Work Text:
Bdubs was a sucker for nature
He loved to wander through the forests and admire the trees
He was mesmerized by the way moss grew up rocks
And excited when he found a new species of fauna.
But this was to be expected for the young halfling Druid.
Nature magic was his specialty
Except for animals
Animals hated him for some weird reason
But you know what? Bdubs hated them too!
If a stupid rabbit didn’t want to be him friend then he didn’t need no stupid animal friends!
Plants were great friends!
they might not being able to hold conversation, or give good advice
But that didn’t really matter cuz a plant wouldn’t leave you cuz you weren’t helpful enough on quests-
Stupid quests
In this world questing was the most universal job that anyone could be called too-
Quests could consist of weeding an old Man’s garden all the way up to slaying hostile monsters in nearby areas.
Bdubs was a monster Hunter, or at least he wanted to be-
They were the best type of quester because they protected everyone-
They were heros
And nobody to abandon Bdubs again if he were a hero.
The halfling was tried of people looking down on him, quite literally.
Once he was a hero, everyone would finally give him the respect he deserved.
And everything would go perfectly to plan-
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Things as you would except did not go to plan-
Bdubs was out on his daily stroll through the forest when he saw it-
The Beauty was growing majestically atop three large floating boulders-
A teal shroom that could only have been a moonlight shroom-
It was extremely rare
And even more valuable.
While most incompetent fools thought the moonlight shroom was just used for its incredibly deadly poison.
If processed correctly it could turn into an instant medicine for healing wounds or ailments.
It had to be Bdubs’ lucky day
He began clambering up the floating boulders, as his vision tunnelled on the rare and deathly shroom.
He was so hyper fixated in fact that he didn’t hear the hoarse calls of some Ruffians stomping through his lovely tranquil forest.
Actually he was so single focused he didn’t realize when those same Ruffians came into the same clearing he was in
Luckily the Ruffians were busy with other stuff and also didn’t notice Bdubs
The halfling grabbed his handkerchief out of his front coat pocket and used it as a barrier between himself and the shroom, then expertly cut halfway down the base at an angle to encourage more growth later on-
Once the shroom was picked, he carefully tucked it away in his satchel for safe keeping till he could properly process it later
Only then did he see the damage below him.
Three large men, human by the looks of it- with rounded bellies and tiny heads-
They were currently surrounding a much larger figure of a wolf headed man-
His fur was white with unnatural splotches of red scattered across it.
They were ganging up on him-!!
Vulgar curses were being shout out at the wolf headed man- most of them insults calling him things like
“Monster” and “Demon.”
He just looked like a normal wolf headed guy-
Meaning these humans were the worse racist kind.
Bdubs watched in horror for much too long, as the wolf headed man was shoved and beat.
So long in fact that when Bdubs decided to act, it was instant- and without any brain cells behind it-
He launched himself off of the floating boulders, screaming as he fell downward.
All four men froze and were able to catch a glimpse of Bdubs before he collided ontop of one of the three humans-
Thank goodness for his denser body weight- because the while falling from that height definitely wasn’t pleasant or painless
It took out the human instantly-
Bdubs: rolled off the thug and spun around to face the other two-
Standing protectively in front of the wolf headed man-
“BACK OFF- I’m warning you, this is your last chance before I smite you with my ultimate power!”
Every was was silent for the count of 5-
Then both human burst out laughing, and Bdubs began to fume-
To their credit-
Bdubs was a sold 4’1
Currently standing Infront of a 7’2 beast
He was bound to look like an angry toddler
But still!!
How dare they!!!
How dare they mock him!
Bdubs warned them-
He reached into his snatched and pulled out his precious moonlight shroom
So sad he’d never get to make medicine from it-
But mourning would have to come later
Bdubs Hels the shroom in his bare hand and began to chant-
The moonlight shroom glowed momentarily before it poofed into glowing pollen a absorbed into the Druid’s skin
You see
Bdub’s ultimate power was his connection to nature-
He could absorb the properties of a specific plant-
And replicate it.
It seemed so useless to his past party members-
They told him it was useless.
They told him he was useless-
He would prove them all wrong!
Bdub’s skin was lightly pigmented teal now as he dashed forward towards the Humans-
One has enough brain cells to stop laughing and back away in rightful fear.
Which made Bdub’s target clear-
He jumped on the still laughing JERK! And he saw the effect immediately, his touch left teal fingerprints on the man’s skin and deep blue veins spread out from those touch points
The man stopped laughing, scrambling back and tossing the small Druid off like with ease, sending him flying into a nearby boulder-
As pain flared across his body Bdubs lost ahold of his power and the remaining moonlight shroom pollen fizzled out of existence-
The human Bdubs marked screamed satisfyingly as his skin burned and lungs withered until he lay on the dirt floor nothing more than a shriveled husk-
There only left one,
but Bdubs didn’t have the strength to get back up.
His back hit the boulder hard and he was already feeling lightheaded.
He hoped that he had done enough to help that wolf headed man-
Hoped that even if he did die right now he had done enough to be a hero.
His vision was fading to black quicker than he would like-
Faintly he heard screams and the sounds of fighting-
But it too far off for him to really care-
To bad he used that shroom-
It would probably be super useful right now.
How unfortunate
“Hey little buddy- you still alive?”
Huh?
Was he alive still?
Dang-
Something nudged his arm, and the pain that flared down his body prompted him to take in a sharp breath and flutter his eyes back open.
“You are Alive, good job Kid-“ it was the wolf headed man. He still had red splotches in his white fur- but he didn’t look any more beat up than he already was-
“Mm- not… kid-“ each word was a struggle to get out.
after he said it Bdubs realized how silly it was to waste breath on such a correction, but it was such a habit at this point.
“Oh- you look like a kid… either way- that was gutsy. I didn’t think my own men would turn on me like that- but thanks to your help…. they got what they deserved.”
Thoughts were moving too sluggishly to really comprehend what that meant.
Also was this guy just gunna sit with Bdubs till he died??
That was nice…
He thinks?
While Bdubs pondered this dying thoughts the wolf headed man continued to talk, reaching into his own bag for something-
“Anyways, I know I’m rambling here, my name is Etho, do you have a name?”
“M- Dubs,”
“Dubs?”
“B-……. Dub….”
“Bdubs? Huh strange name-“
Bdubs huffed painfully at that, “ur- one… to talk.., Effo-“
“Fair point there, anyways your a plant Druid? Correct-“
Why was this guy still talking to him?? What a weirdo- “y-yea…”
“I have some roots that help with healing, would they help you?”
Wait…. Was he trying to help.
“I…. Can try-… .. .. need to- touch.”
Etho nodded, his ears flicking almost nervously as he placed the roots in Bdubs’ hand
Bdubs could only mutter the words of his spell, drawing in the power from the roots.
He felt the change almost immediately, his body shifting and roots grew from the injured parts of his spine to support him,
The relief was instant.
“Whoa- freaky are you turning into a plant??”
Bdubs stared up at Etho’s massive wolf head,
“No- it’s just part of my power…”
“Well you sound better now, can you move?”
Bdubs tried to sit up but those same roots that Held his spine together restricted his movement-
“No-… I can’t…”
“Well no problem, I’ll just carry you back to my camp then-“
“You don’t have-“
“You saved my life Bdubs- It’s only fair to help you in return.”
Without another word the Wolf headed man scooped up the halfling into his arms.
Bdubs wanted to scoff at the size difference between them.
By comparison Bdub’s honestly could be a child next to this man
That was really freaking annoying-
“Does anything hurt?”
“No, I’m okay- you’re just… stupidly tall-“
Etho snickered, a strange sound coming out of his Wolfy lips but still a recognizable one-
“You ever consider your just incredibly small-“
“Hey! Don’t go underestimating me Wolf face- I just saved your dumb tallness-“
“I wasn’t going too- I’d be a fool to underestimate a Druid as powerful as you-“
Bdubs was about to retort another insult but then stopped himself.
Wait…
Powerful?
“Do you really mean that? You really think I’m a strong Druid?!!”
“Yeah? Why wouldnt I-? I just watched you kill a guy with your touch, after touching the deadliest mushroom I’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering-“
“Second deadliest-“
“What? Wait really?”
“Yeah- the moonlight shroom can be used for medicine, while a sun storm shroom burns everything around around it and can cause volcanic eruptions if disturbed-“
“… well I stand corrected then.”
“Hey I’m still super strong-“
“Well I mean it was only the second deadliest mushroom around, soooooooo-“
“HEY!! Not fair.”
Again Etho snickered. But Bdubs didn’t feel like it was mocking in anyway-
Not like he had heard before,
Not in the demeaning way it had been said to him before.
And Bdubs couldn’t help but join him in laughing-
Because Etho wasn’t laughing at Bdubs,
Wasn’t ridiculing him for who he was-
It was definitely a nice change of pace.
“Hey Etho? Do you wanna be apart of my party?”
“Mmm I dunno- who else is in it?”
“Currently?… just me… but that doesn’t mean we can’t be a good questing party- I mean we got brains and brawn right here-“
“I take it your the brawn?”
“And the brains-“
Etho laughed again- “right of course-“
“Does that mean you’ll do it???”
“Mmmm well considering how my last party just turned out-
I think you’ll be a good change of pace.”
Bdubs grinned ear to ear-
His magic welling up inside.
This was going to be fun.