an emotion she knew all too well, he still held onto her arm, thumb absentmindedly rubbing circles in her skin.
“I won’t be the reason they come to any harm. That fucking cult won’t come anywhere near. I swear it. I wont let them hurt you.”
“Why do you-I mean, I’m glad you understand. You must miss her.”
“I don’t think the pain would ever stop. She’d kick my ass to see me now, but she wouldn’t stop me. She knew me.”
He chuckled mostly to himself, “she was the older one wasn’t she?”
”Joya was oh, three years older. If a twig tugs at my sleeve I know it’s her fussing with my clothes.”
He laughed, and she couldn’t help but laugh with him. Her face hurt from all the smiling as she strolled toward his siblings, and pretended not to notice the way Lia looked her up and down.
Was it silly to like Rolan so much? When she laid her head to rest in her own camp, wouldn’t it make more sense to daydream about someone closer? As she watched her group go about their night, she wondered what Joya would think.
Astarion, she had to carry his pack most days. Not the kind to butcher a pig with dad.
Gale, cooks a great meal. Smart, maybe too smart. Seems the type to prefer not to know how the sausage gets made.
Wyll….she’d like him. Would probably go for him herself.
But Rolan? He argues, he’s not the type to hunt or fish, he’s too smart. He’s not all that funny.
‘But he’s kind, Joya. He eats the food I forage. One of the kids wrote a story about us. He’s an older sibling.’
Tia couldn’t sleep, wandering the edges of the grove, mindful of any noises in the brush. She thought of Joya, her parents, how afraid she was to send a letter or anything to know that they were safe and she was alive. She was afraid they could die because of her and whatever the mindflayers and the Absolute wanted with her.
So she cried, a head pounding, ugly sob. She wasn’t sure if she was feeling better, but she let the tears fall regardless. It was all too much, she felt like she couldn’t rely on anyone else just yet, comforting her like a child.
A twig snapped behind her.
”Rolan?”
He stuttered, “I couldn’t sleep, heard someone crying. Like you were hurt.”
“Ha, didn’t know you were a poet.”
”Are you alright?”
She waved her hand noncommittally, “go back to patrolling.”
“No, I don’t do that. Can’t sleep these days, so maybe I should.”
Tia patted the dirt beside her, and he hesitated before sitting down. The night was clear, and the moon bright enough that anyone hiding to strike could be seen. They both hated thinking about that, wishing they had a chance to relax.
She could see it in him, in the way his shoulders tensed, his eyes scanning the shadows.
”What was it like in Elturel?”
“Before or after we got sucked into Avernus?”
”Sorry.”
Rolan shrunk into himself, “no, I’m sorry. It was fine. Much like the Gate, I suppose. Quiet most days.”
Tia nodded with a smile, allowing herself to crush on him a little bit. Rolan wouldn’t like someone like her anyway, her fingernails were always dirty.
”Cal told me once we all see each other, you’ll bake a cake. Like your mum’s.”
Rolan choked out a laugh, “I’m a horrible baker. That asshole would say something like that.”
She giggled, “he really sold me on it too. Said you wasted your talents on this whole wizard business.”
His laugh was loud, it surprised her. Then she was caught staring with a toothy grin. His eyes quickly darted away, and like that the spell was broken. Suddenly the warm feeling in her chest went away.
”Tell you what, we make it outta here alive, I’ll teach you how to bake.”
”I…sure. I’m looking forward to it.”
Tia watched him walk away, after saying their goodbyes. She couldn’t help but stare at his back, thinking of all the things she wanted to say.
Joya would probably like him after all.